In 1999, Tianya BBS emerged as a pioneer, beating platforms such as Weibo, Zhihu, and Douban to the punch. For a time, Tianya was the pulse of information in China, a bustling forum where people of all walks exchanged ideas.

This narrative unfolds within Tianya’s vibrant online community, emphasizing its importance before the advent of social media. It spotlights a forum where a multitude of voices converge to discuss a wide range of subjects.

Origin

In February 2004, Tianya BBS welcomed Zuo Yang, a newcomer enthralled by the “Lotus Talk Ghost Stories” section. This was a bustling hub of supernatural tales and chilling narratives.

Zuo Yang had a taste for the eerie and the enigmatic. He engaged actively in discussions, sharing his own bone-chilling stories. Yet, despite his immersion in these ghostly tales, he had never actually met a ‘ghost’ or ‘a piao’—slang for spirits in Chinese internet culture. This only intensified his curiosity about their existence and the possibility of encountering them.

The internet was rife with psychic games reputed to summon spirits. Driven by a quest for truth, Zuo Yang decided to test these games himself. For him, courage was no obstacle; he was determined to demystify the supernatural.

On February 20, 2005, Zuo Yang started a new thread, “Personal Experiences with Several Horror Games,” where he detailed his experiences with five games and the ensuing events.

He addressed the online community, asserting that his account was factual and vowing to take legal responsibility if it turned out to be false.

Midnight Apple Peeling

Zuo Yang kicked off with “Midnight Apple Peeling,” a game conducted under the cloak of darkness at the stroke of midnight. With the lights off and a candle flickering, he peeled an apple before a mirror, a ritual believed to offer a glimpse into one’s past life. The catch? The peel had to come off in one unbroken strip, a task demanding precision and skill. For the untrained, this game was no easy feat.

On the eve of the game, Zuo Yang was brimming with excitement, having meticulously prepared all the necessary items. Seated in his room, he was poised, awaiting the midnight hour.

The moment the clock chimed twelve, he set to work on the apple, peeling it in silence, with focus and care. Despite the difficulty and his hands shaking, he completed the peeling, yet no extraordinary event transpired.

Undeterred by the initial lack of results, Zuo Yang peeled several more apples, his gaze fixed so firmly on the mirror it was as if he sought to pierce its reflective surface. Yet, his past life remained elusive. Finally, worn out, he succumbed to fatigue and drifted off to sleep.

The next day, his mother discovered the floor strewn with apple peels, a sight that led her to fear her son had lost his sanity.

In his online post, to dispel any doubts about the veracity of his narrative, Zuo Yang made a clear statement at the outset: his account was factual, and he stood ready to bear legal consequences should it prove otherwise.

Midnight Rice at the Crossroads

This is a ritual that some believe can connect participants with the spirit world. The act of eating rice at a crossroads at midnight is thought to be a way to invite or communicate with spirits, often with the hope of receiving guidance or insight.
Following the game’s rules, at midnight, he took a bowl of white rice and went outside, heading to a particularly dark and deserted crossroads. There, he inserted three incense sticks into the rice and placed the bowl on the ground.
After the incense had burned out, Zuo Yang ate the rice and then stood in the same spot, waiting for the rice, now imbued with the energy of the extreme Yin, to lead him through the “Gate to the Spirit World.”

According to the rules of the game, at midnight, he went out carrying a bowl of white rice, heading to a very dark crossroads where no one passed by. He then inserted three incense sticks into the rice and placed it on the ground.

Once the incense had finished burning, Zuo Yang ate the rice and stood there, waiting for the rice, now filled with the energy of the extreme Yin, to bring him into the “Gate of the Spirit World.”

But after standing for a long time, nothing happened. The only discomfort he felt was a sore throat from the rice mixed with incense ash.

On the way back, Zuo Yang encountered a problem. A journey that should have taken only 10 minutes took him over an hour. Whether it was a “ghost wall” or something else, he was not sure.

However, this unexpected situation made Zuo Yang feel that the game was somewhat interesting, and he wanted to try a few more.
After that, he went on to play “Bloody Mary” and “Spirit Summoning” in sequence. Throughout the experiences, he didn’t forget to make light of the situation, joking that if he met with any misfortune, everyone should, in recognition of his dedication to the ghost stories, burn some paper money for him as an offering.

