Isabelle Frost looked around at the strange, darkening currents swirling through the air, and began to feel afraid.
"What's wrong? Are you scared, Yvette?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal had already planned everything. As long as Mrs. Yi could reincarnate, she would enter the cycle and become part of the River of Forgetfulness. The reason for having Isabelle Frost, her daughter, carry a fragment of Mrs. Yi's soul was so that, at the riverside, she could use this remnant to call back Mrs. Yi's soul, then bring it back to the world of the living. Afterward, he'd find a few strong young men and inject some of their life force into Mrs. Yi's body. If she survived forty-nine days, she could live again, her lifespan greatly extended. But this was all theoretical—Ghost Painting Book Immortal had only heard about it from someone named Wraithshade.
He had once met that strange person by chance. Ghost Painting Book Immortal had spoken with Wraithshade about many things and learned this method from him. Finding it interesting and amusing, he recorded it.
Of course, Ghost Painting Book Immortal had never tested this method. The New Hell had existed for nearly a thousand years; all sorts of ghost management institutions were already established, and the power of New Hell far surpassed that of Old Hell. Ghost Painting Book Immortal had no intention of directly clashing with the underworld authorities. He only wished to spend his life immersed in the world of books and art, following the changes of human society.
Gradually, a white stone-paved road appeared before their eyes.
"Uncle Book Immortal, what is that?"
Isabelle Frost asked, and Ghost Painting Book Immortal replied.
"It's the road the dead walk—called the Underworld Path."
Gradually, a splash of red appeared around them. Blossoms Isabelle Frost had never seen before bloomed—vivid red flowers without leaves. On either side of the Underworld Path, countless long, ribbon-like petals danced in the air.
"Those are Red Spider Lilies. I'll explain them to you later, Yvette. For now, be extra careful—just follow those two figures."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke, glancing around before pulling Isabelle Frost into the cluster of Red Spider Lilies. They followed along, Isabelle sniffing the air but unable to catch any scent.
"They're so beautiful, but there's no fragrance at all."
"No more talking, Yvette. Focus your mind and call out to your mother in your heart."
Isabelle Frost made a sound of acknowledgment.
At this moment, Ghost Painting Book Immortal was still plotting another extremely important matter—Lady Meng's Elixir. Lady Meng, who lived by the River of Forgetfulness, would have every soul bound for reincarnation drink her elixir before entering the cycle. He had to figure out a way to swap it.
"Yvette, if your mother really can enter reincarnation, we'll need to work together. Here, take this."
As Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke, a flash of green light appeared in his hand, followed by a bamboo scroll covered in writing and drawings.
"What is this?"
"It's a manifestation of my ghostly essence. It will make you invisible to ghosts. Keep it with you. If your mother really can go to reincarnation, I'll create a distraction. Just follow the scroll to the place, then draw water from a well with yellow vapors and swap it with the soup given to those souls. Understand?"
Though Isabelle Frost found Ghost Painting Book Immortal's words confusing, she remembered them carefully. The two of them slowly followed the underworld registrars ahead through the Red Spider Lily field. Isabelle's gaze never left Mrs. Yi—she wanted to call out to her mother, but knew she couldn't.
At last, the winding stone path came to an end. Isabelle heard a commotion up ahead. There stood a large plaque inscribed with three characters: Styx Gate. The two of them hid among the flowers.
One by one, ghosts lined up in a long queue. Ghost Painting Book Immortal quietly watched the Hell Judge at the entrance to Styx Gate. It appeared to be a Junior Registrar—nothing to worry about. Their luck was good: none of the Four Grand Judges or Ten Marshals of Hades were present.
"You seem pretty scared, Uncle Book Immortal."
Isabelle Frost muttered softly. Ghost Painting Book Immortal smiled.
"I'm not scared. I just don't want to clash directly with the underworld authorities—it's pointless. I'm not a ghost of this era; I existed at the very founding of Old Hell. Do you really think I'd be afraid of them?"
Seeing Isabelle Frost's bewildered expression, Ghost Painting Book Immortal stopped explaining. The two waited quietly, watching as Mrs. Yi passed through Styx Gate.
Isabelle Frost clutched the stone in her hand, as if in prayer.
Just then, Mrs. Yi was stopped.
"What's going on? Why is this soul missing a piece?"
Sure enough, a Junior Registrar noticed. Ghost Painting Book Immortal swallowed nervously, but the registrar beside him just laughed.
"It's normal. Probably one of the escorts couldn't resist and took a bite on the way. It's no big deal—things are so chaotic in the living world now, so many people dying, the reincarnation passage is wide open! Even if she's born with missing limbs, at least she's a woman and can bear children."
