Definition
White lanterns hung at funeral processions or halls to guide the spirit of the deceased. The black character 奠 (diàn) marks the space as reserved for mourning rites.
Funeral
White lanterns hung at funeral processions or halls to guide the spirit of the deceased. The black character 奠 (diàn) marks the space as reserved for mourning rites.
Story context
Li Huowang is thrown into another twisted game of cat and mouse—only this time, the Zuowandao have taken the fight to a whole new level. Trapped in a haunting circular funeral hall deep in a bamboo forest, our paranoid protagonist quickly discovers that the enemy has not only infiltrated Apricot Island but has also somehow **stolen his own supernatural abilities** right out from under him. It’s a desperate, visceral, and skin-crawling confrontation that raises one terrifying question: how do you fight a mirror that has already learned every one of your moves?
Why it matters
This chapter is a masterclass in *escalation through identity theft*. For the first time, the Zuowandao aren’t just using masks or illusions—they are literally stealing Li Huowang’s combat tools. This is a terrifying new tactic: the enemy doesn’t need to be stronger, just faster at copying. Readers should also pay attention to the progression of Li Huowang’s tactics. He goes from testing an empty coffin (a surprisingly efficient low-cost recon move), to using a borrowed spatial ability, to finally reverting to raw, flesh-and-blood self-mutilation. It shows a fighter who is still in control of his desperation—but only just barely. Also, keep an eye on that “Four Joys” and “Three Yuans” theory he mutters. If correct, this isn’t just any Zuowandao grunt—this might be one of their inner circle leaders.
Quick facts
Source novel
Dao Gui Yi Xian
First appearance
The Mirror Fights Back
Chapter references
1
Type hints
Li Huowang, Zuowandao, Apricot Island
Guide tags
Zuowandao ambush, identity theft, body horror
Appears in chapters
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