Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• On New Year's Eve, a global phenomenon occurs: a mechanical sound is heard, and people receive a message about a horror game called "Eerie Era."
• The event is quickly forgotten by most, but some retain the memory and are met with ridicule.
• Shen Yu, one of the few who remembers, experiences an anomaly on his morning bus ride: a drip of icy liquid on his neck and the bus driver behaving erratically, leading to a near-fatal crash.
• Shen Yu activates the Anomaly Containment System, which uses 10,000 Construction Points to rewind time, preventing the crash.

Character Developments

• Shen Yu: Initially seems ordinary, but he retains his memory of the "Eerie Era" event and experiences an anomaly. He demonstrates quick thinking and bravery in preventing the bus crash.

Significant Themes

• Memory and Forgetfulness: Most people quickly forget the "Eerie Era" event, while a few, like Shen Yu, retain their memory.
• Anomalies and the Supernatural: The event and Shen Yu's experience on the bus hint at supernatural occurrences.
• Humanity vs. Distortion: The bus driver struggles against an unknown force controlling him.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yu interacts with the bus driver and passengers. He takes control of the situation, explaining the driver's seizure to the passengers and preventing them from interfering with his actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The bus driver suddenly falls ill and can't drive.
• Shen Yu takes the driver's place and successfully navigates the bus.
• The driver regains consciousness and attacks passengers, displaying immense strength.
• The police arrive, but the driver breaks free and bites a passenger.
• Shen Yu activates the system and learns about 'Weirds' and the 'Eerie Era'.
• He draws an S-rank Character Card, Bai Zuo, to counter the Weird.

Character Developments

• Shen Yu shows quick thinking, bravery, and responsibility by driving the bus and trying to help the injured.
• The bus driver is revealed to be a Weird, displaying superhuman strength and aggression.
• Bai Zuo, the S-rank Character Card, is introduced with a gloomy, malicious personality and powerful abilities.

Significant Themes

• The emergence of Weirds and the impending 'Eerie Era' hints at an overarching theme of supernatural danger and survival.
• The system's limitations due to insufficient authority foreshadows the challenges Shen Yu will face in understanding and controlling the situation.

Character Interactions

• Passengers express gratitude and awe towards Shen Yu for saving them.
• The auntie acts as a bridge between Shen Yu and the passengers, relaying information and showing concern for his well-being.
• Shen Yu interacts with the system, learning about Weirds and drawing the Bai Zuo Character Card.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Yu, as Bai Zuo, activates his Heart Gu, experiencing the malice of human nature and gaining the power to influence memories and control others.
• A Weird outbreak occurs on a bus, turning passengers into aggressive, infectious creatures. Zhang Lin, a Patrol Officer, is bitten and infected.
• Bai Zuo intervenes, offering Zhang Lin power to protect the city in exchange for his submission to Bai Zuo's Mind Control.

Character Developments

• Shen Yu/Bai Zuo: Discovers his Heart Gu's power and decides to use it for his own purposes, fabricating a backstory for Bai Zuo. He demonstrates his manipulative abilities and confidence in controlling others.
• Zhang Lin: Becomes infected with the Weird, struggles to maintain control over his body, and eventually accepts Bai Zuo's offer for power, submitting to his Mind Control.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Bai Zuo's Heart Gu allows him to control others, raising questions about the ethics of manipulating people's minds and the consequences of such power.
• Corruption and Infection: The Weird's corrupting influence spreads rapidly, turning people into aggressive, infectious creatures, highlighting the threat of unchecked power and the importance of containment.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zuo and Zhang Lin: Bai Zuo manipulates Zhang Lin, offering him power in exchange for submission to his Mind Control. Their interaction demonstrates Bai Zuo's ability to exploit people's desires and fears for his own gain.
• Bai Zuo and the Masses: Bai Zuo's presence calms those who meet his gaze, showing his ability to influence people's emotions and actions, even unintentionally.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A mysterious boy, Bai Zuo, appears and calms a panicked crowd using an unknown ability.
• Bai Zuo identifies and removes Weirds (parasitic creatures) from infected people, including a driver.
• Bai Zuo contains the Weird using a Weird Cage and erases the memories of witnesses, altering surveillance footage.

