Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pi Ruan threatens a young boy, warning him to keep silent about what he saw.
• Jiang Cheng and his group are directed to a shortcut to the mine by the men.
• Jiang Cheng returns to the tent to question the boy about Pi Ruan's threat.
• The boy reveals that Pi Ruan has a rotting face and is not human, referring to him as the "Rotten-Faced Ghost."

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng shows concern for the boy's safety and probes Pi Ruan's threat.
• Pi Ruan is revealed to have a horrifying, rotting face, hinting at a dark secret or supernatural nature.
• The boy shows resilience and courage in recounting his terrifying experience.

Significant Themes

• Trust and suspicion: Jiang Cheng's trust in Pi Ruan wavers as he investigates the threat to the boy.
• Appearance vs. reality: Pi Ruan's horrifying face beneath his normal appearance suggests a dark truth.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and the boy: Jiang Cheng shows empathy and concern for the boy, while the boy trusts Jiang Cheng enough to reveal his terrifying experience.
• Pi Ruan and the boy: Pi Ruan threatens the boy, instilling fear in him.
• Jiang Cheng and Pi Ruan: Jiang Cheng's suspicion of Pi Ruan grows as he learns about the threat to the boy.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Cheng returns to the team after investigating the child's claims about supernatural events in the mine.
• Jiang Cheng suspects Pi Ruan, a team member, might be a ghost in disguise.
• A man named Feng Bin reports to Captain Wu and a woman about Jiang Cheng's group and a rotten-faced ghost.
• They find an ID belonging to Luo He, a member of the Night WatchDeep Red Squad, which puzzles them.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng: He demonstrates analytical skills and suspicion towards Pi Ruan, indicating his growing perceptiveness and caution.
• Pi Ruan: His questionable behavior raises suspicion, suggesting he might not be who he claims to be.
• Feng Bin: He shows initiative and caution by reporting his encounter to authorities.
• Captain Wu: He displays confusion and curiosity upon seeing Luo He's ID, hinting at his dedication to his work and eagerness to understand unusual situations.

Significant Themes

• Trust and deception: Jiang Cheng's suspicion of Pi Ruan explores the theme of trust and how it can be manipulated or broken.
• Power and authority: The mysterious ID belonging to Luo He hints at the existence of powerful, secretive organizations, raising questions about their authority and purpose.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Huai Yi: Jiang Cheng's calm demeanor after returning to the team contrasts with Huai Yi's fear and assumptions, highlighting their different personalities and perceptions.
• Feng Bin and Captain Wu: Feng Bin's report to Captain Wu shows a hierarchical structure within their organization, with Captain Wu being in a position of authority.
• Pi Ruan and Fu Fu: Their argument reveals Pi Ruan's aggressive behavior and Fu Fu's assertiveness, further emphasizing Pi Ruan's questionable nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The team enters a seemingly endless tunnel with a flatbed cart, despite initial reluctance to use it.
• They walk for hours, but the tunnel appears endless, and they encounter a single stone on the track, indicating they've entered a closed loop.
• They decide to retrace their steps, but the stone appears again, suggesting they're stuck in an infinite loop.
• Jiang Cheng suggests two solutions: retrace their steps to find clues and split into two teams to explore both directions.

Character Developments

• Zhao Xingguo displays strong leadership and determination, warning the team about unity and consequences for betrayal.
• Fatty shows vulnerability and fear when faced with the supernatural event, but also displays a sense of camaraderie when slipping.
• Luo He demonstrates analytical skills and calmness under pressure, realizing they've entered the supernatural event's scope.
• Jiang Cheng thinks critically and offers practical solutions, even when faced with Linghu Yong's skepticism.

Significant Themes

• Unity and trust among team members are crucial for survival.
• The oppressive and disorienting nature of the tunnel represents the group's growing unease and fear.
• The closed loop symbolizes the inescapable and repetitive nature of the supernatural event.

