The next morning, Aiden packed lightly — or at least, as lightly as a 21-year-old CEO-student could. His laptop, three notebooks, two chargers, snacks (because snacks were survival), and a ridiculously large umbrella that probably weighed more than he did.
"Why am I carrying this?" he muttered, holding it like a sword.
"You never know when it will rain… or when spirits throw tantrums," came a soft, amused voice.
Aiden froze. Lady Lian was standing at the doorway — perfectly poised, hair flowing, kimono brushing the floor, looking like she'd stepped out of a centuries-old painting.
"You know, most people just haunt houses," Aiden said, trying to lighten the tension. "You have to follow me around with fashion statements now?"
Lian tilted her head, unimpressed, yet there was a hint of a smile. "You still joke in the face of death. I admire that."
Aiden groaned. "Great. So, we're going to this shrine of yours. Can you at least tell me it's not in the middle of a volcano?"
Lian's eyes sparkled. "Not a volcano. Mountains, yes. Forest, yes. Danger, certainly. But nothing that will melt your hair."
The drive began in silence, except for the faint hum of the car and the occasional chirp of an overly curious GPS. Aiden's mind raced with questions.
"So… let me get this straight," he said, trying to sound casual. "You loved my ancestor, waited a few hundred years, now you're haunting me — in the city, on my property, in my dreams — and somehow, you think I'm the reincarnation?"
"You are," Lian replied simply. "I have waited lifetimes. You carry his spirit, his heart, his bloodline. And yet…" Her voice softened. "…you are more human than he ever was."
Aiden snorted. "Flattery will get you nowhere. But thank you, I think."
She said nothing, but the car grew colder. The cherry blossom scent returned, faint but undeniable. Aiden shivered, tugging at his jacket.
As the cityscape melted into forests and mountains, the road became narrower, and the modern world slowly disappeared behind them. The GPS flickered, static replacing directions.
Aiden frowned. "GPS says we're lost. Which is impossible. I paid for premium navigation."
"You are not lost," Lian said, her voice echoing in the car unnaturally. "You are where you are meant to be."
He frowned. "I hate philosophical ghosts."
The sun dipped behind jagged peaks, casting long shadows over the road. Mist began to creep along the edges, curling like smoke from an unseen fire.
Aiden tightened his grip on the steering wheel. "Okay, so… slightly terrifying. Got it. Normal road trip."
Suddenly, the car headlights illuminated a figure in red — standing in the middle of the road. Cherry petals swirled around her.
Aiden slammed the brakes. The tires screeched, the engine coughed, and the figure… vanished.
"Really?" he said, exasperated. "Is this your version of humor?"
"No," Lian said quietly. "She is testing you. Preparing you."
Aiden muttered under his breath, "Great. So now ghosts have friends, and I'm the punchline."
Night fell, and the forest became an ocean of shadows. Strange sounds echoed around them — distant whispers, laughter that didn't belong, a faint chime of temple bells.
Aiden's heart raced, but he refused to panic. He cracked a grin at the darkness. "At least we aren't being eaten by bears… yet. That's tomorrow's horror."
Lian's lips twitched — almost a smile. "Your humor will save you, Aiden. Or perhaps annoy me enough to spare your life."
By midnight, they reached a clearing where the mountains split, revealing a small temple nestled beside a still pond. Twin moons, perfectly reflected in the water, glowed with silver light.
Aiden stepped out, breath visible in the cold night air. The shrine was ancient, untouched by time, surrounded by cherry trees with petals that glowed faintly red in the moonlight.
"This," Lian said, stepping beside him, "is where your world and mine meet."
Aiden swallowed. The wind carried her scent — cherry blossoms, old silk, and something eternal. He knew, without words, that the journey had only begun.
"Welcome to your spring, Aiden Zhou," Lian whispered, eyes shining.
And somewhere deep in the mountains, shadows stirred. Something ancient and hungry had noticed them.