My Guesthouse Becomes Famous Across the Living and the Dead Worlds

Ji Yi is a twenty-five-year-old man who has recently found himself unemployed after a brief and unfortunate tenure at a corporate job. The incident that cost him his employment occurred when he intervened to stop a superior from harassing a female colleague, resulting in the superior falling and injuring himself. Rather than regretting his actions, Ji Yi accepted the consequences, though the harsh job market made finding new work difficult. His mother, concerned by his idleness and recalling his childhood training in martial arts, urged him to return to his maternal hometown of Nanling. She gave him a set of keys and asked him to check on an ancestral house left by his maternal grandfather, a place Ji Yi had visited as a child but could not remember. The house was located in Redleaf Village, an area near Beishan that had been largely abandoned for over a decade.

Upon arriving in Nanling, Ji Yi took a taxi to the outskirts of Beishan. The driver warned him about the mountainous area ahead, hinting at strange occurrences and suggesting that drivers avoided the region at night due to the possibility of picking up non-human passengers. Ji Yi remained skeptical and proceeded on his own. In the nearby town, he asked locals for directions to Redleaf Village. An elderly man offered him a ride on a tricycle, but Ji Yi soon realized the man was not human. The fabric of the old man’s trousers turned to ash when touched, and his face appeared gray and menacing. Ji Yi, who had possessed the ability to see spirits since childhood, remained calm. He had been trained in martial arts by an old master who taught him that even evil ghosts fear evil people. Ji Yi confronted the ghost at a cluster of graves, threatening to destroy the man’s weathered tombstone. The ghost, whose power was weak, quickly capitulated and begged for mercy.

Ji Yi learned from the ghost that the mountain area was a fringe region for spirits, populated by wandering ghosts and various goblins and sprites. He continued toward Redleaf Village, where he encountered Wei Hu, a young livestreamer with fluorescent green hair who was attempting to film supernatural content. Wei Hu was initially frightened by the mountain atmosphere but became intrigued by Ji Yi’s composure. When they arrived at the ancestral house, Ji Yi found it to be in surprisingly good condition, with intricate carvings and a layout that suggested it had once housed a large family. Wei Hu, who lived locally and was struggling with unemployment and family responsibilities, convinced Ji Yi to let him stay the night in exchange for companionship, as he was too afraid to explore the village alone.

That night, strange bird cries echoed through the mountains. Wei Hu went outside to urinate and was subsequently possessed by an old tree spirit. The spirit had been offended because Wei Hu had urinated on it during the day. Ji Yi intervened, using a lighter to threaten the fire-sensitive tree spirit into releasing Wei Hu. Their conflict was interrupted by the arrival of Lin Zhao, a powerful, black-clad figure who appeared to be the guardian of the mountain. Lin Zhao observed Ji Yi with interest, noting his boldness and lack of fear, before dismissing the matter and vanishing. The tree spirit agreed to let Wei Hu go in exchange for offerings, which Ji Yi promised to provide the next day.

The following morning, Wei Hu recounted a dream in which the tree spirit demanded offerings. Ji Yi confirmed the supernatural nature of the event when he saw words spelled out in twigs on the steps. The two men went into town, where Ji Yi purchased funeral supplies for the tree spirit. Meanwhile, Ji Yi noticed a figure in a teahouse that resembled the ghost he had confronted the day before. After settling the matter with the tree spirit, Ji Yi explored the nearby Beishan Scenic Area. He encountered a film crew, including the popular idol Jian Yi, who was shooting a production in the area. Ji Yi observed the celebrity with indifference, more concerned with his own situation. He spent time researching the possibility of converting the ancestral house into a guesthouse, noting its prime location and excellent condition. As he considered this new path, his mother called to discuss his stay and family matters, reminding him of the social expectations and connections in his hometown. Ji Yi found himself drawn to the tranquility of the old house and the potential for a different kind of life, one far removed from the corporate world he had left behind.