Chapter Summaries

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ning and Zhang Yuchen have barbecue after the job, encounter Grey Master who is collecting a body.
• Jiang Ning meets his master at the dock, noticing his master's shadow moving independently.
• Jiang Ning tells his master about the vicious ghost in the old grave and the tomb robbers' demise.

Character Developments

• Zhang Yuchen shows admiration for Jiang Ning and expresses his desire to work together and expand their exorcism business.
• Jiang Ning's master displays confidence in Jiang Ning's abilities and encourages him to handle the ghost himself.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between Jiang Ning and his master, with the master providing guidance and trust in Jiang Ning's abilities.
• The theme of obsession, as the ghost is driven by its fixation on an old enemy or relative.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ning and Zhang Yuchen bond over food and drink, with Zhang Yuchen expressing his admiration for Jiang Ning.
• Jiang Ning and his master interact at the dock, with Jiang Ning sharing his experiences and seeking his master's advice.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Master catches a red-tailed carp but releases it back into the river, explaining his fishing beliefs.
• Disciple sees Master's shadow moving independently and learns about Master's past sadness and his connection to the ghosts in the shop.
• Master explains the "Golden Body" method to cure Xiaoxiao's condition and teaches Disciple how to draw Ghost-Suppressing and Curse-Breaking talismans.
• Disciple learns to reduce the power of talismans for use on ordinary people.

Character Developments

• Master: Reveals his past sadness and connection to the ghosts, shows concern for Disciple's future.
• Disciple: Shows understanding and respect for Master's past, learns new talismans and techniques, demonstrates diligence in learning.

Significant Themes

• Master's past and his connection to the ghosts.
• The power of talismans and their safe use on ordinary people.
• Disciple's dedication to learning and improving his skills.

Character Interactions

• Master and Disciple: Share a heart-to-heart conversation about Master's past, Master teaches Disciple new skills, and Disciple expresses his willingness to help Master.
• Disciple and Xiaoxiao's parents: Disciple is to meet them and perform the Golden Body ritual to cure Xiaoxiao.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang calls Mao Jing to discuss the old grave's vicious ghost.
• Jiang arrives at the hospital; Director Deng praises his work.
• Jiang visits Gou, who's anxious about the old grave's deaths.
• Jiang changes dressings for other patients and prepares to treat Xiaoxiao.
• Xiaoxiao's parents bring a ceramic doll for her treatment.
• Jiang prepares to perform the Golden Body Soul-Molding Method on Xiaoxiao.

Character Developments

• Jiang remains humble despite Director Deng's praise, attributing his success to Daoist arts.
• Gou's anxiety about the old grave's deaths highlights his fear of the supernatural.
• Xiaoxiao's parents show dedication in finding the ceramic doll and trust in Jiang's abilities.

Significant Themes

• The power of traditional Chinese medicine and Daoist arts.
• The fear and awe of the supernatural, as seen through Gou's reaction.
• Trust and faith in one's doctor, as demonstrated by Xiaoxiao and her parents.

Character Interactions

• Jiang and Director Deng: Jiang politely declines Deng's praise, maintaining a humble demeanor.
• Jiang and Gou: Jiang reassures Gou about his hands and the old grave's events.
• Jiang and Xiaoxiao's parents: They express gratitude and trust in Jiang's abilities.
• Jiang and Xiaoxiao: Jiang comforts Xiaoxiao, promising to cure her and asking for her cooperation.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The hospital room cannot be locked from the inside, and a nurse enters during the ritual.
• Doctor Jiang performs a ritual to guide Xiaoxiao's twin soul into a ceramic doll.
• The ritual is challenging and exhausting, lasting eight minutes and consuming Doctor Jiang's true qi.
• The ritual is interrupted when the nurse enters the room again.

Character Developments

• Doctor Jiang demonstrates his commitment and determination in helping Xiaoxiao, pushing his limits during the ritual.
• Xiaoxiao shows resilience and courage, enduring the ritual's pain without losing consciousness.
• Xiaoxiao's parents display concern and nervousness, wanting to help their daughter but understanding they must not interfere.

