Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing, a recent graduate, attends a recruitment test for the Deduction Company at the abandoned Qingyuan Pharmaceutical Factory at midnight.
• The test involves staying in the factory for four hours with a portable camera, recording the entire time, and finding hidden batteries to keep the camera running.
• The factory is rumored to be haunted due to a murder that occurred there, and strange happenings that followed.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: He is timid and in poor health but has a strong heart. He is initially scared but tries to maintain his composure. He shows concern for his future superior, Assistant Hao, by asking if he's cold.
• Assistant Hao: He is the HR manager's assistant and conducts the test. He appears approachable but gives off an eerie vibe, with an icy hand and a calm demeanor even in the face of Yu Xing's concern.

Significant Themes

• Courage and Reaction: The test is designed to evaluate the applicants' courage and reaction in the face of fear and uncertainty.
• Perception vs. Reality: The applicants must navigate the dark, abandoned factory, where their perceptions may be distorted by fear and the unknown.
• Trust and Suspicion: Yu Xing's concern for Assistant Hao is met with an unsettling response, raising questions about the company's reliability and the assistant's true nature.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Assistant Hao: Yu Xing shows concern for Assistant Hao's well-being, but the assistant's response is cold and unsettling.
• Yu Xing and the other applicants: They briefly interact, sharing information about the factory's history and expressing their nervousness about the test.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group of applicants for a streamer position at Qingyuan Pharmaceutical Factory finds their cameras stained with a substance resembling blood, hinting at a planned "haunted house" experience.
• They split into groups to search for batteries in the dilapidated factory, with Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu paired together.
• Yu Xing encounters a ghostly hand in a mouse hole, which disappears after Zhao Yijiu touches Yu Xing.
• Zhao Yijiu reveals he saw a mysterious shadow before the others entered the factory.
• They encounter a locked door at the end of the corridor.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Initially scared, he shows resilience and resourcefulness, attempting to pick the lock. He also reveals his familiarity with corpses, hinting at his past.
• Zhao Yijiu: Initially cold and distant, he shows concern for Yu Xing's safety and shares his observations about the mysterious shadow, hinting at his perceptiveness.

Significant Themes

• Fear and courage: Yu Xing's initial fear and subsequent determination to continue despite his fear.
• Trust and teamwork: Zhao Yijiu's decision to share his observations with Yu Xing, fostering a sense of teamwork.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: Despite their initial coldness towards each other, they begin to form a bond, with Zhao Yijiu showing concern for Yu Xing's safety and Yu Xing attempting to pick the lock to continue their journey together.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu enter an abandoned factory for a job recruitment test.
• They find a hidden area behind a rusty gate, containing offices and an exhibition room.
• In Office 01, they find a note saying "You'd best gouge out your own eyes" and two soft, warm objects that turn out to be eyeballs.
• Yu Xing wants to leave, but Zhao Yijiu suggests they go together.
• On their way out, Yu Xing needs to use the toilet, which is separated into individual stalls.
• In the toilet, a Female Ghost appears in the urinal, laughing and telling Yu Xing to poke out his eyes.
• Yu Xing, terrified, uses a mop handle to push the Female Ghost back down the drain.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Initially timid and easily scared, Yu Xing's fear intensifies as he encounters supernatural events. He becomes more determined to leave the factory.
• Zhao Yijiu: Calm and collected, Zhao Yijiu seems to have some understanding of the situation. He decides to stick with Yu Xing for safety.

