畅想听

Chapter 666: First act: Senior Brother Gao Sheng making his appearance

Translator: GodBrandy Editor: Kurisu

Song Shuhang said, “Your teacher is unexpectedly a daoist?” In other words, this western monk was actually a western daoist?

“Yes... the truth is that I’ve always wanted to become a senior monk of the Shaolin Temple before coming to China. But due to various reasons, I ended up becoming a daoist. However, even now, I still have the mindset and heart of a buddhist,” the western monk said earnestly.

Then, he sighed and added, “Unfortunately, the only thing that my master taught me were sword techniques, and even his teachings were related to daoism. As you can see, my robe also ended up being that of a daoist.”

After hearing the words of the western monk, Song Shuhang felt as though he had met a kindred soul.

Unlike the western monk, Song Shuhang wished to become a cool scholar or a daoist cultivator that used sword techniques. But due to various reasons, he ended up with a buddhist foundation cultivation technique and even the first magical clothing he’d received was a buddhist kasaya. As if that wasn’t enough, his talent for sword techniques was nonexistent while his talent for saber techniques was off the charts...

“I understand how you feel.” Song Shuhang was moved and said, “My situation is the opposite of yours. I wanted to become a scholar or a daoist cultivator, but most of the cultivation techniques that I practice ended up being buddhist ones. Moreover, I couldn’t learn sword techniques since I had no talent in that field and was stuck with saber techniques. Then, I even got an emerald-green kasaya as a gift... eh, wait a moment...”

After saying this much, Song Shuhang paused.

Before him, the eyes of the western monk likewise lit up. The two of them looked at each other.

In the next moment, they quietly moved to one corner of the hall.

The western monk pointed at the beautiful daoist robe he was wearing and said, “This daoist robe is something that my teacher, Wu Yinzi, obtained when he went out to take risks in his younger days. It’s a very good daoist robe of the Second Stage. It’s weaved with the spider silk of the ‘golden spider’. It’s very light, and after wearing it, sword and sabers won’t be able to injure you. Even without activating its defensive formation, you can ward off bullets from small firearms. Then, if you activate its defensive formation, you can easily walk through a rain of bullets without receiving any injury. In addition, there is a ‘Turtle Breathing Formation’ attached to it as well. Once you activate it, you won’t be affected by poisonous air anymore. For this reason, I decided to call it, the ‘impenetrable daoist robe’!”

Luckily, Daoist Priest Wu Yinzi didn’t know about this name. Otherwise, he would have coughed up a mouthful of blood.

Song Shuhang took out the emerald-green kasaya from his size-reducing purse and said, “This kasaya is likewise a precious defensive treasure of the Second Stage. It was manufactured with the emerald-green silk of a spirit beast. It’s waterproof, fireproof, and bulletproof. After putting it on, even without activating its defensive powers, it can block the bullets of small firearms. If you were to activate its defense, even a rain of bullets wouldn’t pose a problem! The only issue is that it has a special lock to prevent theft. You won’t be able to take it off after putting it on if you don’t have the password. Even an expert from the ‘Penniless Thief Sect’ won’t be able to break the lock!”

The two of them looked at each other and smiled with tacit understanding.

“Wonderful!” The western monk joined his palms together.

“Excellent.” Song Shuhang smiled.

Then, the western monk took off his ‘impenetrable daoist robe’ without any hesitation and gave it to Song Shuhang. It turned out that he was still wearing buddhist clothes underneath his daoist robe... he just lacked a kasaya!

Song Shuhang likewise gave the emerald-green kasaya to the western monk and told him the password.

Both of them were very satisfied after completing this transaction.

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After the transaction, the western monk asked out of curiosity, “Benefactor, on the way here, I heard Mister Jacob saying that he was coming over to shoot a movie on behalf of a certain person. Benefactor, what’s the relationship between this person that wants to shoot the movie and you?”

“Actually, I’m the person that wants to shoot the movie,” Song Shuhang replied with a smile.

“In that case, Benefactor, is there some small role left in the movie that I can play?” the western monk asked.

“You want to play a role in the movie?” Song Shuhang thought a bit and then had a sudden idea.

Since he would play Senior Brother Gao Sheng’s role in a while, Song Shuhang had an idea... if his performance while playing the role wasn’t good enough, he could try to throw this role at some other fellow daoist.

However, it was unlikely that any senior in the Nine Provinces Number One Group would want to play this role.

Such being the case, hadn’t this western monk come just at the right time?

If he ‘failed’ to get Senior Brother Gao Sheng’s role, wouldn’t the western monk be a perfect substitute that could take the role in his stead?

“Sure, no problem,” Song Shuhang patted his chest and said to the western monk, “I’ll try my best to give you a good role during the shooting.”

“Thank you, Benefactor,” the western monk said excitedly.

Not far from them, Venerable White held his chin and looked at the western monk and Song Shuhang.

He had also heard the conversation the two of them were having.

