As the light bloomed across the room, Fang Qiu instinctively turned her gaze toward the enormous hanging screen at the front.
"It's finally starting."
A flicker of anticipation and nerves stirred behind Fang Qiu's tired, beautiful eyes.
She was nothing like those authors from her past life whose works had been adapted — the ones who'd sold the rights outright. Take that famous series where a character transformed into a horse through sheer fighting spirit: the author had taken the buyout money and walked away, with no hand whatsoever in the production. That was exactly how a joke of an adaptation got made.
In other words, however much money that book raked in had nothing to do with its author.
Fang Qiu, on the other hand, had taken not a single Mora up front. Instead, she'd negotiated a revenue share on the work.
Which meant the quality and box-office performance of the Sword and Fairy film would determine everything — whether she spent the rest of her days scraping by on book royalties alone, or whether she got to hitch her wagon to the great wheel of an entertainment empire.
The moment that thought crossed her mind, she inexplicably found herself thinking of The Eternal.
That was… not exactly a comforting comparison.
Just as anxiety was beginning to tighten its grip on her, a clear and haunting melody of xiao flute drifted through the air.
At the same moment, the enormous screen came to life. A finely crafted sword spun and tumbled out from the mist-wreathed peaks, drawing closer and closer until it drove itself deep into the face of a cliff with a crisp, ringing clang.
Beside the blade, the six characters of Sword and Fairy appeared in bold, sweeping brushwork.
More than a few people in the audience felt their pupils contract at the sight.
What an entrance.
And so the story began — with Jing Tian jolted awake from a perfectly good nap by Tang Xuejian.
The actors' performances were pitch-perfect. The two leads breathed such vivid, complete life into Tang Xuejian and Jing Tian that there was nothing left to be desired. The sets, too, were painstakingly faithful.
Fang Qiu glanced around at the rest of the audience. Everyone was watching with rapt, undivided attention. Not a single complaint to be heard.
She let out a quiet breath of relief.
And with that weight lifted from her chest, she settled in and focused on the screen herself.
The story unfolded slowly, carried forward on the quiet current of time.
As the plot eased along, Fang Qiu found herself growing drowsy. She'd been too wound up the night before to sleep, so she'd stayed up reading light novels instead.
One thing led to another, and before she knew it, dawn had broken.
She hadn't slept a single wink — and had come straight from home to the Heyu Tea House.
Everyone around her was completely absorbed in the film, which was proof enough that Sword and Fairy had been a success. The moment that worry slipped off her shoulders, a powerful wave of sleepiness crashed in to take its place.
So. Very. Sleepy.
Fang Qiu fought to keep her eyes open, willing herself not to let them close.
She felt exactly like one of those students from her past life dozing off in class — eyes glazing over, head drooping forward in slow, helpless nods.
Nod. Nod. Then one deep, decisive dip — and she'd snap back just enough to start the whole cycle over again.
"Fang Qiu…"
Hu Tao had been about to lean over and whisper that the Sword and Fairy film was really something — only to find that Fang Qiu's beautiful eyes had fallen completely shut, her face wearing the unmistakable expression of someone about to be dead to the world.
Seeing that Xiangling and Yun Jin were too engrossed in the film to notice, Hu Tao let out a soft breath. Carefully, she slipped her arm around behind Fang Qiu's back and rested her hand on her shoulder. One gentle tug — and Fang Qiu's body tilted slightly, coming to rest against Hu Tao's shoulder, where she promptly sank into a deep, peaceful sleep.
A light, clean fragrance drifted into Hu Tao's nose.
She felt like someone who'd just done something terribly mischievous. Her heart was hammering away at a ridiculous pace. She cast a furtive glance at the people around her — everyone was staring intently at the screen; Yun Jin and Xiangling hadn't noticed a thing. Only then did she exhale.
She looked at Fang Qiu resting quietly against her shoulder, breathing softly and steadily, and felt the gentle weight of Fang Qiu's delicate cheek settled there. A small, unbidden smile tugged at the corners of Hu Tao's rosy lips.
Come to think of it, the last time Fang Qiu had leaned on her shoulder was when the two of them had gone out fishing at sea together. Back then, Fang Qiu had dozed off against her shoulder without any warning, and Hu Tao had nearly jumped out of her skin.
Smiling at the memory, she turned her head back toward the screen as though nothing had happened at all.
What she didn't know was that the whole quiet exchange had been watched from above.
Up on the second floor, Beidou had caught every bit of it.
"Interesting," she murmured.
She watched the two girls leaning against each other down below, a faintly amused smile playing at the corner of her mouth.
Now that she thought about it — the very first time she'd met these two, hadn't they been curled up against each other then too?
"Mm… it really is quite something. I didn't expect that Lady Ningguang's film would manage to bring to life the world of Sword and Fairy almost exactly as I'd imagined it while reading Miss Fang Qiu's books. All one can say is — true to form for the Tianquan."