Character Developments

• Zhang Lin, a patrol officer, is initially shocked and frightened by Bai Zuo's abilities and the existence of Weirds. He is later controlled by Bai Zuo and assists in removing Weirds.
• Bai Zuo is introduced as a dangerous, mysterious figure with superior observation, analytical, and memory-altering abilities. He seems to be part of an organization dealing with Weirds.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between human emotions and control, as seen in the crowd's reaction to Bai Zuo and Zhang Lin's loss of control over his body.
• The unknown and the fear it instills, represented by the Weirds and Bai Zuo's abilities.

Character Interactions

• Bai Zuo controls Zhang Lin, using him to remove Weirds from infected people.
• Bai Zuo and Zhang Lin have no direct conversation, with Bai Zuo making decisions unilaterally.
• Bai Zuo interacts with the system in his mind, asking about containing Weirds and the cost of building the Headquarters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Bai Zuo cleans up the scene after containing the Weird.
• Shen Yu decides to leave Zhang Lin's memories intact to use him as a powerful "puppet" later.
• Shen Yu establishes the Aberration Containment Association and receives a Ten-Million-Level Company Acquisition Voucher as a reward.
• Zhang Lin wakes up in the hospital with no memory of the Weird incident, believing he was injured in a bus crash.

Character Developments

• Shen Yu: Shows strategic thinking in leaving Zhang Lin's memories intact and establishes the Aberration Containment Association.
• Zhang Lin: Wakes up with no memory of the Weird, leading him to believe he was injured in a bus crash.

Significant Themes

• The power of manipulation and control, as seen in Shen Yu's decision to use Zhang Lin as a puppet.
• The theme of memory and its manipulation, as seen in Bai Zuo's ability to wipe memories and Zhang Lin's loss of memory.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yu and Bai Zuo: Shen Yu uses Bai Zuo's ability to clean up the scene and decides to use Zhang Lin as a tool.
• Zhang Lin and Sun Xin: Zhang Lin wakes up in the hospital and interacts with his colleague Sun Xin, who believes Zhang Lin was injured in a bus crash.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Lin regains his memory of the Weird incident and realizes that his memories were altered.
• His superior, Captain Chen, visits him and, surprisingly, believes Zhang Lin's account of the Weird event.
• Shen Yu, using the system's Character Card, deploys two associated characters—Ji Wu and Xu Zhou—into the hospital to investigate a detected Weird aura.

Character Developments

• Zhang Lin: Struggles with his memories of the Weird incident, decides to tell the truth to Captain Chen.
• Captain Chen: Initially calm, becomes grave after hearing Zhang Lin's account, indicating he knows about the Eerie Era.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou: Deployed by Shen Yu to investigate the Weird aura, exhibit distinct personalities—Ji Wu is mature and steady, Xu Zhou is troubled and avoids paperwork.

Significant Themes

• Memory alteration and truth: Zhang Lin's struggle with his memories and Captain Chen's knowledge of the Eerie Era highlight the theme of hidden truths and altered memories.
• Loyalty and subordinates: The deployment of Ji Wu and Xu Zhou by Shen Yu emphasizes the theme of loyalty and the use of subordinates to handle tasks.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Lin and Captain Chen: Zhang Lin confides in Captain Chen about the Weird incident, and Captain Chen believes him, showing trust and understanding between them.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou: Their interaction shows their distinct personalities and their shared goal of finding Bai Zuo, demonstrating their loyalty to their mission.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Zhou and Ji Wu investigate a Weird aura at a hospital, leading them to Zhang Lin's hospital room.
• They discover Zhang Lin has the same Weird mark as Xu Zhou, indicating another Contract Anomalist, Bai Zuo, had previously intervened.
• Ji Wu reveals his identity as a Supervisor from the Aberration Containment Association and explains Weirds and Contract Anomalists to Zhang Lin.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhou struggles with controlling his Weird, showing he's still inexperienced.
• Ji Wu displays understanding and patience towards Xu Zhou's inexperience.
• Zhang Lin shows gratitude towards Bai Zuo for saving him and his fellow passengers, indicating he's a righteous person.

