After a fleeting vision of a world where flowers and grass bloomed beneath a clear sky, I saw Mona Ouyang's anxious face before me. In an instant, I snapped awake from my dream—it was already eleven in the morning. The shock left me breathless, but at that moment, Yvonne May, Mona Ouyang, and Serena Jing were all seated by my side, with Serena Jing bowing her head.
"Any news on Basil Bertram's whereabouts?"
Serena Jing shook her head, her eyes fixed on me with a hint of resentment.
"Even if we know, it won't change anything. I should never have listened to you thirty years ago, Rachel Lan. You lied to me. You couldn't save Uncle at all."
I saw how agitated Serena Jing was, and then she began to speak. In a prophetic dream, I had told her what would happen, and she remembered—she followed Basil Bertram all this time, but in the end, she lost track of him. Basil vanished without warning.
Just recently, after they returned from the Underworld to that sea of books, they began discussing the upcoming battle. Basil Bertram's Blue Wraiths were all excited—their long-standing grudges, carried since life, made them eager to prove themselves. This war was Timbercrest Hall's best chance. Many had spent years preparing, never giving up on growing stronger. Everyone knew Basil's situation, but they still followed him; these were his household retainers, many of whom had failed him in life, even causing his disgraceful death. Their resentment ran deep, and now they were determined to prove themselves in this war.
All of Timbercrest Hall was celebrating, except for Basil Bertram, who, as always, smiled calmly. He nodded at his retainers' suggestions, accepting even the bad ones, and offered advice in return. Basil was less a king and more a teacher and friend to these ghosts.
"You don't understand how important Uncle is to us, Rachel Lan. If there's any hope left, it's Zhang Qingyuan. Last time, when the Ghost Syndicate tried to steal Uncle's Wooden Contract Stone, Zhang Qingyuan saved him. Without Zhang Qingyuan's Coexistence Instinct, Uncle would be dead. But now it's different—Zhang Qingyuan is gone, nowhere to be found in this world. Even if you have the Coexistence Instinct now, Rachel Lan, what difference does it make? You still can't change anything. So the only way is for you to enter a prophetic dream, find me, and tell me about the current predicament. I'll personally consult with Aunt. We won't let Uncle act recklessly again. Last time, Uncle sneaked out—his power was already so weak, and he nearly died for a daughter from a past life. Now it's happening again. We care too, Rachel Lan..."
Serena Jing pressed a hand to her chest, tears welling in her eyes. I swallowed, at a loss for words. I couldn't do it, but faced with the situation, I didn't know what else to do.
"The girl is right, Rachel Lan. Think of the bigger picture. If Jing Le dies, Basil Bertram will be safe, with at least centuries of life left. The forests around here took centuries to grow this dense, but in just thirty years they've reached this state. This isn't about choosing sides—it's about making sure Basil Bertram survives."
For a moment, I lowered my head, unsure what to do.
"Maybe I can try using the Coexistence Instinct..."
"That instinct isn't yours, and it's far from complete. You can't do it, Rachel Lan. Only Zhang Qingyuan can. Last time, though it was unintentional, Zhang Qingyuan's Coexistence Instinct sensed his desperate wish for Basil Bertram to survive, and brought Basil back from the brink. He transformed a massive amount of vitality from that place, along with his own human power, into ghost power, and infused it into Basil Bertram's soul, saving his life."
I fell silent, unable to decide what to do. If I really did this, it would be too cruel for both Leah King and Basil Bertram. I couldn't do it.
"Please, Rachel Lan, I'm begging you. On behalf of everyone in Timbercrest Hall, I beg you—can you do it, Rachel Lan?"
Serena Jing broke down crying and fell to her knees. I hurried to support her, and with a click, the room door opened. Leah King's smile froze on her face as she silently watched us.
"Can you tell me what happened?"
Choking up, I looked at Leah King. Yvonne May sighed and waved her hand, closing the door, then Leah King was startled as a force pulled her over to sit down.
"She has a right to know everything. After all, it's a matter of life and death now."
After a while, Yvonne May calmly explained Basil Bertram's situation, the ghosts' affairs, and some matters between father and daughter. Basil exchanged his centuries of life for a few decades of Leah King's. Leah King was briefly at a loss, but soon she pressed her hand to her forehead, her memories in chaos, and she didn't ask anything.
Serena Jing looked at Leah King with determination.
