Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe leaves Ancient Tablet Town and reviews documents about recent extremist incidents in Taoyuan City.
• He Yuanping, the suspect in the ice poisoning case, is arrested and awaits questioning at the police station.
• He Youjin, a distant relative of He Yuanping and the police captain, questions him privately before the official interrogation.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Realizes the connection between recent extremist incidents and decides to investigate further.
• He Yuanping: Admits to his crime, driven by jealousy of Ning Zhe's family's windfall. Shows remorse and panic about his situation.
• He Youjin: Initially appears to help He Yuanping but later reveals a mysterious identity.

Significant Themes

• Extremism: The sudden increase in extreme behaviors and actions among the citizens of Taoyuan City.
• Jealousy: He Yuanping's jealousy of Ning Zhe's family leads him to commit a crime.
• Unity vs. Isolation: The He clan's unity contrasts with He Yuanping's isolation and desperation.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe: Reviews documents alone in his car, reflecting on the recent incidents.
• He Yuanping & He Youjin: He Youjin questions He Yuanping privately, showing initial concern but later revealing a mysterious identity and connection to He Yuanping.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe, disguised as He Yuanping, confronts He Yuanping in his detention cell, demanding two lives to repay the debt for his parents' deaths.
• He Yuanping offers his parents' and wife's lives to save himself, but Ning Zhe insists on taking his life as well.
• He Yuanping dies of fright in the detention cell, while Ning Zhe's grandparents are revived after being mistakenly declared dead.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Displayed calm determination in seeking justice and revenge, showing no mercy towards He Yuanping.
• He Yuanping: Showed cowardice and willingness to sacrifice his family to save himself, ultimately dying of fright.

Significant Themes

• Justice and revenge: Ning Zhe's single-minded pursuit of justice for his grandparents.
• Cowardice and selfishness: He Yuanping's willingness to sacrifice his family to save himself.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and He Yuanping: A tense and one-sided confrontation, with Ning Zhe demanding He Yuanping's life and He Yuanping trying to bargain for his own survival.
• He Youjin and He Yuanping: He Youjin expresses anger and disgust towards He Yuanping for his actions and the trouble he's caused, ultimately finding him dead in his cell.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe watches the decay of Bishuiwan Manor after it's sealed due to an accident.
• He regrets reviving his deceased grandparents using Life-Buying Money, which may attract Ascendants.
• He decides to focus on his college entrance exam preparations.
• Pang Xuesong and his team meet Duan Geng, a young Daoist with eccentric attire, at Xuanhu Waterfall.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Reflects on his irrational decision to revive his grandparents, but accepts it as a human choice. Focuses on exam preparations.
• Duan Geng: Introduced as a young Daoist with eclectic religious symbols, meeting with Pang Xuesong.

Significant Themes

• Irrational human choices vs. rational AI-like decisions (Ning Zhe).
• The passage of time and decay (Bishuiwan Manor).
• The extraordinary and the mundane (Duan Geng's eccentric appearance).

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe reflects on his actions alone.
• Pang Xuesong and his team meet Duan Geng, with Pang Xuesong showing deference to Duan Geng's unusual appearance and status.

Key Plot Points and Events

• New World Group, represented by Pang Xuesong, invites Daoist Duan Geng to select auspicious sites for building 'aerial corridors' in the Jadeite Urn Basin.
• Duan Geng uses a drone equipped with a telephoto camera to observe the terrain and earth veins, dismissing the need for traditional high-altitude viewing methods.
• He begins his assessment, using the drone to capture footage of Xuanhu Waterfall and the surrounding area.

Character Developments

• Pang Xuesong: A capable and adaptable professional, he quickly accepts Duan Geng's unconventional methods.
• Duan Geng: He is a modern, tech-savvy Daoist priest who combines traditional feng shui practices with contemporary technology. He is also open about his eclectic religious beliefs, wearing both Buddhist beads and a Christian cross.

Significant Themes

• Adaptation of Tradition: Duan Geng's use of a drone to practice feng shui shows how traditional practices can adapt to modern technology.
• Eco-Conservation: The focus on minimizing environmental damage in developing the Jadeite Urn Basin highlights the importance of eco-conservation.

