Chapter 79
In the morning, after Ji Fengxue finished her leave request with Chen Lianjie, she began reshooting the scenes that were missed in the previous few days.
Xiang Huaimeng finally snapped out of her immense shock. With unsteady steps, she crouched beside Xia Linxia. Glancing at the person holding her face and gazing dreamily, she quietly asked, "Are you really together with Teacher Ji?"
"Mhm," Xia Linxia smiled, looking at Ji Fengxue working diligently in the distance.
"How did you… together… who… first… what do you mean…" Xiang Huaimeng stammered, unable to form a complete sentence. "No, I have to report this to General Manager Jiang."
She entered the lounge, closed the door, and walked to a corner to call Jiang Yuan.
It took a while for the call to connect. "What is it?"
"Hello, General Manager Jiang, um, there's something I need to tell you. It's just that…" Xiang Huaimeng took a deep breath, closed her eyes as if facing a righteous sacrifice, "Xia Linxia and Ji Fengxue are together!"
Jiang Yuan paused for a few seconds. "Is it what I think it is?"
"Yes, I know it's hard to accept, and maybe hard to understand. I've been processing it for a long time…"
"Isn't that great?" Jiang Yuan suddenly said.
Xiang Huaimeng was stunned. "Great?"
"Mhm." Jiang Yuan chuckled. Great, she wouldn't have to worry about being dealt with by Xia Yangxuan after the news broke. "Am I considered a matchmaker now?"
"It seems so," Xiang Huaimeng said sheepishly. Thinking about it carefully, it actually was great. It saved a lot of trouble, and the other person was Ji Fengxue! Ahhhhhh!
Where could she find such a good partner? She was so envious.
After hanging up, she walked back and crouched beside Xia Linxia, holding her face with both hands, her eyes shining.
Chen Nian, who was passing by, couldn't help but nudge her with her foot. "What are you doing? Why are you daydreaming here?"
"Shh," Xiang Huaimeng turned around and patted her butt. "I'm learning and drawing inspiration. Maybe I can find a perfect partner like her too."
Chen Nian: "..." No wonder she's getting dumber.
The weather in December was getting colder. After filming the scattered scenes, it was time for the final wrap-up scene. Everyone was on high alert.
Xia Linxia felt like she hadn't even gotten used to her new relationship before she had to turn around and become an enemy in the play.
This scene involved almost all the actors and countless extras. Ensemble scenes were the most difficult to shoot; even a slight mistake would require a reshoot. If it were a TV series, minor flaws could be overlooked, but in a film, every frame was magnified. Moreover, Chen Lianjie was a detail-oriented person, so at the beginning, he spoke through the megaphone, using both encouragement and authority, ensuring no one dared to be careless.
Lu Ke woke up from her coma to find herself back in the Lu Mansion. Cheng Youwei had been guarding her bedside. Seeing her awake, he explained that he had rushed back with a group of people and rescued them. He also mentioned that he had planted explosives in the cave of Wugui Valley, and all the people from Wugui Valley had perished in the fire.
Lu Ke thanked him, but she still felt that the footsteps she heard before she fainted didn't sound like Cheng Youwei's. She wanted to ask more, but suddenly someone ran in from outside.
It was the little county princess, who was returning to the capital and had come to bid them farewell. As they were talking, Lu Ke suddenly asked, "Where is Lu Wuyi?"
"She and A Yun are in the room recuperating. The doctor said they would recover in a month or two."
"I'll go see them."
Cheng Youwei and the little county princess helped her to the maid's room. Both were still unconscious, but at least they had been rescued. She breathed a sigh of relief, only to hear the little county princess exclaim, "Huh? This woman looks so familiar."
Lu Ke turned around and saw her standing by Lu Wuyi's bed, looking worried. She asked, "You've never truly met before, so why does she look familiar?"
"I don't know, it feels like I've seen her somewhere." The little county princess's eyes conjured a blurry figure, but she could never see it clearly. She shook her head, "It must be an illusion."
"Why don't you stay one more night and set off tomorrow morning?" Cheng Youwei suggested.
"Alright."