Significant Themes

• The danger and malice of Weirds, and the need for Contract Anomalists to control them.
• The struggle of inexperience and the learning curve for new Contract Anomalists.
• Gratitude and understanding towards those who protect others, even if they bend rules.

Character Interactions

• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou work together, with Ji Wu guiding and supporting Xu Zhou.
• Ji Wu reveals the truth about Weirds and Contract Anomalists to Zhang Lin, fostering understanding and gratitude towards Bai Zuo.
• Zhang Lin shares his experience with Bai Zuo, showing appreciation for Bai Zuo's actions.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Lin, a Patrol Officer, warns Ji Wu about Xu Zhou's lack of humanity.
• An infant's cries and laughter are heard in the hospital, leading Ji Wu and Xu Zhou to investigate.
• They discover a Ghost Domain, a reality-bending space created by a powerful Weird.
• Xiao Li, a patient's family member, becomes hysterical and runs off into the Ghost Domain.
• Sun Chengzhi, Xiao Li's husband, is left distraught and unable to pursue her.

Character Developments

• Ji Wu demonstrates his experience and composure in handling the Ghost Domain situation.
• Xu Zhou shows fear and inexperience, but he's prepared to fight with his Great Xia Dragon Sparrow Blade.
• Zhang Lin reveals his concern for public safety and understanding of Contract Anomalists' potential dangers.
• Xiao Li and Sun Chengzhi display ordinary people's reactions to the supernatural, with Xiao Li becoming hysterical and Sun Chengzhi being distraught.

Significant Themes

• The power and danger of Weirds and Ghost Domains.
• The contrast between the Aberration Association's practical approach to using talented individuals and Zhang Lin's moral concerns.
• The ordinary people's helplessness and fear in the face of the supernatural.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Lin and Ji Wu exchange views on the Aberration Association's principles and the use of talented individuals.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou work together to investigate the Ghost Domain, with Ji Wu providing guidance and Xu Zhou showing inexperience.
• Xiao Li and Sun Chengzhi's marital bond is tested by the supernatural event, with Xiao Li running off and Sun Chengzhi being unable to protect her.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Zhou, a novice Contract Anomalist, faces an unknown Weird capable of deploying a Ghost Domain.
• He attempts to communicate and control his contracted Weird, Ghost Hands, to fight the Weird.
• They discover a Ghost Infant inside the Ghost Domain, which they initially succeed in injuring.
• A second, deformed Ghost Infant appears and attacks Sun Chengzhi, then targets Ji Wu.
• Ji Wu decides to sacrifice himself to allow Xu Zhou to escape.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhou demonstrates his ability to control his Weird but struggles with the intensity of the mental burden.
• Ji Wu shows leadership and selflessness, prioritizing Xu Zhou's survival over his own.
• Sun Chengzhi breaks down in fear and is attacked by the second Ghost Infant.

Significant Themes

• Sacrifice: Ji Wu's decision to sacrifice himself for Xu Zhou's survival highlights the theme of selfless sacrifice.
• Power and Control: Xu Zhou's struggle to control his Weird showcases the challenges of wielding power and the importance of experience and proficiency.
• Unknown Threats: The appearance of the second Ghost Infant underscores the danger of unknown threats and the need for caution.

