Fangshi was an abandoned orphan, fortunate enough to be taken in by Old Master Xu of the Zhong Kui Temple outside Jiangning. He grew up among lamplight and ancient Buddhas, studying the temple’s inherited art of Zhong Kui’s Demon Exorcism from a young age and mastering the skills needed to deal with ghosts and evil spirits. Fifteen years ago, Old Master Xu passed away, entrusting the quiet little temple and the duty of protecting the local people to the still-young Fangshi.
From then on, Fangshi guarded this tiny patch of land alone, getting by on the meager offerings of the neighbors. He seemed to be nothing more than an ordinary temple keeper, but when night fell, he would wield talismans and form hand seals to drive away evil and protect residents who came to him for help, resolving one bizarre, scientifically inexplicable incident after another. From vengeful spirits whispering in corners to monsters possessing people and doing evil, Fangshi followed his master’s teachings, using the temple as his base and his craft as his blade, quietly maintaining the fragile balance between the worlds of the living and the dead amid everyday city life.
