"The new law has just taken effect. Old woman, I won't allow you to act so recklessly."
Lady Meng's face was filled with anger as the Ghost Painting Book Immortal glanced around.
"Where is this girl's mother?"
"She hasn't entered reincarnation yet, and is being held temporarily."
At this moment, Lady Meng seemed somewhat interested in Isabelle Frost. She gazed at Isabelle, surrounded by clusters of red spider lilies. Although she already knew this little girl was special, she couldn't worry about that now; she had to suppress the Blue Wraith in front of her. This Blue Wraith could completely evade the Underworld Court's detection, clearly not an ordinary entity. The sudden surge of ghostly energy at the Bridge of Remorse wasn't overwhelming, but Lady Meng had investigated—the density of that energy was enough to manifest physically.
Meanwhile, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal was considering how to take Isabelle Frost away from the Underworld. The worst-case scenario was escaping to one of the eight provinces of Hell across the river, then finding another route from the ghost realm back to the living world. But there wasn’t enough time; if he was late, Isabelle might never return to her body. The connection between body and soul would be completely severed after nine hours.
In an instant, Lady Meng vanished from in front of the Ghost Painting Book Immortal and reappeared, raising her cane to point at him.
"If you want to subdue me, you'll need more power than that."
As the Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke, a streak of green light flashed in his hand, and a brush spun between his fingers.
"Draw the tiger."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal raised his brush and pointed toward Lady Meng. Instantly, a burst of green light erupted, and a fierce tiger appeared, biting Lady Meng. With a splash, Lady Meng turned into scattered droplets, then reformed directly facing the Ghost Painting Book Immortal.
"This is bad. If we fight here, there’s nothing I can do."
As he spoke, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal pulled at the brush in his hand. In a flash, Lady Meng saw the two figures vanish before her. Warm yellow light enveloped her, and her cane pointed to the right. With a crisp sound, ripples spread through the air.
Immediately, an opening appeared, and Lady Meng flew straight into it.
"You can't escape. Even if you hide in your ghost domain, you can't fool these old eyes."
Lady Meng spoke, a bit surprised. The surroundings resembled a celestial paradise—colorful clouds, flocks of white cranes, everything glittering with gold. It didn’t look like the domain of a Blue Wraith at all.
With a drifting sound, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal sat holding Isabelle Frost on a massive scroll of bamboo, quietly landing about ten meters in front of Lady Meng.
"Old woman, do you really have to push so hard? I'm just trying to take this little girl out of the Underworld. Isn't that allowed?"
"You’re trying to disrupt reincarnation. That’s a serious crime. This isn’t your home—you can’t just come and go as you please. What do you take the Underworld for?"
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal's face turned red, and he sighed several times in succession.
"I never should've gotten involved in this mess. Old woman, I'm begging you—do me a favor, just this once. The Ghost Painting Book Immortal always repays his debts."
Lady Meng's face showed a moment of hesitation, but she quickly shook her head.
"I can't let you leave."
With a thunderous sound, Lady Meng pointed her cane at the Ghost Painting Book Immortal.
With a bang, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal quickly used the bamboo scroll to send Isabelle Frost away, clutching something in his hand. Lady Meng looked on in surprise.
"Impressive, you actually saw through it."
"Old woman, do you think this is my first day in the ghost world?"
As he spoke, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal waved his brush, as if painting something. Giant beasts formed of colored light appeared before Lady Meng.
One beast had the body and horns of an ox, scales and head of a dragon, and roared as it lunged toward Lady Meng, its whole body blazing with blue flames.
Lady Meng dodged the beast's attack and stared intently.
"A qilin? Such a childish trick—do you think you can fool me with this, old woman? Your painting skills are terrible!"
In an instant, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal's eyes widened, his cheeks flushed. The qilin below looked like a barrel, its limbs uneven, and its head comically round and fat. At first, Lady Meng doubted it was a qilin, but its structure matched—just badly drawn.
Thinking back, that fat tiger earlier, though fierce, looked like its belly was about to burst.
"It's worse than a three-year-old's doodle."
"You... you..."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal's eyes widened. With a thud, Lady Meng landed on the qilin's head and struck it with her cane. The qilin whimpered and vanished like a bubble.
"Watch my dragon painting technique."
With a flourish, the Ghost Painting Book Immortal drew a long stroke. Gradually, a roaring sound emerged, and a blue dragon appeared. But its head lacked horns and whiskers, making it look oddly comical—a dragon that didn’t resemble a snake at all.
