Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin stopped Zhang Yunling from attacking Zhong Zhicheng and pressed her to explain why she believed Zhong was trapping the villagers. Her breakdown revealed that her parents’ deaths and hallucinations had fueled her desire for revenge, while Qin Tianqing warned that Zhong’s role might still involve a hidden plan by Yin Yuan.

• Luo Bin blocked Zhang Yunling and refused to let her harm Zhong Zhicheng without concrete evidence.
• Zhang Yunling dropped her dagger and fled to the kitchen after Luo Bin suggested that she blamed Zhong for her parents’ deaths.
• Zhang Yunxi and Qin Tianqing discussed two possibilities: Zhong was a planted agent, or Yin Yuan had manipulated events to remove him.
• Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing watched Zhang Yunling sob in the kitchen as she saw her dead parents beside her.
• Zhang Yunling recognized that her parents and cloth doll were not real, admitted that she hated Zhong, and revealed that she had invented the reason he deserved to die.

Zhang Yunling burned the Cloth Doll and apologized to Luo Bin for betraying Luo Feng and Gu Ya, while Qin Tianqing used the Jade Slip to rescue Zhong Zhicheng from the Heart-Peering Grounds. Zhong Zhicheng remained convinced Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing were Two-Legged Sheep.

• Zhang Yunling heard the Cloth Doll urge her to kill Zhong Zhicheng and take Luo Shan away, but she threw the doll into the stove and let it burn.
• Zhang Yunling apologized to Luo Bin and asked him to tell Luo Feng and Gu Ya that she had been wrong, then cleaned the blood from the Main Hall.
• Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing concluded Zhang Yunling had not acted on the Cloth Doll's instructions and discussed whether her apparent madness had ended.
• Qin Tianqing explained that the Heart-Peering Grounds made fear seem real, then used the Jade Slip to stop Zhong Zhicheng's torment.
• Luo Bin told Zhong Zhicheng that he and Qin Tianqing were human, but Zhong Zhicheng still suspected they were Two-Legged Sheep.

Luo Bin convinced Zhong Zhicheng that Cabinet Mountain had deceived them, then searched for Gu Yiren after waking. He found her alive in her courtyard, and she clung to him, begging him not to leave even if she was dreaming.

• Luo Bin used the secret number 3951 to convince Zhong Zhicheng that his account was true, and Zhang Yunling treated Zhong Zhicheng's wound.
• Luo Bin told Zhang Yunling that Zhang Baijiao had been safe with her parents, while Zhong Zhicheng and Zhang Yunling later left the Main Hall.
• Qin Tianqing said he would watch the village and search for Qin Que, while Luo Bin went to Zhang Li's old courtyard to find Gu Yiren.
• Luo Bin mistook an imagined image of Gu Yiren's mutilated corpse for reality, then used Rewind and realized his fear had caused the vision.
• Gu Yiren returned to the courtyard and found Luo Bin there; she wept, embraced him, and begged to remain with him even if she was ill or dreaming.

Luo Bin reunited with Gu Yiren, while Zhang Yunling heard the scorched Cloth Doll urge her to remove Gu Yiren and take Luo Shan away. Zhong Zhicheng rallied the villagers to follow Luo Bin’s group as they prepared to face Cabinet Mountain’s attempt to stop them from leaving.

• Luo Bin held Gu Yiren as she wept against him, reassuring her that she was safe and that he had returned.
• Zhang Yunling watched Luo Bin and Gu Yiren embrace, then heard the Cloth Doll claim that Gu Yiren was a curse and urged her to act against her.
• Zhong Zhicheng told the Able-Bodied Team that Luo Bin had returned with help and warned them to resist Cabinet Mountain’s attempts to bewitch or harm them.
• Si tried to convince Zhong Zhicheng that Luo Bin and his companions were deceiving the villagers, but he dismissed her claims.
• Yan Li said he believed Luo Shan could get the villagers out of Cabinet Mountain.

