Provoking Fire [Entertainment Circle] - Chapter 47

“Miss Chu, are you sure you want to go to the center of the lake alone to rescue him?”

Su Yan, who had come to untie the rowboat’s mooring rope, stood tall, her long legs braced against the boat’s edge as she looked down at Chu Xiyue. Her fiery red robes and white-trousered boots cut a striking figure against the swirling gray mist, exuding an intimidating aura of cool confidence.

Audiences had never doubted Su Yan’s ability to embody any role. From a songstress as fragile as a floating reed yet possessing unwavering righteousness, to a dignified and refined noblewoman, or even an ambitious villain, she always nailed the part. Every character she portrayed was richly nuanced and distinct from her own persona.

Su Yan wasn’t what you’d call a “throwaway face,” but her nuanced expressions and captivating gaze revealed a remarkable transformation. In this moment, as she subtly slipped into character, Chu Xiyue felt as if she had been transported back to the set of In Character, only with their roles reversed.

The woman’s face was naturally striking and cool, further enhanced by makeup that accentuated its sharp features and added a touch of enigmatic charm. Yet there was also a hint of cynical mischief in her eyes, a departure from her usual “righteous” demeanor. This sudden shift in temperament made it impossible to look away.

Chu Xiyue blinked hard, banishing the thoughts from her mind. To cover her momentary distraction, she raised her voice slightly:

“Hurry and release the rope!”

Unbeknownst to her, her tone sounded more like frustrated embarrassment than genuine urgency.

Su Yan chuckled softly before deftly untying the rope. Freed from its mooring, the rowboat began to drift aimlessly in circles. Chu Xiyue had only ever rowed boats during tourist outings, too lazy to exert herself otherwise. She struggled to find her bearings. Su Yan, who had assumed Chu Xiyue’s confident descent meant she had a plan, couldn’t help but facepalm inwardly at this unexpected incompetence.

“Row backward to adjust your direction!” Su Yan called out, reluctantly switching to her onshore command mode.

Fortunately, Chu Xiyue was the type to follow instructions well. Following Su Yan’s guidance, she quickly regained control of the boat and steered it toward the elderly man floating in the lake’s center. The lake’s surface was illuminated by lights, so she hadn’t brought a lotus lantern. Only as she drew closer did she realize the man was resting on a transparent floating platform, cleverly concealed by aquatic plants. The illusion was remarkably convincing.

“Cough, cough…”

As Chu Xiyue approached, the old man miraculously “awoke,” feigning a struggle in the water. He shakily extended his hand, as if pleading for her to help him onto the boat.

But instead of drawing closer, Chu Xiyue cautiously stopped nearby and poked the old man with her oar.

“Something’s not right, everyone. Are you sure the sound came from this direction? Could this be some kind of trap? Maybe I should head back?”

Faced with Chu Xiyue’s sudden dramatic flair, Bei Yaoyao, having worked with her on set for so long, quickly understood her intentions. From the shore, she chimed in:

“Exactly! I heard this town is really eerie. That old man’s clearly gone. We should keep our distance and watch out for a zombie!”

As she spoke, Chu Xiyue seemed to find the logic compelling. She immediately began rowing back. The man, who had been lying still with his eyes closed, had actually been secretly observing her. When he saw her turning back, he couldn’t resist coughing louder.

“Oh no, it’s really come back to life!” Zhang Xin’an exclaimed. “Xiao Chu, run!”

The splashing sounds grew louder. The “corpse,” nearly enraged, finally couldn’t maintain its act any longer. It abandoned its pretense and struggled to its feet, only to find itself unable to move forward as if blocked by an invisible barrier. It lunged forward, its withered, bark-like hands clawing the air, a grotesque yet pitiful sight. Its hunched, frail body seemed so fragile it might collapse with a mere gust of wind.

“Young friend, our paths have converged,” a raspy, ancient voice echoed across the empty water. “Why not join me at River Center and deliver us from this torment? Decades ago, Clear Breeze Town was seized by a demon, who stole our souls, leaving us restless spirits unable to find peace even in death. If you help us find release, it would be an act of great merit—”

Before the voice could finish, Chu Xiyue casually began poking the air with her finger, her tone dripping with disdain. “Such a clever trick,” she drawled. “Trying to fool this Miss?”

The old man fell silent, speechless.

He introduced himself as the Land Immortal, trapped here after half his soul was extracted and imprisoned at the lake’s center. The demonic entity had temporarily departed, and Chu Xiyue could help him break free by finding five unbloomed lotus flowers in the River Center.

Chu Xiyue ignored his mystical rambling. “Why should I believe you? You’re just a Land God—I’m a Heavenly Immortal!”

The old man glared, speechless.

Realizing Chu Xiyue wouldn’t act without proof, he gritted his teeth and tossed her a prop. She picked it up from the boat and saw it was a Thunderbolt Talisman, capable of repelling a single ghost attack. It seemed decent enough.

