FLME Ch11: Ending

The filming progress and the storyline were not synchronized. For convenience, they would usually complete all scenes of one location within the scheduled time.

Yunxiao Sword Sect was the story’s focal point. For a low-budget web series like “Legend of the Immortal Sect,” this one set had taken up most of the crew’s time.

Today’s shoot was the grand finale, the last few scenes on Yunxiao Mountain.

“There is no demonic relic.”

The fourth senior brother, with a dogtail grass in his mouth, lay back, gazing at the stars, a lazy smile on his lips. “Once the news spreads tomorrow, those forces that infiltrated us with such effort will be pissed, having wasted so much unnecessary time on us.”

“Once the news spreads, the demon sect will undoubtedly launch an attack, and humanity will face a century-long war.” In the courtyard, a bonfire burned, and everyone sat around it. The cool-headed and steady second senior brother added more wood as he spoke.

“By then, we’ll already be dead.” The third senior sister yawned, lazily leaning against the eaves—a picture of sleepy beauty. “We’ve worried for so many years; there’s no need to fret about what happens after we die.”

There is no demonic relic.

The news was fake; it had always been fake. But the demon sect believed it, and for thousands of years, they had been held back by the supposed existence of the relic, giving humanity a chance to breathe.

The Yunxiao Sword Sect was not a hidden sect guarding the relic for generations. Just a few decades ago, when the demon tribe found evidence that the relic did not exist, a small sect stepped up to cover the truth and became the target.

They were just ordinary cultivators, without powerful sect heritage, without domineering secret techniques, and even with mediocre talents.

They were just ordinary people.

“The mountain-protecting array can hold until the fifth watch at most. By then, the makeshift army surrounding the mountain will storm the gate. Once they search the mountain and find the relic isn’t here, the lie that has fooled the demon tribe for thousands of years will be exposed. We’ve been extremely lucky to keep up this lie for so long. What happens next is up to the fate of the people.”

The third senior sister rambled on about the current situation, finally propping her chin with her hand and letting out two crisp, bell-like laughs.

“But no matter what, it’s still disheartening. To be a good target, I’ve worked so hard to cultivate…”

The outside world painted the Yunxiao Sword Sect as legendary, claiming that every disciple was a genius of master-level. Who would have thought that decades ago, this sect had no name, and only a few idle youths lived in the mountains, knowing a few minor spells, spending their days eating and sleeping, adept at slacking off and bird hunting?

At some point, the first thought they had upon waking changed from what to have for breakfast to how many enemies they would face that day.

Chu Laoliu ¹(Laoliu means old sixth since he was the 6th disciple.) was digging sweet potatoes out of the fire. He was the youngest, always acting rashly with a bit of naive optimism. Upon hearing this, he pouted, “What if other immortal sects arrive in time and save us?”

Jiang Qiuyue sat upright nearby, holding a tattered book, not participating in the discussion from beginning to end.

The third senior sister asked Chu Laoliu to dig out a sweet potato for her as well.

Chu Laoliu estimated the distance between them and the fire and asked why.

“You’re lucky; the ones you dig out are always cooked.”

Chu Laoliu handed the sweet potato he had to his senior sister, “This one’s cooled down, you eat it.”

The third senior sister patted his head and said, “Our little Koi is so considerate.”

Chu Laoliu was dissatisfied with the nickname “koi,” but he didn’t say anything more.

He always managed to mess everything up, yet he always had the luck to turn danger into safety. The nickname “koi” not only referred to his extreme luck but also his uncanny ability to mess things up.

After the two finished fooling around, the fourth senior brother slowly said, “They won’t make it in time. This attack on the mountain has been planned for a long time. It’s not just the demon tribe; there are also evil cultivators and immortal sects, all elite. If we escape this time, we won’t escape the next.”

The power of the sacred relic was something anyone could use, and those coveting it were not limited to the demon tribe. Throughout history, power and strength have always led people astray.

“Moreover, there’s a demon lord who knows us well and is familiar with Yunxiao Mountain.”

At the mention of the seventh senior brother, whose true identity had been exposed, several glances, either direct or subtle, were cast towards Jiang Qiuyue.

“Don’t look at me.”

Chu Laoliu, feeling guilty, tried to cover up, “Senior sister, we weren’t…”

“If you weren’t looking, why are you stammering?”

Chu Laoliu: “…”

The fourth senior brother laughed heartily, “Chu Laoliu, you may have never been down the mountain, but you have a brain. How come you’re still like this after so many years, with a courage smaller than a sesame seed?”