Luo Bin reunited with Gu Yiren, who warned that she might be Yuan Yinxin’s pawn and sent him away to handle more urgent matters. As Yuan Yinxin struggled to contain the danger at the Cabinet Mountain Taoist Grounds, Luo Bin returned to the courtyard and found Zhang Yunling cooking and offering to help.

• Luo Bin told Gu Yiren about everything that had happened since they were separated.
• Gu Yiren reasoned that Yuan Yinxin might be using her as a pawn and insisted that Luo Bin leave her behind to deal with urgent matters.
• Yuan Yinxin held the danger outside the Cabinet Mountain Taoist Grounds’s Main Hall with talismans and used a bloodied chess piece to summon someone.
• Luo Bin returned to the courtyard and found Zhang Yunling tending a pot in the kitchen.
• Zhang Yunling asked Luo Bin if she could stay and help care for him and the others.

Luo Bin, Qin Tianqing, and Zhang Yunxi discovered that Zhang Yunling had poisoned the food and moved to You Jiang’s home to avoid danger. Qin Tianqing laid out their plan to find Qin Que and confront Yuan Yinxin, leaving Luo Bin facing the possibility that defeating Yuan Yinxin would require a sacrifice.

• Qin Tianqing warned Luo Bin that Yuan Yinxin would likely target Qin Que and then try to bring Luo Bin to his side.
• Zhang Yunling offered to help, but Qin Tianqing and Luo Bin sent her away because the village was dangerous.
• Qin Tianqing and Zhang Yunxi revealed that Zhang Yunling had poisoned the porridge and told Luo Bin not to eat or drink anything from the house.
• Luo Bin took Qin Tianqing and Zhang Yunxi to You Jiang’s home, where they planned to find Qin Que and persuade him to join them against Yuan Yinxin.
• Qin Tianqing explained that confronting Yuan Yinxin directly or weakening his control over Cabinet Mountain might demand a sacrifice, and Luo Bin fell silent.

Shangguan Xingyue discovered that Cabinet Mountain had awakened and its dojo had fallen, while Luo Bin, Qin Tianqing, and Zhang Yunxi sought help from Qin Que at the Morgue. Qin Tianqing drew Qin Que out with the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip, but tangled threads erupted from Qin Que’s mouth and attacked him.

• Luo Bin and Qin Tianqing discussed the danger of Cabinet Mountain and whether to risk making it Heavenly Mechanism’s new home.
• Shangguan Xingyue saw that Cabinet Mountain’s demons and evil spirits had changed and realized the Cabinet Mountain Taoist Grounds had fallen.
• Shangguan Xingyue concluded that Luo Bin was also a target and hurried away to find him.
• At dusk, Luo Bin, Qin Tianqing, and Zhang Yunxi entered the Morgue to find Qin Que.
• Qin Tianqing tried to free Qin Que with the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip, but threads burst from Qin Que’s mouth and wrapped around Qin Tianqing’s wrist.

Luo Bin and the others escaped the Morgue after the thing inside Qin Que attacked them, but the village was filling with transformed evil spirits. They took shelter with Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng, where Qin Tianqing revealed that the threads were spreading through his arm and ordered everyone outside.

• Qin Que attacked Qin Tianqing, Zhang Yunxi, and Luo Bin with blood-vessel-like threads, but Qin Tianqing subdued him with the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip.
• Luo Bin shed his outer shell to escape the threads, leaving the Moss Eater Flower bound in his place as it fought back.
• Qin Tianqing carried the immobilized Qin Que out of the Morgue while Luo Bin and Zhang Yunxi fled through the fog and approaching evil spirits.
• Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng led them into a courtyard, and Luo Bin warned him not to let fear make him imagine dangers.
• Qin Tianqing showed that the threads had spread through his swollen arm and told everyone to leave while he dealt with them.

Luo Bin and the others realized that Cabinet Mountain itself had awakened and was hunting them, while Qin Tianqing freed Qin Que from its control. The chapter ended with Zhang Li appearing outside the Courtyard gate and begging Luo Bin to let him in.

