The world follows an invisible set of “rules of the underworld.” Every river has a river god, and every mountain has a mountain spirit. They are no myth, but another kind of being that coexists with humanity and abides by ancient covenants. The steel and concrete of modern society have pierced the earth’s veins, awakening things that should have stayed asleep.
• The protagonist, Chen Xuan, is twenty-five and runs a “Folklore Consultation Office.” In truth, he is the last heir of the River-Quelling lineage.
• A naturally formed black mark, shaped like an ancient seal, rests in the palm of his left hand. It grows hot when his bloodline awakens. This “River-Quelling Mark” can temporarily suppress evil spirits, but each use costs him years of life.
• Taciturn and always dressed in dark clothes, he keeps a handful of aged glutinous rice and several Qianlong-era cash coins in his pocket. He doesn’t believe in science, only the rules passed down by his ancestors.
