Chapter 22
The short video from the suona concert was eventually posted on Weibo. However, it wasn’t the entertainment reporters who shared it; it was the official Weibo account of Encounter with the Dragon.
[@EncounterwiththeDragon Official Weibo: Offering an all-in-one ghost exorcism service [doge]. Come watch Heng Zhi play the suona! [Video]]
Without a doubt, as soon as the Weibo post went live, it ignited all the evening’s hot topics.
[Ah ah ah ah ah!]
[I knew I was a fan of this comedian. The live performance was amazing!]
[Damn, Heng Zhi, the charming and mysterious suona player. I’m totally smitten! Who wouldn’t love the enigmatic, dragon-eyed beauty in black and gold? Can’t wait for Encounter with the Dragon to premiere!]
[I’ve always suspected that the vampire guy was A'ze! And A'ze is ridiculously handsome.]
[Here’s a suggestion for someone who’s still pretending not to apologize—Xu Bailian, order Aze’s all-in-one ghost exorcism service [doge]. First, he’ll scare you by pretending to be a ghost, and then he’ll play a suona tune to send you off. Such a great deal, and acquaintances get a 20% discount! Hahaha!]
[As an art student who’s studied suona for eight years… Heng Zhi plays the suona really well! His glissandos and vibratos are smooth and beautiful! And the fact that it’s an improvised piece — my youth is back! Is this what an entertainment male star looks like? It sure is!]
The unconventional way of gaining fans seemed to be working.
And then, Wen Xingze retweeted the Weibo post using his official account.
His retweet was straightforward, but he couldn’t resist adding a playful twist to his bio — changing it to “Part-time ghost exorcist, handling weddings and funerals, fire acrobat, and fortune-teller. Call 110 for business inquiries.” (Note: emergency hotline in China)
Both fans and casual readers were left amused. Calling 110 for private business? That was a cheeky move!
But what truly sent the discussion into overdrive that night was a rumor from the luxury brand Blod: They had found a suitable candidate for their Chinese brand ambassador and were in contract negotiations. The chosen actor had a surname starting with “W” and belonged to the new generation.
There weren’t many male stars with the surname “W,” especially among the rising stars. After eliminating most options, it seemed that Wen Xingze was the only possibility.
The fashion industry was buzzing.
Perhaps young people today didn’t fully grasp the significance of Blod. It was a brand crafted by legendary designer Dong Heya in the last century. Blod had been serving royalty since its inception — a true blue-blooded aristocrat.
After the previous regional ambassador stepped down due to illness, Blod hadn’t chosen a replacement for seven or eight years. The reason? Dong Heya’s discerning taste.
That night, the hashtags #WenXingzeSuona and #WenXingzeBlodAmbassador were both trending.
The stark contrast and impact left anyone checking the trending topics feeling like they’d stepped into a dreamlike, surreal world.
________________________
Time flew, and Wen Xingze’s final scene in Encounter with the Dragon was upon him.
The decision to split the filming into two storylines had been due to delays in Zheng Xiao’s team. With manpower stretched thin, and considering that Songshan was a municipal attraction with limited rental time, they had no choice but to take this approach.
Yet, Chi Yan didn’t disappoint. He had worked tirelessly throughout the week, completing tasks ahead of schedule. When Director Zheng took over, there was no further delay. They managed to reclaim the time lost during the initial casting process.
If the schedule goes smoothly, the show can premiere around Christmas.
Wen Xingze’s final outdoor scene concluded today. After this, he only needs to return to the city for some green screen indoor shots and assist Mr. Music Production in post-production.
This marks his last day on set, and Xu Qianqian also wrapped up her work today.
Heng Zhi’s final scene, like his first appearance, emphasizes continuity. It’s still a summer night, but the moon is absent, leaving only the expanse of the starry sky. The light of fireflies and mayflies beckons wandering souls home.
As the plot progressed, Heng Zhi’s true purpose became clear to the world, and he rarely wore white robes anymore. In his eyes, snow symbolized an immortal.
“Three layers of snow on the emperor’s body, who else in the world is worthy of white robes?”