Significant Themes

• Fear and Courage: Yu Xing's fear is a driving force in the story, while Zhao Yijiu's calm demeanor contrasts with Yu Xing's fear, highlighting the theme of courage in the face of adversity.
• Supernatural Elements: The story explores the theme of supernatural occurrences and their impact on the characters.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: The two characters have a dynamic relationship, with Yu Xing's fear contrasting with Zhao Yijiu's calm. They decide to stick together for safety, showing a level of trust and understanding between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu escape the toilet area, pursued by the Female Ghost.
• They hide in the Exhibition Room, avoiding the Female Ghost by using the line of sight.
• They discover that touching batteries attracts ghosts.
• Yu Xing finds a hidden video on the camera, showing Assistant Hao's murder by an identical-looking Assistant Hao, with a warning: "The Ghost is among the applicants! Don't trust anyone!!"
• Zhao Yijiu confronts Yu Xing after he watches the video.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Shows courage and analytical skills when facing the Ghost. He remains calm and thinks logically even when presented with evidence that Zhao Yijiu might be the Ghost.
• Zhao Yijiu: Reveals a more calculating side. He's suspicious of Yu Xing's calm demeanor after watching the video.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: The warning in the video creates an atmosphere of distrust among the applicants.
• Fear and courage: Yu Xing faces his fears and remains calm, while Zhao Yijiu seems more afraid of Yu Xing's calmness.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: Their dynamic changes after Yu Xing watches the video. Zhao Yijiu becomes suspicious of Yu Xing's calmness, while Yu Xing seems more at ease, analyzing the situation logically.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shuya, left alone in the factory, searches for Fang Rui who went to the toilet and hasn't returned.
• She encounters a locked toilet cubicle with mysterious knocking sounds and a broken flashlight.
• She finds the changing room door locked after entering, and her camera runs out of power at 1:01 AM.
• Zhang Shuya is eliminated; she's attacked in the dark, and her phone illuminates a horrifying scene.

Character Developments

• Zhang Shuya: Initially confident and calm, she becomes increasingly anxious and scared as she encounters strange occurrences. Her determination to expose the rigged test turns into a desperate struggle for survival.
• Fang Rui: Absent for most of the chapter, his disappearance and potential betrayal contribute to Zhang Shuya's growing unease and suspicion.

Significant Themes

• Fear and uncertainty: Zhang Shuya's isolation and the eerie events she encounters build tension and fear, challenging her composure.
• Trust and betrayal: Fang Rui's unexplained absence and potential involvement in the test's rigging raise questions about trust among the applicants.
• The unknown: The mysterious knocking, the locked door, and the chilling presence in the changing room represent the unknown, fueling Zhang Shuya's fear and paranoia.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Shuya and Fang Rui: Their partnership is strained by Fang Rui's disappearance, leaving Zhang Shuya alone to face the factory's horrors.
• Zhang Shuya and the unknown entity: Her interactions with the mysterious presence in the changing room highlight her growing fear and desperation.

Additional Notes

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu's subplot reveals Yu Xing's potential deception, adding an extra layer of intrigue and suspicion among the applicants.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Shuya goes missing, and Fang Rui finds a battery in the men's room before discovering her disappearance.
• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu find Zhang Shuya's corpse in the women's changing room, her eyes gouged out.
• They deduce that the camera's battery running out for more than five minutes triggers a ghostly creature attack.
• Zhao Yijiu rushes back to the office to retrieve a battery, while Yu Xing stays behind.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Shows fear of corpses and ghosts but also displays leadership and analytical skills when needed. He respects the dead by trying to uncover the cause of their demise.
• Zhao Yijiu: Demonstrates bravery and skill, volunteering to retrieve the battery. He shows curiosity about Yu Xing's behavior.
• Fang Rui: Initially appears calm but is later revealed to be scared. He questions Yu Xing's respect for the dead.

Significant Themes

• Respect for the dead: Yu Xing believes that uncovering the cause of death is a form of respect, while Fang Rui thinks they should not touch the corpse.
• Fear and bravery: Characters face their fears, with Zhao Yijiu showing bravery by rushing to get the battery and Yu Xing staying behind to investigate.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: They work together to find clues and deduce the cause of death. Zhao Yijiu is curious about Yu Xing's behavior, and Yu Xing relies on Zhao Yijiu's strength.
• Yu Xing and Fang Rui: They support each other emotionally, with Yu Xing trying to calm Fang Rui down. Fang Rui questions Yu Xing's respect for the dead.
• Zhao Yijiu and Fang Rui: They have minimal interaction, with Zhao Yijiu rushing off to get the battery without waiting for Fang Rui.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing finds batteries in a locked cabinet after picking the lock.
• Zhao Yijiu encounters Tang Yuan and Tang Li (ghostly creatures) while trying to retrieve batteries.
• Yu Xing deduces that only three out of six applicants are alive, and the rest are ghostly creatures.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing demonstrates calmness, intelligence, and fearlessness in the face of danger.
• Fang Rui, initially friendly, reveals his true nature as a ghostly creature when provoked by Yu Xing.
• Tang Yuan and Tang Li are confirmed to be ghostly creatures, with Tang Yuan displaying manipulative behavior.