Character Interactions

• Xu Zhou and Ji Wu work together to fight the Weird, with Ji Wu providing encouragement and strategic guidance.
• Ji Wu's decision to sacrifice himself for Xu Zhou shows trust and camaraderie.
• Sun Chengzhi's breakdown and subsequent attack by the second Ghost Infant highlight his lack of resilience and contribution to the group's survival.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Zhou faces the Ghost Infants, feeling helpless and useless.
• Ji Wu saves Xu Zhou from the Ghost Infants.
• Xu Zhou attempts suicide by blade, but Zhang Lin intervenes.
• Bai Zuo arrives, subdues the Ghost Infants, and saves the group.
• Sun Chengzhi is rushed to the emergency room.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhou struggles with self-doubt and feelings of uselessness.
• Ji Wu shows concern and understanding towards Xu Zhou's struggles.
• Bai Zuo demonstrates his immense power and carefree attitude.
• Zhang Lin shows kindness by saving Xu Zhou.

Significant Themes

• Self-worth and self-doubt.
• The burden of responsibility in facing supernatural threats.
• The contrast between Xu Zhou's seriousness and Bai Zuo's carefree attitude.

Character Interactions

• Xu Zhou and Ji Wu: Xu Zhou confides in Ji Wu about his feelings of uselessness, and Ji Wu offers support and understanding.
• Xu Zhou and Zhang Lin: Zhang Lin saves Xu Zhou from committing suicide.
• Bai Zuo and Ji Wu: Ji Wu prevents Bai Zuo from examining the captured Ghost Infants.
• Bai Zuo and Zhang Lin: Bai Zuo teases Zhang Lin, drawing on his casted leg and bandaged arm.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Lin, a police officer, learns that Xu Zhou is an Adaptive like him, but Xu Zhou has a self-destructive tendency.
• Bai Zuo, a Contract Anomalist supervisor, shows disregard for human life, considering tools (like Xu Zhou) as disposable and without the right to choose.
• Zhang Lin wants Xu Zhou to return to a normal life, but Bai Zuo refuses, stating that Xu Zhou is already past the point of no return.
• Xu Zhou feels useless after facing a Weird and remembering his past. Ji Wu and Bai Zuo handle company formalities, making Xu Zhou a C-rank Contract Anomalist in the Yigui Clean Energy Transport Co., Ltd.

Character Developments

• Zhang Lin: Struggles with the idea of children protecting the world from Weirds, feels helpless and wants to protect Xu Zhou.
• Bai Zuo: Further establishes his villainous image, showing blatant malice and lack of empathy for others.
• Xu Zhou: Struggles with self-doubt and fear after facing a Weird, but finds some comfort in joining the company and being assigned a rank.

Significant Themes

• The dehumanization of Contract Anomalists, treating them as tools rather than people.
• The psychological toll of facing Weirds and the lack of support for Contract Anomalists.
• The struggle between wanting to protect the world and the harsh reality of the situation.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Lin and Bai Zuo: Zhang Lin tries to reason with Bai Zuo about Xu Zhou's well-being, but Bai Zuo remains indifferent.
• Ji Wu and Bai Zuo: Ji Wu scolds Bai Zuo for treating Xu Zhou like a tool and pushes him away when he tries to comfort Xu Zhou.
• Xu Zhou and Ji Wu: Xu Zhou finds comfort and a sense of belonging in joining the company and being assigned a rank by Ji Wu.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Shen Yu, the new boss, takes over a struggling clean energy transport company with only 23 employees remaining.
• He instructs his subordinate, Ji Wu, to draft a new employee contract with strict confidentiality clauses and severe penalties for breaching it, including memory wiping and personality erasure.
• The Legal Department is shocked by the contract's terms but drafts it anyway. One employee resigns immediately.

Character Developments

• Shen Yu: He shows no concern about the company's current state and is only interested in using the employees to earn Construction Points for his plans. He introduces the Aberration Association's unique employee contract, indicating his disregard for conventional business practices.
• Ji Wu: He remains loyal to Shen Yu, following his instructions without question. He's aware of the Aberration Association's secrets and is willing to enforce the strict contract terms.

