- 11 minutes ago
Beyond Death, Bound by the Red Veil Chinese Drama
A curated collection of international short dramas and series with high-quality dubbing and multilingual subtitles.
Discover trending romance, family stories, BL, action, mystery, and more from creators around the world. Updated daily
A curated collection of international short dramas and series with high-quality dubbing and multilingual subtitles.
Discover trending romance, family stories, BL, action, mystery, and more from creators around the world. Updated daily
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Short filmTranscript
00:02Grandpa was used to being spoiled.
00:04One day, he visited Dad in a dream and urged him to kill Grandma.
00:09Dad ignored Grandpa, but all our livestock died that night.
00:13The next day, Dad kneels in front of Grandma.
00:16Dad wants you in the underworld.
00:18I quickly stop him.
00:20Grandma is alive and well. We can't do this.
00:22Dad slaps me hard.
00:24This is what Dad wants!
00:26I freeze as I stare at Grandma.
00:30Grandpa was always mean to her.
00:31He'd never done chores in 70 years, and he regularly hit Grandma.
00:36He even made her cook when she was sick while nitpicking her dishes.
00:40Grandma only enjoyed.
00:41Eight days of peace.
00:43Dad is still nagging.
00:45Dad needs you with him.
00:46You've been with him for over 50 years.
00:49You can't leave him alone.
00:51After our chickens died, Dad wants to cook them, but they don't have blood in them.
00:56Dad thinks Grandpa's punishing us.
00:59Our livestock are dead.
01:01It's a warning from Dad.
01:03At this rate, who knows what'll happen.
01:06I can't listen to this anymore.
01:08We need a priest to deal with Grandpa.
01:12Mom covers my mouth, but Dad immediately kicks me.
01:15Mom married Dad.
01:17She should serve him forever.
01:20I'm doing the right thing by reuniting them.
01:24Dad has me thrown into the shed.
01:25Then, he tosses a rope at Grandma's feet.
01:29Mom, it's time to make a choice.
01:31I starve for a night.
01:33The next morning, someone opens the door.
01:36Then, Grandma hands me a bowl of rice.
01:39Eat it now.
01:40I made it for you in secret.
01:42I'm so moved that I tear up, as I eat a mouthful of rice.
01:46But something feels very wrong.
01:48The rice feels mushy and falls apart at the lightest bite.
01:52I spit it out, take a closer look, and almost throw up.
01:56I am munching on a bowl of worms.
01:58Grandma inspects the bowl and panics.
02:00It's mostly worms.
02:02It's newly harvested rice.
02:05Why are there worms?
02:07That's when Dad storms in.
02:09He ignores me, drags Grandma to the kitchen, and opens the rice container's lid.
02:15When he sees her freezing, he says in frustration,
02:20Mom, there's no time.
02:21We'll starve to death if you don't do it.
02:24The army's requisitioning grain now.
02:26We can't support dead whites.
02:29Grandma sheds tears.
02:30She looks up, her gaze pleading.
02:33I don't want to die.
02:36Dad stomps his foot helplessly.
02:38Although war is raging outside, he's just a farmer who doesn't dare to kill.
02:43Mom suggests gingerly.
02:44Let's consult Winnie on this.
02:47There might be another way.
02:49Hope stirs in my heart.
02:51Winnie is the best fortune teller around.
02:53She and Grandma go way back.
02:55Surely she'll help her.
02:57She shows up in black.
02:59What she said shatters my last hope.
03:02Your mom has to die.
03:04People will die if you drag this out.
03:07Dad immediately goes pale.
03:08Am I still safe then?
03:10Winnie pauses and says icily,
03:12You're his son, even if Todd doesn't kill you.
03:16He'll blame you for this.
03:18He could easily make you fall sick or break your leg.
03:21Dad looks at Grandma and says bitterly,
03:25Mom, did you hear Winnie?
03:27You've lived long enough.
03:28Why drag me down with you?
03:30Grandma immediately looks guilty.
03:32I'm furious.
03:33I thought Winnie would help Grandma, but she wants Grandma dead.
03:37Dad must have bribed her and made her say this.
03:40I gave Winnie a hard shove.
03:42You're a lunatic.
03:44Get out of here now.
03:45Dad immediately slaps me again.
03:48Mom stands in front of me.
03:49She looks at Winnie, worried.
03:51Can't we make some offering to Dad and appease him?
03:55Winnie sighs and shakes her head.
03:57Petra's cared for him a long time.
04:00He won't accept anything but her.
04:02Then Dad and Winnie look at Grandma with pleading eyes.
04:06Grandma lowers her head and cries harder.
04:09I break free from Mom.
04:11Push Winnie aside and say to Grandma,
04:14Don't fall for their tricks.
04:16It's utter nonsense.
04:18Then Dad locks me in the shed again.
04:21I hear Winnie saying,
04:23Husbands and wives are bound forever.
04:26I'll talk to her and make her see reason.
04:28Then she leads Grandma to the bedroom.
04:31Time drags on in the shed and I never stop crying.
04:34After a long time, I hear Dad's voice.
04:37This is Mom's funeral clothes.
04:39Put it on for her.
04:41Mom nods in response.
04:42Is Grandma dead?
04:43I bang on the door, begging to be freed.
04:46Eventually, the doors opened.
04:48Mom tells me to say farewell to Grandma.
04:51Grandma is dressed in red.
04:53The red mark on her neck is unnerving.
04:55I break down crying over her.
04:57Mom quickly pulls me aside.
04:59If your tears drop on her dead body,
05:02she can't move on.
05:04Let her rest in peace.
05:06Winnie grabs me, wipes my tears and says,
05:09Petra's best days are still ahead of her.
05:13It's sickening.
05:14Then why doesn't Winnie kill herself?
05:17I break free from her grip.
05:19Winnie pretends to stop me,
05:20but she wipes the tears on Grandma's clothes.
05:24I'm alarmed, but before I could scream,
05:28Dad walks in.
05:29He glances at Grandma and freezes.
05:32Where are the burial clothes?
05:33Why is she in a red outfit?
05:35Mom looks at Winnie frantically.
05:37Winnie says calmly,
05:40It's necessary.
05:41Todd asked for Petra.
05:43They have to get married again.
05:46Dad is frustrated.
05:47Put her in a casket so Dad can have a-
05:50Let's end this.