Significant Themes

• The test's rules: ghosts are invincible, and only the correct method can make them disappear.
• The importance of observation and deduction in survival.
• The duality of human nature, with ghostly creatures mimicking human behavior.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Fang Rui: Yu Xing manipulates Fang Rui into revealing his true nature, leading to an attack.
• Zhao Yijiu and Tang Yuan: Zhao Yijiu encounters Tang Yuan, who tries to delay him, leading to a chase with Tang Li.
• Yu Xing's deductions about the applicants' true nature lead to a tense standoff with Fang Rui.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing discovers that ghosts can't kill humans in the game; they only scare them to prevent battery changes.
• Fang Rui, a ghost, lets Yu Xing go after realizing Yu Xing knows the truth.
• Yu Xing saves Zhao Yijiu from a ghost, revealing his true strength and knowledge about the game.
• Zhao Yijiu shares information about the Absurd Deduction game and its deducers.
• Yu Xing offers to help end the game early, with a condition.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Reveals his true capabilities and knowledge about the game, showing he's not as weak as he initially appeared.
• Zhao Yijiu: Realizes Yu Xing's true nature and becomes more cautious around him. He opens up about the Absurd Deduction game.

Significant Themes

• Deception and truth: Yu Xing's initial act of weakness is revealed to be a facade, highlighting the theme of deception and the eventual uncovering of truth.
• Survival and strategy: The game's rules and Yu Xing's discovery of an early exit strategy emphasize the importance of understanding and using strategy to survive.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: Their relationship evolves from initial distrust and annoyance to a cautious alliance, with Yu Xing saving Zhao Yijiu and sharing game knowledge.
• Yu Xing and Fang Rui: Yu Xing outsmarts Fang Rui, leading to Fang Rui letting him go.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu team up to pass the Deduction Test.
• Yu Xing reveals the truth behind the Pharmaceutical Factory incident six months ago.
• They learn that taking photos of the ghostly creatures in their transformed state will send them to heaven, ending the test early.

Character Developments

• Zhao Yijiu becomes more open to Yu Xing's help and accepts being taken care of.
• Yu Xing's mysterious identity and knowledge about the case deepen.

Significant Themes

• The power of evidence and its consequences.
• The struggle between the living and the dead, and the methods to end it.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Yijiu and Yu Xing work together, with Yu Xing taking the lead in solving the test.
• Zhao Yijiu shows a subtle change in his attitude towards Yu Xing, accepting his help and care.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu complete the initial deduction test in the abandoned factory.
• They encounter Assistant Hao, who reveals that their memories were distorted, and they've qualified for the Absurd Deduction Game.
• Yu Xing receives his persona mask template, which includes information about the game, deducers, and the game world called [Absurdity].
• They learn about the two steps to becoming a formal deducer: passing the initial deduction test and activating the invitation code through an evaluation game within 72 hours.
• Assistant Hao explains the rules and three ways to survive the test: changing batteries, self-harm, or killing the ghostly creature.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Shows excitement upon receiving his persona mask template but keeps his composure despite feeling unwell. He's strategic and calm under pressure.
• Zhao Yijiu: Remains composed and calm throughout, showing no fear or excitement. He's analytical and observant, noticing Assistant Hao's change in demeanor.
• Assistant Hao: Initially tries to scare them but becomes deflated when they remain calm. He provides information and rules for the test.

