AGJN 075: What Do You Know About Acting?!

A Daoist’s trembling finger pointed at Lan He, then at the screen behind him. It was unclear whether he was shocked or just reeling from recent poisoning. “It’s you! It’s you! Aren’t you supposed to be at the award ceremony?”

Even he, influenced by his daughter’s interests, knew Lan He’s schedule for the day. At first, he found it hard to believe that “knowing” him could mean this kind of knowing, especially since the person in question was here fighting monsters.

Lan He glanced back, realizing there was no hiding it anymore. If this situation taught him anything, it was that he’d become more famous than before. In the future, he might need to cover his eyes as well… Though he had already made some effort by wearing a hat, it clearly wasn’t enough.

Lan He admitted honestly, “The ceremony’s over. I won an award.”

Everyone: “…………”

The group had mixed feelings.

To think this person was not only good at his main job…

You couldn’t blame them for not suspecting Lan He, even after knowing Xiao Lai was an Impermanent. After all, who would’ve thought this person would have the time to balance acting, walking red carpets, becoming famous, and taking on part-time gigs? It was truly extraordinary.

Daoist Jiang He suddenly recalled the time he bowed to Old Bai at the Dongyue Temple, only to be “misunderstood” as bowing to a minor celebrity, Lan He. Back then, his disciples had rushed to clarify the misunderstanding… Feeling a bit weak, he leaned against the steadfast Master Budong.

Master Budong said, “Amitabha.”

Jiang He asked, “Monk, did you know about this?”

Master Budong evaded the question, saying, “It was your decision to choose this drama.”

Everyone: “…”

They wanted to point out that religious figures don’t lie, but technically, he hadn’t lied—just remained silent.

Lan He clasped his hands together respectfully. “Masters, my apologies. Due to my profession and personal reasons, I initially didn’t want to become an Impermanent. However, these matters aren’t something I can decide, so I’ve kept my identities in both worlds separate. My apologies.”

With his explanation, the group understood.

No wonder he had so little time—it was like being forced onto the stage. Even if an actor truly believed in such things, they wouldn’t publicize it, let alone someone like Lan He, who didn’t initially want the role.

“Well, I hope the masters… won’t spread this too widely?” Lan He asked tentatively.

He had some understanding of Master Budong, and Master Sikong seemed trustworthy. However, he had no connections with the other masters and wasn’t sure if they would spread the news.

Jiang He said, “Ahem, today’s events need to be registered with the relevant authorities. That young man is awake too, so it’s unlikely to stay hidden. However, the authorities are quite strict about confidentiality in these matters, so you shouldn’t worry about that. As for us, I can personally vouch for keeping it under wraps. Since you’re a part-time Impermanent of the Dongyue underworld and even favored by the immortals, you have strong ties with our Daoist sects and the Dongyue Temple. Naturally, I won’t betray one of our own.”

In just a few words, Jiang He had pulled Lan He into his faction.

The other masters began to think along similar lines. A living Impermanent meant they were all in the same circle. “Oh, don’t worry about that. We’ve worked together, haven’t we?”

“Exactly. And you’re also the spokesperson for the Miaogan Mountain tourism campaign. By the way, that’s a 5A-level scenic spot…”

“Haha, quick thinking there. No problem.”

Whatever their intentions, the masters seemed friendly.

Hu 79 counted her fingers and said, “Even if they do spread rumors, it doesn’t matter.” She didn’t lower her voice, adding to Lan He, “We’ll just deny it and say someone fabricated the story to slander you.”

Lan He: “…”

Everyone else: “…………”

“Haha, just kidding, just kidding.” Lan He quickly covered Hu 79’s mouth. Internally, though, he thought, *Wow, that’s actually a good idea. After all, no one can produce evidence.*

The group could only laugh awkwardly.

Jiang He said, “Now that this matter is resolved, the next step is to have the designers and geomancers revise the blueprints. The bridge must have a snake carved into it.”

They planned to declare within their field that the snake spirit had been subdued and was now sealed beneath the bridge for eternal safety.

Liu 13 immediately reacted. “A dragon!”

Jiang He laughed awkwardly.

Liu 13’s already sinister expression grew even fiercer. “Did you hear me? A dragon!”

When he was angry, his aura was truly terrifying, as if he could devour people. However, since he had previously sworn an oath, the masters were not too worried. They whispered among themselves. Adding a dragon carving to the bridge wasn’t inherently problematic—after all, snakes were considered little dragons. The issue was that rumors were already swirling.

Liu 13 pushed further: “And it better be a Dragon King!”

“How are they going to represent the Dragon King? Are they planning to carve an entire dragon palace?” Everyone continued their hushed discussions.