Today, however, Heng Zhi unusually donned his original snowy Daoist robe, still with a sword at his waist. His youthful spirit masked the fact that he was heading toward death.
“Ling Yao, had I known I would die, I should have chosen a snowy night,” Heng Zhi’s breath gradually dissipated. The halo in his pale eyes expanded as he held the sword, smiling lightly. “Year after year, we’ll never meet again, year after year…”
Heng Zhi encountered the Immortal Lord Yuan Ming on a snowy night, bid farewell with plum blossoms on a snowy night, and met Ling Yao during a snowy night. His life resembled an endless expanse of snow.
Yet, his final resting place was this windless, moonless early autumn.
Ling Yao held a wine cup, closed her eyes, and poured it down.
To heaven and earth, to the passing years, to old friends.
A fluttering plum blossom swept across the lens, carrying its essence into the boundless night sky—
“Cut!” Director Zheng reviewed the playback and shouted, “It’s a wrap for Heng Zhi and Ling Yao.”
“Waaah!” Xu Qianqian instantly broke down, hugging Wen Xingze tightly. “Heng Zhi, you can’t die! Big sister won’t allow it. Quickly, eat this jade bracelet…”
Wen Xingze: “…Why is the bracelet-eating joke still going?”
Zhu Bo joined them, and the trio wept together.
Though their time together was short, the entire crew would miss Wen Xingze. He was not only handsome and talented but also had a great personality. Besides livening up the atmosphere, he could play the suona to exorcise ghosts. Where would they find such a treasure of a younger brother in the future?
With today’s filming tasks completed, they celebrated with a barbecue at the guesthouse after taking the wrap-up photos. Besides Wen Xingze and Xu Qianqian, many other main cast members also finished today. Only poor Zhu Bo had another two weeks of shooting ahead.
Zhu Bo raised his beer glass, forcing a smile. “I still have an additional outdoor scene to shoot, and it involves—”
At that moment, Director Zheng strolled over, skewers in hand. Zhu Bo instantly changed his tune, “Director Zheng, it’s been a pleasure spending another half month with you. I’m so happy, wuwuwu.”
Director Zheng: “…”
Wen Xingze and Xu Qianqian: “…”
All good things must come to an end. After the barbecue, Xu Qianqian left the crew that night for an early-morning interview.
Wen Xingze departed the next morning, dragging his suitcase reluctantly. It was the first time he’d stayed with a crew for so long, and he felt a bit attached.
But his ride had arrived. Wen Xingze hugged the actors, director, and crew members one by one before getting into the car.
“Congratulations on wrapping up,” Jiang Ye personally drove to pick him up. “You have two weeks of rest ahead. Eat, drink, and play as you like, but avoid nightclubs and excesses. Remember to wear a mask and sunglasses when you go out.”
“By the way, do you want an assistant?” Jiang Ye asked.
Wen Xingze had now become a celebrity who needed to wear a mask when going out. It was quite a change from his days living in the basement not long ago — truly, how unpredictable life could be.
However, Wen Xingze declined the offer of an assistant. His reasons were twofold: firstly, the Blood Clan parents visited him daily, and secondly, he had ongoing WeChat conversations with the Dragon Clan parents. Having an assistant constantly by his side would be inconvenient.
After completing the film, having a half-month break was quite good. Wen Xingze was gradually gaining popularity, and if he had a more aggressive manager, they’d probably have him working nonstop — shooting commercials, attending events, and promoting films without a moment’s rest.
Jiang Ye didn’t insist and added, “How about doing a variety show next? Several variety show producers have inquired about you. I’ve screened some high-quality programs with strong production standards. I’ll send you the scripts to choose from.”
Wen Xingze was well-suited for variety shows. He had wit, could deliver deadpan humor, and handle both serious and comedic roles. Once Encounter with the Dragon premiered, his overall popularity would likely soar even higher.
Wen Xingze agreed, “Sure.”
________________________
Over the next three days, Wen Xingze returned to Manli, indulging in his favorite lifestyle of eating, drinking, and lazing around.