Late at night, the little county princess was fast asleep when a dark figure suddenly appeared by the window and silently crept into her room. A sharp blade gleamed, and just as it was about to strike its target, the "little county princess" suddenly opened her eyes.
Immediately, the two began to fight silently in the room. Cheng Youwei's moves were fierce and merciless, but he couldn't figure out the opponent's style, as she unexpectedly attacked vital points. In less than a moment, they had exchanged dozens of blows.
Outside, a group of soldiers had surrounded the area in an orderly fashion. Lu Ke and the little county princess led the way. The little county princess looked a bit flustered. "How could someone really try to assassinate me? Fortunately, my father sent a large army to escort me."
Lu Ke's expression was grim. She had a vague guess and stared intently at the commotion inside the room. The soldiers beside her shouted, "Those inside, surrender obediently!"
As soon as the words fell, the roof suddenly exploded, and two figures simultaneously climbed onto the roof. The fight still hadn't been decided.
"Prepare the arrows," Lu Ke ordered, looking up at the figure in black, with a black headscarf. She clenched her fist and shouted, "Lu Wuyi, is that you?"
The figure in black paused for a moment. At that instant, Cheng Youwei pulled off her black clothing, revealing a red gown underneath, exposing a face of unparalleled beauty, familiar yet strange.
Lu Wuyi's eyes sharpened, and she took the opportunity to slash Cheng Youwei's arm with her knife, kicking him off the roof. Then, she tidied her attire, standing tall and proud, looking down from the eaves, her blade still dripping with blood.
"It's only now that you realize, you're quite stupid."
Lu Ke stepped forward to help Cheng Youwei up, looking at her in disbelief. "Why is it you? Who exactly are you?!"
"You ask who I am?" Lu Wuyi sneered, her expression extremely indifferent. "I also want to know who I am."
Seeing Cheng Youwei injured, the little county princess shouted in anger, "Shoot! Kill her!"
Arrows flew towards the person on the roof, but Lu Wuyi easily dodged them. With a wave of her sleeve, many arrows were thrown back, felling a group of people.
Lu Wuyi was also hit by an arrow, but it had no effect on her. At this moment, Cheng Youwei, using his Qinggong, flew back onto the roof and resumed fighting her. The others were afraid of friendly fire and dared not move.
Lu Wuyi defended herself while retreating. She was struck by a palm from him and rolled off the roof from another side, then disappeared. Cheng Youwei was best at pursuit and chased after her along the way.
Lu Ke followed with her men. As they ran out of the city, she saw that the original Wugui Valley had become a ruin. She suddenly thought of a place and hurried towards the mountaintop of the ruins.
The sky began to brighten, and it started to snow heavily, gradually covering the ruins as if nothing had happened.
At the cliff, Lu Wuyi calmly looked at the people surrounding her and smiled faintly, "Are you here to be buried with me?"
Lu Ke clenched the sword in her hand. "You are from Wugui Valley. The footsteps in the secret room last time, it was you, wasn't it?"
"Not too stupid after all." Lu Wuyi's eyes swept over everyone, her gaze like cold blades, sending chills down their spines.
Lu Ke questioned, "So, the background story you told before was also fake? What is your intention in impersonating someone?!"
"Impersonating? Didn't you give me my identity?" Lu Wuyi paced back and forth, seemingly unconcerned by their presence. She tilted her chin, reached out to catch a few snowflakes, and curved her lips, "Do you want to know my name?"
Lu Ke remained silent.
"My name is Mi Huan, given by the brothel madam. I'm also called San Xiang, given by a neighbor. I have many, many names. I'm also called a beast, a bastard, given by my own mother. I said before that my father passed away, which is true, but I didn't say he was murdered by my own mother. Because they were siblings, the kind where blood is thicker than water. To inherit Wugui Valley, one must have the purest bloodline."
Do you know how I survived?
My own mother hated me and wanted to kill me. When I was young, I sold my body, used the elders in the valley to protect me, and then killed him.
I became the master of this damned place, but no one believed in me, so I had to kill them all.
Living incognito, I traveled through mountains and rivers. I tasted heavenly grace and even slept with stable hands. As long as I pleased, the world was my plaything.
