Bai Yuhuai turned to Director Gong and said, "The inspiration for your script came from this..." He turned slightly, looking at the man covered in sweat.
Director Gong lifted his eyelids and immediately chimed in, "Assistant Zeng." Director Gong smiled, "Did Assistant Zeng tell you, Mr. Bai? Assistant Zeng is extremely knowledgeable about our folk legends. I'm far behind him. Right, Xiao Wu?"
Xiao Wu was the screenwriter in the group.
Wu Screenwriter nodded repeatedly after hearing this, his eyes shining, "Assistant Zeng later told us a story that was absolutely shocking when we first heard it... Although that story is very different from the script's background, the core is actually similar... It can be said that Assistant Zeng has made great contributions to the completion and promotion of the entire film project! Yet Assistant Zeng refuses to take credit, staying by Director Gong's side day and night just to witness the birth of the film firsthand. It's truly admirable."
Wu Screenwriter went on and on, practically praising the man to the skies.
However, the man only sweated more as he listened.
Wu Screenwriter smiled, "Look at me rambling... Mr. Bai, are you also interested in these things?"
Wu Screenwriter paused, then quickly said to the man, "Assistant Zeng, please explain it to Mr. Bai in more detail. It might help Mr. Bai better understand the core of this story."
Bai Yuhuai spoke slowly, a cold look in his eyes, "That's exactly what I had in mind."
He raised his hand again lightly, patting the man's shoulder. "Please."
The man was drenched in cold sweat.
He was just a small-time lackey sent to complete one part of the plan. He already had an instinctive fear of wealthy and powerful people like Bai Yuhuai. Now that Bai Yuhuai had intimidated him, he was almost scared out of his wits.
"Is your foot asleep?" Bai Yuhuai looked down and asked softly, "Weren't you chatting happily with Young Master Jing just now? If he had nodded even once, you could have taken him away?"
Jing Jiujiu couldn't help but tilt his head and examine Bai Yuhuai's appearance.
He didn't look any different from usual.
But he felt like this person looked as if he was on fire from head to toe... He was very angry.
Jing Jiujiu sighed softly in his heart.
It was clearly Bai Yuhuai's turbid qi that had done the bad deed, and I haven't even asked him to comfort me yet. Thinking of this, Jing Jiujiu still reached out and scratched the back of Bai Yuhuai's hand, giving him advice: "If you're angry, let the little ghost bite him eighteen times."
Bai Yuhuai paused, then grabbed Jing Jiujiu's wrist forcefully.
The man was suddenly terrified when he heard this.
This Young Master Jing looked so bright and clear, how could he be so... so mischievous?!
Sweat dripped from the man's forehead into his eyes, but he didn't dare even blink.
"No, no..." The man struggled to speak, but didn't know how to extricate himself from this predicament.
At this moment, they had continued filming on the other side.
No one paid attention to the situation here anymore, all assuming that Bai Yuhuai was really listening to Assistant Zeng tell stories.
"This isn't what we agreed on..." Assistant Zeng mumbled.
The higher-ups said that being a ghost is very bitter, and all he needed to do was to entice this young Master Jing with a few words. If he could change from a ghost to a god, he would surely be willing to go along...
"Then what do you think it should be like?" Bai Yuhuai spoke coldly, grabbing his collar, lifting and pulling. Assistant Zeng was taken outside the door by him, unable to resist at all.
Xu Sanyu hurriedly followed, thinking to himself, this is bad.
Bai Yuhuai closed the door behind him.
Xu Sanyu began speaking with a pained expression: "Do you know what happened to the last person who danced in Bai's minefield?"
Assistant Zeng clenched his teeth tightly, not speaking again.
Was this just to intimidate him, to make it easier to get information out of his mouth?
"The last person, ah, he was completely incinerated, burned alive, do you understand? Haven't you seen the news? That day there was a huge fire cloud in the sky. ...After all that, not even a soul was left. Forget about reincarnation. He couldn't even be a ghost. Even his ashes were scattered..."
Assistant Zeng felt his scalp tingle as he listened.
How is that possible?
Assistant Zeng hurriedly turned his head to look at Jing Jiujiu, who was still being held by the wrist by Bai Yuhuai.
The youth's beautiful face showed no trace of sympathy or hesitation.
He just listened like this?
Wasn't he supposed to be gentle, obedient, and well-mannered?
At this moment, Bai Yuhuai closed the door and turned around.
