The Play Becomes Reality

Amidst the barrage of comments from the livestream viewers, I began my exorcism performance.

Stepping up to Extra Number Two, I reached out to press my hand against his forehead and began to chant the exorcism incantation:

"Dan Zhu, Mouth Spirit, spit out filth and banish the miasma; Tongue Spirit, rectify the truth; Life Spirit, nourish the soul; Luo Qian, Tooth Spirit, repel evil and guard the truth; Throat Spirit, tiger-like guard; Qi Spirit, guide the essence; Heart Spirit, cinnabar origin, command me to reach the truth; Thought Spirit, refine the fluid, may the Dao Qi ever persist. Obey this command as if it were law!"

As I chanted, Extra Number Two cooperated perfectly, contorting his face in agony. He opened his eyes to reveal bright red contact lenses, and as he parted his mouth, a plume of black mist spewed out.

At this moment, Extra Number One, who was no longer in the frame, pressed a switch from afar. Instantly, the room's lights began to flicker, dimming and brightening in rhythm, and the eerie atmosphere took hold.

I glanced at the livestream chat; just as I had anticipated, the viewers were already engaged in a heated discussion.

To make this broadcast more compelling, I had arranged special effects throughout the room in advance. This was merely the beginning; the best was yet to come.

Next, Extra Number Two began to struggle violently, causing the chains binding his wrists to rattle loudly, and he let out a hoarse, guttural roar.

I had to admit, the acting skills of Extra Number Two were beyond reproach; the five hundred yuan was well spent.

I then drew my peach-wood sword, began to chant, and danced with the blade, pointing it toward Extra Number Two from time to time.

Extra Number Two cooperated by letting out a miserable shriek at every key point of the incantation, his twisted face etched with pain, while black smoke puffed out from beneath the bedding.

Everything was proceeding methodically according to the script.

However, the livestream couldn't end so quickly. For the sake of the broadcast's impact, I suddenly stopped my sword dance, turned to the camera with a solemn expression, and spoke:

"The evil spirit we have encountered this time is incredibly powerful. Ordinary methods are ineffective, so I must now use my trump card!"

As I spoke, I walked over to my tool bag, pulled out a talisman, and used cinnabar to draw the character "Absolve" upon it. As I rubbed my hands together, the talisman spontaneously ignited.

This was, of course, no real magic; while drawing with the cinnabar, I had applied white phosphorus solution to the paper.

I tossed the talisman into the air, swung my wooden sword to pierce it, and pointed it directly at Extra Number Two:

"Demon, reveal your true form!"

The lines were a bit cheesy, but isn't that how they do it in the movies? I thought to myself.

As my voice faded, Extra Number Two, who had prepared while the camera was switched, spat out a mouthful of black blood, a look of agony crossing his grimacing face.

The lights flickered again, and the projector activated. A clawing, indistinct black shadow appeared on the wall behind Extra Number Two, only to vanish as suddenly as it had arrived.

I glanced at the comments again; the screen was flooded with messages. The audience had been completely drawn into the scene.

I struck while the iron was hot, pointing my sword at Extra Number Two and shouting:

"Mother of Lightning, Lord of Thunder, descend with your divine power! Join me in banishing this evil! Boom, boom, boom, boom, boom! I, a disciple of the Supreme Venerable Sovereign, command this as if it were law!"

As I finished the Taoist Five Thunder Method, a flash lit up outside the window, followed by a deafening crack of thunder that tore through the night.

Rain began to patter against the glass, and thunder rumbled outside.

The special effects team, having prepared outside, had begun their work.

I turned back to the screen, and the chat was already exploding.

"Holy crap, how did it suddenly start thundering and raining? The Celestial Master really has true skills, that's awesome! Sending a rocket!"

"You dog of a Taoist, you're getting more realistic lately. These effects must have cost you a fortune (smirk.jpg)."