Character Interactions

• Pang Xuesong and Duan Geng: Their interaction is professional and respectful, with Pang Xuesong showing deference to Duan Geng's expertise despite his unconventional methods.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Daoist Duan Geng continues his feng shui assessment of Emerald Urn Nature Reserve, using drones and a helicopter to cover the vast area.
• The college entrance examinations begin in Taoyuan City, and Duan Geng's helicopter survey is interrupted by an incoming storm.
• Duan Geng discovers something amiss with the feng shui of Emerald Urn and decides to investigate further.
• He learns about a recent murder case in Ancient Tablet Town involving the Ning and He families, where the victims inexplicably came back to life or died under mysterious circumstances.

Character Developments

• Duan Geng demonstrates his expertise in feng shui and his concern for the well-being of the townspeople.
• A young field worker shows curiosity and eagerness to learn about feng shui and the recent murder case.

Significant Themes

• The tension between the natural beauty and the supernatural dangers of Emerald Urn Nature Reserve.
• The consequences of jealousy and greed, as seen in the He family's downfall.
• The interconnectedness of the living and the dead, hinted at in the mysterious resurrection and deaths.

Character Interactions

• Duan Geng interacts with the young field worker, sharing his knowledge of feng shui and discussing the murder case.
• The field worker shares local gossip and insights about the murder case with Duan Geng.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Duan Geng, a Daoist, and a field agent survey the terrain around Xuan Lake, discussing Zanju Town's history and current state.
• Duan Geng believes that Zanju Town's abandoned stone carvings are causing ghostly qi to accumulate, affecting Xuan Lake's feng shui.
• Duan Geng asks Lan Shiwen (Lan Renwen) to help him contact Fenwu, an elusive figure, but Lan Shiwen cannot help and suggests trying Tuyu instead.

Character Developments

• Duan Geng: A Daoist who is knowledgeable about Zanju Town's history and its potential impact on the local feng shui. He is determined to help the resentful spirits find rebirth.
• Lan Shiwen (Lan Renwen): A powerful figure in Yun Province who has had some contact with Fenwu in the past. He is cautious and secretive, preferring not to reveal too much information.

Significant Themes

• The impact of the past on the present: Zanju Town's history and abandoned stone carvings are affecting the current feng shui and causing ghostly qi to accumulate.
• Elusiveness and secrecy: Both Fenwu and Lan Shiwen are depicted as elusive figures who keep their true nature and whereabouts hidden.

Character Interactions

• Duan Geng and the field agent: They discuss Zanju Town's history and the potential cause of the accumulated ghostly qi.
• Duan Geng and Lan Shiwen: Duan Geng asks Lan Shiwen for help in contacting Fenwu, but Lan Shiwen cannot assist him and suggests trying Tuyu instead. Their conversation reveals Lan Shiwen's cautious and secretive nature.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The college entrance examinations in Qinzhou are scheduled for early to mid-July, unlike other prefectures, to prevent traffic restrictions and secure better testing conditions.
• Park Chang-beom, after work, returns home to find his younger brother, Park Chang-seong, playing a mobile game.
• Park Chang-beom discovers a livestream titled "Super Horror Live! Exploring an Abandoned Ancient Town" on a video app, featuring five streamers (three females: "Candy Heart Ya," "A Summer Bug," "Xiao Ke Never Sleeps Enough"; two males: "Shenzhen's Most Devoted Man," "Fishing Alone in the Cold River") driving to Zanju Town for a PK event.

Character Developments

• Park Chang-beom: A responsible older brother who works hard and has a similar taste in videos as Daoist Duan Geng.
• Park Chang-seong: A younger brother who is on summer break and enjoys playing mobile games.
• A Summer Bug: A new, tall, and athletic female streamer with a fitness background, who is confident and comfortable among more established streamers.

Significant Themes

• The impact of regional differences on educational systems and infrastructure.
• The influence of big data on user privacy and targeted advertising.
• The allure and potential exploitation of online popularity and fame.

Character Interactions

• Park Chang-beom interacts briefly with his younger brother, Park Chang-seong, showing concern for his well-being and disapproval of his gaming habits.
• The five streamers in the "Super Horror Live" event interact with each other, sharing stories and building anticipation for their exploration of Zanju Town.

Key Plot Points

• A Qiang and A Zhen, a couple of outdoor streamers, visit the abandoned Zanju Town for a livestream.
• They encounter a stone bodhisattva statue in the middle of the road, which they initially think is a prank.
• They play 'One, Two, Three, Wooden Man' with the statues in a courtyard, with nothing unusual happening.
• A viewer donates a large amount and sends a message to leave immediately.

Character Developments

• A Qiang and A Zhen are initially brave and excited about the livestream but start to feel uneasy as strange events occur.
• A Qiang is skeptical about supernatural occurrences, while A Zhen is more cautious and worried.