05:52Then everyone looks at Grandma.
05:54Mom yelps and collapses to the floor.
05:57I'm overjoyed when I see what happened.
05:59I dive at her.
06:01She's alive.
06:02She has somehow sat up.
06:03And her eyes are fixed at the doorway.
06:06Dad freezes in fear.
06:09I tug at Grandma's sleeves.
06:11But she merely stares ahead, motionlessly.
06:15Winnie eases Grandma back down.
06:17She leans close to Grandma and mumbles,
06:20before closing Grandma's eyes.
06:22Grandma remains still.
06:24Winnie combs Grandma's hair and says,
06:26After death, muscle spasms can occur.
06:29It's normal for a body to sit up.
06:32Dad is relieved.
06:33He says,
06:34All right, put her in the casket then.
06:37Winnie says Grandma is already dead,
06:40and that she'll reunite with Grandpa soon.
06:43She wonders if he senses her arrival.
06:45On this night,
06:46the animals are quiet,
06:48and the grains are clean.
06:50We watch over Grandma's casket until dawn.
06:53The villagers lay her casket into a hole,
06:55next to Grandpa's grave.
06:57Even in death,
06:59Grandma has to wait on the man
07:00who tortured her.
07:02How depressing.
07:03I burst into tears,
07:05before going off into the mountain alone.
07:07The sky darkens,
07:08and I realize I'm lost.
07:10I'm hungry and cold.
07:12Grandma passed away and left me too.
07:15I fall apart and break down in tears.
07:17Someone stops in front of me.
07:19I looked up and saw Winnie,
07:21who's in a red outfit.
07:22She reaches out.
07:23Someone's getting married nearby.
07:25I'm the matchmaker.
07:27There's good food there.
07:29I want to shout at her,
07:30but I find myself following her.
07:33Guests stand scattered around in the avenue.
07:35The bride wears a veil,
07:37fidgeting with a red cloth.
07:39Winnie steps forward,
07:40holds the bride's hand,
07:42and asks,
07:43Where's the groom?
07:44Get him out here,
07:46so the wedding can proceed.
07:48Then an old man is shoved out.
07:50He's trembling like a leaf,
07:52cowering and hiding.
07:54I'm not the groom.
07:56Everyone ignore him,
07:57and bring him to the bride.
07:59I'm shocked,
08:00when I see the old man's face.
08:02Turns out,
08:03that old man is my grandpa.
08:05A white lantern suddenly lit.
08:07I quickly covered my eyes.
08:09Then,
08:10Winnie pushes grandpa to the ground.
08:12I need someone younger for Petra.
08:16She grabs someone from the crowd.
08:18It's dad.
08:20He flails his arms,
08:22shouting,
08:22No!
08:23Suddenly,
08:24he turns around and points at me.
08:26She's what you want.
08:27I jolt awake.
08:29Mom's anxiously by my bedside.
08:31Our relatives are huddled,
08:32around another bed in the room.
08:34I give mom a confused look.
08:36She says,
08:37You passed out at the grave.
08:38I carried you home.
08:40Trent tripped on grass and broke his legs.
08:43Grandma passed away shortly after grandpa.
08:46Dad's legs are broken.
08:48Mom makes nourishing soup for dad every day.
08:52After he finishes it,
08:53he hits her with anything he can find.
08:56It's your fault,
08:57my legs are broken.
08:58Dad never stops cursing.
09:00Mom has had enough,
09:02and moves him onto grandma's room.
09:04That evening,
09:05dad turns in early due to a headache.
09:08At night,
09:08I go to the restroom.
09:09When I pass by dad's room,
09:11I hear plastic bags rustling inside,
09:14thinking it's a burglar.
09:15I sneak into the room,
09:16but what I see,
09:18send chills down my spine.
09:19I see two legs dangling midair,
09:22swaying back and forth.
09:24Someone's hanging from above,
09:25her red shoes hitting dad's head.
09:27That is grandma's.
09:28Even if she's a ghost now,
09:30I still want to see her.
09:31I burst through the door.
09:33Grandma!
09:34At that moment,
09:35the figure disappears without a trace.
09:37Meanwhile,
09:38dad lets out a horrified scream.
09:40Get lost!
09:41I ignore dad,
09:42and search for grandma everywhere.
09:44I tell myself that she might be alive.
09:47Maybe she'd climbed out of her casket,
09:50and hid herself so we won't notice her.
09:53Dad looks like he's been possessed.
09:55His eyes are closed,
09:57and he looks ashen.
09:58He keeps hitting his head,
10:00saying,
10:00Get lost!
10:01Mom rushes over,
10:03and tries to wake dad up,
10:05but nothing works.
10:06In the end,
10:07she wakes him up with cold water.
10:10Dad holds his head.
10:11The pain in his head is unbearable.
10:13I don't tell anyone about what I saw.
10:16I merely listen to dad.
10:18He says he had a weird dream.
10:20In it,
10:21grandpa is chained up,
10:22looking angry.
10:23He lies next to dad,
10:25tears flowing down his cheeks.
10:26He mumbles,
10:27Get your mom away from me.
10:29Dad is irritated.
10:30Pack mom and dad's stuff tomorrow,
10:32and burn all of them,
10:34so they can rest in peace.
10:36Mom's busy,
10:37so it's up to me to do it.
10:39That's when I uncover grandpa's secret.
10:42I finally understand why Winnie worked with grandpa to kill grandma.
10:47It's a ruined wedding picture,
10:49as seen from the background.
10:51Grandma stood next to grandpa in a red coat.
10:54It should have been just them,
10:55but Winnie's in it.
10:57Worse still,
10:59grandma's head was cut out,
11:00and replaced with Winnie's.
11:02This picture,
11:03clues me in on their love triangle.
11:06Grandpa and Winnie must have loved each other.
11:08However,
11:09he married grandma,
11:10and that's why he kept torturing her,
11:13even after he died.
11:14Winnie stayed single for grandpa,
11:16so she worked with him to kill grandma.
11:19I quiver with rage,
11:20and tear the picture apart.
11:22At night,
11:23I see grandma again,
11:24every night.
11:25She appears at 2 a.m.,
11:28and vanishes at 4 a.m.
11:30I barge in several times,
11:32but she always disappears.
11:34After that,
11:35I stop disturbing her.
