When Lan He returned, the sky was already beginning to lighten. His spirit returned to his body, and he opened his eyes to stare at the ceiling. He was still very sleepy and felt like he had forgotten something, but he couldn’t remember what. In his drowsiness, he decided not to worry about it and turned over to sleep for another hour before finally getting up.
The youngest son of the Yu family had just woken up as well. The nanny came over to carry him for feeding. Mrs. Yu peeked in through the open door. “Lan, are you awake? What about Director Liu Chunyang?”
Lan He: “โฆ”
He suddenly remembered what he had forgotten.
Lan He: “Uh, I went to bed early. Director Liu said he was going to the study to play games.”
Mrs. Yu walked over to the other side of the suite. To her surprise, Liu Chunyang was lying asleep on the desk with the computer still on. She nudged him. “You’re unbelievable. You’re a grown man, yet you pulled an all-nighter playing games?”
Liu Chunyang slowly got up, his whole body making creaking sounds, and groaned in pain, “What the… How did I fall asleep here?”
Moreover, his whole body ached, yet he hadn’t woken up at all during the night! His sleep quality was unusually goodโtoo good, in fact!
Lan He: “…” Oh dear, what a disaster.
Liu Chunyang asked Lan He in shock, “Why didn’t you wake me?”
Lan He: “Haha, I went to bed earlier than youโฆ”
“Alright then.” Liu Chunyang remembered that Lan He had indeed fallen asleep as soon as he came in the night before. He rubbed his neck, feeling rather depressed.
Mrs. Yu assumed Liu Chunyang had just fallen into a deep sleep and said, “Thank you both. I have good newsโthereโs no need for you to come back tonight.”
Liu Chunyang: “Wow, it’s resolved?”
Mrs. Yu nodded. “It was resolved overnight. Mr. Yu is still sleeping. Freshen up and come have breakfast.”
Yu Hangjia was resting, as were Mr. Ma and Ying Shao. Mrs. Yu hadn’t been at the scene, but she heard a few things when Yu Hangjia returned. However, since she wasn’t familiar with Lan He, she only quietly told Liu Chunyang that the guest room in their home had already been dedicated to the Huang Immortal. The ceremony was yet to be conducted.
Offering to the Huang Immortal wasn’t something to be publicly announced, even though rumors had long circulated that the Yu family loved to worship godsโฆ
Even if Lan He didn’t listen, he had a sense of what was going on, so he pretended to be completely oblivious.
After breakfast, Liu Chunyang drove him back to the film crew. “Thanks for your help this time. I’ll treat you to a meal after you finish filming. Besides, it counts as establishing a good relationship with Kunlunโyou’ve even slept at their young master’s house.”
Lan He covered his face, unable to look. “The director insisted I sleep there, and now you’re introducing me to the bossโฆ No wonder they say the entertainment industry is chaotic.”
“Ahem!” Liu Chunyang almost choked. He had intended to tease Lan He but was caught off guard by Lan He’s response. “It must be Chen Xingyang’s bad influence on you! Go cause trouble for Wang Mao instead!”
Lan He made an “OK” gesture.
He planned to stop by his hotel room to grab his charger before heading to the set. However, as soon as he entered the room, he saw Yi Ping sitting there, eating fruit.
As Lan He walked in, Yi Ping immediately rolled away the fruit and faced the wall in pain.
Yi Ping sighed deeply, “Why did you have to comeโฆ”
He was really enjoying being alone.
Lan He: “???”
Even though he was quick to get rheumatismโฆ What on earth was Yi Ping saying? Did he consider that his benefactor wasn’t even there, yet he was having a self-celebration party in the room?
Lan He chose to ignore Yi Ping, grabbed his things, and headed to the set. He started work a few hours later than the others, and by then, everyone was buzzing with gossip.
Early in the morning, Kunlun Entertainment’s bug had been fixed, and the trending topic #KunlunEntertainment’sDragonReturns had already appeared.
