Chapter 43: Chapter 43: "I, Murong Fu, Only Want to Cultivate Immortality!"
On the filming set, the atmosphere was intense.
Inside the mountain cave, Jiumozhi sneered and raised his palm to engage in combat.
The two clashed instantly, their blows sending shockwaves through the air, shaking the surrounding trees.
Caught off guard, Jiumozhi was struck by sword energy and stumbled backward.
Taking advantage of the situation, Duan Yu quickly untied Wang Yuyan and shielded her behind him.
"Yuyan, are you okay?" Duan Yu asked with deep concern.
Wang Yuyan, still reeling from fear, felt a complicated mix of gratitude and emotions when she saw how much Duan Yu cared for her. "I'm fine. Thank you, Young Master Duan," she replied softly.
Each time she found herself in danger, it was always Duan Yu who came to her rescue. Could it be that her cousin had truly abandoned her?
Nearby, Du Sheng (as Murong Fu) arrived just in time to witness this scene. His fingers clenched, his expression flickering between anguish and restraint.
Jiumozhi made his escape, Wang Yuyan was safe, and Duan Yu stayed by her side.
In this moment, Murong Fu felt like a discarded fool.
But the weight of his unfulfilled ambition to restore his kingdom suppressed his emotions. The heartbreak and bitterness that threatened to overwhelm him were swallowed, his resolve hardened once again.
He gazed longingly at Wang Yuyan one last time, his voice low and pained:
"I too wish for a life of peace and love..."
With that, he turned and walked away silently, leaving behind the last fragments of his yearning.
"Cut!"
Director Zhou Yaowen's voice rang out, tinged with excitement.
"Great! Moving on to the next scene!"
---
During these weeks, the focus had largely been on Duan Yu's storyline.
Liu Yifei, gradually growing more comfortable in her role, especially shone in scenes opposite Du Sheng. Their chemistry lent a certain liveliness to the performances, and filming progressed swiftly.
Yet off-screen, Liu Yifei seemed affected by her role. Learning that "Cousin" had resolved to marry the Western Xia princess gave her an almost genuine sense of abandonment.
When she heard that Du Sheng would soon wrap his filming and move to another production, she even displayed a bit of a pouty attitude.
"Be good. Don't sulk," Du Sheng reassured her with a teasing smile. "Who knows, maybe we'll get to collaborate again next year."
He hinted at another potential major project before adding humorously:
"Besides, you're about to star in a movie. Your co-star will be your 'Duan Brother'—isn't that a good thing?"
Liu Yifei puffed her cheeks and glanced at Ling Zhiying, whose face was visibly puffy from lack of sleep. Then she turned back to her cousin, who looked as handsome and composed as ever, and mumbled:
"It's not confirmed yet. It's just an initial proposal. And it'll be filmed in Hong Kong and Taiwan—I won't know anyone there. If only you were the one going."
Ling Zhiying: "…"
Feeling utterly dejected, he stepped away, hoping to avoid further unintentional insults.
The film Liu Yifei referred to was Love's Little Winner, a youthful romance her mother had secured for her through connections with Hong Wu Films.
Though the opportunity was a good one, she felt reluctant about it. Being naturally shy, she struggled to relax and perform around strangers.
"Film work, huh? If there's a chance, it'll come eventually," Du Sheng said with a smile, patting her head gently.
Though he hadn't yet mastered the small screen, he wasn't one to dwell on discouraging thoughts. In his mind, things were either worth doing or not worth considering—failure didn't factor in.
"Alright then, it's a promise. We'll reunite next year, and I know you'll never let anyone outshine you, Cousin!" Liu Yifei grinned, extending her pinky finger for a promise.
She looked up at Du Sheng, who was fondly stroking her hair, her eyes brimming with admiration and bashful anticipation.
This tender moment was captured perfectly by a nearby journalist.
---
As one of the year's most highly anticipated dramas, Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils had journalists frequently visiting the set. Even casual snapshots were enough to make headlines, a phenomenon encouraged by Zhang Zhizong himself.
The self-proclaimed "King of Hype" not only served as the focal point of numerous promotional stunts but also frequently arranged interviews with the cast and crew to keep audience interest alive.
On social media, discussions about Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils remained a constant buzz.
However, the recent controversy surrounding Zhang Zhizong's alleged misconduct had also brought criticism to the production.
Interestingly, the tide seemed to shift slightly with the release of a behind-the-scenes photo published by Entertainment 100%.
The image showed Wang Yuyan gazing tenderly at Murong Fu while he sat to the side, smiling softly with a touch of melancholy.
The photo sparked heated discussion online:
"That gaze is so expressive—you can tell Wang Yuyan truly loves her cousin."
"Is this Murong Fu? Just from his looks, he's an absolute knockout—such a dashing gentleman!"
"His acting seems solid too. And wasn't it mentioned that he's also the action director? Impressive!"
"This Wang Yuyan's aura is perfect, like a fairy descended from the heavens. I'm in love!"
"I heard this adaptation made significant changes. Seeing this photo, I can't help but wonder—are they hinting at a romantic subplot between Murong Fu and Wang Yuyan?"
"Their chemistry is so sweet—is it just acting, or is there something real going on?"
"Wait, Liu Yifei is only 15? That's borderline illegal! But also… fascinating."
"If I saw her in person, I'd probably fall head over heels too. Girls with this kind of natural charm are so rare."
"This just gave me an idea—what if I write a novel about Murong Fu abandoning his quest for revenge and instead focusing on romance? Would there be a market for it?"
"Title: I, Murong Fu, Only Want to Cultivate Immortality. You're welcome—now start writing!"
---
This single article quickly gained traction across various media outlets, with countless netizens chiming in.
While the main actors weren't household names yet, this buzz significantly boosted interest in the drama, particularly in the nuanced relationship between Murong Fu and Wang Yuyan.
For Du Sheng, the unexpected spike in popularity pushed his fame score past 5,000—an unplanned but pleasant surprise.
The following day, Wang Yaoyang, having wrapped up preparations for the Entertainment 100% coverage, arrived on set with a copy of the newspaper in hand.
While this wasn't Du Sheng's first brush with publicity, it was the first time he'd seen an article where he was the main focus.
Wang Yaoyang was pleased. This confirmed that his investment in Du Sheng was the right move.
As for Liu Yifei, she immediately asked for a copy, claiming she'd save it to savor after filming wrapped.
Thanks to their growing rapport, the pace of production accelerated noticeably.
In what felt like the blink of an eye, half a month had passed since the crew settled in Licheng.
Most of the action sequences had been completed, and Du Sheng's scenes were nearing their conclusion. His work as an action director had also wrapped up smoothly.
The only thing left was Murong Fu's most poignant and tragic ending—a moment that would mark his complete transformation.
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