• Luo Bin struck Qin Tianqing with the Compass, exposing the living threads controlling him and prompting the group to conclude that Cabinet Mountain was acting against them.
• Qin Tianqing deduced that Cabinet Mountain had taken control of the Nightmare Corpse and was hunting Luo Bin, Yuan Yinxin, and Shangguan Xingyue.
• Qin Tianqing removed the Heavenly Mechanism Jade Slip from Qin Que, who retained his Evil Spirit transformation and demanded the right to become Qin Tianji after they took Cabinet Mountain.
• Qin Que explained that fog and strands from it had taken control of him the night before last, and said Luo Bin had been the real target.
• Luo Bin saw Zhang Li outside the gate, where Zhang Li pleaded with him to open it and save him from the Evil Spirits.

Luo Bin resisted Zhang Li’s attempt to lure him outside, then joined Qin Tianqing and Zhang Yunxi in planning to turn Yuan Yinxin’s scheme against him. At dawn, Luo Bin headed for the Bamboo Grove while Yuan Yinxin raged at the trouble unfolding on his own territory.

• Luo Bin ignored Zhang Li’s pleas and insults, recognizing them as an attempt to manipulate him, and refused to open the gate.
• Qin Tianqing proposed that Yuan Yinxin was using Luo Bin to harvest Cabinet Mountain’s fear-grown fruit, and suggested they seize the initiative by doing it themselves.
• Luo Bin agreed that they should visit Cabinet Mountain Town, while Qin Tianqing advised leaving the Mind-Prying Field intact and keeping people away from it.
• Luo Bin asked Zhong Zhicheng to help him find the archaeological team with Yi Ren’s guidance, and Zhong Zhicheng agreed.
• Luo Bin stayed awake through the night and left for the Bamboo Grove at dawn, while Yuan Yinxin angrily slammed the board in the Cabinet Mountain Taoist Grounds.

Luo Bin and Gu Yiren traveled toward Cabinet Mountain Town to bring Luo Bin’s parents to safety, then spent the night in a cave on Sheephead Mountain. As Gu Yiren slept and Luo Bin tried to rest, he was suddenly overcome by fear.

• Yuan Yinxin watched events through the Si he controlled and moved a piece on his chessboard while remaining trapped in the Taoist Grounds.
• Luo Bin arrived at Gu Yiren’s home and told her they needed to bring his parents to the village for protection.
• Luo Bin and Gu Yiren ate, then followed the route Gu Yiren remembered through the mountains toward Cabinet Mountain Town.
• After reaching Sheephead Mountain at sunset, Gu Yiren led Luo Bin into a small cave and lit two oil lamps.
• Gu Yiren fell asleep while Luo Bin kept watch, but he felt a sudden surge of fear when he closed his eyes.

Luo Bin uncovered a buried skeleton in the cave, then a fox-like creature disguised itself as Gu Yiren and drained his yang energy. Moss Eater drove the creature away, but Luo Bin remained badly weakened.

• Luo Bin found disturbed earth beneath the dry grass and dug up a skeleton dressed in dark blue clothes embroidered with horses and clouds.
• Luo Bin and Gu Yiren returned to rest, and Gu Yiren fell asleep against him.
• A fox-like creature appeared as Gu Yiren, kissed Luo Bin, and began draining his yang energy while he was unable to move.
• Luo Bin recognized that the creature was draining his yang energy, but he could not fight back as it clawed at his chest.
• Moss Eater appeared and lunged at Luo Bin, causing the white-furred creature to flee into the shallow pit.
• Luo Bin found his lips bitten and bloody holes in his chest, and he remained limp and exhausted after the creature escaped.

After surviving a demon attack in the cave, Luo Bin and Gu Yiren fled toward Cabinet Mountain Town. Recognizing the route near Li Yunyi’s former residence, Luo Bin chose to investigate it for Flower Affection fruit, giving Gu Yiren the Evil-Breaking Flag for protection.