Some netizens noticed in the middle of the night that the logo had been restored, and when cinemas opened, they found that screenings were back to normal.
Kunlun Entertainment issued a simple and vague statement saying that the technical issue had been resolved, without specifying what the problem was. They only mentioned that new copies had been delivered overnight to major theaters and thanked everyone for their concern.
โHowever! The strange thing was that some insiders from the theater chains claimed that a few theaters received the copies late and still used the original ones, but the logos were normal too.
This rumor was spreading wildly, though there was no direct evidence. Some people scoffed at it, while others enjoyed this version of the story.
Regardless, the gossip was intense, and people were flooding the official Weibo account, demanding Kunlun reveal the real cause.
ใWhat technical issue? Why don’t you just say it? Can’t make something up?ใ
ใQuick, tell us if the theater insiders’ claim is true. Was it really a supernatural event? Or is there some secret you can’t reveal?ใ
ใI didnโt think much of it at first, but this vagueness is making me suspicious.ใ
ใThe most far-fetched guess is usually the truth! Media even captured footage of a feng shui master entering the Yu residence.ใ
ใThat’s not all. I heard they even relocated the Yu family master’s grave.ใ
This incident attracted a lot of attention, so there were indeed paparazzi and stalkers who captured images of the masters coming and going from the Yu residence. The identities of these individuals were soon discoveredโthis one was a renowned feng shui master from the capital, that one was a famous shamanโฆ
There had long been rumors that Yu Hangjia had been in contact with feng shui masters over the past few days. Given his reputation as a well-known superstitious figure, this wasn’t really news. The main issue was how this related to the nature of the current incident.
As a result, there were also whispers that the matter had been resolved by a young master who had just started to make a name for himself. His name had already spread among many in the industry, making him famous overnight.
With the gossip spreading so wildly, Kunlun Entertainment had no choice but to issue another response. In the comments, they stated, “It was indeed a technical issue. Our staff just asked around, and it seems to be like thisโฆ”
The staff then used some technical jargon, but who would have guessed that there were so many knowledgeable people among the netizens? They immediately pointed out that the explanation was insufficient.
After a while, the staff admitted, “Yes, there are still some unclear technical problems. We resolved it by accident. Please don’t speculate randomly. If you really don’t believe it, we could invite experts from *Walk Into Science* to investigate.”
Netizens: “โฆโฆ”
We don’t believe a word of it!
ใKunlun’s official Weibo is too cheeky, 233333. This is just giving up on trying to explain.ใ
ใLooks like they’ve completely thrown in the towelโฆใ
ใCome on, they’re in the media business. They’re just using this to create hype.ใ
ใNot everything is hype. There’s indeed something strange about this. At first, most people didn’t believe it. I didn’t either, but now I’m starting to feel like it’s a real urban legend. Relocating a grave and hiring a master?ใ
ใMaybe it’s just a way to cover up the truth.ใ
ใAm I the only one who noticed that Liu Chunyang was among those entering the house?ใ
ใThere’s a rumor in the industry that Liu Chunyang is also very superstitious on set, but he shouldn’t be directly involved in this, right?ใ
ใWait, the person next to Liu Chunyangโฆ is that Lan He?ใ
ใWho’s Lan He?ใ
ใYou might not remember Lan He, but do you recall the actor who drew a pig’s head in Liu Chunyang’s new film?ใ
ใLiu Chunyang’s new film is about pigs? Why?ใ
ใHuh? Is it a rural theme? Has Liu Chunyang started making films about rural life? He doesn’t seem suited for that.ใ
ใI’m feeling dizzy. Can we stop choosing directors based solely on their fame? Liu Chunyang knows nothing about pigs; he’s a native of the capital and from an artistic family.ใ
ใ??? Are you guys serious?ใ
The discussion quickly went off track, with bizarre rumors cropping up, and it took a long time to get back on topic. People then speculated that Liu Chunyang had taken Lan He to see Yu Hangjia to ask him not to affect the new film’s production. But why would he bring a supporting actor instead of the lead? What’s the point?