Assistant Zeng suddenly met his face and immediately thought of souls scattering, shuddering involuntarily: "...What, what do you want to do?"
"I won't say anything more."
Jing Jiujiu looked at him and suddenly remembered something.
Half of the lost divine address was in Chaos's belly, and the other half, he had once suspected might be in Mount Gushe... But now this man had come out and told him that he was to welcome him back to his position. Back to where? The divine address?
Jing Jiujiu said softly, "I'll go with you."
Assistant Zeng was dumbfounded.
Xu Sanyu was also stunned.
Bai Yuhuai tightened his grip on Jing Jiujiu's wrist, his expression suddenly darkening, a silent storm brewing in his heart.
But before Bai Yuhuai could act out, Jing Jiujiu pointed at Bai Yuhuai with his finger: "I'll bring him along too, is that okay?"
Bai Yuhuai was stunned, loosening his tight grip on Jing Jiujiu's hand.
The cold, hard curve of his mouth also softened considerably.
Assistant Zeng: "...Ah, well."
His experiences today had truly been a roller coaster.
But not having to be incinerated was still a great relief to him.
"What? Not allowed?" Jing Jiujiu asked.
Assistant Zeng was a bit bewildered.
Because this turn of events was completely different from what they had planned. He even suspected that the youth's agreement might be some kind of plot. But... but his task was indeed to bring the youth back, wasn't it?
"The higher-ups... didn't say anything about that."
Jing Jiujiu spoke slowly: "Why do you have to listen to everything the higher-ups say? Don't you have any autonomy? What's the point of being such a loyal lapdog?"
His tone was gentle, without a trace of offense, but it still made the man's face flush with embarrassment.
Xu Sanyu chimed in from the side like a loyal dog: "That's right! Someone like this, even in a pyramid scheme organization, couldn't develop any business... How could they have sent him?"
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
The fire in his heart had been extinguished by these two's back-and-forth.
Assistant Zeng gritted his teeth: "When do we leave? Don't try to fool me!"
Jing Jiujiu frowned: "Your tone is wrong."
Assistant Zeng was taken aback.
Jing Jiujiu's face sank slightly, standing there with quite a convincing air. He asked, "If I am a deity, what are you?"
"...Attendants of the god."
"Then do you know what you should do?" Jing Jiujiu asked in return.
Assistant Zeng opened his mouth.
In fact, when it came to fanaticism towards deities, he was not as fervent as the people in the film crew who had heard the story. The reason why people in the crew kept glancing at Jing Jiujiu was because they felt the youth really resembled the deity described in his story.
As for Assistant Zeng? He had seen too many false gods being manufactured.
Whatever divine consciousness, in the hands of those people, was like a lump of clay, casually kneaded and reshaped.
How could there be any sense of awe left?
But... what Jing Jiujiu said wasn't wrong.
If he was to welcome the deity back, he naturally had to put on the right attitude.
Otherwise, if he failed, he would be punished by the higher-ups. The higher-ups were the ones with truly divine methods, capable of making his life worse than death.
Assistant Zeng gritted his teeth, then bowed and knelt, performing the grand gesture of three bows and nine kowtows towards Jing Jiujiu: "This believer... pays respects to the High God."
Jing Jiujiu clicked his tongue and turned to look at Bai Yuhuai.
Bai Yuhuai's expression had been cold and stern, but now as he met Jing Jiujiu's gaze, he almost couldn't change his face quickly enough.
Jing Jiujiu: "This is quite interesting."
Assistant Zeng: "..."
Although he had ultimately completed his task, why did he inexplicably feel a sense of frustration? It was as if he had been led along by someone else's rhythm.
Bai Yuhuai responded in a low voice: "Mm."
He gazed at Jing Jiujiu, revealing a trace of indulgence.
Jing Jiujiu: "Then bow to him again." As he spoke, he pointed at Bai Yuhuai beside him.
Assistant Zeng nearly fell over in anger.
Trying to trick me into thinking he's the Turbid Nothingness again?
Absolutely impossible!
"I am a god," Jing Jiujiu paused, then said, "He is the god's um..." He organized his words for a moment, "boyfriend. Do you understand what a boyfriend is?"
"Don't you have to kowtow when you see him?" Jing Jiujiu asked.
Xu Sanyu was stunned.