Significant Themes

• The allure of fame and popularity leading to disregard for potential danger.
• The urban legend of the moving stone statues in Zanju Town.

Character Interactions

• A Qiang and A Zhen interact with each other and their livestream audience, with the audience influencing their actions.
• The couple's dynamic shows A Qiang as more adventurous and A Zhen as more cautious.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A rocket is sent during a livestream, drawing attention to a 2015 recording of a couple, A Qiang and A Zhen, exploring an old courtyard.
• The recording shows a mysterious figure, a stone Bodhisattva, appearing in the courtyard, frightening A Zhen and A Qiang.
• The livestream ends abruptly with a crack sound, suggesting the phone was smashed.

Character Developments

• A Qiang and A Zhen: Initially curious and adventurous, they become terrified and flee when they encounter the mysterious figure.
• Guanyin's Wife (VIP user): Sends rockets and messages, seemingly guiding A Qiang and A Zhen, but their intentions remain unclear.

Significant Themes

• The mysterious and unexplained: The stone Bodhisattva's appearance and the abrupt end of the livestream create an eerie atmosphere.
• The power of livestreaming: The rocket sent by Guanyin's Wife draws attention and viewers to the old recording.

Character Interactions

• A Qiang and A Zhen: Their interaction shows fear and panic when faced with the unknown.
• Guanyin's Wife and A Qiang/A Zhen: Guanyin's Wife's messages seem to guide A Qiang and A Zhen, but their relationship is ambiguous.
• Xiao Ke, Candy Heart, and Summer Bug: The three streamers discuss the recording, expressing skepticism and unease about its authenticity and the subsequent death of A Zhen.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A Zhen and A Qiang flee a haunted courtyard, only to find their car missing.
• They attempt to call the police but fail due to no signal.
• A Zhen dies the next morning in an air-raid shelter, her head injured by a heavy blow.
• The official explanation is that she died from falling rocks, but two theories circulate online: an accidental death by landslide or murder by A Qiang.

Character Developments

• A Zhen: Displayed emotional instability, blaming A Qiang for the car's disappearance and later dying under mysterious circumstances.
• A Qiang: Remained calm under A Zhen's outburst, later found A Zhen's body, and is suspected of her murder.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural occurrences and their impact on characters.
• The instability of emotions and their influence on actions.
• The ambiguity of truth and the reliability of accounts.

Character Interactions

• A Zhen and A Qiang: Their dynamic is marked by A Zhen's emotional outbursts and A Qiang's calm demeanor, culminating in A Zhen's death and A Qiang's suspected involvement.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The story of A Zhen and A Qiang's mysterious death and subsequent events in Zanju Town is recounted.
• A group of five streamers, including Xiao Ke and Candy Heart, visit Zanju Town to livestream a "super horror" event, replicating A Zhen's actions.
• They enter the town from different directions, with Xiao Ke and Candy Heart choosing the southern entrance.

Character Developments

• Xiao Ke: A nearsighted streamer who is slightly anxious but determined to explore Zanju Town.
• Candy Heart: A confident streamer with good eyesight, who supports Xiao Ke as they venture into the town.

Significant Themes

• The mystery surrounding A Zhen's death and the supernatural events in Zanju Town.
• The allure of urban legends and Weird Events for streamers and viewers.
• The exploration of fear and courage in the face of the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Ke and Candy Heart walk along opposite sides of the street, looking out for each other while maintaining the "act alone" rule of the livestream event.
• They communicate with their viewers through their livestreams, sharing their experiences and thoughts as they explore Zanju Town.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Ke's livestream shows a humanoid stone statue with blurred facial features.
• Park Chang-beom discovers that Daoist Duan Geng, whom he hired, is the user 'Poguan' who tipped off A Zhen and A Qiang's livestream years ago.
• Summer Bug enters Zanju Town from the north, carrying a 'snow-stepping plum seeker' black cat.

Character Developments

• Park Chang-beom becomes suspicious of Daoist Duan Geng's true intentions and hesitates to call him.
• Summer Bug shows courage and resourcefulness by exploring the town alone with the black cat.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and eerie atmosphere of Zanju Town.
• The potential danger and hidden truths behind the town's urban legend.
• The role of fate or coincidence in guiding events.