Some curious individuals privately messaged Liu Chunyang: “Chunyang-ge, why did you take Lan He to see Yu Hangjia? Is there some inside story?”
Liu Chunyang, who was bored, actually replied: “Don’t call me Chunyang-ge. I took him to see President Yu because Yu’s child was always crying.”
Netizens were first shocked that Liu Chunyang responded, then they were left puzzled.
Alright then, they thought. They never expected that Lan He would maintain his image as a parenting expert. Who would have guessed that an actor could use this to cozy up to the boss? Could it be that the Yu family couldn’t afford to hire a professional parenting expert?
Afterward, some moms on social media started recommending Lan He, saying they had picked up a lot of useful tips from him, which indeed worked. This led to some confusion, as many thought “Lan He” was the name of a new parenting app.
Kunlun Entertainment’s situation was destined to become an unsolved urban legend, frequently mentioned in gossip.
Lan He hadn’t told anyone in the crew about his visit to Yu Hangjia’s house, but the media accidentally exposed it. When Zhang Qingyou saw the online discussions, he pressed him for the truth: “Spill it. Was it really a supernatural event?”
“I don’t knowโฆ” Lan He stuck to his story. “I was mainly there to keep the kid company. President Yu just told me to believe in science. Really, a lot of people heard him say it.”
Zhang Qingyou: “โฆ”
Zhang Qingyou was momentarily stumped by this response and grew even more frustrated. “President Yu has such a massive feng shui setup at his company, and yet he tells you not to be superstitious?”
Lan He: “Maybe it’s a matter of striking a balance.”
โฆ
When Lan He returned to his room that night, Old Bai showed up. He flopped onto the bed, and as he relaxed, his tongue slowly drooped out of the corner of his mouth. “Sigh, I’m exhausted. Just finished reaping a soul nearby. You know, in this day and age, the offerings aren’t as abundant as they used to be, so the income has dropped too. It’s tough to make a livingโฆ”
After all, the gods depend on human faith, and humans find peace through the gods.
Gods can protect people, but they also rely on human trust and offerings to gain the power to do so.
There’s also a saying that gods and people are intertwined. Haven’t you noticed that many gods still need to be granted titles by human emperors? The succession of gods is also influenced by humans. Eastern Peak Underworld Office was once the largest institution in the underworld, but now it’s been merged into the underworld’s government.
Humans, gods, and ghosts have always been inseparable.
โMm.โ Indeed, Lan He thought back to his childhood when his grandfather would make meticulously crafted paper offerings. Nowadays, people no longer put in that kind of effort, just slapping things together. He lit an incense stick for Old Bai and said, โYouโve worked hard. Put your tongue away.โ
โSsssslurpโโ Old Bai retracted his tongue, took a whiff of the incense, and drifted into a state of bliss. He then asked, โBy the way, you mentioned that yellow spirit in your letter. What happened with it? Did it end up being subdued by you again?โ
Lan He noticed his strange expression and asked, โWhy? What do you mean by โagainโ?โ
Old Bai replied, โNothing much. Itโs just that I was thinkingโyouโve already got a fox spirit, and youโve saved a white spirit. Now youโve subdued a yellow spirit. Hah, youโre only missing a willow spirit to complete the set of four.โ
Lan He: โโฆComplete the set? Am I playing cards here? You all latched onto me!โ
Old Bai, who had now been lumped in with the Four Great Spirits, didnโt seem to mind. Lan He then recounted how he had captured the yellow spirit spirit and resolved the situation.
