TRYMBPIETM 146: When I went in the Past (28)

A massive shadow stood between heaven and earth. Even from afar, it was enough to make one’s heart tremble uncontrollably.

Chi Qingzhou stood right in front of the shadow, one hand resting on the stone doorframe, his face carrying a soft and innocent smile.

Dense Yin energy surged out from the shattered tomb chamber, but before it could spread to the surroundings, the shadow absorbed it.

More and more Yin energy gathered at the shadow’s feet. Gradually, the originally humanoid form of the shadow began to change—

First, its legs were replaced by countless slender tendrils. Then, its entire body slowly turned transparent, revealing a strange state that hovered between reality and nothingness.

Its blood-red eyes remained curved in a smile, its expression mirroring Chi Qingzhou’s own joy, yet it sent chills down one’s spine.

Chi Qingzhou took a step forward.

The tendrils at the shadow’s feet wriggled and also moved forward slightly.

He stared at Linghe Village in the rain for a while, then bent down and picked something up from the ruins of the tomb, where the dome had been torn open.

A glint of metal flashed briefly between his fingers, but not a single person in Linghe Village seemed to notice.

They only stood there, staring blankly at the enormous shadow between heaven and earth, trembling uncontrollably.

The fires in the village burned even stronger.

The torrential rain that connected heaven and earth did not stop, yet the raging flames showed no signs of weakening.

One villager after another was set ablaze. They rolled frantically on the ground, trying to put out the fire, all the while letting out inhuman shrieks from their throats.

The twisted, excruciating pain in those cries made every living person in the film crew turn pale.

Shen Wenxu wiped the rainwater off his face, walked up to Fang Mingge, tilted his head, and smiled with delight.

“So this is what Zhouzhou’s other half of the soul truly looks like? He’s much more handsome than I imagined.”

Shen Wenxing glanced at him, utterly horrified: “???”

That terrifying shadow—you call that handsome?!

Cousin, something is seriously wrong with you!

Fang Mingge’s face turned pale, then green, as he tried to suppress his fear, but his voice still trembled uncontrollably.

“Teacher Chi… is a bit different from what I imagined. But since he already tore open the tomb, Cheng Shang should be coming out, right? Why haven’t I seen him?”

“???”

Shen Wenxing was stunned. He whipped his head around to stare at Fang Mingge, his expression indescribable.

Wait, you saw that horrifying shadow, and your only reaction is that it’s different from what you imagined?

And in this situation, you’re still thinking about Cheng Shang…

Director Fang, something is seriously wrong with you too!

Neither of them paid attention to Shen Wenxing, who looked like he had something to say but held back. Instead, they kept their gazes fixed on the massive shadow, their expressions unusually serious.

Shen Wenxing was at a loss for words.

He wanted to say something, but looking at his cousin and the director, he felt like nothing he said would make a difference.

Out of sight, out of mind.

After two seconds of silence, he slowly averted his gaze—only to lock eyes with Chi Qingning, whose expression was just as complicated as his own.

They exchanged a glance, their expressions growing even more conflicted.

They really didn’t want to be feeling the same way as the other person!

In that moment, their thoughts were perfectly synchronized.

In the distance, Chi Qingzhou couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Everyone’s eyes instantly snapped to him.

He lightly tapped the edge of the stone door with his index finger, his gaze sweeping over Chi Qingning and Song Yuzhi before he quickly stepped forward, heading toward the film crew.

Most of them were stunned. Quite a few instinctively started backing away.

Chi Qingning was momentarily dazed, but having acted in the previous version of Wanxiang, the scene before him felt all too familiar, and he quickly came back to his senses.

His peripheral vision caught sight of Song Yuzhi, who stood frozen with a blank expression, and he hurriedly gave him a shove.

Song Yuzhi was so startled that he nearly cried out on the spot.

Chi Qingning quickly stopped him: “Teacher Song, don’t space out! It’s your scene now—get moving!”

Song Yuzhi: “My scene?”

He took a moment to collect himself before realization struck. “You mean I should run over to, uh, Teacher Chi and ask for help?”

Chi Qingning shot back, “What else?” He paused briefly before reminding him, “But this time, both the content and the process of our filming are different from before. When you say your lines, remember to adapt on the spot.”

Song Yuzhi: “…” Adapt on the spot? How the hell am I supposed to adapt to this?!

He fell silent for a few seconds, staring at Chi Qingzhou, who had already stepped out of the stone corridor. Suddenly, memories of his past experience in Scenery Along the Way came rushing back.

He had absolutely no desire to experience Chi Qingzhou’s version of friendliness and enthusiasm again. He immediately nodded at Chi Qingning, took a deep breath, and entered filming mode.

Ignoring the puddles on the ground, Song Yuzhi stepped into the muddy water and strode toward Chi Qingzhou. Before he could even speak, his eyes had already turned red.

Tears streamed down his cheeks, and with a hoarse voice, Song Yuzhi began frantically complaining to Chi Qingzhou.

“Teacher Chi, you’re finally out! Those villagers were terrible! They chased our entire crew and even injured several people!”

“You don’t know, but they were holding machetes, hoes, and even a homemade firearm. If we hadn’t run fast enough, we might not have made it out alive!”

