I have a persona specifically for acting.

The small commotion in the water prison did not catch Shao Xuanzheng’s attention.

He was fully immersed in the joy of Lady Li agreeing to visit his estate, supervising the servants who were rushing to make everything perfect. His “missing” and “suspected to have run off with a lover” partner, Mu Yingchen, had a solitary and proud personality, preferring a simple lifestyle. Initially, he didn’t mind and even agreed with her belief that cultivators should not be extravagant. However, after spending time together…

It became a bit tedious.

Moreover, this simple decor often reminded Shao Xuanzheng that Mu Yingchen, despite her great talent, was of humble origins, making them incompatible.

On the other hand, Sister Li had been raised in luxury as a noble lady, enjoying lavish and ornate items. He wanted to create a good impression, to prevent her from thinking that marrying into the Shao family would mean hardship and drudgery.

But the Shao estate was just too vast.

For instance, the gardens still maintained a simple aesthetic, with small bridges and flowing water.

He instructed, “If Lady Li asks, just say it’s all Mu Xianzhang’s preferences. I want to leave a corner of the estate as her place until there’s a new mistress.”

The servants repeatedly agreed.

Shao Xuanzheng liked obedient workers who wouldn’t question his decisions, preferring those who were simply devoted to him.

In the monitoring room backstage:

“Okay, this statement not only enriches his romantic persona but also implies that as long as the other party becomes his new partner, there won’t be any traces of other women in the estate… This kind of line is not something an average scumbag could say! He’s the particularly despicable type.”

Shi Qianqiu praised vigorously.

Others exchanged subtle glances towards the head director.

The set designer remarked, “Brother Shi’s praise really isn’t something just anyone can handle.”

Due to Chen Zhuzhi’s history with an abusive girlfriend, his reputation within the group was not high.

Especially among the female staff, even with his charming and enthusiastic face, they still avoided him.

To win back his girlfriend’s forgiveness, Chen Zhuzhi paid a hefty compensation. Besides a fixed amount, he also had to give 50% of all his earnings over the next three years to her. “The Heartless Tribulation” had been delayed for a long time, and Chen Zhuzhi wished it could be postponed even longer to avoid paying.

Unfortunately, Tong Zhao’s arrival was poorly timed.

He had privately asked Shi Qianqiu if he could delay the shoot by two months. Shi Qianqiu’s response was, “Your thinking is a rare breed of super scumbag, truly eye-opening. There really is no bottom to cheapness; choosing you to play Shao Xuanzheng was a wise decision. Stop dreaming—there’s no chance. If you bother me again during filming, I have that girl’s WeChat. If she complains that you’re harassing her or not paying her properly, you’ll have to deal with my little brother from now on.”

Chen Zhuzhi fell silent immediately and never brought up the idea of trying to dodge payments again.

When Shi Qianqiu mentioned “little brother,” he meant his real younger brother.

All the gray businesses were managed by his brother, and the industry joked that if Shi Qianqiu’s scripts failed, he’d have to go home to collect protection money.

Characters like Shao Xuanzheng, who can be ruthless to their wives and daughters, are rare in the industry.

Typically, filmmakers take shortcuts, starting the story after the wives and daughters have been killed.

They implant memories directly, eliminating the need for actors to perform these scenes, and professional psychological treatment follows, leaving little issue behind.

Some actors even expressed that filming instinctive movies deepened their understanding of humanity’s darkness. They used to have impulsive thoughts during anger but no longer did after completing violent scenes, hoping to remind the audience of the importance of emotional management.

While Shao Xuanzheng was joyfully preparing to welcome his beauty, Tong Zhao was making her way down the mountain.

She couldn’t take the main road.

The tip of the sword dripped with blood, and the soaked robe felt bone-chillingly cold in the wind. She had no spiritual energy to fend off the chill, so she silently endured it.

In the monitoring room, her comfort level dropped to nearly zero.

Yet her face remained expressionless.

This aligned perfectly with Mu Yingchen’s character design.

Mu Yingchen was cold on the outside but passionate on the inside, embodying an uncompromising stubbornness, solitary and proud.