Character Interactions

• Park Chang-beom's discovery of Daoist Duan Geng's past creates tension and mistrust between them.
• Summer Bug's interaction with the black cat suggests a connection to the supernatural, foreshadowing potential encounters with the unknown.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Summer Bug, a tall and physically fit rookie streamer, gains rapid popularity during her first livestream.
• She reads crude and vulgar comments from viewers, causing her to blush and express disgust.
• A cat named Snow Treader, which she is holding, suddenly becomes agitated and scratches her before escaping.
• Summer Bug's phone loses signal, and she discovers an upside-down stone foot and a giant Buddha face nearby.

Character Developments

• Summer Bug: Initially excited by her sudden popularity, she becomes disillusioned when she realizes the viewers might be fake. She is naive and inexperienced, reacting with embarrassment and anger to the vulgar comments. She shows concern for the cat's well-being.
• Snow Treader: Despite being a professionally trained cat, it behaves unusually, suggesting it might have sensed something amiss in the environment.

Significant Themes

• The superficial nature of online popularity and the use of bought traffic.
• The contrast between Summer Bug's conservative upbringing and the explicit nature of some livestream comments.
• The mysterious and eerie atmosphere of the town, foreshadowing potential supernatural events.

Character Interactions

• Summer Bug interacts with viewers through her livestream, initially enjoying their praise but later becoming upset by their crude comments.
• She communicates with the production crew via phone, though she doesn't know they can't hear her due to the signal loss.
• There's no direct human interaction in this chapter, but Summer Bug's relationship with Snow Treader is notable, as the cat's behavior changes suddenly and aggressively.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Summer Bug discovers a flesh-colored stone foot sticking out of the soil, resembling a child's foot, which sparks curiosity and unease.
• She realizes that the Four-Faced Buddha statue in the town is incomplete and lacks a face on the north side.
• Summer Bug calls Fishing Alone on Cold River (Jiang Han) for help, asking him to bring tools to dig up the stone foot. She also calls Xiao Ke and Candy Heart, noting that only Jiang Han's and the others' calls go through, not the production crew's.
• Summer Bug finds her valuable items missing from her waist pouch, suspecting theft.

Character Developments

• Summer Bug: Initially curious and adventurous, she becomes concerned and suspicious after discovering the theft.
• Fishing Alone on Cold River (Jiang Han): He seems unusual in his haste to help Summer Bug, unlike his usual slow-paced demeanor.

Significant Themes

• The unknown and mysterious nature of the ancient town.
• The contrast between Summer Bug's pampered life and the harsh reality she encounters.
• The theme of theft and trust among the group.

Character Interactions

• Summer Bug interacts with the viewers in her stream, sharing her thoughts and discoveries.
• She calls Fishing Alone on Cold River, Xiao Ke, and Candy Heart for help, noting the strange signal issue.
• Summer Bug suspects Xiao Ke and Candy Heart of theft, though she's uncertain.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Candy Heart, a livestreamer, explores the abandoned Zanju Town to understand why it was deserted despite its proximity to Taoyuan City.
• She explains that rapid urbanization led to a brain drain, with young and middle-aged residents moving to the city, leaving behind mostly elderly and children.
• The town's schools were merged into the city's district, but this didn't prevent the eventual abandonment of Zanju Town.
• Candy Heart visits the former residence of Old Madam Wu, who died alone in her bathroom, and her body was not discovered for 14 months.
• While livestreaming at the Residential Building, Candy Heart hears mysterious, eerie sounds coming from the second floor, suggesting a presence in the abandoned town.

Character Developments

• Candy Heart: Initially calm and informative, she becomes frightened and panicked after hearing the strange sounds, revealing her vulnerability.

Significant Themes

• Urbanization and its consequences: The rapid development of cities leads to the abandonment of rural towns and the isolation of the elderly and children left behind.
• Isolation and loneliness: The story of Old Madam Wu highlights the tragic consequences of isolation and the lack of community support for the elderly.

Character Interactions

• Candy Heart interacts with her livestream audience, answering their questions and reacting to their comments. However, when she hears the mysterious sounds, she becomes too frightened to engage with them.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Deep Feeling Brother, a dedicated livestreamer, explores an abandoned town's centerpiece, the Six-Legged Eight-Armed Four-Faced Buddha statue.
• He encounters another streamer, Xiao Ke, who behaves unusually, throwing herself at him and trying to seduce him.
• Deep Feeling Brother resists Xiao Ke's advances, fearing a setup and the potential consequences for his family and career.
• He discovers that Xiao Ke has no body heat, and the Four-Faced Buddha statue is watching them.

