Chapter 38

     The scene where Shi Xi makes a cameo appearance tells the story of a female protagonist being chased by a group of assassins and breaking into an abandoned temple. On the brink of life and death, she is saved by a high monk named Yideng who is resting in the temple.

     The abandoned temple used for the scene is located in Xiaosu Ancient Village, very close to where the crew is staying. The crew had already set up the scene for this particular shot. Although a new character was added at the last minute, there was no need to change the set.

     After finishing her makeup, Shi Xi went to the scene to wait for the performance. While she was concentrating on reading the script, Duan Jingyi, dressed in black, came over with a prop sword in his arms: “Do you have to memorize lines for so long for just one scene? Oh, that’s right, after all, you haven’t acted in many plays, and your experience is not as rich as the extras in the crew.”

     Shi Xi looked up at him, with a subtle arc at the end of her eyes: “You must have rich acting experience and good acting skills, right?”

     “Of course,” Duan Jingyi raised his chin arrogantly: “Do you think anyone can play the third male lead in Director Weng’s movie?”

     Shi Xi nodded, and asked again: “Do you think my acting skills are poor?”

     “What kind of acting skills can an actor in a small crew have,” Duan Jingyi sneered: “I’ll let you recognize the gap between yourself and the top actors later, and then everyone will agree with what I said before, there is no difference between hiring you and hiring extras, Maybe the extras are better than you.”

     Shi Xi curled her lips: “Okay, I’ll wait and see.”

     Everything was ready on the scene, and the actors were in place.

     Shi Xi sat cross-legged on the worn-out cushion, closed her eyes, and gently twisted the Buddhist beads.

     There were hurried footsteps and fierce fighting sounds outside the door, all of which were heard by her, but her face did not change at all, as if she was in a trance, wandering in other time and space.

     Suddenly, the temple doors burst open, and Ruan Shu, playing the role of the female lead Liu Shuangyin, tumbled into the ruined temple. Her clothes was drenched in blood, and her porcelain-skinned face was marred by streaks of crimson. Yet, her eyes held an unwavering determination.

     In that instant, Ruan Shu became Liu Shuangyin, so convincingly that she drew everyone on set into the world of her character.

     Liu Shuangyin looked up at the huge and damaged Buddha statue in front of her, gritted her teeth, held the bloody sword tightly, and stood up with difficulty. Even when she was forced into a dead end, her back was still as straight as a pine tree.

     At this time, the people chasing her stepped into the ruined temple calmly and blocked the exit.

     Duan Jingyi, who played the role of the assassin leader, pulled off the black scarf on his face and smiled: “Liu Shuangyin, you have no way to escape. Hand over the secret book, and I can show mercy and let you die quickly.”

     Liu Shuangyin wiped the blood from the corner of her mouth and said coldly: “I have said it before, I don’t have the secret book.”

     “If there’s no secret book, then I’ll just have to take your head back as proof!” Duan Jingyi let out a sinister laugh, suddenly noticing someone else sitting in the darkness. He shouted harshly, “Who’s there? Come out!”

     Liu Shuangyin also noticed the other person hiding in the ruined temple and looked back.

     Shi Xi, or Master Yideng, rose unhurriedly from the shadows, stepping into the silvery cascade of moonlight.

     He wore a tattered bamboo hat, a loose, white monk’s robe with patches on the cuffs, a dull Buddhist rosary in his hand, and his face was hidden in the shadows, just like an ordinary, poor monk.

    “So it’s a monk who’s just passing through.” Finally, it was time to act opposite Shixi. Duan Jingyi was determined to outshine Shixi with his acting in front of everyone. His eyes sparkled with excitement, and his tone involuntarily rose: “Monk, you’re out of luck. Why rest in hell of all places? … But don’t worry, my sword is fast enough, you won’t suffer too much. I guess you can call this a mercy killing, hahaha!!”

