Night Case Files

In the old case archive in Bian County, a death register suddenly records the names of three living people. After the first person dies, Chen Zhao writes, “Cause of death unknown.” But the next night, the words in the case file change on their own to “Died of illness.” Even more unsettling, the corpse begins to decay like someone who died of disease. Is this the work of a ghost, or does the case file write down how someone will die before they follow its instructions? Chen Zhao is merely a low-ranking copyist at the county office. He should keep his mouth shut if he wants to live. But seven years ago, his father was branded a criminal and died on the execution ground for refusing to copy an old case without question. Now, the third name in the death register is Chen Zhao himself. In three days, vermilion marks will fill the page, and his name will mean his death. If he wants to survive, he must find out: Who is changing the names of the dead and deciding how the living will die?