Now then... had Song Shuhang just accepted some kind of bribery and then given the western monk the opportunity to play a role in the movie? Was this some kind of unwritten rule that one had to follow?

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Time flew by.

All the members of the Nine Provinces Number One Group that wanted to participate in the shooting had now arrived.

Medicine Master and Riverly Purple Mist had arrived as well. As for Thrice Reckless Mad Saber... was he still alive?

At this time, the majority of the fellow daoists were playing with Cave Lord Snow Wolf’s little wolf cubs. Cave Lord Snow Wolf’s children were still unable to assume human form and were very cute.

After arriving, Northern River’s Loose Cultivator asked, “Is it final that little friend Song Shuhang will play Senior Brother Gao Sheng’s role?”

Fairy Lychee replied, “You don’t have to worry. On the list of the actors, little friend Song Shuhang’s name is written next to that role.”

Northern River’s Loose Cultivator nodded and wondered if he should start discussing with the other fellow daoists and prepare a floral wreath for little friend Song ahead of time.

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In the afternoon, at 2 PM.

Everyone had arrived, including the members of the movie crew and Song Shuhang’s friends.

After obtaining Song Shuhang’s permission, Venerable Spirit Butterfly’s subordinate quietly released several illusory butterflies that then lay on the bodies of Gao Moumou and the other ordinary people.

Thanks to the illusory butterflies, the minds of Gao Moumou and the others would automatically filter the scenes where cultivators were using ‘supernatural powers’.

With that, the seniors of the Nine Provinces Number One Group wouldn’t have to hold back during the shooting.

Venerable White clapped his hands and said, “In that case, follow me. Let’s board the immortal boats so that we can head towards the place where the first act of the movie will be shot.”

Under the effects of the illusory butterflies, the brain of the ordinary people on the scene mistook ‘immortal boat’ for ‘airplane’ and the several immortal boats before their eyes assumed the appearance of airplanes.

The immortal boats took off and carried away all the members of the movie crew and their equipment, heading toward the place where the first act of the movie would be shot.

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In the afternoon, at 3 PM.

After passing through a huge defensive formation, the immortal boats arrived at Venerable White’s holiday residence.

Beneath the flying boats was the beautiful, former encampment of a medium-sized sect.

Soon after, a breathtaking scene appeared before the eyes of the onlookers.

Song Shuhang stood next to the window of the immortal boat and looked downward, muttering, “The scene below is truly beautiful.”

The nearby Venerable White said with a smile, “Indeed. Moreover, this is the result of the preliminary repairing I carried out. I’m pretty sure that this piece of land looked even more beautiful before it was abandoned. I still have no idea why that sect abandoned this stretch of land in the first place...”

“Perhaps they were escaping from some calamity, or maybe they found a better place and moved the sect there?” Song Shuhang said with a smile.

After gazing at the beautiful scenery below, a certain idea resurfaced in Song Shuhang’s heart.

One day, when he had gotten strong enough to protect his friends and family, he would accumulate spirit stones and buy a beautiful place such as this. After that, he would arrange a formation around it and turn it into a hidden land of peace of prosperity.

Afterward, he would invite some of his close relatives and friends to live there.

Speaking of spirit stones... Song Shuhang remembered a certain matter.

Therefore, he said, “Senior White.”

“Is something the matter?” Venerable White turned his head around in puzzlement and saw Song Shuhang seemingly hesitating to say something.

“It’s like this... Senior White, can you lend me some spirit stones?” Song Shuhang asked. Senior Seventh Cultivator of True Virtue could bring him to see that mysterious ‘Almighty Merchant’ at any time.

At this time, he had with him only the spirit stones he’d obtained after selling the blood pearls to Daoist Priest Horizon. Although such a number of spirit stones was more than enough for his personal use, it was nowhere near enough if he was planning to buy something from the mysterious ‘Almighty Merchant’.

In addition, there was a chance he could obtain a treasure capable of curing Li Yinzhu’s disease from that mysterious ‘Almighty Merchant’.

According to the memories of Daoist Priest Li Tiansu, there was a possibility to find Li Yinzhu’s cure inside that ‘forbidden area’. However, even Daoist Priest Li Tiansu hadn’t managed to explore the ‘forbidden area’ in its entirety. Therefore, it was unknown whether they would really find the cure there.

Such being the case, Song Shuhang couldn’t pin all his hopes on the forbidden area. It was better to have a backup plan.

“You are short of spirit stones?” Venerable White faintly smiled and said, “How many do you need?”

Song Shuhang replied, “The more, the better! Otherwise, I feel that I might regret it for the rest of my life!”

“The more, the better? I see,” Venerable White said with a smile. “In that case, I’ll bring you to another one of my immortal caves after shooting of the movie. All my spirit stones are stored inside that immortal cave.”

“Thank you, Senior White,” Song Shuhang said.

Venerable White replied, “You are welcome.”