11:37As I watch her sway,
11:38I say to her quietly,
11:40Grandma,
11:41if you bear a grudge,
11:42kill everyone who's ever hurt you.
11:44They deserve death.
11:45Dad wakes up with a terrible headache.
11:48He thinks he has a tumor,
11:49and asks to go to the clinic.
11:51Mom flings the cloth,
11:53and retorts to him,
11:53I suffered for days when I was in labor,
11:56but you told me to just bear with it,
11:58so just bear with it.
12:00Then,
12:00she walks away,
12:01leaving Dad shaking with rage.
12:03At night,
12:04Dad suddenly screams in his room.
12:06Mom and I rush over.
12:07The cast on his leg is shattered.
12:10Dad roars furiously.
12:12If you won't take me there,
12:13I'll get there myself.
12:15Turns out the headache got so bad,
12:17he tried to go himself,
12:18so he fell off the bed,
12:20and broke the cast.
12:21Now,
12:22he needs a clinic.
12:23Mom hired a mule cart to take us to town.
12:25The clinic is over an hour away.
12:27It's too dark.
12:29The mule suddenly kicks,
12:30and dashes toward the cliff.
12:32Dad rolls off the cart,
12:34and hits his head on a boulder.
12:36The driver asks,
12:37Did you guys see an old couple?
12:40Mom and I shake our heads.
12:42The truth is,
12:43I lied.
12:44I saw them.
12:45They were my grandparents,
12:46but I don't get why.
12:48Grandpa's kneeling with a chain on his neck.
12:50My grandparents suddenly appear,
12:54walk through the car,
12:55and vanish.
12:56Mom finally think of checking on Dad.
12:59But the mule crashes into a tree by the road.
13:02Luckily, it's held back by the reins.
13:05Only the cart tips over.
13:07The driver and Mom hold onto the cart,
13:09for dear life.
13:10I would have been thrown off.
13:12If a mysterious force hadn't held me down,
13:14Dad had it worst.
13:16He was screaming a minute ago,
13:17but now,
13:18he's quiet.
13:19As expected,
13:20he breaks his legs again,
13:22and his head's injured.
13:23The clinic is a chaos.
13:25The doctor do what he can.
13:26After three whole days,
13:28Dad finally wakes up.
13:30His gaze is vacant,
13:31words slurring from his mouth.
13:33Get Winnie here now.
13:34Winnie shows up uninvited.
13:36Dad acts like she's his lifeline.
13:38Winnie,
13:39you must get my mom away from my dad.
13:42I think of the picture,
13:43and look at her,
13:44warily.
13:45She's gotten Grandma killed.
13:47I won't let her hurt Grandma's spirit.
13:50Winnie glances at me,
13:51and ignores my hostile gaze.
13:53She says,
13:55this is tricky.
13:56Todd wanted Petra to die before her time.
13:59Now,
13:59he doesn't want her.
14:00She'll be lost.
14:01Dad pleads.
14:03Winnie,
14:04I know it's not easy.
14:05If you save me,
14:06I'll give you everything.
14:09Winnie sighs.
14:10There's a heinous method.
14:12Your family has to utterly destroy her soul.
14:15Dad says,
14:17we'll do it.
14:18Winnie stands up and says,
14:20will it be Petra or Todd?
14:22He was the one who messed things up.
14:24It should be.
14:25Dad interrupts her.
14:27My mom.
14:28My dad doesn't deserve this.
14:30This again.
14:31Grandpa is wrong,
14:32but Grandma's punished.
14:33I'm furious,
14:34but I can't retort.
14:36As Winnie said,
14:37it's a heinous act.
14:38She won't do it,
14:39which means I can turn things around.
14:42And I know just how to do it.
14:44As expected,
14:46Winnie says,
14:47this involves digging out caskets.
14:49There'll be trouble if I do it.
14:51I'll just provide the tools.
14:53You will have to do it on your own.
14:55Dad agrees to it.
14:57He looks at Mom,
14:58but she quickly turns around.
15:00I volunteer myself.
15:02Leave it to me.
15:02Dad doesn't trust me,
15:04but he has no other options.
15:06He begs Winnie.
15:08Please make sure nothing goes wrong.
15:11I go to Winnie's place
15:12to get the tools from her.
15:14Then,
15:14I grab some gasoline and shovel.
15:16I'm supposed to do it at 2 a.m.,
15:18but I sneak to the mountain at nightfall.
15:21I have to do the switch
15:23before Winnie is here.
15:25I dig Grandpa's grave,
15:27open,
15:28chant a prayer,
15:28and burn the seal.
15:30Then,
15:30I douse the casket with the gas,
15:33toss the tools in there,
15:34and set everything ablaze,
15:36watching the flames rise.
15:38I scream into the quiet night,
15:40Grandma,
15:41you're free now.
15:43Rest in peace.
15:44I hope I'll see you again.
15:46After that,
15:47Dad gets better.
15:48He gives Winnie a gift in gratitude.
15:52She's so happy that
15:53she found Mom a job in town.
15:56There's an old professor in town
15:58who needs a maid.
16:00Let Tess work there.
16:02Hannah can look after you.
16:04Mom wants to leave Dad,
16:06but she's worried about me.
16:08I don't want her to suffer.
16:10Plus,
16:10Winnie might hurt Grandma again,
16:12so I choose to stay.
16:14Mom,
16:15just go.
16:15I can handle it.
16:17Two months later,
16:18Dad recovers.
16:19That night,
16:19I see Grandma
16:21hitting his head again.
16:22I thought she's still mad at him,
16:24and ignores it.
16:25But the next day,
16:27Dad's eyes are blank,
16:28and he can't talk.
16:29I get some villagers to help me out,
16:31but they merely shake their heads,
16:34saying he's in a coma now.
16:36I try every way to get Mom's contact.
16:39A few days pass,
16:40and Dad gets worse.
16:42One night,
16:43I wake up to weird noises.
16:46I follow it to Dad's room.
16:48I peek through a hole in the wall,
16:50and see Dad with his mouth open,
16:52while Grandma is hovering close to him.
16:55My jaw drops in shock.
16:57Grandma seemingly notices me.
16:59She turns around and flashes me a smile.
17:02I somehow got back to my room.
17:05When I wake up,
17:06the sun is up.