Summoning Bloody Mary

The specific steps are as follows: Enter a pitch-black bathroom alone without turning on the lights. Face the mirror and light a candle between yourself and the mirror, or light one on each side of the mirror. Close your eyes, focus, and whisper “Bloody Mary” three times. Afterward, a ferocious spirit or a pair of red demonic eyes might appear in the mirror. Blood could seep from the mirror and the walls, and there’s a risk that the spirit might pull you into the mirror.

After trying this game, Zuo Yang said that there indeed were mysterious changes in the mirror—it was the bathroom’s steam, which had all condensed on the mirror. His comment caused a burst of laughter from the people replying to the post below.

Spirit Summoning

On the midnight of a full moon, in a damp and pitch-black alley. A person walks forward following their shadow, reciting their name with each step. As they proceed, they may notice that the shadow on the ground suddenly becomes two, with the additional one belonging to a ghost that has followed them. This ghost will offer to help with a task and may also request a favor in return. However, if a malevolent spirit is summoned, the situation could become uncontrollable. Zuo Yang mentioned that since the game must be played on a full moon night, he would have to wait until the next month. He jokingly added that if he didn’t post the results of the game, it might mean he had met with misfortune, and he would appreciate it if everyone burned more paper money for him, promising to visit and express his gratitude. The respondents on the forum all said that a visit to express thanks wouldn’t be necessary.

At this point, the majority of netizens, including Zuo Yang, felt that these psychic games were nothing to write home about. Despite their mythical reputation, in reality, they seemed to have no effect at all.

Despite this perception, Zuo Yang still wanted to continue with the games. After all, there was a chance that one of them might actually work.

Four Corners Game

Thus, Zuo Yang embarked on the most famous and terrifying “Four Corners Game.”

This game is often described as a classic in the realm of psychic or horror games, known for its eerie nature and the suspense it creates. The “Four Corners Game” typically involves a group of participants standing at the corners of a room, and through a series of steps, they attempt to make contact with spirits or experience unexplained phenomena. It’s considered a daring act, especially for those who are intrigued by the supernatural and are seeking a thrilling experience.

For those who may not be familiar with the rules of this game, let’s provide a brief introduction.

At midnight, find a rectangular room and turn off all the lights. Then, have one person stand at each of the room’s four corners, facing the wall and not looking back.

Once the game begins, one person must walk to another person, either clockwise or counterclockwise, lightly pat their shoulder, and then stay in place.

The person whose shoulder was patted then follows the same direction and method to walk to the next person, and so on.

During this time, there will be a corner without anyone standing in it. When someone reaches that empty corner, they need to cough and then continue to the next person until they meet someone.

It is said that, as the game progresses, the coughing will stop, indicating that there is an extra “person” in the room.

On this particular night, after having their fill of food and drinks, Zuo Yang suggested to Lao Li, Xiao Feng, and Niu Zi that they play an exciting game to cap off the evening. With the atmosphere just right, not playing would have been a letdown. Thus, the four of them embarked on the game.

Zuo Yang took the lead, walking to Lao Li’s corner, then Lao Li moved to Xiao Feng’s corner, with Niu Zi being the last in the sequence, and so on.

The entire process was quite oppressive, and the four men, their nerves on edge, circled around for about 20 minutes, with the coughing sounds continuously marking the empty corner.

Suddenly, Xiao Feng started howling, nearly scaring the others out of their wits. Lao Li quickly turned on the light and asked, “What’s going on?”

Xiao Feng shouted back, “There’s one less person!” He had walked past two corners without encountering anyone. They looked closely and indeed, one person was missing—it was Niu Zi.

As everyone was feeling eerie about the situation, Niu Zi walked back in through the door, saying, “I drank too much and had to use the restroom.” Zuo Yang was extremely annoyed.

Thus, without waiting for a fifth person to appear, they ended the game and everyone went their separate ways.

