**Demonic Possession (中邪, zhōng xié):** This is a major folk-horror concept in Chinese culture, distinct from the Western idea of demonic possession. “中邪” literally means “struck by evil” or “suffering from evil influence.” It often refers to encounters with angry ghosts, malevolent spirits, or other forms of *xie* (邪)—a pervasive form of unclean, twisted energy. In rural folk religion, possession is often treated less like a moral battle and more like a sickness or misfortune caused by a spirit that has latched onto a person. The traditional remedies involve exorcism rituals performed by Daoist priests, Buddhist monks, or folk mediums (like *tiao dashen* practitioners). The fact that every ritual has failed for the old woman is a strong signal that this isn’t a normal case—or that the corruption in this world runs deeper than any sect can fix.
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Definition
**Demonic Possession (中邪, zhōng xié):** This is a major folk-horror concept in Chinese culture, distinct from the Western idea of demonic possession. “中邪” literally means “struck by evil” or “suffering from evil influence.” It often refers to encounters with angry ghosts, malevolent spirits, or other forms of *xie* (邪)—a pervasive form of unclean, twisted energy. In rural folk religion, possession is often treated less like a moral battle and more like a sickness or misfortune caused by a spirit that has latched onto a person. The traditional remedies involve exorcism rituals performed by Daoist priests, Buddhist monks, or folk mediums (like *tiao dashen* practitioners). The fact that every ritual has failed for the old woman is a strong signal that this isn’t a normal case—or that the corruption in this world runs deeper than any sect can fix.
Story context
What do you do when the world has taught you that you are weak, untrained, and completely outclassed? You find a cheat. Not the kind that breaks the rules of reality—no, this is the *Dao-Twisted World*, where cheats usually come with a side of flesh-horror. Chun Xiao Man gets thoroughly humiliated in a sparring match against a nameless youth with a strange rattan shield, and instead of moping, she does something far more dangerous: she gets an idea. A very clever, very folk-horror idea. And she drags Bai Lingmiao into it.
Why it matters
This chapter marks Chun Xiao Man’s transition from a frustrated learner to a clever strategist. She doesn’t get stronger in this chapter—she gets smarter. Her willingness to use Bai Lingmiao’s supernatural ability as a bargaining chip to gain access to a proper master is a survival instinct, not a heroic leap. Watch how her pragmatism contrasts with Bai Lingmiao’s visible hesitation. The chapter also sets up a classic folk-horror dilemma: a possession that *cannot* be cured by standard religious methods. In a normal novel, this would be a quest objective. In *Dao Gui Yi Xian*, it is probably a trigger for something much worse. Keep an eye on Zhao Qin’s wan expression; the man isn’t just tired—he’s given up. And in this world, giving up is sometimes the only smart move.
Quick facts
Source novel
Dao Gui Yi Xian
First appearance
Demonic Possession
Chapter references
2
Type hints
dao gui yi xian, chapter 141, demonic possession
Guide tags
Folk horror, Character growth, Martial arts
Appears in chapters
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