When Duan Xiubo took the stage, the crowd’s cheers were deafening, nearly shaking the roof. Luo Ding worried for a moment that his own reception would be underwhelming by comparison, but the moment he stepped onto the stage, a chorus of cheers greeted him.
A girl from the crowd even called out in broken Chinese, “Luo—Ding!!!”
Luo Ding was taken aback. The spotlight illuminated his face, and the expression of bewilderment only made the audience even more excited.
“Luo!!!!!! Ding!!!!!!”
Luo Ding, always underestimating his own popularity, genuinely hadn’t realized he was this well-known.
Duan Xiubo, seeing Luo Ding frozen on stage, thought he was nervous and smiled, moving to take his hand.
Luo Ding snapped out of it as soon as Duan touched him, smiling as he gently brushed him off. He walked across the stage confidently, his confusion temporarily set aside.
As if they were on the same wavelength, Duan Xiubo quickly understood why Luo Ding had been stunned. Watching him answer the media’s questions with ease, Duan tilted his head, staring at Luo Ding’s profile.
He couldn’t quite figure out if Luo Ding was being modest or simply clueless. He was cautious, almost overly so, and nothing like the brashness of most young people his age. Gu Yaxing had said they hadn’t trained Luo Ding much in media skills, yet here he was, handling the reporters with grace and composure. But when it came to gauging his own popularity, Luo Ding seemed oblivious.
It had been the same back when Crouching Dragon had won an award. After seeing the final cut of the film, everyone, including Duan, had told Luo Ding he might win Best Supporting Actor, but Luo Ding had stubbornly dismissed it as a joke. When he actually won, the look of shock on his face was like someone had dropped a pie from the sky into his lap. Now here he was again, surprised that fans had come to see him at a *Blade Warrior III* premiere.
Thinking back to how the EP had sold out so fast they could barely keep up, Duan Xiubo gave up. It wasn’t just Luo Ding—everyone at Yaxing Studio seemed to underestimate themselves.
Everyone was exhausted from the promotional tour, so the premiere was kept relatively simple. Once the movie started, the cast took their seats among the audience, and people began sneaking up to Luo Ding, asking for autographs.
The movie was in 3D.
In the opening scene, a giant scythe swung down from above, slicing through the heavy curtain and revealing a blinding burst of sunlight.
The music was soft, almost eerie, like a cat prowling gracefully, accompanying the rip in the fabric as it grew larger. Duan Xiubo’s voice, low and raspy, sounded both exhausted and full of life—
“After that, I learned the truth about my past.”
The cat-like music swayed and flowed with his voice.
“Suppression, slaughter, conquest, victory—all for the church.”
As the scene opened wide, his voice grew quieter, blending with the dazzling white light that filled the screen.
“And for myself.”
A sudden explosion reverberated, and a strange, sharp-beaked bird swooped across the screen, letting out a mournful cry as it flew into the distance.
Through its flight, the view expanded, revealing vast mountains and rivers. A thick forest stretched beneath it, and from the mountain’s peak, a silver river flowed like a ribbon.
In the distance, a herd of unicorns charged forward, kicking up clouds of dust. The earth seemed to tremble with the thunderous sound of their hooves. As they drew closer, their golden armor gleamed in the sunlight, despite the dried bloodstains that covered it.
The intricate patterns on their armor, along with the banners they carried, clearly marked their identity. The leader of the group was fully armored, with only his eyes visible.
Bloodshot, dark-circled, and worn from battle.
Yet nothing could dull the sharpness in those eyes.
A haunting, wordless chant echoed in the background, as if sung by thousands. The melody was ancient, like the call to battle, yet mysterious, hinting at an uncertain future.
A majestic white building appeared in the distance, and the unicorns stopped at the entrance. The warriors dismounted, and the leader removed his helmet, his long black hair flowing freely down his back. He gazed up at the building.
The camera slowly zoomed in.
Just as it seemed to close in on his hair, he turned, revealing a sharp, angular face devoid of any unnecessary expression, his eyes filled with grim determination and a simmering rage.
“Alpha, take off your sword and come with me.”
A tall young man stepped forward from the group, placing a hand over his heart and kneeling respectfully. “Yes, Sir Austin.”
A collective gasp rippled through the audience the moment Duan Xiubo turned his head.
Even Luo Ding was momentarily stunned. The man on screen was so different from the one sitting beside him. Watching the film together, Luo Ding felt a sense of disorientation.
A man who had discovered the truth about his origins but had to pretend otherwise while living among the very people who had slaughtered his kin.
Luo Ding’s character, Alfred, made his first appearance to even louder gasps from the audience.
Despite his youthful appearance, there was still an unmistakable purity in his eyes, which shone like starlight. Dressed in a simple white robe, he was shown sparring with the other soldiers in the camp. His figure was light and lean, his pale skin starkly contrasting with the other men around him. After taking a punch to the stomach, Alfred was sent flying.
He rolled a couple of times in the dirt, getting mud all over himself, but when he raised his head, his eyes still brimmed with unyielding energy.
Leaping to his feet, he shouted, “Again!”
Austin, noticing something unusual about the boy, narrowed his eyes, focusing on the back of Alfred’s neck, which was mostly hidden by his hair. His expression turned serious.
In a later scene, set in a steamy bathhouse, Austin stormed in, sword drawn, and launched a furious attack on Alfred, forcing him into a fight that led them both into the pool. Amidst the chaotic struggle, Alfred’s strange tattoos were revealed.
