Chapter 2 Never Judge me

Chapter 2

Never Judge me

Ivy followed the compass southward, her surroundings growing more desolate with every step.

After passing an old graveyard, she entered a shadowy forest where the trees loomed ominously, their gnarled branches casting eerie silhouettes. A sense of unease settled over her, there were no birds, no insects, not even a whisper of life.

She reached for the bracelet on her wrist and murmured, "Casper, go check it out."

Could she reward really be hidden in such a foreboding place?

"On it, Boss."

A shimmer of white light flickered from the bracelet, and instantly, a small figure materialized a tiny, doll-like creature dressed in a white tunic, its face painted with delicate features and neat bangs framing its head.

"I'll take a look."

Ivy nodded. "Be quick."

Casper darted forward, slipping between the trees.

The other small figures on her bracelet stirred, their tiny voices chiming at once.

"Boss, let me go too!"

"I want to help!"

"Pick me next time!"

Ivy tapped the bracelet, silencing them. "Ember, Elise, Goodness, stay put."

The figures fell still. She found a nearby stump and sat down to wait.

As a child, Ivy had been left alone often, with no one to keep her company. So, she had created these enchanted paper figures. Over the years, she had given them purpose.

Casper had come from an abandoned town, left behind after its people had vanished. Ember, Elise, and Goodness had similar origins. One by one, they had followed her, and she had nurtured them.

She absentmindedly stroked her bracelet. "Once I make some real money, I'll get you all proper outfits."

"Really? That's remarkable! Thanks, Boss!" Goodness spun excitedly in place.

"I appreciate it, Boss." Ember's voice was calm.

"Me too." Elise chimed in.

Ivy chuckled. They might be spirits, but they were her family.

A moment later, Casper's voice echoed in her mind, there was someone up ahead.

At that moment, Casper was crouched behind a tree, observing an unusual scene.

A young man sat on the ground, his hands clutching his head. "Please, just let me go! I can't win against you, and if I don't get back soon, my mom's going to freak out!"

Hovering in front of him was a strange, shifting mist, golden-brown in color, crackling with energy. It bounced excitedly. "No way. You have to play one more round."

The man groaned. "Come on, I've already lost ten times. You're literally just a floating cloud. I'll never catch you."

The mist bristled. "How dare you insult me. That's it, we're not friends anymore."

The man rolled his eyes. "We were never friends."

The mist gasped dramatically, then tackled him. "Fine. I'm taking you with me."

But before it could drag him away, it smashed directly into Casper, who had been watching from the shadows.

Casper grinned. "Hi, I'm Casper."

Both the mist and the young man screamed in terror.

"A monster." the mist yelped.

"A ghost?" the man gasped.

Their cries overlapped as they scrambled to escape.

Casper touched his face. What? I thought smiling made people feel better.

The young man, Nathaniel, was frozen in horror.

In front of him stood an unknown creature, and behind him, the mist was losing its mind.

He had to get out of here. Now.

Without hesitation, he turned and ran.

"Mom. I'm finally free."

The mist spun in a panic. "Hey. He's getting away."

It turned on Casper. "This is all your fault, you creepy little scarecrow."

Nathaniel didn't dare look back. He sprinted through the trees, his breath coming in gasps.

Then, in the distance, he spotted a figure standing in the moonlight.

His heart leapt. A human? Finally.

He waved frantically. "Help. Is anybody there?"

Before he could finish shouting, the figure stepped forward.

Nathaniel's face turned pale. "... A ghost?"

How unlucky could he get? Three monsters in one night?

His legs buckled, and he collapsed, clutching his chest. "Mom, I'm sorry. I wasn't strong enough. I hope you won't be too sad when I die."

Then, sobbing even louder, he added, "Please bury my PC with me... and my gaming chair..."

Ivy crossed her arms. "Oh, for the love of-get up."

She studied him curiously. This man was very much alive-just separated from his body.

It wasn't unusual for a living soul to get lost outside its body, but it usually corrected itself within a few hours.

"He's been out for three days?" Ivy muttered to herself. "Something's keeping him from going back."

She glanced at him again. His clothes were expensive. Rich kid, huh?

Her luck reading had pointed her to this exact ghost.

If she helped return his soul to his body, she'd definitely get paid.

Nathaniel suddenly stopped crying. His wide eyes locked onto Ivy.

She had a shadow.

His breath caught. "... Wait. You're alive?"

Ivy smirked. "Obviously. What, do I look like an alien?"

Nathaniel trembled with excitement.

A real, living human. Finally.

Then he remembered the creatures still lurking behind him.

His face went white again. "Run. They're coming."

He grabbed Ivy's sleeve, ready to drag her away-but she didn't budge an inch.

