Chapter Summaries

Luo Bin and Luo Feng discovered that Chen Xianxian was an evil spirit and fought her after Zhang Li warned them she had eaten Zhu Qianqian. Chen Xianxian wounded Luo Feng but resisted their blades, leaving the father and son facing a dangerous battle.

• Luo Bin stopped Luo Feng from opening the room and freed Zhang Li, who warned that an evil spirit was inside.
• Chen Xianxian emerged from the room, and Zhang Li identified her as the evil spirit who had eaten Zhu Qianqian.
• Chen Xianxian claimed Zhang Li was a madman and tried to seduce Luo Feng before attacking him.
• Luo Feng and Luo Bin struck Chen Xianxian with their blades, but her body resisted their attacks.
• Chen Xianxian tore open Luo Feng's arm, and Luo Feng confirmed she was an evil spirit.

Luo Bin and Luo Feng subdued Chen Xianxian by pouring Lamp Oil into her mouth, then told Zhong Zhicheng what had happened. Zhong Zhicheng decided to make the danger public, while Luo Bin faced questions about how he knew Lamp Oil would work.

• Chen Xianxian attacked Luo Feng and Luo Bin, and Luo Feng stabbed her in the eye while Luo Bin called for Lamp Oil.
• Luo Feng restrained Chen Xianxian as Luo Bin poured Lamp Oil into her mouth, causing her to convulse and stop moving.
• Luo Feng opened the locked door, and Zhong Zhicheng arrived and heard his account of Chen Xianxian keeping an Evil Spirit.
• Zhong Zhicheng concluded that Chen Xianxian had used her younger sister's identity to avoid detection and agreed that the village needed to be warned.
• Zhong Zhicheng told Luo Feng and Luo Bin to seek treatment, then asked Luo Bin how he knew Lamp Oil could subdue Chen Xianxian.

After the Chen sisters’ attack, Luo Feng and Luo Bin reported what happened to He Gui, who noticed Luo Bin’s fingernail had begun to regrow and suspected another Evil Spirit was involved. As Luo Feng and Luo Bin headed home, Gu Ya followed Zhang Yunling toward a dangerous part of the village, while the father and son emerged at the same junction.

• Zhong Zhicheng questioned Zhang Li about his village contacts and what he had heard at Chen Xianxian’s house, while Luo Feng took Luo Bin away.
• Jiang Shan asked Luo Feng about the Chen sisters, and Luo Feng punched him, warning that Jiang Shan had nearly gotten them killed.
• Luo Feng and Luo Bin visited He Gui, who treated their wounds and noticed a small nail growing on Luo Bin’s left little finger.
• He Gui suspected someone had raised an Evil Spirit and said the village roster should be checked, especially for people with unusual left little fingers.
• Luo Feng told Luo Bin that the village’s mountain willows had withered, then decided to rest before reporting it to Zhong Zhicheng.
• Worried about Luo Feng and Luo Bin, Gu Ya followed Zhang Yunling toward the homes near You Jiang and He Gui, and Luo Feng and Luo Bin appeared at the junction ahead.

Luo Bin went to find Zhang Yunling and discovered her frightened and grieving after You Jiang captured Gu Ya. He stayed with Zhang Yunling as she cried over her parents’ deaths, while Gu Ya remained in You Jiang’s courtyard.

• Luo Bin felt an unexplained panic while leaving You Jiang’s area with Luo Feng, then went to find Zhang Yunling after their family returned to an empty courtyard.
• You Jiang told Zhang Yunling he was waiting for an opening to hunt Zhong Zhicheng and warned her not to visit his courtyard again.
• You Jiang caught Gu Ya outside, dragged her into his courtyard, and confronted Zhang Yunling for failing to be careful; Zhang Yunling pleaded with him not to hurt Gu Ya.
• Luo Bin found Zhang Yunling on the road and followed her home so she could treat his reopened arm wound.
• Zhang Yunling asked Luo Bin to stay, then collapsed into his arms and cried about her parents’ deaths; Luo Bin silently comforted her.

Zhang Yunling told Luo Bin how her parents died after villagers drove them out at night, and she vowed to escape the village with him and his family. When Luo Bin returned home, his parents were missing; after searching for them, he found Luo Feng alone, waiting for Gu Ya as night fell.

• Zhang Yunling recounted how her parents were torn apart after villagers refused to let them stay overnight, and she promised to escape the village with Luo Bin, Xiao Shan, Luo Feng, and Gu Ya.
• Luo Bin believed Zhang Yunling and accepted the medicine she prepared for him before returning home.
• Luo Bin found the house empty and, troubled by worsening heart palpitations, searched for his parents around the village.
• Old Kong told Luo Bin that Luo Feng had earlier asked about Gu Ya, while the Village Chief had ordered the villagers to stay home and planned a search for Chen Xianxian the next day.
• Luo Bin returned home in the dark and found Luo Feng alone, waiting at the gate for Gu Ya.