17:07I'm drenched in sweat,
17:08and I doubt what I saw.
17:10Maybe it's all just a bad dream.
17:12But then,
17:12I hear footsteps at the door,
17:14and my heart skips a beat.
17:16Dad can't walk.
17:17So,
17:18who's out there?
17:19I stay quiet.
17:20The door swings open.
17:22Dad's holding a bowl of porridge.
17:24He walks over and gives it to me.
17:26You're hungry.
17:27I made this for you.
17:28Eat it now.
17:30I missed Grandma dearly,
17:31but it's still frightening.
17:33When she shows up in Dad's body,
17:36that's when the door opens again.
17:38When Winnie walks in with a smile,
17:40I was completely dumbstruck.
17:43A scary thought takes shape in my mind.
17:46Grandma died,
17:47but she possessed Dad's body.
17:49What about Winnie?
17:50She's also in her 70s.
17:52Can she possess bodies?
17:54I'm the only young person left in this house.
17:56I look up in fear,
17:58and catch the knowing look in her face.
18:02Even though she's grinning,
18:04it looks like a sly smile to me.
18:07Winnie approaches slowly.
18:09Her shoes scraping against the ground.
18:12I shut my eyes,
18:14and feel around for something.
18:16I grab a broom and say,
18:18I'm not scared of you.
18:20Winnie stops and bursts out laughing.
18:22She turns and looks at Dad,
18:24her tone dripping with mockery.
18:27Look!
18:28How terrified Hannah is.
18:30Dad shakes his head.
18:32His expression unusually warm.
18:34He puts the bowl on the table,
18:37clumsily wipes his hands and walks over.
18:40It's me,
18:40Petra!
18:41It is still Dad's hoarse voice,
18:43but his tone and demeanor
18:45are unmistakably Grandma's.
18:47I look at him,
18:48confused and unwilling to put the broom down.
18:51You're lying.
18:52Grandma's dead.
18:53You're an evil spirit.
18:55Dad sighs.
18:56He doesn't get mad.
18:57Instead,
18:58he points at the bowl of porridge.
18:59There's baking soda in the porridge.
19:02The way you like it.
19:03When you were sick.
19:05I made it for you.
19:06Remember?
19:07I stare at the bowl of porridge on the table.
19:10The baking soda and the yellowish soup.
19:13Tells me Grandma made this.
19:15Only Grandma knows I like my porridge this way.
19:18Not even Mom knows.
19:20I drop the broom to the floor.
19:23Tears blur my vision at once.
19:24I ask in a trembling voice.
19:27Grandma?
19:28Dad's eyes redden.
19:29He steps forward
19:30and clumsily pulls me into his arms.
19:33I'm right here.
19:34I'm sorry I frightened you.
19:37Winnie takes a seat,
19:38pulls out her cigarette pipe,
19:40and taps the table.
19:41Enough.
19:42This reunion is very touching,
19:44but we still have work.
19:46You should calm down.
19:47I'm not interested in possessing you.
19:50I wipe my tears
19:51and pull away from Dad.
19:53I know it's Grandma,
19:55but seeing Dad with tears
19:57still makes me feel uneasy.
20:00Winnie seemingly reads my mind.
20:02She exhales.
20:03Don't worry.
20:04Trent owes Petra this much.
20:06He got her killed,
20:07so this is the price.
20:09I glance at Dad.
20:11He's walking over to pick up the broom.
20:13His demeanor is exactly like Grandma's.
20:16I can't help but ask,
20:17Where's Dad?
20:19Winnie grunted coldly,
20:20her eyes darkening.
20:22He's with Todd now.
20:24Winnie points at Grandpa's grave.
20:26Todd is mad no one's waiting on him,
20:29down there.
20:30Trent loves him, right?
20:31So, I give him
20:33a chance to be with his Dad.
20:35I'm startled.
20:36Dad is dead?
20:37Winnie walks over,
20:39sits next to me,
20:39and explains gently,
20:41Not entirely.
20:42He can't return.
20:43His soul is driven out,
20:45and locked next to Todd's grave.
20:47He can stay with Todd as he wished.
20:49I'm stunned.
20:50Dad and Grandpa
20:51have gotten their comeuppance.
20:54Grandpa tortured Grandma.
20:55Both in life and death,
20:57Dad enabled Grandpa's wrongdoings,
20:59and now,
21:00he'll know how Grandma feels.
21:02What comes around,
21:03goes around.
21:04Winnie taps off the ash,
21:06stands up,
21:07and says solemnly,
21:08Hannah,
21:09only you and I know the truth.
21:11To others,
21:12Todd merely recovered,
21:14and became a different person.
21:15Okay?
21:16I nod solemnly.
21:18I'll keep it a secret,
21:19as long as I can stay with Grandma.
21:22Dad ruffles my hair tenderly.
21:25Sweetheart,
21:26I'll get cooking.
21:27Let's enjoy a meal together.
21:29I watch as Dad walks into the kitchen.
21:32The abusive,
21:33short-fused man
21:34is all but gone.
21:35Now,
21:35it's Grandma,
21:36who is gentle and hard-working.
21:38Despite his looks,
21:39he's soft and loving now.
21:41However,
21:42a subtle worry creeps into my mind.
21:44This is just not natural.
21:46Can the peace really last?
21:48Suddenly,
21:48someone knocks on the door.
21:51Trent,
21:51are you home?
21:52Some higher-ups want to see you.
21:55I'm stunned.
21:56It's Liam,
21:57the village elder.
21:58Dad is friends with Liam.
22:00They often hang out together.
22:02There'll be trouble
22:03if Liam sees through him.
22:05I look at the kitchen.
22:07Dad clearly heard Liam.
22:08He's standing in the kitchen,
22:10feeling helpless.
22:12Winnie is completely composed.
22:14She gives me a look and says,
22:17Tell them Trent has just recovered
22:19and he's still weak.
22:20I take a deep breath
22:22and try to calm myself.
22:24Then,
22:24I open the door.
22:25Liam stands at the door,
22:27trying to look inside.
22:28How's Trent?
22:29I heard he's no longer bedridden.
22:32I stand in the doorway
22:33and grin.
22:35Mr. Lane,
22:36Dad can walk now,
22:37but the doctor said
22:39he needs more rest.
22:40He's on the bed.
