In the dressing room.
Lan He was being prepped by the makeup artist while glancing at his phone.
Dou Chunting poked his head in, “Watching family dramas again?”
Recently, news about Lan Heโs interest in family dramas had spread across the crew. Yu Mengmeng even posted pictures of them watching dramas together, which had the fans exclaiming, “Lan He, who knew youโd like these kinds of shows! Theyโre nothing like what you act in!”
But this time, Lan wasnโt watching that kind of show. His phone was playing Animal World.
“Studying nature, huh?” Dou Chunting chuckled and patted his suit. “How do I look in this outfit?”
Lan He had never seen Dou Chunting in formal wear before, and the sudden change in style was quite amusing. “Pretty handsome.”
Dou Chunting grinned. “Right? I secretly think I look better than my brother…”
Before he could finish, Song Futan walked in. Dou Chunting quickly corrected himself, “Of course, thatโs just my private opinion.”
Today was the Golden Lily Awards ceremony. Lan He had been nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in *Chase* and had taken leave from the set to attend. Song Futan accompanied him, while Dou Chunting, whose family’s film investment was also nominated, decided to tag along in Lan Heโs car.
The makeup artist laughed, “Mr. Dou, you are indeed very handsome. And since you and Master Xuang Guang are brothers, there are some resemblances!”
At that moment, a thunderclap sounded outside.
Dou Chunting took a deep breath and glanced out. “Was that really necessary?”
The makeup artist chuckled and added, “Wow, the rainโs getting heavier. No wonder people are saying there might be a dragon emerging, or perhaps the dragon from Beixin Bridge is stirring.”
Dou Chunting replied, “Beixin Bridge hasnโt changed its name; the dragon canโt come out.”
Once the makeup was done, Dou Chunting left. He then leaned toward Lan He and whispered, “With all this heavy rain in the capital recently, is it really not some mischievous dragon at work?”
He had heard all sorts of rumors and was genuinely curious, asking the insider, Lan He.
Lan Heโs expression didnโt change. “There are no dragons in the capital.”
That was the truth.
Dou Chunting remained skeptical, suspecting Lan He might be deceiving him, or maybe this was some post-deception syndrome. But as soon as he left, Lan He checked the time. “The operation should have started by now, right?”
As fate would have it, the Great Immortal had chosen today to act. They were supposed to start showing films early to lure out Liu 13. The military guarded the entire park, leaving only a few formation masters inside while the workers had all been evacuated.
Song Futan patted his head. “Donโt worry.”
Listening to the rain outside, Lan He nodded slowly. “We should head out as well.”
The car, arranged by the *Chase* production team, was also carrying Dou Chunting, who explained as he held an antique scroll, “My dad bragged about this to Mr. Yu from Kunlun, saying itโs a rare Lingpan from ’82. Mr. Yu didnโt believe it, so my dad asked me to bring it to prove him wrong.”
Lan He: “…”
Yu Hangjia, indeed, had a penchant for collecting antiques and paintings. But a piece from 1982 didnโt count as an antiqueโjust a notable artistโs work.
Upon arrival at the award ceremony, they started with the red carpet. Dou Chunting and Song Futan didnโt walk it; the lead actor and actress did so together. Lan He, however, joined the director Liu Chunyang for his red carpet appearance.
Though Song Futan didnโt walk the red carpet, a reporter spotted him and immediately rushed over, asking if he was accompanying Lan He. The journalist exclaimed about their close friendship and seized the opportunity to inquire about the progress of the *Ghost Charm* shoot.
Questions poured in, but the reporter hoped for just a couple of answers. With the live feed broadcasting across various media, netizens tuned in real-time.
While Lan He was being photographed on the red carpet, Song Futan, waiting for him, casually praised Lan Heโs tenacity on set for a full ten minutes. He also glanced at Lan He occasionally, checking if he was finished.
The reporters were initially thrilled by Song Futanโs comments, but as his remarks stretched on, they became increasingly puzzled.
Netizens watching the livestream were equally baffled.