Why is she so strong?

Nathaniel stomped his foot. "What are you doing? We have to go."

Ivy's eyes lit up. "Go? Why? I love hunting spirits."

Nathaniel stared at her like she was insane. "This isn't a video game."

At that moment, Casper emerged from the trees, followed by the golden mist.

Nathaniel's soul nearly left his body a second time.

"We're doomed. We're actually doomed."

Casper cheerfully waved. "Boss. You're finally here."

Nathaniel froze.

... Boss.

What the hell was going on?

Ivy glanced at the swirling mass of earthy-yellow mist and murmured, "Are you the Spirit of the Earth?"

It was said that energy from the heavens belonged to the sky, while earthly energy returned to the land, with spiritual forces existing in between. Over time, mountains, and rivers absorbed the essence of nature, eventually forming a consciousness.

This consciousness was what ancient people called a guardian spirit of the land.

It was surprising that, in an era of advanced technology, such a manifestation still existed on what appeared to be an unremarkable hill.

The mist spoke with an air of arrogance. "As long as you acknowledge me, all is well. This mountain is mine. This path is mine. No one is allowed to enter or leave without my permission."

Nathaniel rolled his eyes and retorted, "Well, my friend and I are already here, aren't we? And last I checked, we're still human."

He hesitated, unsure how to address the woman beside him. Calling her a deity seemed appropriate enough, after all, whether he made it home tonight was entirely up to her.

The mist huffed in frustration. "Nathaniel, you traitor! Liar!"

Then it turned its gaze on Ivy, its form shifting into a pair of floating, unblinking eyes. "And you! You've made me angry, and that could have serious consequences. Without my permission, you'll never leave this mountain!"

It rolled its eyes again before adding, "However... if you agree to play a game with me, perhaps I might reconsider."

Before it could finish speaking, Casper leaped onto the mist and struck it three times with surprising force.

The mist shrieked. "Ouch! Why are you hitting me?!"

Casper didn't let up. As he continued to pummel the mist, he declared, "I'm teaching you a lesson on behalf of my master."

The mist twisted and squirmed, trying to escape, but Casper held on tight. In desperation, it cried out, "I am the guardian of this land! You can't just hit me!"

Casper scoffed. "A guardian? Then I must be the god of mining."

He recalled the mines he had once owned-gold, silver, copper, iron, entire mountains under his control. But one day, he woke up to find them all gone.

Casper struck again. "And you dare to act high and mighty in front of me?"

The mist's color faded under the relentless blows. It finally gave in, pleading, "Brother Casper, I was wrong. I really was."

Only then did Casper stop. Grinning, he dragged the weakened mist over to Ivy. "Boss, what should we do with this little thing?"

Ivy examined it closely.

It was rare for a spirit to take physical form, especially in a place like this-a small hill near an old cemetery.

She tapped the mist lightly and asked, "Since you've gained consciousness, would you like to come with me?"

The mist immediately blurted out, "I am a guardian. I don't associate with humans."

Casper shot it a warning glare, and the mist quickly changed its tone, speaking in a sweet, youthful voice. "Boss, I'd love to follow you~"

After all, there was an old saying, those who recognized their place survived the longest.

Ivy pulled a small piece of yellow paper from her bag, carefully cut out a figure, and blew on it gently. The paper doll landed on the ground, standing upright.

The mist peered at it.

The doll wore a yellow dress, its hair tied into two small buns. It looked lifelike, though its face was blank.

Obediently, the mist slipped inside the paper doll, causing it to twitch before bouncing to life.

"Thanks, boss~" it chirped.

Ivy touched its head and said, "From now on, your name is Jayden."

"Okay, boss." Jayden had lost all traces of its former arrogance and now stuck closely by Ivy's side.

Ivy turned to Nathaniel and asked, "What's your connection to this thing?"

Jayden answered immediately, "Boss, I was bored and wanted someone to play with. Nathaniel agreed to a game, so I brought him here."

Nathaniel snapped, "When did I ever agree to that?"

Jayden looked offended. "You did. In your dream, remember? You even took my flower."

Nathaniel's eyes widened as a memory surfaced. "Wait... that was real?"

Ivy crossed her arms. "Explain."

Nathaniel sighed and began recounting the bizarre events.

Three days ago, after visiting a cemetery with friends, he'd had an unsettling dream.

In the dream, a little girl stood by the roadside, clutching a flower, looking lost.

Nathaniel had asked, "Where are your parents?"

The girl had replied, "I don't have any."

Feeling sorry for her, Nathaniel had taken the flower from her outstretched hand. "Don't worry, I'll play with you for a while."

But the moment he had woken up, he'd found himself in the middle of nowhere, staring at a swirling mass of yellow mist.