She weighed it in her hand, while the Land God watched eagerly, thinking she was finally ready to act. But then she said casually:

“Looks alright, but are you hiding any other good stuff? Don’t try to trick me, old man.”

“This old man doesn’t lie!”

The Land God was furious, his voice rising with renewed vigor. Chu Xiyue chuckled and finally agreed to help, shouting to the people on shore to help illuminate the area for the search.

Before long, everyone worked together to find all the pieces. They arranged them into a formation for the old Land Immortal, finally breaking through the disguise. His true form was revealed: a middle-aged man, surprisingly short in stature—no wonder he could squeeze into that small space.

“Please take this old man ashore,” he said.

Even after reverting to his true form, the Land Immortal remained committed to his role. Chu Xiyue pulled him onto the boat, which immediately sank lower under their combined weight.

Just before setting off, Chu Xiyue’s smile deepened, like a sky full of stars falling to earth—exceptionally beautiful. But her next words left the Land Immortal no time to admire it:

“Grandpa, I can’t stand any nonsense. If anything happens on this water, remember I’m a petty person with no sense of honor. If I decide to act, who knows what might happen?”

The Land God fell silent.

As a ghost house NPC, he was bound to cause trouble when alone with someone. The Land God had already prepared his punishment for Chu Xiyue, but now he sat as still as a quail, daring not to make a single move.

As soon as they reached the shore, the Land Immortal, still shaken by Chu Xiyue’s presence, immediately retreated behind Su Yan, who had remained quiet throughout the journey. Su Yan appeared calm and composed, seemingly less dangerous than the woman.

Su Yan glanced at him, smoothed the hem of her robe, and said in a light, clear voice, her fingers gently hooking Chu Xiyue’s hand, “Chuchu, why don’t you ask the Land Immortal what he can offer? If he refuses, we can just kill him and toss him back into the lake—he’d only be a burden on the road.”

The moment she spoke, Chu Xiyue, Bei Yaoyao, and Zhang Xin’an’s eyes lit up.

“Sister Su Yan,” Bei Yaoyao said, her tone dripping with sarcasm, “I never knew you were so… clever!”

As the group discussed their plans as if the Land Immortal weren’t even there, he stood frozen, his face stiff as he waited to hear their threats. Once they had agreed on a strategy, Chu Xiyue stepped forward as their representative to negotiate with him. After much haggling, they secured a large pile of small items, a life-saving talisman, and a “communication artifact” for long-distance conversations.

Having thoroughly fleeced the Land Immortal, Chu Xiyue poked him with a stick. After a moment of stunned silence, he finally remembered his duties, pointed them toward a path leading to a temple where they were to regroup.

“The story of that day is long and tragic. The Demon Wind stole the souls of every villager, leaving behind a trail of carnage. This place became a breeding ground for resentment. Later, an Immortal Master arrived, slaying the demon and sealing it away. But the wronged souls lingered, unable to find peace. The Immortal Master established a Magic Formation, drawing upon the essence of heaven and earth to nourish these souls. He prophesied that after a century, when destined individuals arrived to help, the souls could finally return to their rightful places. Yet the century is nearly complete, and the Immortal Master has long since departed on his travels, never to return.”

The Land God shook his head.

“This village has been deserted for ages. Fear of its cursed reputation keeps everyone away. Though I know not why you’ve come, I can guide you to the ruins left by the Immortal Master.”

“However…”

The Land God shook his head again, refusing to elaborate further. It was clear he wanted them to uncover the rest of the story themselves. Chu Xiyue, though not one to rely solely on threats, sensed he truly had nothing more to reveal. She signaled the group to move on.

Armed with their own maps, they didn’t need the Land God’s guidance and quickly set off.

Yet as they departed, the Land God, who had been cowering moments before, turned to the camera with a sinister smile.

The further they ventured, the more sinister the path became. Eerie footsteps seemed to follow them like a shadow. Chu Xiyue, who had always been fearless and led the way, now hesitated slightly as she gazed at the dense forest ahead.

The reason was simple: the Production Team had spared no effort in creating an immersive, realistic environment through special effects and meticulous design. As soon as they reached the forest entrance, unpleasant memories began to flood Chu Xiyue’s mind, causing her to furrow her brow slightly.

“Sister Chuchu, are we going the right way?” Bei Yaoyao asked, oblivious to Chu Xiyue’s pale complexion.

They had encountered minor obstacles along the way, such as crawling insects or NPCs jumping out to startle them, all of which Chu Xiyue had handled with ease. To Bei Yaoyao, she seemed utterly reliable, and she blindly followed behind, completely unaware of the woman’s growing unease.

The forest was shrouded in mist, its air thick with a chilling aura. Occasional eerie cries echoed through the trees, making the person at the front hesitate to proceed.

Sensing her hesitation, Su Yan gently hooked her fingers around Chu Xiyue’s.