Seated beside her, Kaedehara Kazuha kept his eyes fixed on the screen as he spoke.
"Exactly. When I was brought in to work on the music, every department was running like a well-oiled machine," Xinyan added with a nod.
"I've said it before — that woman Ningguang has a personality that grates on the nerves, but her capabilities are beyond question," Beidou said, still gazing at the screen, voice cool and unhurried.
Not that what she'd called "interesting" had anything to do with that, of course.
Still — there was no denying the film was exceptional. The music, the story, the acting — all of it was difficult to fault.
"By the way, Kazuha — did you get a look at that poem hanging at the entrance of the tea house?" Beidou asked, the thought suddenly coming to her.
"Are you referring to that Shuidiao Getou, Captain?" Kazuha asked.
"That's the one. You like writing poetry yourself — what did you make of it?"
Beidou nodded.
"That poem is something that will resonate through the ages. Someone of my modest poetic talent can only stand before it in awe," Kazuha said. "What I didn't expect was that Director Hu would possess such extraordinary skill with verse. It's almost beyond belief."
"Wait — you're saying that poem was written by that little girl Hu Tao?" Beidou raised an eyebrow, her smile turning curious.
"The poem bore no signature. But there was a slip of paper beside it — an advertisement for Wangsheng Funeral Parlor," Kazuha said. "And Director Hu does have something of a name for herself in poetic circles."
"When I was looking at the piece earlier, someone nearby mentioned that the poem was rumored to have been written by a white-haired woman," Beidou said with a smile.
"A white-haired woman… Wangsheng Funeral Parlor…" Kazuha's eyes sharpened slightly. "Captain, are you suggesting that poem may have been written by Miss Fang Qiu?"
"That I couldn't say — there are all sorts of theories going around."
Beidou shifted her gaze down to where Fang Qiu was still resting against Hu Tao's shoulder, and smiled faintly.
Just then, Yun Jin — seated next to Xiangling — also noticed that Fang Qiu had fallen asleep on Hu Tao's shoulder.
"It seems Miss Fang Qiu really didn't get much rest. Was she up through the night writing?" Yun Jin murmured softly to herself, studying Fang Qiu's lightly closed eyes and the faint exhaustion on her pretty face.
Fang Qiu herself had no idea any of this was happening. All she knew was that the drowsiness had crested and the world had begun to spin — and then, all of a sudden, it felt as though she'd sunk back into her own bed, her head settling against something soft. A little small for a pillow, but it would do.
Besides — it smelled nice.
Just a little nap. One incense stick's worth, that's all.
She murmured something unintelligible under her breath, and then the darkness took her completely.
"Mmm…"
She couldn't have said how much time had passed before she let out a soft hum and slowly opened her eyes.
The great screen was still playing. The image she woke to was the casting furnace, blazing with roaring flames.
"Oh good — I didn't sleep that long. They've only just gotten to the forging of the Demon Sword in the Jiang Kingdom. I can still catch a bit more."
She exhaled in relief.
The last thing she remembered before her eyes had closed was the scene where the group arrived at Anning Village. By that measure, the gap was nothing — just a scene or two.
So this is the power of deep sleep? She'd only been out a short while and already felt completely refreshed.
When did my body get this good at recovering?
In the old days I'd have slept until the world turned dark.
Was her constitution actually getting stronger?
She was still marveling at that pleasant thought when the image on screen shifted.
Jing Tian, Long Kui, and Tang Xuejian stood together at the casting furnace by the Sword Tomb, locked in heated debate over who would jump in to forge the blade with their life.
"Looking back, you haven't gone far — your gaze, so gentle, this life unchanging. How could we part when I'm not used to it? No matter how I count, it's too hard…"
The melody of Unchanging in This Life swelled and filled the tea house.
"A thousand years ago when the sword was being forged, you told me that even without it, you could annihilate the enemy army. And yet the city fell, and Jiang Kingdom was destroyed. Now you tell me again that even without this sword, you can still defeat the Evil Sword Immortal. Everything has already been decided."
With those words, Long Kui's blue robes blazed to red. A torrent of ghostly power erupted before Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian could react, sending them both flying. By the time Jing Tian staggered back to his feet, Long Kui had already reached the edge of the casting furnace — and with one leap, she threw herself in. The scorching flames swallowed her whole in an instant.
Jing Tian and Tang Xuejian rushed to the edge, but the rising heat immediately drove them back.
A thousand years of cultivation, poured into the blade. And so the divine sword was born.
With the mournful strains of the music and the actors' flawless performances, Fang Qiu felt a familiar sting rising in her nose.
Long Yang had raised his hand to strike Long Kui exactly once in his entire life — to stop her from sacrificing herself to the sword. And Long Kui had raised her hand against Jing Tian exactly once — for this very moment.
Mm…
Wait.
Jing Tian? Tang Xuejian?
Something was wrong.
Fang Qiu snapped fully awake, a jolt of alarm cutting through the fog.
