Chapter 17

Outside the tent, in a corner of the garden landscape.

Xiaoyue, who was curled up beside the rose bushes and immersed in great sorrow (the name of the female ghost naturally appeared in Zhuohua's Heavenly Eye), suddenly raised her head! Her eyes, which were filled with helplessness and tears, were instantly filled with unbelievable shock and ecstasy!

She "saw" a pure, stardust-like ice-blue light, as if it had transcended time and space, gently and tenderly landing on her forehead!

An indescribable, warm, and vast power instantly enveloped her cold, crumbling soul! That power, like a mother's embrace, gently soothed all her sorrow, loss, and resentment, instantly stabilizing and solidifying her soul, which was swaying like a candle in the wind!

What shook her soul even more was that, along with that power, an incredibly clear thought resounded directly deep within her consciousness:

Go ahead.

Go where you're supposed to be.

"Life is but a drama; don't be too greedy to watch it."

The thought was calm and dignified, yet carried a strange... blessing? It seemed to be telling her that her obsession had been seen, her wish had been known, and her regret... had been filled.

Xiaoyue's illusory body trembled slightly as an unprecedented sense of ease and relief swept over her.

The tears that had been welling up in her eyes finally spilled down, but they were no longer tears of sorrow, but rather tears of relief and gratitude. She bowed deeply and silently in the direction of Zhuohua's tent. A relieved, tearful smile appeared on her blurry, unreal face.

Then, her figure began to become increasingly transparent, like bubbles merging with moonlight, with tiny specks of light emanating from her, carrying an aura of tranquility and peace.

A few seconds later, the translucent figure completely transformed into a soft patch of light, like fireflies on a summer night, silently dissipating into the evening breeze.

Inside the tent.

The director, producer, Lao Wang, and Lao Li all clearly "sense" the strange sound, and also "sense" the heavy sadness and cold atmosphere outside, which vanished instantly like melting snow! In its place was an indescribable feeling of peace and tranquility.

They couldn't see Xiaoyue's disappearance, but they could clearly sense it—the "fifth maid" had left! She left in a peaceful, even blessing-like way!

"Gone...gone?" the producer murmured, his voice filled with disbelief.

"I'm gone." Zhuohua's voice rang out in the darkness, carrying a calm acceptance of what had been lost. She waved her hand casually.

An invisible force pulled back the tent flap, and the lights and noise from the film set outside flooded in again. The light dispelled the darkness and the last trace of gloom in everyone's hearts.

The four directors, as if exhausted, gasped for breath, looking at each other and seeing in each other's eyes the relief of surviving a disaster and the bewilderment of having their worldviews completely shattered.

Their gazes towards Zhuohua were filled with indescribable awe and... a deep sense of dread. This person wasn't just skilled in martial arts; this was clearly... divine intervention!

Standing in the light, Lu Xiao looked at Zhuo Hua's calm profile. His heart was like a lake where a boulder had been thrown, stirring up ripples like never before!

That soul-piercing whisper, that momentarily dispelling of sorrow and chill... it was all her doing! She's not only powerful enough to see into the netherworld, but also so gentle... to guide the departed souls!

An unprecedented emotion, a mixture of shock, adoration, excitement, and deeper feelings, clung tightly to his heart like vines, making it almost impossible for him to breathe.

He looked at her, his glassy eyes shining brightly, as if the entire galaxy had fallen into them.

The moment the tent curtain was lifted, the bright lights and noise of the film set flooded in again, dispelling the remaining coldness and deathly silence in the small space, and illuminating the pale, still-shaken faces of the director, producer, cinematographer Lao Wang, and post-production engineer Lao Li.

Like four quails just pulled from the water, they supported each other, panting heavily, their foreheads covered in cold sweat, their eyes unfocused, the aftershocks of their shattered worldviews still buzzing deep within their souls.

"Gone...really gone?" Producer Lao Wang (who shares the same name as the cameraman, but this Lao Wang is not the same Lao Wang) asked again, his voice weak as if he were walking on cotton.

"Hmm," Zhuohua responded, her tone as flat as if she were saying, "The rain has stopped." She didn't even bother to look at them, walking straight out of the tent and back into the bright lights of the film set, her demeanor as relaxed as if she had just gone in to avoid the wind.

Director Zhang forcefully wiped his face, forcibly suppressing the turmoil in his heart. He looked at Zhuohua's slender and upright figure, which seemed to contain boundless power, his eyes filled with unprecedented awe, and a kind of... immense joy at finding a priceless treasure!

master!

This is a true master! Not a charlatan, not a swindler pretending to be a deity! He is a living god who can open his "third eye" and deliver the souls of the dead with a wave of his hand!

Having worked in the film and television industry for decades, he knew all too well what this meant! This industry may seem glamorous on the surface, but how many unspeakable and sordid things are hidden behind the scenes?