Old Bai burst into laughter. โWhat a foolish weasel, putting on a show in front of Lan He.โ
With so much on his plate, Old Bai treated the story as a bit of comic relief to unwind. โAnd youโwhy did you even bother writing that thing, going as far as to number the donkeys? Maybe the yellow spirit really thought it was all fake.โ
Lan He chuckled, โI just like things to be orderly. Whatโs wrong with that, Number 002?โ
Old Bai: โโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
Unable to hold back, Old Bai blurted out, โI tolerated being called โson,โ but whatโs with โNumber 002โ?โ
Lan He quipped, โFirst Lady Hu still canโt even get the number I love. Got a problem with that?โ
Old Bai: โโฆDamn it!โ
Their banter only made Old Bai feel more at ease. His typically stern face twisted into a grim smile. โLan He, I can see your ambition is growingโespecially when it comes to underworld matters. Youโre even going out of your way to help us catch a yellow spirit. I think you should just serve out your full term. After all, youโve always been struggling to get by.โ
Lan He hesitated. Besides, he could indeed sense the emotions of the deceased, which greatly enhanced his understanding of acting. He had even met Xiao Song because of his work in the underworld. This side job wasnโt as dreadful as he initially thought.
However, his grandfatherโs words still echoed in his mind, keeping him grounded. He replied clearly, โNo, I just have a sense of social responsibility. But you can still keep me informed of other developmentsโIโll continue to keep an eye out.โ
After all, underworld affairs arenโt easy to handle, and many talented people have met unfortunate ends. Lan He figured that focusing on doing one thing well was already an achievement.
โHaha, alright then. Recently, Miaogan Mountain has also fallen on hard times. A few of the Four Great Spirits, like the Hu 79, have had their resources stolen,โ Old Bai explained. The income from collecting money and incense had decreased over the years, and Miaogan Mountain was no exception. Its incense offerings had even been suspended for a long time, though they had seen some revival in recent years.
Lan He mused to himself, โSecurity really is terrible.โ He then asked Old Bai directly, โWhy donโt you just tell me where the Five Great Towns are located?โ That way, he wouldnโt have to listen to stories and then go back to confirm with Old Bai.
Old Bai responded with a chuckle, โHehe, the locations of the Dark Five Towns are something Iโm not supposed to reveal, or maybe itโs because even I donโt know for sure. But as for the Bright Five Towns, I can give you some hints.โ
The exact locations of the Bright Five Towns were known only to a select few who dined with the underworld in the capital. Since Lan He could be trusted, Old Bai whispered the information to him.
Lan He nodded slightly. The locations didnโt exactly match the folk versions that Shi Xuan had mentioned, but they did include the great bell at Juehui Temple, which had stood tall for centuries.
Lan He nodded again, โGot it. I wonโt tell anyone.โ
Old Bai laughed, โHahaha, even if you did tell others, theyโd have to believe it first. Arenโt you currently the least superstitious person in the entire entertainment industry?โ
Lan He: โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
.
After a few more days of filming, Lan He wrapped up his scenes, finishing two days earlier than Zhang Qingyou and Shi Xuan. They all parted ways amicably, promising to meet again in the future. However, with Zhang Qingyou and Shi Xuan being so busy, who knew when that would actually happen?
There was alsoโฆ
Lan He glanced at Yi Ping, who was squatting next to his suitcase. It seemed like Yi Ping was planning to follow him home and make himself at home there.
With a sigh, Lan He asked Old Bai to send a message to Hu 79, just in case they ran into each other.
He really didnโt want to blow his cover in front of Yi Ping. Moreover, considering Yi Pingโs personality, the issue of his own cover was secondaryโif Yi Ping found out he could see him all alongโฆ wouldnโt that be the ultimate social death?
His phone rang, and Lan He answered, โDirector Liu?โ
โHey, are you all packed? Iโm here. Come out,โ Liu Chunyang, along with Chen Xingyu and Chen Xingyang, had come to pick him up to celebrate the completion of his shoot with a big meal. Liu Chunyang had even invited Yu Hangjia and his wife to join them at the restaurant.
In fact, Liu Chunyang and Chen Xingyangโs side had only recently finished their work as well.