Jayden pouted. "Master, I didn't trick him. He came willingly."

Nathaniel fumed. "You tricked me by acting pitiful."

"I did not."

"Yes, you did."

Ivy sighed, tired of the bickering. "Casper, Jayden, go rest for a while."

She twisted a colorful bracelet on her wrist, and instantly, both spirits turned into streaks of light and vanished.

Nathaniel stood frozen in place. This was all a bit much.

Slowly, the realization dawned on him-the woman before him was no ordinary person. She was a powerhouse. A force to be reckoned with.

He should stick close to her while he had the chance.

Tentatively, he asked, "So... can I at least go home before I, you know... get reincarnated?"

Ivy gave him a sidelong glance. "You're not dead. I came to bring you home."

Nathaniel blinked. "Wait... seriously? You came all the way out here just for me?"

Ivy nodded. "Something like that."

Truthfully, she had come for something else-his money.

But rather than demanding payment outright, she simply said, "I did pull you back from the brink of death. You should thank me properly."

Nathaniel nodded eagerly. "Of course. Of course..."

He hesitated. What could he possibly offer someone like her? Money seemed too basic. Jewelry? Too low-class.

Could it be... that she actually liked him?

He sneaked a glance at her. Now that he was looking properly, Ivy was quite striking-tall, elegant, with smooth, flawless skin.

If that was the case... maybe this wasn't so bad after all?

Before he could entertain the thought any further, Ivy shoved him forward.

"Move faster."

Nathaniel stumbled and rolled across the grass, getting a mouthful of dirt.

"So weak. Hurry."

Nathaniel groaned.

Okay, forget the romantic ideas. A person like her was completely out of his league.

With that, he scrambled to his feet and hurried after her.

"Wait for me.

In a private ward of a prestigious hospital, the atmosphere was heavy with tension.

Victory flipped through the medical records, murmuring, Nathaniel has been in a coma for three days. All his test results are normal-brain, heart, lungs-there's no sign of poisoning either...

With every word, Danielle's heart tightened.

Victory wasn't just any doctor. As the heir to the Shaw family, he had been a medical prodigy since childhood, trained by a top neurology expert. If even he was at a loss, what could they do now?

Eleanor gently patted her mother's shoulder in reassurance. Don't worry, Mom. There has to be a way. Nathaniel will wake up.

Danielle forced a faint smile. "Eleanor, you should go get some rest. I'll stay here with Zion."

Benjamin Yates sighed. "I'll keep watch over him. Eleanor, take your mom to rest in the next room."

But Danielle refused to leave.

At that moment, Victory spoke. Nathaniel's condition is like being trapped in sleep. Since we've ruled out all other causes, there's only one explanation left.

"What is it?" Danielle asked urgently.

"Hysterical coma," Victory explained. "In other words, Nathaniel may have experienced something traumatic, something he couldn't bear to face, so his mind has shut him away inside a dream."

That's impossible! Danielle protested. Nathaniel has always been optimistic, and we've never pressured him.

He had always been so bright and full of life. What could have happened to make him retreat from the world entirely?

But for now, hysteria was the only plausible diagnosis.

Benjamin asked anxiously, "Victory, how do we treat it? When will Nathaniel wake up?"

Victory frowned. "Hysteria is psychological. Every case is different. I can't guarantee when-or if-he'll wake up."

Danielle clutched Nathaniel's hand, her tears falling onto his motionless fingers. Nath, what happened to you? Why are you shutting us out? I miss you so much... When you wake up, you can buy as many collectibles as you want...

Suddenly-BANG, BANG, BANG!

The sharp knocking on the door echoed through the room, loud enough to shake the walls.

Eleanor glanced at her parents before rising to answer.

Outside stood a petite girl dressed in an unusual outfit.

Eleanor frowned. "Who are you looking for?"

The girl smiled brightly. "I'm here to bring Nathaniel's soul back to his body."

Nathaniel frantically waved his hands. "Sis! I'm right here! I'm finally back!"

But Eleanor couldn't see or hear him.

"What do you mean?" she asked, confused.

"Exactly what it sounds like," Ivy said, pulling Nathaniel into the room. She repeated herself, "I've come to bring Nathaniel back home."

The three people in the hospital room were stunned, their eyes fixed on the unexpected visitor.

Nathaniel was lying unconscious in bed-so what did she mean by bringing him back?

Benjamin's expression darkened. "This is my son's hospital room. You must be in the wrong place."

But Danielle had no time for such concerns. She hurried over to Ivy and grabbed her arm. "Where is my son?"

Benjamin quickly pulled her back. "Danielle, don't listen to this nonsense."

