Chi Ren

Chi Ren is a living man connected to the many Chi-surname workers who escaped or resisted the Cursed Hospital. He uses ghost-story reviewing as both cover and a way to track the hospital's influence across Xin Hai.

Biography

Warning Doctor Fang and trusting Chen Ge

Chi Ren discovers that the Cursed Hospital has selected Doctor Fang and risks leaving him a warning note, not because they are close friends but because Fang has consistently treated ordinary workers with dignity. The attempt fails, and Chi Ren prepares to flee before the non-smilers can punish him. When Chen Ge traces the note back to him, Chi Ren initially tests every claim and fears that cooperation will expose the larger Chi network. Chen's determination to save Fang and his ability to confront curses persuade him to share what he knows, turning a solitary escape into a limited alliance against the hospital. (Chapters 1142–1160)

Appearance and personality

Chi Ren is wary, evasive, and visibly afraid of surveillance, habits produced by long exposure to the hospital's reach. He is nevertheless compassionate enough to endanger himself for Doctor Fang and practical enough to recognize when hiding information has become more dangerous than sharing it. His trust in Chen is cautious rather than absolute. (Chapters 1142–1160)

Skills and supernatural abilities

Chi Ren has no confirmed supernatural rank. He understands ghost-story cases, non-smilers, hospital recruitment, curses, and the covert connections among Chi-surname workers. His main defenses are secrecy, observation, changing locations, and knowing which details can expose the hospital's next target. (Chapters 1142–1160)

Relationships

• Doctor Fang: A kind doctor Chi Ren tries to save by warning him away from the Cursed Hospital's summons. (Chapters 1142–1146)
• Chen Ge: An initially frightening investigator who becomes Chi Ren's ally once both commit to finding Doctor Fang and resisting the hospital. (Chapters 1142–1160)
• The Chi network: Workers and escapees linked by surname and shared persecution, whose safety makes Chi Ren reluctant to speak openly. (Chapters 1142–1160)

Items

• Warning note: A handwritten message left for Doctor Fang in the hospital storeroom; it fails to prevent the abduction but leads Chen Ge to Chi Ren. (Chapters 1142–1145)