Significant Themes

• The game's absurdity and distortion of reality.
• The importance of intelligence, logic, and courage in the game.
• The consequences of failure and the need to adapt to survive.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu work together to complete the initial test, showing mutual trust and understanding.
• Assistant Hao interacts with them to provide information and rules, but his attempts to scare them fail due to their composure.
• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu exchange glances, showing a level of understanding and communication without words.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing leaves the factory after the rain stops, refusing Zhao Yijiu's offer for a ride.
• He sends a message to Zhu Yan, who picks him up on her motorcycle.
• The next day, Yu Xing wakes up and decides to begin the Persona Mask evaluation game, a role-playing deduction game that will occupy real-world time for three hours.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: He shows signs of fatigue and weakness after the intense encounter with the Persona Mask, but his stamina recovers quickly. He decides to begin the Persona Mask evaluation game to assess his personality and deductive skills.
• Zhao Yijiu: He offers Yu Xing a ride but is refused. He feels confused about not asking Yu Xing for his contact information.
• Zhu Yan: She picks up Yu Xing on her motorcycle, showing concern for his well-being. She also mentions an investigation she's conducting for Yu Xing.

Significant Themes

• The theme of trust and deception is evident as Yu Xing continues to keep his true identity and abilities hidden from Zhao Yijiu.
• The theme of friendship and mutual support is shown through Zhu Yan's assistance to Yu Xing.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: They part ways after the incident at the factory, with Zhao Yijiu feeling confused about Yu Xing's refusal of his offer and his lack of contact information.
• Yu Xing and Zhu Yan: They meet up after Yu Xing sends a message to Zhu Yan, who picks him up on her motorcycle. They discuss the Wang Group investigation and Yu Xing teases her about her clothing.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing, a psychologist, wakes up in a dissecting room, held captive by an unknown killer.
• The killer has left a note challenging Yu Xing to escape within three hours or face dire consequences.
• Yu Xing explores the area, discovering a large hall with iron beds for corpses, a locked room, and a kitchen/toilet area.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Shows calm and analytical thinking under pressure, demonstrating medical and psychological knowledge.
• The Killer: Revealed to be meticulous, emotionally connected to corpses, and likely has some medical knowledge or internet savviness.

Significant Themes

• Psychological manipulation: The killer uses Yu Xing's profession against him, taunting him and setting a time limit.
• The duality of human nature: The killer appears to lead a normal life while committing heinous crimes.
• The power of observation: Yu Xing uses his keen observations to deduce the killer's characteristics and habits.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and The Killer: Their interaction is primarily through notes, with the killer taunting Yu Xing and giving him a challenge, while Yu Xing remains calm and analytical.
• Yu Xing and The Environment: Yu Xing interacts with the environment, examining corpses, exploring the area, and searching for clues, which helps him deduce the killer's identity and habits.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing finds notes and clues in the kitchen, including a puzzle to open a safe in the microwave.
• He solves the puzzle and finds a key to the toilet tank, where he finds another note.
• The lights go out, and corpses in the hall light candles, creating an eerie scene.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing demonstrates his intelligence and calmness in deciphering the killer's puzzles and dealing with the eerie situation.
• The killer shows a desire to mentally torment Yu Xing, using corpses and notes to instill fear.

Significant Themes

• The killer's desire to conquer and mentally torment Yu Xing.
• Yu Xing's calm and analytical approach to the situation.
• The use of corpses and eerie settings to create fear and unease.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing interacts with the killer indirectly through notes and the killer's manipulations.
• Yu Xing observes and interacts with the corpses in the hall, showing no fear despite the eerie scene.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing discovers a room filled with corpses, each with a gash across their abdomen, likely containing a key.
• He encounters a crawling corpse and a mysterious figure, hinting at the killer's presence.
• Yu Xing finds the key in a frozen heart in the kitchen refrigerator.
• He enters a locked bedroom, finding a window with a view of an upscale street, suggesting the building's height.
• The bedroom contains a diary without dates, hinting at the killer's past.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing demonstrates his analytical skills, calm demeanor, and ability to handle gruesome situations.
• The killer's presence is confirmed, revealing their desire to instill fear and their obsession with Yu Xing.