"Haha, I'm just here for the show. Even if it's fake, it's pretty fun."

"I believe in the Celestial Master. What do these people in the comments who haven't seen the world know? They doubt everything; they're all just trolls!"

"Verdict: The person above clearly wasted their nine years of compulsory education."

"Real or fake, the Celestial Master really did recite the Taoist Five Thunder Method. He put in the effort, but the effect is a bit exaggerated. Full marks for the effects, very immersive. Just treat it like watching a movie (laughing.jpg)."

Although most of the comments questioned the authenticity of the broadcast, I had achieved the effect I wanted.

The screen was filled with likes and gifts, the livestream's popularity was climbing, and the follower count was skyrocketing.

Feeling a surge of excitement, I took a deep breath and began the next phase of the exorcism.

I reached into my bag, pulled out a bottle of black dog blood, unscrewed the cap, and dipped my fingers in. I walked to the bed, chanting as I flicked the liquid toward Extra Number Two's face.

With the help of the expensive 3D projector effects, the black dog blood seemed to bloom in the air like flowers before dripping onto his face.

Immediately, rolling black mist surged from the bedside. Extra Number Two cooperated by trembling and foaming at the mouth, and with the flickering lights and the thunder outside, the atmosphere became incredibly eerie and sinister.

After sprinkling the black dog blood from the bottle in ten separate motions, I raised my peach-wood sword again, stepped out the Seven Stars pattern, and thrust the blade toward the center of Extra Number Two's brow.

The speakers blared at that moment, emitting a sharp, piercing wail. The hideous black monster shadow behind Extra Number Two reappeared, then suddenly tore apart, and Extra Number Two cooperated by "fainting" on the spot.

The exorcism ritual concluded, the wind and rain stopped abruptly, and the thunder outside ceased.

I turned to face Extra Number One, who was standing by the door:

"The evil spirit is dead; your son is safe!"

The assistant in charge of filming took the hint and aimed the camera at Extra Number One, giving Extra Number Two time to quickly remove his makeup and take out his contact lenses.

"Thank you, Celestial Master! Thank you, Celestial Master!"

After a bit more polite back-and-forth, I walked to the bed. Extra Number Two, now free of makeup, looked ruddy and healthy, his contact lenses removed.

It was as if he had truly emerged from his state of demonic possession.

I patted Extra Number Two on the shoulder, and he looked at me with a bewildered expression.

"I... what happened to me?"

"It's nothing, you were previously under a..."

Before I could finish my sentence, the veins on Extra Number Two's face suddenly bulged, and his black-and-white eyes turned crimson in the blink of an eye. As he grinned, his canine teeth grew at a speed visible to the naked eye.

Accompanied by a roar, Extra Number Two's appearance changed drastically, his scarlet eyes filled with a look of madness.

Seeing this twist, the viewers in the livestream, who had thought the exorcism was over, immediately gasped in surprise, the screen flooding with comments.

"Holy crap, the dog-master has new tricks today! He actually pulled a plot twist!"

"This is way more interesting than the last few streams. I've been watching for so long, and this is the first time a 'failed' plot has appeared. Interesting!"

"Even though I know it's fake, I'm giving today's script a high score, especially the extra they hired—his acting is explosive, right?"

"Master Jiang, I sent you three rockets! Go for it, keep going and destroy it!"

"A mere evil spirit dares to act rampant in front of Master Jiang? Then let the Master destroy you once more! Let's go!"

At this moment, the livestream was filled with comments and gifts.

But I couldn't feel happy at all.

Because in the script... this part didn't exist.

Extra Number Two's transformation wasn't temporary makeup; it had mutated right before my eyes.

I realized that the situation had spiraled out of my control.

Under my terrified gaze, the extra broke free from the iron chains and slammed a claw into my chest.

The scent of blood permeated my mouth.

Looking down, I saw the bloody hole in my chest.

My vision grew increasingly blurry; it felt like I was going to die...