After mulling it over, I’ll share a theory from Zhang, a spiritual researcher I once interviewed. This Zhang is a legit psychic, a former “spirit guide” in folk terms—self-described as one who once bridged the living and dead. He’s since retired from hands-on work, focusing on teaching. Fans of my writing know I won’t point you to him for fixes—he’s retired
Zhang asserts that all substitute-taking incidents, if spirit-driven, are 100% outside normal cosmic order. Humans, by birthright, are shielded by a robust system, including these “spirit guides” (think “ghost deputies”), tasked with fending off rogue entities. No one should suffer random spiritual harm.
Yet substitute-taking does happen, and the system doesn’t typically intervene. Why? Zhang calls it a “rehabilitation loophole”—a fair shot for wayward spirits, stuck from foolish acts like suicide or obsession, to escape their limbo. The catch? It hinges on human folly.
The spirit world safeguards most of us, but there’s an exception—those who willingly let evil spirits exploit them. These outliers forfeit protection; the guides step back, leaving it a private affair between human and spirit.
For the countless rogue souls barred from reincarnation, luring one such fool to death opens a slot. The spirit can then “turn itself in,” end its fugitive stint, and reenter the cycle—facing eons of trials before human rebirth.
Zhang’s advice for self-preservation is to “know the game”. Don’t buy into evil spirits’ temptations or promises of bliss. Respect their existence—offer sacrifices if you must—but don’t invite them in, weave them into your life, or chase perks from their realm.
It echoes Confucius’ “I don’t speak of the spirits, the forceful, the chaotic, or the divine.” Not denial, not opposition—just a refusal to engage. Why let the spirit world hijack your human one?
While Zhang’s perspective on substitute-taking doesn’t fully mirror my own, I back his take. It’s a lens that, when applied backward to the stories in this series, holds water.
Take my “aunt-in-law” from Bitan. Her tale stirs pity—a tragic figure trailing me after my reckless muttering by the lake.
Through Zhang’s spiritual framework, though, she might not even be that specific person. The spirit world’s sense of time and identity could twist in ways we can’t grasp.
Whether she’s truly my Ninth Uncle’s partner or not, my blunder fits Zhang’s mold: a “foolish voluntary act.” That idle, “Hey, show me a sign!” by the water is a textbook invitation.
This “foolish volunteering” echoes in the “Flower Maiden” cases too. Victims often toss out flippant remarks—crude jests or pitying quips—forging a link that lets the spirit latch on. My Bitan speech was less crass but just as binding.
Does that mean every supposed substitute-taking death stems from such folly? Not necessarily. It’s “suspected” substitute-taking—coincidence could play a role. These incidents often hit spots prone to accidents anyway—lakes, cliffs, shallow streams turned deadly. A spirit’s hand isn’t always provable.
A Tale to Close: The Scholar and the Hanging Ghost
Let’s wrap with a story from a traditional Chinese tale.
In Hangzhou, a house stood notorious for hauntings. Overnight guests often turned up dead by morning, so it sat abandoned.
A bold scholar, brimming with bravado, decided to stay. At midnight, a beauty with a red scarf around her neck appeared. He knew her game but showed no fear, chatting and laughing instead.
She knotted a rope over a beam, stretched her neck into it, and morphed into a hanging ghost. Unfazed, the scholar watched. She tied another loop, beckoning him to peek. Beyond it shimmered a lovely vista. “Step in, my love,” she cooed. “Stick your head through—it’s a paradise.”
The scholar roared with laughter, stuck his foot in the noose instead, and grinned. Realizing she couldn’t sway him, the spirit bowed in apology and vanished.
This encapsulates Zhang’s antidote to substitute-taking: Don’t fear. Don’t accept. Don’t volunteer. Stay resolute, and you hold the power.
Writer : Su Yiping
Time Stamp: 2013, May 16
True TAIWAN Horror story 
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