At Manli, he enjoyed hot springs, had chefs and attendants serving him, and entertained the Blood Clan princes with movie nights while chatting with the Dragon Clan in the evenings. It was practically a heavenly existence. He pushed work-related matters to the back of his mind, except for selecting a variety show.
He settled on one called “Fantasy Cruise,” an intriguing concept for a sea-based travel show with elements of deduction.
…But on the third evening, as he soaked in the hot spring, savoring desserts prepared by the Blood Clan parents — who were about to be crowned the top interstellar chefs after rigorous training — he suddenly had a realization.
Autumn had arrived.
“I need to find a place to live,” Wen Xingze said, white foam bubbling around his head in the water. He chatted with the Dragon Clan parents, “Staying in hotels all the time isn’t sustainable.”
Astor looked puzzled. “Don’t you like it here?”
Wen Xingze clarified, “It’s not that. But nobody can live in hotels every day.”
His earnings from Encounter with the Dragon were substantial, making him a semi-affluent individual. Although he couldn’t afford to buy property in the capital, he could easily rent a place anywhere he liked.
“Hotels aren’t private spaces,” Wen Xingze continued. “With managers, attendants, and chefs coming and going every day… In the future, when people from your universe and other citizens can freely travel here, we’ll need a home.”
Now that interdimensional deliveries were available, who knew if people would indeed start visiting? As a ruler, Wen Xingze preferred to be prepared.
Hearing this reasoning, the Dragon Clan parents teared up. Will said, “You’re right. We need a home. How about the Forbidden City?”
It was the only building they had somewhat reluctantly approved after screening all the nearby properties.
Wen Xingze exclaimed, “What?!”
And then, he added emphatically, “Absolutely not!”
To prevent the Dragon Clan parents from making any irreversible decisions, Wen Xingze wasted no time and immediately began house hunting.
Although Shengtian Entertainment provided apartments for artists, the Dragon Clan parents were extremely dissatisfied with the environment. After seeing just two photos, they issued another warning.
Wen Xingze posted on his Moments: “Looking for a rental, recommendations welcome!”
His popularity worked wonders. Comments and likes flooded in. Some teased, “Heng Zhi is moving to the Dragon Palace in the Clouds,” while others, like Jiang Ye, replied more seriously, “I’ll keep an eye out for you.”
Wen Xingze tossed his phone aside, sighing heavily. “There’s no suitable one…” he muttered before falling asleep.
________________________
Muse Empire
Above the planet Lancer, a Universal Alliance starship descended silently. Their mission: to infiltrate the Muse Empire, with Lancer as their first destination.
Scout officer Brent, responsible for surveillance, repeatedly zoomed in on the monitor until he finally glimpsed a faint ripple on the calm sea surface.
Approximately a thousand mermaids emerged from the water.
Their fish tails were unbelievably beautiful, scales reflecting a splendid glow in the moonlight. With ear fins and flowing hair, they seemed ethereal and dreamlike, almost unreal.
“Goodness, are those mermaids? It’s my first time seeing them in person…” Brent murmured. (Note: Merfolk refers to the clan, mermaids refer to individual members, similar to Blood Clan/vampires)
All mermaids possessed exquisite features, and their tears turned into pearls. Forty to fifty years ago, before the founding of the Muse Empire, mermaids were the most sought-after “commodity” in the slave trade market — expensive and rare.
Undoubtedly, the Merfolk were powerful. They were born with the ability to control tides and even manipulate small asteroids. Each mermaid was a formidable force.
However, despite their strength, they fell victim to unexpected ambush by countless ruthless traders. The entire clan was shackled with specially designed restraints.
Thus began the collapse of their once-great civilization, as the ocean overlords became prisoners.
Merfolk used to love singing, but after that incident, their songs went unheard throughout the universe. Those who refused to sing fetched lower prices at auctions, leading to beatings and coercion by their captors.
Until the founding of the Muse Empire.
The first thing the Emperor did upon establishing the nation was to abolish slavery. Almost the entire military force was deployed to rescue Merfolk and other enslaved races.
During this war, Muse Empire’s Emperor rapidly matured. He even infiltrated the universe’s largest underground auction, setting fire to half a planet, rescuing thousands of merfolk, destroying all restraints, and permanently ending the century-old inhumane auctions.