Significant Themes

• Deduction and problem-solving: Yu Xing uses his analytical skills to deduce the killer's intentions and find the key without harming himself.
• Fear and psychological manipulation: The killer uses fear and uncertainty to control Yu Xing and the game's environment.
• Isolation and escape: The bedroom window represents a potential escape or a false sense of hope, contrasting with the enclosed environment of the rest of the building.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing interacts with the corpses and the mysterious figure, demonstrating his ability to remain calm and collected in unsettling situations.
• The killer's presence is felt through notes, corpses, and the mysterious figure, hinting at their desire to engage with Yu Xing and manipulate his actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, Yu Xing, discovers a diary in a mysterious house, revealing the existence of a killer personality who shares his body.
• Yu Xing deduces that the killer personality has delusionary disorder and is trying to assimilate or eliminate him.
• Yu Xing uses the diary to determine the killer personality's birthday and uses this information to escape the delusional world.
• Yu Xing wakes up in his office, where he works as a psychologist, and discovers he has dissociative identity disorder.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing (Doctor Zheng): Realizes he has dissociative identity disorder and decides to proactively treat his alter ego, the killer personality.
• Killer Personality (Xu Jian): Becomes agitated and desperate when Yu Xing exposes his delusion and refuses to accept his sub-personality status.

Significant Themes

• Dissociative Identity Disorder: The struggle between the dominant personality (Yu Xing) and the alter ego (killer personality) is a central theme.
• Delusion and Reality: The killer personality's delusional world contrasts with Yu Xing's reality, highlighting the theme of perception versus truth.
• Identity and Control: Both personalities grapple with their identities and the desire to control the shared body.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and the Killer Personality: Their interactions are characterized by conflict, with Yu Xing trying to expose and treat the killer personality, while the killer personality resists and tries to eliminate Yu Xing.
• Yu Xing and his colleague: A brief interaction shows concern for Yu Xing's well-being, hinting at a professional relationship.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing wakes up after the assessment game, finding a materialized mask and exploring its features.
• He discovers an extra sacrifice on his mask, which he believes is his own direction.
• Yu Xing explores the Deduction Mall, finding sections for System Exchange, Sacrifice Trading, Information Trading, and a Wish List.
• He makes a wish to restore his health and learns about various deduction game directions and work opportunities.
• Yu Xing decides to confirm his suspicions about Zheng Song's killer personality and starts sketching a portrait.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing demonstrates his calm and analytical nature, even when faced with unexpected information.
• He shows determination to improve his physical condition and understanding of the absurd world.

Significant Themes

• The interconnectedness of the absurd worlds and the reflection of criminals in reality.
• The exploration of Yu Xing's own direction and personality.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing interacts with the system and the contents within the Deduction Mall, learning about various aspects of the absurd world.
• He doesn't interact with any other characters in this chapter, focusing on his own exploration and understanding.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhu Yan, a pianist and singer, receives a message from her boss, "San," requesting her to investigate a person based on a sketch.
• Yu Xing, after drawing Zheng Song's ID photo from memory, visits Zhao Yijiu's home.
• Zhao Mou, Zhao Yijiu's older brother, meets Yu Xing.

Character Developments

• Zhu Yan: She is a talented musician with a mysterious job involving investigations. She seems independent and confident.
• Yu Xing: He continues to display his intelligence and adaptability, using his acting skills to gain access to Zhao Yijiu's home. He also shows a playful side.
• Zhao Yijiu: He remains cold and distant but shows signs of opening up to Yu Xing. He also reveals his injury from the assessment game.
• Zhao Mou: He is introduced as Zhao Yijiu's older brother, who is shrewd and interested in Yu Xing's potential. He is also more laid-back and talkative than his younger brother.

Significant Themes

• The theme of investigation and uncovering secrets is introduced through Zhu Yan's task and Yu Xing's pursuit of information.
• The theme of adaptation and growth is seen in Zhao Yijiu's reflection on his past mistake and Yu Xing's continuous learning and improvement.
• The theme of family dynamics is explored through the relationship between the Zhao brothers.