Character Interactions

• Zhao Xingguo and Fu Fu have a tense exchange, with Fu Fu dismissive of Zhao's seriousness.
• Fatty and Chen Qiang show camaraderie when Fatty slips.
• Jiang Cheng and Linghu Yong have a tense exchange, with Linghu Yong questioning Jiang's suggestions and Jiang Cheng standing his ground.
• Lin Wan'er's voice resonates eerily with the darkness, highlighting her calm and collected demeanor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group, led by Pi Ruan, enters a dark, endless tunnel.
• Jiang Cheng notices an extra person in their group, indicating a ghostly presence.
• They encounter a fork in the road with lights and old tracks, suggesting a ghost train's path.
• Another group, led by Zhao Xingguo, splits off, and a mysterious sixth figure follows them.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng demonstrates his keen observation and analytical skills, identifying the ghostly presence and the targeted person, Luo He.
• Pi Ruan shows his cowardice and snarky attitude, but also his determination not to be left behind.
• Huai Yi displays fear when seeing the mysterious figure following Zhao Xingguo's group.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural theme continues, with the group facing a ghost wall and a ghost train's path.
• The theme of teamwork and separation is explored as the group decides to split up.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Zhao Xingguo exchange a solemn farewell before splitting up.
• Pi Ruan and Fu Fu argue, lightening the tense atmosphere before the groups split.
• Jiang Cheng takes the lead in exploring the side path, showing his initiative and courage.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group realizes they're trapped due to a ghost's ability, which has a limited range.
• They discover a ghost station within a tunnel, with a train approaching.
• Luo He, who was previously targeted by the ghost, survives and explains he tricked the ghost by calling the number that called him, exposing it and breaking the ghost wall.
• As the train arrives, more ghostly figures emerge from a waiting room, revealing a mix of people from different eras.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng: Shows leadership, understanding of the situation, and a calm acceptance of potential danger.
• Luo He: Demonstrates decisiveness and ruthlessness in his method to expose the ghost, showing he's not as harmless as he seems.
• The Fatty (Pi Ruan): Initially scared and hesitant, he later understands and accepts Luo He's method, showing growth in his understanding of their situation.

Significant Themes

• Survival: Characters must make tough decisions and take risks to survive.
• Deception and Trust: Characters deceive each other for survival, challenging trust within the group.
• Time and Reality: The ghost station and train defy real-world logic, suggesting a distorted reality or time loop.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Luo He: Jiang Cheng acknowledges Luo He's method, showing a level of respect and understanding.
• The Group: Tension and mistrust grow among the group due to the ghost's presence and Luo He's deception.
• Pi Ruan and Fu Fu: Pi Ruan is scared of Fu Fu, highlighting the power dynamics between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The author apologizes for the delay in updating the story due to writer's block.
• The story has reached its middle stage, and significant revelations are impending, such as the protagonist's identity and the bond between the Night Watch and the Deep Red.
• The author is struggling to write the climactic supernatural events, leading to extensive rewriting and hesitation.

Character Developments

• The author, as a character in this meta-narrative, is shown to be perfectionistic and struggling with writer's block, affecting their progress in writing the story.

Significant Themes

• Writer's block and the creative process, including the struggle to maintain perfection and the fear of wasting potential.
• The importance of patience and understanding from readers while an author works through creative challenges.

Character Interactions

• The author addresses their readers as "brothers," indicating a friendly and open relationship, and asks for their understanding and patience.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Cheng and his group board a train with unusual passengers, some visible and others not.
• As the train moves, the car fills with ghostly, wounded passengers.
• A small, blackened old woman trips Huai Yi, then clings to him, causing a commotion.
• Huai Yi accidentally pulls off the old woman's arm, and her head rolls off.
• Jiang Cheng intervenes, threatens the old woman, and she leaves after retrieving her head and arm.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng demonstrates courage and assertiveness in dealing with the supernatural threat.
• Huai Yi shows fear and panic when faced with the ghostly situation but maintains a level of humor.
• Fatty exhibits concern and confusion throughout the event.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and the unknown.
• Fear and courage in the face of the extraordinary.
• The consequences of one's actions (Huai Yi's accidental harm to the old woman).