Hearing this, Ghost Painting Book Immortal breathed a sigh of relief. Isabelle Frost glanced around and noticed a patch of dusky sky to her right, and a small river with a wooden bridge. Ghostly escorts were leading souls across the bridge one after another.
Within less than an hour, Mrs. Yi was escorted out. Ghost Painting Book Immortal let out a breath of relief. Taking advantage of the distracted escorts, he pulled Isabelle Frost in an instant to the bridge, blending in with the souls. The two guards at the bridgehead seemed unable to see them.
Ghost Painting Book Immortal led Isabelle Frost safely across the Bridge of Remorse. Beside a large stone in the distance stood a small house. Further away, ghosts queued up. Isabelle saw an old woman ladling soup for each soul, who then jumped into a large pit after drinking.
"Listen carefully, Yvette. See that well beside the old woman? In a moment, swap the water in the bucket for what's in the well, then follow the scroll into the Red Spider Lily field behind the house. The scroll will lead you back to me. Got it?"
Isabelle Frost nodded, nervously watching everything unfold in the distance. Mrs. Yi had joined the queue of souls, her expression tinged with sadness, but she was no longer conscious.
Ghost Painting Book Immortal brought Isabelle Frost into Lady Meng's house, repeated the instructions again, then turned and transformed into a streak of green light, drifting to the bridge. In an instant, he revealed his form, releasing a surge of green ghostly energy.
Isabelle Frost stared in terror at the line of ghosts. The old woman by the pit stood up, swiftly swept past Isabelle as if she didn't see her. Shielded by the scroll, Isabelle dashed to the pit, dumped the bucket's water into it, then began drawing water. With the scroll's help, she successfully swapped the water.
Then the scroll wrapped around Isabelle Frost, swiftly pulling her into the Red Spider Lily field, where she quickly disappeared from sight.
Wrapped in the scroll, Isabelle Frost's heart pounded, but she felt an unusual sense of peace. Surrounded by Red Spider Lilies, she was happy, giggling as she reached out to grab petal after petal.
It was as if a voice in her mind kept comforting her, telling her not to be afraid. She felt truly at ease.
Gradually, Isabelle Frost reached the banks of the River of Forgetfulness, where Ghost Painting Book Immortal was already waiting for her.
"Uncle Book Immortal."
"Did you finish what I told you to do?"
Isabelle Frost made a sound of confirmation.
"Now take out the stone and call for your mother at the riverbank. I'll seize the moment to pull her soul out of the river."
Isabelle Frost sat on the ground, cupped the stone in both hands, and began to call out.
Ghost Painting Book Immortal stared quietly at the river's surface. An hour passed, but nothing happened.
"Could that bastard Wraithshade have tricked me?"
Ghost Painting Book Immortal muttered softly, but quickly glanced at Isabelle Frost—she seemed not to have heard.
"You old ghost, you don't look like an ordinary Soul Collector. If you wanted to fool me, you shouldn't have brought the girl along."
An ancient voice rang out. With a whoosh, Lady Meng raised her cane and struck at Ghost Painting Book Immortal. He instantly turned and blocked the cane with one hand. Lady Meng's eyes widened in surprise. When she reappeared, she was gripping Isabelle Frost, who had lost consciousness.
"Looks like my hunch was right after all."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal sighed, then glanced back at the distant Bridge of Remorse.
"It seems you haven't alerted the others yet, Lady Meng. I'm not here to cause trouble—I'm just helping this girl bring her mother back."
Lady Meng stared coldly at Ghost Painting Book Immortal.
"Life and death are already decided." She snorted.
Ghost Painting Book Immortal glanced around anxiously, his main concern now was Isabelle Frost, who was in Lady Meng's grasp.
"Let the girl go."
Ghost Painting Book Immortal spoke.
"Since she chose to come here herself, don't think about going back. As a mortal, she's already committed a crime grave enough to warrant death."
"You lot are something else—so many rules and regulations as soon as you arrived. Old Hell never had all these restrictions."
Lady Meng snorted disdainfully.
"Without rules, nothing can be accomplished. That's the real reason Old Hell fell."
"I'm not interested in arguing with you, Lady Meng. Give the girl back to me."
Just then, the previously dazed Isabelle Frost began to emit a red glow. Lady Meng's eyes widened in shock and she quickly let go. With a whoosh, Isabelle, wrapped in red light, landed atop the Red Spider Lily field. Instantly, petals from both banks swirled into the air, gathering around her.
"Instinct?"
Lady Meng stared quietly at Isabelle Frost. Ghost Painting Book Immortal seized the moment to fly to her side.