Lan He thought, *Well, it seems this no longer concerns me.* He turned to the Bai Great Immortal. “Thank you for your hard work, Great Immortal. Would you like to come to my place for a meal?”

—The household spirits receive incense offerings, which they also refer to as “eating vegetarian meals.” Some spirits would even visit other homes to share incense offerings, a practice called “attending a meal.”

The Bai Great Immortal stared at the grass. “No need. Just bring some back for me later.”

This answer wasn’t unexpected. Lan He regretfully replied, “You’ve truly worked hard this time.”

“It’s fine. Just make sure the young spirit can uphold the Bai lineage in the future. That’s all I ask of you!” The Bai Great Immortal’s tone implied he had already accepted Bai Wu as his successor. Indeed, besides Bai Wu, no other hedgehog could match his capability and luck.

“I understand; we’re all family.” Lan He was deeply grateful for the Bai Great Immortal’s assistance. Without him, Liu 13’s abilities would’ve caused chaos throughout the capital. This traditional familial bond among spiritual families also strengthened Lan He’s ties to the Four Great Houses.

*This is the price of eating from the underworld’s bowl; you’re never truly free of it. Is it any surprise that more and more masks keep falling off?* Lan He mused.

However, he was mentally prepared. Choosing to stay with Song Futan and continuing as an Impermanent, he had anticipated such outcomes.

The Bai Great Immortal transformed into a pure white hedgehog, stealthily disappearing into the grass. With that, Lan He’s group left the park and headed to the nearby parking lot to return to their bodies.

Dou Chunting was sitting in the car playing on his phone. He was a bit sleepy but didn’t dare to nap as he had to keep watch over Lan He and his cousin’s bodies. The commotion outside had been nerve-wracking, with thunder and faint, eerie sounds that made his heart race.

Thankfully, the storm gradually subsided, and Lan He and the others returned.

“What happened out there? What was that sound?” Dou Chunting’s drowsiness vanished entirely as he asked excitedly.

Having just finished the fight, Lan He hadn’t felt much until now. Faced with Dou Chunting, he suddenly felt guilty. “It was a snake spirit. We’ve subdued it.”

“Oh? A powerful one? You were gone for so long.” Dou Chunting pressed on. “By the way, wasn’t my spirit seal helpful?”

This was another chance to prove his judgment! At that moment, Dou Chunting noticed something was off. Scanning up and down, he asked, “Where’s my spirit seal?”

Lan He extended his hand. Instinctively, Dou Chunting reached out to catch what Lan He offered.

But from Lan He’s fist fell only a handful of ashes, black and indistinguishable, showing no trace of what it once was.

Dou Chunting forced a smile. “Brother, you burned another substitute?”

Lan He responded, “Brother, listen to me. Be mentally prepared. This… this is the spirit seal. I burned it to deal with that snake spirit…”

Dou Chunting: “………………”

Song Futan interjected, “It was my idea to burn it. My apologies. I’ll cover the cost.”

Bai Wu added, “Let me handle it!”

Song Futan: “…”

Dou Chunting collapsed onto the steering wheel, wailing. “My painting! My heirloom! Cousin, you make it sound so simple! This isn’t about money! Even with money, I can’t buy another!”

Lan He panicked. “I’m truly sorry. I know… I’ll try my best to find a similar one. Maybe even a better vintage?”

Hu 79 blew on Dou Chunting’s face and said, “Your painting will go down in history. Do you even realize what just happened? That snake spirit nearly flooded the capital, like the Flooding of Jinshan Temple. From Master Fuhai—no, Master Budong to Daoist Jiang He, no one could stop it. Finally, everyone realized that only your spirit seal could subdue the spirit, bringing an end to the relentless rains in the capital and saving countless lives. On a larger scale, it prevented a catastrophe across North China…”

Hu 79 exaggerated the snake spirit’s threat and the painting’s importance to the point where it seemed like Dou Chunting deserved a metaphysical Nobel Peace Prize.

Lan He: “…” As expected of the Hu clan, their eloquence knows no bounds.

Dou Chunting’s cries gradually subsided. He then felt a furry paw gently patting his back, easing his heartbreak. Hiccupping, he asked, “So… all this was my contribution?”

Lan He immediately confirmed, “Absolutely!” He nudged Song Futan.

Song Futan added reluctantly, “…A hero of the city.”

Hearing even his cousin say so, Dou Chunting wiped his nose and said, “Alright, I’ll get over it eventually.”

Though losing the spirit seal still felt like a knife to his heart, knowing it had served a meaningful purpose helped him come to terms with it. He started the car and drove out of the parking lot. “For the sake of letting the city see the sun again, I accept this…”

…

On the third-floor stairwell, Li Jing stood with a pair of binoculars, trying to observe the park. However, the night and swaying trees obscured his view. His camera sat ready on a tripod, prepared to capture anything noteworthy.