Significant Themes

• Resilience: Xiaoxiao's strength and endurance in the face of her condition.
• Commitment: Doctor Jiang's dedication to helping Xiaoxiao, despite the ritual's challenges.
• Trust and Communication: Xiaoxiao's parents trust Doctor Jiang and follow his instructions, even when they cannot see what is happening.

Character Interactions

• Doctor Jiang and Xiaoxiao: Doctor Jiang guides Xiaoxiao's twin soul into the ceramic doll, while Xiaoxiao endures the ritual's pain.
• Xiaoxiao and her parents: Xiaoxiao's parents support her emotionally, while also trusting Doctor Jiang's instructions not to interfere.
• Doctor Jiang and the nurse: The nurse's unexpected return disrupts the ritual, causing tension between her and Doctor Jiang.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang, a medical intern, performs a ritual to expel a possessing spirit from Xiaoxiao, a patient diagnosed with mental illness.
• The ritual involves using incense, a red string, and a ghost-suppressing talisman to force the spirit into a ceramic doll and seal it.
• Xiaoxiao's condition improves immediately after the ritual, and she regains her health and spirits.

Character Developments

• Jiang: Proves his mastery of exorcism techniques, demonstrating his dedication to helping patients, even when it involves unconventional methods.
• Xiaoxiao: Overcomes her possession and regains her health, showing resilience and awareness of her previous condition.
• Xiaoxiao's parents: Display unwavering support for their daughter, even when faced with unconventional treatments.

Significant Themes

• The clash between traditional beliefs (folk medicine, exorcism) and modern medicine.
• The power of belief and its impact on one's well-being.
• The importance of understanding and addressing the root cause of an issue.

Character Interactions

• Jiang and Xiaoxiao's parents: They work together to help Xiaoxiao, with Jiang performing the ritual and Xiaoxiao's parents supporting her throughout the process.
• Jiang and the duty nurse (Sister Li): Initially skeptical, Sister Li witnesses the ritual's success and helps Jiang conceal the unconventional treatment to avoid trouble.
• Xiaoxiao and her mother: Xiaoxiao's mother tends to her daughter's needs, showing love and concern throughout her recovery.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Li, exhausted after creating a golden body for the sister soul inside Xiaoxiao, is visited by Li Ru, a nurse from the controlled ward.
• Li Ru comes to ask about evil illnesses and Xiaoxiao's condition, which Jiang Li explains in detail.
• Li Ru reveals she has strange bruises on her body and seeks Jiang Li's help, undressing to show him.
• Jiang Li examines Li Ru and suspects she has been entangled by something unclean due to her recent strange dreams and the nature of the bruises.

Character Developments

• Jiang Li: Shows professionalism and expertise in explaining the supernatural aspects of his practice to Li Ru. He remains calm and composed even when Li Ru undresses in front of him.
• Li Ru: Initially skeptical about supernatural phenomena, she becomes more open-minded after witnessing Jiang Li's treatments. She is embarrassed but determined to seek help for her condition.

Significant Themes

• Supernatural vs. Medical: The contrast between traditional medicine and supernatural explanations for illnesses is a central theme. Jiang Li's unique perspective combines both fields.
• Trust and Belief: Li Ru's journey from skepticism to belief in the supernatural, driven by her trust in Jiang Li's abilities, is a significant character arc.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Li and Li Ru: Their interaction is professional and respectful, with Li Ru seeking Jiang Li's help due to his expertise. Jiang Li maintains a doctor-patient relationship, prioritizing Li Ru's well-being despite the unusual circumstances.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Li Ru's problem is identified as a mentally ill ghost clinging to her.
• Jiang Wei agrees to help Li Ru by visiting her home to resolve the issue.
• They go to Li Ru's apartment complex, and Jiang Wei senses a ghostly aura coming from her room.
• Upon entering the room, they encounter a mentally disabled ghost who had been a patient of Li Ru's.

Character Developments

• Li Ru: Initially skeptical about ghosts and spirits, she now believes in their existence and is frightened. She trusts Jiang Wei to help her.
• Jiang Wei: Confident in his abilities, he is determined to help Li Ru despite the ghost's mental instability.

