Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Chen Xiaoqiu suggests using a ritual to make a wish, with the understanding that it might cost a life.
• Skinny shares his ex-girlfriend's experience with a similar ritual, which didn't work for her and her friends.
• Wu Ling explains that the ritual is a deal with the Twelve Spirits, and spirits might appear during it.
• The group discusses the feasibility of the ritual, with Wu Ling suggesting that Tan's abilities could potentially control the outcome.

Character Developments

• Chen Xiaoqiu: Shows rational and calculating mindset, willing to consider the cost of a life for the potential benefit of a wish.
• Skinny: Reveals his ex-girlfriend's past experiences with supernatural activities, showing concern for her safety.
• Wu Ling: Demonstrates knowledge of rituals and spirits, offering insights into the feasibility of the wish-granting ritual.

Significant Themes

• Rationality vs. Supernatural: Chen Xiaoqiu's rational approach to the ritual contrasts with the supernatural elements involved.
• Fate and Destiny: The group discusses whether encounters with the supernatural are due to fate or personal actions.
• Belief and Willpower: Wu Ling explains that the effectiveness of the ritual depends on the executor's willpower and belief.

Character Interactions

• Group Discussion: The five characters discuss the feasibility of the ritual, sharing their thoughts and experiences.
• Skinny and Guo Yujie: Guo Yujie advises Skinny not to get back together with his ex-girlfriend to avoid involving her in supernatural matters.
• I (Narrator) and Wu Ling: The narrator consults Wu Ling about the ritual, and they discuss the potential outcomes and Tan's abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist experiences a dream where they possess young Enna, Grandma Enna's childhood self.
• Enna attends her grandmother Elizabeth's funeral, where she sees Elizabeth's ghost.
• Enna communicates with Elizabeth's ghost, who reveals she's dead and that Enna can see the dead.

Character Developments

• Enna: Enna discovers she has the ability to see and communicate with the dead. She's confused but unafraid, showing courage and curiosity.
• Elizabeth: Elizabeth's ghost appears, showing kindness and understanding towards Enna. She accepts her death and encourages Enna to cherish her gift.

Significant Themes

• Death and Grieving: The chapter explores the themes of death and grieving, showing how Elizabeth accepts her death and how Enna, being too young, doesn't fully understand it.
• Gifts and Abilities: Enna discovers she has a unique gift, setting the stage for future developments in her abilities.

Character Interactions

• Enna and Elizabeth: Their interaction is the core of the chapter. Elizabeth guides Enna, helping her understand her gift and the nature of death.
• Enna and Her Mother: Enna's mother is present but doesn't notice Enna's interaction with Elizabeth, showing a disconnect between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Enna attends her grandmother's funeral, feeling disconnected and confused.
• Enna has a vision of her sister Sally's wedding, where she sees her deceased grandmother, Elizabeth.
• Enna uses her abilities to communicate with Elizabeth, who watches Sally's wedding.
• Enna, now around 10, encounters a male ghost and is chased by an evil female ghost.
• Enna hides in an abandoned house and is found by the female ghost, who tries to harm her.

Character Developments

• Enna begins to understand and accept her ability to see and communicate with ghosts.
• Enna's fear and confusion grow as she encounters dangerous spirits.
• Enna's determination to help others, seen in her attempt to save the male ghost, is foreshadowed.

Significant Themes

• The power of memory and the past, as seen through Enna's visions of her grandmother and sister's wedding.
• The duality of the spirit world, with helpful and harmful ghosts coexisting.
• The struggle between fear and courage, as Enna faces her fears to help others.

Character Interactions

• Enna interacts with her family at her grandmother's funeral, feeling disconnected from them.
• Enna communicates with her deceased grandmother, Elizabeth, at Sally's wedding.
• Enna encounters a male ghost and an evil female ghost, highlighting her vulnerability and need for protection.
• Enna's fear and desperation are emphasized as she calls out for her family, including her grandmother, for help.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Enna encounters a female ghost in her grandmother's house, which is revealed to be Elizabeth, her grandmother's spirit, protecting her.
• Enna's family finds her, and she returns home, but she's traumatized and won't speak about her experience.
• Enna's best friend, Fiona, who moved away, appears as a ghost, and Enna learns that Fiona was murdered.
• Enna provides information about Fiona's murderers to the police, guided by Fiona's ghost.
• Enna begins to understand her abilities and the voices of the dead, leading to a significant change in her mindset.

