Wang Kai had always loved supernatural stories.
Zhang Yun, Qian Shan, Ximu, Zhou Zhi, and even the once-famous Sanyue… he could casually list the names of these well-known supernatural writers.
But after reading their works for so long, Wang Kai had started to feel a bit of aesthetic fatigue.
Like today, even after going to the bookstore, he didn't bother picking up Zhang Yun's latest release. Instead, he wanted to see if there were any works by other authors. Unfortunately, after browsing for more than ten minutes, although there were books by other writers, their quality was mediocre. They weren't even as good as those by the well-known authors.
Huh, this novel's cover looks pretty unique.
While browsing the supernatural section, a book with an exceptionally eye-catching cover appeared before him.
It had a distinctly classical style. The cover depicted two figures, a man and a woman. The man wore blue robes and carried what looked like an old-fashioned scholar's case on his back. The woman was dressed in white, her expression half smiling, half sorrowful. Half pure, half enchanting… she exuded an extraordinary aura.
This cover was simply stunning.
Even before looking at the content, the cover alone was already captivating.
Almost instinctively, Wang Kai picked up the book. Its title was 'A Chinese Ghost Story', and the author was Fanchen.
'A Chinese Ghost Story'… the name was poetic and evocative, but this author, Fanchen, seemed unfamiliar.
Well, that was fine. Lately, he had been interested in reading works by new authors anyway.
With such a beautifully designed cover, the content probably wouldn't be bad either.
He casually opened the book. After just ten minutes, he was completely hooked.
More precisely, he was drawn in by the style of 'A Chinese Ghost Story'.
It was a ghost story with a classical flair, completely different from the supernatural novels he had read before. There was no horror, no suspense, none of those deliberately frightening elements. And yet, it was still about ghosts. But the ghosts here were full of emotion, almost human, with their own personalities and feelings, capable of joy and anger just like people.
Amazing, truly amazing.
He had long grown tired of works that portrayed ghosts purely as mysterious and terrifying. Wang Kai was overjoyed, his thoughts racing:
"Why must ghosts always be synonymous with horror? Why must they always belong to suspense stories? Can't ghosts have thoughts and emotions like humans? These earlier supernatural novels were far too narrow. No wonder the genre has become more and more niche."
Without hesitation, Wang Kai bought 'A Chinese Ghost Story' on the spot.
Like Wang Kai, after being on the market for some time, 'A Chinese Ghost Story' finally began to unleash its potential.
The first sign was in its ratings. Almost everyone who bought the book gave it a score above 9. This laid the foundation for its breakout success. When curious readers, intrigued by such high ratings, sought it out to see what kind of work could achieve such acclaim, they quickly became fans themselves.
Of course, this was only the beginning of its rise.
As more and more readers purchased the book and brought it home, the story of 'A Chinese Ghost Story' soon became the hottest topic of discussion in the supernatural fiction community.
Whether it was the male lead Ning Caichen, the female lead Nie Xiaoqian, or Yan Chixia, Sima Sanniang, Hongye, the Seven Nights Holy Lord… and even elements like the Blue Demon's Tear and the City of No Tears, all of these plot points completely outclassed most supernatural works at the time. No, not just most, but practically all of them.
However, what truly propelled 'A Chinese Ghost Story' into dark horse status was an article published in Youth Literature.
The article began as a review of supernatural fiction, introducing the current state of the genre in Huaguo.
"The author explained that supernatural fiction originated from folk legends during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. By the Tang and Song dynasties, it had developed into zhiguai and chuanqi tales. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, zhiguai fiction reached its peak, producing many enduring masterpieces. Among the Four Great Classics, 'Journey to the East' belongs to the zhiguai category. This genre was extremely popular at the time and widely embraced by the public. Authors used zhiguai stories to satirize the ruling class, while readers treated their strange and imaginative plots as spiritual nourishment. It can be said that zhiguai fiction holds immense artistic value, and today, Chinese literature departments in universities still study and discuss it in depth.
However, in modern times, zhiguai fiction has declined. It has gradually transformed into what we now call supernatural fiction. Its content no longer satirizes society or uses the strange to reflect humanity. Instead, it focuses on horror, suspense, shock, and fear, completely deviating from the original path of zhiguai. It is precisely this deviation that has turned what was once a mainstream genre into a niche one.
Some time ago, I happened upon a series titled 'Strange Tales' in a certain publication, and I was utterly amazed.
Its author, Fanchen, wrote stories such as 'Strange Tales: Biting a Ghost', 'Corpse Mutation', and 'Ear Dweller', all rich with meaning.
But the most striking works were 'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost' and 'The Ghost Mocks the Scholar'.
'Song Dingbo Captures a Ghost' tells the story of an ordinary man who encounters a ghost while walking at night and, through his wit, manages to capture it alive.
Although the story may seem somewhat illogical at times, it carries strong educational value. I would recommend that experts in education and relevant authorities take a closer look at it.
As for 'The Ghost Mocks the Scholar', its impact is even more remarkable. It proposes that scholars possess a kind of literary aura. The most talented can rival the stars and shine alongside the sun and moon. Those slightly lesser can still illuminate a vast area, while even the least among them are like oil lamps, unable to light the world but still capable of guiding the way. Whether in concept or meaning, this work is highly original, elevating the status of scholars to unprecedented heights.
These 'Strange Tales' stories, in my view, successfully inherit and further develop the tradition of Huaguo's zhiguai fiction.
If the author continues writing, he may very well establish a new literary school and become a master in his own right.
Unfortunately, the 'Strange Tales' series only ran for a dozen or so issues before disappearing.
I tried to track down the author Fanchen, who created these works, but was unable to find him.
Just when I thought I would never again encounter something as astonishing as 'Strange Tales', 'A Chinese Ghost Story' appeared before me.
At the time, it was recommended to me by a student, who claimed it was the best supernatural work he had ever read. I didn't pay much attention at first. But when I saw that the author was Fanchen, I was delighted and began reading immediately.
The experience did not disappoint. Fanchen is still the same Fanchen. 'A Chinese Ghost Story' once again showcases the essence of his 'Strange Tales' series; no, it goes even further, highlighting the true spirit of zhiguai fiction. The novel uses ghosts to express emotion, portraying them as no different from humans. They have their own personalities, their own joys and sorrows, and in some ways, they are even more daring in love and hatred than humans. Combined with a more accessible writing style and the integration of the conflict between the righteous and demonic paths, it becomes an exceptionally engaging zhiguai epic.
Of course, it does have one flaw. Perhaps influenced by film and television, the story contains a bit too much emotional drama. A love triangle would have been enough, but it actually turns into a four-way entanglement. All that romantic back-and-forth is a bit much for an old scholar like me. Still, this is only a minor issue. Aside from that, 'A Chinese Ghost Story' stands as one of the finest supernatural works in Huaguo in 2015.
Five stars: Highly recommended."
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