However, Zuo Yang, not satisfied with the inconclusive outcome, was determined to play the Four Corners Game again. This time, he didn’t invite Niu Zi to join but brought in a girl with the surname Guo.

For the first ten minutes of the game, everything was normal. Having played it once before, Zuo Yang and the others were not as nervous as they were the first time. It wasn’t until later that the girl suddenly let out a scream, prompting Zuo Yang to turn on the light immediately.

The girl grabbed Zuo Yang’s collar fiercely, staring at him with a fierce gaze, and kept repeating, “I want to leave, I want to leave…” Then, she fiercely bit Zuo Yang’s shoulder, not letting go.

Seeing the girl’s emotional collapse and uncontrollable state, Zuo Yang and the others quickly took her to the hospital where she was given a sedative.

Four Corners Game(More)

The following day, after the girl had recovered, she explained that during the game, she had vaguely seen an additional person in one of the corners. The sight had terrified her so much that it triggered her extreme reaction.

Zuo Yang also changed his usual attitude and even stated, “Regardless of whether it’s true or not, such games should not be played anymore.”

After this game, Zuo Yang, who was once very active, for some reason stopped playing games and updating posts. His online presence also decreased.

Four months later, on June 22, 2005, Zuo Yang logged in, saying that he had been suffering a lot and encountered some troubles during this period. He did not elaborate on the specific situation, but he believed it was not related to the game.

He also mentioned that when he was offering incense at the temple, an old monk said that he would inevitably go through this disaster in his life and hoped he would take care of himself.

After that, Zuo Yang’s account has been offline ever since.

The Mysterious Disappearance of Zuo Yang

It wasn’t until three years later, on October 25, 2008, that Zuo Yang logged on again and posted a message.

In the post, he stated that the reason he had not been online for so long was due to a deep sense of fear associated with this account.

The games he had participated in had exacted a heavy toll, not only leading to the collapse of his own company but also affecting those around him.

During that period, the specific events that transpired were not elaborated on by Zuo Yang. However, at the end of his post, he left a piece of advice: “Regarding the unknown deities and spirits, you may not believe in them, but never desecrate or disrespect them.”

After these words, Zuo Yang completely vanished, never to appear on the forum again. Since then, various speculations have emerged online. Some say Zuo Yang was haunted by something sinister, while others believe he was seeking fame through hype.

But there has never been a definitive answer regarding his whereabouts, making the case of Zuo Yang one of the great unsolved mysteries on the Tianya forum.

Nevertheless, in 2012, an account named “A Friend of Zuo Yang” posted a thread detailing some bizarre incidents that occurred to Zuo Yang. The post roughly described: After playing that game, Zuo Yang’s mental state became erratic; he often woke up in the middle of the night to terrifying voices.

His body would also inexplicably have bruises in various colors, along with scratch marks.

Moreover, the dog of his friend, who used to be very close to him, started barking at him incessantly during a certain period.

There was also an incident where Zuo Yang was crossing the street. Although the road was clearly busy with traffic, he claimed that the street was empty and quiet, so he began to walk across directly.

While in the middle of the street, a middle-aged woman yanked him back forcefully, just as a vehicle sped by, nearly hitting him. Had he taken one more step, Zuo Yang might have been killed on the spot. Then, suddenly, his senses returned to normal, and he saw the traffic and heard the noise around him.

Some people speculated that Zuo Yang might have been “bewitched” at that time, with spirits obstructing his vision, deliberately blocking his sensory nerves, causing him to ignore the dangers around him, potentially leading to his demise.

The thread describing these events was incredibly sensational, but oddly enough, it was deleted not long after it went viral.

postscript

Five years later, on December 14, 2017, an account named “Hou Xiucai” posted a thread titled “After Ten Years, the Final Statement on the Zuo Yang Incident.”

The post mentioned that the online posts about Zuo Yang were all fictional narratives. It emphasized that Zuo Yang was doing well, cultivating a peaceful mind, doing good deeds, and earning a living for his family.

At that time, some netizens believed that this person was most likely the real Zuo Yang, as both the writing style and the tone of voice were identical to that of Zuo Yang from the past.

However, this could not be confirmed, as Zuo Yang never made another appearance.