Luo Bin struggled to leave home to search for Gu Ya, but Luo Feng restrained him and persuaded him to stay calm. Gu Ya was revealed to be imprisoned by You Jiang, who threatened to kill her and her family.

• Luo Bin tried to force his way outside after evil spirits arrived searching for Gu Ya, but Luo Feng knocked him down and locked the gate.
• Luo Feng argued that rushing into the night would endanger them both, and Luo Bin eventually sat with him inside.
• Luo Feng reasoned that You Jiang might be following a pattern and that Chen Xianxian might be using Gu Ya to threaten them.
• You Jiang kept Gu Ya in a hidden Underground Room and questioned how she had learned his identity.
• Gu Ya denied that Luo Feng knew You Jiang's secret, while You Jiang threatened to kill her and gather her family together before tormenting her inside the cage.

Luo Bin endured a sleepless night as an evil spirit tried to lure him outside with claims that it knew where his mother was, while Gu Yiren hid beneath Zhang Li’s bedroom and a mysterious girl admired the mountain nursery. At dawn, Luo Feng took Luo Bin to Zhong Zhicheng to demand another search for Gu Yiren and the escaped Chen Xianxian, and Zhong agreed to one more search.

• An evil spirit knocked on Luo Bin’s window, claimed to know where his mother was, and tried to guilt him into coming outside, but he refused.
• Zhang Li returned home distraught and called for Gu Yiren while she remained hidden in the Underground Room beneath his bedroom.
• A girl admired the beautiful flowers atop the mountain, where the dew-covered leaves appeared to conceal a face in pain.
• After eating noodles at dawn, Luo Bin followed Luo Feng to Zhong Zhicheng’s house to ask for another search of the village.
• Luo Feng argued that Gu Yiren was alive and Chen Xianxian had escaped, and Zhong Zhicheng reluctantly agreed to one more search.
• Luo Bin saw what looked like human remains and a flayed skin in Zhong Zhicheng’s courtyard, but pain made the sight resolve into sheep bones, mutton, and sheepskin.

Luo Feng led a renewed search of Cabinet Mountain Village for Chen Xianxian and Gu Yiren, using the village-wide effort to investigate You Jiang. The search of You Jiang’s home revealed nothing, leaving Luo Bin unsure whether You Jiang was involved in Gu Ya’s disappearance.

• The Village Chief ordered the Able-Bodied Team to search the village again for Chen Xianxian and Gu Yiren, while Luo Feng assigned the search areas.
• Luo Bin realized Luo Feng had arranged for Zhong Zhicheng to accompany him so the Village Chief could investigate clues firsthand.
• Luo Feng, Luo Bin, and Zhong Zhicheng searched You Jiang’s courtyard, while Zhong Zhicheng questioned You Jiang about hunting and inspected his clean well.
• Luo Bin searched the main room and toilet under the pretense of getting water and finding the toilet, but he found no suspicious evidence.
• You Jiang spoke about Luo Feng losing his wife, prompting Luo Bin to suspect he was provoking them, though You Jiang appeared composed.
• After Luo Feng finished searching the courtyard without finding anything, Zhong Zhicheng asked You Jiang to work with Luo Feng that afternoon, and the group continued to the next home.

Luo Bin went to the Bamboo Grove to ask Gu Yiren for help finding his missing mother, while You Jiang secretly entered the Underground Room. Gu Yiren revealed that Luo Bin’s mother was imprisoned there, then warned that she had been marked for death and that Luo Bin was in danger too.

• Luo Bin left the village search and hurried toward the Bamboo Grove, worried that Gu Yiren might have been caught.
• You Jiang left his house through a hidden entrance and descended into the Underground Room.
• Luo Bin found Zhang Li and learned that Gu Yiren had hidden from the searchers; he also saw a bloody “Slash” on the gate that Zhang Li could not see.
• Gu Yiren told Luo Bin that his mother was crying in a cage in the Underground Room, but she could not identify who had taken her.
• Gu Yiren cried that she had been marked and would be killed at the village entrance, then warned Luo Bin to hide because others would smile when he died.

After Gu Yiren collapsed, Luo Bin decided to save her and take her away from the village. He led Zhang Li, carrying Gu Yiren, through the woods toward the river, where they spotted a distant figure watching them.

• Gu Yiren became hysterical, attacked Zhang Li, and lost consciousness after revealing that a Hunter had marked her for execution.
• Luo Bin agreed to save Gu Yiren and made Zhang Li promise to keep their conversation secret.
• Zhang Li explained how Gu Yiren had escaped the Underground Room and hidden from the villagers searching for her.
• Luo Bin concluded the Hunter might be toying with Gu Yiren and decided they had to leave the house.
• Luo Bin took Gu Yiren and Zhang Li through the woods toward the river, where they saw a dark figure standing beneath a distant house.