Significant Themes

• Power and Control: Shen Yu's actions demonstrate his desire for control and power, as he imposes severe penalties to ensure the employees' loyalty and silence.
• Unconventional Business Practices: The Aberration Association's employee contract reflects its unique nature and Shen Yu's disregard for conventional business norms.

Character Interactions

• Shen Yu and Ji Wu: Their interaction shows Ji Wu's unwavering loyalty to Shen Yu, as he follows his orders without question or concern for the contract's harsh terms.
• The Legal Department and Ji Wu: The Legal Department is shocked and appalled by the contract's terms, leading one employee to resign immediately upon seeing it.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The new company offers a controversial contract to its employees, including clauses like memory erasure, causing damage to cities, and a 996 work schedule.
• Seventeen employees decide to stay, signing the contract, while others leave.
• Ji Wu assigns roles to the remaining employees, with Xu Zhou, a C-rank Contract Anomalist, being the focus.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhou, the new Contract Anomalist, is introverted, insecure, and initially overwhelmed by his new benefits.
• Ji Wu, the company representative, is calm and assertive, revealing that the company caters to Contract Anomalists' eccentricities.
• Deng Xiaorui, a logistics staff member, is curious and observant, trying to understand the Execution Department and Xu Zhou's role.

Significant Themes

• The contract's unusual clauses hint at the company's mysterious and potentially dangerous nature.
• The company's treatment of Contract Anomalists suggests a power imbalance and the importance of these individuals.
• The employees' reactions to the contract showcase their individual priorities and fears.

Character Interactions

• Ji Wu interacts with the employees, assigning roles and explaining the company's unique structure.
• Xu Zhou interacts with Ji Wu, expressing shock and anxiety about his new benefits.
• Deng Xiaorui observes Xu Zhou, trying to understand his role and the Execution Department's purpose.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Assistant Ge Yi, like Yang Su, senses the strangeness of the company but chooses to ignore it for the high salary.
• Ji Wu indirectly publicizes the Aberration Containment Association's existence, gaining Construction Points.
• Chen Guangji reports Zhang Lin's experience to the higher-ups, who dispatch an action team led by Kong Yubo.
• Kong Yubo shows Zhang Lin the surveillance footage of the Bus 104 Incident and reveals the truth about Huayuan Ridge and other anomalous incidents.
• Zhang Lin warns Kong Yubo about the mysterious powers of the Aberration Containment Association.

Character Developments

• Ge Yi is shown to be aware of the company's irregularities but chooses to ignore them for financial gain.
• Zhang Lin becomes more cautious and wary after his encounter with the Weird and the Aberration Containment Association.
• Kong Yubo is revealed to be a veteran who has witnessed the horrors of the Weird firsthand and is determined to find a solution.

Significant Themes

• The theme of people choosing to ignore the truth or unusual circumstances for personal gain (Ge Yi).
• The struggle between the desire for knowledge and the fear of the unknown (Zhang Lin, Kong Yubo).
• The power of mysterious forces and the caution required when dealing with them (Kong Yubo, Zhang Lin).

Character Interactions

• Ji Wu uses the system to observe the meeting and takes note of Yang Su and Ge Yi.
• Kong Yubo and his team interrogate Zhang Lin about the Bus 104 Incident and reveal classified information about anomalous incidents.
• Zhang Lin warns Kong Yubo about the Aberration Containment Association, showing a newfound caution.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Zhang Lin reveals he's an Adaptive, someone with the talent to become a Contract Anomalist, which can contract anomalies to fight other anomalies.
• Kong Yubo, a high-ranking officer, questions Zhang Lin about the No. 104 bus anomaly and tries to gain contact with the mysterious organization Zhang Lin is involved with.
• Shen Yu, the Aberration Association's leader, learns that the Xia Kingdom's higher-ups are now aware of the organization and will likely investigate.
• Shen Yu decides to contain more anomalies to unlock the Shop and purchase more Weird Cages. He targets a rumor about an abandoned bridge in Yeyang City.

