Chapter 27 : The Exchange By The Waterfall

Shen Jingwei could barely sleep that night. Before the first rays of the morning sun crept into the tent he shared with Zhu Dongyi, he decided to take a little walk around the scenic area before the shooting began.

Long before the actors and actresses woke up, the production crew was already busy running around the landscape, working as hard as always.

They meticulously set up the necessary props for the scenes while at the same time checking the equipment for any damage.

Huddled together beneath an open tent were the production team members, who were busy editing the clips from the previous day.

It must be quite an arduous task because their faces were as black as the coffee in their hands and their mouths kept exhaling clouds of white smoke.

Wherever Shen Jingwei walked, he ended up bumping into one or two crew members, who moved about with practiced efficiency.

Eventually, one of them decided to patiently and kindly throw him out of the set.

Shen Jingwei was directed toward the waterfall.

"The air is especially fresh in the morning, Mr. Shen!"

"Please do not swim, we do not have time to blow dry your hair this morning!"

Obediently, Shen Jingwei moved toward the waterfall.

The sound of rushing water in the distance was accompanied by a gust of air, bearing cold water droplets that blew against Shen Jingwei's face.

The closer he got, the more intense the drizzle became, that he had to shield his face with one hand while paying attention to the rough rocky terrain in front of him.

When he finally removed his hand from his face, the first thing he saw was the marvelous rainbow carving a colorful arch through the air.

And beneath the rainbow was Yan Renzhong, who was practicing his swordsmanship using a branch of cherry tree.

His movements were elegant, his attacks sharp and deadly.

Each jump, each turn was executed with meticulous precision, flowing smoothly into each other like a dance.

Stupefied, Shen Jingwei just stood there, frozen on the spot as he admired his ex-boyfriend, his mortal enemy, and at the same time his current co-star.

Eventually, Yan Renzhong noticed his only spectator and stopped.

"You are here," he remarked.

Shen Jingwei snapped back from his reverie.

"Right," he confirmed. "I am here."

"What a coincidence."

Yan Renzhong moved toward a nearby cherry tree and broke another branch, approximately the same weight and form as the one he was using.

He then tossed the second cherry branch at Shen Jingwei, who failed to catch it.

"We are eventually going to shoot the scene where we have to fight against each other. Show me what you can do."

"..."

Shen Jingwei came here to breathe fresh air and not practice swordsmanship!

But he was not going to say that in front of Yan Renzhong. Especially not if the man issued him a challenge.

"Very well."

Shen Jingwei picked up the cherry branch from the ground and held it in front of him with both hands.

Yan Renzhong raised his cherry branch at Shen Jingwei.

"If you are not going to attack, I will."

Shen Jingwei gritted his teeth.

With a roar, he kicked off the rocky ground and charged at Yan Renzhong.

The first clash, although dampened by the flexibility of the cherry branches, was enough to outline the level differences between them.

The following exchange of blows between them was rather difficult to watch. Shen Jingwei, despite his spirit and determination, failed to land even one blow on Yan Renzhong, however minor.

Yan Renzhong, on the other hand, tapped at Shen Jingwei's vital points with precision many, many times.

Had he been using a pointy sword instead of a cherry branch, Shen Jingwei would have bled to death for sure.

In the end, Shen Jingwei became a little desperate and angry. The immature technique he learned during the two weeks unraveled into pure physical attacks.

Yan Renzhong easily evaded his attack, and Shen Jingwei slipped on the wet surface under his feet.

The man's eyes grew wide when he lost his balance, about to plunge into the water basin close to the waterfall.

"AHHHHHHHHH!!!"

In time, with just one hand, Yan Renzhong grabbed Shen Jingwei and pulled him into safety.

Pressed against Yan Renzhong's body, Shen Jingwei's body and mind raced violently.

Merely the shock from near fall into water numbed him long enough to endure the embrace.

"Let me go," he growled into Yan Renzhong's ear.

"..."

They were standing at the edge of water, so of course they couldn't act carelessly.

Yan Renzhong wordlessly released Shen Jingwei, who took a few steps backward and glared at him.

Yan Renzhong's chest expanded as he drew in a full breath, his eyes briefly closed in concentration. The rhythmic rise and fall of his Adam's apple betrayed the tension beneath his calm exterior. A moment of quiet contemplation passed before he exhaled slowly, his features softening as if releasing a silent sigh.

"You are not focused, and your fighting techniques are no different from a child's. I suggest you work harder on your skills."

"I am doing my best," Shen Jingwei growled. It was unfair. He knew he was doing his best. He blistered his palms after the first sword fighting lesson!

A cynical smile formed on Yan Renzhong's lips.

"Really? I thought you were busy romancing Feng Jietang."

Shen Jingwei's eyes grew wide. Not out of shock, but utter bewilderment.

"It was just...!"

"Just what?" Yan Renzhong challenged him.

"If you have extra time, work on your swordsmanship. Be a professional, focus on your role as Xie Jianyu. How many times do I have to remind you?"