Significant Themes

• Belief in the supernatural: Li Ru's transformation from skeptic to believer is a significant shift in her character.
• The power of a doctor: Jiang Wei's role as a doctor extends beyond medicine, as he uses his abilities to help Li Ru with her supernatural problem.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Wei and Li Ru: They form a bond of trust, with Li Ru relying on Jiang Wei for help, and Jiang Wei being willing to assist her.
• Jiang Wei and the ghost: Jiang Wei shows no fear in facing the ghost, demonstrating his confidence and experience in dealing with supernatural entities.

Key Plot Points & Events

• A mentally disabled ghost, initially appearing harmless, reveals its true malevolent nature.
• The ghost conceals its sinister aura until provoked, then attacks Jiang.
• Jiang uses various talismans and weapons (Snake Bone Whip, Fish Bone Sword) to combat the ghost.
• Jiang tests the power of the newly acquired Evil-Slaying Talisman, destroying the ghost completely.

Character Developments

• Jiang's power and skill in exorcism are demonstrated, particularly his ability to adapt to unexpected situations.
• Li Ru, though not directly involved in the fight, witnesses Jiang's prowess and is awestruck.

Significant Themes

• Appearances can be deceiving, as seen with the mentally disabled ghost hiding its true nature.
• The power of talismans and Jiang's skill in using them are highlighted.

Character Interactions

• Jiang and Li Ru's interaction is brief but significant, with Li Ru expressing her shock and awe at Jiang's abilities.
• Jiang's internal monologue reveals his thought processes and confidence in his abilities.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ning helps Li Ru, his colleague, exorcise a ghost from her apartment.
• He draws house-protecting talismans and places them around her residence.
• Li Ru insists on paying Jiang Ning for his service, giving him two thousand yuan.
• Jiang Ning witnesses a group of ghosts moving towards a river, drawn by an unknown force.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ning demonstrates his exorcism skills and kindness, helping Li Ru despite not charging her initially.
• Li Ru shows gratitude and understanding of Jiang Ning's profession, insisting on paying him despite his initial reluctance.
• Jiang Ning exhibits curiosity and bravery when he decides to investigate the ghostly phenomenon.

Significant Themes

• The power of exorcism and the supernatural.
• The importance of helping others, even in unusual circumstances.
• The curiosity and courage to explore the unknown.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ning and Li Ru interact professionally yet warmly, with Li Ru showing appreciation for Jiang Ning's help.
• Jiang Ning's interaction with the ghostly phenomenon shows his bravery and curiosity, setting the stage for potential encounters with the unknown.
  This chapter focuses on Jiang Ning's exorcism skills and his decision to investigate a mysterious ghostly phenomenon, showcasing his bravery and curiosity. The interaction between Jiang Ning and Li Ru highlights the importance of helping others, even in unusual circumstances.

Key Plot Points and Events

• A bell rings, summoning wandering ghosts, which the protagonist, a Maoshan disciple, follows to investigate.
• The protagonist discovers a young man, Leng Qingyu, eating ghost souls to cultivate evil arts at Yellow Springs Valley.
• Leng Qingyu reveals his identity and threatens to kill and eat the protagonist's soul.
• The protagonist fights off over twenty wandering ghosts using the Snake Bone Whip.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates caution, observation skills, and combat prowess.
• Leng Qingyu reveals his evil nature, arrogance, and confidence in his abilities.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between good and evil, with the protagonist representing the former and Leng Qingyu the latter.
• The consequences of cultivating evil arts, shown through Leng Qingyu's actions and the protagonist's disdain for them.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Leng Qingyu engage in a tense exchange, with the protagonist trying to gather information and Leng Qingyu threatening and taunting the protagonist.
• The wandering ghosts act as pawns, controlled by Leng Qingyu to attack the protagonist.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist, a ghost hunter, encounters Leng Qingyu, an evil cultivator from Yellow Springs Valley, who controls a lifebound ghost.
• The protagonist kills several wandering souls and wild ghosts, attracting Leng Qingyu's attention.
• Leng Qingyu summons his lifebound ghost from his mouth, surprising the protagonist.
• The protagonist discovers that harming the lifebound ghost also harms Leng Qingyu.
• Leng Qingyu uses a powerful talisman, which the protagonist blocks with the Black Umbrella.
• The protagonist feints an attack on Leng Qingyu, then strikes and injures his lifebound ghost, also wounding Leng Qingyu.
• Leng Qingyu uses a secret art to absorb his lifebound ghost, preventing its death and injuring himself further.
• The protagonist prepares to attack Leng Qingyu again, determined to kill him.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates his skill and caution in dealing with Leng Qingyu and his lifebound ghost.
• Leng Qingyu reveals his power and ruthlessness, using his lifebound ghost and a potent talisman, and employing a secret art to save his ghost.