He quickly looked at Bai Yuhuai's reaction—
His knuckles were clenched tight, the veins on his neck slightly protruding, the corners of his mouth softly turned upward, his gaze fixed on Jing Jiujiu with deep intensity, as if filled with affection.
Bai Yuhuai had once acted in a movie called "The Rose."
It was a very artistic film.
At that time, he had just entered the industry, still very young, yet he perfectly portrayed the role of a mute young man born with a deep, moving, and indescribable love.
After that, Bai Yuhuai rarely played such roles again.
He acted out familial love, friendship, and all sorts of characters. But he was seldom seen in romantic films again.
Yet because of this, his performance in that one film became almost legendary. Countless fans and film critics raved about it, endlessly reminiscing, screenshotting and praising his every glance in the film.
Xu Sanyu also thought that was the peak of Bai Yuhuai's portrayal of romance.
Until now... Acting is ultimately just acting, and what's fake is just fake.
When Brother Bai truly falls for someone... he changes his gaze, his expression, even his speech habits with just a word or gesture from them... His demeanor at this moment was truly an unsurpassable peak!
Xu Sanyu stood there dumbfounded, as if he were a front-row fan swooning over his ship. He turned his head stiffly, his gaze falling back on Jing Jiujiu.
And the young master who could make Brother Bai show such an expression...
The young master was too good at this!
Too fucking good!
First wanting to leave with Brother Bai, then making Assistant Zeng kowtow to Brother Bai too... With just two simple sentences, he immediately extinguished all of Brother Bai's anger. Brother Bai's heart must be soft and sweet right now!
If only I had such skill...
While Xu Sanyu's thoughts were flying, Assistant Zeng was on the verge of cursing out loud!
How could a god have a boyfriend?
But as the ancients said, when one person attains the Dao, even chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.
When one person achieves enlightenment, even chickens and dogs are different. Let alone their actual boyfriend?
Assistant Zeng held back and could only kneel down and kowtow again.
The anger and hostility in Bai Yuhuai's heart had subsided.
He even felt like smiling.
Bai Yuhuai spoke softly, "Am I relying on Jiujiu's influence?"
Jing Jiujiu: "I suppose so."
Jing Jiujiu straightened his back even more: "How does it feel?"
Bai Yuhuai wanted to kiss him.
Bai Yuhuai bit his tongue, suppressing the urge, and only said in a low voice: "It feels very good."
As Assistant Zeng barely managed to get up, Jing Jiujiu asked again: "How do you all worship deities?"
Assistant Zeng heard this and felt his scalp tingle: "...Daily, three incense sticks, kowtow."
"Don't people donate money to the merit box in temples? You don't donate?"
"...I do."
Jing Jiujiu was satisfied: "Take out some money then."
Assistant Zeng dazedly took out a hundred yuan from his pocket and placed it in Jing Jiujiu's palm.
Jing Jiujiu immediately handed the hundred yuan to Bai Yuhuai, extremely generous, like a big shot who had just started keeping a young celebrity, acting all important.
Jing Jiujiu's tone was still calm as he said: "This person clearly lacks sincerity. Gods and Buddhas won't pay him any attention..."
After hearing this, Assistant Zeng nearly coughed up blood from anger.
What?
He thinks it's not enough?
Even in Buddhist temples, people only donate fifty cents at a time to the merit box!
Jing Jiujiu turned his head and said to Bai Yuhuai: "You can use this to buy some candy."
Bai Yuhuai didn't actually like candy, but he firmly gripped the money in his hand, the corners of his mouth slightly curved, and responded softly: "Mm."
He didn't like candy. But he loved Jing Jiujiu.
Assistant Zeng: "..."
Is this the kind of deity they were going to bring back?
Do they still have any hope for the future?!
Assistant Zeng, whose faith had not wavered for thirty years, suddenly felt a hint of doubt about the massive organization behind him.
"You can leave now," Jing Jiujiu dismissed him mercilessly.
Assistant Zeng looked at him in shock: "Aren't we leaving now?"
Jing Jiujiu: "No." His Netherworld hadn't been built yet. Jing Jiujiu turned his head to think, and realized he wasn't actually that angry or anxious anymore.
Unless Bai Yuhuai was also a liar like Jing Tinghua.
Otherwise...
Ah, think about it, if the Impure One planned the deification project = the biggest boss of the enemy is in my camp! What do I have to worry about?
Jing Jiujiu smacked his lips, thinking, I can even torture him.
