As long as no one disturbed him, Xia Zhiyi generally stayed completely focused on whatever he was doing.
When he finished practicing and stood with his sword put away, only fine beads of sweat had formed on his forehead, while his breathing remained perfectly steady.
Only then did he turn toward the people still holding cameras nearby. He paused, walked over, and asked, "The production crew?"
Xiao Yang looked a little dazed. A few minutes earlier, a coworker had recommended two videos to him, and watching them had left him with rather mixed feelings.
He was a little excited, because he might have met a genuine master.
But he was also a little doubtful. Did things like martial arts really exist in this world?
Not ordinary punching and kicking, but the kind that actually let you fly.
So when Xia Zhiyi came over, Xiao Yang's mouth moved faster than his brain, and he blurted out, "Can you really fly?"
Xia Zhiyi paused.
To be honest, he had been asked some version of that question practically every day lately.
Although someone had deliberately kept the online buzz under control and stopped it from spreading further, the accident on the pedestrian street was still quite a hot topic among locals. And since Xia Zhiyi hardly had a forgettable face and was fairly recognizable, quite a few people he knew had gradually taken notice.
At first, Xia Zhiyi had answered them in all seriousness, but later...
Xia Zhiyi said, "You could say that."
If you think that counts as flying, then sure.
Although he really had only used a few movement techniques back then, it wasn't as though he couldn't actually "fly."
By then, Xiao Yang had come to his senses. Realizing his professional lapse, he hurriedly gave an embarrassed smile. "Hello, we're the production crew for Incredible Life. I'm the field director, and this is the camera operator who'll be following you for the next two weeks, Mr. Xia..."
Xiao Yang briefly introduced everyone.
Xia Zhiyi said, "Hello, everyone. I'm Xia Zhiyi."
Xiao Yang said, "Ahem, hello, Xia Zhiyi. So, the thing is, we've actually already started filming, and, um..."
As he spoke, Xiao Yang swallowed, his gaze drifting involuntarily downward to Xia Zhiyi's feet.
Xia Zhiyi said, "...?"
Xiao Yang closed his eyes briefly, asked him to wait a moment, then stepped aside and switched off his microphone to ask the chief director, "Director, this is a breathtaking surprise. Do you think we should ask this non-celebrity guest to demonstrate that on the livestream?"
The chief director asked, "What?"
Xiao Yang swallowed. "You know, that! That!"
The chief director said, "...Oh, that. Go ahead and ask him."
It was hardly surprising that the chief director hadn't understood what Xiao Yang meant. Xiao Yang was responsible for a non-celebrity guest, and under normal circumstances, when filming a variety show like this, non-celebrities certainly weren't as much of a draw as stars.
Although the chief director oversaw the whole production behind the scenes, most of his attention was on the other livestreams, with particular attention paid to stream number three. He wasn't paying much attention to Xia Zhiyi's side.
He had happened to miss that information.
The assistant director had noticed, though, and quietly explained what had happened after the chief director finished speaking with Xiao Yang.
The chief director said, "Hmm? So he's a hidden master? Doesn't look like one. He's such a young fellow. I remember both non-celebrities are eighteen or nineteen and about to start college, right?"
The assistant director said, "That's right, but Xia Zhiyi's background check did say he went into the mountains to study martial arts under someone as a child."
The chief director rubbed his chin and nodded. "That is rather interesting. Still, there aren't many viewers at this hour. We're mainly shooting footage to make editing easier later. Keep an eye on it and remind me when the time comes."
The assistant director said, "All right."
Upon hearing Xiao Yang's request, Xia Zhiyi said somewhat helplessly, "If I'm recreating what happened back then, who am I supposed to carry?"
Xiao Yang hurriedly shook his head. "No need, no need. I- ahem, the viewers are just a little curious about how exactly you fly. You don't need to recreate the whole situation."
[LOL, now I'm starting to wonder if this Xia Zhiyi is some company's newly signed rookie.]
[I happened to come across that video before too. It really was amazing.]
[Huh, so they weren't filming a TV drama?]
[So this really isn't scripted?]
[Well, damn, they changed the stream's title. This guy's a non-celebrity guest.]
[Who are they trying to fool? If he can fly, I'll drink bitter melon juice on stream, okay? And don't give me that one-meter-off-the-ground stuff. Anyone can jump!]
Xia Zhiyi said, "All right."
He looked around and ultimately spared the trees in the residential complex's landscaped areas. Pointing to a stone bollard nearby, then to some steps five or six meters away from it, he asked, "From here to there. Will that do?"
Xiao Yang gauged the distance, looking a little hesitant. "Isn't that a bit too far?"
Xia Zhiyi said, "It's fine."
That little distance was nothing at all.
Before Xiao Yang could even react, he strode lightly and swiftly over to the stone bollard. Then, under everyone's astonished gazes, he stepped onto it and sprang lightly into the air, landing on the steps on the other side in an instant.
The whole thing took barely a few seconds. If the camera operator hadn't reacted quickly and pulled back to a wide shot, Xia Zhiyi might have had to demonstrate it again.
Xiao Yang turned to look at Xia Zhiyi, who was walking back toward him, his gaze blank. "Huh?"
Xia Zhiyi blinked. "What's wrong?"
Xiao Yang said, "...That's it?"
Xia Zhiyi said, "...What else?"
Was he supposed to do it in slow motion?
At that very moment, the livestream chat abruptly fell silent too.
Then...
[%...&%*...#￥%...AH! IT'S REAL! HE FLEW! HE ACTUALLY FLEW!]
[This is live, right? It really isn't a prerecorded video!?]
[Master! Master, I'm your dear disciple who's been lost out in the world for eighteen years! Master!]
[Holy shit, so Qinggong from wuxia dramas actually exists! Did that even take a second? Getting around must be so convenient with skills like that!]
[I suddenly understand what wuxia novels mean by traveling a thousand li a day on foot!]
[Me: Coach, I want to learn this! Coach: Sorry, so do I!]
[AAAAAAAAH! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! I DON'T BELIEVE IT! NOT UNLESS YOU SHOW US AGAIN!]
[Are there really no stunt wires set up there beforehand?]
[Did anyone record that?! I only blinked and completely missed what happened! Could some kind soul send me a recording so I can watch it again?!]
Meanwhile, after a brief silence at the scene, several elderly men who had merely been watching from a short distance away couldn't resist crowding around.
"Young man, what martial art was that just now?"
"Young man, so you know real martial arts! How come we've never seen you demonstrate them before? Do you take disciples? Does your master take disciples?"
"Young man, could you do that again? These old eyes didn't get a clear look just now."
"Young man..."
Xiao Yang and the others, who had been squeezed out of the crowd, said, "..."