ใ?? How does Xuang Guang manage to keep a straight face while praising Lan He for ten whole minutes?ใ
ใIโm confused. He sounds so logical, yet his tone suggests heโs just killing time. Is he serious or not?ใ
ใAlternatively, he might just be effortlessly showering Lan He with ten minutes of complimentsโฆ Iโm shipping it!ใ
ใThe reporters are clearly questioning their life choices and dare not interrupt Xuang Guang.ใ
Within ten minutes, more viewers joined the stream after hearing about the scene.
Finally, Lan He finished with the red carpetโphotos, group shots, and all. Song Futan, eager to wrap things up, ended his impromptu monologue with, “Letโs stop here for now,” before walking away.
The reporters were left speechless: “โฆโฆ”
ใIconic moment, truly iconic.ใ
ใIโm dying of laughter at Xuang Guang. How did he end up like this?!ใ
ใAll those years of your cold aloof personaโฆ eventually swallowed whole.ใ
…
The *Chase* production team shared a table, with Song Futan and Dou Chunting sneaking in as well.
Dou Chunting technically had a seat among the representatives of his company’s nominated film. Yet, he brought his chair over to this table instead, claiming he wanted to chat with his “investor daddy,” Yu Hangjia. The others had no choice but to scoot over and make space.
Under the table, Dou Chunting unfurled the scroll he had brought and showed it to Yu Hangjia. โUncle Yu? What do you think?โ
Yu Hangjia, who had some knowledge of Zhong Kui paintings, examined it carefully. “Ah, this is indeed a fine Lingpan.”
โHaha, you have a sharp eye! This thing really works wonders for warding off evil.โ Dou Chunting began bragging about how the Lingpan had protected the production crew.
Yu Hangjiaโs eyes turned nostalgic. โI used to own a draft of *Chaozhen Tu*, blessed by incense offerings for many years. It also had protective powers. Cost me three million. But alasโฆโ
โWhat happened to it?โ Dou Chunting asked curiously.
Yu Hangjia waved his hand sorrowfully. โWell, the three million is gone. There was no choiceโI used it to save someone.โ
His cryptic tone left Dou Chunting utterly confused, but being the carefree person he was, he simply beamed. โWell, at least you can admire mine now.โ
Meanwhile, under the table, a weasel clasped its paws together in a respectful gesture toward Lan He, ensuring Yu Hangjia didnโt notice. It whispered, โLong time no see. I pay my respects.โ
Lan He acted as though he hadnโt noticed.
But Melonhead Immortal knew better. He cheerfully removed his melon-rind hat and said, โThanks to you, weโve been blessed with Golden Summit ash! My wife and kids are all thriving.โ
Although Lan He didnโt respond, he thought to himself, *Melonhead Immortal might be a bit dim, but heโs a good parentโalways prioritizing his kids when he gets something good.*
Liu Chunyang turned to him. โAre you nervous?โ
โOf course a little,โ Lan He admitted. โThe media kept asking me if I was confident earlier. How could I dare set myself up like that?โ
This was his first-ever career nomination, so even with his steady nerves and the general consensus that he had a high chance of winning, he couldnโt help but feel slightly on edge.
โYou donโt look it at all,โ Liu Chunyang commented.
Lan He nodded. โGotta at least act calm.โ It was a habit formed from years of dealing with spiritsโthe more nervous he was, the less he could show it, or heโd risk being exposed.
Liu Chunyang assumed it was just youthful pride and chuckled.
…
In a residential area of the capital,
Li Jing spoke to a Taoist specializing in fire rituals, who was watching the Golden Lily Awards livestream. โBrother, just tell meโis the dragon in that newly built park? I saw itโs completely surrounded by the military.โ
The fire ritual Taoist replied lazily, โBrother, donโt ask. I really donโt know. All Iโve heard is thereโs no dragon, and as for where it might be, I have no idea.โ
He truly couldnโt reveal anything more.
This Li Jing wasnโt a fellow disciple or even someone particularly close to him.
Li Jing was better known online as @TotaTianwang, a dragon enthusiast who often claimed to have spotted them. His day job, however, was running a jade shop. The jade industryโs origins were long forgotten, but its patron saint was the Taoist Qiu Changchun from Baiyun Temple.