Character Developments

• Enna: Develops from a terrified, traumatized girl to one who accepts and understands her abilities, showing resolve and empathy for the dead.
• Elizabeth (Grandma Enna): Revealed to be a guardian spirit, protecting Enna. She later expresses a desire for her work to end, suggesting she's tired or has a purpose to fulfill.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural: Ghosts, spirits, and the ability to communicate with them.
• Trauma and coping: Enna's struggle to deal with her experiences and the changes in her life.
• Death and the afterlife: The voices of the dead, their wishes, and their bondage to the living world.

Character Interactions

• Enna and Elizabeth: Their relationship is revealed to be one of protection and guidance, with Elizabeth acting as a guardian spirit.
• Enna and Fiona: Their friendship continues even after Fiona's death, with Fiona guiding Enna to help catch her murderers.
• Enna and her family: There's tension and concern, as Enna's family is unaware of her supernatural experiences and the danger she's in.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Grandma Enna dies, and her soul appears in a dream to the protagonist.
• The protagonist learns that Grandma Enna's ability to communicate with the dead has a side effect: she can no longer see the souls of those she has helped, which eventually leads to their disappearance.
• Grandma Enna's soul is currently lingering in the human world, having seen the truth about the afterlife.

Character Developments

• The protagonist becomes more empathetic towards Grandma Enna's situation and the burden of her ability.
• Grandma Enna, in her final moments, expresses her belief in the afterlife and her acceptance of her friends and family moving on.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of using one's abilities and the burden they carry.
• The differing views on the afterlife and reincarnation between Eastern and Western cultures.
• The acceptance of change and the fear of the unknown.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with Grandma Enna's soul in a dream, learning about her ability's side effect.
• The protagonist communicates with Wu Ling to gather more information about Grandma Enna's situation.
• The protagonist shares the information with his team, leading to a discussion about the implications of Grandma Enna's ability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group discusses Grandma Enna's potential transformation into a vengeful spirit if she learns the truth about her son's death.
• Wu Ling introduces a new wishing method using a special candle and an antique mirror believed to be connected to a witch named Marian.
• Wu Ling and the skinny guy discuss the history of a witch organization, Viknamy, and a powerful witch known as Char's Vengeful Spirit.

Character Developments

• The skinny guy shows knowledge about historical witches and their organizations.
• Wu Ling demonstrates her extensive knowledge of witchcraft history and artifacts.
• Chen Xiaoqiu reveals a deeper understanding of the witch's character and motivations.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of truth and deception.
• The power dynamics and conflicts within historical witch organizations.
• The duality of admiration and hatred towards powerful figures.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ling and the skinny guy share historical knowledge and collaborate on the wishing method.
• Guo Yujie and Chen Xiaoqiu listen and learn about the history of witches and their organizations.
• The group expresses concern for Grandma Enna's well-being and potential transformation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Wu Ling explains the process of spellcasting and the nature of the vengeful spirit, Char.
• The group decides to perform a ritual to destroy Char's vessel, the mirror, at midnight.
• Wu Ling demonstrates the ritual steps and provides necessary items, including cursed objects.
• The skinny guy practices unsealing and resealing a cursed doll, encountering a ghostly child's spirit.

Character Developments

• The skinny guy gains confidence and composure after successfully handling the cursed doll.
• Wu Ling remains calm and composed throughout, demonstrating her expertise in dealing with supernatural entities.

Significant Themes

• The power of belief and intent in summoning spirits.
• The danger of cursed objects and the need for caution when handling them.
• The importance of preparation and practice in facing supernatural challenges.

Character Interactions

• Wu Ling guides and supports the skinny guy, helping him build confidence.
• The skinny guy seeks Lin Qi's reassurance but is ultimately determined to perform the ritual alone.
• The group works together to set up the ritual room and support the skinny guy's practice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group practices unsealing and sticking talismans on various items.
• Wu Ling's ritual to summon a spirit to help against Zhang Yifeng begins at midnight.
• Twelve seals are unwrapped, releasing Yin energy and an ominous aura.
• The ritual succeeds, and the spirit agrees to help the skinny guy.

Character Developments

• The skinny guy gains confidence in the ritual's effectiveness after successfully unsealing items.
• Wu Ling remains composed and in control throughout the ritual.
• Liu Miao and Nangong Yao exhibit unusual behaviors, hinting at potential changes in their plans against Zhang Yifeng.

Significant Themes

• The power of belief and expectations in summoning spirits.
• The duality of spirits, which can be born from both positive and negative emotions.
• The uncertainty and potential dangers of rituals and their outcomes.

