Ghost Tamer

Biodata

Background

Ghost Tamers are humans who gain and use the power of vengeful ghosts. This power is never safely owned: the ghost remains an evil entity within its wielder, and continued use gradually leads toward resurgence, possession, and death. Becoming a Ghost Tamer is therefore described as accepting a “countdown to death” in exchange for supernatural power 10.

The existence of Ghost Tamers is first raised during Zhou Zheng's classroom lecture on ghost survival. Fang Jing identifies the term during the encounter with the Knocking Ghost, while Zhou Zheng later confirms that Yang Jian has become one after obtaining the Ghost Eye 3 9.

A Ghost Tamer's death can release the ghost they contained, potentially creating or escalating a supernatural event. Zhou Zheng, for example, becomes a rotting ghostly figure after being killed by the Ghost Infant 271.

Principles of Ghost Handling

“Ghosts cannot be killed.” 3

“Only ghosts can deal with ghosts.” 3

“Discern the patterns of ghosts.” 3

• Ghost powers are the primary means by which Ghost Tamers resist, suppress, or contain other ghosts 3 10.
• Understanding a ghost's killing rules, mediums, and behavioral patterns is critical; raw power alone does not guarantee survival 200 514.
• Gold can be used to seal ghosts and isolate supernatural influence 65.
• Direct contact with a ghost can alter its behavior or invalidate previously understood patterns, making containment substantially more dangerous than mere survival 466.
• A dead Ghost Tamer may leave behind a resurgent ghost, forcing survivors to contend with both the death and its supernatural aftermath 87 875.

Methods of Ghost Control

Capabilities and Limitations

Wielding Vengeful Ghosts

Each Ghost Tamer's abilities depend on the specific ghost or ghosts they control. Such powers can include ghost domains, possession, suppression, illusion, bodily transformation, or interaction with supernatural items.

• A Ghost Tamer may attempt to control additional ghosts to extend the time before resurgence 79 354.
• Controlling multiple ghosts requires active coordination; once their internal balance collapses, resurgence follows 647.
• Ghost domains provide major tactical advantages, including concealment, movement, perception, and environmental control, but their use accelerates the danger posed by the wielder's own ghost 235 471.
• A Ghost Tamer who has mastered only one ghost is generally at a severe disadvantage against powerful supernatural events 274.

Ghost Resurgence

Ghost resurgence occurs when a contained ghost increasingly erodes, takes over, or escapes its wielder.

• Repeated use of supernatural abilities shortens the time before resurgence 10 96.
• A resurgent ghost may physically emerge from its wielder's body, as seen with Zhang Han's tattoo-like ghost forcing its hands out through his back 96.
• Some Ghost Tamers seek a second ghost specifically to postpone death, though this creates further instability and risk 79 354.
• Even a carefully maintained balance has limits; exceeding a wielder's capacity can cause suppression to fail 570.

Ghost Suppression and Containment

Ghost Tamers can use their own ghosts or specialized items to suppress other supernatural entities.

• Suppression may immobilize a ghost, block its abilities, or prevent it from reviving temporarily 505 744.
• Some supernatural items require a medium or specific triggering condition before they can affect a target 678.
• Containment often requires gold containers or specially prepared supernatural items, as conventional methods are inadequate against ghosts 65 709.
• Suppressing a ghost is not the same as destroying it; a restrained ghost can revive once the suppression ends 658 807.

Known Ghost Tamers

• Zhou Zheng — City manager and instructor who explains the nature of Ghost Tamers to Yang Jian during the Seven Middle School incident 9.
• Yang Jian — Becomes a Ghost Tamer after obtaining the Ghost Eye; later develops into a leading handler of supernatural incidents 9 384.
• Ye Feng — Known as “Ghost Clothing”; controls two ghosts, including a burial shroud that resists attacks from other ghosts 199 200.
• Zhang Han — Known as “Ghost Man Zhang Han” because a ghost clings to his back like a tattoo 96.
• Tong Qian — Uses the opposing crying and smiling Ghost Faces in a deadlock-based form of control 373 1082.
• Guo Fan — Uses a spirit tablet to exchange places with a ghost, though repeated exchanges allow the ghost to gradually consume him 530 531.
• Zhang Lei — Known as the “Ghost Eater”; possesses an ability associated with consuming ghosts 417 486.
• Feng Quan — An early Headquarters Ghost Tamer whose Ghost Fog and ghost domain place heavy strain on his balance 667 865.