Character Interactions

• Zhu Yan and her club members: They interact briefly, with Zhu Yan leaving to attend to her boss's task.
• Zhao Yijiu and Zhao Mou: They have a sibling dynamic, with Zhao Mou showing concern for his younger brother and Zhao Yijiu reluctantly sharing information.
• Yu Xing and Zhao Yijiu: Yu Xing continues to tease and interact with Zhao Yijiu, with Zhao Yijiu showing a mix of annoyance and acceptance.
• Yu Xing and Zhao Mou: They meet for the first time, with Zhao Mou showing interest in Yu Xing's potential and Yu Xing acting friendly and cooperative.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Yu Xing decides to play an Investigator type deduction game, "Coffin Village," which generates a character suited to him.
• He enters the game, and his character, San, receives a private message inviting him to Guan Family Village.
• Upon arrival, San encounters five city folk arguing at the village entrance, blocking the way for two people who want to enter.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing (San): He is an oil painter with a secret interest in detective work, having learned various skills in secret. In the game, he is portrayed as cold and uninterested in others' affairs.
• Girl (Unnamed): She is friendly and talkative, traveling to Guan Family Village. She is amazed by San's face when they meet in the game.

Significant Themes

• Disguise and True Self: San's character is a disguise for his true identity and interests.
• Curiosity and Mystery: The secluded Guan Family Village and its surrounding mystery drive the characters to enter.

Character Interactions

• San and the Girl: They travel together to Guan Family Village, with the girl trying to engage San in conversation, but he remains cold and distant.
• The Five City Folk: They argue at the village entrance, creating a barrier for the two who want to enter. Their dispute is revealed to be a part of their character settings.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter introduces a group of seven deduction players who arrive at Guan Family Village, each with their own mission.
• They encounter an old man at the village entrance who tells them the village chief lives in the biggest house.
• The players enter the village but find it deserted. They decide to find the village chief together.
• They reach the village chief's house and are invited in for dinner.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing (San): A painter and Investigator type deduction player. He is initially portrayed as shy and indifferent but shows keen observational skills and deductive abilities.
• Ju Lan: A student looking for her boyfriend who went missing in the village. She is worried and uneasy but maintains her composure.
• Xiao Xuechen: A woman with an uncertain profession. She is mature, commanding, and shows concern for Ju Lan.
• Wei Fan: An engineer. He is polite, cautious, and takes the lead in interacting with the village chief.
• Carlos (Magician): A lively, lazy young man with a keen interest in others. He is the first to suggest entering the village chief's house.
• Village Chief: Initially seems cheerful and welcoming, but his demeanor is somewhat forced.

Significant Themes

• Mystery and Suspense: The deserted village and the old man's ominous words create a sense of foreboding.
• Trust and Caution: The players are wary of each other due to their separate missions but also show signs of cooperation.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Carlos: They bond over being invited by the same fan, Zhou Yongsheng.
• Xiao Xuechen and Wei Fan: They seem to be a team, with Xiao Xuechen taking the lead in interactions and Wei Fan supporting her.
• Ju Lan and the group: Ju Lan is initially isolated but receives support from Xiao Xuechen and the others.
• The players and the village chief: The players are cautious in their interactions with the village chief, unsure of his true intentions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The seven deducers meet the village chief and his wife, who serve them dinner.
• Yu Xing learns that the village doesn't have good internet signal and that villagers don't go out in the evening due to a local custom.
• In the kitchen, Xiao Xuechen encounters the village chief's wife, who appears to be a corpse, and accidentally bumps into Yu Xing, causing him discomfort.
• The village chief reveals that Zhou Yongsheng lives in a coffin.

Character Developments

• Yu Xing: Shows concern for others' safety and has a physical reaction to supernatural influences.
• Xiao Xuechen: Reacts strongly to the village chief's wife and accidentally hurts Yu Xing.
• Village Chief: Seems oblivious to the strangeness around him and reveals that Zhou Yongsheng lives in a coffin.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences in the village, hinting at a haunting.
• The custom of not going out in the evening, suggesting a local belief or fear.
• The mysterious whereabouts and living condition of Zhou Yongsheng.

Character Interactions

• Yu Xing and Xiao Xuechen: Yu Xing helps Xiao Xuechen after she bumps into him, showing concern despite his own discomfort.
• The deducers and the village chief: They exchange information and try to uncover the village's secrets.
• The village chief and his wife: They seem to have a normal relationship, but the wife's true nature is revealed to be something otherworldly.