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng takes charge and protects the group from the ghostly threat.
• Huai Yi and Jiang Cheng work together to resolve the crisis, with Huai Yi providing comic relief.
• Fatty shows concern for Huai Yi and the group's safety.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group is transported from their train carriage to a small metal room, then to Graystone Town police station.
• They are accused of serious crimes and sentenced to death.
• Director Qiao, the police station chief, reveals he's behind their situation.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng: Stays calm and collected, doesn't argue his false charge.
• Fatty: Becomes anxious and defensive when accused of rape.
• Pi Ruan: Maintains a mournful demeanor, questions his absurd charge.

Significant Themes

• False Accusations: All characters are falsely accused of severe crimes.
• Power Dynamics: Director Qiao's statement "I am the law here" highlights the abuse of power.

Character Interactions

• Group Dynamics: The group sticks together, supporting each other amidst their dire situation.
• Jiang Cheng vs Director Qiao: Jiang Cheng's calm defiance contrasts with Director Qiao's authoritative demeanor.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Director Qiao threatens Jiang Cheng and his friends with fabricated charges to force them into solving a case.
• The case is the mysterious disappearance of the May Train, which vanished three years ago while transporting refugees.
• The train arrived at its destination with no passengers but their belongings intact. The last carriage was locked from the inside, and two people who guarded it disappeared.

Character Developments

• Director Qiao is revealed to be desperate and frightened by the May Train incident, suggesting he's not as powerful or in control as he initially appeared.
• Jiang Cheng and his friends are determined to solve the case despite the danger and the short deadline (7 days).

Significant Themes

• Mystery and the Supernatural: The May Train disappearance is shrouded in mystery, with eerie details suggesting a supernatural event.
• Desperation and Desperate Measures: Director Qiao's actions show his desperation to solve the case, leading him to threaten Jiang Cheng and his friends.

Character Interactions

• Director Qiao interacts with Jiang Cheng and his friends as a threatening figure, using their charges to coerce them into solving the case.
• Jiang Cheng and his friends interact with each other, showing concern and determination to solve the case together, despite their fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A group of people, including Jiang Cheng, are investigating a mysterious train incident from years ago, where all passengers on a May train disappeared, and those found had a bizarre, smiling expression on their faces, with no apparent cause of death.
• The group discovers that the missing passengers were mostly young and middle-aged adults and women, while the dead were elderly and children. They also find that the empty seats on the train were reserved for the missing passengers.
• Director Qiao, the lead investigator, reveals that he has been determined to solve this case for years, despite the wartime chaos and the unusual nature of the incident.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng: Shows keen observation and analytical skills, piecing together clues and asking insightful questions.
• Director Qiao: Reveals his dedication and persistence in solving the case, hinting at a personal stake or deeper reason.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences: The bizarre deaths and disappearances suggest a supernatural element at play.
• War and human life: The incident occurred during a war, highlighting the devaluation of human life in such times.
• Determination and persistence: Director Qiao's relentless pursuit of the truth contrasts with the general indifference towards the case.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Director Qiao: Jiang Cheng's questions challenge Director Qiao, leading him to reveal more information and show respect for Jiang Cheng's intellect.
• The group and Director Qiao: The group interacts with Director Qiao, learning more about the case and his motivations.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A fresh corpse is found, with a strange, tense, and fearful smile, indicating death by a ghost.
• The victim is identified as Feng Delin, son of Old Master Feng, a prominent figure in Graystone Town.
• More than ten Feng family members are found dead, all with the same strange smile, suggesting a targeted ghostly annihilation.
• The Feng family is connected to the May issue train disappearance case, having sponsored the refugee transport and arranged the train.
• A Taoist priest hired to exorcise the ghosts dies with the same strange smile, increasing the urgency of the case.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng: Shows professionalism and logical thinking, immediately connecting the case to the May issue train incident and questioning Director Qiao about the Feng family's involvement.
• Director Qiao: Struggles to maintain control of the situation, threatened by both the Feng family and the ghostly presence, and resorts to using Jiang Cheng's group as scapegoats.