Luo Bin brought Gu Yiren and Zhang Li to Zhong Zhicheng’s mountain house, where Gu Yiren confronted a disturbing room and chose to lie on the butcher’s block. Her words and song strengthened Luo Bin’s determination to escape, and he stopped before a locked door at the back of the house.

• You Jiang spotted a possible figure moving through the woods across the river and suspected Chen Xianxian had escaped.
• Luo Bin led Zhang Li and Gu Yiren to Zhong Zhicheng’s secluded mountain house, warning them to hide there only at night because the Village Chief came during the day.
• Gu Yiren urged Zhang Li to leave the village, but he reluctantly handed her belongings to Luo Bin and stayed outside while they entered the house.
• Luo Bin discovered that the lamp-oil bottles had refilled and followed Gu Yiren into a room filled with tools for butchering.
• Gu Yiren lay on the butcher’s block, told Luo Bin she would go with him if she survived, and began humming “Fireflies.”
• Luo Bin’s will to escape grew stronger, and he approached a heavily padlocked door at the back of the house.

Luo Bin returned home after learning Gu Yiren was held in a basement and told Luo Feng that she had helped him survive an earlier encounter with an evil spirit. As father and son sought safety in the main room, Luo Bin saw a huge corpse-white face outside the window that Luo Feng could not see.

• Luo Bin stole Lamp Oil after hearing Gu Yiren break down beside the Slaughtering Platform.
• Zhong Zhicheng showed You Jiang a human corpse that appeared to become a Two-Legged Sheep, revealing his knowledge of You Jiang's hunting experience.
• Luo Bin told Zhang Li he would scout the route later, then secretly followed him back toward the village.
• Luo Bin told Luo Feng that Gu Ya was in someone's basement and that Gu Yiren had warned him about an open window during an earlier spirit attack.
• Luo Bin and Luo Feng sensed something watching them and went to the main room, where Luo Bin saw a huge corpse-white face outside the window that Luo Feng could not see.

Luo Bin endured the Hunter’s visit while discussing Gu Ya’s disappearance and You Jiang’s possible guilt with Luo Feng. After surviving the night, he encountered Zhang Lingyun, who brought food for him and Luo Feng.

• The Hunter entered Luo Bin and Luo Feng’s courtyard and stared at Luo Bin through the main-room window, but Luo Bin used Rewind to hide his awareness.
• Luo Feng and Luo Bin discussed You Jiang, suspected he had taken Gu Ya and might eat people, and considered how to search his house again.
• Luo Feng and Luo Bin slept in the main room, and Luo Bin woke to find that the word “behead” had not appeared on the door.
• Luo Bin heard Zhong Zhicheng calling the watch and went to close the courtyard gate.
• Zhang Lingyun arrived with a basket of food, grieving for Gu Ya and offering to feed Luo Bin and Luo Feng.

Luo Bin used Luo Feng’s plan to draw You Jiang away from home and searched You Jiang’s courtyard for a basement. He found no basement before reaching the bedroom window, where the river and wooded mountain below made him realize the location’s significance.

• Luo Feng left to speak with Village Chief Zhong Zhicheng while Luo Bin and Zhang Yunling stayed behind; Luo Bin then set out to find a route You Jiang would take.
• Luo Bin hid inside the mortuary and waited until You Jiang passed with two Able-Bodied Team members, then hurried toward You Jiang’s house.
• A disheveled man watched Luo Bin pass and muttered to a photograph of a girl that Luo Bin had survived and become the good guy while she was dead.
• Luo Bin climbed over the wall into You Jiang’s locked courtyard and searched its rooms for the basement Luo Feng had mentioned.
• Luo Bin reached You Jiang’s bedroom and saw that its window faced a grassy stretch, a broad river, and dense trees at the mountain’s base.

Luo Feng resisted the Able-Bodied Team’s demand to bring Luo Shan on an expedition, because he needed to search for Gu Ya. You Jiang realized the meeting might be a trap and hurried toward Luo Shan’s home, fearing Luo Shan’s abilities.

• Luo Bin recalled seeing You Jiang across the river and searched the final room for an entrance to the Underground Room, but found nothing.
• Imprisoned in a wooden cage underground, Gu Ya struggled to escape and cried for help.
• Zhong Zhicheng announced that Luo Feng would lead a team to scout the route to Qiang Village and hunt Two-Legged Sheep, with You Jiang assisting and He Gui protecting them.
• Luo Feng objected to bringing Luo Shan, but You Jiang and the Able-Bodied Team argued that the expedition would be safer with Luo Shan along.
• You Jiang left after making Luo Shan’s participation a condition of his own, then suspected Luo Feng was luring him out while Luo Shan waited at home.
• Fearing Luo Shan, You Jiang hurried through secluded alleys toward Luo Shan’s house.