"Even after you die, I'll find a way to capture your soul. You may lose your human life, but you can still live in the world of ghosts. That way, my uncle won't..."
Leah King smiled, stood up, and nodded.
"That's fine, Rachel Lan. Let's do it this way."
I stared in shock, eyes wide, as Leah King looked at me seriously.
"I can't imagine these things, but... I don't want to owe anything to a father who doesn't even have the courage to meet me. I don't want to owe her anything. I've enjoyed so many years of life—it's enough. I don't want to owe him anything anymore."
With that, Leah King opened the door and walked out into the sunlight, smiling quietly, showing no intention of looking back. I fell silent.
"At this point, it's the only way, Rachel Lan. Don't do anything reckless. Think carefully about your purpose for being here, and not..."
"I understand."
Leah King didn't say anything to us all day. Instead, she seemed to be enjoying herself. By nightfall, she was still reading her script, as if nothing had happened, accepting everything calmly—just like Basil Bertram.
I lay quietly in bed, watching Leah King. I didn't know what to say, but I couldn't help asking.
"Maybe tomorrow you'll disappear, and the thirty years you've lived will be gone."
Leah King looked at me.
"It's a shame, but I've lived through it, haven't I? Besides, I really don't want to owe that irresponsible father a single bit of gratitude. I'll just give it back. Everything forced on me without my consent isn't what I wanted. It's fine. You should get some sleep."
My mind was filled with memories of Basil Bertram nearly dying, Leah King being captured by the Ghost Syndicate, and everything Zhang Qingyuan did. Maybe the answer was already in my mind. I smiled and drifted peacefully to sleep.
Gradually, Mona Ouyang pulled me into his dream.
"Are you ready, Rachel Lan? This is a necessary choice. If Basil Bertram really dies, things will get very bad. Plus, Yin Choujian is trapped and urgently needs Basil Bertram to find a way to get him out of there."
I made a sound of acknowledgment, but Mona Ouyang still looked at me with concern.
When I reached the entrance to the prophetic dream again, I didn't hesitate—I entered.
Once again, I returned to the past. The orphanage had already been built, and Leah King looked about five or six years old. I saw Basil Bertram, who would come by now and then to bring things for the children. This time, Basil Bertram noticed me.
I didn’t wait for Serena Jing. Instead, I went straight to Basil Bertram and told him everything. My mind was swirling with thoughts—Basil Bertram always seemed unfazed by whatever happened to him, as if he already knew how things would turn out.
I tried to keep it brief, but told Basil Bertram about everything that had happened.
“So that’s it. A prophetic dream. Sorry, your name is Rachel Lan, right?”
I responded with a quiet 'mm.'
“When you go back, please tell Serena Jing I’m sorry, and the other Ghost Sovereigns as well. My mind is made up, so there’s no need to change anything. I always wanted to give her a complete life, but I couldn’t—because she took her own life and ended up in hell. I waited many years for this chance. Even if her life is missing her parents, there’s regret, but nothing can be done. You gain something, you lose something—life is always full of regrets. I’ll tell Serena Jing myself, and I won’t let that child know everything.”
I stared at Basil Bertram, then raised my hand. A wisp of pale energy drifted out. Basil Bertram glanced at it, seeming to understand.
“I can use my life to give Leah King part of hers. That way, you won’t have to...”
Basil Bertram shook his head slightly and gazed quietly at the withered tree in the distance, then smiled.
“That’s not enough. For someone at death’s door, surviving is incredibly difficult. Even if you gave all your life to that child, she still wouldn’t make it. But I can do it—and it’s the only way. There’s no perfect solution in this world. I hope you understand. Rachel Lan, go back. You did the right thing. If I meet you and your friend Ethan Zhang, who once saved me, I’ll find a chance to have a drink with you both. That’s enough, isn’t it?”
My eyes widened. I remembered Basil Bertram had come looking for me and Ethan Zhang several times—to drink with us. As I looked at him, it felt as if everything was already destined, impossible to change, and there was nothing more I could do.
“Don’t worry, Rachel Lan. There’s always a solution. Thank you for coming and for caring so much about us. But all this is what I owe that child. As her father, I couldn’t fulfill my duty, but at least I can make up for it by giving her a complete life. If I could, I’d truly hope to see her get married and have children someday. But, sadly, I won’t. I’m sorry, Rachel Lan.”