Significant Themes

• Ghostly vengeance: The ghostly presence is targeting the Feng family, suggesting a past grievance or injustice.
• Time pressure: The seven-day deadline imposed by Director Qiao adds urgency and tension to the investigation.
• Power dynamics: The Feng family's influence and Director Qiao's fear of offending them highlight the power dynamics at play in Graystone Town.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Director Qiao: Their interaction reveals Director Qiao's desperation and Jiang Cheng's determination to solve the case despite the political pressures.
• Jiang Cheng and Pi Ruan: Pi Ruan's taunting of Director Qiao is met with a cold threat, showing the power imbalance between them.
• The group and the police: The group's interaction with the police officers reveals the latter's fear and respect for the ghostly presence, as well as their deference to Director Qiao's authority.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group encounters a Japanese woman selling unique dolls on a street stall.
• They learn from a police officer, Wu Dali, that the woman is Japanese and that Japanese people now live in the city, selling handicrafts after the war.
• Wu Dali reveals that the Feng family has invited four masters to help with their ghost problem, all of whom have died.
• He expresses fear of the May Train and warns the group not to get involved.
• Jiang Cheng asks about any remaining evidence or photos of the May Train incident.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng shows interest in the May Train incident and seeks evidence.
• Huai Yi maintains confidence in his abilities but doesn't argue with Wu Dali.
• Wu Dali reveals his fear of the May Train and the ghost soldiers, showing his superstitious nature.

Significant Themes

• The consequences of war and occupation: Japanese people now live in the city, selling handicrafts to make a living after the war.
• Fear and superstition: Wu Dali's fear of the May Train and ghost soldiers highlights the widespread fear and superstition surrounding the incident.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Huai Yi interact with Wu Dali, learning about the current situation and expressing their intentions to investigate the May Train incident.
• Wu Dali shares information about the Feng family and the May Train but warns the group not to get involved due to his fear of the ghost soldiers.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group hears rumors about vengeful spirits and ghost soldiers causing trouble in Graystone Town, specifically targeting the Feng Family.
• Wu Dali, a local guide, leads them to the Feng Manor, a grand and imposing estate, despite it being closed and adorned with funeral offerings.
• They enter through a side entrance, where they meet Crippled Liu, a disfigured and disabled gatekeeper, who lets them in after a tense moment.

Character Developments

• Wu Dali: Shows concern for the group's safety but is more interested in completing his task quickly to avoid trouble.
• Crippled Liu: Reveals his grotesque appearance and mysterious behavior, hinting at his unusual role in the Feng Manor.

Significant Themes

• Superstition and the supernatural: The rumors about vengeful spirits and the Feng Family's troubles create an atmosphere of fear and mystery.
• Social hierarchy: The Feng Family's wealth and influence are emphasized, contrasting with the group's lower status.
• Disability and appearance: Crippled Liu's physical disabilities and disfigurement are highlighted, suggesting a connection to his role or the Feng Family's troubles.

Character Interactions

• Wu Dali and the group: Wu Dali leads the group but maintains a distance, showing little concern for their well-being.
• The group and Crippled Liu: The group is tense and wary around Crippled Liu, while he scrutinizes them before allowing them entry.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group arrives at Feng's Mansion, greeted by Crippled Liu who sets rules and warns them not to wander.
• They are led to a building where they will stay, with food to be delivered later.
• Jiang Cheng insists on investigating the case immediately, and Crippled Liu agrees, leading them towards the main residence.
• Crippled Liu reveals that the Heavenly Master Daoist's body was found at an altar, and they should investigate there.
• Crippled Liu warns them not to wander off and leaves, expressing unease about their presence.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng demonstrates assertiveness and calmness in the face of Crippled Liu's aggression.
• Crippled Liu shows a strange demeanor, with sudden mood shifts and a peculiar fixation on the group not wandering off.