"I remember!" The little county princess's face turned pale. Looking at her profile, she suddenly remembered where she had seen this figure. It was in the imperial garden, where the Emperor personally supported a frail woman, cherishing her. "You are the Imperial Consort! You didn't die!"
At these words, everyone was shocked.
Lu Wuyi glanced sideways, a hint of interest in her eyes. "Yes, if the Emperor saw how you are treating me now, how would he punish you?"
After the shock, Cheng Youwei suddenly understood. "Wugui Valley was deliberately led here by you, with the intention of using us to eliminate them."
"Yes, these people are insatiable and want to harm me. I was tired of staying in the palace, so I played along, using the plan of 'golden cicada shedding its shell'." Lu Wuyi played with the short knife in her hand, smiling innocently, as if telling a joke.
Lu Ke's eyes were red, and her hand holding the sword trembled.
"You can't escape today." Cheng Youwei made a gesture, and the soldiers behind him swarmed forward. The reinforcements summoned last night also arrived one after another, and countless people rushed forward.
Lu Wuyi had learned various sinister martial arts since childhood. Wherever she went, there were countless shouts, and it was unclear who had the upper hand.
Blood splattered on her red clothes, but no trace was visible. Only her slender, fair skin was stained with blood.
This was a path she had forged since childhood. There was no good or evil, only a group of walking dead driven by fame, profit, and lust.
After an unknown amount of time, Lu Wuyi also sustained many injuries. Her eyes gradually turned red with killing intent. As she met Cheng Youwei's gaze, she suddenly attacked, her blade slicing across his cheek. However, her chest was pierced by a long sword.
She froze for a moment, her mouth filled with the taste of blood. A line of blood dripped from the corner of her moist lips.
She slowly turned her head.
Lu Ke, holding the sword that had never harmed anyone, looked at her with an icy expression. "Stop killing."
Lu Wuyi wiped her mouth, took two steps forward, and pulled herself out of the sword. Blood began to flow from her chest, dripping onto the ground, dyeing the white snow red.
Before Lu Ke could retract her hand, she saw Lu Wuyi suddenly charge forward, piercing straight through the sword. With a desolate smile, she said, "Lu Ke, no one has died by your sword yet, right? It's an honor, I'm your first."
"What are you doing!" Lu Ke tried to pull the sword back, but the other party directly grabbed the blade with her palm, blood mixing with snow dripping from the blade.
Lu Wuyi's face grew paler. She slowly looked around at the ugly faces, tugged at the corner of her mouth, and then, meeting Lu Ke's tear-filled, red, and moist eyes, she inexplicably froze.
Even now, Lu Ke was still crying for her?
"Lu Ke…"
The next moment, Lu Wuyi collapsed to the ground. Lu Ke immediately half-carried her. Lowering her head, her tears dripped onto Lu Wuyi's face.
"You've done so many evil deeds, you deserve to die," Lu Ke choked out.
Lu Wuyi looked at her weakly, feeling a sense of relief. The world was truly boring, and she could finally be free.
"But you are my friend, and I cannot forgive you either." Lu Ke sobbed uncontrollably, reaching out to cover the wound, but the blood couldn't be stopped. Her white clothes were also stained with the other's blood. "Lu Wuyi, do you have any last wishes?"
Lu Wuyi's eyes trembled slightly, and a tear rolled down her cheek. She was somewhat surprised; she seemed to have never cried before, never.
What a pity that there were still such pure people in this world, but she hadn't met them sooner.
Her hand slowly reached out to cover Lu Ke's face. The fair and clean face was immediately stained with blood. She quickly put her hand down, gasping for breath. "I wish…"
In the next life, to be born into an ordinary family in Wuyi Town, to meet you sooner, to be your maid or friend, to follow you in chivalrous deeds, and to roam the mortal world.
If I could be a man, that would be even better.
"I want to marry a good man," Lu Wuyi pulled at the corner of her mouth, revealing the only genuine smile of her life. With that, she rested her head in Lu Ke's arms and slowly closed her eyes.