Records of this war were scarce in later generations, but one blurry photograph remained.
—A teenager who appeared no older than sixteen, a red birthmark at the corner of his eye. Flames raged behind him, and he bore multiple life-threatening wounds. Yet, he carried a barely conscious young mermaid on his back.
Though he seemed on the verge of collapse with every step, he continued moving forward.
These two mermaids later became the clan leader and a high priest. Their names: Xia and Wu Zhu.
Initially, almost the entire universe called the Muse Empire’s Emperor a fool for undertaking thankless tasks. How many enemies had he made, and how much cake had he disturbed? They awaited the young Emperor's inevitable price to pay.
Yet, over twenty years passed, the Atlantis civilization was rebuilt, and no mermaid remained enslaved.
The Muse Empire had risen to become one of the superpowers in the universe.
“…”
“I’d love to see what their Emperor is like,” Brent mused. The person who fascinated the entire Merfolk. “Unfortunately, I couldn’t secure a spot on Cub Raising Program.”
Brent scrutinized the monitor, unable to resist maneuvering the small robot closer.
A blue-tailed mermaid sat by the shore, adjusting their appearance. They carefully removed a worn-out magnetic card from around their neck and placed it on a rock.
The card looked ancient, its handwritten characters faded despite being inscribed with waterproof ink. It seemed out of place against the beautiful merfolk.
Driven by curiosity, Brent instructed the robot to discreetly move behind the rock. As its pincers gripped the card for a photo, an accidental slip caused a hairline crack on its weathered surface.
Unexpectedly, the next moment, a shrill alarm blared throughout the cabin.
From the surveillance cameras, Brent could see thousands of mermaids simultaneously fix their gaze on the robot. Their once gentle and beautiful eyes transformed into icy vertical slits.
Intent to kill and energy waves fiercely assaulted the robot’s sensors!
“Damn it!” A colleague who had just finished dinner returned, glanced at the screen, and immediately sensed trouble. “Did you touch a mermaid's identity card?!”
Brent panicked, “What identity card? I thought that old card was just trash…”
His colleague couldn’t help but curse.
The identity card was personally handwritten by the Muse Empire’s king for every mermaid — a certification of their citizenship.
Back when the Muse Empire was newly founded, there was no unified identification system. Each mermaid treasured their identity card because every digit was inscribed by the king’s own hand.
“Run!” The colleague activated the alarm, notifying the command center. “If we don’t run now, it’ll be too late. Remember what happened to E18 Star because of this…”
Through the camera lens, the once serene sea vanished from view.
Swiftly gathering storm clouds obscured the moon, and the ocean roared and churned. The Merfolk had clearly detected the intruders’ presence.
If their earlier beauty was otherworldly, now they were transformed into ferocious demons.
Three seconds later, all camera feeds went dark.
Brent learned firsthand that the more beautiful a creature, the more dangerous it could be. His legs turned to jelly as he looked out the window, his voice trembling with fear. “Perhaps… it’s already too late…”
Not long ago, Brent had felt fortunate to witness the Merfolk through the lens. Now, he felt only dread. For the first time in his life, he saw the legendary mermaids up close.
Mermaids in a berserk state.
Their ear fins flared out, their combat instincts bordering on terror. Their icy pupils bore down through the portholes, fixed on the invaders.
The legendary high priest, Wu Zhu, suspended himself in midair without any visible support, his silver-gray hair flowing. His cold eyes regarded them dispassionately from above.
The pressure left even the best-trained soldiers aboard the starship breathless.
Their exquisitely beautiful scales defied blades and bullets, even particle cannons left no marks. Droplets of water around them turned into razor-sharp blades, effortlessly piercing the starship’s toughest alloy walls.
Another name for the Merfolk was “sea demons.” Or perhaps, “sea gods.”
A tsunami loomed.
Including Brent, everyone aboard the starship closed their eyes in despair.
Escape was impossible — how could they possibly flee? Unexpectedly, just as they were about to abandon all hope, the situation abruptly changed.