Like draining his vital essence. [?]
Looking at it this way, aren't I more like the villain?
Well, that puts my mind at ease.
While Jing Jiujiu's mood had improved, Assistant Zeng's had plummeted to rock bottom. So I kowtowed for nothing, you were just playing with me?
Assistant Zeng urgently spoke up: "We're not leaving now?"
"You told the crew a good story, not taking credit, just waiting for the moment when the movie comes out. Shouldn't we wait until the film is finished before leaving?" Bai Yuhuai understood Jing Jiujiu's thoughts too well, and immediately spoke up calmly.
Assistant Zeng's throat tightened, and he reluctantly responded: "Yes..."
Jing Jiujiu turned around, opened the door, and walked inside with Bai Yuhuai.
Jing Jiujiu said in a low voice to Bai Yuhuai: "You said everyone in the crew is dying, and that wasn't actually wrong..."
"Hm?" Bai Yuhuai couldn't help but lean closer to Jing Jiujiu. He liked listening to Jing Jiujiu talk to him, even about the most trivial things. It instantly soothed the irritation and hostility in his heart.
"Isn't it strange? I can hear their voices."
"Voices?"
"Mm."
Jing Jiujiu had been talking less these past few days, and it wasn't entirely because he discovered that the evil god of the ancient castle was actually Bai Yuhuai's impure energy, and there was a deification project that sounded nefarious related to Bai Yuhuai.
Another reason was—
He could hear all sorts of voices, some near and some far, some loud and some soft...
"Once this job is done, I can truly rest."
"Don't mess up, don't mess up, absolutely don't mess up. This is my last time being an actor."
"Ten thousand, twenty thousand, thirty thousand... Just a bit more, and after this production, I'll have enough money. They're still waiting for me."
"How nice it would be if there really were gods in this world."
"If you're going to die, you might as well die in an interesting way. Finishing this horror film before dying, maybe I could even make the big news, become famous after death, be remembered by everyone, hehe..."
"Buy a cheaper grave plot, or don't buy one at all, grave plots seem quite expensive. Oh, they say you can donate your body to a medical school? I should ask Little Li to look into that for me later."
...
All kinds of voices filled Jing Jiujiu's ears.
The voices carried both a sense of twilight and hope.
Jing Jiujiu roughly picked out two and repeated them to Bai Yuhuai: "They must be the ones who most want this film to be completed properly, so they can each fulfill their final wishes."
Bai Yuhuai was stunned for a moment, then said: "You've become more powerful."
"Hm? Why?"
"Gods can hear the voices of mortals, and you heard them," Bai Yuhuai's expression softened even more, "You've already become a true deity in the real sense."
Xu Sanyu behind them heard this and exclaimed, "Oh my!"
So he's really a god? The young master has become a deity? Then...
Xu Sanyu quickly asked: "Young Master, can you hear my inner voice?"
Jing Jiujiu replied coldly: "No."
"Why not? Is my heart not sincere enough? No way, my heart is very sincere... Do I need to kowtow and offer incense first?" Xu Sanyu muttered to himself for a bit, then said: "Oh well, we know each other anyway. I might as well just say it directly."
Jing Jiujiu: ?
Jing Jiujiu: "Go ahead."
Xu Sanyu put his hands together: "Oh god, can you make me rich overnight?"
Jing Jiujiu: ??
Bai Yuhuai: "..."
Jing Jiujiu patted his shoulder: "I can only hear other people's wishes, but I can't help them come true."
Xu Sanyu: "..."
Xu Sanyu: "My apologies for disturbing you."
"So even gods aren't omnipotent..." Xu Sanyu mumbled.
"Only believers receive divine protection," Bai Yuhuai spoke up, "When you start hearing their inner voices, they may slowly become your followers."
Jing Jiujiu: "What is divine protection like? Can I change their fate now?"
"No. Fate is written by heaven, and those destined to die cannot regain their health because of this."
"Then gods are indeed... not very useful." Jing Jiujiu smacked his lips.
"The evil gods have more to offer, that's why so many people worship them."
"But there's always a price to pay. To gain so much, you have to give up even more." Jing Jiujiu frowned.
"Mm." Bai Yuhuai murmured in agreement, reaching out to gently stroke Jing Jiujiu's head. "When you become more powerful, you'll be able to dispel the misfortune from your followers."