Lu Ke sat with her body in the snow for a long time. The world was vast, the snow fell heavily, covering all traces, and everything returned to peace.
Several days later, Cheng Youwei returned to the capital to report his duties, and Lu Ke was rewarded as the foremost female official of Wuyi Town.
Wuyi Town returned to its liveliness. Cheng Youwei voluntarily transferred to Wuyi Town and found Lu Ke by a tombstone outside the city. The two returned to Wuyi Town together.
The tombstone was weathered, and not many people came to pay their respects, but many came to visit from time to time, simply because the epitaph was truly baffling.
The epitaph was engraved with the deceased's life and achievements.
The tombstone was only engraved with two lines of text.
— My wife, Lu Wuyi, our paths are separated by life and death.
"Cut! That's a wrap!" Chen Lianjie couldn't help but laugh out loud. "Everyone, 'Wu Yi' is officially wrapped up!"
Everyone cheered in unison, then heard a wail. "Wuwuwuwuwu, my heart hurts so much!"
Everyone: "..." This was an actor who had gotten too into character.
Xia Linxia was still sitting on the snow, hugging Ji Fengxue, crying uncontrollably, with no regard for her image.
This scene had been filmed over ten times. In the end, the director decided to film the subsequent scenes first and then focus on the emotional details of this scene. Xia Linxia had finally managed to control her crying in front of the camera, her suppressed emotions unspoken. As soon as the camera was off, she burst into tears.
Ji Fengxue opened her eyes and smiled. "Stop sniveling."
Xia Linxia sniffled. Thinking of how many times she had repeatedly stabbed her, she felt overwhelmed with sadness and sobbed, "Why did you have to do so many bad things! Wuwuwuwu!"
Ji Fengxue chuckled and pulled her up, took the clothes handed over by Chen Nian, and then pulled Xia Linxia to put them on together. She wiped the tears from her face. "Stop crying, I'm fine. Your makeup is ruined. Hurry and get your clothes, don't catch a cold again."
"Then you'll be even colder." Xia Linxia looked at her thin clothes and quickly hugged her to give her warmth.
The final scene took nearly a week to film, and everyone was exhausted. After resting at the hotel for half a day, the director organized a wrap-up banquet and took a few group photos, which were posted on the official Weibo. The drama was officially concluded.
The next day, the actors returned home one after another. The two said goodbye at the airport. Xia Linxia returned to the Xia family for two days first. Then, she arranged to go to a hot spring spa with Mother Xia and Jiang Yuan, and also took care of her hair, giving herself a deep nourishment from head to toe.
"Rarely have a break, aren't you going to see your old Ji?" Jiang Yuan and she stopped at a nail salon, chatting while choosing patterns.
"I will. Isn't it her birthday tomorrow? I want to dress up nicely before I go see her," Xia Linxia giggled, flipping through the patterns on the tablet. Seeing one with a snowflake pattern, she immediately tapped on it and said, "I want to do this one."
"Good for you, secretly making plans." Jiang Yuan smiled and casually chose one. "So, what gift are you planning to give her?"
"I'm not telling you." Xia Linxia smiled mysteriously, placing her hand on the cushion. The manicurist began to work on her nails. She couldn't help but look down at her own hands, thinking how beautiful they were, white, slender, and long. A treat for hand fetishists!
She couldn't help but happily think that she was beautiful from head to toe. Ji Fengxue had really struck gold!
"You're not going to give yourself, are you?" Jiang Yuan asked abruptly.
"What?" Xia Linxia was startled, her eyes widening. After a while, she recovered and said in surprise, "It's not impossible, but we only just got together. Wouldn't that be too forward? Besides, I'm afraid she can't handle it." As she spoke, she became shy herself.
"Can't handle it?" Jiang Yuan asked curiously.
"After all, I'm fiery. What if I…" Xia Linxia suddenly withdrew her hand.
The manicurist was startled, thinking something had gone wrong. "What's wrong?"
"I don't want a manicure anymore," Xia Linxia had a flash of inspiration and let out a villainous laugh. "Please cut them short for me, thank you."
Jiang Yuan: "..."
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