     Duan Jingyi is very confident that his performance is very good. A little actor like Shi Xi, who has no acting skills, will definitely not be able to catch up with his performance. It will be even funnier if she reads the wrong lines…

     “Amitabha, there is no peace in the three realms, just like a burning house, the Buddha is not deceiving me.” Master Yideng took off his bamboo hat, he raised his head, his clear face was coated with snow-white moonlight, and his eyes were as compassionate as the huge Buddha statue behind him, like a flawless jade Buddha descending to the world.

     Duan Jingyi was shocked by this look. After seeing this face and this look, the Master Yideng in the script seemed to come alive. He opened his mouth and completely forgot his lines.

     “Duan Jingyi! What’s wrong with you?” Director Weng’s loud voice woke Duan Jingyi up.

     He stood there in panic, realizing that he had forgotten his lines just now. He thought that Shi Xi would not be able to catch his play, but he didn’t expect that he was the one who didn’t catch the play!

      Duan Jingyi felt that everyone on the set was looking at him. Thinking of what he said in the dressing room, he wanted to dig a hole in the ground and crawl into it.

     Director Weng walked up to Duan Jingyi and explained the play to him calmly: “Duan Jingyi, your role is not in the right state. You were too strong in the previous scene. Adjust it in the next one. Remember, you are a villain, but not a pervert who kills people without hesitation. You killed Yideng just to silence him. You don’t need to act so excited.”

     Duan Jingyi blushed, but he was very reluctant to admit that he didn’t act well: “Director Weng, I just suddenly couldn’t remember the lines. I promise I won’t forget the lines in the next one.”

      Director Weng said angrily: “Ask your assistant to bring the script and you recite the lines again.”

      Duan Jingyi was still mocking Shi Xi for reciting the lines for a long time not long ago, but now he was ordered by the director to recite the lines, and his face was swollen.

     Shi Xi said in a gentle tone: “Director Weng, don’t worry. A top-level actor like Teacher Duan will definitely not make this mistake a second time.”

     Duan Jingyi: “…”

     “This kind of low-level mistake should not be made a second time.” Director Weng looked at Shi Xi, his eyes were much relieved: “Xiao Shi just performed well, worthy of the prototype of the role, keep it up.”

     Even Ruan Shu, who was putting on makeup nearby, praised her: : “Xiao Shi is good, she is young and her acting is very stable.”

     Duan Jingyi’s face turned redder, he bit his lower lip, secretly glanced at Shi Xi, and just met Shi Xi’s smiling eyes.

     The next moment, he heard Shi Xi’s humble voice: “This is the first time to cooperate with so many top-level actors. I still have a lot of shortcomings. I still need Director Weng and Teacher Ruan to teach me more.”

     Duan Jingyi: “…” She did it on purpose! She did it on purpose! Because he had said harsh words before to let her realize the gap between herself and top actors, so she kept emphasizing top actors!

     Duan Jingyi felt his head buzzing, and he couldn’t get into the state for a long time. He made low-level mistakes in two consecutive scenes, which made Director Weng so angry that he scolded him on the spot.

     “Duan Jingyi, don’t do it if you don’t want to do it! The whole crew is wasting time with you. Other actors are getting better and better with each scene, but you are worse and worse, and the good moonlight is wasted! I ask you again, can you shoot?!”

     The director got angry, and the set was silent. Everyone was looking at Duan Jingyi.

     Duan Jingyi was very face-conscious, and now he lost face in front of the whole crew, his face turned pale.

     After Director Weng got angry, he gave him some time to adjust his state.

     Duan Jingyi was under great pressure, and his performance in the fourth scene was barely acceptable. The focus of this scene is Shi Xi and Ruan Shu. Although Director Weng was not very satisfied with Duan Jingyi’s performance, he did not shout “cut” and asked them to continue.

    “‘Buddha, Buddha,’ you say. Your Buddha is right behind you, and I don’t think even he can save you!” Duan Jingyi finally managed to deliver his lines, and coldly ordered his men, ‘Go, kill them!’”

     “Buddha has mercy on me.” Master Yideng lowered his eyebrows and bowed.

