"Mama, when will you get better?"
Coughs and wheezing echoed from inside. Isabelle Frost stood at the doorway, led by a maid, but did not enter. Mrs. Yi lay in bed, her face pale. She'd taken many medicines, but her illness showed no sign of improving. To prevent spreading it, anyone entering the room had to cover their mouth and nose with a saltwater-soaked veil.
Isabelle Frost gazed sorrowfully at her mother, tormented by sickness.
"Xuehan, you should go back soon. Be careful not to catch Mama's illness."
The servant closed the door. Tears welled in Isabelle Frost's eyes; she longed to go in, but Mrs. Yi forbade it. All she could do was stand at the doorway and steal a glance each day.
"Miss, Master Yi isn't home today. Where would you like to go play?"
Zhou Kan smiled as he spoke. Isabelle Frost shook her head, not in the mood.
"I don't want to."
Isabelle Frost wandered to the bridge, leaning on the railing, watching the fish in the river below, her mood gloomy.
"Don't worry, Miss. Madam is a good person—Heaven won't let a good person die so young."
With Zhou Kan's comfort, Isabelle Frost felt a bit better. Her big round eyes lifted, and a smile appeared on her rosy, adorable cheeks.
"Really?"
"Of course it's true. I would never lie to you, Miss."
Zhou Kan spoke with a slightly stiff smile, but Isabelle Frost noticed. Mrs. Yi suffered from a fatal chill, a disease that was almost never cured—her body grew weaker until death.
Today, Master Yi had traveled far to seek a doctor. Word was that in the neighboring county, there was a miraculous physician who could cure the chill.
At night, Isabelle Frost lay tossing and turning in bed, unable to sleep.
"Why do grown-ups always lie? They know it can't be cured."
As she spoke, tears streamed down Isabelle Frost's cheeks. She whimpered, crying quietly in grief.
"What's wrong, little Yi? Why are you crying tonight?"
After many days away, Ghost Painting Book Immortal had just entered and heard Isabelle Frost crying. He squatted by her bed, twirling his beard, noticing wisps of black energy swirling around her—deathly aura. He'd seen it before; it meant someone close to her was about to die. The immortal sighed.
"Is it your mother?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal asked. Isabelle Frost poked her head out from under the covers, her face streaked with tears, sniffling and nodding. The immortal placed a hand on her head.
Isabelle, life and death are matters of fate. We cannot force them.
Isabelle Frost wiped her eyes with both hands, asking sadly.
"Thief uncle, I don't understand what you're saying, but I... I don't want Mama to die."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal hummed and nodded.
It's alright, Isabelle. And don't call me 'thief'—that's an ugly name. Call me Book Immortal. Didn't I already tell you?
"Uncle Book Immortal, do you have any way?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal sighed and shook his head. He actually knew a way, but he didn't intend to tell Isabelle Frost.
Alright, Isabelle. I'll borrow your things for now. I'll return them in a few days.
Days passed, and Mrs. Yi's health grew worse. Each time Isabelle Frost visited, her mother said she needed to sleep, refusing to let Isabelle see her. Isabelle knew the illness was getting worse.
On the seventh day, Master Yi finally returned, bringing a doctor. He instructed Zhou Kan to take Isabelle away.
"I..."
"Miss, there's nothing worth seeing."
Isabelle tried to sneak a peek but Zhou Kan pulled her away. In the end, unable to resist her, Zhou Kan carried her on his shoulders to just beneath Mrs. Yi's room, letting her stand on his shoulders so she could see inside.
"Doctor, how is she?"
"It's very bad. It's already too late. I have a prescription, but it's strong—it may be too much for Madam to bear. Master Yi, what do you think..."
Master Yi's expression was uncertain, but then the deathly pale Mrs. Yi spoke weakly from the bed.
Master, use the doctor's prescription. Life and death are fate. I just can't bear to leave Isabelle. If I can hold on one more day, I will.
Isabelle's eyes were red. Zhou Kan set her down, and she whimpered softly. For some reason, Zhou Kan always felt Miss Frost was very strong; even when she cried, she never wailed loudly, but held it in, sobbing quietly alone in a corner.
"Don't worry, Madam will be fine."
However, things did not go as hoped. Even after Mrs. Yi took the doctor's medicine, her condition did not improve and instead began to worsen. She felt her end approaching, and strictly ordered everyone in the household not to reveal her impending death. Worried about the impact her passing would have on young Isabelle Frost, she made an excuse to return to her parents' home, but in reality, she found a room in the city to await death.
"What's wrong, Isabelle? Still unhappy?"
That night, Ghost Painting Book Immortal came again, bringing back the pottery shard painting for study. Isabelle Frost couldn't sleep, sitting by the bed with her chin in her hand.
