Before revealing the full script, Carmen Clovis led the main cast on a tour of the unfinished filming set.
The area was as large as a factory, surrounded by low mountains, and the set was nestled in a valley. Looking up, the sky, dotted with patches of blue, peeked through the trees.
The white, temporary-looking iron-sheet warehouse appeared quite basic.
However, inside was a completely different world.
Various weapons gleaming coldly adorned the walls—swords, machetes, massive hammers, bows, crossbows…
“Oh my God!” Emma twirled in excitement, her eyes glowing with delight. “These are…”
“Weapons crafted for you all,” Clovis explained. “In the next month, the new actors need to learn how to use them and form a bond with their weapons. Emma, your partner isn’t here yet. You’ll be using a mage staff.”
“Right, I’m the Elf Queen,” Emma chuckled. “Too bad I’m not playing a different role.”
Uhm, who played a warrior and had been in *Blade Warrior II,* was already familiar with some of the weapons, as some were leftovers from the previous movie. He confidently picked up the hammer, weighed it in his hands, and swung it in a smooth arc. “Watch!”
Emma clapped lightly but unenthusiastically. “Impressive.”
Uhm immediately leaned in toward her. “Do you want to try it?”
Emma quickly waved him off. “No… thanks, I’m good…”
Luo Ding approached the weapon rack, and Duan Xiubo followed close behind, asking softly, “Which one do you like?”
Luo Ding shook his head, his intense gaze sweeping over the finely crafted props, each gleaming with intricate details. Some even had delicate engravings, much like the helmet he had tested earlier, giving off a sense of deep, solemn reverence.
Duan Xiubo grinned. Luo Ding was introverted, and it often required careful observation to understand what he liked. Luo Ding’s gaze lingered on the large sword on the upper side of the rack for a few seconds—incidentally, the weapon Duan Xiubo would be wielding.
Duan Xiubo reached up and took down the sword, which had an engraving of a wolf across the blade. The sword was heavy, its craftsmanship so exquisite that it looked like a real weapon rather than a prop.
“Want to give it a try?”
He put his arm around Luo Ding’s shoulders and smiled at him. Luo Ding clearly liked the sword, and his smile became more genuine.
“It’s beautiful.”
“Mhm,” Duan Xiubo echoed, staring at Luo Ding, “It really is.”
The sudden intensity in Duan’s gaze made Luo Ding feel slightly uncomfortable. His momentary confusion was interrupted by Clovis’s appearance.
“No, no, no! Luo, that’s not your weapon!” Clovis clumsily pushed Duan’s hand away from giving Luo the sword and handed him something else from the upper shelf.
It was a bow.
The metallic, flexible bow had a sleek, flowing shape, like undulating hills, with sharp, tapered ends and a lightweight, elegant frame. The silver surface was engraved with intricate vine patterns.
Luo Ding examined it closely, finding no signs of shoddy craftsmanship. Although it lacked the imposing might of Duan Xiubo’s greatsword, it had its own fresh and graceful beauty.
“Do you know how to use it?” Clovis asked.
Luo Ding’s fingers brushed over the taut bowstring as he smiled faintly. He picked up an arrow from the nearby quiver, positioned himself sideways, and drew the bow, aiming at the target on the wall.
His movements immediately caught the attention of those around him. The tall young man stood with perfect posture, his eyes fixed on the target with a fierce focus. His stance, as he drew the bow, was graceful and precise, full of an inherent elegance.
Even Clovis, standing beside him, instinctively took a step back, awed by the aura Luo Ding exuded.
With a twang, the arrow shot through the air like lightning.
Everyone held their breath.
“Thud.”
Missed.
“Hahaha!” Emma laughed heartily, clutching her stomach as she pointed at Luo Ding, stomping her feet in amusement but unable to say anything coherent.
The others stood in silence.
Luo Ding chuckled at himself. “I know how to use it, but I’m generally not very good at it.”
A large hand ruffled his hair, and Duan Xiubo comforted him, “You did great. Your form was excellent—it’s something only those with professional training can achieve.”
“Exactly!” Clovis agreed enthusiastically. “That was really good! Your archery form was very impressive, Luo. Have you practiced this before?”
Luo Ding paused for a moment before replying evasively, “I’ve picked up a few tricks from a club. Just enough to fool people.”
Clovis was impressed. “A club in China…?”
The incident lightened the mood. Initially awkward with Luo Ding, some of the cast began to approach and interact with him. As an outsider, Luo Ding couldn’t be too proactive, so he waited for them to initiate. He could tell that when Clovis mentioned his Asian background, some of them had mixed reactions. Although society advocated for equality, Westerners still often held a subtle sense of racial superiority, whether in daily life or cultural attitudes.
“Hey!” Clovis gave everyone some time to familiarize themselves with the set. As Luo Ding studied his bow, a fragrant breeze wafted by, and he looked up to see Emma bouncing over to him.
Dressed in a deep V-neck dress that accentuated her figure, with red lips and curly hair, Emma exuded femininity. Her innocent and playful expression belied her sophisticated allure. “You’re Luo Ding, right? Don’t you have an English name?”
Luo Ding offered her a polite smile. “You can call me Luo, like Clovis does.”
Emma blinked in mild surprise, as if she hadn’t expected such a response. “…You’re really unique.”
“Thank you.”