     At the moment when the killers rushed towards Master Yideng, the seriously injured Liu Shuangyin stepped forward with a sword to protect him.

     Just as Liu Shuangyin was about to draw her sword, Master Yideng flung his hat, cutting the assassin’s throat with a fatal blow.

     Director Weng called for a stop: “Stop, the special effects makeup artist goes up to replenish the plasma!”

     Afterwards, the set was dominated by the smooth fighting scenes of Master Yideng and Liu Shuangyin. At the end of the scene, the bodies of the killers were everywhere on the ground. The wounded Duan Jingyi threw a smoke bomb and escaped under the cover of his men.

     The smoke dissipated, and the ruined temple returned to silence. Liu Shuangyin looked at Master Yideng. He stood in front of the giant Buddha with blood. His sleeves and Buddhist beads were stained with scarlet, but his eyes were still compassionate. Master Yideng took out a fire stick from his sleeve, lit an ancient lamp on the table, raised his eyes in the dim light, and looked at Liu Shuangyin deeply.

     Liu Shuangyin blinked her eyes and looked again. The graceful Master Yideng had disappeared. A strange monk’s body lay on the incense table. Liu Shuangyin looked at the hellish ruined temple, her pupils trembling, and finally discovered the truth – Master Yideng did not exist at all.

     The poor monk who stayed in the ruined temple was found and immediately died under the killer’s sword. Liu Shuangyin was stimulated and comprehended the secret book at the moment of life and death. She fought back and killed almost all the killers, and almost went crazy because of it.

     Master Yideng was a phantom in her heart. It was also this phantom that “saved” her. In order to show this “truth”, Director Weng needed to shoot another fight scene with Liu Shuangyin in the dark state. Shi Xi did not need to participate in the scene. She finished work after lighting the ancient lamp.

     After Director Weng called “cut”, he clapped his hands: “This fight scene is very exciting. Liu Shuangyin and Yideng’s eyes are also very good. Everyone has worked hard. Let’s take a 15-minute break. The makeup artist will touch up Liu Shuangyin’s makeup.”

     “Xiao Shi, it’s great to act with you,” Ruan Shu curved her eyes at Shi Xi and said sincerely: “I hope we can work together again.”

     Shi Xi smiled back: “I hope so too.”

     Director Weng walked up to Shi Xi and praised her without hesitation: “Xiao Shi, you are very malleable. You are very good at fighting scenes. Our martial arts instructor was stunned. The effect was even more amazing than I expected. There is a lot to look forward to in the future. “

     Even screenwriter Lin came over and hugged Shi Xi with a smile: “Thank you for presenting the effect I wanted. I believe this scene will be the finishing touch of “Sword Shining in the Frost.” “

     Shi Xi hugged the screenwriter generously: “It is me who should thank Teacher Lin. I like this role so much!”

     Duan Jingyi heard their conversation and clenched his fingers tightly, holding the prop sword so tightly that it creaked.

     The actress who was speaking up for Shi Xi in the dressing room was nearby. Seeing Duan Jingyi’s reaction of not being able to accept defeat, she scoffed, “Now everyone knows it. The role of Master Yideng is not for just anyone to play. It has a real-life prototype… But maybe some roles would be perfectly fine with a different actor.”

     The actress’s companion praised sincerely: “I knew that Xiaoshi had good acting skills when I watched variety shows. I didn’t expect that she has improved in such a short time. I was stunned by her fighting scenes just now. She is not inferior to Ruan Yinghou.”

     Duan Jingyi was so angry that he kicked the broken stones on the ground to vent his anger.

     The stone flew into the dark of the ruined temple and hit something with a clang.

     A sharp cry of pain sounded in the dark. Duan Jingyi shuddered in fear, but found that the people around him were very calm, as if they didn’t hear the sound.

     Duan Jingyi nervously slid his Adam’s apple and asked the male actor next to him: “Did you hear a strange sound just now?”

     The male actor shook his head: “No.”