Luo Bin used Rewind to rethink his search of You Jiang’s house and realized the window markers pointed to a hidden entrance beneath the turf. He heard Gu Ya calling for help from underground and discovered where she was being held.

• You Jiang returned home, found that a thread on his room’s door had snapped, and went underground after checking the undisturbed marker on his window.
• Zhang Yunling comforted Luo Bin and urged him to imagine what Gu Ya would do, prompting him to reconsider how she might have left clues for Luo Feng.
• Luo Bin used Rewind to notice the hidden threads on You Jiang’s door and window and deduced that the window’s exterior must be important.
• Luo Bin spotted flattened grass and heard faint knocks and Gu Ya’s hoarse cries beneath You Jiang’s window.
• Luo Bin realized Gu Ya was underground, exclaimed that he had found her, and jumped to his feet.

Luo Bin realized Gu Ya was hidden beneath a repeatedly trodden patch of grass outside You Jiang’s window, but Luo Feng warned that You Jiang was already on guard and urged caution. The chapter ended with father and son weighing the danger of confronting You Jiang before he could act against their family.

• Luo Bin figured out that the Underground Room was under the grass outside You Jiang’s window, guided by Zhang Yunling’s suggestion and clues he had noticed.
• Luo Bin embraced Zhang Yunling, and Luo Feng returned home to find them together before Zhang Yunling left.
• Luo Bin explained his discovery to Luo Feng and proposed gathering the Village Chief and the Able-Bodied Team to capture You Jiang.
• Luo Feng stopped Luo Bin and explained that You Jiang knew they had searched his house and was likely too wary to leave his courtyard.
• Luo Bin understood that a sudden assault could provoke You Jiang to act rashly, putting their family in danger.

Luo Feng and Luo Bin planned to lure You Jiang out of his house so someone could rescue Gu Ya from the Underground Room, and they chose Zhang Yunling to help. Luo Bin went to find her, unaware that she had secretly made a deal with You Jiang to protect Gu Ya while ensuring Luo Feng and Luo Bin stayed safe.

• Luo Feng told Luo Bin they could go with You Jiang into the mountains while a trusted person rescued Gu Ya and reported the Underground Room to the Village Chief.
• Luo Feng suggested asking Zhang Yunling to help, and Luo Bin agreed she was trustworthy, though he wondered whether she had the skill to find the Underground Room herself.
• Luo Bin waited outside Zhang Yunling's house before she returned from looking for herbs and invited him inside.
• Zhang Yunling reassured Luo Bin that she understood Luo Feng's grief and was glad he had come to her.
• Alone in her Medicine Room, Zhang Yunling took out a crookedly stitched doll and revealed that she had promised You Jiang she would protect Gu Ya, while he had promised not to harm Luo Feng or Luo Bin.

Zhang Yunling prepared medicine for Luo Bin while enduring visions of her dead parents, and Luo Bin chose Zhang Li to help rescue Gu Ya and escape Shangui Village. Zhang Li regained his will to survive after Luo Bin trusted him and revealed that You Jiang was the killer.

• Zhang Yunling weighed and packed medicine for Luo Bin, while her dead parents appeared and repeated their warnings; she comforted herself with the Cloth Doll after Luo Bin left.
• Luo Bin abandoned his plan to ask Zhang Yunling to rescue Gu Ya and went to Zhang Li instead.
• Luo Bin told Zhang Li that someone was watching his family and that they would need help to leave the village.
• Zhang Li drew strength from Luo Bin calling him a top student and promised to help.
• Luo Bin explained that You Jiang was pretending to be an evil spirit, killing people, and keeping Gu Ya in an Underground Room.

Luo Bin enlisted Zhang Li to find the Underground Room and rescue his mother, while concealing Gu Yiren’s location from Luo Feng. In the Underground Room, You Jiang tormented Gu Ya and threatened to kill Luo Feng and Luo Bin, leaving her to hope for a miracle.

• Luo Bin gave Zhang Li medicine and arranged for him to search the Underground Room after the group left the village.
• Luo Bin explained to Luo Feng why he trusted Zhang Li but hid Gu Yiren’s location and the information she had given him.
• Luo Feng planned to set off into the mountains with You Jiang the following morning.
• You Jiang told Gu Ya that Luo Bin had nearly found her and threatened to kill Luo Feng and Luo Bin.
• You Jiang planned to cut Gu Ya three thousand six hundred times and feed her meat to the villagers, while Gu Ya feared for her family’s safety.