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A Chinese concept for a death at an advanced age without prolonged suffering; considered a good death, which makes the violent rituals performed beside the coffin all the more unsettling.

Definition

A Chinese concept for a death at an advanced age without prolonged suffering; considered a good death, which makes the violent rituals performed beside the coffin all the more unsettling.

Story context

This chapter is a quiet, character-driven breather that lets Bai Lingmiao step into the spotlight—and it’s a treat. We watch her navigate a small-town exorcism case with a mix of rookie jitters and growing competence, as she faces a classic piece of Chinese folk horror: a reanimated corpse that comes back craving raw meat. The pacing slows down to let her process, plan, and even haggle. It’s a grounded, earthy horror vignette that reminds us how far she’s come, while also setting the stage for a night that promises to be anything but peaceful.

Why it matters

This chapter is a wonderful change of pace after the intense, high-stakes horror of recent arcs. It’s *domestic horror*—the terror of someone you love coming back wrong. The prose is stripped down, focusing on the raw, almost mundane details: a knocked coffin lid, a gnawed pork leg, a pair of terrified farmers squatting in their own yard. Bai Lingmiao’s voice here is refreshingly human: flustered when rejected, quietly proud when accepted, and nervous as she waits for the night. The horror builds not through jump scares but through the simple, dreadful anticipation of a door opening after midnight. It’s a classic setup, executed with the novel’s signature folk-horror authenticity.