Qiu Changchun might be unfamiliar to some, but the name Qiu Chuji might ring a bellโone of the Seven Masters of Quanzhen. Legend had it Qiu Chuji was a master jade craftsman, first taking on jade apprentices before Taoist ones. Even today, the jade industry retains the tradition of addressing colleagues as โsenior brother,โ preserving this ancient custom.
Li Jing was simply trying to curry favor with the Taoist over dragon-related matters. Despite calling him โsenior brotherโ incessantly, the Taoist couldnโt share such critical secrets.
โForget it.โ Li Jing left reluctantly, still unwilling to give up. With the recent torrential rains, he was convinced it was the perfect opportunity to capture another dragon sighting!
…
At the construction site,
Master Budong sat in a prefab house, chanting a mantra.
The other four monks stretched out their hands to inspect their palms. Each had the character for โsnakeโ written in reverse with realgar powder. They nodded at one another and stepped outside.
The recently dug lake had already filled with rainwater. Around its edges were a few newly planted ornamental trees, and some sod had been laid.
A tent stood on the grass, housing a projection screen. At the monkโs solemn command, a sweet theme song began to flow from the speakers.
The monks stood guard at various positions, staring intently at the screen. The opening sequence featured the male and female leads sharing a kiss.
The storyline of *Timeless Dreams* was undeniably saccharine. The male and female protagonists started as family rivals, constantly clashing, making for a light-hearted and engaging pace.
Jiang He Daozhang’s hair had turned completely white. Sitting upright and composed, he watched the screen showing the male and female leads bickering, with the male lead even cornering the female lead against the wall.
Jiang He Daozhang: “โฆโฆโฆ”
The show had already aired three episodes, yet nothing unusual had happened. None of the other masters showed any impatience; instead, they continued watching with calm persistence. It wasnโt until the male lead accidentally hugged the female lead for the first time that Jiang He Daozhang squinted slightly and glanced subtly toward the poolside.
The willow tree made a faint creaking noise, its branches swaying lightly, but the shadows it castโthose “willow branches”โwere unnaturally thick.
Apart from Jiang He Daozhang, the other masters noticed it too. On the scene, there appeared to be an additional viewer. On the screen, the male and female leads continued their playful antics; in front of the screen, the elderly men sat in eerie silence.
The rain continued to fall steadily, pattering on the ground. In the vast, unfinished park, only the sound from the speakers drifted through the air.
.
“The winner of the 37th Golden Lily Award for Best Supporting Actor isโ” The presenter opened the envelope, letting out a small scream before announcing, “Lan He!”
Thunderous applause erupted, and fans watching the live broadcast cheered as well.
Liu Chunyang turned around, clapping as he looked at Lan He. Lan He hugged him briefly, then shook hands and embraced other colleagues from the crew before finally stepping onto the stage.
“Congratulations! I really like your work,” the presenter said with a smile.
Lan He had just taken the trophy when a sudden, thunderous roar echoed through the venue. Startled for a moment, he began his acceptance speech, thanking everyone from the crew to his family. He ended by expressing his gratitude: “And, Iโd like to thank Xuan Guang for accompanying me tonight. Thank you!”
The camera quickly caught Song Futan smiling in his seat, capturing this rare moment.
That night, the crew of *Chase* had plenty to celebrate, with most of their nominations turning into awards. Yu Hangjia repeatedly suggested throwing a big party afterward.
Lan He was smiling too. Winning an award was certainly delightful, but his thoughts kept returning to that resounding thunder. Even after the ceremony ended, he overheard people saying, “Itโs such a shame the rain was so heavy todayโฆ and itโs only getting heavier.”
An uneasy feeling crept over him. Falling a few steps behind the crew, he turned to Song Futan and said, “Something doesnโt feel right.”
It was a gut instinct, perhaps tied to his identity as an impermanence envoy. Besides, if the Great Immortal were prevailing, the rain wouldnโt be this torrential.
Song Futan reassured him, “Iโll send a message to check on things over there.”
The Great Immortal didnโt permit others to be present; his formations required quality over quantity. Too many people would disrupt the array. Otherwise, Lan He’s company culture would have ensured a flood of manpower. As it stood, only Si Kong guarded the periphery, and they could try contacting him for updates.
But Si Kong hadnโt responded to any messages.
