Chronicles of the Xuanqing Bureau

In the shadowed corners of a modern metropolis where the realms of the living and the dead intersect, strange phenomena linger unnoticed by the ordinary world. This urban supernatural anthology unfolds case by case, capturing the sorrow and joy hidden within each anomaly. I am Xuan Qi, Record Keeper Number Seven of the Xuanqing Bureau. Blessed with eyes that pierce through illusions, I adhere to an ironclad rule: record only, never intervene, never save. My duty is to document the forgotten aberrations haunting the city’s twilight—the lingering obsessions wandering at midnight, the silent sighs echoing from old buildings, and the shadows of resentment blending into crowds. Yet, the world holds more than just vengeful spirits and malevolent entities. It preserves the heroic souls of virtuous women buried by history, guardian spirits protecting their districts, and the loyal souls of soldiers who forged themselves into weapons during times of war. These spirits cause no harm; they simply guard a fragment of the past, a promise, or a piece of homeland. I was meant to remain a cold, detached observer. However, as my archives grow thicker, the pen in my hand begins to radiate a warmth and power that does not belong to me. Bound by rules yet wielding a brush imbued with spiritual resonance, I witness the karma of countless lives. As the weight of these heroic souls and their regrets accumulates, I must ask myself: can this pen, which has borne witness to so much, truly remain silent forever? The balance between yin and yang remains, and the spirits are not far gone. My collection of strange tales has only just begun.