Jing Jiujiu pondered for a moment: "Being a useless god is fine too. People shouldn't put their faith in deities to begin with. Whether good or evil. Entrusting your spirit and future to gods only makes it easier to fall into an even deeper abyss..."
Bai Yuhuai's gaze froze.
After a while, his voice sounded: "Jiujiu is right."
If the people of the Cloud Return Sect and Master Tingyi heard this, they'd probably be speechless.
You really don't hold back when it comes to denying yourself.
Bai Yuhuai returned to Director Gong.
Director Gong excitedly asked him: "Did you hear it all? Wasn't it fascinating? If there really were gods and ghosts in this world... what a bizarre, vast, and mysterious world it would be..."
"Not interesting at all."
"...Huh?"
Bai Yuhuai went back in front of the camera and cooperated in filming a climactic scene.
Jing Jiujiu sat on this side, watching them film.
He slowly bent down, resting his chin on the table, lazily gazing at the scene before him.
Perhaps because he had heard their inner thoughts, when he looked at the crew members and other actors again, their gray and dejected faces no longer seemed so gloomy. Even in their coordination, there seemed to be a flow of gentle affection.
Jing Jiujiu's gaze shifted, falling on Bai Yuhuai.
His finger unconsciously drew a circle on the table...
Bai Yuhuai was still very good.
I want to buy the film studio, I heard the inner voices, but he's the one putting in the effort to film.
Jing Jiujiu pursed his lips, hmm, as long as Zhuo Wu's memories don't merge back, it should be fine... after all, from what he heard, it doesn't sound like anything good.
Assistant Zeng only now entered the room, circling behind Jing Jiujiu, wanting to take him away but afraid of being accused of disrespecting a deity.
While Assistant Zeng hesitated, Bai Yuhuai had finished filming.
Seeing Bai Yuhuai was like a mouse seeing a cat for him, instinctively terrified. He had just taken a step forward when he quickly retreated.
Bai Yuhuai didn't even glance at him again, leaving only with Jing Jiujiu and Xu Sanyu.
Assistant Zeng gritted his teeth, deciding to go back first, ask for instructions, or perhaps bring an even more powerful character... wouldn't everything be easily resolved then? Maybe Bai Yuhuai wouldn't even be able to stop them.
He still didn't believe that was Zhuo Wu.
Assistant Zeng silently turned to leave, step by step down the stairs... With such a big matter on his mind, he didn't bother to look up for a moment.
When he unconsciously walked for a while and looked up again.
3rd floor.
Why am I still on the third floor?
Assistant Zeng's heart tightened.
Of course, he knew that this city was now full of ghosts, inside and out. This was what they had been happy to see.
In times of peace and prosperity, who would believe in ghosts and spirits?
At most, they'd believe in forwarding a lucky koi post.
To make them truly believe and seek help from deities, quickly re-establishing faith and gathering large numbers of followers.
The only way was to make rampaging ghosts and evil gods appear all over the world.
When the order of the human world is in chaos, and they have nothing to rely on, they can only turn back to believing in gods.
This is also why religious sects thrive more during times of war.
Assistant Zeng slowly calmed his emotions and sneered.
It's just a ghost maze, what's the big deal?
Assistant Zeng slowly unbuttoned his shirt, revealing his chest, where a human head was embedded, just like Daoist Master Qu Yi's.
As soon as that thing was revealed, his vision immediately returned to clarity.
This is called borrowing the power of gods.
Assistant Zeng smiled.
Actually, if he could hear the voices of ghosts, he would hear countless ghosts crowding around him, above his head, chattering:
"This guy is no good."
"Right, he's a scoundrel."
"Disgusting."
"Wow, his chest is so ugly."
The ghost maze suddenly disappeared.
Assistant Zeng didn't hear any other strange movements, and he quickly walked to the first floor. Just as he was about to step out, he suddenly felt a strong wind blowing at him from behind, from the front, no, seemingly from all directions at once.
Assistant Zeng frowned and raised his hand, waving it a couple of times.
The wind wrapped tightly around him.
The next moment, his screams rang out.
Something was biting him!
There were many of them, as if they had gone mad, cold ghostly teeth sinking into his flesh, negative energy immediately running wild inside his body.
Even the human head on his chest seemed to emit a putrid odor because of this.
Assistant Zeng hurriedly raised his hand to grab at whatever was on his back, but he couldn't grab anything. Instead, he first caught something that felt like dirt or ash.
...No, not ash!