22:41Then,
22:43Dad calls out weakly and irritably
22:45from inside.
22:47Who is it?
22:48What a ruckus.
22:49I need my sleep.
22:51I turn around in shock.
22:52Dad stands at the door in a coat.
22:54Although he's pale,
22:56he looks every bit
22:57like a grumpy old man.
22:59Seeing Dad,
23:00Liam grins.
23:01It's the election.
23:02Are you coming?
23:03Dad waves and frowns.
23:05I can't.
23:06I'm in a lot of pain.
23:07Can't really walk.
23:09Go without me.
23:10Then,
23:11he even coughs a few times,
23:12his body swaying
23:14as if he would fall.
23:15I hurry over and steady him.
23:17Dad,
23:18go back to bed.
23:19Liam doesn't push Dad
23:20and leaves soon after.
23:23When the door closes,
23:24I let out a long sigh,
23:26feeling relieved.
23:27Dad immediately relaxed,
23:28looking absolutely nervous.
23:30It's exhausting to speak like a man.
23:33My throat hurts.
23:34Winnie looks at him sarcastically.
23:36Well done.
23:37Your decades of suffering paid off.
23:39You looked just like Trent.
23:41Grandma grins but stays quiet.
23:43She heads over to the kitchen.
23:45At mealtime,
23:46there are several plain dishes
23:48and the delicious porridge.
23:50Our home has never felt this peaceful.
23:53Winnie gets some food
23:55and suddenly says,
23:57this place isn't safe long term.
23:59Trent might have recovered,
24:01but there'll be trouble.
24:03If people notice him behaving differently,
24:06my heart clenches.
24:07I ask,
24:08what do we do?
24:09A cunning glint flashes in her eyes.
24:12Move to the old place in the mountain.
24:14It's quiet and secluded.
24:17I'm all for moving.
24:18The old place is left by our ancestors.
24:21It might be shoddy,
24:22but it's remote.
24:23No one lives there.
24:25That said,
24:26we need a solid reason to move.
24:28Dad thinks it over and says,
24:30tell them I'm done with it all
24:31and wants a quieter place to rest
24:34and recover.
24:35The excuse is a bit thin,
24:37but nobody asks on account
24:39of dad's eccentric nature.
24:41It's settled.
24:42The next few days,
24:43we begin packing up stuff,
24:45but it feels more like we're escaping.
24:47I want to leave this house
24:49and the bad memories behind.
24:51When I'm packing,
24:52I found grandpa's cigarette pipe.
24:55The copperheads worn to a gleam.
24:57It symbolizes his power
24:59and grandma's nightmares.
25:01Dad walks in
25:02and his eyes turn dark.
25:04He reaches out,
25:05takes the pipe,
25:06and touches it.
25:07Suddenly,
25:08he snaps it
25:09with a crisp crack.
25:10It feels like the shackle-restraining grandma
25:13has finally been broken.
25:14We don't need this filthy pipe.
25:16Dad tosses the broken pipe
25:18into a trash can
25:19as if he's discarding
25:21something unimportant.
25:22The day we move is overcast.
25:25The villagers muttered,
25:27wondering if dad's gone crazy.
25:29Because he chooses
25:30to live in a run-down shack.
25:32Only Winnie walks behind us,
25:35carrying some light stuff.
25:36At the old place,
25:38I stare at the grass
25:39and the broken windows.
25:40Yet,
25:41I feel relieved.
25:42No grandpa's portrait.
25:44No,
25:44dad's furious roars.
25:46Just peace and freedom.
25:48We spent the whole day cleaning.
25:50Dad wipes the windows quickly,
25:53much unlike an injured man.
25:55I feel a little bitter
25:56as I watch him.
25:58Dad used to make grandma
25:59suffer so much.
26:00And yet,
26:01this is where her soul is now.
26:03By evening,
26:04the place looks better.
26:06Winnie scatters seeds in the yard
26:08and dusts her hands.
26:09All right,
26:10that'll do it.
26:11We can live our own life
26:13without any worries.
26:15At night,
26:16the winds howl.
26:16I lie on the strange bed,
26:19unable to fall asleep.
26:20Then,
26:21I thought I heard
26:21scratching at the door
26:22and low,
26:24beast-like whimpers.
26:26I'm so frightened
26:27I felt absolutely silent.
26:29Is it a wild dog?
26:30Or something from our past
26:32that won't let go?
26:33The next morning,
26:35I woke up feeling tired.
26:38Winnie is standing
26:39at the entrance
26:40with a stick in her hand,
26:42staring at the ground.
26:44I look at the muddy ground outside
26:46and the strange claw prints.
26:48They were huge,
26:50unlike any dogs.
26:51They seem like handprints
26:52made by humans.
26:54I feel a chill down my spine.
26:57Winnie,
26:57this is...
26:59Winnie kicks the mud
27:00and sneers.
27:01They were lousy
27:03as both humans
27:04and spirits.
27:06They followed our scent.
27:08Then,
27:08Dad exits his room.
27:09He sees the handprints
27:11and his face
27:12goes pale.
27:13He instinctively hides
27:14behind Winnie.
27:15The fear is so deeply rooted
27:17that Grandma still
27:18can't shake it off.
27:20Winnie looks at Dad.
27:22Relax,
27:23you're a man now.
27:24Solid and strong-willed.
27:26Also,
27:27I won't let him
27:28get past this door.
27:29Then,
27:30Winnie pulls out
27:31some cinnabar powder
27:32and spreads it
27:33along the wall,
27:34chanting something
27:35as she goes.
27:36After that,
27:38she puts up
27:38a warding mirror.
27:40All right,
27:41he can't hurt you
27:42if you stay inside.
27:44Winnie sounds confident,
27:45but I still feel uneasy.
27:47To break the tension,
27:49I suggest we get a dog.
27:52Winnie's mood lifts.
27:53Good idea.
27:54Get a black dog.
27:55It'll ward off evil
27:56and protect us.
27:58So,
27:58I leave the mountain alone
28:00and go to the market.
28:01I pick the smartest-looking dog.
28:03On my way home,
28:05I run into Ruby,
28:06our old neighbor.
28:07She pulls me aside,
28:08mysteriously,
28:09and says softly,
28:11Your old house
28:11hasn't been right.
28:13I freeze and ask,
28:14What happened?