• Luo Bin awoke in the cave with Gu Yiren beside him and discovered that the skeleton from the shallow pit had vanished.
• Luo Bin told Gu Yiren about the white-furred demon, and they left the cave and began descending the mountain.
• After hiding overnight in a hollow tree, Luo Bin and Gu Yiren continued through the Cedar Forest while an unknown pursuer and a shriveled fox carrying a skull followed them.
• Luo Bin recognized a route leading toward Li Yunyi’s former residence and decided to investigate its Flower Affection plants.
• Luo Bin gave Gu Yiren the Evil-Breaking Flag and led her toward Li Yunyi’s courtyard.

Luo Bin and Gu Yiren reached the rebuilt Small Courtyard, found the Manager missing, and gathered Emotion Flower Fruit. Shangguan Xingyue watched them leave and, consumed by jealousy and hatred, stabbed a dagger into a wooden post.

• Luo Bin and Gu Yiren approached the Small Courtyard under the protection of the Evil-Breaking Banner and found its banner burned and its Manager gone.
• Luo Bin searched the disordered room and found a Cloth Pouch, then collected Emotion Flower Fruit from the Flower Garden with Gu Yiren.
• Luo Bin saw intense emotions reflected in dewdrops on two entwined flowers and packed their remaining fruit separately.
• Shangguan Xingyue emerged after Luo Bin and Gu Yiren left, having followed signs to the Courtyard while avoiding Cabinet Mountain Village.
• Shangguan Xingyue watched Luo Bin and Gu Yiren depart, then drove a dagger into a wooden post as jealousy and hatred surfaced.

Luo Bin and Gu Yiren returned to Cabinet Mountain Town and found it devastated, but Li Yuan led them to an underground shelter where surviving residents greeted Luo Bin and demanded to leave the mountain. Luo Bin realized his parents and the other familiar figures were missing, and Li Yuan hesitated when asked where they were.

• Luo Bin and Gu Yiren passed the Mountain God Temple and entered a deserted, ruined Cabinet Mountain Town.
• Luo Bin searched Shang Liuli's Home and Zhang Baijiao's burned Chinese Medicine Shop, finding signs of violence but no people or bodies.
• Luo Bin reassured Gu Yiren as they headed to their Two-Story House, where Li Yuan found them and revealed that demons and evil spirits had rampaged after Yuan and Gu disappeared.
• Li Yuan brought Luo Bin and Gu Yiren to an underground warehouse shelter filled with surviving town residents.
• The residents cheered Luo Bin's return and chanted that they wanted to leave the mountain, but Luo Bin could not find his parents, Zhang Baijiao, or Shang Liuli.
• Luo Bin asked Li Yuan where his parents were, and Li Yuan froze as the crowd fell silent.

Li Yuan told Luo Bin that his parents had died in Cabinet Mountain Town, and Luo Bin refused to promise the townspeople he could lead them out. Li Yuan returned with an armed crowd to force Luo Bin to choose, but Luo Bin noticed something was wrong and challenged how Li Yuan had heard him.

• Li Yuan recounted how Gu Ya was possessed by the poison cat and poisoned Luo Feng, and how Zhang Baijiao burned the creature to death before later disappearing while gathering herbs.
• Luo Bin learned that his parents and Zhang Baijiao were dead, and his grief and hatred for Yuan Yinxin intensified.
• Li Yuan begged Luo Bin to lead the townspeople out, but Luo Bin said he would leave at daybreak and warned them not to expect a way out.
• Li Yuan returned with the townspeople armed and threatened Luo Bin and Gu Yiren unless Luo Bin agreed to find a way to save them.
• Luo Bin questioned how Li Yuan had heard him from the underground warehouse, and Li Yuan replied that it was too late to realize the problem.

Luo Bin exposed Li Yuan’s fabricated claims about the deaths of Luo Feng, Gu Ya, Shang Liuli, and Zhang Baijiao, then used a deadly thunder technique to defeat him. Yu Hao and the townspeople submitted to Luo Bin, but Luo Bin refused the Town Chief position and appointed Yu Hao instead.