This sense of aloofness meant that when she was harmed by those closest to her and when Shao Xuanzheng twisted the truth, no one questioned the reality or cared about her safety.

—

Deputy Director Zeng exclaimed in surprise, “No wonder she can excel in post-apocalyptic films; being in the mud doesn’t dull her sharpness at all. Shi Qianqiu has a great eye for talent.”

Shi Qianqiu replied, “It’s her strong subconscious.”

The woman on screen wore simple clothes; her once pristine robe now looked like tattered rags. Her wounds, casually bandaged with strips of cloth, still oozed blood, but her face remained pale and flawless. Her striking brows and eyes lacked expression yet conveyed emotion, avoiding a sense of emptiness.

Even when fate was harsh and the road ahead was perilous, her will remained unshaken.

The set designer sighed, “It’s hard to imagine what she’s been through in reality to develop such a strong subconscious. Is Shi Qianqiu close to her? I noticed she rarely mentions her personal life in interviews.”

“Not close. I’m not interested in the actors’ personal lives,” Shi Qianqiu replied with a hint of indifference.

He was more concerned about how Tong Zhao would perform.

After the female lead successfully escaped from the water prison, he set up many subplots, including one where she hides in the estate and waits for the supporting character, Li Qiaoqiao, to confront the scumbag face to face. After the confrontation, Shao Xuanzheng would likely kill her in a fit of rage, which would create a rift between him and Li Qiaoqiao. The story of his mistreatment of his wife would also spread, leading to an imperfect ending for the male lead.

There was also an option for secretly seeking help from Li Qiaoqiao.

While other instinctual screenwriters feared that actors might stray off course, Shi Qianqiu was not worried.

In his films, there were infinite possibilities!

Think they’ve gone off course?

In reality, they had simply crossed from route A to route B!

—

Crossing into route B, Tong Zhao wanted to wash herself by the stream when she suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats approaching from the main mountain path.

Cultivators have keen senses; even with little spiritual energy left, her physique remained strong. She heard the sound of the carriage team approaching from quite a distance, so she hid quietly in the grass to observe. When the convoy came into view, it slowed down and stopped on the main road near the stream. A servant got down first, setting the footstep for a young lady dressed in luxurious attire to alight from the carriage.

This young lady was Li Qiaoqiao, whom she had met years ago as Madam Shao.

Li Qiaoqiao was slightly younger than her but was no longer an ordinary girl, relying on cultivation and family spirit medicines to maintain her youthful appearance. She also put in considerable effort to preserve her beautiful, youthful face.

However, there was a stain on her embroidered shoes, which must be why she had gotten down early.

Li Qiaoqiao had come to wash her feet.

In the holographic projection, Tong Zhao’s disheveled state contrasted sharply with Li Qiaoqiao’s delicate and glamorous appearance.

Like in traditional films, the information the audience received from the screen was very objective, highlighting the power dynamics of wealth and beauty. The female lead was on a path of reversal, requiring her to draw out the oppressive points in her early encounters. One potential issue in many films featuring Tong Zhao was pointed out by the assistant director:

“She’s too beautiful; even wrapped in rags, she has a strong presence.”

Of course, Li Qiaoqiao’s actress, Ding Jiao, was a beauty; otherwise, she wouldn’t have been cast in the role.

But objectively speaking, Tong Zhao was even more beautiful.

This beauty diluted the intended contrast of strength and weakness in the character setup.

“Even though I know that anything can happen in instinct films and Director Shi likes open-ended developments—like if Mu Yingchen dies by the roadside, as long as the plot is exciting, it can still be accepted…” the props assistant said, captivated. “But for some reason, when I see Tong Zhao, I feel like her misfortune is only temporary; she’ll make a comeback any moment.”

As Tong Zhao looked at Li Qiaoqiao, Director Shi zoomed in on her.

At the same time, capturing her internal monologue.

Tong Zhao: [I know who she is.]

Tong Zhao: [She is the childhood sweetheart that Shao Xuanzheng loves, the moonlight in his heart. I must use my life to exchange for her health.]

She calmly spoke of her husband falling in love with another woman.