Character Developments

• Zhang Lin shows his dedication to protecting people from anomalies, even if it means leaving his patrol officer position.
• Kong Yubo demonstrates political acumen by handling Zhang Lin's situation tactfully, not wanting to offend him.
• Shen Yu exhibits strategic thinking in planning to contain more anomalies to unlock the Shop.

Significant Themes

• The struggle against anomalies and the personal sacrifices made to combat them.
• The tension between the Aberration Association and the Xia Kingdom's authorities.

Character Interactions

• Zhang Lin and Chen Guangji display brotherly affection, with Chen Guangji understanding and supporting Zhang Lin's decision.
• Kong Yubo and Zhang Lin have a respectful and cooperative interaction, with Kong Yubo trying to gain information without offending Zhang Lin.
• Shen Yu's interaction with the system reveals his resourcefulness and determination in containing anomalies.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Hu Xingde, a man who claims to have seen his deceased family member on an abandoned bridge, starts a livestream to prove it.
• He enters the bridge shrouded in white mist, and the livestream cuts out.
• Anomaly Investigators, including Ji Wu and Xu Zhou, are dispatched to the bridge after noticing an anomaly.

Character Developments

• Hu Xingde: Initially skeptical, he becomes determined to prove his claim and enters the bridge despite the eerie atmosphere.
• Xu Zhou: Shows fear and disbelief upon seeing what he believes is his deceased mother on the bridge, indicating a personal connection to the anomaly.

Significant Themes

• Grief and denial of loss (Hu Xingde's insistence on seeing his deceased family member)
• Fear of the unknown and the supernatural (Xu Zhou's reaction to seeing his deceased mother)

Character Interactions

• Hu Xingde interacts with online viewers, who are initially skeptical but egg him on to prove his claim.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou work together as Anomaly Investigators, with Ji Wu showing concern for Xu Zhou's well-being and Xu Zhou looking up to Ji Wu.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou's dynamic shows a mix of professionalism and mentorship, with Ji Wu acting as a guide and protector for Xu Zhou.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xu Zhou, a young man with a difficult past, sees his deceased mother on a bridge, leading him to enter a mysterious white fog.
• Ji Wu, an experienced Aberration Association member, follows Xu Zhou into the fog to protect him.
• They encounter an old man carrying a lantern, who guides Ji Wu through the fog, leading him to a new, retro-style environment filled with people carrying lanterns.

Character Developments

• Xu Zhou: Struggles with the loss of his mother and the hardships of his life, leading him to potentially act irrationally upon seeing her ghost.
• Ji Wu: Demonstrates his protective nature and experience in dealing with aberrations, showing concern for Xu Zhou's well-being.

Significant Themes

• Resilience: Xu Zhou's past shows his ability to endure hardship, while Ji Wu's determination to find Xu Zhou despite the dangers highlights his resilience.
• The Unknown: The white fog and the retro-style environment represent the unknown, challenging the characters' understanding and abilities.
• Loyalty and Protectiveness: Ji Wu's actions show his loyalty to his mission and protectiveness towards Xu Zhou.

Character Interactions

• Xu Zhou and Ji Wu: Ji Wu tries to stop Xu Zhou from entering the white fog, showing concern for his safety. Later, Ji Wu follows Xu Zhou to ensure his well-being.
• Ji Wu and the Old Man: The old man guides Ji Wu through the white fog, showing no interest in Ji Wu's background or intentions, focusing only on helping him navigate the strange environment.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou walk through a white fog, encountering others who carry lanterns, emphasizing the eerie and uncertain atmosphere.
• Ji Wu realizes he's in a modern, empty city, possibly Anyang Island, but with no signs of life.
• Xu Zhou finds his deceased mother, who seems normal, and they spend time together.
• Ji Wu sees a terrified Hu Xingde in a funeral procession, controlled against his will.

