Chapter 66: Rainstorm Wild Temple 28 Part 1
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Due to their previous encounter with the giant rats, several guests were especially vigilant. Since Anthony and Rourou were not with them, the remaining guests were either experienced in the entertainment industry and knew how to handle themselves in social situations or, like An Nanyuan, had participated in the previous season of the show and understood the importance of seizing opportunities. Therefore, no one made a fuss about it and all stayed in the same room together, even though they were exhausted and couldn’t fall asleep.
Without Yan Shixun by their side, they knew they had to rely on themselves for the time being. This was especially true since they had brought along Bai Shuang, who was severely exhausted, and the actor Zhao Zhen, who was injured and unable to move. In this situation, if they didn’t stick together, everyone might be in danger.
Although Yan Shixun had just stopped the bleeding from Zhao Zhen’s wound, he still looked pale from the loss of blood. He expressed his concern, “Can Mr. Yan really lead us out of here? Will he be okay facing those monsters alone? Maybe we should go and find him?”
“Well, although it’s not ideal to put it this way, for now, it’s best to wait here and not cause any trouble for Brother Yan. Even if we encounter danger, Brother Yan can save us. But if we were to burden him, he might not have the energy to save all of us if we run around in all directions.”
Bai Shuang earnestly spoke and displayed the split-screen livestream of Yan Shixun playing on her phone to Zhao Zhen. “We might only affect Brother Yan’s speed in killing ghosts.”
An Nanyuan added with a faint smile, “Have some confidence. We will definitely have an impact. Besides desperately seeking help as Brother Yan’s leg ornament, I can’t think of any other role I’d have in that situation.”
Bai Shuang: “Praising him excessively?”
An Nanyuan smiled, “Isn’t that part of our daily routine? My Yan Mai badge is already at level three. Self-reflection three times a day: Have you praised Brother Yan? Have you cheered for Brother Yan? Have you promoted Brother Yan?”
Um…”
Zhao Zhen, who hadn’t experienced the events of the previous episode at Gui Mountain, looked at the two of them with unconditional trust in Yan Shixun and felt a bit bewildered. However, when his gaze fell on the smartphone screen in Bai Shuang’s hand, his pupils constricted.
On the screen, Yan Shixun’s stern expression was intimidating, and in front of him were numerous overlapping translucent figures that looked remarkably like…
Ghosts.
Although they had encountered the bizarre incident with the giant rat injuring people, the guests didn’t experience anything overly terrifying due to Yan Shixun’s timely assistance and protection. So, for Zhao Zhen, who had never believed in the supernatural before, nothing had happened beyond his cognitive range. Even though he was still quite shaken, he was amazed at the seemingly miraculous effects when Yan Shixun stopped his bleeding. However, he attributed it to Yan Shixun knowing some folk remedies.
It wasn’t until now, when Zhao Zhen saw the stiff, pale ghosts on the screen with his own eyes, that his previous understanding shattered. The cold that seemed to emanate from the screen made him shiver, and his constricted pupils revealed his instinctual fear.
Especially since the place where those ghosts were located on the screen turned out to be the same courtyard they had rushed into while escaping from the giant rat. At that time, Zhao Zhen had been exhausted from running and was losing blood rapidly. He had almost believed that the courtyard would be the place of his death, so it left him with an instinctual fear.
Seeing the courtyard in the video, Zhao Zhen felt as if he had returned to that place. The strong sense of immersion made him feel like he was facing the ghosts in that courtyard.
“Mr. Zhao, Mr. Zhao?” Bai Shuang had been talking to An Nanyuan and then noticed Zhao Zhen’s pale, sweaty face, which looked like he could faint at any moment.
She couldn’t help but worry about Zhao Zhen’s physical condition and whether he could hold on. With Brother Yan absent, if Zhao Zhen really fainted, it would put extra pressure on everyone if they encountered danger.
Bai Shuang called Zhao Zhen’s name several times before he suddenly snapped out of it. He realized he was still with everyone in a well-lit area. The dim light from the lamp and the faint morning light coming in through the window managed to somewhat calm his pounding heart, pulling him back from the fear of being surrounded by ghosts that he had just experienced.