Significant Themes

• The ominous atmosphere and potential danger within Feng's Mansion.
• The mysterious nature of the case and the Feng Family's situation.
• The tension between the group and Crippled Liu, highlighting the power dynamics and their uncertainty about the true intentions of their "hosts."

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng stands up to Crippled Liu, showing leadership and courage.
• The group members express unease and concern about Crippled Liu's behavior and the situation they're in.
• Crippled Liu's interaction with the group is marked by hostility, suspicion, and a hint of fear, suggesting a deeper issue or secret.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The team finds the Celestial Master's body on an altar, covered with a white cloth.
• They decide to search the altar for clues before touching the body.
• Jiang Cheng discovers oil on the offering plates, which has a peculiar smell.
• They uncover the body and find it in an extremely bizarre state, with a strange face and two artifacts beside it.
• Underneath the body, they discover over a dozen crudely made straw figures.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng demonstrates his keen observation skills and bravery by touching the oil and examining the body.
• Fu Fu reveals knowledge about Deep Red's practices, causing tension among the team.
• Huai Yi becomes suspicious of his teammates' true identities.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural Elements: The bizarre state of the body and the straw figures hint at supernatural influences.
• Trust and Deception: Tensions rise due to suspected hidden identities and loyalties.
• Death and Disrespect: The Feng Family's disregard for the Celestial Master's body raises questions about their customs and beliefs.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Huai Yi have a subtle exchange about the peculiar oil.
• Fu Fu's revelation about Deep Red's practices causes unease among the team.
• The team works together to uncover the body and examine the straw figures.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pan Du discovers a heavy, sharp peach wood sword in the Taoist priest's room.
• Crippled Liu appears, warning them to leave the Feng Family's forbidden area.
• Jiang Cheng and Linghu Yong argue with Crippled Liu, challenging his authority.
• Crippled Liu reveals that strange occurrences happen when the weather is bad, hinting at supernatural forces.
• They leave the scene as it starts to rain, unaware that the straw doll has come to life.

Character Developments

• Pan Du: Shows curiosity and bravery by picking up the peach wood sword.
• Crippled Liu: Initially arrogant and hostile, he becomes more cooperative after Jiang Cheng's reprimand, showing concern for their safety.
• Jiang Cheng: Demonstrates leadership and assertiveness in confronting Crippled Liu.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural forces: The weather's influence and the straw doll's movement suggest the presence of unseen entities.
• Power dynamics: The argument between Jiang Cheng, Linghu Yong, and Crippled Liu highlights the tension between the investigators and the Feng Manor's staff.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Crippled Liu: Jiang Cheng challenges Crippled Liu's authority, leading to a shift in their dynamic.
• The investigators: They work together to investigate the case, supporting each other against Crippled Liu and the supernatural threats.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The team realizes the ghosts in the Feng family's deaths are the same as those from the train's last carriage, dismissing the idea of vengeful victims.
• They suspect the train's existence and the ghosts' imprisonment were orchestrated by the Feng family's ghost.
• They decide to sleep separately on the same floor for safety, with Jiang Cheng, Fatty, and Lin Wan'er in one room, and the others in separate rooms.
• Jiang Cheng suspects Pi Ruan's ghost is wearing his skin and is worried about the ghost's motive.
• Jiang Cheng experiences vivid, disturbing memories of a past battle and sees Fatty's bloody corpse, with a mysterious woman behind him.

Character Developments

• Jiang Cheng shows calm leadership and strategic thinking, assigning rooms for safety and showing concern for his team's well-being.
• Fatty displays unexpected bravery and resolve in Jiang Cheng's memory, revealing a hidden side to his character.
• Pi Ruan's ghost is confirmed to be wearing his skin, raising questions about its motives and intentions.
• The mysterious woman in Jiang Cheng's memory is introduced, hinting at a potential new threat or ally.