Character Interactions

• Gu Mo, Nangong Yao, and the narrator discuss the possibility of game-related spirits and the nature of spirits in general.
• Wu Ling, the skinny guy, and the narrator prepare for and execute the ritual.
• The skinny guy shares the conditions of the spirit's agreement after the ritual's success.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Rui describes encountering a witch-like entity that emerged from a mirror, which he unsealed following a plan.
• The witch didn't speak and shattered the mirror upon fully emerging.
• A contract was formed between A Rui and the witch, with Nangong Yao witnessing it.
• The group discusses the witch's appearance, comparing it to a Western book illustration from centuries ago.
• They decide to sleep in a nearby room after midnight.

Character Developments

• A Rui shows bravery in facing the witch, though he initially describes feeling an "indescribable" sensation.
• Nangong Yao demonstrates his ability to see contracts and possibly other markings related to abilities.
• The group, particularly the skinny guy and fatty, express unease about Ye Qing's and Nangong Yao's secrecy regarding their plans.

Significant Themes

• Secrecy and trust: The group discusses the potential reasons behind Ye Qing's and Nangong Yao's concealment of information, questioning whether it's for their protection or to manipulate them.
• Psychological fortitude: The characters acknowledge their limitations in facing the unknown and the challenges of their situation.

Character Interactions

• A Rui shares his experience with the witch, leading to a discussion about her appearance.
• The skinny guy and fatty discuss their suspicions about Ye Qing's and Nangong Yao's true intentions and the potential risks of their secrecy.
• The group expresses their unease about their situation and the challenges they face.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The chapter takes place on a full moon night, with the protagonist awaiting news from Wu Ling and the others.
• The protagonist suddenly finds himself in a dream, witnessing a battle between Liu Miao and a monster.
• Liu Miao uses a test tube of blood to trigger an explosion in the monster, but Zhang Yifeng appears, unaffected.
• The witch's laughter is heard, and Zhang Yifeng's compass absorbs the monster's blood, creating a new entity.
• Luo Mu arrives, accompanied by a vengeful spirit, and Shen Wangshu appears in a phone booth, attacking Zhang Yifeng.

Character Developments

• The protagonist experiences a dream that reveals the ongoing battle, showing his connection to the events.
• Liu Miao demonstrates his ability to control and manipulate vengeful spirits, using it against Zhang Yifeng.
• Zhang Yifeng shows resilience and strategic thinking, using his compass to absorb and control the monster's blood.
• Luo Mu's character is further revealed as he arrives to assist, accompanied by a vengeful spirit.
• Shen Wangshu's character is briefly shown, displaying her aggressive nature and power.

Significant Themes

• The theme of power and its control is evident as characters use their abilities to influence the battle's outcome.
• The struggle between good and evil is portrayed through the characters' actions and motivations.
• The theme of teamwork and assistance is shown as Luo Mu and Shen Wangshu arrive to help Liu Miao.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist shares a mental connection with Liu Miao, experiencing his perspective during the battle.
• Liu Miao and Zhang Yifeng engage in a tense, strategic fight, each trying to gain the upper hand.
• Luo Mu and Shen Wangshu arrive to assist Liu Miao, showing a sense of teamwork and unity against a common enemy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Yifeng is pulled into a phone booth by vengeful spirits, with Shen Wangshu.
• A witch and a cloth doll appear, the doll devours a blood mass.
• Luo Mu uses his power, but is injured by a flying sword.
• Liu Miao and the protagonist erase the phone booth and the sword.
• Liu Miao is severely injured, and Ye Qing's dark energy manifestation appears.

Character Developments

• Zhang Yifeng: Becomes vengeful and is consumed by the phone booth.
• Luo Mu: Struggles against the sword but is injured.
• Liu Miao: Sacrifices himself to help the protagonist erase the sword.
• The protagonist: Demonstrates increased power and calmness under pressure.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Liu Miao sacrifices himself to save the protagonist and the boss.
• Power and Control: Characters struggle to control and use their powers effectively.
• Revenge: Zhang Yifeng's vengeful spirit drives the plot.

Character Interactions

• Liu Miao and the protagonist: Work together to erase the sword, with Liu Miao making the ultimate sacrifice.
• Luo Mu and the protagonist: Luo Mu looks to the protagonist for help, but the protagonist focuses on saving Liu Miao.
• Zhang Yifeng and the vengeful spirits: They work together to pull Zhang Yifeng into the phone booth.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The battle against Zhang Yifeng's master and the witch ends with the master's death and the witch's unknown fate.
• The protagonist, Qi, uses his ability to save Liu Miao but faints due to overuse.
• Qi wakes up the next day, recovers, and goes to work, where he's greeted with concern from his colleagues.
• The protagonist and his colleagues visit Wu Ling to learn about the battle's details.