Character Developments

• Ji Wu: Shows empathy and understanding towards Xu Zhou's situation, and tries to help Hu Xingde.
• Xu Zhou: Struggles with the reality that his mother is likely a ghost, but enjoys their time together.
• Hu Xingde: Terrified and helpless, unable to control his body in the funeral procession.

Significant Themes

• The boundary between life and death is blurred, with ghosts appearing human and interacting with the living.
• The struggle between accepting reality and holding onto hope, seen in Xu Zhou's desire to stay with his mother.
• The theme of filial piety, with Xu Zhou trying to make his mother happy and Ji Wu encouraging him to do so.

Character Interactions

• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou: Ji Wu shows concern and understanding towards Xu Zhou's situation, while Xu Zhou is grateful for Ji Wu's support.
• Xu Zhou and his mother: They reconnect and spend time together, with Xu Zhou trying to make her happy.
• Ji Wu and Hu Xingde: Ji Wu tries to help Hu Xingde, showing compassion towards his plight.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Ji Wu encounters a Funeral Procession, led by a figure resembling his mother, but he remains suspicious.
• Hu Xingde, controlled by the procession, tries to join it, but Ji Wu rescues him.
• The procession pursues Ji Wu and Hu Xingde, demonstrating relentless persistence.
• Ji Wu kills the procession's leader, causing the others to retreat.
• Xu Zhou joins them, and Ji Wu explains the true nature of the procession and his mother's doppelganger.

Character Developments

• Ji Wu: Shows resourcefulness and determination in escaping the Funeral Procession. His past is revealed, showing he's an orphan raised by the Humanity Protection Company.
• Hu Xingde: Initially controlled by the procession, he's later rescued by Ji Wu. His fear and exhaustion are evident during their escape.
• Xu Zhou: Struggles to accept that his mother could be a monster in disguise. He remains cautious and sensible despite the revelation.

Significant Themes

• Deception and Trust: The Funeral Procession preys on people's memories and emotions to deceive them, highlighting the theme of trust and its fragility.
• Fear and Perseverance: Characters face their fears (e.g., Hu Xingde's fear of the procession, Ji Wu's fear of being deceived) and push through them to survive.

Character Interactions

• Ji Wu and Hu Xingde: Ji Wu rescues Hu Xingde, showing a level of concern and responsibility for him. Hu Xingde, in turn, relies on Ji Wu for survival.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou: Ji Wu warns Xu Zhou about his mother, showing a protective and mentoring role. Xu Zhou, despite his disbelief, accepts Ji Wu's warning and remains cautious.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The trio (Hu Xingde, Ji Wu, and Xu Zhou) are trapped in a ghostly domain on Anyang Island.
• They encounter Funeral Processions with faint anomalous presences.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou deduce they're in a Ghost Domain, likely a Semi-Complete one.
• They decide to find a way out through the White Mist, needing a lantern to do so.
• They encounter a girl in a white mask who warns them about the Lamp Mansion Festival and offers to help them get Soul Lamps to escape.

Character Developments

• Hu Xingde: Initially panicked and desperate, he clings to Ji Wu for help.
• Ji Wu: Calm and composed, he's experienced with such situations and tries to keep the group together.
• Xu Zhou: Soothes Hu Xingde and supports Ji Wu's decisions.
• The girl in the white mask: Claims to be kind-hearted and knowledgeable about the Ghost Domain's rules.

Significant Themes

• Fear and panic in the face of the uncanny.
• The importance of calm and rational thinking in crisis situations.
• The potential danger of seemingly helpful strangers in mysterious environments.

Character Interactions

• Hu Xingde relies on Ji Wu for protection and guidance.
• Ji Wu and Xu Zhou work together, sharing information and making decisions.
• The girl in the white mask interacts with the trio, offering help but also raising suspicion due to her sudden appearance and knowledge.