Burning incense and praying to Buddha at the opening ceremony is standard practice, and rumors of film crews being haunted or actors being possessed are commonplace. In the past, when such things happened, the only options were either to grit your teeth and continue filming, or to spend a fortune hiring dubious "masters" to perform rituals, the results of which... depended entirely on luck. But this one! This one is a genuine, undisputed deity!

"Master Zhuo... Master Zhuohua!"

Director Zhang's voice was filled with utmost respect, even a hint of obsequiousness. He jogged after him, rubbing his hands together, his face beaming with the relief of surviving a close call and the excitement of finding a gold mine. "You...you're amazing! Thank you so much! If it weren't for you, our entire crew would have been scared to death! This...this is what we'll do in the future..."

Zhuohua didn't stop walking. She glanced at him sideways, her eyes calm and expressionless, but that made Director Zhang choke on his words. An invisible pressure made him subconsciously shrink his neck.

"Just do it as usual." Zhuohua uttered four words succinctly, setting the tone. She didn't want to be some kind of exorcism master, much less be treated like a rare animal in a zoo.

"Yes! Yes! Do it as usual! Absolutely as you command!"

Director Zhang nodded vigorously, but his mind was racing. He understood that the master was low-key and didn't want to make a fuss! But the necessary "care" and "support" couldn't be lacking! This was a true god who could protect the crew! They couldn't even keep up with the utmost respect!

During the subsequent filming days, Lu Xiao and Zhuo Hua clearly sensed a change.

The role of the maid, played by Zhuohua, has visibly increased in screen time.

Originally, he was just a background character, occasionally showing his face or taking a hit. Now, it seems the director has suddenly discovered the character's "shining point".

"Maid A! Eyes! Be sharper! Yes! That kind of loyalty that's ready to die for you!" Director Zhang shouted into the monitor, spitting as he spoke.

"Maid A! Move forward half a step! Yes! Make your presence known!"

"Cut! This one won't do! Maid A's action of protecting her master isn't cool enough! Master Zhuohua... no, Zhuohua, you improvise! Do it however you feel comfortable! Fight however you look cool!"

Thus, the originally designed, flashy but ineffective martial arts moves, under Zhuohua's "comfortable" performance, were transformed into a visual feast full of flowing grace and powerful aesthetics.

The director's eyes would light up every time he watched it, and he would slap his thigh excitedly, exclaiming, "Perfect! Absolutely perfect! This is real action! The finishing touch!"

Lu Xiao's character, Shen Yan, the third male lead, also received comprehensive "care".

His lines were polished by the screenwriter to be more substantial, and his character arc to be more complete. His scenes with the female and male leads were carefully designed to highlight his stoic and resilient qualities. Even his costumes and props were top-notch, ensuring that every frame was stunningly handsome.

Director Zhang's gaze towards Lu Xiao was filled with affection and... a certain "you know what I mean" implication—someone protected by a master must be supported!

While Lu Xiao was flattered, he also understood perfectly well where it all stemmed from. Every time he finished filming, the way he looked at Zhuo Hua, the dependence, trust, and quietly growing feelings in his eyes, became even more intense.

Zhuohua remained as lazy as ever, nestled in a corner eating snacks, occasionally lifting her eyelids to glance at Lu Xiao's performance in front of the camera. In the depths of her glassy eyes, there seemed to be a hint of...satisfaction?

Time flew by amidst the hectic filming schedule. Before we knew it, it was time to wrap up filming.

The moment the director yelled "Wrap!" after the last scene was filmed, the entire set erupted in cheers and applause! Champagne sprayed, confetti rained down, and actors and crew hugged and took photos together, celebrating the end of their hard work over the past few months.

Director Zhang, beaming with pride and holding a champagne glass, precisely spotted Zhuohua, who was still standing in the corner with her arms crossed, and Lu Xiao, who was smiling broadly beside her.

"Master Zhuohua! Lu Xiao!"

Director Zhang pushed through the crowd and walked over enthusiastically, his voice booming, "Thank you for your hard work! Thank you for your hard work! We've been so grateful to both of you during this time! Especially Master Zhuohua! You're the pillar of our crew!"

His words were sincere and heartfelt; only those who had experienced the "fifth maid" incident truly understood the weight of the words "pillar of stability."

Zhuohua didn't react much, only nodding slightly.

Director Zhang didn't mind the master's coldness. His smile remained unchanged. As if by magic, he pulled two thick red envelopes with the words "Congratulations on Wrapping Up Filming" printed in gold from his pocket and handed them over with both hands: "A little something! A little something! It's nothing but a token of my appreciation! Please accept them! Especially Master Zhuohua, please don't refuse!"

The red envelope was much thicker than the usual wrap-up red envelopes. Lu Xiao looked at the thick red envelope handed to him, somewhat at a loss, and subconsciously looked at Zhuo Hua.

Zhuohua glanced at the red envelope, her expression remaining unchanged. Money? Even a random "stone" from her spatial storage was worth more than this.

However… looking at Director Zhang’s overly solicitous face and the noisy celebratory atmosphere around them, she casually reached out and accepted her red envelope. The gesture was as natural as accepting a tissue.