The second senior brother, calm and collected, interjected, “It’s not that he’s scared; he’s just afraid of Jiang Qiuyue.”

After all, from childhood to now, Chu Laoliu had made at least hundreds of mistakes, and every time he was punished, it was by Jiang Qiuyue. Big sister didn’t understand that children are weak, and she would beat him fiercely.

Chu Laoliu could survive because he was a koi.

The third senior sister leaned over to Jiang Qiuyue and glanced at her book.

“Still reading at a time like this? Is it that good?”

Jiang Qiuyue replied coldly, “No, it’s not.”

The third senior sister was silent for a moment.

“If it’s not good, why are you crying?”

Jiang Qiuyue calmly wiped away the tears at the corner of her eyes and said composedly, “This part is a bit sad; I can’t help it.”

The third senior sister: “…So, is it good or not?”

“It’s not good. Pu Yangxi said it was good, but I don’t agree. If I see him tomorrow, I’ll tell him my reasons.”

“Oh…”

The third senior sister smiled meaningfully.

“Qiuyue, you like him a lot.”

“Mm.”

“But you know you won’t see each other again. You know that. We will die on this mountain. Keeping the secret of the sacred relic until our last breath is the decades-long promise of the Yunxiao Sword Sect.”

“Maybe we can see each other before we die. Then I’ll tell him this book is not good.”

“Alright.”

The third senior sister didn’t want to argue with her.

Jiang Qiuyue was always like this.

Once she decided on something, she wouldn’t change her mind because of others’ words. She was determined, stubborn, and unyielding.

Because of this, she could support Yunxiao Mountain for decades.

The third senior sister suddenly became curious.

“Qiuyue, were you this calm when Master died?”

The night was quiet, with only the crackling of the bonfire.

“Master has been dead for many years. To stabilize the situation, you had to hide his death. You brought him food every seven days, rain or shine, and even we were kept in the dark… Every time the food boxes were empty, when you ate all the food alone in the silent cave… What were you thinking?”

Liu Zhenzi died in a demon sect assassination many years ago.

After the news of the sacred relic leaked, there were countless such attempts. That assassination left only Jiang Qiuyue and Liu Zhenzi present. After that, Master announced he was going into seclusion, ignoring all sect affairs.

Even the other disciples knew nothing until recently, when they learned Liu Zhenzi had long passed away. Without Liu Zhenzi’s guard, breaking Yunxiao Mountain’s gate was easy for the demon tribe.

Jiang Qiuyue, still holding the book, didn’t look away. If someone looked closely, they would see the sorrow in her eyes.

“It tasted bad.” She answered.

The third senior sister laughed.

The fourth senior brother grumbled discontentedly, “I was in charge of the sect’s meals. If it tasted bad, why didn’t you do something about it? You’re all as lazy as ghosts…”

Chu Laoliu: “Alright, alright, I’ll learn next time.”

Second senior brother: “There won’t be a next time.”

The atmosphere suddenly grew silent.

The fourth senior brother let out an ambiguous laugh, “Not necessarily. Maybe Pu Yangxi, out of deep affection for our eldest, will spread the news that the sacred relic doesn’t exist. The demon tribe down the mountain wouldn’t surround us anymore.”

If there was no sacred relic, attacking the Yunxiao Sword Sect would be meaningless.

Spreading the news would save Jiang Qiuyue’s life, but doing so would go against Jiang Qiuyue’s wishes.

What would Pu Yangxi choose?

Chu Laoliu thought for a while and mumbled, “I think the seventh senior brother is a good person…”

“At times like this, it would be best if he were not a good person,” the third senior sister interjected leisurely.

“He won’t say anything,” Jiang Qiuyue closed her book and carefully placed it in her small bag. Her voice was still a bit choked with emotion.

The third senior sister teased, “Do you trust him that much?”

“There’s no need. As a demon lord, the sacred relic is a hidden danger for him and must be held in his grasp; but if the sacred relic doesn’t exist, it’s actually advantageous for him. He also needs true and false information about the sacred relic to control the various leaders.”

It’s not about trust, but understanding.

They always knew what kind of people they were.

The admiration and love born out of vigilance are stronger than any cold iron.

Dawn was approaching.

The second senior brother silently polished his sword until it gleamed, knowing this trip would be one from which he would not return. He abandoned his years of meticulousness for the first time and did not lock the door.