"Why do people die?"
"Because life comes to an end, or because of illness or accidents. In short, people are fragile, Isabelle. Go to sleep now, you're still young and won't understand."
Isabelle Frost turned to look at Ghost Painting Book Immortal, sadness flickering in her eyes.
"Uncle Book Immortal, what about ghosts? Don't they die? How old are you?"
Faced with a string of questions, Ghost Painting Book Immortal looked troubled.
"How should I say this? Ghosts like me don't really have a lifespan, but just like people, ghosts do have their own kind of life span. People have yang lifespan, ghosts have yin lifespan."
"I don't want Mama to die."
Isabelle Frost spoke as she got up.
"I'm going to find Mama."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal grabbed her. Though he didn't want to get involved, seeing Isabelle Frost like this, he could only sigh helplessly.
"Isabelle, your mother will die in three days."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal saw the dark aura gathering thickly around Isabelle Frost. He knew exactly when death would come; judging by the vitality left in Mrs. Yi, she would last at most three more days.
[SKIP]
"Uncle Book Immortal, do you have a way?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal grunted and nodded.
"Listen carefully, Isabelle. After your mother dies, she will go to the world of the dead—a place called the Underworld. Her soul will be taken there, passing through Yellow Springs Road, then to Ghost Gate, and finally judged. She'll either enter Hell for punishment or be reincarnated, depending on her luck."
Isabelle Frost blinked, not knowing what to say. She had no idea what Ghost Painting Book Immortal was talking about.
"I'll come in three days. Think carefully—this journey is dangerous. I'll try to help you follow your mother's soul. If she's judged to enter reincarnation, there's still a chance. You can go to the Bridge of Forgetfulness. Take this."
As he spoke, Ghost Painting Book Immortal reached into the air, producing a small white object in his hand. A few days ago, he had sealed a small part of Mrs. Yi's soul into a little stone. The only effect on Mrs. Yi would be that she couldn't move one hand.
"What am I even doing!"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal couldn't help but sigh.
"Uncle Book Immortal, what exactly will you do?"
"Don't worry. I'll find a way to help you. When your mother dies, I'll help you follow her soul."
Day after day passed. Isabelle Frost held the little stone Ghost Painting Book Immortal had given her tightly in her hand, and her expression brightened a bit. Zhou Kan was relieved, thinking that Isabelle was simply young and believed her mother had really gone to visit her family. Master Yi also left, planning to spend Mrs. Yi's last days with her.
On the third night, Isabelle Frost waited anxiously in her room. Suddenly, Ghost Painting Book Immortal entered, holding a lamp that emitted a green glow. He pointed at Isabelle, and in an instant, she fell unconscious. A flash of red light appeared, and the red humanoid spirit within Isabelle emerged, its golden eyes fixed on Ghost Painting Book Immortal, full of hostility.
"Almost forgot—this thing is troublesome. Looks like it can't communicate."
"Don't hurt her, or else..."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal watched the red humanoid spirit, who made a strange, eerie sound.
"I won't do anything. Isabelle wants to save her mother; I'm just helping her. If you understand, you should know. Hurry, or we'll run out of time."
As Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke, the red spirit hesitated for a moment before returning to Isabelle Frost's body. Then Ghost Painting Book Immortal plucked a strand of Isabelle's hair and placed it into the green lamp.
"Rise."
With a wave of Ghost Painting Book Immortal's hand, Isabelle Frost's translucent soul flew out of her body. When she awoke, she screamed in shock, staring at herself lying on the ground and touching her own body, which was still warm.
"Uncle Book Immortal, what is this?"
"Don't ask, just go quickly."
With a creak, the door opened. Ghost Painting Book Immortal handed the lamp to a maid, whose eyes were vacant. The lamp represented Isabelle Frost's soul outside her body and could last only five or six hours. So Ghost Painting Book Immortal had bewitched a maid to hold the lamp, which would absorb a little yang energy, illuminating the path for Isabelle's soul in the world of the living.
With a whoosh, Isabelle Frost screamed, and Ghost Painting Book Immortal grabbed her hand, pulling her through the wall. The scenery around them rushed by in a blur. Ghost Painting Book Immortal looked anxious, staring ahead, while Isabelle quieted down, feeling cold all over.
Suddenly, the sound of chains clanged. Isabelle Frost screamed, but Ghost Painting Book Immortal quickly covered her mouth. Before them appeared two monstrous figures—one tall, one short—with faces twisted and skin like old tree bark, escorting a woman.
"It's Mama."
Isabelle Frost whispered. Ghost Painting Book Immortal nodded, quickly suppressing his green ghostly aura, and quietly pulled Isabelle to follow behind.