The Perilous Internet Ring (2020) — AI Story Visualization

Plot Analysis Summary

An unexplained chapter in an abandoned online novel leads to a mystery that may involve psychological or technological manipulation.

Story Structure — 5 Plot Phases

The Chapter Returns

An abandoned online novel receives an unexplained final chapter three years later. Its image of a long-haired woman is followed by scenes that resemble real events, frightening Zhou Xiaonuo and affecting Tang Jing.

Key Events

• The Novel Is Abandoned — The group of online writers abandons their web novel. Location: Fallen Star Tower online community
• A Chapter Reappears — Three years later, an unexplained final chapter appears on the old bulletin board. Location: Old online bulletin board
• The Woman in the Chapter — The chapter describes a long-haired woman approaching the characters. Location: Fallen Star Tower story
• Fiction Resembles Events — Scenes in the new chapter begin to resemble real events. Location: Unspecified
• Zhou Feels Watched — After reading the chapter, Zhou Xiaonuo feels watched and suffers nightmares. Characters: Zhou Xiaonuo Location: Unspecified
• Tang Is Affected — Tang Jing is connected to the novel and is badly affected. Characters: Tang Jing Location: Unspecified

A Suspected Curse

Mysterious attacks and deaths among people connected to the story lead survivors to suspect the new chapter is cursing them. Ma Ming investigates rather than accepting a supernatural explanation.

Key Events

• Tang Is Affected — Tang Jing is connected to the novel and is badly affected. Characters: Tang Jing Location: Unspecified
• Attacks and Deaths Begin — People associated with the story face mysterious attacks and deaths. Location: Unspecified
• Survivors Suspect a Curse — Survivors suspect the chapter is cursing people linked to the novel. Location: Unspecified
• Ma Ming Investigates — Ma Ming investigates instead of accepting a supernatural explanation. Characters: Ma Ming Location: Unspecified
• Tong Rejects the Ghost Theory — Professor Tong rejects the ghost theory and criticizes Ma Ming's approach. Characters: Ma Ming, Professor Tong Location: Unspecified

The Digital Hypothesis

Professor Tong disputes the ghost explanation, while Ma Ming considers Internet-transmitted hypnosis. Evidence leads to Dai Yuncong, who identifies himself as the novel's creator and online user Shengzhou.

Key Events

• Tong Rejects the Ghost Theory — Professor Tong rejects the ghost theory and criticizes Ma Ming's approach. Characters: Ma Ming, Professor Tong Location: Unspecified
• Hypnosis Hypothesis — Ma Ming suspects hypnosis transmitted through the Internet may cause the attacks. Characters: Ma Ming Location: Unspecified
• Evidence Points to Dai — Evidence leads Ma Ming to wheelchair-bound computer expert Dai Yuncong. Characters: Ma Ming, Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified
• Shengzhou Is Identified — Dai Yuncong confirms that his online identity is Shengzhou. Characters: Ma Ming, Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified
• The Novel's Origin Revealed — Dai says he created the novel six years earlier and its writers first met online. Characters: Ma Ming, Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified
• An Offline Gathering — Dai explains that the group later met offline and became linked to the unfinished story. Characters: Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified

A Disappearance and Search

Ma Ming finds information suggesting a technological or psychological attack, with Tang Jing's computer serving as a source of clues. Zhou Xiaonuo disappears after receiving a message connected to Tang Jing, prompting a search.

Key Events

• An Offline Gathering — Dai explains that the group later met offline and became linked to the unfinished story. Characters: Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified
• Murder Accusation — Ma Ming accuses Dai of murder; Dai says he wants to know if others used his research. Characters: Ma Ming, Dai Yuncong Location: Unspecified
• Tang's Computer Becomes a Clue — Ma Ming finds information suggesting a technological or psychological attack. Characters: Ma Ming, Tang Jing Location: Unspecified
• Zhou Disappears — Zhou Xiaonuo disappears after receiving a message connected to Tang Jing. Characters: Zhou Xiaonuo, Tang Jing Location: Unspecified
• The Hospital Search — Ma Ming and the others search for Zhou and locate her at the novel's hospital. Characters: Ma Ming, Zhou Xiaonuo Location: Hospital described in the novel

The Hospital Illusion

The searchers locate Zhou Xiaonuo in the hospital described in the novel. Hypnotized and seeing familiar figures and the long-haired woman, she is brought toward reality by Ma Ming, while the true controller remains unresolved.

Key Events

• The Hospital Search — Ma Ming and the others search for Zhou and locate her at the novel's hospital. Characters: Ma Ming, Zhou Xiaonuo Location: Hospital described in the novel
• Zhou Returns to Reality — Hypnotized Zhou sees familiar figures and the woman; Ma Ming insists it is an illusion and reaches her. Characters: Ma Ming, Zhou Xiaonuo Location: Hospital described in the novel

Story Breakdown

• The Chapter Returns — A new installment revives an abandoned story and begins to echo events affecting people connected to it.
  • Abandoned Web Novel — A group of online writers had left Fallen Star Tower unfinished.
  • Unexplained Final Chapter — Three years later, a final chapter appears on the old bulletin board.
• The Woman Appears — The chapter's image of a long-haired woman contributes to the growing fear around the story.
  • Fiction Mirrors Events — Scenes in the new chapter begin to resemble real events.
  • Zhou's Nightmares — Zhou Xiaonuo feels watched and suffers nightmares after reading.
• The Threat Spreads — People associated with the novel suffer mysterious attacks and deaths, prompting suspicion of a curse.
  • Tang Is Affected — Tang Jing is connected to the novel and is badly affected.
  • Curse Suspicion — Survivors suspect the new chapter targets anyone linked to Fallen Star Tower.
• Competing Explanations — Ma Ming investigates the incidents while Professor Tong challenges supernatural interpretations.
  • Tong Rejects Ghosts — Professor Tong dismisses the ghost theory and criticizes Ma Ming's approach.
  • Internet Hypnosis — Ma Ming suspects hypnosis transmitted through the Internet.
• Dai's Connection — Evidence leads Ma Ming to Dai Yuncong, who explains his authorship and online identity.
  • Shengzhou Revealed — Dai confirms that Shengzhou is his online identity.
  • Novel's Origin — Dai says he created Fallen Star Tower six years earlier.
• The Writers' History — Dai recounts how the online community's connections extended beyond the unfinished story.
  • Online Community — The writers first met through the novel's online community.
  • Offline Gathering — The group later arranged an offline gathering and became linked to the story.
• Accusation and Doubt — Ma Ming accuses Dai of murder, but Dai says he wants to know whether someone else used his research.
  • Murder Accusation — Ma Ming confronts Dai over the deaths and attacks.
  • Research Misuse — Dai claims his concern is whether another person has used his research.
• The Search for Zhou — Digital clues lead into a search after Zhou Xiaonuo disappears following a message connected to Tang Jing.
  • Computer Clues — Tang Jing's computer becomes an important source of information.
  • Hospital Location — Ma Ming and the others locate Zhou in the hospital described in the novel.
• Breaking the Illusion — At the hospital, Ma Ming tries to bring hypnotized Zhou Xiaonuo back to reality, but the controller remains unknown.
  • Hypnotized Visions — Zhou sees familiar figures and the long-haired woman.
  • Unresolved Controller — Ma Ming interrupts the immediate danger, but the true controller remains unresolved.

Directed by

Norio Tsuruta

Key Cast

• Sun Yihan — Zhou Xiaonuo
• Fu Meng-po — Ma Ming
• Zhang Jing — Jiang Qiong
• Han Qiuchi — Dai Yuncong
• Zhou Haodong — Professor Tong