Her husband and his childhood sweetheart rekindled their old flame and wanted to kill her, using her life to cure his beloved’s ailment.

This contradiction would infuriate anyone, not just the parties involved.

Even the onlookers listening would feel a surge of anger.

But Tong Zhao’s portrayal of Mu Yingchen was that of a cultivator whose spiritual realm was higher than that of the male lead.

When Shi Qianqiu wrote this character setup, the entire crew said his standards were too high and that he didn’t understand women at all. No woman could remain calm in the face of such things—putting aside gender stereotypes, even a man would feel anxious if he was cheated on; upon seeing the lover, he might not rush to confront them, but internally he would be seething.

Mu Yingchen was aloof and proud, not a pushover.

She shouldn’t just remain silent or swallow her anger.

It was overly idealistic, like writing a novel.

At the time, Assistant Director Zeng risked doubling his debts to complain, “You’re not looking for a leading lady; you’re searching for a transcendent being!”

But unexpectedly, he found this ethereal subconscious quality.

Zeng seized the opportunity to give Li Qiaoqiao’s elegant attire several close-ups, emphasizing her noble background and carefree smile, highlighting how well she was currently living.

The Li family’s entourage also played along, with Extra A following the scripted lines: “Actually, it’s not too late to clean up once we arrive at the manor. Given how much Shao Xuanzheng values you, even if you arrive in a carriage, he wouldn’t blame you at all.”

“Ridiculous,” Li Qiaoqiao laughed, her words devoid of any reproach, filled instead with excitement and joy. “Brother Shao is good to me; I can’t be impolite. He once wrote to me, saying that Mu Yingchen often offends others with her odd behavior and disregard for etiquette, which is why she never gets invited to gatherings.”

In the end, Li Qiaoqiao’s voice lowered: “Mu Yingchen left without a word, and brother Shao is already very sad. I can’t let him down again.”

Tong Zhao’s actions aligned with her cold thoughts:

【I’ll wait to wash myself until they’re gone.】

She managed to completely refrain from evaluating Li Qiaoqiao!

Assistant Director Zeng, who was obsessed with gambling and considered himself quite ordinary, could not imagine such a transcendent subconscious in the entertainment industry; it was simply abnormal.

Skeptical, he secretly increased the sensitivity of his detection on Tong Zhao’s thoughts.

Even if he picked up some useless excess content, he could delete it in post-production; it wouldn’t matter.

Unlike the orderly expression found in literary works, human thought is often chaotic and disjointed. If not filtered through AI, it could easily record things like, “Dogs like to eat feces; they are very affectionate animals. Do people seem like feces in a dog’s eyes?” or, “This mountain, this water…” along with recently popular songs playing on repeat.

However, even after increasing the sensitivity, Tong Zhao’s thoughts remained quiet and sparse.

Occasional phrases were delivered in a cold, deep tone, like a sword tempered and then treated in deep freeze.

After a brief rest, the Li family’s convoy resumed its journey.

Once the carriage had completely moved away, Tong Zhao went upstream to the small creek to wash off the dirt and her wounds. Without a change of clothes, she hesitated for a moment about whether to remove her tattered robe.

She considered going without clothes.

After all, she didn’t mind.

…

Backstage.

“We can’t just let it be, sister!”

“Can we airdrop some clean clothes for her? Come on, brother Shi, be a decent person! It’s reasonable to have a clean outfit in a fantasy setting like this forest, right? I can write the code for you right now!” One of the female prop assistants, a fan of Tong Zhao, was already feeling empathetic, and now her motherly instincts were overflowing.

Fortunately, what everyone worried about didn’t happen.

Tong Zhao ultimately chose to make do with the robe she had on.

“Don’t worry, if you go a little further, you’ll encounter a hunter’s cabin. Her path is right, and even if it’s not, I’ll adjust it to be so. There will be clean clothes inside.”

Shi Qianqiu reassured the prop assistant.

Since no female actor had ever successfully escaped from the water prison before, some crew members unfamiliar with the core script were unaware of the subsequent plot.

“Is there anything else?”

The prop assistant sniffled.

She was trying hard to recall if she had written any useful prop codes.

“Of course there is.”