“I’m fine, it’s just, it’s my first time seeing this…” Zhao Zhen struggled several times but couldn’t bring himself to utter the word ‘ghost,’ so he managed a forced smile as an apology.
However, when Zhao Zhen looked back at the screen and saw Yan Shixun, his eyes involuntarily showed admiration.
Having been in the entertainment industry from a young age, he had encountered seasoned actors with real talent as well as those who pretended to be actors. He had developed a keen eye for assessing people.
He could tell that this Mr. Yan, even though he was a newcomer to the entertainment industry, undeniably possessed real talent. Based on his self-assured demeanor and confidence alone, Mr. Yan was no “newcomer” in his own field.
Zhao Zhen couldn’t help but smile bitterly.
His agent had thought it was a good idea for him to join a variety show to gain more fans and recognition. Little did they know that while his popularity might or might not have increased, his entire worldview had been shattered. Suddenly, he had discovered that ghosts might actually exist in the world. Previously, he had heard gossip about fellow actors gaining fame by raising little ghosts to improve their luck, but he had never taken it seriously. However, now he had realized it might be real.
Precisely because of this, he felt the need to establish a connection with someone like Mr. Yan, who clearly possessed genuine skills.
After all, in an industry where traditions and customs were highly regarded, where rituals were performed even before shooting began, and where actors often consulted Feng Shui masters for guidance, having a master like Mr. Yan in his circle could be quite valuable.
Zhao Zhen became lost in his thoughts, while the variety show celebrity was also captivated by Yan Shixun’s live stream on the screen.
“Oh my god!” As they continued watching, the variety show celebrity suddenly blurted out a swear word, causing several others around him to look in his direction.
The variety show celebrity was shocked and couldn’t believe what he had just heard. He stammered, “T-Tour guide Yan, no, Master Yan can curse people! And he knows so many types of curses???”
Initially terrified by the ghostly parade, the variety show celebrity had been holding his breath and trying not to make a sound. Suddenly hearing Yan Shixun confidently talking about his knowledge of curses on camera was like a bolt from the blue.
The variety show celebrity immediately recalled several instances where he had expressed dissatisfaction with Yan Shixun before. He took a sharp intake of breath, feeling a vague sense of dread. He trembled, afraid that he had truly angered Yan Shixun and that he might curse him.
——Isn’t it supposed to be much more complicated in TV dramas, with all those intricate curses? Why does it sound so simple when Yan Shixun talks about it? Just having a face and a name is enough? Then he’s done for.
The variety show celebrity thought silently, his heart heavy with regret. If only he had known that Yan Shixun possessed such abilities, he would have treated him differently just a day ago!
An Nanyuan, who was more perceptive and familiar with the entertainment industry, could roughly tell what was going through the variety show celebrity’s mind. He spoke coolly, “You really changed your mind quickly, don’t you? Didn’t you look down on Brother Yan before because he was a newcomer? Now, it seems like you have reconsidered?”
The variety show celebrity frantically waved his hands, looking around nervously as if he was afraid Yan Shixun might hear him. He forced an awkward smile and said, “N-No way, Mr. Yan is so outstanding…”
Although the variety show celebrity didn’t dare admit it out loud, his actions clearly showed that he was feeling a bit uneasy.
He secretly vowed to change his attitude if he ever met Yan Shixun again later.
It seemed that Yan Shixun’s revelation about his knowledge of curses had genuinely scared everyone except the person he had originally intended to frighten.
As for the viewers watching the livestream, they were just as bewildered.
[…Can someone please tell me if Brother Yan is also scaring this child right now?]
[Uh… although I want to reassure you, I’m quite hesitant myself. Throughout this whole journey, Brother Yan has proven to be quite serious about his claims. It seems like he genuinely knows how to curse people.]