The third senior sister asked, “Qiuyue, are you afraid?”

Jiang Qiuyue did not speak.

“I never understood you. The chance to live is in Pu Yangxi’s hands, but you refuse to take it. With just a reach, you could have a bright and splendid future. Isn’t that better than ending here now?”

“Such a future would negate my past. I don’t want that.” The light of dawn appeared on the horizon, and the protective mountain formation showed its form, teetering on the brink of collapse.

Decades ago, it was also such a faint morning when Liu Zhenzi asked them if they were willing to be saviors for once. The young disciples were confused, looking at each other, and one by one, they nodded.

Since then, Yunxiao Mountain has had no peaceful days.

At that time, a few uncles of the same generation as Liu Zhenzi were still alive. Handling those fly-like probes was bothersome but not burdensome for them. The young disciples were carefree, thinking that being a savior was no big deal and easy enough.

Later, when the predecessors withered, half the flowers in the mountain fell overnight, and no one had time to tend to them anymore.

The third senior sister’s eyes turned slightly red, and Jiang Qiuyue knew she was scared.

The third senior sister loved beauty and was delicate, actually a very timid girl.

She persistently asked, “Is the past really that important?”

“Important.”

“Would you rather die on this mountain to make your past meaningful? To be honest, Qiuyue, that’s really stupid. We’re like the Calabash Brothers rescuing their grandfather, one after another, sinking into a doomed situation…”

“That’s very stupid, but why do you stick to this stupid path?”

Jiang Qiuyue drew her sword, her face unchanged, “Even if you belittle this choice a million times, when the mountain gate is about to break, you will still draw your sword. So will I.”

The formation shattered into points of light, and they vaguely heard the shouts of the attackers coming from the mountain gate.

They were a group of ordinary people who couldn’t weigh the pros and cons.

They were just holding onto an unknown promise.

“Third Sister, don’t be afraid.”

Jiang Qiuyue said to her, “I’ll go ahead of you.”

The director had just called “cut,” and Jian Heng, standing in front of the monitor, couldn’t hold back his tears, covering his face and choking up.

Zhu Xinyi teased, “We’re the ones dying, not you. Why are you crying?”

Jian Heng said, “I’m just a small, weak, and helpless little boy. I can’t handle this…”

Yu Wen, impressed by his rich emotions, kindly comforted him, “It’s okay. We’ve all died, but you’re still alive.”

Jian Heng choked for a second, looked up at him, and then burst into tears.

“That makes it even sadder!!”

At that moment, the actor playing the fifth senior brother came out of the makeup room. He hadn’t appeared in the previous scene because the fifth senior brother had already “died” before this scene.

His makeup was still on, his face covered with fake blood, looking just like he did before his “death.”

Jian Heng took one look and collapsed again.

“I might as well have died with you all!”

The death scenes for several key characters had to be filmed separately. Yu Wen went to the makeup room to prepare the blood packs. When he came out, he saw Jian Heng squatting in the corner, listlessly scrolling through videos on his phone.

Yu Wen said, “Mr. Jian, aren’t you going to watch us?”

Jian Heng, with puffy eyes, looked back at him and said, “The director won’t let me. He says my eyes will be too swollen to cover later.”

He sighed woefully, “I wanted to watch some variety shows to cheer myself up, but the latest episode is too dramatic. It’s making me even more upset.”

“What variety show?” Yu Wen asked curiously, leaning over to take a look.

It was a reality show called “Mountain Courtyard.” The show was ordinary, without highlights or controversies, but had a comfortable pace, like a slow, steady stream.

The show’s premise was to gather five guests to build a mountain courtyard together. At the start, there was nothing—not even a decent house—only a leaky and dilapidated one. By completing a series of tasks to exchange for supplies, they gradually built up the courtyard

The process of building from nothing had a strong sense of daily life, appealing to some viewers.

Yu Wen spotted two familiar faces on the screen and, realizing his scene wasn’t ready yet, squatted down to watch for a while.

Among the five regular guests, the biggest star was Chu Han, but the most popular was Xi Su.

Yu Wen couldn’t understand how these two ended up together.

Jian Heng pointed at the screen to explain, “The previous episodes were good, but one guest left halfway, and Xi Su took his place. Since then, the show hasn’t been as good. It doesn’t feel the same as before…”

With flamboyant blue hair and a roguish smile, Xi Su seemed to be there just to stir things up.

Footnotes:

• 1
  (Laoliu means old sixth since he was the 6th disciple.)