Lin, a wandering scholar, stumbles into an enchanted forest late at night, where he meets a ghostly girl named Sian. This fleeting encounter marks the beginning of a passionate romance, but Xian has a malevolent mentor who disapproves of relationships between humans and ghosts. Even Lin’s protector—a brave Taoist whom the young man met along the way—though sympathetic to the lovers, also believes their love is doomed.