[Why are you all so doubtful? Isn’t he knowledgeable about these things as well? He can capture ghosts and draw talismans, so cursing should be a small side task for him, right? Didn’t you see how relaxed he was when discussing this topic? He didn’t seem to think it was a big deal at all. If anyone doubts Brother Yan’s abilities, I suggest you go check the recordings that people posted on social media just now. The intense golden light when Brother Yan recited the incantation, was he joking with you?]
[Hahaha, regardless of whether Brother Yan can curse people or not, I know that many people talk tough but are secretly scared. Have you noticed that all those alternate accounts that were previously cursing Brother Yan have disappeared from the live chat? They disappeared instantly, and the chat has calmed down quite a bit.]
[True, I kind of guessed how those alternate accounts were created. It’s probably the work of Anthony’s talent agency. Someone leaked that information before, right? That big-name agency originally planned to sacrifice An Nanyuan to boost Anthony’s popularity. However, when they analyzed the show’s data, they found that it was all about discussions on Yan Shixun. Anthony’s fan base was growing slower than a turtle, and it mainly consisted of innocent young girls. This made them angry because they believed Yan Shixun was blocking Anthony’s path. So, since last night, the “Wheat Field,” the gathering place for Yan Mais on social media, has been infiltrated by these alternate accounts and paid trolls. They’ve been spreading negative rumors about Yan Shixun, saying he’s a thug with no manners and that he had been violent before. Many Yan Mai were furious, but because the main character doesn’t even have an account, and his agency and management are completely unknown, this newly formed fan group lacks organization. No one is leading them, and their counterattack isn’t coordinated. It’s turned into a huge mess.]
[I work in data analysis, and last night, our studio analyzed that Yan Shixun and his fans might suffer a huge setback. They might be smeared by the true and false negative information released by these trolls. After all, it’s a newly formed fan group with no fighting capacity, and many Yan Mai have no experience in celebrity fandom or are very relaxed about it. So, social media and video platforms’ public opinion control has almost completely failed, and they were on the verge of collapsing. I’m sorry; I was too focused on a scientific perspective. I didn’t expect to encounter a main character who knows how to curse! Isn’t this the entertainment industry? How did the style suddenly change?]
[Haha, before, celebrities would just buy advertising slots and hire trolls. But now, Brother Yan has shown that even trolls are afraid of him. It’s the first time I’ve seen a group of people back down.]
[Talent agencies may have money and power, but they can’t do anything about someone who can do divination and curse! I swear, if it were me, I’d hug Brother Yan’s legs and confess all my wrongdoings before he even remembers this incident and decides to make a voodoo doll or something. Whether he will actually do it or not, it’s like a sword hanging over our heads. We don’t know what’s scarier: when it falls or when it remains hanging.]
[Cough, this industry itself is very superstitious. I saw news before that the CEO of An Nanyuan’s talent agency is really superstitious. They always consult Feng Shui masters and even hire them to calculate the best dates for their artists’ debuts.]
[The water army might have gone crazy again because they think they’re safe behind the screens, but now they’re dealing with someone who’s not playing by the rules. Brother Yan not only has excellent deduction skills, but he can even curse you. It’s like a one-stop-shop service. Who knows, Brother Yan might even know about Feng Shui and tell you where it’s most unlucky to be buried, ensuring you never reincarnate. I bet anyone would be scared.]
[Huh??? Brother Yan can actually do divination?! I saw Brother Yan occasionally drawing something on his palm in the last episode, and I suspected he was doing divination. But when I asked him about it in the chat, he said it was because of his ADHD. I believed him! So was Brother Yan just trying to fool me back then? QAQ]
[Poor thing, you’re too innocent. Brother Yan didn’t fool you; he was just making you believe in science. Look at him now, confidently talking about various curse methods. Do you really think he can’t do divination?]
[Um, are you all attracted by the fact that Brother Yan can curse people? Am I the only one who finds the interaction between Brother Yan and the assistant director a bit sweet? It doesn’t seem like friends teasing each other but more like playfully teasing each other. I blushed and felt embarrassed while watching it. There’s one picture of them smiling at each other that’s really touching.]
