A Chinese Ghost Story 1987

Ning travels to rural town and seeks shelter in a forest temple

Ning Choi-san, a timid debt collector, arrives in a rural town to collect taxes but fails and runs out of money. With no other option, he takes shelter in a deserted temple hidden in the forest on the town's outskirts. The setting is quiet and foreboding, hinting at the strange events to come. This night marks the start of his unsettling encounter.

Ning meets Nip Siu-sin and falls for her

That night in the temple, Nip Siu-sin appears as a beautiful and alluring young maiden. Ning is drawn to her despite the eerie surroundings, and an instant, confusing attraction takes hold. The moment hints at a romance that will blur the line between the living and the supernatural. The encounter plants the seed of hope and fear in Ning.

Morning fear: ghostly possibility unsettles Ning

In the morning, Ning recalls the previous night with a growing sense of fear. He remembers Nip and recalls Yin Chik-ha's warning that the people in the temple might be ghosts. The fear begins to warp his perception of what is real and what is supernatural. The seeds of doubt take root in his mind.

Ning returns at night and confirms Nip is a ghost

That night, Ning returns to the temple and confronts Nip again. He confronts the eerie truth that Nip might be a ghost, not a living person. The realization deepens his fear and desperation. He is driven to seek explanations and help for what he has witnessed.

Nip reveals her tragic backstory and the Tree Demoness

Nip tells Ning how she became eternally bound to a sinister Tree Demoness. She explains that as long as her remains lie buried at the foot of the tree, her spirit remains enslaved. The revelation reframes Ning's feelings and sets him on a path to attempt a rescue. The backstory adds a mythic, tragic weight to the tale.

Ning seeks help from Yin Chik-ha; a failed attempt to free Nip

Ning decides he cannot abandon Nip and seeks the help of Yin Chik-ha. Yin confronts the Tree Demoness and attempts to free Nip's soul but fails. The failure underscores the danger and the strength of the supernatural forces at play. Ning resolves to push forward despite the odds.

Nip's soul is banished to the Underworld

As punishment for betraying her master, Nip's soul is banished to the Underworld. The consequence is severe and highlights the price of defying the demoness. Ning remains determined to recover Nip, no matter the cost. The Underworld becomes the new setting for the quest.

Yin opens a temporary portal and Ning enters the Underworld

Ning insists on continuing the search and Yin reluctantly opens a temporary portal into the Underworld. Ning steps through with caution, entering a realm crowded with spirits. The journey marks a drastic turn from the mortal world to a perilous supernatural plane. They begin the arduous task of locating Nip among countless souls.

The Underworld is crowded with spirits; search for Nip

Inside the Underworld, Ning and Nip navigate a labyrinth of spirits and shifting paths. They struggle to locate Nip amid the restless souls and oppressive atmosphere. The search is strenuous and filled with moments of uncertainty as time passes in this otherworldly realm. Persistence becomes their lifeline.

Ning and Nip glimpse each other near dawn and prepare to leave

At last, Ning and Nip manage to glimpse each other briefly near dawn, before finding a way to exit the Underworld. The fleeting moment rekindles hope and confirms that Nip's presence endures beyond death. They manage to escape together, stepping back toward the world of the living as the light breaks.

Ning shields Nip's urn from sunlight to save her soul

Back in the mortal realm, sunlight threatens Nip's cremated remains. Ning uses a curtain to shield the urn, preventing the sun from destroying Nip's soul. The act requires careful timing and deep resolve, underscoring Ning's commitment to Nip's fate. Yin watches solemnly as the safeguard holds.

Nip reveals the path to salvation: rebury at a more auspicious site

Before parting for good, Nip tells Ning that the only way to save her soul is to rebury her remains at a more auspicious burial site. The instruction shifts the mission from rescue to rematriation, changing the city-wide stakes into a personal pilgrimage. Ning accepts the guidance and prepares for the ritual.

Ning reburies Nip's remains on a hill crest and prays

Following Yin's advice, Ning buries Nip's remains near the crest of a hill. He burns a joss stick and prays for Nip's soul as the ritual closes the old wound. Yin watches with quiet solemnity, acknowledging the gravity of the moment. The burial marks a turning point in Nip's story and Ning's life.