This stuff was called incense ash.
Big ghosts eat incense ash, small ghosts eat candle wax.
With incense ash sprinkled on him, it was equivalent to telling the big ghosts, "Come quickly, I'm your offering, come eat me~"
This thing had attracted all the big ghosts from inside and outside!
If he hadn't taken that step out, it would have been fine, but once he did, even those who didn't want to or didn't dare to enter the building all pounced on him at once.
He would be bitten to death right here!
Assistant Zeng screamed repeatedly, but while he could break through the ghost maze, others couldn't. Not a single person in the film crew heard his screams.
Only Xu Sanyu, sitting in room 203, let out a sigh.
"I warned him earlier."
Xu Sanyu clicked his tongue, then turned his head, only to see Bai Yuhuai crouching in front of Jing Jiujiu, his face impassive but with a hint of subtle appeasement. He asked in a low voice, "Want to play a game?"
Xu Sanyu: ?
Last time, Bro Bai had set the kid's phone to youth mode, saying he shouldn't indulge in games, and now he's offering to play with him?
Jing Jiujiu: "No."
Xu Sanyu: Oh ho.
Unable to appease him, Bro Bai might get upset again in a bit.
Xu Sanyu turned his head to look in the direction of the door.
You're done for, Assistant Zeng.
"I remember now..." Assistant Zeng staggered, turning madly to run upstairs.
"Bai Yuhuai! Bai Yuhuai!" His voice became shrill and distorted.
It was either Bai Yuhuai or Jing Jiujiu...
They had patted his shoulder.
That's when it happened! All the incense ash had fallen into his collar.
Assistant Zeng frantically shook his collar, but it seemed no matter how much he shook, he couldn't get rid of it all.
He felt his neck start to itch, as if those ghosts were gnawing at his neck...
"I was wrong! I was wrong! I won't run anymore! I'll do whatever you two say! I shouldn't have tried to sneak away, I won't leave, I'll wait to accompany you both, save me, save me..."
This shrill voice suddenly broke through the illusion, and even Xu Sanyu heard it.
Xu Sanyu's heart trembled along with it.
Is Bro Bai really this ruthless?
Xu Sanyu couldn't help but turn to look at Bai Yuhuai.
Bai Yuhuai was still speaking softly to Jing Jiujiu: "Do you know about Club 30? I can invite them to play online, to accompany you."
Who doesn't know about Club 30?
Xu Sanyu thought to himself.
They won the world championship in last year's gaming competition!
Even Xu Sanyu was envious hearing this.
But too bad he wasn't the young master, he didn't deserve such treatment.
Seeing that Bro Bai was really trying to cheer up the young master by playing games, Xu Sanyu thought for a moment and decided it was best not to let things end in tragedy. So he spoke up and asked, "Bro Bai, that Assistant Zeng seems to be screaming pretty badly, what should we do?"
Bai Yuhuai tossed him a token without even turning his head: "Go bring him to your room."
The implication was clear - you're kicking me out too? Xu Sanyu felt dazed and confused.
Fine then.
A good manager should know when to take a hint.
Xu Sanyu grabbed the token and nervously opened the door to walk out.
Judging by those screams, it must be pretty terrifying out there, right?
Xu Sanyu clutched the token tightly and walked out.
...Hey? There's no feeling at all!
Bro Bai is really amazing... This thought shot to the top of Xu Sanyu's mind after seeing Assistant Zeng's miserable state.
Assistant Zeng's face turned ashen white. Though not a drop of blood had been shed, he looked as if all the flesh and blood had been drained from his body. Even after Xu Sanyu helped him up, he couldn't muster the strength to cry out in pain for a long while.
...It was truly brutal.
Xu Sanyu and Assistant Zeng thought almost simultaneously.
After that day, Assistant Zeng no longer entertained thoughts of running away first.
Bai Yuhuai was still resentful about the impure energy, so he stopped taking advantage of the little ghost Jing Jiujiu on set under the pretext of the script.
Under Bai Yuhuai's leadership, their filming progress advanced rapidly.
By the last day, the entire film city seemed to be shrouded in dark clouds. Xu Sanyu didn't dare to wander far - if he did, he felt like he couldn't breathe... He didn't even dare to think deeply about whether there was actually a ghost clinging to his back, causing his breathlessness.
Bai Yuhuai stood before the camera, dressed in Taoist robes.
Beside him was a murky lake.