The prop assistant’s eyes lit up, while Assistant Director Zeng averted his gaze, unable to bear it.

“Inside, there’s a little girl who wants to visit Shao’s residence to learn, but she encounters a hunter uncle who can’t cultivate due to his poor spiritual roots. Jealous of her talent, he locks her up to produce offspring with her, hoping to have descendants with her cultivation gifts. This is the female protagonist’s first mini-boss battle.”

“…”

The prop assistant exclaimed, “What I meant by ‘anything else’ was hot food and healing medicine.”

Not a mini-boss that would worsen the beautiful lady’s injuries!

“Why arrange such dark and cruel plot points…?”

One of the staff posed a soul-searching question.

“This is a motivational turning point for the female protagonist; it’s not dark or cruel at all, but full of positive energy,” the mastermind explained to the subordinates. “When the male and female leads first meet, Shao Xuanzheng comes from a prestigious background, far superior to Mu Yingchen’s, so she tends to believe what he says and views him as better than herself.”

“And then?”

Shi Qianqiu smiled, “You’ll find out soon enough.”

…

Tong Zhao’s destination was the mortal market at the foot of the mountain.

Though she had no silver coins, thankfully, Shao Xuanzheng hadn’t taken everything she had on her. The jade pendant at her waist should fetch some money. Being from a prestigious lineage, Shao Xuanzheng had little experience dealing with mortals; when he needed something, he had servants do it for him and was mostly ignorant of worldly matters.

Before embarking on her cultivation journey, Mu Yingchen was just an ordinary child.

According to Shi Qianqiu’s setup, she had stood out at the age of seven during the decade-long recruitment of disciples by the North Qing sect. After becoming a disciple, she fortuitously met Shao Xuanzheng, who was searching for his destined partner, and they became a couple through his ardent pursuit…

In any case, Tong Zhao naturally recalled her knowledge about the mortal market.

The hunter’s cabin was right along the path leading her down the mountain.

When Tong Zhao spotted the hunter’s cabin, she indeed walked over.

After all, her dirty robe was too conspicuous; changing into a simple coarse cloth garment would be much better.

The backstage staff, witnessing this scene, were all deeply moved—

“The plot is back on track!”

“I’m feeling so secure for the first time in brother Shi’s movie.”

“Thanks to Tong Zhao; she truly is the savior of our crew.”

“To be honest, her note in my WeChat contacts is ‘Savior,’ haha…”

With the plot progressing well, everyone felt reassured.

In the monitoring footage, Tong Zhao pushed open the wooden door and asked, “Is anyone in there?”

No response.

All she heard was the sound of something kicking against the wooden boards deep inside the room.

Tong Zhao: [Could they be keeping hunting dogs in the bedroom?]

Tong Zhao: [But I don’t hear any barking.]

The cabin was indeed very small, containing only a bedroom and various hunting trophies and bows.

The owner of the house seemed to have gone hunting.

Given that a professional dealing with fierce beasts should have medical supplies, Tong Zhao decided to search for any medicine and clean clothes inside, placing the jade pendant in a visible spot for the owner to exchange for money.

As if sensing that Tong Zhao didn’t intend to leave and was wandering around the cabin, the sound of kicking from the bedroom intensified. Confused by the strange noise, she said, “Sorry for intruding,” unlocked the door, and pushed it open—

Inside was a young woman whose hands and feet were bound with ropes and her mouth stuffed with cloth.

Upon seeing Tong Zhao, she widened her eyes in shock.

“……”

Tong Zhao truly did not expect this turn of events.

Having been in seclusion at Shao’s Manor, she had distanced herself from worldly troubles for quite a while.

She only intended to borrow some clothing and medical supplies.

Crouching down, she used her sword to cut the ropes binding the young woman.

Once her hands were free and she removed the cloth from her mouth, the woman stared blankly for a moment before grabbing Tong Zhao’s hand as if in a daze: “Who are you? You need to leave quickly. He will definitely come back before dark, and when he does, you’ll suffer just like I have… Please, hurry…”

As she spoke, her gaze fell on the sword in Tong Zhao’s hand.

Tong Zhao thought the woman wanted her to kill the villain to save her from her torment.

