HEIFEIGU -Chapter 65

Although the ceremony was over, neither the on-site spectators nor the viewers could immediately come back to themselves.

It was as if they had been transported into a mysterious, ancient dream—so magnificent and sacred that they lingered, unwilling to awaken.

Only when the islanders kneeling at the front of the sinkhole rose and placed a bouquet of freshly picked flowers under the stone altar to the left did everyone begin to return from this dreamlike state.

Xuan Caiyan was still wiping her tears and blowing her nose. “It’s amazing! I can’t even process it!”

Luo Feiang’s eyes were slightly red, but he held back for fear of embarrassment. “Really, I couldn’t think of anything just now. All my attention was drawn away.”

【Ahhh, I felt the same way!】

The livestream began buzzing with enthusiastic comments.

【I used to get anxious, couldn’t even watch a full livestream. My attention couldn’t stay focused—I’d check my phone after a few minutes, and a whole day would pass without remembering what I’d done. But when the drum sounded, it felt like I was completely emptied, only able to focus on the drumming and the ceremony. I haven’t been this focused in ages.】

【Same here. I used to watch shows and movies on double speed, sometimes couldn’t even tolerate that—I’d just want to finish a movie in three minutes. But just now, it felt like a moment passed, and suddenly I realized the ceremony had gone on for half an hour.】

【I didn’t expect it to be so moving. There was nothing particularly sentimental, yet I couldn’t stop crying.】

【Yes, both the drumming and the dance have such vitality—they instantly revived me.】

【Can I ask—was the drummer a local? So imposing! Even as a supporting role, I couldn’t take my eyes off him.】

【So you hadn’t seen the show before, huh? Hahaha.】

【Yep, I came to criticize superstition, but now I realize I was too shallow. Some things you have to experience firsthand to judge.】

【Agreed. It seems like using this ceremony as a promotional point for the scenic spot isn’t bad. I’d be willing to fly there just for this—if it’s breathtaking through a screen, the live experience must be even more amazing!】

【Didn’t you notice the stone they stepped on at the end? It seemed alive for a moment, opened its eyes, and emitted sparks!】

【Wow, now that you mention it, it really did. In that atmosphere, it felt completely natural. Looking back, it’s so magical. I’ll have to watch the replay frame by frame.】

【Looking for CGI traces, huh?】

【If it really turns out to be CGI, please have this team save Chinese dramas, thank you!】

The two people who created this scene were still walking in the cave. Their eye covers could not be removed all day, yet it had no effect on Xie Jixing or Wu Muhan.

“That move just now—the one with the sparks—was it exhausting?” The high priestess asked in a typical mystical tone.

“Not exhausting, just costly!” Xie Jixing scrunched his nose slightly in pain. “You know, large-scale effects like this always burn through money!”

“Ugh,” Wu Muhan sighed. “You’re so annoying. Why are you so competitive?”

“What if they ask me for this every time in the future? Where am I supposed to get effects for them?!”

Truly a cheat of the mystic arts—worthy of being nailed to the pillar of shame for charlatans!

The vote above the sinkhole was nearing the end. Most islanders placed their bouquets and orchids on the left altar.

“Which side is development and which is not?” Xuan Caiyan grabbed Luo Feiang’s arm, twisting it anxiously. “I’m so nervous!”

【Don’t say it, I’m nervous too. At first I thought, if it’s rushed like this, maybe the island shouldn’t be developed. Now I’m scared—if they don’t develop it, how am I supposed to experience the ceremony live?!】

【Qián’s suggestion before was good—start small and boutique. My best friend and I are signing up first.】

【Me, me, me! I want to go too!】

【So, nobody’s telling me—who was that drummer?】

【LOL, persistent friend, he’s not a local. He’s a celebrity, Xie Jixing. Check the previous livestreams—you’ll see, he’s amazing!】

【Great! Watching the livestream and then off to mine!】

【Take me too. This guy’s so cool—if he starred as a fantasy hero, maybe Chinese fantasy dramas could actually be saved.】

【Show link X1. Longtime fans, here to recommend—we as female ghosts are also awesome (side-eye smile).】

【I heard today’s all strangers. Video compilation X1. Xing Island CP recruiting. Super topic top five. Many big contributors, plenty of content, investing is worth it.】

【Then I’ll join too! Group number X1, Nebula CP, all premium fluff, everyone’s a little “Levenhook,” and the main draw is something even sweeter we dug up ourselves.】

【Queue up, never skip, North Pole style, fun to ship, come if you want.】

【LOL, the post above has no tagline. Not advertising at all—this is really shabby!】

【Look! Xingxing and the Great Shaman are out!】

The audience’s attention was immediately pulled back to the show. Wu Muhan glanced at the sacrificial offerings beside the sinkhole and spoke a few words in the language of the Summer Female Tribe.

“I don’t understand a word,” Fei Zhehan whispered to Meng Zezhou beside him. “Did it work or not?”

