Chương 106: Undercurrents

Mingchan Temple, nestled amidst lush grass, exudes a unique vitality; the once barren hill is now verdant.

On the grassy hillside by the lake, tender buds sprout and stretch in the wind, while butterflies and insects occasionally hover above them, making a buzzing sound as they flap their wings.

After being away from school for more than a month, Zhao Rui and others finally returned to Mingchan Temple, which they had been away from for a long time.

What I initially thought couldn't compare to the scenery and architecture of the training center, upon entering, seemed to freeze time, leaving one breathless with longing.

Perhaps it's true what they say: a foreign land is never the final destination.

When they returned, the martial arts team was still training. Hearing footsteps, they all looked over.

Then they saw Wang Zhanshan leading Zhao Rui and four others in a swaggering manner through the door.

Can't you be a little less carefree? When you're back on your own turf, you can go wherever you want.

"Coach Wang, you're back?"

Zeng Hongyi and another teaching assistant greeted them with smiles.

"It's been over a month, it's time to come back. I'm so bored spending all this time with these brats."

Wang Zhanshan said with a smile, then looked at the other team members on the field and said, "This kind of special training isn't just for those five people. Once you advance to level eight, you'll also have the opportunity to see how others train."

"Alright, everyone, practice as you normally would."

Wang Zhanshan clapped his hands, signaling everyone to practice freely, and then took two teaching assistants elsewhere to discuss matters.

As soon as the coaches left, the team members surrounded them.

Curious, they inquired about the special training.

"Special training? It's nothing special for us."

Cai Zhengyang glanced at Zhao Rui and, seeing that he didn't seem to have any desire to show off, quickly took over the conversation.

"You wouldn't believe it, those guys tried to intimidate us, but I beat them to a pulp in no time."

"Brother Yang is awesome! With his skills, he's top-notch anywhere."

"What do you mean 'top-tier'? Yang Ge is just like Nanbowan!"

"Yes, yes, yes! Yang Ge Nanbowan!"

Everyone laughed and offered a few words of praise.

Cai Zhengyang listened with satisfaction, as this boast was completely genuine.

He's the only one at the entire Dongda University with such a record, and he won cleanly and decisively.

Just as he was about to show off some more details, he spotted Wang Dalong silently walking to the side.

Judging from the direction, it should be a meditation room.

"cut!"

"They act all high and mighty in the team, but outside of school, they're like little lambs."

Cai Zhengyang thought to himself with disdain, and was about to speak when he heard Zhao Rui say, "Zhengyang really made Dongda University proud this time. If anyone has any questions, just ask him."

"No, it's all because everyone's been giving me face, haha!"

Cai Zhengyang raised an eyebrow, surprised that Zhao Rui had actually given him a handicap, and his face lit up with joy.

Zhao Rui smiled and patted him on the shoulder, then turned and led Miao Miaomiao and Cao Guannan elsewhere.

Seeing that the "big shots" had all left, Zheng Minghao awkwardly said something to Cai Zhengyang, and then left in silence as well.

"You don't know, we're going to the provincial martial arts training center..."

Not long after the others left, Cai Zhengyang's voice slowly echoed in the martial arts hall.

In the quiet room of the martial arts academy, Wang Dalong sat cross-legged, his face solemn.

The internal energy of the Dragon Subduing Technique surged and churned within his dantian like a raging sea.

Just like his restless state of mind at that moment.

Although my level is still nine after a month of training, my control over internal energy and body has greatly improved compared to before.

It also made him realize his many shortcomings, especially his somewhat impetuous nature.

The outside world is too vast; his strength is not enough!

"With a palm strike, dragons are subdued; dragons battle in the wilderness!"

Wang Dalong narrowed his eyes slightly; it was time to practice the ninth move of the Dragon Subduing Palm!

……

In a valley in Sichuan Province, the forests are dense, the streams are clear, and the birds sing in the secluded mountains.

What was once a quiet mountain wilderness was now filled with bustling sounds.

"Exaggerate that gesture a bit more, yes, you need to act shy, okay... cut!"

A loudspeaker announcement came from afar.

"Director Wang, the scenic area's leaders said they'd like to invite you to dinner tonight, what do you think..."

At that moment, a staff member quickly ran up to a man and whispered something in his ear.

This person, referred to as Director Wang, is none other than Wang Ping, the chief director of the "Crane's Roar in the Nine Heavens" production team.

At this moment, he is filming with a group of cast and crew members in a remote, primeval forest.

