Yun Shu was a struggling writer in his previous life who discovered a strange ability through his computer: he could see the true thoughts of his readers and even communicate with them in a separate space without the reader’s knowledge. Before he could make use of this ability, he died suddenly from playing a game and transmigrated into a world where the Ghost Gate game had descended twelve years ago, bringing dangerous trials filled with ghosts that drained Yang Qi. He soon found that his ability persisted in this world and became his greatest weapon: by asking questions, he could force ghosts to reveal their perfect kill methods, allowing him to clear trials with brutal efficiency.In his first five days in this world, Yun Shu cleared five Ghost Gate trials. The fifth trial, named “Compassionate Bride,” began in a dark hall where a female hanging ghost with a ghost child in her belly screamed and raged. Using his ability, he forced the ghost to answer how to perfectly kill her: she needed to put on the wedding dress kept on the second floor. He then dealt with the other ghosts in the building—restangling a strangled ghost with wire, re‑stabbing a hacked‑to‑death ghost with his own seven knives, and silencing the ghost child by pouring red‑hot iron toothpicks into its mouth. After retrieving the bloody wedding dress, he stripped the female ghost and forced the dress onto her body, causing her to tear apart and explode. The ghost child still moved under the dress, so he stuffed a paper talisman into its mouth and threw it forward, making it explode as well. The trial should have ended, but suddenly a golden light appeared, bringing a group of players from the Qingshui Guild’s second team, who had been sent by the authorities to clear this Ghost Gate. The trial immediately settled and distributed rewards. Yun Shu received a D‑level ghost object, some food, 20 Ghost Gate Points, and 10 Ghost Coins, far fewer than the 50 points he expected. The Qingshui players got only 10 points each. All were expelled from the Ghost Gate, which collapsed behind them.The authorities were stunned that a trial was cleared so quickly. They identified Yun Shu as the solo clearer and learned he had no identity documents in this world. Under their supervision, he registered as a professional gamer and was sent to a youth apartment. During the car ride with the Qingshui team, a tall male member named Gao Shan gave him information about the world: professional gamers must enter a Ghost Gate at least once every three years or become ghosts; guilds provide support for multiplayer trials and resource sharing; Ghost Objects fetch high prices; Ghost Power is the energy used inside trials to damage ghosts, but it cannot be used outside. Yun Shu’s data surprised everyone: he had no Ghost Power, yet his clearance speed ranked first globally, averaging one trial per day. The Qingshui team saw him as a powerful but clueless newcomer and offered to help, but he remained cautious.That night, a city staff member named Yang Shu visited his apartment. She honestly told him that the nation noticed his capabilities and hoped to recruit him into an official guild, because he was strong, new, cheap, and easy to fool. Yun Shu hesitated, citing his unclear background and lack of political qualifications. He also mentioned that he needed money and planned to sell some Ghost Objects. Yang Shu gave him two hundred yuan for immediate needs and said a purchase specialist would contact him the next day.After she left, Yun Shu lay on his bed and thought deeply. He had no Ghost Power, yet he cleared trials solely by using his questioning ability and the Ghost Objects he gathered. He checked his official record: Yi Zhou City rank 103, global rank over ten million, but clearance speed rank first. He considered joining a guild—the national guild would give him stability but also restrictions, while a private guild like Qingshui might offer more freedom with less security. He decided to first sell some Ghost Objects to survive and delay making a final decision. His ultimate goal remained the same: to permanently leave the Ghost Gate game. He knew he was now bound to enter a Ghost Gate every three years unless he could find a way to break free. The story ends with him alone in his apartment, contemplating the true nature of his power and the choices ahead.
