"That's it? Already?" Tian Zhang took it with a puzzled look and began reading.
Shi Yunle also watched from beside him, his eyes wide.
The first thing they saw was the song title: "True Hero."
The entire song had not only lyrics but a fully composed melody as well.
"Drunk upon the battlefield, listening to hoarse cries
Smiling at the world's dazzling lights
All those days of commanding the storm amount to scar upon scar
One thought separates the victor from the vanquished"
After reading just the first four lines, Tian Zhang and Shi Yunle could not contain their excitement. The lyrics were so well written, so fitting!
They continued reading.
"Life and death in an instant, heroic spirit forever shining
The realm is so vast, yet where is home?
Through trial after trial, watching fireworks in a flourishing age
Winning all the world, yet losing her
A swift blade cuts the tangled knot, golden spears accompany armored steeds
Set the old realm in order and set out again
An undying warhorse, a heart that will not crumble
I am a true hero-how could I be false?"
Once they finished reading, before Tian Zhang could speak, Shi Yunle grabbed Su Li's arm and asked with pleading eyes, "Su Li, will you be my master? Teach me to write lyrics!"
His assistant hurriedly pulled him back. "Bro, calm down! He can't just take on disciples like that! Just focus on your acting!"
Everyone else laughed.
"Su Li, I've decided this song will be the theme song for Scheming for the Realm. Nothing could be better!"
Tian Zhang was truly thrilled. The assistant director had made a tremendous contribution. Not only had he found Su Li, the person best suited to play Xiao Mo, but he had also brought them a perfect theme song!
He continued asking Su Li, "As for the singer for this song... do you have anyone in mind? You wrote it, so you decide!"
Su Li thought for a moment. None of the people he knew were suitable to sing it, so he simply said, "You can choose, Director Tian."
"All right. I absolutely won't let down this song you've chosen. Even a king of singers would be worthy of singing it!" Tian Zhang patted his chest in assurance.
He could hardly wait. With this theme song alone, what competing dramas airing at the same time? They could all step aside!
Back at the hotel, Su Li opened Feibo on his phone.
He discovered that photos and posts about Yang Qi falling into the water during filming had already appeared on Feibo.
Some fans had thought it was a safety issue with the production, but Yang Qi posted a statement saying she had accidentally slipped and fallen into the water. Only then did things settle down.
Messages had also arrived in their four-person group chat:
Zhuo Zhuo Zhuo: Brother Su, I saw on Feibo that your leading actress fell into the water?
Pear Crisp: Yeah, she fell in by accident.
Zhuo Zhuo Zhuo: Then you need to be careful while filming, Brother Su!
Pear Crisp: Don't worry, I don't have any scenes by the water.
Your Sister Cheng: Looking forward to Pear's drama! I'll help promote it when the time comes!
An Hui: Little Pear, how does filming feel? Anything you're having trouble getting used to?
Pear Crisp: Thank you, Sister Cheng!
Pear Crisp: Brother An, I'm not having any trouble adjusting. Everyone on set takes good care of me!
An Hui: That's good!
Cheng Sirong and An Hui had started calling Su Li Pear because his WeChat nickname was Pear Crisp. It sounded cuter that way.
Su Li smiled and put down his phone. Remembering his fans saying he was not active on Feibo, he casually posted a selfie with the caption:
Su Li Not Eating Pears V: Finished work for today! [Image]
Besides his friends, many people from the production immediately liked the post too, and fans instantly crowded the comments:
[It's been eight hundred years, but the fans finally got Li Bao to post!]
[Li Bao!! You finally remembered to post a selfie!]
[Did Li Bao just get back from filming?]
[Even Director Tian liked it. Looks like our Li Bao is still everyone's favorite on set!]
[Where did this beautiful baby come from? Come give Mommy a kiss!]
[Male mom fans really are something else!]
Su Li put down his phone and told Zheng Xing, "We'll head back in a bit."
"Yes!"
That evening.
Su Li and Zheng Xing returned to the bridge on the set.
Su Li stood on the bridge, gazing at the lake.
During the day, he had seen that the lake was heavy with sinister energy. There were at least six resentful spirits inside.
At night, the lake was even more eerie.
The one that had dragged Yang Qi off the bridge during the day was the strongest among them.
As though sensing someone on the bridge, the lake began to ripple.
The splashes grew larger and larger, as though something were thrashing about.
Then several vicious ghosts with hideous, cruel faces slowly emerged from the lake!
The vicious ghosts let out ghostly wails and reached for Su Li and Zheng Xing, trying to drag them into the water!
Su Li did not even act. Zheng Xing stepped forward, sinister black energy radiating from his hands, and bound the water ghosts.
Unable to move, the water ghosts stared fixedly at Zheng Xing. Only then did they realize he was one of their own!
How could one of their own be so powerful?
Su Li waved his hand carelessly. The water ghosts instantly dispersed like smoke and dust before gathering again, forming black Soul Crystals.
Zheng Xing froze. Wasn't this what had increased his strength? So the boss had made it from ghosts?
The Soul Crystals flew into Su Li's hand. He took two and gave them to Zheng Xing. "Keep them and use them gradually."
Zheng Xing had not expected Su Li to give him two. He said happily, "Thank you, Boss!"
Su Li sighed. "This residence could serve as a haunted house as it is. The concentration of ghosts here is much higher than at the Manor."
"Boss, Headless Female Ghost is still watching the ones we captured. Would you like to take a look?"
"Let's go."
Zheng Xing led Su Li to the door and opened it.
When Su Li entered, he saw a room full of resentful spirits. Seeing him arrive, Headless Female Ghost bowed and addressed him as "My lord."
Su Li nodded and flicked a smaller Soul Crystal toward her. "This is yours."
She held the Soul Crystal, a little bewildered, not knowing what it was.
Zheng Xing hurriedly said, "Put it away already. It can increase your strength. The boss is rewarding you for doing a good job!"
Headless Female Ghost said gratefully, "Thank you, my lord!" So this was something that could increase her strength, and his lordship had simply given it to her?
She respectfully took her place behind Su Li.
The other ghosts were stunned to see Headless Female Ghost treating a human with such respect.
Su Li looked at a vicious ghost in front of him.
He asked casually, "Who were you in this General's Manor?"
Although the ghost could not make sense of the situation, seeing how respectfully Headless Female Ghost treated him, he was clearly not someone to cross. The ghost answered honestly, "The... the steward."
Su Li raised an eyebrow. The steward?
He asked again, "I heard you were killed by the general's wife after she died and became a ghost. Why did she become a ghost?"
The steward could only tell the truth. "When the mistress's child was three, the child was poisoned by the general's favorite concubine. The mistress knew who had done it, but she had no evidence."
"The general doted on that concubine. He wouldn't listen when the mistress tearfully pleaded with him, and even said she lacked the bearing of a principal wife. Even the mistress's personal maid was beaten to death on the general's orders, accused of slandering that concubine."
"At the time, none of us dared offend that concubine because the general truly adored her, so we didn't dare tell the mistress either..."
Headless Female Ghost looked furious, but since Su Li had not spoken, she did not dare make a sound.
Su Li gave a mocking snort. "And then?"
"Then... on the night of the seventh day of the seventh month, the mistress dressed in red and killed herself by swallowing cinnabar. She left a letter saying she would become a vicious ghost and kill everyone in the manor. She wanted revenge for her child."
The steward's eyes were full of fear. "At first, no one took the letter seriously. We just thought the mistress had written it before she died to frighten people."
"But then... just a few days later, the first person in the manor died!"
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