This area belongs to a nature reserve in Sichuan Province. Part of it is a scenic area open to the public, while another part is within the protected area.

At this moment, they were already deep inside the protected area.

This was originally not allowed, but Director Wang's reputation was too great to ignore.

The scenic area gave him the green light.

Wang Ping chose this place because there is a mountain stream here, which is a thousand meters high from the mountain peak to the stream. In front of the stream is a flat area with low vegetation and an elegant environment.

It's the perfect place for the protagonist to cultivate his mind and body in the story.

"Sure, they've given me such a big favor, I have to go drink this wine. Let's invite Zhao Tianxin and Zhang Jialun too."

After Director Wang finished speaking, he hesitated for a moment, then said, "Let's call in a few more actors to liven up the atmosphere."

"Okay, Director Wang, I'll go and make the arrangements right away!"

The staff member smiled and nodded in agreement, then dashed down the hillside.

A short while later, in a bush outside the filming location, the staff member who had just left was staring intently at the young woman in front of him.

"Tonight is a great opportunity. Not only can I get to know the leaders of the scenic area, but more importantly, I can have dinner with Director Wang. If I perform well, getting a few more shots is no big deal."

"I……"

"I really like you, don't worry, I won't tell anyone. From now on, I'll definitely think of you when I have resources."

Just as the man was eloquently expressing his ideas, a figure appeared behind him like a ghost in an instant, not far away.

The girl opposite was startled when she saw this scene. She was about to scream when she suddenly realized that she couldn't make a sound.

A look of terror instantly spread across her face.

The man was so frightened by her actions that he didn't even dare to turn his head and ran away.

It rustled away along the waist-high grass, like a fleeing green snake.

In the blink of an eye, he ran back to the filming camp.

He only stopped and breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the busy crew members.

He wondered if he had just imagined it, or if the actress had deliberately scared him.

Thinking about it that way, it's possible.

The man was immediately angered: "They're so ungrateful! There are plenty of people who want to go."

After thinking it over, he turned around and looked back the way he came, only to be surprised to find the girl looking at him with a smile on her face.

The distance between the two was only three to five meters.

Why are you running? They're not going to eat you!

The voice was soft and seductive, with a touch of allure and provocation that made one's heart flutter.

The man's eyes opened and closed slightly, his pupils gradually dilating and then converging, before he suddenly smiled and said, "Hurry up, hurry up, change your clothes quickly, the director is waiting."

"Okay, sure!"

The girl gently agreed and then followed the man's footsteps.

The two walked one after the other towards the camp's rest area.

At this moment, in the rest area, Qin Rui and Ouyang Xin were dressed in ancient costumes and resting under a tree.

There were also quite a few people sitting scattered under the trees next to them.

They were all extras or minor characters in this play.

"Senior, can we go back tomorrow?"

Qin Rui gathered her long hair behind her ear and gazed wistfully at the undulating mountains in the distance and the clear sky through the shadows of the mountains.

"Yeah, let's go back. I'm exhausted. You should be alright, since you're a martial arts student."

Ouyang Xin sighed and said that although she knew filming was tough, she didn't expect it to be this tough.

They traveled all the way to this primeval forest, not only to film the movie, but also to endure all sorts of harsh natural conditions.

"Snapped!"

She slapped a flying insect, whose name she didn't even know, to death.

"I've decided to give up the idea of becoming an actor. It seems that acting isn't as fun as I imagined."

Qin Rui shook her head and smiled, then continued, "Never turn your hobby into a career, or you'll lose your hobby."

"Haha, that makes a lot of sense."

Ouyang Xin smiled.

"Senior, was that song really composed and written by Zhao Rui?"

Qin Rui curled up slightly, hugging her legs delicately, and said somewhat forlornly.

"Of course, it's fake, they've all been registered."

Ouyang Xin nodded and said, "I didn't believe it at first, let alone you. He really did hum a tune right under my nose."

"He's so outstanding, you'd better hold on tight."

Ouyang Xin always thought that Qin Rui was Zhao Rui's "girlfriend," or at least a very good female friend.

Otherwise, why would they give her the spot?

"He's not my boyfriend. Although we're together often, I can tell he doesn't like me."

Qin Rui said calmly.

"It's easy for a woman to pursue a man; there's no such thing as him not liking her. You're so beautiful and skilled in martial arts; I don't believe he doesn't like you. Keep it up; I think he'll definitely become famous in the future."

