This story builds an “ecosystem of spirits” where ancient and modern worlds intertwine. Objects gain sentience through emotional attachments, the passage of history, or special energies, and their power comes from “Story Points.” The loosely organized “Spirit Realm” relies on places such as the “Spirit Artifact Arbitration Office” to settle disputes, including “Chatterbox,” a bar beneath the provincial museum. In the modern world, most spirits live hidden among humans.
The protagonist, Li Chuqi, was born on the seventh day of the first lunar month, known as “Human Day,” and inherited her grandmother's “medium constitution.” Her grandmother, who may have been a medium in a past life, left her a replica longevity lock from the Republican era called “Chatterbox Lock.” Nervous and endlessly talkative, it serves both as a protective charm and a guide, offering vague hints at crucial moments. It also shares a deep connection with Old Zhang.
The key to Li Chuqi's powers is the Kangxi Tongbao coin “Kang Xiaoxi.” On the seventh of each month, it absorbs moonlight and releases “memory fragments.” After watching them, Li Chuqi can unlock skills such as understanding spirit speech and imbuing objects with spirits, though she may also pick up Kang Xiaoxi's habits. The ancient coin enforces a “300-character viewing reflection” rule, and failure to complete it earns her an electric shock and a ruined hairstyle. In truth, the rule helps her process the energy. The anecdotes about the Kangxi era in the fragments, along with the embarrassing story of Kang Xiaoxi's secret crush on a porcelain vase, all foreshadow later events.
The lingering influence of the “spirit exterminators” of the past, museum leaders who know about spirits, and secret societies all add uncertainty to the story. Bound to spirits and humans alike by “Story Points,” Li Chuqi will uncover secrets woven between the past and present.