Lan He got into the car, assuming that Miaomiao was with her dad. Chen Xingyang was driving, and inside the car were Liu Chunyang and Chen Xingyu. Lan He first stowed his luggage in the trunk. As soon as he opened it, Yi Ping slipped in, lying down on his side with a contented sigh.
โโฆโ Lan He continued to play the part of someone who couldnโt see spirits. He placed his suitcase in Yi Pingโs arms and then took his seat in the front passenger seat.
โHey, today our Lan He finally gets to have a feast!โ Liu Chunyang laughed heartily.
Lan He smiled as well, but just as he was halfway through his smile, Chen Xingyu spoke in a serious tone, โBut donโt indulge too much. An actor needs self-discipline; otherwise, itโs hard to look good on camera. Especially if you often hang out with Director Liuโwhat if you accidentally end up with a belly as big as his?โ
Liu Chunyang wasnโt offended by Chen Xingyuโs comment. In fact, he gleefully looked at Lan He, but to his disappointment, Lan He didnโt show the slightest hint of sadness!
“That must all be acting,” Liu Chunyang muttered to himself.
As a seasoned foodie, Liu Chunyang knew how to pick a good place, and today he had reserved a table at “Xingshuang.”
This restaurant specialized in official cuisine. Back in the day, Beijing was home to numerous government offices, where the aristocracy and high-ranking officials would employ skilled chefs to prepare elaborate banquets for guests. These chefs absorbed the best techniques from various culinary schools, creating many famous dishes in the process.
Some of the most famous types of official cuisine in China include Kong Family Cuisine (from Confucius’ descendants), Tan Family Cuisine, and Suiyuan Cuisine, among others.
However, with the passage of time, official cuisine, much like temple cuisine, has become accessible to the general public.
The restaurant Liu Chunyang chose today was run by chefs who inherited their craft from a former princely estate in the capital. This cuisine was once famous throughout the city and was known for its expertise in preparing dishes with rare mountain delicacies and seafood.
The restaurant itself was located in a courtyard house with three entrances. While renting such a large princely estate would be impossible, the place had once been the private residence of a noble family, with a vast area and a steep annual rent. The furnishings inside were all expensive antiques, and the meal prices matched the lavish setting.
As they walked into “Xingshuang,” Lan He heard Yi Ping beside him mutter, “This is exactly the kind of courtyard I imagined. It’s big enough. If someone builds a God of Wealth tower for me here, I’ll move in immediately and ensure they never run out of firewood or rice all year round.”
Lan He: “โฆ”
โฆYou must be dreaming!!
In Beijing, anyone who could live in such a large courtyard wouldn’t need your help ensuring they had enough firewood!
Recalling the last time Yi Ping had jabbed him with a sharp comment, Lan He felt a pang in his heart again. It was only a moment later that he realized something was offโwho even uses firewood anymore?
He rubbed his chest, and Chen Xingyang casually asked, “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”
Upon hearing that Lan He wasn’t feeling well, Yi Ping immediately looked over, as if ready to administer treatment at any moment.
Lan He forced a smile. “No, I’m perfectlyโฆ fine.”
The waiter led them to the final courtyard, mentioning that Yu Hangjia and his wife had arrived before them and were already having tea. They had been informed of their arrival.
As Lan He stepped into the last courtyard, he noticed a man sitting on the veranda, wearing a round cap and appearing to be in his thirties. The man had round eyes and was gnawing on a roast chicken leg.
Lan He glanced at him briefly before quickly looking away. This was not a living person.
Even though many of the staff at “Xingshuang” were dressed in ancient costumes, Lan He could instantly tell that this man wasn’t human.
However, there was something familiar about himโฆ Had he seen him somewhere before?
“Hey, this root carving looks amazing,” Chen Xingyu remarked, pointing to one of the decorations. The root carving was bizarrely shaped, with a delicate and intricate depiction of an immortal figure whose flowing robes intertwined with the twisted roots.