All the Merfolk attacks ceased.
Brent held his breath, squinting his eyes open just a fraction.
The mermaids froze as if someone had hit the pause button. Upon closer inspection, their ear fins trembled slightly, as if straining to catch an incredibly precious and vital sound.
Their eyes shifted between fierce vertical slits and round pupils, their emotions complex — part nervousness, part something close to… anticipation.
The mermaids breathed in shudders.
One thing was certain: their attention had completely shifted away from the invaders. All their murderous intent and aggression vanished in an instant.
The beautiful yet highly aggressive mermaids swam back into the sea, dispersing around a particular rock formation. Coincidentally, the terminal that Wu Zhu had casually placed on the rock successfully connected to the cosmic signal at this moment, revealing the game interface for Cub Raising Program.
At that instant, a teenage voice emerged, sounding somewhat drowsy and soft. He said, “We still need a home…”
…as if someone had just scratched behind their ears.
The mermaids' ear fins gradually relaxed.
________________________
The Next Day
Wen Xingze was off to a vacation on a secluded island.
It was a strong request from his vampire guardian, who had even purchased a private island. Wen Xingze couldn’t refuse.
He had been waiting for visa procedures for the past few days. Since the private jet could only fly to the nearby Canary Islands in Spain, he would then transfer to a cruise ship at the harbor. As soon as his visa came through, Wen Xingze informed Jiang Ye and set off.
His first international trip left him excited. The previous night, he had barely slept, cramming common phrases from a translation book. However, he ended up dozing off on the plane, missing most of the scenic views along the way. Still, it saved him from dealing with jet lag…
Coincidentally, the recording for “Fantasy Cruise” was also starting in the Canary Islands. Wen Xingze had signed the contract in China, so he wouldn’t need to return home. He could join the crew directly there.
Even more coincidentally, Chi Yan happened to be in the Canary Islands these days. Since Chi Yan had taken care of him before, Wen Xingze had been wanting to treat him to a meal. So, why not seize the opportunity?
Knowing that Wen Xingze would be dining with Chi Yan tonight, the Blood Clan parents had been acting strange since yesterday, speaking in a sour tone.
The guardians then requested that Wen Xingze wear the vampire filter. He didn’t think much of it and agreed.
Although the climate was Mediterranean, the island had a tropical flair.
White men in Hawaiian shorts idled by the streets and beaches, fishing rods in hand, glancing at newspapers all day. At dusk, caramel-tinted clouds adorned the sky, and the colorful houses and streets resembled scenes from a Disney animation.
At the pier, a fishing boat slowly returned, seagulls perched on the deck.
When Wen Xingze arrived at the restaurant in the evening, Chi Yan was already waiting.
Seeing Chi Yan again after so long made Wen Xingze quite happy. “Teacher Chi!”
“Hmm.” Chi Yan nodded, picked out the raspberry juice ice cubes, and slid them over to Wen Xingze.
Wen Xingze had reserved a window-side booth, ensuring privacy. Still, many curious onlookers glanced their way.
After all, Chi Yan had quite a few fans overseas, and even if you took a step back, both he and Wen Xingze were eye-catching.
And today, Wen Xingze’s eyes were a transparent, beautiful light red.
Chi Yan closed the menu, studying Wen Xingze.
Wen Xingze explained, “Actually, they’re colored contact lenses.”
Outside the floor-to-ceiling windows, a bald crow pecked at the window, excitedly flapping its wings and greeting Wen Xingze: “Gah!”
Chi Yan looked puzzled.
Wen Xingze said, “It just happened to fly by.”
Chi Yan: “…”
An impressive crow to fly halfway across the Atlantic.
Before the meal arrived, Wen Xingze took a sip of the juice on the table. As he opened his mouth, his noticeably sharper blood fangs were revealed.
Chi Yan: “?”
This was the one thing Wen Xingze truly didn’t know how to bluff his way through.
After pondering for a moment, Wen Xingze decided not to explain. He licked his small fangs and made a claw gesture: “Roar?”
—Critical hit.
Chi Yan’s hand froze in midair.
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Thanks for the hard work~
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