Character Developments

• Deep Feeling Brother: Shows professionalism in his streaming, dedication to his family, and strong self-control in resisting Xiao Ke's advances.
• Xiao Ke: Exhibits unusual behavior, seemingly under the influence of something or someone, and has no body heat.

Significant Themes

• Lust vs. Self-Control: Deep Feeling Brother's struggle between his desires and his self-control, ultimately choosing to resist Xiao Ke's advances.
• The Unknown: The mysterious and eerie atmosphere of the abandoned town and the Four-Faced Buddha statue, suggesting something supernatural is at play.

Character Interactions

• Deep Feeling Brother and Xiao Ke: Their interaction is tense and unsettling, with Xiao Ke pursuing Deep Feeling Brother despite his resistance.
• Deep Feeling Brother and the Four-Faced Buddha: The statue's silent, watchful presence adds an ominous element to Deep Feeling Brother's exploration and interaction with Xiao Ke.

Key Plot Points & Events

• The author's latest chapter (152) is released but immediately sent to moderation, causing a delay in its availability to readers.
• The author expresses frustration at the thorough ban and the difficulty in updating their work.

Character Developments

• The author: Frustrated and disheartened by the moderation process, which hinders their ability to share their work with readers.

Significant Themes

• Frustration and obstacles in creative expression and sharing.
• The impact of moderation and censorship on creators and their audience.

Character Interactions

• The author interacts with the moderation system, expressing their frustration through exclamations ("Damn it!").

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Han returns to find an unknown white van under an oil-tea tree, replacing the production crew's vehicles.
• He breaks the window to investigate the van, finding supplies inside.
• A ghostly figure of A Zhen appears, accusing Jiang Han of stealing her things.

Character Developments

• Jiang Han demonstrates bravery and resourcefulness, but is also shown to be superstitious and frightened by the ghostly encounter.
• A Zhen's ghost is introduced, appearing vengeful and tormented.

Significant Themes

• The supernatural and the unknown.
• The consequences of past actions (A Zhen's resentment and Jiang Han's guilt).

Character Interactions

• Jiang Han interacts with the ghost of A Zhen, who appears to hold a grudge against him.
• Jiang Han's livestream viewers comment and react to the events, influencing his actions.

Key Plot Points & Events

• Jiang Han finds A Zhen's corpse with a horrifying face, triggering his panic-stricken flight.
• He encounters Candy Heart in a derelict building, who appears ill and later reveals she's deceased.
• Summer Bug returns to the spot where she found a stone foot and encounters a mysterious man wearing a ghost-face mask.

Character Developments

• Jiang Han: Initially brave, he becomes terrified upon seeing A Zhen's corpse and struggles to cope with Candy Heart's death.
• Candy Heart: Revealed to be deceased, she clings to Jiang Han for help, unaware of her own death.
• Summer Bug: Frustrated and irritated due to her isolation and injuries, she encounters an eerie stranger.

Significant Themes

• Fear and panic in the face of the unknown and supernatural.
• Isolation and helplessness in desperate situations.
• The theme of death and the inability to accept it, as seen through Candy Heart's character.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Han and Candy Heart: Jiang Han tries to help Candy Heart, only to realize she's dead, causing him to freeze in fear.
• Summer Bug and the Mysterious Man: Summer Bug encounters the man wearing a ghost-face mask, who asks her if she knows she's dead, adding to her confusion and fear.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ning Zhe, wearing Yu Ziqian's ghost mask, confronts Summer Bug in Zanju Town.
• Ning Zhe, using Lin Zhiyuan's body, shoots Summer Bug with a reduced-charge rubber bullet and subdues her.
• Ning Zhe reveals he's been hired to retrieve as many living people as possible from Zanju Town.
• Te Rang senses multiple shadows moving around in the town, suggesting more people than just the missing streamers are present.

Character Developments

• Ning Zhe: Displayed cunning and ruthlessness in subduing Summer Bug, showing his unstable emotional state.
• Summer Bug: Demonstrated fierce resistance and determination, but was ultimately subdued by Ning Zhe.

Significant Themes

• Deception and manipulation: Ning Zhe uses the ghost mask and his ability to switch bodies to deceive and control Summer Bug.
• Power dynamics: The physical altercation between Ning Zhe and Summer Bug highlights the power imbalance between them.

Character Interactions

• Ning Zhe and Summer Bug: Their interaction is tense and violent, with Ning Zhe using force and manipulation to subdue Summer Bug.
• Ning Zhe and Te Rang: They communicate briefly, with Te Rang providing information about the shadows in Zanju Town.