The Ultimate Guide to Exorcising Ghosts

Paper figures are given eyes to suck out people's vitality. Point your toes toward the bed and invite a ghost to pin you down. A rooster bows at the wedding, with a young bride beneath her red veil. A needle in the skull, a prayer for a child, an offering to an Immortal Lord. The yin and yang gates lead to the land of the dead.

Clouds and mist block the way out. Five people are stranded in the wilderness, caught between life and death. Will they become wandering ghosts and food for the hungry, or draw talismans in blood and fight fate for a way to survive?

"You used this wedding pole to steal those girls' souls. Now I'll use it to smash your altar!" Flames blazed in Chu Changci's eyes. Carrying a wedding dress and wearing embroidered shoes, he pointed skyward and sang, summoning thunder to strike the ghost altar.

The tall, handsome young man pushed up his glasses and calmly drove a nail, inch by inch, into the shadow. He coolly watched the snarling ghost on the ground.

"Even ghosts have to follow the rules, don't they? You took my money and didn't do the job? You killed A Chu last time, didn't you? Be A Chu's dog for me."

A ghost laid a hand on the young couple's shoulders. Before it could speak, the man cheerfully brushed it aside. "Sorry, brother, don't come preaching to us. We're Mountain God believers. Amen to the Mountain God faith!" Then he smashed the ghost's head.

Ghost: There's a lone one over there! Get him! We can't handle those four, but surely we can take this one!

The man put away his camera and tapped his forehead helplessly. "It's been five rounds, and every time you come for my first kill. Isn't that rude?"

Content warnings: No golden finger, no killing spree from the start, a story of growth. Everything in this story is made up!

Thesis: Courage, trust, and growth are humanity's most beautiful song.