Compared to the awkwardness and inner conflict some people were feeling, those who had originally supported 'Strange Tales' were completely fired up by Fanchen's solo post.
"6666, I love how bold and fiery Fanchen is! Totally my kind of guy."
"Haha! To quote a web novelist's line: 'A true man spills blood when he acts, Fanchen steps up, blood splashes for miles.'"
"Epic! Now I just want to see who still dares to slander 'Strange Tales', or mess with our great Fanchen."
"Strange Tales is a once-in-a-century masterpiece. So what if we admit it?
"If anyone disagrees, come and challenge us. Fanchen's already prepared the feast, who's got the guts to show up?"
"Fanchen's so badass, this is what a real man looks like!"
"Hell yeah! I am the best. My writing is better than yours. Go ahead and bite me."
"I wonder how Zhang Yun felt after reading 'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost'?"
"Feel what? The guy just writes horror after horror. When will he ever produce something this educational?"
"If you ask me, just 'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost' alone is worth more than ten years of Zhang Yun's writing."
"Now that Fanchen's said it all out loud, how are those haters supposed to keep hating?"
"They probably can't. Why? Because they've literally run out of words to attack him with."
Some things in this world really are unpredictable.
When a bunch of people were relentlessly tearing down 'Strange Tales', hyping Fanchen only to watch him fall, most assumed the author would either come out apologizing or stay silent and pretend nothing happened. But reality gave them a sharp slap in the face.
Not only did Fanchen not apologize or back down, but he also came out swinging.
Just when people thought Strange Tales was finished, and the pen name "Fanchen" would vanish from the supernatural fiction scene, 'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost' hit like a thunderclap. His line, "Feel free to critique," ended up humiliating countless readers and writers alike.
In an instant, whether they had slandered 'Strange Tales' or tried to kill Fanchen with praise, everyone went silent.
At that moment, what could they even say?
That his writing sucks?
Please, anyone who could read knew how classic this piece was.
Maybe accuse him of arrogance? Sure, but saying that would be admitting that Fanchen had earned his place, after all, he literally said, "I'm the best in the world."
So what now?
What could they do?
Writers across the forum went blank, their minds short-circuiting.
Especially at 'Suspense World', which had originally orchestrated the smear campaign against Fanchen. Just when they thought he was ruined, he rebounded, stronger than ever.
With no options left, Suspense World's editor-in-chief Wei Heping gave Zhang Yun a call.
"You been following what's going on in the Supernatural Forum?"
"I saw. What, Editor Wei? You want me to deal with this guy?"
Zhang Yun had started to pay attention to Fanchen after noticing that 'Strange Tales' was rising in popularity despite the shadow of his own 'Curse of the Vengeful Ghost' looming over the genre. After reading some of Fanchen's work, Zhang Yun felt a mix of admiration and excitement.
He admired Fanchen's ability to write such meaningful supernatural stories in just a few hundred words.
He was excited because, after standing at the top of the supernatural fiction world for so long, Zhang Yun had finally found a worthy rival.
But despite seeing Fanchen as a rival, Zhang Yun's attitude toward him was completely different from Suspense World's.
"Hah! Zhang Yun, you guessed it in one."
But Zhang Yun immediately rejected him. "Sorry, Editor Wei, but I'm not obligated to act as a hitman for 'Suspense World'. In fact, I've got a bone to pick with you. Why'd you drag me into this in the first place?"
"Uh…"
Wei Heping was momentarily embarrassed, but quickly recovered. "Master Zhang, that's exactly what upset us. That Fanchen guy is way too arrogant, acting like he owns the world. Can you really just let it go? He said straight up that your writing is 'literary trash'!"
"Hahaha! Editor Wei, I'm not a fool. You know exactly how I got dragged into this. Fine, we're still partners for now, so I won't press the issue. But let me warn you, if you try to use me again, don't blame me for burning bridges."
With a snap, Zhang Yun hung up, leaving Wei Heping shouting at his screen again.
"Zhang Yun! One day, I will knock you off that supernatural throne!"
…
After failing to get Zhang Yun's support, the entire Supernatural Forum slipped into a bizarre state.
On one side, angry onlookers were shouting, "Fanchen is way too cocky, someone stop this guy already!"
But no matter how loudly they shouted or how hard they searched, not a single writer stepped up to the challenge.
One day passed.
Two days passed.
Three days passed.
And then, finally, a few objective voices emerged.
They said, "Maybe Fanchen's post doesn't prove he dominates the genre… but the fact that no one has dared respond in three days? That proves 'Strange Tales' has reached an incredibly high level."
It was a short post, but quietly, many people accepted it.
That subtle shift in perception began to change the influence of 'Strange Tales', and the reputation of the name "Fanchen."
To many now, Fanchen was no longer a newcomer to supernatural fiction; he was a certified prodigy in the field. No longer obscure, his fame now commanded attention. The only criticism that remained was that the name "Fanchen" sounded too arrogant, too domineering.
But in the face of overwhelming strength, who dared to object?
Even if he was arrogant, he had earned it.
Even if he was domineering, he had the power to back it up.
Yet despite this turn in public sentiment, Huang Yifan didn't slow down.
He knew that while his bold challenge had temporarily silenced many, their hearts were far from convinced.
Writers are prideful. Throughout history, how many scholars have ever truly accepted another as their better?
To prevent future trouble, to completely crush any lingering thought of revenge or challenge,
Huang Yifan followed 'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost' with another supernatural tale:
''The Ghost Mocks the Scholar''
"A stern old scholar was walking at night when he suddenly met a deceased friend.
The scholar was fearless by nature and calmly asked where the friend was headed.
"I work in the underworld," replied the ghost. "I'm going to the South Village to collect a soul. Looks like we're going the same way."
So the two walked together.
When they passed a dilapidated house, the ghost said, "A scholar lives here."
"How do you know?" asked the old man.
The ghost explained, "Most people are busy with survival during the day, and their inner spirit is hidden. Only when they sleep, when they think of nothing, their true essence shines through. The books they've read radiate from within them, casting light through every pore of their body. It looks ethereal, like floating mist, colorful and brilliant like fine silk. Scholars like Zheng Xuan and Kong Anguo emit a literary aura that shoots straight into the sky, shining alongside the stars and moon. Those slightly less talented have a light that reaches several zhang or a few chi, decreasing gradually. Even the weakest still emit a faint glow, like a small oil lamp, illuminating doors and windows. Humans can't see it; only ghosts can. The light above this broken house is seven or eight feet tall. That's how I know a scholar lives here."
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Glossary
The Ghost Mocks the Scholar (鬼嘲夫子) is a short supernatural tale from the Qing dynasty, written by Ji Xiaolan (纪昀, also known as 纪晓岚). It appears in Volume One of Notes from the Thatched Abode of Close Observations (阅微草堂笔记), in the section titled "Records of Summer Leisure at Luan‑yang" (滦阳消夏录). The story recounts a nocturnal encounter in which an elderly Confucian scholar is mocked by a ghost for his shallow understanding of morality, criticizing him for failing to recognize shame and ethical discernment in human affairs. The tale reflects Qing‑dynasty rural supernatural lore and emphasizes themes of moral judgment, karmic retribution, and self‑reflection.
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