Because the area was guarded by the military, Li Jing didn’t dare to get too close. In fact, even staying there made him a bit anxious. What if he was wrong, and they were just conducting some classified project? If they caught him, what would happen?

Li Jing staked out the place for a full three hours. Just as he was about to give up, he heard a strange sound from the park. He couldn’t tell what kind of animal it was, but for the sound to reach this distance, it must have been quite loud. The sky also cooperated, rumbling with thunder and flashing with lightning, while the rain grew heavier.

Could it be a dragon? Li Jing was thrilled, holding his camera, ready to shoot at any moment.

Unfortunately, after waiting for a long time, he saw nothing resembling a dragon. The rain gradually lessened and eventually stopped, and the strange sounds ceased. He wasn’t able to record anything, which left him feeling frustrated.

Just then, Li Jing saw a car drive past on the street, and in the park, a massive dark shadow emerged.

Oh my god, it’s a dragon! Li Jing began taking pictures like a madman.

However, since it was nighttime and there were no streetlights, his camera’s flash couldn’t illuminate that far. Plus, he wasn’t exactly a photography expert, so the pictures turned out just as blurry and dark as before.

But this time, it was different. The dragon wasn’t flying in the sky—it was on the ground. The park must have been its lair. Was this the same dragon he had captured in his earlier photos? Or was it a new one—a flood dragon?

This was the closest Li Jing had ever been to a dragon. His inability to take clear photos made him even more frustrated. To make matters worse, he saw the dragon leap into a car on the road. Unable to contain himself, he leaned out of the window and yelled hysterically, “Dragon!!! A black dragon!!!”

Come on, come here! Let me get a clear shot of you!

But the black dragon didn’t reappear. Disheartened, Li Jing lowered his camera.

…

Inside Dou Chunting’s car.

A distorted shout came from outside: “Dragon!! Black dragon!!”

Liu 13 glanced back and commented with appreciation, “Someone has good eyesight.”

Lan He: “…”

He also looked back briefly. Liu 13 was being too arrogant. Although such a large snake was rare to see, most people would assume it was a giant python that had escaped from the zoo, not immediately call it a dragon. Fortunately, this wasn’t his car, and it was pitch dark. He was even wearing a mask. Even if a new urban legend arose, it wouldn’t involve him.

Dou Chunting, trembling as he drove, stammered, “B-Brother, is this… really him?”

He had just heard about the great battle with Liu Immortal, and now a man transformed from a massive snake had climbed into his car. The man’s pale face was filled with menace, his pupils were deep and cold, and although he had a human body, his eyes betrayed the emotionless nature of a cold-blooded creature, as if he could strike cruelly at any moment.

“Mm, it’s him,” Song Futan replied. “What are you here for?”

“I left the snake molt behind, and the bridge isn’t finished yet,” Liu 13 said matter-of-factly, casually crossing his legs. “I’m going to his place for a good meal first. Also, I need to finish the series I was watching. We agreed on this.”

The exorcists couldn’t stop him, and since he wasn’t breaking any rules, he simply followed along.

Lan He thought Liu 13 was truly something else. He had just finished a fight and already wanted to go eat at someone’s house.

Although it had been agreed upon as part of the deal for Liu 13 guarding the bridge, today had been exhausting. Lan He tried to subtly object, “Well, the thing is, I think it’s a bit cramped…”

He and Song Futan were sitting in the back seat, with Hu 79 at the front and Bai Wu, who had transformed into a hedgehog, curled up in the corner. Liu 13, in his human form, was squeezed between him and Song Futan. The chilling aura emanating from him made Lan He recall the sensation of snake scales, which was quite unsettling.

Liu 13 glanced around, then transformed into a medium-sized snake and coiled himself around Dou Chunting, filling the driver’s seat entirely. Flicking his tongue with a chilling hiss, he said arrogantly, “This dragon sits here. Do you two still feel cramped?”

Lan He: “…”

Song Futan: “…”

Dou Chunting: “!!!”

Tears streamed down Dou Chunting’s face. Okay, fine, but was this really necessary?

…

Back in the park.

The exorcists who had called for reinforcements earlier now found their disciples and followers finally arriving, only to learn that the matter was already resolved. Daoist Jiang He was discussing with the military, saying they should rest for now, and that he’d write a report tomorrow.

Everyone dispersed, returning to their respective places. Daoist Jiang He was helped into his temple’s car, where he briefed them about the Liu Immortal, explaining that the Liu Immortal would now guard the bridge. Everyone agreed on this point. Of course, he didn’t mention that Liu 13 might not always stay in the park and that he was currently pestering Lan He.