28:16Ruby looks around
28:17and speaks softer.
28:19We heard chains
28:20and a man crying
28:21during midnight.
28:22It was terrifying.
28:24People say
28:24it's your grandpa's spirit.
28:26I chuckle quietly.
28:28It's clearly Dad,
28:30chained up along with Grandpa.
28:31They were both overbearing in life.
28:34Now they found a place to be.
28:36I bid Ruby farewell
28:37and hurry home with the dog.
28:40At home,
28:40I tell Grandma and Winnie
28:41about everything.
28:43Grandma falls silent.
28:44Then,
28:45she sighs and says,
28:46Leave them be.
28:47I'm finally freed from them.
28:49The dog seems to like this place.
28:51Running across the yard,
28:53seeing how joyful it is,
28:54I instantly feel much better.
28:57When night came,
28:58I hear the same noise.
29:00This time,
29:00it's more desperate
29:02and aggressive.
29:03Aside from the scratching,
29:04a hoarse voice
29:06drifts in with the wind.
29:07Open up.
29:08It's me, Dad.
29:09He sounds hoarse
29:10and broken,
29:11but I know for a fact
29:12that it's Dad.
29:14More accurately,
29:15it's Dad's tortured soul.
29:17I curl up under the cover
29:18and tremble.
29:19The dog keeps barking
29:21in the yard,
29:22its voice sharp.
29:23Suddenly,
29:23a shout came from next door.
29:25Get lost.
29:26That is Dad's voice,
29:28full of energy
29:28and a newfound determination.
29:30Then,
29:31something crashes
29:32against the door,
29:33followed by silence.
29:34The next morning,
29:36I open the door warily.
29:38Outside the walls,
29:39there's blood on a boulder.
29:41It's unnerving.
29:43Winnie is inspecting it.
29:44When she sees me,
29:46she says calmly,
29:47the mirror worked.
29:48They'll stop coming.
29:49Dad sits on the doorstep,
29:51stitching a shoe sole.
29:53He looks calm,
29:54as if he didn't get mad last night.
29:56He waves at me.
29:58Try on this shoe.
29:59I made it for you.
30:01I walk over,
30:02seeing the rough hands
30:03move so deftly.
30:05I feel conflicted.
30:07Days pass quietly.
30:08Life in the mountain
30:09isn't easy,
30:11but it's peaceful.
30:12Dad and Winnie
30:13plant vegetables
30:14in the backyard,
30:15including eggplants
30:16and chili.
30:18Seeing them together
30:19under the evening light,
30:21it feels like
30:22this is what life should be.
30:24A month later,
30:25William tells me,
30:27Mom sent a telegram,
30:28the message Carrie.
30:30A rare sense of relief from her.
30:32Hannah,
30:33life is good here.
30:34The professor is kind
30:36and considerate.
30:38I can almost see Mom
30:40leaving the old memories behind
30:42and living a new life
30:43of happiness and dignity.
30:46My chest tightens.
30:47Mom,
30:48take care of yourself.
30:49In her reply telegram,
30:51she hesitates.
30:52Her words still carry
30:53the same self-doubt.
30:55How's Trent doing?
30:56I saw Dad walking
30:58the dog this morning,
30:59but I lie.
31:00Dad's changed.
31:01He doesn't drink anymore.
31:03He tends to the vegetables.
31:04He's healthier too.
31:06Mom fell silent,
31:07finding it hard to believe.
31:08The last telegram
31:10seemed to carry
31:10a relieved sigh.
31:12That's great.
31:13I can't go home for now.
31:15Tell Trent that I want a divorce.
31:17If that's okay.
31:18I feel relieved.
31:20Grandma wants this.
31:21I tell Grandma
31:22about Mom's intention.
31:24Dad puts the shovel down
31:26and grins in relief.
31:28Let's get divorced.
31:29I've been a burden to her.
31:31Let her find happiness.
31:33That night,
31:34Dad writes the divorce agreement.
31:36His writing is uneven,
31:37but he means every word.
31:39After he posted it,
31:40I feel the weight
31:41over our family lift.
31:43However,
31:44just as I thought
31:45life is finally better,
31:47a sudden visitor
31:48breaks the calm.
31:50A cultivator holding
31:52a divine compass
31:53is standing at the door,
31:55frowning.
31:56The evil energy
31:57is strong.
31:58The cultivator
31:59has a goatee,
32:00his gaze sharp as an eagle.
32:01He's staring straight at Dad.
32:03My heart skips a beat.
32:05I stand in front of Dad.
32:07What's up?
32:08He ignores me.
32:09The compass needle whirls
32:11before fixing on Dad.
32:13He sneers,
32:14bringing back the dead.
32:16You'll pay for this.
32:18Dad's hands tremble,
32:20spilling the grain.
32:21Winnie hears the commotion
32:22and runs outside
32:24with a stick in her hands.
32:25She frees
32:26when she sees the cultivator,
32:28but she quickly calms down
32:29and shouts at him,
32:31You foolish cultivator.
32:32Do not spout nonsense here.
32:34Leave or I'll break your leg.
32:37The cultivator eyes Winnie.
32:39You're also a cultivator,
32:40and yet you help the spirits.
32:43You'll pay for twisting
32:44the natural order.
32:46Winnie laughed.
32:47Helping the innocent
32:49is what matters.
32:50The wicked goes unpunished,
32:52while the virtuous suffers.
32:54Since no one cared,
32:55I handled it myself.
32:57He bellows.
32:58How stubborn.
32:59I'll do the world a favor
33:00and get rid of it.
33:02Then,
33:03he takes out a talisman
33:04and rushes at Dad.
33:06I scream in fear
33:07and try to stop him,
33:08but I'm held back.
33:11The cultivator is about
33:12to slap the talisman
33:13on Dad's head,
33:15but Winnie bites her tongue
33:16and spits blood on her staff.
33:19Then,
33:20she strikes his wrist with it,
33:21fast and precise.
33:23At the next moment,
33:24the cultivator drops the talisman
33:26and his wrist swells at once.
33:28He cries out in pain
33:29and looks at Winnie in shock.
33:32Are you serious?
33:33You used your life force
33:34for a spirit.
33:35Winnie's face goes pale,
33:37sways slightly,
33:38but she stands firmly
33:40in front of Dad.
33:41She's my family,
33:42not a spirit.