“They’re basically bandits! I think they were trying to rob and kill us. Teacher Chi, you have to stand up for us!!”

Chi Qingzhou looked at him with great interest and smiled. “Is that so?”

Song Yuzhi quickly nodded. “It’s true!”

Chi Qingzhou let out a soft “Oh” and asked, “What about the fire in the village?”

Song Yuzhi hurriedly explained, “The fire in the village has nothing to do with us! Really! We were running away, and then suddenly, everything started burning. Before that, we hadn’t seen any signs of smoke.”

He turned to look at the flames that even the heavy rain couldn’t put out, his lips twitching. “And this fire… it’s really bizarre. Teacher Chi, we’re just ordinary people. None of us could’ve started a fire like this. It really has nothing to do with us!”

Chi Qingzhou raised an eyebrow and slowly nodded.

In a gentle tone, he said, “Since the fire is so unusual, why haven’t you all found somewhere to hide?”

Song Yuzhi’s voice held a hint of bitterness. “We tried, but this fire is truly strange.”

The fire had erupted suddenly, and the rain couldn’t put it out. Their first instinct, of course, had been to seek shelter.

But no matter how far they ran, they couldn’t find a safe place.

Song Yuzhi said earnestly, “The fire doesn’t fear the rain, so staying near water doesn’t help. We’re not fools, so of course, we wouldn’t hide inside buildings either. We had no choice but to keep running outside.”

It was because of this fire that, despite having already been driven out of the stone gate by the villagers, they had ended up circling back.

After all, Chi Qingzhou was the most unscientific thing they had ever seen. Compared to coming up with their own desperate solutions, relying on Chi Qingzhou was a much better bet.

Chi Qingzhou nodded, his expression showing a hint of sympathy.

Turning around, he pointed at the now-ruined mobile tomb behind him and kindly suggested, “Go over there. I’ve already taken care of it. It’s clean and safe for hiding.”

Chi Qingzhou didn’t lower his voice, so most of the crew heard his words.

Instinctively, they followed his gaze and vaguely made out two long wooden boxes among the scattered rubble.

The crew members: “…”

Why did those wooden boxes… look more and more like coffins the longer they stared at them?!

Everyone felt a little uneasy. They exchanged glances, hesitating to step forward.

Chi Qingning, however, quickly assessed the area by standing on his tiptoes. Without hesitation, he pushed Fu Wenan and whispered, “Wen-ge, hurry up. That place is definitely safer.”

Fu Wenan had been frowning, but upon hearing this, he was momentarily stunned. Without another word, he reached out protectively and guided Chi Qingning toward the main tomb chamber.

Seeing Chi Qingning go first, the others hesitated for only a moment before quickly following.

The crowd surged forward—some carrying equipment, others hauling props—calling out to one another as they ran, filling the open space with noise. For a moment, the village felt alive again.

The vitality of the living spread from each crew member, and within the Absolute Yin land, the flow of Yin energy toward the shadow quickened.

Chi Qingzhou’s smile became more genuine.

He and the shadow stepped aside, watching the crew members pass by with a warm gaze.

Seeing this, Chi Qingning instinctively straightened his back, his face flickering with an inexplicable sense of pride and excitement.

Chi Qingzhou curved his eyes at him in a smile and raised his hand to stop Fu Wenan, who was following closely behind.

Fu Wenan flinched, forced to a halt, and asked warily, “What do you want?!”

Chi Qingzhou chuckled. “Nothing much. Just retrieving something small that was left on you.”

Fu Wenan: “…”

He fell silent for a moment, his gaze toward Chi Qingzhou growing more alert and filled with dread.

“I’ve never taken anything from you! I’m innocent! Even if I misunderstood you in the past, you don’t have to—”

Projecting his own logic onto Chi Qingzhou, Fu Wenan passionately accused him. But before he could finish, Chi Qingzhou—already losing patience—pressed a hand firmly onto his head.

Fu Wenan’s eyes widened in terror. His mouth opened and closed, but no sound came out.

Chi Qingning’s face paled, and he took half a step back in fear. However, he quickly stopped himself and looked at Chi Qingzhou with a pleading expression.

“Second Brother, Wen-ge didn’t mean to doubt you. He’s just… a little dumb. Can you not hold it against him?”

Chi Qingzhou tilted his head slightly. Chi Qingning, who was clearly scared out of his mind, still endured his fear to plead on Fu Wenan’s behalf.

Chi Qingzhou couldn’t help but chuckle. “Relax, I’m just taking back a small thing. I won’t hurt him.”

Chi Qingning still seemed skeptical, but since the words had already been spoken, he didn’t dare question further.

Fortunately, Chi Qingzhou moved quickly, not keeping him on edge for long.

The power belonging to Xing Shuangzhan was extracted from Fu Wenan. For a brief moment, Fu Wenan’s eyes turned blank before his rationality returned.

The immense discomfort of having something taken from him left him unsettled. Regaining his voice, he looked at Chi Qingzhou in suspicion and uncertainty. “Just now… what was that?”

Chi Qingzhou tucked the faintly glowing orb into his palm, his smile carrying a hint of peculiarity.

“Something that never belonged to you. Don’t worry about it.”