The world of Sword of Coming (剑来) is vast and treacherous, a realm where journeying cultivators face dangers both martial and mystical. After the powerful A-Liang (阿良) ascends, the story swiftly turns to a new, deeply unsettling chapter. Our protagonists, led by the resilient Chen Ping'an (陈平安), find themselves in a territory governed not by a benevolent spirit, but by a vengeful ghost. This isn't a tale of simple monster-slaying; it is a meticulous unfolding of what makes Chinese supernatural horror so uniquely haunting. It intertwines tragic romance, bureaucratic corruption, and a chilling aesthetic, centered on a figure known as the Bride-Ghost, Chu Furen (楚夫人). Her elegant, crimson-clad appearance masks a deeply twisted purpose: to use scholars as fertilizer for her trees.
A Crimson Welcome
Chen Ping'an and his young companions travel onward, their route subtly altered by the mischievous Cui Dongshan (崔东山). They enter a domain under the official jurisdiction of the Great Li Empire. Its designated guardian is Chu Furen, a name on the royal register as a local river and mountain deity. Her methods, however, are anything but divine. She possesses a macabre obsession with capturing traveling scholars. Her aesthetic is a deliberate spectacle of eerie beauty. She appears in a brilliant red wedding gown, seated in a scarlet sedan chair, holding a vermilion paper umbrella. Her manor is adorned with countless red lanterns, casting a sanguine glow. The visuals are stunning, yet every element screams of unresolved sorrow and violent death, creating a dissonance that is profoundly unsettling.
Her target in this group is not Chen Ping'an, who lacks a scholar's demeanor, but his learned friends like Li Baoping (李宝瓶). Understanding the threat, Chen Ping'an steels himself. He knows confronting this entity might require his ultimate, life-preserving technique: a single, devastating sword stroke from his protective "Sword Mother." Chu Furen's madness has a specific focus. She harbors a deranged, all-consuming hatred for educated men, whom she collectively brands as faithless. This singular fixation gives her a terrifying, unpredictable clarity amidst her ghostly rage.
The Path That Loops
As night deepens, Lin Shouyi (林守一) shares a ghost story that perfectly describes the crimson-clad spirit, heightening the group's anxiety. The timid Li Huai's (李槐) fears manifest almost immediately. The travelers soon realize they are trapped in a classic supernatural phenomenon: a Ghost Wall. No matter which direction they choose, the path inevitably leads back on itself, imprisoning them within Chu Furen's woods. Earlier, they had encountered a seemingly shady blind Daoist attempting to swindle them with fake talismans. His poor acting failed to fool Chen Ping'an. Seeing the group trapped, the Daoist spots an opportunity, not for rescue, but for profit, and launches his own attack on the ghost.
This unexpected assault triggers a chaotic three-way struggle. While the Daoist's motives are questionable, his skills are genuine. He manages to briefly occupy Chu Furen, providing a crucial distraction. This allows Chen Ping'an's group and their guardian Yin Spirit to focus on breaking the supernatural maze. However, the Daoist's thunder techniques lack the power to seriously harm a being of Chu Furen's rank. As a formally recognized Great Li deity, she holds immense power. She effortlessly subdues all opposition, her victory absolute. With chilling control, she guides the disoriented and captured travelers not away from, but directly toward the looming silhouette of her manor.
An Invitation to the Roots
Believing they had broken free, Chen Ping'an's relief turns to dread. Every twisted path has merely led them to the ghost's doorstep. The manor stands before them, a silent monument to her tragedy. Dozens of paper servant figurines line the entrance, their painted smiles frozen in silence. Chu Furen extends a horrifyingly polite invitation for her "guests" to enter and rest. Her hospitality, of course, is a facade. She reveals her ultimate goal: to bury every scholar she catches and use them as nourishment to grow trees. This grotesque practice stems from a personal cataclysm.
She was once a woman betrayed by a scholar she loved. This personal heartbreak festered into a generalized wrath against all educated men, whom she now sees as inherently deceitful. Li Baoping and the others are seized. Chen Ping'an, powerless to stop it, is ushered inside the decorated halls. The ornate red lanterns now feel like watching eyes. The stage is set not for a battle of strength, but for the unraveling of a sorrowful history. To survive, Chen Ping'an must understand the truth behind Chu Furen's descent into darkness—a truth inevitably linked to the political machinations and "rotten affairs" of the Great Li court that created her.