Significant Themes

• The power dynamics between cultivators and their lifebound ghosts.
• The ruthlessness and determination required in dealing with evil cultivators.
• The use of secret arts and their potential costs.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist and Leng Qingyu engage in a tense and dangerous exchange, testing each other's abilities and resolve.
• The protagonist's Black Umbrella and Fish Bone Sword prove effective against Leng Qingyu and his lifebound ghost.
• Leng Qingyu's lifebound ghost shares his injuries, demonstrating their lifebound connection.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leng Qingyu uses the Yellow Springs Ghost Art to summon the spirits of his great-grandfathers.
• Three ghostly figures emerge from Leng Qingyu's shadow, each radiating immense yin energy.
• The ghosts attack the protagonist, but he uses the Black Umbrella's power, enhanced by his blood, to summon Bai Xiaoyu's spirit.
• Bai Xiaoyu's spirit defeats two of the ghostly figures and severely injures the third.

Character Developments

• Leng Qingyu demonstrates his desperation and willingness to use underhanded tactics to win, revealing his ruthless nature.
• The protagonist shows strategic thinking by using the Black Umbrella's power to summon help instead of engaging the ghosts directly.

Significant Themes

• The power of ancestors and family lineage (Leng Qingyu's great-grandfathers).
• The use of underhanded tactics and desperation in combat (Leng Qingyu's resorting to summoning ghosts).
• The power of magical artifacts (the Black Umbrella) and blood sacrifices.

Character Interactions

• Leng Qingyu and the protagonist engage in a battle of wits, with Leng Qingyu initially gaining the upper hand by summoning his ancestors.
• The protagonist outsmarts Leng Qingyu by using the Black Umbrella to summon Bai Xiaoyu's spirit, turning the tide of the battle.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Xiao Yu arrives and effortlessly defeats three black mist ghosts.
• She confronts Leng Qingyu and his great-grandfather, a black mist ghost.
• Xiao Yu pursues Leng Qingyu, who attempts to escape via the river.
• Xiao Yu kills Leng Qingyu with a palm strike, and he sinks into the river.

Character Developments

• Xiao Yu: Demonstrates immense power and resolve, prioritizing protecting the protagonist.
• Leng Qingyu: Reveals his cowardice and desperation as he tries to escape.

Significant Themes

• Power and Protection: Xiao Yu's strength is emphasized, and her desire to protect the protagonist is central.
• Desperation and Cowardice: Leng Qingyu's actions highlight his fear and willingness to abandon his great-grandfather.

Character Interactions

• Xiao Yu and the Protagonist: They reunite, and Xiao Yu promises to clear all dangers for him.
• Xiao Yu and Leng Qingyu/Great-Grandfather: Xiao Yu shows no mercy, determined to eliminate them.
• Leng Qingyu and his Great-Grandfather: They attempt to escape together but ultimately fail.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Leng Qingyu, a powerful ghost cultivator, is severely injured and falls into a river. He uses a "plum substitution" technique to escape, leaving behind a wooden doll.
• Jiang Ning uses the Soul-Seizing Curse to try and destroy Leng Qingyu's soul, but it turns out to be a decoy. Leng Qingyu escapes across the river.
• Jiang Ning and Xiao Yu part ways, with Xiao Yu promising to meet Jiang Ning in three months when the stars align.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ning: Jiang Ning demonstrates his growth as a cultivator by using the Soul-Seizing Curse, a technique he learned from his master. He also shows determination to improve his cultivation and rescue Xiao Yu.
• Xiao Yu: Xiao Yu shows her affection for Jiang Ning by saving him and promising to meet him in three months. She also reveals that she cannot cross the river due to the risk of being observed by the Great Fiends in the Nine Corpse Tower.
• Leng Qingyu: Leng Qingyu shows his cunning and resourcefulness by using the plum substitution technique to escape. He also demonstrates his power by controlling wandering ghosts.