Ouyang Xin has a strange confidence in Zhao Rui, but when she says he's famous, she's referring to his songwriting and composing.

Hearing her words, Qin Rui shook her head and laughed, "I'm not going to pursue him. He's too popular with women. If you like him, I can help you set him up!"

"Haha, you don't understand. If a man isn't outstanding, how can he attract women?"

Just as the two were talking about a guy from Dong Qisheng, a man and a woman walked past them.

"Xinli, where are you going?"

Upon seeing the woman, Qin Rui called out curiously.

After being there for more than a month, she made several friends, and Xin Li was one of them.

Hearing the shout, the girl named Xin Li stopped and turned around. Seeing that it was Qin Rui, she walked over.

When they arrived, Xin Li smiled and said, "I'm going to see the director with Brother Wang. There's something I need to discuss."

As she spoke, a strange light suddenly appeared in her eyes.

The light flashed so fast that no one would notice it.

A sudden shock to Qin Rui's soul sent a jolt through her head.

In the blink of an eye, the feeling disappeared.

It was as if I had just been lost in thought.

"Oh, then you go ahead and get busy. We'll talk again when you get back."

Qin Rui said with a smile.

"OK!"

Xin Li smiled faintly, then turned and continued walking towards the director with the man named Brother Wang.

As the sun set, it gradually turned from golden yellow to crimson, and the clouds on the horizon were also adorned with colorful hues.

As dusk approached, Wang Ping ended today's filming early. After instructing the assistant director to arrange some filming for tomorrow, he, along with the two lead actors and some other people, returned to the county town near the scenic area.

As for the others, they will need to wait a little longer, but it won't be too late, since it's a remote and unsafe place.

Around 10 p. m., Qin Rui was watching a TV series in her dormitory.

A girl named Xin Li knocked on the door and came in.

At this moment, there was no trace of alcohol on her, and she didn't look like someone who had just come back from drinking.

"Are you going back tomorrow?"

Xin Li sat down next to Qin Rui, took her slender hand in his, and rubbed it gently as he spoke.

"Yeah, it's been over a month since we came out. If it weren't for Director Wang having us play a lot of extra roles, we should have gone back long ago. Xin Li, we'll keep in touch often, right?"

Qin Rui smiled.

"Yes, I'll really miss you leaving..."

After chatting for a while, Xin Li smiled and turned to leave Qin Rui's room.

Silent all night.

The next day, after informing Director Wang, Qin Rui and Ouyang Xin, the two minor characters, took a bus to the city and then took the high-speed train back to Dongqi Province.

Just before the two arrived in Dongqi Province, something special happened at the Dongqi University Martial Arts Team.

The martial arts team had a new member join them midway through the season.

This is the second person to join midway through the process, after Zhao Rui.

She was a very beautiful girl, tall and with delicate, three-dimensional features, just like a supermodel walking off the runway on TV.

Its appearance immediately attracted the attention of all the boys and girls in the martial arts team.

Her beauty is completely different from Miao Miaomiao's. Miao Miaomiao gives people the feeling of being pretty, beautiful, and alluring, which tends to be more like a restless feeling.

But it lacks femininity.

The new girl, on the other hand, was completely different; it was immediately obvious that she was a sexy and beautiful woman.

It is filled with the allure of desire.

Her name is also quite nice; it's Shen Xinzhu.

This girl transferred from another school; I don't know what connections she used.

In short, her arrival caused a stir throughout the entire martial arts team.

Many boys were secretly plotting how to find a good reason to approach and chat her up.

It doesn't seem deliberately frivolous.

The girls weren't idle either; they always held a wary attitude towards beautiful women.

Miao Miaomiao and Luo Min are already excellent enough, and now another one has joined them.

They naturally united in their hatred of the enemy.

Just as the boys and girls were each lost in their own thoughts, Wang Zhanshan announced directly, "Shen Xinzhu is new here. Zhao Rui, you'll have to put in the effort to guide her these next few days."

"I?"

"All right!"

Zhao Rui was stunned, never expecting that this "wonderful job" would fall into his hands.

Won't this cause public outrage?

Just then, Shen Xinzhu gracefully walked to his side and said charmingly, "Thank you for your help, Senior Brother Zhao."

"It's not complicated, it's all standard training content. You'll learn it in a couple of days."

"I still want to thank my senior brother."

This thank you was well-deserved, because Wang Zhanshan's action saved her a lot of trouble.

(End of this chapter)