
A restless scholar from the Tang capital meets an unexpected fate when his spirit is summoned before the ruler of the underworld. There, the deposed official Zhongkui is appointed “General of Ghost‑Pacification,” equipped with a gleaming jade sword, a wind‑racing horse and four quirky ghost lieutenants, each named for a particular vice. Charged with curbing the chaos spreading across the remote Wanren County, he sets out on a supernatural campaign that blends martial skill with wit.
In Wanren, a motley band of mischievous spirits—led by the brutish No‑Two Ghost and his companions, the daring, the sly and the reckless—has turned the district into a den of trouble. Their nightly revelry under the autumn moon draws Zhongkui into a tense yet comic showdown, as he must out‑maneuver their schemes while balancing the delicate dance of justice and mercy. The tale unfolds with vivid humor and vivid conjurations, promising a spirited adventure through a world where ghosts and humans collide.
Language
zh
Duration
~47 minutes (45K characters)
Publisher of text edition
Project Gutenberg
Release date
Nov 26, 2008
Rights
Public domain in the USA.
Subjects
A shadowy pen name from the Qing dynasty, this writer is remembered for a lively supernatural tale built around Zhong Kui, the famous demon-queller of Chinese folklore. The surviving record is thin, which only adds to the mystery around the work.
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