Character Developments

• Qi demonstrates his selflessness and determination by using his ability to save Liu Miao, even at the risk of his own life.
• Liu Miao is injured but survives thanks to Qi's intervention.
• Wu Ling shows resilience and recovery, being the least affected among Qing Ye's four members.
• Nangong Yao appears weakened and haggard after the battle.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Qi's willingness to save Liu Miao at his own expense highlights the theme of self-sacrifice.
• Power and its consequences: The ancient artifact's power is demonstrated, but it also causes harm to Qi and others.
• Recovery and resilience: Wu Ling's quick recovery shows the importance of resilience in the face of adversity.

Character Interactions

• Qi and Liu Miao: Their bond is strengthened as Qi saves Liu Miao's life.
• Qi and Wu Ling: They maintain a close working relationship, with Wu Ling keeping Qi informed about the battle's details.
• Fatty and the others: They express concern and support for Qi after the battle.
• Nangong Yao and Gu Mo: They show concern for Liu Miao's condition and disapproval of Qi's reckless use of his ability.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group discusses the outcome of the battle against Zhang Yifeng and his master. All opponents were eliminated, including Luo Mu.
• They learn that the battle took place in Zhang Yifeng's villa, not a park.
• Wu Ling advises the group to lie low as they may attract attention from the supernatural circle.
• Yu Xiaoqin commits suicide after her relatives go missing and her aunt's husband visits her.

Character Developments

• Lin Qi feels sadness and guilt over Luo Mu's death and Yu Xiaoqin's suicide.
• Ye Qing is presumed to be unharmed and in possession of Mu Ge's ability.
• Fu Ying calls Lin Qi to inform him about Yu Xiaoqin's suicide.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of using abilities and the side effects they cause.
• The impact of the group's actions on innocent people, such as Yu Xiaoqin.
• The group's responsibility and guilt in the aftermath of their battles.

Character Interactions

• Lin Qi and Wu Ling discuss the battle's outcome and future precautions.
• Lin Qi and his colleagues discuss Ye Qing's potential use of Grandma Enna's ability.
• Lin Qi and Fu Ying discuss Yu Xiaoqin's suicide.
• Lin Qi and Jiang You discuss a mysterious game live stream related to their past cases.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Qi Ge encounters Jiang You, who mentions a banned game, Spirit Search.
• Qi Ge learns about the disappearance of two online personalities, Thunder Lord and Big Shrimp 123, who were playing Spirit Search.
• The game's download page and related information vanish from the internet.
• Qi Ge's sister complains about a lovey-dovey roommate disturbing their dorm.

Character Developments

• Qi Ge shows concern for others but realizes he has limited emotional capacity to pity others.
• Qi Ge's sister shows maturity in handling dorm issues.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural community's involvement in banning the game.
• The impact of online relationships and behavior on offline life.

Character Interactions

• Qi Ge shares information with Shouzi and the others about the game and the disappearances.
• Qi Ge and his sister discuss her roommate's love life and its impact on their dorm.
• Mom and Dad have differing opinions on how to handle the dorm issue.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Da Xia, a streamer, falls asleep and dreams he's in a game.
• He wakes up in a small, uninhabited room with child-sized furniture, no doors or windows.
• He realizes this room might be from a game he was playing, where two NPCs (a single mother and her son) imprison the player in a bad ending.
• He remembers his missing friend, Xiao Mi, who also played games.

Character Developments

• Da Xia: Initially calm and collected, he becomes increasingly frightened and desperate as he realizes he's trapped in an unknown game-like environment.
• Xiao Mi (mentioned): Da Xia's missing friend, who also played games. His fate is unknown.

Significant Themes

• Trapped reality vs. game world: Da Xia's inability to distinguish between his real life and the game world raises questions about the nature of reality and perception.
• Fear and uncertainty: Da Xia's fear and desperation highlight the psychological aspects of being trapped and helpless.

Character Interactions

• Da Xia interacts with no one in this chapter, as he's alone in the room. However, his thoughts and memories of Xiao Mi serve as a form of interaction, showing his concern for his friend's fate.

Summary

Plot Points and Events

• Da Xia, trapped in a confinement room, discovers a hidden door leading to a game-like environment.
• He finds a family photo with the father's head missing and a gold necklace with the character "美" inscribed.
• The environment resembles scenes from the game "Spirit Search," and Da Xia feels oppressed due to the dark atmosphere.

Character Developments

• Da Xia becomes more determined and resourceful, trying to escape his confinement and uncover the truth.
• He starts questioning the nature of his reality and the game's connection to it.