• Li Yuan claimed he had killed Shang Liuli, poisoned Luo Feng and Gu Ya, and burned Zhang Baijiao, blaming Luo Bin and Mo Qian for the town’s suffering.
• Luo Bin recognized Li Yuan’s story as a lie and challenged him, but Li Yuan attacked with his machete and threatened Gu Yiren.
• Luo Bin used the Death and Thunder Trigram positions to strike Li Yuan with deadly thunder, leaving him on the verge of death and frightening the crowd into dropping their weapons.
• Yu Hao emerged and killed Li Yuan with an iron rod, then explained that he had helped Luo Feng, Gu Ya, and the others escape.
• Yu Hao and the townspeople knelt before Luo Bin and asked him to give them a chance, but Luo Bin appointed Yu Hao as Town Chief and said he was only an outsider with his own goals.

Luo Bin reunited with Luo Feng, Gu Ya, Shang Liuli, Zhang Baijiao, and Gu Yiren after Li Yuan’s death. Though Luo Feng urged him to leave Cabinet Mountain rather than risk a fight, Luo Bin refused to abandon Zhang Yunxi and Qin Tianqing after they had helped him.

• Luo Feng and Shang Liuli kept watch at their camp, where they discovered and killed House Immortals that had been draining their yang energy.
• Yu Hao led Luo Bin and Gu Yiren to the camp, and Gu Ya, Luo Feng, Shang Liuli, and Zhang Baijiao joyfully welcomed them back.
• Luo Bin told the others that Yuan Yinxin was alive and was the Lord of Cabinet Mountain, then explained what had happened while concealing his Soul Summoning secret.
• Luo Feng questioned what Luo Bin would become if he struck first and urged him to leave Cabinet Mountain with his family.
• Luo Bin refused to leave without helping Zhang Yunxi and Qin Tianqing, saying that abandoning them would betray their kindness.

Luo Bin’s group learned that Spirit Mediums might be trapped on the mountain and that the mountain’s restraints could have failed, so they fled toward Cabinet Mountain Town. More than twenty years after Yuan Yinxin lured them there, a group of Spirit Mediums and disciples descended the mountain, finally free and furious at him.

• Luo Feng agreed to go to Cabinet Mountain Village with Luo Bin and Shang Liuli, and Zhang Baijiao learned that Zhang Yunling was safe.
• Shang Liuli explained that the group had killed House Immortals for food and warned Zhang Baijiao to keep it secret from the Spirit Mediums.
• Luo Bin described finding a body in the mountain wearing clothing associated with a Spirit Medium, prompting Shang Liuli to suspect the mountain’s restraints had failed.
• Shang Liuli ordered everyone to abandon most of their belongings and leave immediately, and Luo Bin’s group hurried toward Cabinet Mountain Town.
• More than half a day later, Spirit Mediums and their disciples came down from the mountain after discovering that its sinister beings and ghosts had disappeared.
• The freed group realized they had been trapped for over twenty years, and they blamed Yuan Yinxin for deceiving them into coming to Cabinet Mountain.

After Shangguan Xingyue discovered the Spirit Mediums had escaped Claw Armor Mountain, she sought Luo Bin to help save Cabinet Mountain. She found his group at their mountain shelter, where Luo Bin realized she could help them reach the nightmare corpse’s tomb, though her arrival might also lead them into danger.

• Hu Xing found the abandoned shack, saw the snake soup, and screamed after entering the tent.
• Yu Hao returned to Cabinet Mountain Town while Luo Bin’s group continued toward Cabinet Mountain Village, and Shangguan Xingyue sensed an unseen presence following them.
• Shangguan Xingyue learned that Spirit Mediums had come down from Claw Armor Mountain and decided she might need to take Luo Bin to meet Master.
• Shangguan Xingyue arrived at the cave, where Luo Feng held Hilt to her neck before lowering it after realizing she was not an evil spirit.
• Luo Bin asked Shangguan Xingyue about the mountain’s changes and concluded she could lead them to the nightmare corpse’s tomb, which their group could not reach alone.