Long Kui's sacrifice at the casting furnace.
Wasn't that practically the finale?
What time was it right now?
"You're awake?"
Hu Tao's voice sounded right beside her ear. Fang Qiu blinked — and realized she was still resting against Hu Tao's shoulder.
"Sorry — I fell asleep on you," Fang Qiu said, straightening up with a flush spreading across her face.
"Don't worry about it." Hu Tao waved a hand and gave a light laugh.
"Hu Tao — how long was I out?" Fang Qiu asked quietly.
"About four shichen, give or take," Hu Tao said after a moment's thought.
"Four… four shichen?"
Fang Qiu's eyes went slightly wide.
Four shichen?
That was way too long.
She'd actually slept for over eight full hours?
No wonder the film had jumped from the very beginning to practically the end!
And she'd been leaning on Hu Tao's shoulder that entire time?
Which meant Hu Tao hadn't moved a single inch for eight hours?
"Mhm. You looked so comfortable that I didn't want to wake you." Hu Tao's cheeks tinted faintly pink as she said it, her voice dropping to just above a whisper.
Even though she was the one who'd pulled Fang Qiu onto her shoulder in the first place.
Fang Qiu knew none of that, of course. Feeling guilty, she said, "Then you must have gone without eating since noon."
"I ate — Xiangling sneaked me some snacks. Don't worry," Hu Tao said with a smile.
Cheeks still warm, Fang Qiu murmured her thanks — and then noticed that Hu Tao was quietly rolling her shoulder, as though working out a deep, stubborn ache. Having someone lean on it for that many hours had clearly left the blood pooling.
Fang Qiu glanced around. Everyone nearby was staring, riveted, at the screen, grief etched on their faces over Long Kui's sacrifice.
More than a few had tears running down their cheeks.
Yun Jin, for one, was crying so hard she could barely breathe, tears streaming freely.
Seeing that no one was paying any attention to them, Fang Qiu quietly reached over and placed her hand on Hu Tao's shoulder.
"What is it?" Hu Tao gave a small start, then turned to look at her, voice low and puzzled. Her clear, plum-blossom-shaped eyes were full of questions.
"Your shoulder looks sore. Let me work it out for you," Fang Qiu said softly.
And with that, she pressed her fingers gently in and began to knead. Hu Tao's shoulder was remarkably slender.
It was hard to imagine how such a slight shoulder could hold so much strength.
For instance — right after Fang Qiu had been reborn into Liyue and they'd gone to the bathhouse together, it was Hu Tao who had hooked an arm around her waist with one smooth motion and hauled her clean out of the water.
Come to think of it, her legs had still been wrapped around Hu Tao's waist at the time — meaning she'd essentially been hanging off of her entirely.
Her lower half had been pressed flush against Hu Tao's midriff, granted, and that gave some support — but for Hu Tao to loop an arm around her waist and lift her bodily out of the water without so much as a wobble? That simply defied all reasonable physical logic.
Could it be that she really couldn't compare herself to Hu Tao — or any Vision holder, for that matter — in terms of sheer physical capability?
Fang Qiu pressed a little harder and kept at it, quietly inspecting whether there was anything unusual about Hu Tao's shoulder.
But after several minutes, she had to conclude: aside from the fact that it felt remarkably nice under her fingers, there was nothing out of the ordinary to be found.
Which only made her more puzzled.
Oh well. Forget it.
Just watch the film.
On the great screen, Jing Tian and the others had made their way out of the Sword Tomb and were now bearing down on Mt. Shu.
The tension had reached its absolute peak.
Before the Demon Locking Pagoda, the bodies of over a dozen Mt. Shu disciples lay strewn about in every direction.
The Evil Sword Immortal stood before the pagoda, expression utterly calm.
The final battle was about to begin.
It had to be said — this sequence was brilliantly done. From the set design to every actor's expression, it was beyond reproach. You could feel the enormous care and craft that had gone into polishing every frame.
Even Fang Qiu herself was caught up in the electric tension of the climax, and she found herself swallowing hard.
In the next moment, Jing Tian launched himself forward and clashed with the Evil Sword Immortal in a blinding flurry of steel.
Sword light exploded in all directions. Spells screamed through the air.
A battle of this caliber left no room for Zixuan or Tang Xuejian to interfere. Only when Jing Tian was sent hurtling back and the Evil Sword Immortal moved to press the attack did Tang Xuejian finally pull out the talisman the Mt. Shu elders had given her and channel her power into it.
"Wind and fire — rise up and scorch the heavens!"
But the surging inferno and Zixuan's simultaneous strike were both shattered by the Evil Sword Immortal in an instant.
Even so — that single instant was all Jing Tian needed. He righted himself mid-air and hurled himself straight back into the fray.
The ferocity of the battle had the entire audience's blood running hot.
Fang Qiu was completely absorbed, leaning forward — when Hu Tao's voice drifted softly to her ear.
"Fang Qiu… your hand…"
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