Significant Themes

• The blurring line between reality and game.
• The oppressive atmosphere and its psychological effects on Da Xia.
• The mysterious "game spirit" and its influence on the characters.

Character Interactions

• Da Xia interacts with the environment, searching for clues and trying to trigger game events.
• He doesn't encounter any other characters in this chapter, but his thoughts reference Mi and Lei Ting Jun, suggesting a connection to their past incidents.

• Key Plot Points: Da Xia explores the apartment, discovering that the kitchen and bathroom are inaccessible. He hides under the bed when the mother and son NPCs return. He witnesses them preparing and eating a meal, then tries to escape but finds the front door locked. He hides behind cardboard boxes, only to find something alive inside them.
• Character Developments: Da Xia's fear and anxiety grow as he faces unknown entities and locked doors. The mother and son NPCs display normal daily activities but with unsettling undertones.
• Significant Themes: The theme of entrapment is prominent, with Da Xia unable to leave the apartment and finding himself cornered. The blurring line between the game world and reality adds to the unease.
• Character Interactions: Da Xia interacts with the game environment, searching for clues and hiding from NPCs. He has no direct interaction with the mother and son but observes their actions. The entity in the cardboard box interacts with Da Xia, adding a new layer of tension.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Big Shrimp (Da Xia) encounters a horde of killer teddy bears in a confined room, leading to his "death" and a "BAD END" screen.
• He is forced to restart the game, reliving the horror.
• Da Xia finds photos and a necklace in the bedroom, which he hadn't used in his previous playthroughs.

Character Developments

• Da Xia becomes more determined and desperate after his traumatic experience, trying to find a way out of the game.
• The NPCs (the woman and the boy) react unexpectedly to Da Xia's presence, showing fear instead of aggression.

Significant Themes

• The theme of being trapped and unable to escape, both in the game and in the real world.
• The supernatural elements, particularly the killer teddy bears, evoke a sense of déjà vu and provoke unease.

Character Interactions

• Da Xia interacts with the NPCs for the first time, hiding under the bed and observing them.
• The NPCs react with fear upon seeing Da Xia, suggesting they might not be the hostile entities he expected.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The shrimp (player) calms the woman by showing her the necklace, which belonged to her lover she killed.
• The woman confesses to killing her ex-husband and his lover.
• The boy stabs his mother with scissors, and the shrimp finishes her off.
• The boy reveals that his mother brought him to the apartment building to escape after killing his father's lover.
• The boy mentions hearing running sounds at night in the escape corridor, a known ghost story in the game.

Character Developments

• The woman's mental state deteriorates, oscillating between grief, anger, and madness.
• The boy reveals his fear and resentment towards his mother, who had become abusive and wanted to kill him.
• The shrimp (player) shows initiative and decisiveness in handling the situation.

Significant Themes

• Madness and its consequences, as seen through the woman's descent into insanity.
• Betrayal and its impact on relationships, driving the woman to commit murder.
• The blurred line between reality and game, emphasized by the shrimp's acceptance of the situation as part of the game.

Character Interactions

• The woman's interactions with the shrimp and her son highlight her instability and violence.
• The boy's interactions with his mother reveal his fear and eventual defiance.
• The shrimp's interactions with both characters show their growing understanding of the situation and their role in it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Da Xia discovers a boy in a room with his mother's corpse and a mysterious killer.
• The boy asks Da Xia to accompany him to the police station.
• In the elevator, the buttons for the upper floors go dark one by one, and a shadowy face appears on the ceiling.
• The elevator light explodes, and the boy's hand in Da Xia's grip turns into a mannequin-like appendage.

Character Developments

• Da Xia: Shows hesitation and fear but decides to help the boy, demonstrating a degree of courage and empathy.
• The Boy: Initially seems scared and innocent, but his behavior becomes unsettling, especially when his hand detaches.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Entities: The game's purpose seems to be killing players, and supernatural entities are involved.
• Isolation: The apartment building is isolated, and the characters are trapped with no means of communication.
• Fear and Uncertainty: Da Xia and the reader are kept in a state of fear and uncertainty about the true nature of the boy and the elevator entity.

Character Interactions

• Da Xia and the Boy: Da Xia initially tries to extract information from the boy but becomes protective of him. The boy, however, behaves strangely, asking Da Xia to accompany him to the police station and then not reacting when his hand detaches.
• Da Xia and the Elevator Entity: There's a tense interaction between Da Xia and the entity in the elevator, culminating in the light exploding and the boy's hand detaching.