Still, Lan He had an agreement with the Great Immortal: if anything happened, even without a phone, they could find a way to send word. Could it be that Si Kong was just temporarily preoccupied? Even so, Lan He couldnโt shake the odd feeling and decided to investigate.
“President Yu, Director Liu, Iโll have to skip the party. Director Songโs set is pressing me, and heโs not allowing any drinking,” Lan He said to Yu Hangjia and Liu Chunyang.
“Aw, at least come grab a bite,” Yu Hangjia urged. Liu Chunyang chimed in, “You just won an award! Donโt kill the vibe.”
But as soon as Yu Hangjia finished speaking, Melonhead Immortal blew on the back of his neck. Yu Hangjia rubbed the spot and suddenly changed his mind. “Wait, never mind. Letโs let Lan He rest. The filming must be intense, right? Weโll celebrate later.”
Liu Chunyang was dumbfounded. How had Yu Hangjia changed his stance so quickly?
Since Yu Hangjia agreed, Dou Chunting immediately offered, “Iโll drive you two!”
Dou Chunting joined Lan He and Song Futan in heading to the parking lot. Unbeknownst to him, Melonhead Immortal followed as well. Both the man and the yellow weasel spoke almost simultaneously: “Do you think somethingโs happened?”
Yu Hangjia had been fawning over the dragon, so Melonhead Immortal naturally knew about the Liu Immortal too. The earlier thunder had rattled him as well, making him instinctively suspect trouble.
As for Dou Chunting, he simply felt uneasy watching his cousin and the others rush off.
Lan He didnโt answer directlyโhe wasnโt sure either. Instead, he said, “The parking lotโs crowded right now; itโs not convenient. Cousin, can you drive the car out and wait for us somewhere? Melonhead, you should hurry back.”
“Whoโs Melonhead?” Dou Chunting glanced around in alarm.
As they reached the car, they found it was the one Dou Chuntingโs company had provided earlier. Having already obtained the keys, he unlocked the doors. Lan He climbed inside and rummaged around, finding a notebook. Dressed in formalwear, he hadnโt brought anything extra, including his “Lan He Happy Paper.” But given the urgency of the situation, regular paper would suffice for now.
“Are you sure you donโt need my help?” Melonhead Immortal leaned against the car window, his round eyes staring at them.
“Noโฆ” Lan He started to refuse but paused halfway, turning to Song Futan. “Didnโt you say your charm-writing pens break often?”
Song Futan nodded. Breakage was common with regular pens used for talisman crafting, likely due to the strain of channeling intangible power.
Lan He mused, “I saw on *Animal World* today that wolf-hair brushes are made from weasel fur.”
Song Futan: “โฆ”
Melonhead Immortal: “โฆโฆโฆโฆ”
Two minutes later.
Melonhead Immortal covered his rear and watched them leave.
…
Lan He had already burned incense to notify Hu 79 and Bai Wu, but the heavy rain caused severe traffic jams in the capital, delaying their arrival. Dou Chunting dropped them off near the park and found a quiet parking lot.
โWeโve got something urgent to handle. Watch over our bodies for us; itโs hard to say when weโll return,โ Lan He instructed.
โIs it something serious? Are you going to fight monsters? Should I bring my spirit plate along?โ Dou Chunting offered enthusiastically.
Lan He and Song Futan exchanged a glance. The spirit plate was indeed good for warding off evil, and Lan He hadnโt brought his “Happy Paper.” Though they didnโt know exactly what was happening, having extra protection couldnโt hurt. โSure, letโs borrow it.โ
Lan He and Song Futan left their souls and floated toward the unfinished park. By right, Si Kong should have been standing guard there. However, he hadnโt responded to messages earlier, and now he was nowhere to be seen. The only people present were soldiers standing in the rain, their backs to the park, not sparing it even a glance.
At first, Lan He thought this was due to military discipline. But when they tried to enter, they found an invisible barrier blocking their way. It felt more like a flexible wall than a solid one.
Lan He paused, recalling how Si Kong hadnโt replied. โโฆTry cutting it.โ
Song Futan drew his sword and slashed at the barrier. It tore like leather, releasing a pungent smell. Lan He touched it, frowning at the strange texture. โIs thisโฆ a snakeโs shed skin?โ
As the cut opened a gap, an unidentifiable creatureโs cry echoed from within, along with Si Kongโs voice. The soldiers guarding the area became instantly alert, and an officer quickly radioed for updates.