The waiter immediately launched into a well-rehearsed explanation, “Miss, this piece is called ‘The Immortal’s Journey.’ It’s made from a thousand-year-old red camphorwood root and was purchased for four million. Its color, fragrance, shape, and textureโฆ”
At that moment, the man in the round cap noticed them. Although he wasn’t particularly interested in the people, he did take a few glances at Yi Ping.
Yi Ping, upon being looked at, was startled and immediately hid behind Lan He. However, since Yi Ping was a bit taller than Lan He, he couldn’t really hide.
The man in the round cap, still holding the roast chicken, swaggered over, his gait full of arrogance. “Hey, hey, I’m talking to you. Where’d this thorny ball come from, and what are you doing here?”
From the way he spoke, it was as if he were the master of the place.
Yi Ping cowered and said, “Senior, my benefactor came here to eat, so I came with him.”
The man in the round cap, Melon Head Immortal, snorted twice, his arrogance evident. “It better be as you say. If you’re here to cause trouble or disturb those I’m protecting, Melon Head Immortal won’t take it lightly.”
As he spoke, he took another bite of the chicken leg.
Lan He: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
So it was Melon Head Immortal. He thought the man looked familiar but hadnโt recognized him right away due to his overbearing tone. It made sense though; since Yu Hangjia was here, Melon Head must have followed. It seemed Melon Head was doing well with the Yu family, even enjoying roast chicken.
Yi Ping, however, looked a bit confused. His cultivation wasn’t as advanced as Melon Head Immortalโs, so he couldnโt discern his level or identify which sect he belonged to. Generally, the Four Great Sects had distinctive characteristics, and the surname usually indicated the sect, making it easy to identify the origin.
The name Melon Headโฆ What kind of spirit was that?
But Yi Ping was too socially anxious to ask directly.
Melon Head Immortal, with his sharp eyes and keen mind, misunderstood Yi Pingโs hesitation. He said, “You look pretty sneaky. If you have something to say, just say it.”
Yi Ping, feeling hopeless, said, “I was just wondering, which sect do you belong to?”
Melon Head Immortal, having received plenty of offerings, was in high spirits and felt a strong sense of superiority over this wild spirit. He proudly put his hands on his hips and said, “I’ll give you a chance. Take a guess. Which sect do you think I’m from? I’ll tell you thisโI’m not ordinary!”
Yi Pingโs thoughts went off on a tangent. Outside of the Four Great Sects, there were other miscellaneous spirits, or what were sometimes called the “Three Schools of the Poor,” which encompassed beings from the land, sea, and sky. After all, the world is full of spiritual beings, and anyone could cultivate. Common examples include pangolin spirits, raccoon dog spirits, bear spirits, and birds, generally grouped under the Flying School. Melon Head Immortalโs words made Yi Ping wonder if he wasnโt part of the Four Great Sects.
Names and nicknames usually had a strong connection to a spiritโs characteristics.
Melon Head Immortal urged, “Hurry up and speak. I canโt stand how sneaky you Bai Family spirits are.”
Yi Ping, unaware of the local slang where “guar” means “melon,” nervously asked, “Thenโฆ are you a hedgehog spirit?”
Melon Head Immortal: “โฆโฆโฆโฆโฆโฆ”
Lan He: “Pffft!!”
Despite his years of pretending to be oblivious, Lan He couldnโt hold back and burst out laughingโฆ
Author’s Note:
Case closed. Yesterday, everyone was discussing the logo, and some even suggested it contained a “j.” I almost strained my eyes trying to find it but didnโt see any “j.” It wasnโt until someone pointed out that the web and app versions were different that I realizedโฆ I was looking at the web version, while the app version indeed had the bookโs logo. Apparently, the web version was also a book, like a grass book. I thought, oh, it really does look like grass, so I just assumed it was grass.
I wonder if this is how he is found out ๐ญ๐ญ๐ญ