For the sake of an obsession, the human world had been thrown into chaos.
The mess could no longer be cleaned up.
This Taoist master at the end of his rope fell into the lake, ending everything.
In post-production, his body would be bound by a chain of fierce ghosts, dragging him into the lake. But even without special effects, Bai Yuhuai's acting was still moving enough.
Jing Jiujiu watched this scene and let out a soft "Ah."
At this moment, a crew member poked his head in: "Young Master Jing, someone... is here to see you."
The crew member's tone was full of astonishment.
They had gradually been able to see more and more ghosts, which made it even more surprising. This haunted place had been in the news several times already. Bai Yuhuai's fans had nearly crashed his manager's phone with calls because of it.
Someone else was coming?
Jing Jiujiu got up to greet the visitor.
It was Master Zhou.
Though surrounded by hundreds of ghosts, his expression remained unchanged. Perhaps it was because the most important thing in his life had already been resolved.
Compared to his previously cowardly and fearful demeanor, he had changed greatly now.
He truly looked like a master now.
"Young master, I've brought everything for you," Master Zhou said, putting down the backpack he was carrying. The backpack didn't touch the ground, but instead floated in mid-air.
Xu Sanyu exclaimed "Fuck!" at the sight.
The crew member nearby rubbed his eyes, finally seeing clearly that it was a group of small children, stacked like acrobats, carrying the bag to Jing Jiujiu.
Jing Jiujiu patted a little ghost's head: "Thank you, Yuan Yuan." Then he opened the bag and pulled out a small robot.
The small robot: "Holy crap!"
Although it prided itself on being a worldly robot, it had never seen so many ghosts before. This place was like a vast graveyard, and the chaotic and negative energy emanating from it made even the robot feel uncomfortable.
Jing Jiujiu positioned the small robot properly, set it down, and took out another item.
This time it was the Yama statue.
Yama: !!
Such a grand scene reminded him of his time as the King of Hell. How had this been accomplished?
Jing Jiujiu then took out a large stone.
The large stone showed no reaction, as if it were extremely steady.
Assistant Zeng was mentally screaming "madman."
Jing Jiujiu could actually control ghosts! And that divine statue! It was a real god... This feeling, he had experienced it before. And this god was even ten thousand times more powerful than the "divine consciousness" he had encountered before.
Jing Jiujiu arranged everything in a row: "All set."
Over there, Director Gong looked as if he was terminally ill. He had prepared a bouquet of flowers and asked someone to bring it over to give to Bai Yuhuai.
But as soon as the flowers were taken out of the delivery box, they withered rapidly.
Bai Yuhuai didn't seem to mind, holding the bouquet and letting the staff take a wrap photo for him.
Right after, they took a huge group photo.
Even Jing Jiujiu and the Yama statue beside him were included in the picture.
Bai Yuhuai spoke softly: "Let me tell Director Gong a few stories."
During his time as a Taoist master, he had encountered bizarre and thorny supernatural events, far more numerous, varied, and professional than what Assistant Zeng knew.
After listening, Director Gong wasn't scared at all, but instead sat there excitedly, slapping his thigh. He called for someone to bring the film city contract and made a phone call to add content to his will, ensuring that after his death, this place would truly be sold to Jing Jiujiu.
Xu Sanyu, who had been full of displeasure, couldn't help but feel a touch of melancholy watching this scene.
The crew member poked his head in again, saying: "There's another visitor for Young Master Jing."
Assistant Zeng was speechless upon hearing this.
How many friends did he have?
And they all dared to come to this place!
Jing Jiujiu didn't get up to greet them, only saying: "Tell them to come over."
The crew member acknowledged.
Soon after, voices of "Oh my, I'm so scared" and "Ah, Jiujiu, save me" could be heard. Followed by the sound of footsteps approaching, a tall young man walked in.
Assistant Zeng was about to say this one looked much more normal.
At least he knew to be afraid.
The young man's eyes lit up upon seeing Jing Jiujiu, and he almost immediately rushed to Jing Jiujiu's side, saying: "Jiujiu, I followed your method and caught several evil gods for you!"
Assistant Zeng was dumbfounded.
What kind of being was this? He could even catch evil gods?
Jing Jiujiu held out his hand: "Lin Zhi, where are the things I asked you to bring?"
Evil gods couldn't place curses on chaos beings, so having Lin Zhi catch them was indeed the quickest solution.
