In the fourth year of the Republic, the Nightbound sank, taking 317 lives. Only one person survived.
In the nineteenth year of the Republic, a string of murders took place. Every victim wore a smile, and a Nightbound lantern was found at each crime scene.
The truth behind the shipwreck fifteen years ago, the conspiracy to silence its witnesses, and the sole survivor: now, everything is coming to light.
Detective Chief Cheng Yebai of the police station investigates the murders, only to discover that the victims are connected to an old case involving his father. Shen Muzhi, a magician at the Paramount, has a mysterious past and never shows his left hand, yet goes alone to stand by the Huangpu River late at night.
A Jiu is dead. Lao Jin is dead. Third Master Bai is dead. The people around Cheng Yebai are dying one after another, and every clue points in the same direction: toward the person he respects most.
Only when the truth is revealed does he understand: some truths are more frightening than lies.
“There are no ghosts in this world. The ghosts are in people’s hearts.”
“But I believe you. I’ve believed you from beginning to end.”