[Speaking of the assistant director, did anyone catch his name when he mentioned it just now? I was eagerly waiting to hear the name of this handsome guy, but then my room suddenly had a gust of wind. I didn’t open any windows or do anything, but the wind just came out of nowhere! And there were some screams too. I don’t know if I was hallucinating from being scared or if it was real… And during all this, I missed the assistant director’s name.]
[I’m not alone! I didn’t notice the assistant director at first because he had a low profile and was wearing a hat. But when he took off his hat, my goodness! I suddenly noticed that he was so tall, even taller than Brother Yan, and he had a great body. Was he a male model before? I used to really dislike guys with long hair, thinking they either looked like messy hobos or overly feminine. But the director’s assistant also has long hair, yet his presence is so strong that it shatters my stereotypes. Although I don’t know why, but whenever the camera focuses on his face, it’s either blocked by something or blurry. But I was really looking forward to him saying his name. Unfortunately, I got distracted.]
[Uh, are you all having the same experiences? When the assistant director was about to reveal his name, the tap in my kitchen suddenly turned on and water started flowing loudly. I was so scared that I didn’t dare to go to turn it off. I’m just sitting here now, hearing the loud noises from outside, waiting for my mom to come and handle it.]
[I couldn’t see the assistant director’s face clearly. It’s weird; I definitely saw it, but as soon as I looked away, I forgot what he looked like. I tried to focus on his appearance, but I kept getting distracted by other things. Even if I wrote it down on a piece of paper, it was still useless; I would forget. All I remember is that he’s very handsome and tall, almost like a supermodel. If you asked me to describe his appearance further, my mind just goes blank.]
[….Don’t scare me, guys! I’ve been so scared tonight. My house is next to a graveyard, and I can see the graves from my window. There are always strange sounds in my house. But when Brother Yan finished reciting that long passage and the golden light appeared, my house suddenly became quiet! It was like opening a window; the air inside became fresh. I used to feel like someone was watching me all the time, so I would instinctively look into corners, thinking I was being paranoid. But since that moment, I haven’t had that feeling anymore. I’m shocked; does my house have ghosts? Holy cow! Master Yan!]
[Shaking, I thought we were talking about water armies. How did the topic suddenly get so exciting? Don’t discuss this topic in the early morning; it scares me.]
[Don’t be afraid. It’s almost 5 AM, and it’s getting light outside. Even if there are any water armies, they’ll probably hide away by now. But honestly, I’ve been a fan for so many years, and Brother Yan is the first of his kind that I’ve seen. He’s not the typical entertainment industry type, and it seems like he doesn’t care much about it. He has his own vast world, and has seen more than all of us combined. So when he entered our view, it was like a sudden dimensional strike, breaking the previously templated and streamlined entertainment industry model. He stormed into our vision with wild arrogance, making those of us who had never seen this type before, unable to forget him at first sight.]
[He’s like a master of blurring lines, an idol with a magician-type aura, an ancestral amateur? The way Brother Yan pointed at those ghostly figures resembling movie characters, saying they were light refractions, and that they moved like figurines, that truly shocked me. Thank you, Brother Yan, for taking the time out of your busy schedule to amuse us.]
[Brother Yan: Believe it or not, it’s up to you. Anyway, if you don’t believe it, the show might get banned for superstition. Me: I believe, I believe! This is science! Sobs sobs sobs, today Yan Mai is consoling herself while also consoling her idol.]
[Huh? Where is Brother Yan going—Oh my god! Isn’t this the way to that place with the god statue? I remember, when Brother Yan left after playing with the figurine, he passed by here. What is Brother Yan up to? Is he going back to settle the score?]
[Oh my god, is this for real? Is Brother Yan really this wild?]
[…I think I might have guessed what Brother Yan is up to. You guys, take a look at Anthony’s screen, and you’ll know. He’s gone mad, staying with a bunch of rat-like monsters and cursing Brother Yan. Damn, I’m so angry. Anthony doesn’t even see how he’s behaving now, with such big dark circles under his eyes, and he’s still cursing Brother Yan? Believe it or not, Brother Yan could easily draw a circle to curse him back.]
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