Lin Zhi: "They're flying in the sky."
Assistant Zeng: ?
What things?
Flying in the sky? Was he blowing hot air?
Jing Jiujiu nodded and gave Lin Zhi a piece of candy. Lin Zhi happily went to stand aside.
It was at this moment that Bai Yuhuai slowly walked over, his eyes blazing with intensity.
His Jiujiu was too amazing.
He had apparently arranged everything.
Jing Jiujiu turned to ask Director Gong: "Have you ever seen the Netherworld?"
Director Gong: "No." He chuckled: "Does such a thing really exist? Will I be able to see it after I die?"
Jing Jiujiu nodded: "You can. You can see it right now."
Xu Sanyu felt his scalp tingle upon hearing this.
Assistant Zeng was even more startled.
Was this rumored kind and gentle Young Master Jing killing people without batting an eye? Was he about to send Director Gong to meet the King of Hell?
Jing Jiujiu: "Yama."
And so Yama emerged from the divine statue, his towering figure seeming to reach the sky. Everyone gaped, staring dumbfounded at his silhouette.
Countless ghosts around them suddenly trembled and prostrated themselves, a instinctive reaction.
Jing Jiujiu introduced: "This is the King of Hell."
Assistant Zeng's throat made a clicking sound as he fell to the ground in shock and fear. Hadn't the world long since lost its deities? Why was there still a King of Hell?
The people from the film crew had become increasingly calm over these days.
They didn't find it scary, just stared blankly at Yama.
Jing Jiujiu looked at Lin Zhi: "Have him spit it out."
Spit what?
Everyone was confused.
Lin Zhi snapped his fingers, tilted his head back, and shouted: "Spit it out quickly! If you don't spit, I'll beat you up!"
Suddenly, a gap appeared in the dark clouds blanketing the sky like an oppressive city, as if some enormous creature had opened its mouth.
That mouth: "Uwah."
Something floated down lightly, crashing into the lake.
The still water of the lake suddenly began to move, corroding the land and spreading outwards, carving out a long and wide river that meandered downwards...
This scene was like a miracle.
Everyone's mouths hung open.
Jing Jiujiu: "This is the Nai River."
Director Gong's expression was excited as he stared intently at the black river, his whole body trembling.
Soon after, the gap in the sky tore open again, and another object fell down, crashing onto the lake's surface.
It was a bridge.
The bridge seemed to be made of stone, plain and unadorned.
It bore the inscription, "Bridge of Helplessness."
This scene was something that many people might not see in this life, the next life, or even eight hundred lifetimes.
Yama's mouth emitted a low, disjointed voice: "The river water... will backflow... Even the most... enormous yin energy... can't suppress it. The earth spirits... of the Netherworld... have long since... disappeared... There is no place... in the world... that can serve as... the realm of the dead anymore."
Jing Jiujiu: "I have earth spirits."
Yama: ?
Jing Jiujiu poked the large stone and asked softly, "Would you like to become the land here? Many people reside here. They come and go. But more will arrive. They will be grateful for the land that shelters them. This place will become a destination longed for by countless spirits. For only by entering here can they enter the cycle of reincarnation and be reborn. You will become a unique existence here."
"No one will ever use you up and abandon you again."
Bai Yuhuai was taken aback.
He gazed deeply at Jing Jiujiu.
The large stone remained silent, but moments later, it suddenly vanished from everyone's sight.
Abruptly, the earth's crust trembled.
The river waters rippled.
Jing Jiujiu pointed at the ground beneath their feet: "This is the Netherworld."
"You've seen it now, and it's not so scary, right?"
Director Gong's throat tightened. After filming for a lifetime, he finally witnessed such a breathtaking scene before his death.
He nodded in response.
At that moment, both the little robot and Jing Jiujiu heard a voice simultaneously.
[Congratulations to you and your host]
[Netherworld Reconstruction 1/1]
[Your task is complete]
A tear slowly rolled down Yama's snow-white face.
The King of the Netherworld, who had nearly become an evil god for the sake of survival after the collapse of the underworld, finally transformed back, donning his crown once more to reclaim his position as the ruler of the Netherworld.
Everyone looked at Yama.
But Bai Yuhuai gazed intently at Jing Jiujiu.
In Zhuo Wu's predictions from a thousand years ago, had he also seen such a stunning moment?
At that time, did Zhuo Wu's gaze linger on the young man for just an instant?