After finishing, Daoist Jiang He asked, “What new and good restaurants have opened in the capital recently? Not vegetarian ones—meat dishes.”

One disciple asked curiously, “Why is Master asking about this?”

Daoist Jiang He chuckled. “Oh, I was just thinking that since the Ghost Festival is coming up, I might prepare some food to entertain the spirits.”

The disciple scratched his head. In the past, they had only prepared vegetarian meals. When had he ever talked about hosting a proper feast?

What the disciple didn’t know was that Daoist Jiang He had already made up his mind. No wonder he liked to eat at Yanluo. Since actors couldn’t casually eat or drink, they could enjoy it when walking the earth. If he wanted to win over Lan He, he’d start here!

Oh, right.

Daoist Jiang He suddenly asked, “Hey, is *Chase* still showing in theaters?”

The disciple was even more confused. “It’s been out of theaters for a long time.”

Daoist Jiang He sighed regretfully. If it were still showing, he could’ve booked several screenings to show support! No, he needed to start keeping up with entertainment news from now on!

Tonight, many uninformed people would undoubtedly find themselves baffled.

Daoist Jiang He wasn’t the only one with such thoughts. Another exorcist also took out his phone to search for news.

One of his disciples caught a glimpse of Lan He on the screen and muttered, “Hmph, Lan He won Best Supporting Actor tonight. So annoying! I think XXX’s performance was more nuanced. He deserved it more!”

Not everyone loved Lan He. This particular disciple, for one, had a bit of an opinion.

The exorcist immediately raised his eyebrows, smacked the disciple on the head, and yelled, “What do you know?! What do you know about acting?!”

Was this level of acting still not good enough?!

…

Dou Chunting dropped everyone off and then fled like a bat out of hell.

Meanwhile, Liu 13 insisted on following Lan He home. When Lan He tried to politely decline, Liu 13 either didn’t understand or pretended not to. When told directly, he lost his temper, becoming extremely volatile. If it weren’t for their prior agreement, he might’ve resorted to violence. Even so, he almost caused damage to the residential complex’s public property.

Liu 13 roared, “Everyone agreed! You owe me an incense tower, and you must offer me incense from now on!!! I want it now!!!”

Lan He responded calmly, “Building an incense tower isn’t something I can do overnight. There aren’t enough materials. I’ll give you three sticks tomorrow.”

Liu 13: “Three sticks? Are you messing with me?!”

Lan He: “I never said when I’d give it to you.”

Indeed, they hadn’t agreed on a timeline. Liu 13 was stunned. It was rare for him to encounter someone bold enough to delay payment.

Lan He added, “How about a phone to watch your shows?”

A slap followed by a sweet offer. Liu 13 was momentarily stunned into silence, unable to argue.

The ground was still wet, with plenty of puddles, but at least the rain had stopped.

Liu 13 mulled over the situation for a long time, unable to find any loopholes. He could only swallow his grievances. Given his long body, swallowing took quite a while, and it felt particularly bitter. Glancing at the trees in the complex, he said with a tone like he was inspecting the Dragon Palace, “Hmm, not bad. There are plenty of trees. I can settle here.”

In truth, Liu Immortal wasn’t particularly fond of living inside homes. Many Liu Immortal chose to reside on people’s roof beams or even on trees outside their doors, rarely entering their houses.

Seeing Liu 13 picking a tree, Lan He felt slightly relieved. He really didn’t want a snake roaming inside his home all the time. It would be fine during the day, but at night, he’d worry about accidentally stepping on it.

“Huh?”

Lan He heard a familiar voice. Looking up, he saw Old Bai floating down.

Old Bai hadn’t participated in tonight’s battle but had heard the news and came specifically to check in. Seeing Liu 13 there as well, his mind turned, and he said, “Well, well, he came to your place too?”

Impressive. Truly impressive. Even this notoriously fierce Liu Immortal had been subdued.

Old Bai wasn’t aware of their prior agreements. Lan He clarified, “He’s not staying inside.”

Old Bai thought of First Miss Hu and couldn’t help but chuckle. “Staying in a tree? That’s typical of Liu Immortal.” This old ghost, always full of sarcastic remarks, even mocked himself as he clasped his hands together and said, “Still, congratulations on the ‘arrival of a fine son.'”

Lan He: “………………”

Liu 13: “???”

The fierce expression on Liu 13’s face was now laced with utter confusion, even in the scars on his face. Had the meaning of this phrase changed with the times? Last time he woke up, “arrival of a fine son” still meant congratulations on the birth of a baby boy, didn’t it?!