Lan He realized that this snake-skin-like barrier had been isolating the sounds inside. He and Song Futan dashed through the opening, finding themselves in the rain. A large outdoor screen was inexplicably playing *Timeless Dreams*, with Lan Heโs own face enlarged as he shouted at the leads attempting to kiss, โNo way!!โ
The moment his voice rang out, a massive black snake let out a furious cry, seemingly agitated by the scene.
Lan He: โโฆโฆโฆโฆโ
What the hell? Why am *I* here?!
Lan He was speechless. The site was a complete mess. Several elder masters lay unconscious on the groundโthey had been setting up an array with the Great Immortal but were now incapacitated.
Only Jiang He Daozhang remained conscious, clutching a rope. Two other positions were now occupied by Si Kong and Master Budong, the latter multitasking with prayer beads in one hand and the rope in the other. Even upon noticing Lan Heโs arrival, he had no attention to spare.
Yet, one position remained unfilled.
This leftโ
A snow-white giant hedgehog, quills gleaming like needles, was entwined by the enormous black snake. The snakeโs body was wrapped with several ropes connecting it to the Daoists, but it seemed unfazed. Its eyes remained fixed on the screen, and its mouth, wide open to reveal sharp fangs, moved as if calculating: were its fangs longer, or were the hedgehogโs quills sharper?
This was the significance of the size contest between the Bai Sect and the Liu Sect. If the Liu Sectโs body were large enough, it could bite the Bai Sect before its mouth was pierced.
The Great Immortal gripped its claws tightly as if willing the quills to grow longer.
The two sides were locked in a stalemate.
โWhat the hell is going on here?โ Lan He quickly sent a message. Earlier communications must have been blocked, but thankfully, Song Futanโs slash had created an opening.
Si Kong, spotting them, brightened. At the same time, his radio crackled to life: โMaster Si Kong? How are things inside? We heard noisesโฆโ
โDonโt act rashly! Just find a man born in the Year of the Tiger and send him in! Weโre one person short!โ Si Kong shouted. The array was incomplete without a master, but a strong, tiger-born soldier could temporarily fill the gap.
After relaying this, Si Kong turned to Lan He. โThis Liu Immortal is toxic!โ
Lan He: โ???โ
Si Kong: โI mean itโs a venomous snake! It poisoned the other masters!โ
Lan He: โโฆโฆโ
Lan He quickly grasped the situation. Clearly, things had gone sideways. There was no time for details; the Great Immortal was struggling against the venomous fangs. Lan He grabbed a piece of paper and began folding it. โGreat Immortal, let me lend you a hand.โ
As a soul, he couldnโt join the array directly but could assist in other ways.
Lan He flicked the folded paper toward the ground, where it transformed into a swarm of small animals.
The black snake, its jaws still caught on the hedgehog, muttered incoherently, โWhatโs that?โ
Lan He: โDonโt recognize it? I saw it on *Animal World* today. Itโs a mongoose, a natural predator of snakes. Unlike hedgehogs, itโs even better at dealing with them.โ
Liu 13: โโฆโฆโฆโฆ Youโre insane!โ
โToo small for you?โ Lan He retorted.
Granted, these paper creatures were limited by their original shapes. Against the massive black snake, one swipe of its tail could send them flying.
The black snake rolled its eyes and refocused on biting the Great Immortal.
The Great Immortalโs beady eyes squinted tightly, exerting all their effort. โโฆโ
Song Futan took out a crude wolf-hair brush, dipped it in prepared cinnabar ink, and inscribed eight words: Boundless and infinite, reveal divine power.
Lan He glanced upward. Liu 13 was fortunate they had been refining their coordination recently.
The crimson characters twisted into runes and adhered to the head of the paper mongoose. Against its white background, the gold-lined symbols exuded a sacred aura.
The paper mongoose leaped forward. As it charged, golden light flared from its body. With each step, it grew larger until it transformed into a giant mongoose, pouncing on Liu 13 and clamping its jaws around him!
Liu 13: โ???โ
GO MONGOOSE!!