33:43I won't let you hurt her.
33:45Dad regains his senses
33:47and quickly steadies Winnie.
33:49He shouts at the cultivator
33:51in tears.
33:52I'm not afraid of you.
33:54I'll die again if I have to.
33:56Don't hurt Winnie.
33:57The cultivator looks
33:58at both of them.
34:00Grandma's crying
34:01in a grown man's body
34:02while Winnie's risking
34:04her life for him.
34:05The hostility in his eyes fades,
34:07his expression softening.
34:09The cultivator picks up
34:11his talisman
34:12and fixes his gaze
34:13on Winnie.
34:14Forget it.
34:15Karma will take care of this.
34:17Since you two are this stubborn,
34:19I'll stop here.
34:20He turns around
34:21and leaves.
34:22Then,
34:23he looks over his shoulder.
34:24But this violates
34:26the natural order.
34:27This body won't last long.
34:29You've been warned.
34:30As the cultivator walks away,
34:32Winnie can't hold on anymore.
34:33She throws up blood
34:35and collapses.
34:36Winnie falls ill.
34:38That fight took a toll on her.
34:39And she's already old.
34:41We watch as she grows weaker.
34:44Dad is frantic
34:44and looks after her
34:45all the time,
34:47feeding her water
34:48and medicine.
34:49Watching a big,
34:50rough man
34:51being this considerate
34:52doesn't feel odd
34:54at all,
34:55only heartbreaking.
34:56Winnie lies on the bed,
34:58her face sallow,
34:59but her eyes still bright.
35:00She holds Dad's hand
35:01and says weakly,
35:03Petra,
35:03just stop.
35:05My time's up.
35:06Dad's already in tears,
35:08holding onto Winnie's hand
35:09tightly.
35:10Winnie,
35:10stop it.
35:11You'll get better.
35:12We said we'd spend
35:13our lives together.
35:14Winnie grins,
35:16a trace of contentment
35:17in her smile.
35:18I'm glad I got
35:20to protect you.
35:21Let's be family again
35:22in the next life.
35:24I'll find you.
35:26Tears run down my cheeks.
35:28Their lifelong friendship
35:29feels especially precious.
35:31During the final moments
35:32of life,
35:33Winnie looks at me
35:34and pulls out a book
35:36from under her pillow.
35:38Hannah,
35:39this is something
35:39I picked up.
35:40Learn it
35:41and protect yourselves.
35:42I accept the book.
35:44It feels heavy.
35:45It's more than a book.
35:47It's Winnie's last blessing
35:48for me.
35:49In the next few days,
35:50Winnie seems to be
35:51doing better.
35:52She can even take
35:53a stroll in the yard.
35:55Yet we all know
35:56her time has come.
35:57One afternoon,
35:58the sun was warm.
36:00Winnie's sitting
36:00on a recliner.
36:01As she looks
36:02at the mountains,
36:04Dad's sitting next to her,
36:05feeding her orange slices.
36:08It tastes sweet,
36:10Winnie mumbles
36:10indistinctly.
36:12Her head tilts
36:13and rests on his shoulder,
36:15the orange slipping
36:16from her hand.
36:16The wind stops.
36:18The leaves
36:19stop rustling.
36:20Dad's hands
36:21pause mid-peel.
36:22He doesn't cry.
36:23He remains still
36:24and lets Winnie
36:25lean on him
36:25as if she's just sleeping.
36:27After a long time,
36:29he rubs his cheek
36:30against Winnie's hair,
36:32saying softly,
36:33Sleep, Winnie.
36:34Sleep well.
36:35I saw tears
36:36running down.
36:37Dad's weathered face
36:39quietly.
36:40Winnie still has that
36:42contented smile
36:43on her face
36:43as if she slipped
36:45into a dream.
36:46Maybe she's dreaming
36:47about two young ladies
36:48in dresses,
36:49holding hands,
36:50running across a field.
36:52No arranged marriage,
36:54no abuse,
36:55no agony,
36:56only freedom
36:57and a lasting youth.
36:59Winnie passed away peacefully.
37:00We respect her wish
37:02and bury her next
37:03to an old ash tree.
37:04There's a wide view
37:06of our courtyard
37:07and the distant village.
37:09Dad has sat at her grave
37:11for a whole day,
37:12staring at the tombstone.
37:14I'm worried about him
37:15and tell him to go,
37:17but he refuses to leave.
37:19Hannah,
37:19let me stay with Winnie.
37:21From now on,
37:22it's just the two of us.
37:23What she said
37:24broke my heart
37:25and I stay there
37:26with her.
37:27Dad loses much
37:28of his spirit
37:29after Winnie's passing.
37:30He still cooks,
37:32gardens
37:32and feeds the dog,
37:33but the life
37:34in his eyes faded.
37:36Sometimes,
37:37I see him
37:38talking to himself
37:39as if chatting
37:40with Winnie.
37:41I know this is his way
37:43of keeping her memories alive,
37:45but time never stops
37:46for anyone.
37:48Three years have passed.
37:49In these years,
37:50I left and studied
37:52at the school in town.
37:53Every time I went home,
37:54I could feel Dad
37:56getting weaker.
37:57The cultivator was right.
37:59We have to pay the price.
38:01Dad's body
38:01is showing signs
38:02of rejection,
38:03stiff joints,
38:04skin damage,
38:05and frequent faintings.
38:07Yet,
38:07Grandma never complains.
38:09She always keeps herself
38:10neat and tidy,
38:11welcoming me home
38:12and making me
38:13my favorite food.
38:15The year I graduate,
38:16I come home
38:17to a yard full
38:18of Winnie's favorite flower,
38:20blooming brightly.
38:21Dad's lying
38:22on a recliner,
38:23a blanket over him,
38:25holding tightly
38:26onto a repaired
38:27wedding picture.
38:28It's Winnie's
38:29old picture.
38:31The groom's head
38:32is cut out,
38:33replaced by Grandma's picture.
38:35When he sees me,
38:36his eyes light up,
38:37and he sits upright.
38:39Hi, Hannah.
38:40I quickly run over,
38:42but Dad's body
38:43is as light as a feather.
38:44I say sobbing,
38:46Grandma.
38:47He raises his hand
38:48and touches my cheek,
38:49smiling weakly.
38:51This is it for me.