Luo Ding wasn’t about to get overly friendly. Emma likely saw him as a rookie in Hollywood, but Luo Ding already knew her well from his past life. Emma’s seductive charm wasn’t just for show—she was a master of flirtation, with a varied taste in men. From actors to directors, even politicians and senators had fallen under her spell. However, she rarely used her connections for personal gain—she seemed to enjoy the game of romance for its own sake.
As a man, Luo Ding could appreciate her beauty, but because of his own orientation, being her target was less than appealing.
Throughout their brief conversation, Uhm, who had been holding his hammer in the distance, hadn’t taken his eyes off them. Another poor soul caught in Emma’s web of love, it seemed.
The set was located far from the city, and Clovis had suggested that everyone stay nearby. Although filming hadn’t officially begun, the upcoming training would be physically exhausting, and wasting time commuting wasn’t wise. After some discussion, Clovis arranged for everyone to stay at a nearby inn.
The inn wasn’t bad. Although the rooms were small, they were clean and decently furnished. No one, not even Emma, voiced any complaints, and everyone sent their assistants into town to purchase essentials.
Duan Xiubo’s room was right next to Luo Ding’s, with their bed heads nearly touching through the wall. As he helped Luo Ding unpack and hang up his clothes, Duan Xiubo spoke casually, “If you don’t like the food here, the inn’s kitchen is available for guest use. You can have Xiao Wu cook for you. No need to suffer, even when traveling.”
Luo Ding smiled wryly, recalling the dinner of sausages and buttered rolls that had been hard to swallow. It seemed Duan had noticed.
Duan chuckled at his expression. “Wait here. I’ll get something for you.”
Luo Ding was folding his clothes when the door clicked shut. He immediately felt a wave of relief wash over him.
Staring up at the bright ceiling light, he closed his eyes and pressed his fingers against his brow.
Something was off—why did he feel so awkward?
Ever since the moment he and Duan Xiubo locked eyes over that greatsword, something had felt strange. Every time Duan smiled or looked at him, Luo Ding’s brow would twitch, a peculiar feeling he couldn’t quite place.
It wasn’t like this before. They’d always interacted the same way, so why did it feel different now? This wasn’t Duan’s problem—it was his. Earlier, when Duan had taken his clothes out of his suitcase and started hanging them in the wardrobe, Luo Ding’s heart had skipped a beat. Duan’s casual chatter while tidying up didn’t just feel like the actions of an ordinary friend anymore.
There was a light knock on the door. The inn didn’t even have doorbells.
It must be Duan Xiubo. Luo Ding composed himself, ready to greet him with a smile. As he opened the door, he began, “What did you br— Emma?”
Standing outside was someone he hadn’t expected.
Emma had changed into a floral spaghetti-strap dress. Her smooth shoulders and delicately contoured collarbones exuded a healthy, athletic beauty. Her fair skin glowed softly under the light. She smiled and stood at the door, holding a bottle of wine in one hand and two wine glasses in the other. “Hey!”
“…Hey.” Luo Ding wasn’t sure how to respond, but Emma slipped gracefully through the gap in the door.
Her flowing hair carried a strong, alluring fragrance.
“I just realized I brought some wine with me—a 1975 Grand Cru. The grapes that year were excellent. I’ve been saving this bottle. Care for a glass?”
Luo Ding hesitated, then closed the door slightly, answering truthfully, “I’m not great with alcohol.”
But Emma had already poured the wine. The deep ruby liquid clung to the sides of the glass, its fragrance rich and heady. Even Luo Ding, who didn’t usually appreciate fine wines, could tell this was a good bottle.
Not wanting to seem impolite, he accepted the glass Emma handed him and took a small sip.
It didn’t taste good to him.
But Emma, with a look of pure enjoyment, closed her eyes as she slowly swallowed the wine, her posture the epitome of elegant wine tasting. After a moment, she opened her eyes. “You know, you remind me of this wine.”
Here it comes.
Luo Ding discreetly took a step back, placing his glass on the TV stand and avoiding her gaze. “I’m not really a fan of wine.”
“…Oh?”
“I prefer Chinese baijiu. Wine is great, but I don’t appreciate it.”
Emma’s finely arched eyebrows furrowed slightly in dissatisfaction. Pouting, she slowly approached him. “But you’ve only had one sip…”
“That’s enough.” Luo Ding stretched his arm out, placing his hand gently on her shoulder to stop her advance. He smiled. “Thank you for the wine. You look lovely tonight.”
Emma squinted at him.
Luo Ding met her gaze head-on.
After a long pause, Emma finally smiled. “You remind me of someone.”
Luo Ding raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“Someone from the East, from China, like you. A very famous star there, though you’re younger and more handsome. He had his charm too. Like you, he didn’t have an English name. Unfortunately, he recently passed away.”
Luo Ding straightened up, lowering his hand from her shoulder. He knew exactly who she was referring to. He’d used the same tactic to refuse her before.
Emma sighed deeply and spread her hands in a gesture of resignation. “Well, if you don’t like wine, I suppose I’ll have to save it for someone who can appreciate it.”
Just as Luo Ding was about to smile, she suddenly leaned in, her red lips aiming for his at lightning speed. He quickly turned his head, managing only to deflect her kiss slightly off target.
Emma looked disappointed. “You’re quick!”
Luo Ding rubbed the corner of his mouth, speechless. This woman…
“Am I interrupting something?” A voice suddenly broke the silence, startling both of them. Luo Ding had intentionally left the door slightly ajar to avoid creating a suggestive atmosphere, and sure enough, standing just around the corner was Duan Xiubo.
R : Ouuuuuhh !
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