Eleanor stepped in. "I'm sorry, my brother is unwell, and my parents are overwhelmed. Maybe you should leave."

Ivy remained calm. "The body in the bed is just Nathaniel's shell. His spirit is with me."

Benjamin frowned. "Spirit? What are you talking about?"

Ignoring him, Ivy pulled out a charm, flipped her wrist, and pressed it against Nathaniel's ghostly form.

Suddenly, Nathaniel's spirit materialized in front of them. Benjamin and the others recoiled in shock, and even Victory, usually so composed, widened his eyes in disbelief.

Benjamin looked between his unconscious son and the translucent figure before him. His voice shook. "W-what's happening?"

Nathaniel grinned and waved. "Dad! Mom! Eleanor! I'm finally back!"

Danielle reached out to hug him, but her arms passed right through. Tears welled in her eyes. "What's going on?"

"Mom, don't worry, I'm okay," Nathaniel reassured her. "Miss Ivy saved me." He glanced at Ivy and whispered, "You should really thank her properly."

Hearing this, Benjamin's attitude changed instantly. He knew finding someone truly gifted in the supernatural was rare. Regretting his earlier skepticism, he cleared his throat and softened his tone. "Miss Ivy, I apologize for my earlier rudeness. I hope you won't hold it against me."

Ivy barely acknowledged him with a nod. She was used to being doubted at first. Her mentor had always told her to remain detached-people would draw their own conclusions soon enough.

Seeing her aloof demeanor, Benjamin became even more convinced of her extraordinary abilities. Clearly, she was no ordinary person. Perhaps she had foreseen his son's predicament and stepped in to help.

With growing respect, he said, "Miss Ivy, we are truly grateful for what you've done. You've saved our family."

Danielle wiped her tears and added, "Please, can you bring Nathaniel back to us?"

Ivy nodded. "Of course."

She led Nathaniel's spirit to the bedside, took out a talisman, and held it between her fingers. Then, she began to chant:

"Three souls and seven spirits, return to where you belong. Let the forces of protection banish all harm!"

The talisman suddenly burst into flames, and Nathaniel felt himself grow dizzy.

When he opened his eyes again, his family was gathered around him.

He flexed his fingers, then gasped. "Dad! Mom! Eleanor. I'm back. I'm really back."

Danielle hugged him tightly, sobbing in relief. "Miss Ivy, I can't thank you enough."

Meanwhile, Benjamin was deep in thought. A woman of her talents deserved proper gratitude. He considered what valuable gifts they had at home-surely there was something suitable. Experts like her often sought rare treasures.

Carefully, he asked, "Miss Ivy, our family may not have much, but we do have some wealth. If there's anything you want, please don't hesitate to ask."

Ivy held up five fingers. "Cash."

Benjamin blinked. "... What?"

He hadn't expected someone of her stature to be so... practical.

Seeing his father hesitate, Nathaniel quickly chimed in. "Dad, just give her $50,000 already."

Ivy remained composed, but inwardly, she was stunned.

$50,000? She had barely even seen $5,000 in her life.

She had known Nathaniel's family was wealthy, but this was beyond her imagination.

Still, she couldn't accept that much. Not only would it feel wrong, but it might also bring trouble.

Clearing her throat, she said, "That's too much. Just $5,000 will do. In cash."

Benjamin frowned. "That's far too little. How about another $50,000?"

Ivy shook her head. "Our sect has rules-we can't overcharge. This was a simple soul return, not an exorcism. It wouldn't be right to take more."

Benjamin hesitated, but eventually handed over $5,000 in cash. "Miss Ivy, you have my utmost respect. If you ever need anything, the Yate family is in your debt."

Ivy took the money with a nod. "I'll keep that in mind."

Ivy responded calmly, "Let's call it even. I've already been paid for bringing Nathaniel back. If you still feel grateful, why not put that money to good use and donate it to those in need?"

With that, she turned and left the hospital.

Benjamin and the others watched her go, feeling as though even her departing figure carried an air of wisdom and kindness.

At Cloud mist Manor, Ethan stood while two elderly figures sat on the couch.

On the left was his grandfather, George Shaw, and on the right, his grandmother, Margaret Shaw.

Ethan recounted the events of the evening, carefully omitting the part where he had been bitten.

When he finished, George gave a knowing smile. "Ethan, your fiancée has finally appeared."

Ethan frowned, sensing that something was off. His grandfather's reaction was unusually cryptic.

"Granddad, what do you mean by 'fiancée'?"

"Well..." George's gaze shifted slightly. "Do you remember when your grandmother was seriously ill? The illness that suddenly disappeared?"

Of course, Ethan remembered. The Yates household had been thrown into chaos at the time.

With his grandmother hospitalized.