Indeed, hope shone in the woman’s eyes.

But her plea was not what Tong Zhao had imagined.

The woman asked, “Before you go, could you kill me?”

……

Tong Zhao was even more confused.

In this scene, the woman exuded a dignified beauty, lacking the seductive charm often seen in “Sea King’s Kill,” making her appear honest and reliable. From the beginning, even while trapped in the water prison, her expressions had been resolute, but now she showed signs of confusion.

The props assistant remarked, “Aww, that’s kind of cute.”

Beyond the fangirl filter, others nodded in agreement: “That’s the charm of a contrast, right?”

“Why would I want to kill you? Explain yourself, and then I’ll leave.”

Tong Zhao wasn’t particularly afraid of the cabin’s owner.

After failing to convince her, the woman glanced out the window at the sky, estimating that there was still some time before sunset, and quickly began to explain her situation. In a hushed voice, she said, “Are you a passing traveler? I don’t want to live anymore. My parents think I went up the mountain to find a master, and that I wouldn’t come back. They probably believe their daughter forgot home after receiving guidance from an immortal. They haven’t even sent my younger brother to Shao’s Manor to check if I’m really there.”

If someone asked about her disappearance…

Shao Xuanzheng, being prideful, might just investigate it.

“Forget it, there’s no point in asking; it would be embarrassing,” the woman shook her head sadly. “I’ve lost my virtue and can neither go back to get married nor am I at the right age to become a disciple. That man, with the surname He, wants me to bear him a son with a water spirit root, which I absolutely refuse. He fears I’ll die, so every time he goes hunting, he locks my hands and feet and stuffs my mouth. I can’t even bite my tongue to end it. Dying would be better, so I wouldn’t have to suffer his humiliation anymore!”

The more she spoke, the more she felt that seeking death was a good idea.

The woman grabbed Tong Zhao’s right arm, pleading with her once more to end her life.

Tong Zhao remained calm and asked, “Do you want to become a disciple of Shao Xuanzheng?”

She noticed that the woman’s potential was quite good. Although she hadn’t received proper guidance or training, her eyes were the windows to her soul, and with their physical contact, Tong Zhao could tell that the woman was a remarkable candidate with a water spirit root. It was such a pity; over the years, countless people had wanted to become Shao Xuanzheng’s disciple, yet few compared to the woman before her.

Hearing her question, the woman was momentarily taken aback and shook her head.

When it came to the topic of seeking immortality and cultivation, a flicker of life returned to her previously numb expression: “No, I admire another immortal.”

Mentioning the immortal she admired, her tone became somewhat shy: “When I was just a child, I had the fortune to see Mu Xianzhang from a distance at the disciple ceremony. She had an ethereal grace, as pure as snow. Although I couldn’t see her face clearly from so far away, I truly thought…”

“An immortal descending from the heavens to save all beings from suffering must be just like her.”

The woman’s mental state was not healthy; after falling into memories, she appeared dazed for a while, her dirty and bruised face reflecting a dreamy longing and sense of loss.

She had been locked up in the hunter’s cabin for quite some time.

Unbeknownst to her, the Mu Xianzhang from the disciple ceremony had been rumored to have abandoned her husband and “left” Shao’s Manor.

“To save all beings…”

Tong Zhao introspected and objectively shattered the woman’s false fantasies: “You have misunderstood her a bit. She isn’t the type to meddle in others’ affairs. Forget about saving all beings; if you were to die in front of her while she was focused on her cultivation, she likely wouldn’t even save you.”

“Do you know her? You don’t know her, so how can you say that? You’re judging an immortal with a mortal’s heart! If she were here, she would definitely save me!”

Seeing Tong Zhao deny her idol, the woman’s tone became agitated.

This agitation brought some life back to her lifeless expression.

Just then, heavy footsteps accompanied by grumbling approached from nearby.

“Didn’t get anything, what a bad day.”

The hunter pushed open the door: “Wife, your man is back!”

The woman froze as if she had heard a cat’s call.

Tong Zhao gripped the broken sword with one hand, reluctantly admitting:

“Alright, maybe you’re right.”