Significant Themes

• The struggle between good and evil, with Jiang Ning representing the good and Leng Qingyu representing the evil.
• The power of love and determination, as shown by Jiang Ning's resolve to rescue Xiao Yu.
• The theme of separation and longing, as seen in Jiang Ning and Xiao Yu's brief reunion and subsequent parting.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ning and Xiao Yu: Their relationship deepens as they work together to defeat Leng Qingyu. They share a tender moment before Xiao Yu leaves, promising to meet again in three months.
• Jiang Ning and Leng Qingyu: Jiang Ning and Leng Qingyu are enemies, with Jiang Ning trying to kill Leng Qingyu and Leng Qingyu trying to escape. Their conflict sets the stage for future encounters.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonist encounters multiple supernatural entities in one night at the psychiatric hospital: a ghost possessing a child, a soul-eating ghost, and a demonic Daoist named Leng Qingyu from Yellow Springs Valley.
• He uses the Black Umbrella to defeat Leng Qingyu and learns about the Spirit-Binding Soul-Seizing Array formation.
• The protagonist returns home, exhausted, and tells his master about the events. His master reveals that Yellow Springs Valley is a mysterious place associated with the Leng Family, who cultivate natal ghosts.

Character Developments

• The protagonist demonstrates bravery and resourcefulness in handling multiple supernatural threats.
• His master shows concern for his safety and provides guidance and support.

Significant Themes

• The protagonist's cursed fate and bad luck with supernatural encounters.
• The power dynamics and dangers of offending demonic Daoists.
• The importance of cultivation and vigilance in the supernatural world.

Character Interactions

• The protagonist interacts with various supernatural entities, showcasing his ability to handle different threats.
• He shares his experiences with his master, who provides guidance and expresses concern for his safety.
• The master demonstrates care and support for the protagonist by preparing qi-replenishing medicine for him.

Key Plot Points and Events

• Jiang Ning drinks a bowl of bitter Chinese medicine, brewed by Master, which is a mix of aphrodisiacs to replenish his qi.
• Li Ru asks Jiang Ning out to dinner and a movie, hinting at her romantic interest in him, but he declines due to his feelings for another and his packed schedule.
• Jiang Ning treats Gou's external injuries and changes Xiaoxiao's dressing, marking her recovery from possession.
• Jiang Ning creates a group chat with Mao Jing, Pan Ling, and Zhang Yuchen to plan their mission against the old grave ghost.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ning remains dedicated to his work and responsibilities, declining Li Ru's advances without hurting her feelings.
• Master's eccentricity is further highlighted through his unconventional medicine brewing.
• Li Ru's feelings for Jiang Ning are revealed, showing her courage in expressing her interest.
• Zhang Yuchen's chuunibyou personality is emphasized through his excessive messaging in the group chat.

Significant Themes

• Responsibility: Jiang Ning prioritizes his duties as a doctor and a ghost hunter over personal relationships.
• Honesty: Jiang Ning is honest about his feelings and commitments, declining Li Ru's invitation without leading her on.
• Friendship and Teamwork: The group chat and planned mission highlight the importance of collaboration and support among the ghost hunters.

Character Interactions

• Jiang Ning and Master: Their interaction shows the student's respect and the master's unconventional teaching methods.
• Jiang Ning and Li Ru: Their interaction reveals Li Ru's feelings and Jiang Ning's gentle rejection.
• Jiang Ning, Mao Jing, Pan Ling, and Zhang Yuchen: Their group chat demonstrates their preparation and camaraderie for the upcoming mission.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The team (Jiang, Mao Jing, Pan Ling, and Zhang Yuchen) arrives at the park district to investigate the old grave.
• They bypass the security guard with Zhang Yuchen's help.
• Upon reaching the old grave, they find no baleful aura, but Pan Ling detects a faint yin aura and baleful aura concentrated within the grave pit.
• Pan Ling identifies the grave's astrological position as corresponding to the eighth sign of Scorpio in Western astrology, which is being held by a powerful Feng Shui master.