38:52I shake my head,
38:53tears spilling out.
38:55No, Grandma.
38:56You'll live a long life.
38:58He shakes his head
38:59and looks at the ash tree.
39:01I've lived long enough.
39:03I'm able to live longer
39:04because of Winnie.
39:06It's time to find her.
39:07She's waiting for me.
39:08A breeze sweeps by.
39:10The tree's leaves rustles,
39:12as if responding to her.
39:13I hold his rough hand,
39:15feeling the warmth in it
39:16slowly slip away.
39:18My sorrow grows beyond words,
39:20suddenly,
39:20as if seeing something.
39:22His eyes light up,
39:23and he stares blankly.
39:25Hi, Winnie!
39:26And Grandma passes away.
39:28There's no pain
39:29when Grandma passes away.
39:31Only the joy of reunion.
39:33She sees Winnie
39:34in the red floral dress
39:35from her youth,
39:36waving at her.
39:37This time,
39:38no one can separate us.
39:40I follow her wish
39:41and bury her next to Winnie.
39:43Their graves sit tightly together,
39:46like two sisters
39:47whispering in the wind.
39:48As for Dad's body,
39:50once Grandma's soul left,
39:52it quickly withered
39:53and rotted,
39:54as if it had aged decades at once.
39:57This is how it ends
39:59when you defy the natural order.
40:01Afterward,
40:02I sit in front of their graves,
40:04mourning them.
40:05In the firelight,
40:06I thought I saw Grandma
40:08and Winnie's retreating figures,
40:10looking free and content.
40:12No more illnesses or restraints.
40:14As I leave,
40:15I give the old place
40:17one last look.
40:18Sunset bathes the yard in gold.
40:21It holds three generations
40:23of conflict
40:24and a redemption beyond death.
40:27Years later,
40:28I returned with my new family.
40:31The old place has collapsed,
40:33but the graves are still intact.
40:35Winnie's favorite flower
40:37spread across the mountain.
40:38I point at the graves
40:40and say,
40:41they're the people
40:42I love the most in my life.
40:44My daughter asks,
40:45are they friends?
40:47I nod with a smile.
40:49Yeah, they are.
40:50They promised they'd be together forever.
40:53Petals drift across the sky.
40:55For a moment,
40:56I thought I'd smell Grandma's porridge
40:59and hear Winnie's playful voice again.
41:01That silly girl looks so adorable.
41:04I smile in relief.
41:06Then,
41:06I leave with my daughter.
41:07As for Grandpa and Dad,
41:09they say they can still hear
41:11mournful wailing
41:12when they walk past that old house.
41:15But that's not my business.
41:17Bad people get what's coming for them.
41:19They have to redeem themselves,
41:21no matter how long it takes.
41:23But I do wonder
41:24if they regret what they did
41:25as they suffer.
41:27My husband holds our daughter close
41:29as we leave.
41:30I can't help but look back.
41:32Amid the blooming flowers,
41:34I thought I saw two figures sit together.
41:37They're no longer hunched
41:38or look sorrowful.
41:40They have thick braids,
41:41wear washed-out floral dresses,
41:44whispering secrets and gossips.
41:46I've never seen them like this.
41:48It's so vivid,
41:50so free.
41:51When we walk by the entrance,
41:53several old men crouching by the wall
41:56stop smoking and stare at us.
41:59One of the old men says to me,
42:01Don't go back to your old house.
42:03One of the lanes drove past it
42:06on a mule cart,
42:07and he saw two hairy figures in the mud,
42:10slapping and cursing each other.
42:12I smile faintly and say nothing.
42:16I pick up my pace,
42:17leaving the chill and chaos behind us.
42:20Back at our home,
42:22I make myself and my daughter some porridge.
42:25She says as she downs it,
42:28Mom, this porridge smells like the wind on the mountain.
42:31It feels warm.
42:32I ruffle her hair.
42:34The burden in my heart
42:36is finally lifted after all this time.
42:39Before sleeping,
42:40I leaf through the book Winnie gave me.
42:43On the back cover,
42:44there's a delicate yet deeply pressed writing.
42:47Grandma wrote it after she took over Dad's body.
42:50Fate may be cruel,
42:52but we're strong.
42:53We don't owe anything to anyone.
42:55We live for ourselves.
42:57Turns out,
42:58they didn't just swap lives.
42:59They also achieved an awakening.
43:02The moon glows softly outside.
43:04In my dream,
43:05I'm not the trembling lady in the shed anymore.
43:08Instead,
43:09I'm a bird,
43:10soaring across the mountains.
43:12I see two red figures under the old ash tree
43:15entering the next life.
43:17They don't turn back.
43:18The road ahead's full of flowers.
43:20No more suffering.
43:21No more hunger.
43:22No more grain with worms.
43:24I close my eyes and murmur in my heart,
43:26Grandma,
43:27Winnie,
43:28Leave the suffering to the wicked
43:30and be happy in your next life.
43:32After settling things,
43:34I go on a trip with my daughter.
43:36It's a place Grandma always wanted to see.
43:40She's playing at the beach
43:41when she suddenly stops
43:43and points at two young women.
43:46Mom, look at them.
43:47They're beautiful.
43:49I look over,
43:50and my heart skips a beat.
43:53Two women in their 20s
43:55are wearing trendy floral dresses,
43:57holding hands
43:58and playing in shallow seawater.
44:00One of them has a beautiful smile
44:02and wears a high ponytail.
44:05She looks just like Winnie
44:07from the picture of her younger days
44:09in the book.
44:10The woman beside her
44:11looks gentle and quiet,
44:13dodging the waves.
44:15Then,
44:16the more spirited woman
44:17picks up a shell from the beach
44:19and gave it to her friend.
44:21Her bright laughter drifted over.
44:24Winnie,
44:25look at this!
44:26Does it remind you
44:27of the stone we found by the river?
44:29Winnie freezes.
44:31Then,
44:31her frown eases.
44:32Her voice is crisp.
44:34This shell is much prettier.
44:36I freeze and tear up at once.
44:39In this life,
44:40they'd become sisters.
44:42I stay where I am,
44:43reluctant to disturb them.
44:45I hold my daughter's hand
44:46and quietly bid them farewell.
44:49The wicked should redeem themselves
44:51while kind souls reunite
44:53and find happiness.
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