The rapid cuts and jarring angles of the fight scenes gave the struggle an oddly intimate feel, drawing gasps from the audience as a hint of tension and ambiguity simmered beneath the surface.
Luo Ding cleared his throat, turning away from the screen. Filming the scene hadn’t felt this suggestive, but now, watching it, he realized how the fight had ended up looking more like a tryst than a battle.
Duan Xiubo leaned in close to Luo Ding’s ear. “You are so beautiful.”
Luo Ding responded by pinching his arm hard.
Austin’s kiss on Alfred’s shoulder was shown from multiple angles in close-up. His lips against Alfred’s snowy white skin created a strange, tension-filled moment that defied easy explanation.
After Alfred’s identity was revealed, he donned a lavish robe and knelt before the palace, swearing his loyalty. Austin’s expression at that moment was so complex that it almost brought tears to the viewers’ eyes.
The brief peace was soon shattered, and the warriors embarked on a perilous journey to escape their pursuers. One by one, familiar faces fell, and Austin grew increasingly despondent. Finally, after being rejected by the elven forest, he lost Alfred too.
The only person who mattered to him—his kin, his family, his heart’s anchor—was gone.
Alfred died in his arms, an arrow piercing through his chest and abdomen, glinting with cold, deadly light. Austin stared in shock as strange vines began spreading from Alfred’s neck, covering his entire body. Desperate, Austin tried to stop the growth, pleading with Alfred to hold on.
Clutching Austin’s robes tightly, Alfred buried his face in his chest, shedding silent tears of regret.
Austin, on the brink of collapse, finally awakened his dormant powers. Thick vines burst from the ground around them, tearing through the earth. Birds and beasts scattered in panic, but at the heart of the chaos, Austin seemed completely numb, staring blankly as he slowly pulled the arrow from Alfred’s body.
Holding the arrow, Austin’s eyes were vacant. After a long pause, his gaze finally returned to Alfred’s face.
He covered Alfred’s lifeless body with his own, and when a tear fell from his cheek onto Alfred’s, he gently wiped it away with his fingers.
The final kiss, placed on Alfred’s forehead, was shown in a close-up. Luo Ding noticed a slight movement beside him. Before he could turn his head, he felt his hand being grasped.
Startled, he was about to look over when he heard the sounds of quiet sobbing filling the theater. Hidden below the armrest, Duan Xiubo’s hand gripped his tightly, trembling slightly. Luo Ding thought for a moment, but didn’t pull away.
He understood what Duan was afraid of—losing him.
In the movie’s final act, the slaves of East Continent, who carried Austin’s bloodline, rose up to fight back against their oppression, joining forces with other races. Together, under Austin’s leadership, they broke through the barriers and defeated the corrupt Morin clergy. Though both sides were at a standstill, the Pope finally relented, offering peace.
The Vatican’s army withdrew from East Continent, and Austin’s people were returned home, thanks to the dragons’ intervention. As they stepped foot on their homeland for the first time, the surrounding cheers and jubilation filled the air, but Austin remained stoic.
Turning his head, he stared at the sea, where storm clouds gathered on the horizon. The dragons flew back into the sky, and nothing remained.
His face, framed against the raging storm and ocean, conveyed a mixture of sadness and longing. He tried to smile, but no matter how hard he tried, the joy never reached his eyes.
When the lights came on, the theater erupted into thunderous applause, whistles, and cheers. The cast stood up, bowing to the audience.
Luo Ding looked over at Duan Xiubo, who was also looking at him.
They exchanged a smile, hearing the crowd clearly chanting their names.
Both of them knew this was proof that they were getting closer to success.
*******
Blade Warrior III wasn’t just a popcorn blockbuster. Despite its grandiose scenes and melodramatic plot, it also touched on deeper themes, both positive and negative. The ending appeared to be happy, but it was tinged with sorrow. Austin had won the war but lost everything else.
This kind of bittersweet conclusion had become increasingly rare in recent years, leaving audiences emotionally devastated. Many sympathized with Austin, whose foster family had treated him so poorly. Just when he’d finally found someone to rely on, the director had taken that person away.
Alfred’s death scene was almost too painful to watch a second time. Even the steely Austin wept uncontrollably over his lost companion. The scene of Austin looking back at the sea with that piercing gaze, after winning the war but unable to join in the celebration, was haunting. Everyone could guess what was on his mind.
The Chinese audience, of course, had even stronger reactions. Fans of Luo Ding and Duan Xiubo’s on-screen pairing were left heartbroken, crying out for them to never again take on such tragic roles.
Especially Luo Ding’s fans—they couldn’t believe he had died again, and in such a gut-wrenching way.
“Son, can you please survive to the end for once? You’re breaking my heart!!”
“Duan Da, I feel for you. Twice now, and you still end up losing. Can you be any more tragic?”
“Ugh, I can’t take this. Time to watch some sweet behind-the-scenes footage to heal. Fluff and sweetness are the real deal!”
Thanks to the film, fan-made compilation videos of Luo Ding and Duan Xiubo’s day-to-day interactions saw a huge spike in views. Fans, after being emotionally wrecked by the movie, found solace in these clips, where their hearts were mended, their bodies felt lighter, and they were ready to run ten laps around the track out of joy.
Whoever started it, soon fan-made videos were being translated into various languages and shared across international social media platforms.
Luo Ding, from his return to acting up until now, was experiencing for the second time what it was like to become an overnight sensation.
But this time, it was in the West (Europe and the United States), a place notoriously resistant to outsiders.
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thank you for the chapter 🤗🫶🏽