My Haunted House Connects to the Underworld

Li Miao is a twenty-year-old woman burdened by a lifetime of catastrophic misfortune. Orphaned at age seven, she was adopted by her uncle and aunt, only to endure years of physical abuse, social ostracization, and psychological torment. A large black birthmark disfigures half her face, rendering her a target for bullying by her cousins. Her cognitive abilities have dulled, stripping her of her former talent for writing, and her health is fragile, with random injuries occurring without cause. Upon receiving a diagnosis of late-stage liver cancer, Li Miao accepts her fate with eerie calmness, having long ago lost hope for a better life. Her only desire is to escape her suffering, even if it means death.

While leaving the hospital, a mysterious questionnaire blows into her hands. Driven by frustration and a cynical desire for revenge, she fills it out with absurd demands: a haunted house larger than Earth, populated by legendary figures like Nie Xiaoqian and Sun Wukong, featuring infinite scenarios. The paper vanishes, and she encounters a roadside fortune teller who reveals a horrifying truth. Li Miao’s destiny has been stolen by her uncle’s family through a dark ritual. Her cousin, Li Yang, has been siphoning Li Miao’s beauty, intelligence, wealth, and lifespan to fuel her own rise. The birthmark on Li Miao’s face is not a defect but a "Ghost Sore," a mark of the stolen vitality. The fortune teller warns that once the last remnant of her original destiny is consumed, Li Miao will die a violent death. He provides her with an app called the Fengdu Haunted House, claiming it is the only way to save her.

Confronted by her abusive family during her cousin’s engagement party, Li Miao finally breaks the invisible mental shackles controlling her. She walks out of the Li family estate, defying their commands for the first time in her life. The moment she leaves, the oppressive weight lifts. She travels to Fengdu, where the app guides her to inherit a dilapidated amusement park that serves as the physical manifestation of the haunted house. Upon entering, she receives blind boxes containing ghosts. The first is Ruhua, a sorrowful female ghost from the Republic of era. The second is a Painted Skin demon, a malicious entity that initially attacks her but is subdued by Mingye, a powerful enforcer summoned by the app.

Li Miao begins managing the haunted house, constructing scenarios for her ghostly inhabitants. She uses the app’s mission system to gain rewards, such as increased mental power, which restores her physical health and sharpens her mind. The mental power boost also grants her immunity to ghostly bewitchment, allowing her to see through illusions. To generate income, she opens the haunted house to the public, pricing tickets affordably to attract customers. A group of university students, led by the arrogant Wang Jian, becomes her first visitors. They enter the Painted Skin scenario, where they are subjected to intense psychological horror. Wang Jian, initially dismissive, becomes entranced by the Painted Skin demon, believing her to be his true love. He participates in a grotesque wedding banquet, unaware that he is being manipulated by the ghost.

The scenario escalates as the students realize the horror is real. They encounter a Daoist priest ghost who claims the Painted Skin demon is the evil one. A battle ensues between the two ghosts, leaving both defeated. The fortune teller ghost reappears, revealing himself as the true villain who tricked the students. Li Miao intervenes, revealing herself as the owner and ending the nightmare. The students, terrified but exhilarated, leave the haunted house. Wang Jian, shaken from his trance, posts a glowing five-star review, praising the immersive experience. This positive feedback triggers a new reward for Li Miao: "Handy Hands," which grants her perfect dexterity. She uses this ability to master the art of drawing talismans, creating powerful exorcism charms that further strengthen her position. Meanwhile, her actions begin to disrupt the fate of her cousins. Li Si, a professional e-sports player who had stolen Li Miao’s talent, suddenly loses his hand speed and ability, causing his team to lose a crucial match. Li Yang experiences sudden health issues as her stolen vitality begins to waver. Li Miao, now empowered by the haunted house system, sets out to reclaim her stolen destiny and dismantle the family that abused her.