“Do you want to collect some interest?” Song Shuhang asked. Being blunt and straightforward was one of his strong points.

Venerable White laughed and said, “Alright, I might collect some interest when the time comes.”

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The immortal boats slowly descended, and Jacob’s Production Team got into action.

With the help of Venerable Spirit Butterfly’s subordinate, Director Jacob instructed the shooting staff and had them take pictures of the ‘paradise’ below from all angles.

These pictures taken from above would be used as a background for the credits after the shooting of the movie.

After all the immortal boats descended, the members of the movie crew moved their equipment out.

Under Venerable White’s guide, all those present finally arrived in front of the martial arts stage where the first act of the movie would be shot—the scene of Senior Brother Gao Sheng beating up the main character Ling Ye.

Jacob’s Production Team started to quickly arrange the stage props, lighting, video cameras, and scene.

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In the afternoon, 4 PM.

Everything was ready.

The audio and video recording had been turned on.

The actors had taken their places.

Song Shuhang and Venerable White were both wearing the regulation clothes of the ‘Immaterial Cloud Sect’ that True Monarch Ancient Lake Temple had provided.

Venerable White was playing the role of the main character, Ling Ye.

Song Shuhang was playing the role of a supporting character, Gao Sheng.

True Monarch Ancient Lake Temple was playing the role of the elder of the Immaterial Cloud Sect, the Eight-Armed Sword Sage.

Riverly Purple Mist was playing the role of Senior Sister Murong Hua.

In addition, there were several people on the edge of the stage that were playing the roles of the ordinary disciples of the Immaterial Cloud Sect. The various subordinates that Venerable Spirit Butterfly had sent over were in charge of playing these unimportant roles.

They were surely laborious and worth of respect. After all, they were in charge of taking care of minor matters, and most of the small and insignificant roles were played by them.

The script supervisor clapped the clapperboard.

Director Jacob shouted, “Action!”

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Venerable White calmly arrived on the martial arts stage. While walking, he had already put himself in the shoes of the character he was playing.

At this time, Venerable White had a firm and fearless expression on his face.

The light blue daoist robe covering his body fitted him well, and his long black hair was hanging behind the back. Venerable White had already turned into ‘Ling Ye’ at this time.

True Monarch Ancient Lake Temple stood on the edge of the martial arts stage with his arms crossed and an indifferent expression on his face. Just by standing there and doing nothing, he gave the onlookers the impression of being an ‘impartial’ entity. True Monarch had also turned into the character he was playing at this time.

After all, we were talking about seasoned seniors that had experienced a lot of things in their life!

Song Shuhang clenched his teeth and thought to himself, Time to go!

In the worst case, my acting skills won’t be up to par, and the western monk will take my place!

After thinking up to this point, Song Shuhang calmed down a bit.

Before getting in front of the camera, he took a deep breath to muster his strength.

Afterward, he put a grin on his face and headed toward the martial arts stage in large strides, finally entering the range of the camera.

Closely following behind him were two subordinates of Venerable Spirit Butterfly that were currently playing the roles of Senior Brother Gao Sheng’s two lackeys.

“Ahahaha! Ling Ye, you finally stopped hiding and decided to accept my challenge, huh?” Song Shuhang coldly smiled at Venerable White on the fighting stage.

Venerable White had fully immersed himself in Ling Ye’s character and calmly looked at Song Shuhang.

“Senior Brother, today we must give Ling Ye a good lesson and let him know how terrifying you can be,” Junior Brother No. 1 said.

“Indeed. He won’t dare to go against Senior Brother’s wishes ever again from today onwards!” Junior Brother No. 2 added.

“Hmph.” Song Shuhang, who was playing Senior Brother Gao Sheng’s role, snorted and continued, “Ling Ye, this time, I’ll beat you so badly that you won’t be able to get out of bed for a whole month.”

After saying the lines, Song Shuhang felt a feeling of weakness surge up in his heart.

Although he knew that it was just an act and that Venerable White was merely playing Ling Ye’s role, saying something like ‘I’ll beat you so badly that you won’t be able to get out of bed for a whole month’ to Senior White still scared him.

After saying these lines, Senior Brother Gao Sheng was supposed to make a beautiful 360-degree flip and get on the martial arts stage.

Thereupon, Song Shuhang followed the instructions of the script and jumped high up, performing a beautiful flip while midair.

The flip was very attractive.

Perhaps because his legs had gotten a little soft due to that feeling of weakness that rushed up to his heart earlier... or due to some unknown reasons that defied the principles of science and cultivation...

Halfway through the flip, just as he was about to land on the stage, Song Shuhang suddenly lost his balance and ruthlessly crashed to one side of the platform.

“Bang~”

It looked rather painful.

The nearby Venerable White was speechless.

“...” Song Shuhang.

True Monarch Ancient Lake Temple, who had his arms crossed, was also speechless.

“Cut!” Director Jacob shouted.