Significant Themes

• Trust and vigilance among team members, as they can't fully trust each other in Nightmare.
• The consequences of past actions and the lingering effects of trauma, as seen in Jiang Cheng's disturbing memories.
• The blurred line between allies and enemies, with the true target and motives of the ghosts remaining unclear.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Cheng and Fatty's bond is strengthened as they share a room, showing trust and camaraderie.
• Lin Wan'er's silent observation of Pan Du hints at potential secrets or suspicions about him.
• The team's dynamics shift as they separate into smaller groups, emphasizing the importance of individual decisions and actions.
• Jiang Cheng's memory of Fatty and the mysterious woman suggests a complex history and potential future conflicts.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pi Ruan leaves his body in a trance-like state and meets Luo He in a dreamscape.
• Luo He thanks Pi Ruan for saving his sister and giving her his door.
• Pi Ruan reveals he's nearing his limit and won't be able to leave the supernatural incident's location.
• Luo He offers to grant Pi Ruan's dying wish.

Character Developments

• Pi Ruan shows vulnerability and nostalgia when discussing his door and the creature within it.
• Pi Ruan displays a sense of responsibility and selflessness when he asks Luo He to protect No. 10.
• Luo He reveals his strategic thinking and willingness to help Pi Ruan, despite their tense relationship.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Pi Ruan's willingness to sacrifice himself for the greater good and to protect No. 10.
• Trust and Betrayal: The tension between Pi Ruan and Luo He, with Pi Ruan suspecting Luo He's true intentions.
• Power and Control: The power dynamics between Night Watch, Zero, and the other characters, with each trying to maintain control over the situation.

Character Interactions

• Pi Ruan and Luo He's interaction is tense yet revealing, with each trying to read the other's true intentions.
• Pi Ruan's past with his door is hinted at, showing a softer side to his character.
• Pi Ruan's request for Luo He to protect No. 10 shows a level of trust and vulnerability between them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Pi Ruan and Luo He discuss the leak of information within Deep Red, suspecting either No. 2 or No. 1.
• They discuss Zero's dormant door and Wu's potential threat.
• Pi Ruan reveals Wu's abilities: collecting and mastering abilities of ghosts and monsters from his comic book.
• Pi Ruan warns Luo He not to underestimate Wu, as he could protect Zero if necessary.

Character Developments

• Pi Ruan shows strategic prowess and knowledge of Wu's abilities, positioning Wu as a potential threat to Deep Red and Night Watch.
• Luo He shows interest in Wu's abilities and acknowledges Pi Ruan's strategic planning.

Significant Themes

• Trust and betrayal within Deep Red.
• The threat posed by Wu and the potential danger he represents to Deep Red and Night Watch.
• The strategic planning and foresight of Pi Ruan.

Character Interactions

• Pi Ruan and Luo He discuss the situation, with Pi Ruan providing information and Luo He processing it.
• Pi Ruan warns Luo He about Wu's capabilities and the potential consequences of underestimating him.
• Luo He acknowledges Pi Ruan's strategic planning and expresses his understanding of the situation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A ghost intrudes into Luo He's (No. 3) dreamscape, waking up others in the dreamscape.
• Pan Du wakes up to find Zhao Xingguo and Linghu Yong missing from their room.
• Pan Du encounters a figure running in the mist outside, which he initially chases but later realizes is a trap set by a ghost.
• Pan Du is saved by Luo He from the ghost.

Character Developments

• Luo He demonstrates his ability to sense and manipulate dreamscapes, revealing his power as a Night Watch member.
• Pan Du shows his survival instincts and quick thinking in the face of danger, though he also displays naivety in initially chasing the figure.

Significant Themes

• The theme of dreams and reality blurring, as the ghost intrudes into the dreamscape and Pan Du's encounter in the mist.
• The theme of danger and survival, as Pan Du faces the ghost alone and is later rescued by Luo He.

Character Interactions

• Luo He and Pan Du: Luo He saves Pan Du from the ghost, showing his protective side despite his initial impatience with Pan Du's actions.
• Pan Du and the mysterious figure: Pan Du chases the figure, initially thinking it's a member of their group, but later realizes it's a ghost luring him into a trap.