Character Developments

• Zhang Yuchen: Shows enthusiasm and determination but also some immaturity in his speech and behavior.
• Mao Jing: Remains calm and collected, displaying leadership and knowledge of Feng Shui.
• Pan Ling: Demonstrates expertise in Western astrology and its application to Feng Shui.

Significant Themes

• The power of Feng Shui and astrology in controlling and suppressing evil entities.
• The importance of teamwork and preparation in facing powerful enemies.

Character Interactions

• Jiang and the team: Work together, sharing information and planning their strategy.
• Jiang and Zhang Yuchen: Jiang helps Zhang Yuchen understand the Four Command Flags and the team's plan.
• Mao Jing and Pan Ling: They discuss and analyze the grave's Feng Shui and astrological aspects, showing mutual respect for each other's expertise.

Key Plot Points and Events

• The group discovers that the old grave has become a place that nurtures evil.
• Mao Jing and Pan Ling analyze the Feng Shui, revealing similarities between Chinese and Western astrology.
• Mao Jing plans an ambush: each person takes a command flag and stands in one of the four directions, activating the flags in a specific order to trap the fierce ghost.
• They wait for the fierce ghost to return, with each person hidden in their respective positions.
• After two hours, the fierce ghost returns, accompanied by a surge of yin evil energy from the grave. It is a powerful yellow-clothed ghost from the Qing dynasty.

Character Developments

• Mao Jing demonstrates his extensive knowledge and experience in dealing with ghosts, taking the lead in planning the ambush.
• The group, including the narrator, gains a better understanding of the power and danger of the fierce ghost they are facing.

Significant Themes

• The power of Feng Shui and its influence on ghosts and evil entities.
• The importance of preparation and strategy in dealing with powerful ghosts.
• The danger of underestimating the strength of a ghost.

Character Interactions

• Mao Jing takes charge, issuing orders and providing guidance to the group.
• The group works together, following Mao Jing's plan and waiting for the right moment to act.
• The narrator observes the fierce ghost's actions and strength, assessing the danger they face.

Summary

Plot points and events

The Yellow-Robed Vengeful Ghost waits before his old grave, muttering angrily about betrayal and insisting that everyone must die. While Mao Jing delays deploying the command flags, the narrator discovers three apparently living people hidden nearby. When the ghost calls, “Come home,” the three emerge, followed by five more people from the surrounding area. All eight are living civilians, including elderly people, adults, young women, and a child, apparently controlled like sleepwalkers. They gather before the grave, where the ghost identifies them as members of his former family and servants. He then declares that they will remain together forever. Yellow aura pours from his body, black qi erupts from the grave, and the victims fall to their knees and begin strangling themselves, apparently repeating the fate of the earlier tomb-raiding ghosts.

Character developments

The narrator becomes increasingly alert and protective, carefully investigating the surroundings and recognizing the danger posed to the innocent civilians. He realizes that Mao Jing’s hesitation is deliberate, likely because activating the command flags could endanger or be disrupted by the controlled people. The Yellow-Robed Vengeful Ghost is revealed as obsessive, delusional, and possessive: despite being dead for over a century, he attempts to recreate his household by forcing strangers to play the roles of his relatives and servants. Mao Jing remains silent and cautious, waiting for the correct opportunity to act.

Significant themes

The chapter emphasizes the destructive persistence of obsession beyond death, as the ghost’s desire for family and control becomes grotesque violence. It also highlights the duty of exorcists to protect ordinary people, making the civilians’ presence a moral and tactical complication. Other themes include betrayal, possession, the distortion of familial bonds, and the contrast between the ghost’s fantasy of reunion and the victims’ helpless, unnatural obedience.