“Sigh, this is why learning a foreign language pays off,” Meng Meng sighed.

After a melodious, song-like speech ended, Wu Muhan picked the most fully bloomed bouquet from all the flowers and handed it to Xie Jixing: “My tribe and I unanimously believe that he is the most suitable choice to be the promotional ambassador for this scenic area.”

Then she looked toward the cluster of celebrities in the middle of the group: “Any objections?”

“Promotional ambassador?” Xuan Caiyan turned sharply to look at Luo Feiang. “If there’s a promotional ambassador, that means they’ve agreed to development—amazing!”

Excited, she immediately leapt forward and hugged Luo Feiang.

The top star froze in rare surprise, his ears slightly reddening. Just as he was about to lift his arms to pat Xuan Caiyan on the back, the person hugging him let go.

She spun around and ran to hug Xie Jixing, who was holding the flowers, tightly: “This is amazing! Xingxing, wuwuwu, we did it!”

Luo Feiang: ????

Am I not charming anymore?

Luckily, Teacher Fei rescued him, hugging him and patting his back: “We did it, we did it!”

While everyone was hugging and celebrating, little Meng had to join in too. Torn between hugging Luo Feiang or Teacher Fei, he decided…

Sigh, whatever, his brother looks pitiful. Better hug him!

Meng Zezhou hugged Qian Shuyun, but the familiar cold, dark feeling was gone. Surprised, he stepped back: “Brother?”

Qian Shuyun knew exactly what he wanted to ask. He gently pushed Meng Zezhou: Little brother, be smart first, we’ll talk about that later.

Meng Zezhou caught the hint and helped pull Xie Jixing out of Xuan Caiyan’s embrace: “Xingxing, well deserved!”

“Well deserved, well deserved.” Everyone crowded around and celebrated, surrounding Xie Jixing.

From this show, it was clear that he was indeed the most suitable person to help promote Nanxia Bay Island.

That night, under a sky full of stars, a bonfire was lit on the meadow clearing. This would probably be the last time they all sat around a fire together.

“After we go down the mountain tomorrow, the first episode of Hi, Let’s Go Wild! will be over,” the director and crew joined them by the fire. “It feels like just a few short days, yet we’ve experienced so much. Thank you all for your efforts during the filming.”

The director raised his cup: “I’ll drink first!”

Everyone raised their cups, the atmosphere both lively and bittersweet.

“Together we are a blazing fire, apart we are stars in the sky,” Fei Zhehan also raised his cup. “Once the show ends, we’ll return to our own lives. Chances to gather like this may be rare, so I hope everyone stays in touch.”

As the “dad-like” eldest brother, he couldn’t quite hold back his emotions and wiped a tear while taking a sip.

“Enough with the sappy stuff!” Crybaby Xuan Caiyan, still sniffling from earlier, spoke nasally, “Tonight, no one leaves sober!”

“Come on! Everyone raise your cups!”

Luo Feiang tugged at her sleeve and whispered: “If we drink less, we’ll still have energy to go down the mountain tomorrow…”

Xuan Caiyan looked at him with red, teary eyes, pouting.

The top star surrendered: “Okay, okay, no one leaves sober.”

Everyone toasted, chatted, and tried to say the words they hadn’t yet had the chance to express. The mountain breeze carried the intoxicating scent of alcohol. The camera flew to a distance, capturing a slanted wide shot.

Xuan Caiyan got drunk first, clinging to Xie Jixing while mumbling incoherently, refusing to get down.

Xie Jixing, still wearing the outfit from the purification ritual, felt the cold mountain wind hit his bare back, raising goosebumps. He curled up slightly while comforting Xuan Caiyan.

“Mm, okay, I’m not mad at you anymore.”

“Yeah, it’s all because of that bastard Xia Letian.”

“Luo Feiang? I don’t like Luo Feiang, it’s all because of my old company.”

“You want to pursue him? Then go ahead.”

“You’re not going after him anymore?” Xie Jixing looked at Xuan Caiyan, torn between laughter and exasperation, as she kept tugging at his hand and rambling.

Sticking out her tongue, she traced the embroidered snakes on Xie Jixing’s ceremonial garment and whispered mysteriously, “Right, I don’t want to chase him anymore. Xingxing, are you straight or… not?”

“I want to chase you. Is there a chance?”

Qian Shuyun went to grab a jacket for Xie Jixing and just happened to hear that. Feeling warmth on his back, Xie Jixing glanced sideways.

Qian Shuyun warned: “It’s chilly tonight. Don’t catch a cold.”

Then he returned to his spot.

Xie Jixing turned back to look at Xuan Caiyan’s drunken, unfocused eyes and said coldly: “I don’t think you have a chance.”

“Don’t chase me. I’m not straight.”

Qian Shuyun lowered his head and smiled, then looked up at the night sky. The brightest star twinkled, like the pair of bright eyes behind the ceremonial mask winking at him.