"You should really practice your painting. It’s embarrassing."
Faced with a dragon so ridiculous it was almost laughable, Lady Meng ignored it, sidestepped, and grabbed one of its worm-like legs, hurling it downward with force.
With a snap, the blue dragon dissipated into mist. The Ghost Painting Book Immortal appeared behind Lady Meng, who tensed, sensing danger.
"You underestimate me, old woman. You may have existed since the Old Hell era, but I’ve been around even longer than that."
"You... you..."
Lady Meng was suddenly unable to move. Just then, a loud yawn echoed out, and both stopped, turning to look at Isabelle Frost rubbing her eyes on the bamboo scroll—she had woken up.
"I should have suppressed her soul. Is it the power of the Red Spider Lily?"
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Now Lady Meng found she could move again.
"Uncle Book Immortal, who is this old lady?"
Isabelle Frost blinked and looked around, then shouted in delight.
"It's so beautiful!"
"You decide. This little girl is extraordinary—souls with her potential may not appear for tens of thousands of years. Weigh your choices carefully."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal quietly watched Isabelle Frost drift closer.
"Little girl, let me ask you—do you truly want to save your mother?"
Lady Meng asked, and Isabelle Frost stood up and nodded.
"Hurry and return her mother's soul so I can take it back. Time is running out—if we delay, this little girl's situation will become dire."
Then the Ghost Painting Book Immortal began explaining his method for saving people.
"You idiot—did a donkey kick your head? You'd actually use such a lowly trick? Once a soul enters reincarnation, it crosses from this shore to the other. Not even direct descendants can call a soul back once it’s entered the cycle. You swapped out my Lady Meng's Elixir, but at best, that soul will retain some memories of its past life—it can't be truly summoned back."
"It wasn't my idea."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal muttered, and Lady Meng glared at him sideways.
"Old lady, where is my mother?"
Lady Meng squatted down in front of Isabelle Frost.
"Little girl, if you truly want to save your mother, are you willing to give everything you have?"
Isabelle Frost nodded, not fully understanding. The Ghost Painting Book Immortal stared intently at Lady Meng, who then took Isabelle’s small hand.
"Then it’s a deal, little girl. After you die, you’ll remember all this, and you’ll have to help me, all right?"
Isabelle agreed, and suddenly the Ghost Painting Book Immortal separated them, watching Lady Meng warily.
"What exactly are you trying to do?"
"That’s how the world works—if you want something, you have to pay for it."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal said blankly.
"Isn’t the price a bit too high?"
Lady Meng looked at Isabelle Frost again, who broke free from the Ghost Painting Book Immortal’s hand.
"No matter what, I just want my mother to live."
Lady Meng smiled, then spoke.
"Little girl, your mother’s lifespan has reached its end. If you want to save her, you’ll have to give her your own years of life."
"I will."
Isabelle answered right away, and the Ghost Painting Book Immortal muttered.
"Tricking a five-year-old girl like this..."
"Little girl, you can live to forty-three. How many years do you want to give your mother?"
Lady Meng asked again, and Isabelle Frost shook her head.
"Any amount is fine."
"How about ten years, then?"
In the end, Isabelle Frost nodded. Lady Meng waved her hand, and a yellow light swept over Isabelle, causing her to fall into a deep sleep.
"It’s fair, isn’t it?"
Lady Meng said, and the Ghost Painting Book Immortal opened the ghostly realm, returning them to the banks of the River of Forgetfulness.
"I don’t think it’s fair at all. Heh, old woman, I have a pretty good idea what you’re up to, but whatever—it doesn’t matter now."
Lady Meng took out a small bottle, opened it, and poured its contents into Isabelle Frost’s mouth.
"She’ll forget everything about coming here, and only remember after she dies. Don’t get close to her again, old man."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal sighed, then smiled.
"That’s none of your business."
After a while, Lady Meng brought over Mrs. Yi’s soul. Mrs. Yi’s eyes were vacant; all her consciousness had been sealed away.
"When you get back, just put the soul into her body. I’ve prepared everything. Next time, don’t believe in those crooked methods. Who told you about this?"
"Someone named Chimei Wangliang."
Lady Meng sighed and gazed up at the dusky sky.
"My time is almost up. I must find a successor. This little girl is my best candidate. Listen, old man—don’t meddle in my affairs."
The Ghost Painting Book Immortal sneered.
"Isn’t this just a trick?"
"Some things in this world simply have to be done by someone."