Character interactions

The ghost addresses the controlled civilians according to the roles he assigns them: “Grandfather,” “Grandmother,” “Father,” “Mother,” “wife,” and “son.” Only the young woman and child mechanically respond, pleasing him, while the others remain expressionless. Two kneeling women are identified as his former maidservants, Spring Blossom and Summer Bamboo, and answer him as “Master.” The ghost then attempts to unite the group as his permanent family, while the narrator watches helplessly and Mao Jing continues withholding action.

Chapter Summary: “The Whole Family, the Four Command Flags Activated”

Key Plot Points and Events

• The protagonists realize that eight living people have been bewitched and forced to act as sacrifices for the Yellow-Robed Vengeful Ghost. Each victim is strangling themselves, creating an urgent rescue situation.
• Mao Jing activates the East Command Flag, prompting Jiang Ning to activate the South Command Flag and Pan Ling to activate the West Command Flag.
• Before the formation is complete, the vengeful ghost attacks Jiang Ning, attempting to disrupt the ritual. Jiang Ning remains in position and blocks its claw with the powerful Black Umbrella.
• Zhang Yuchen activates the final North Command Flag, completing the Four-Flag Spirit-Suppressing Formation. The four flags resonate and suppress the ghost’s baleful yin energy.
• Although the formation weakens the ghost, it cannot seal or kill it. Mao Jing and Zhang Yuchen engage it directly, while Pan Ling rushes to rescue the eight bewitched civilians.
• Mao Jing traps the ghost with the Evil-Suppressing Net, but the ghost tears the net apart and blocks Zhang Yuchen’s attack. It proves strong enough to overpower Zhang and nearly injure Mao Jing despite the formation’s suppression.
• Jiang Ning places his own flag in position, strengthening the formation, then uses the distraction created by Mao Jing and Zhang Yuchen to launch a surprise attack with an Evil-Slaying Talisman.
• The chapter ends as Jiang Ning successfully slaps the talisman onto the ghost’s back, implying that the vengeful ghost is about to suffer severe injury.

Character Developments

• Jiang Ning demonstrates courage, composure, and tactical awareness. He holds his position under direct attack, relies on the Black Umbrella defensively, and later chooses a surprise talisman attack rather than recklessly confronting the ghost.
• Mao Jing acts as the group’s ritual leader, coordinating the formation and taking the initiative in combat with his Seven-Star Peachwood Sword and Evil-Suppressing Net.
• Pan Ling fulfills her role in activating the formation, then prioritizes saving the eight innocent victims rather than joining the battle.
• Zhang Yuchen bravely participates in the formation and attacks the ghost, but his weaker cultivation becomes evident when the ghost easily knocks him away.
• The Yellow-Robed Vengeful Ghost is revealed to be exceptionally powerful. Even while suppressed, it can tear apart a specialized spiritual net, block ritual weapons, and overpower the protagonists physically.

Significant Themes

• Teamwork and coordination: The formation only works if each member remains in position and activates the correct command flag at the right time.
• Discipline versus panic: The protagonists must resist the urge to abandon their positions, even when Jiang Ning is attacked and the civilians are close to death.
• Limits of power: The Four Command Flags can suppress the ghost but cannot defeat it alone, requiring the team to combine ritual magic, artifacts, and combat skill.
• Protecting the innocent: The eight bewitched people represent the human cost of the ghost’s revenge, motivating Pan Ling’s rescue effort and raising the stakes of the battle.
• Strategy over brute force: Jiang Ning’s successful sneak attack shows the importance of timing and deception against a stronger enemy.

Character Interactions

• Mao Jing gives the initial command and establishes the formation, while Jiang Ning and Pan Ling follow his lead.
• Mao Jing and Pan Ling warn Jiang Ning not to lose his position when the ghost attacks, showing their reliance on him to maintain the southern point.
• Jiang Ning’s Black Umbrella protects him from the ghost’s assault, allowing the others time to complete the formation.
• Mao Jing and Zhang Yuchen attack together after the formation is completed, creating an opening for Jiang Ning.
• Pan Ling separates from the combat group to rescue the eight victims.
• Jiang Ning uses the opening created by Mao Jing and Zhang Yuchen to strike the ghost from behind with the Evil-Slaying Talisman, ending the chapter on a cliffhanger.