Just because I wrote "Zhu Xian," the school beauty sent me razor blades.

Late at night, the entire internet was breached.

The final episode of "Chinese Paladin 3" went live, leaving the entire internet in awe.

In the first half, Mao Mao cuts his own flesh to exchange for food. His line, "Boss, I'm using my flesh to exchange for food for everyone to eat," accompanied by the blood-stained straw on his clothes, pierced the hearts and spleens of countless viewers sitting in front of the screen.

Before everyone could recover from the despair of Mao Mao's tragic death, Long Kui leaped into the sword-forging furnace for the second time. The flames engulfed her blue dress, and the entire network's defenses completely collapsed.

The official Weibo account of Chinese Paladin 3 and Lin Yuan's personal account were flooded with hundreds of thousands of comments in an instant, creating a scene that could be described as an online riot.

"You old scoundrel! You have no heart! Mao Mao was such a kind and lovable child, and you actually made him cut off his own flesh to exchange for food? And even made him fill his stomach with straw! Are you even human?!"

"Longkui waited for her brother for a full thousand years! A thousand years! And after only a short time of reunion, you made her jump into the sword-forging furnace again?! Lin Yuan, how can you sleep tonight? Open the door, I've brought you some warmth!"

"I used to watch dramas for fun, but watching Lin Yuan's dramas is like dying! First Lin Yeping died tragically at the execution ground, then Mao Mao cut off his own flesh and Long Kui sacrificed herself for the sword. Tonight, I was crying my eyes out in bed!"

"Where's my sister-in-law? Gu Zhiwan, come out and see! Your man has gone mad! Not only is he going to kill people in the drama, he's going to stab all the viewers in the country in real life!"

"Please, please give me a happy ending! After Jingtian defeats the Evil Sword Immortal, can you please revive everyone? I'd trade my roommate's lifelong singleness for Mao Mao to live and go home to eat a big steamed bun!"

Various memes, crying posts, and even sending "local specialties" to Lin Yuan on Weibo quickly rose to the top three of the trending list within just half an hour, with the trending search list being completely taken over by "Chinese Paladin 3".

In the living room, the cast and crew credits scrolled slowly on the TV screen, while the tear-jerking music from the second half echoed softly in the room.

Lin Yuan came out of the kitchen carrying a plate of freshly sliced ​​cantaloupe and casually handed over a tissue.

"Wipe it off, or your eyelids will be swollen like walnuts tomorrow. If the paparazzi take pictures of that, they'll report me for domestic violence late at night."

Gu Zhiwan suddenly looked up, slapped away his tissue, sniffed, and accused him with a slightly nasal tone, "Lin Yuan, this isn't just a matter of whether you have a heart or not, it's a complete lack of humanity! Mao Mao is such a good person, how could you write a scene like cutting flesh to exchange for food? Didn't your conscience hurt when you wrote that scene?"

I don't know if my conscience hurts, but the plot must be logical.

Lin Yuan sat down on the sofa, picked up a piece of cantaloupe, took a bite, and spoke with the calmness of a seasoned psychologist, "The Evil Sword Immortal feeds on the greed, anger, and ignorance of the human world. The city is starving, and Jing Tian has lost everything in a bet. If Mao Mao doesn't step forward, the entire city will starve. Mao Mao may seem weak, but his loyalty to Jing Tian and his kindness towards the world are pure and flawless. This extreme kindness, erupting in dire straits, is what truly touches people's hearts."

"Stop giving me your scriptwriting lectures!" Gu Zhiwan snatched the cantaloupe from his hand and took a huge bite, as if she were biting Lin Yuan's ear. "What about Long Kui? A thousand years! She sacrificed herself to the sword twice! Would it kill you to leave Jing Tian a sister?"

Lin Yuan blinked, his expression calm: "Long Kui's destiny was originally the Demon Sword. A thousand years ago, she couldn't die alongside Long Yang, and that was her obsession for a thousand years. At the moment of the sword-forging platform, her jumping off wasn't a tragic forced sacrifice, but rather she finally got to do something for her 'royal brother.' It was getting what she wanted."

Gu Zhiwan was so angry at his twisted logic of "getting what you want" that she burst out laughing. Tears welled up in her eyes as she laughed, and she pushed him away in annoyance: "You're really terrifying. You use the most rational logic to write the most brutal stories, and the worst part is that everyone is being tortured to the point of death by you, yet they can't help but keep reading while cursing you. This is a classic case of psychological manipulation!"

"This isn't PUA, it's called emotional resonance." Lin Yuan gently pulled her into his arms, resting his chin lightly on the top of her head, his voice softening slightly. "Alright, this is only the first half of the finale. You're crying like this already, are you going to look down on watching the second half?"

Gu Zhiwan muttered sullenly against his chest, "Look! Why won't you look? I want to see what other tricks you can pull. If Jing Tian dies in the finale too, I'll sleep in the guest room tonight, and you can live your own script!"

Compared to the "domestic violence crisis" at Lin Yuan's home, the WeChat group of the creators of "Chinese Paladin 3" was already in complete chaos.

Less than five minutes after the episode ended, the notification sound started going off like a machine gun, ringing incessantly.

The first to strike was Hu Ge, the "atmosphere maker," who directly posted a meme in the group chat of Jing Tian yelling at the sky in despair, "Is anyone there?" and then tagged Lin Yuan like crazy.

Hu Ge: [@Director Lin Yuan, come out and greet me! I saw a video of a girl crying her eyes out while eating barbecue on the roadside tonight, watching the finale of Chinese Paladin 3. She even smashed the vendor's beer bottle and said she wanted to form a group to ambush you at the Tianxing Building!]

Liu Shishi also posted a "crying" emoji: [Director Lin, when I watched the final cut today, I couldn't help but cry again. The line from the scene where she jumps into the sword furnace still makes my heart clench when I think about it...]

Yang Mi followed closely behind: 【Shishi, don't cry! The whole internet is feeling sorry for you tonight! The worst off is Jingtian, okay? He's lost his brothers, his sister, and the whole world is on his shoulders. If it were me, I would have given up long ago!】

Xu Ping (playing Luo Rulie): [Um... everyone, calm down. Tens of thousands of people on Weibo are going to my comment section to curse me, calling me a "greasy pig who drove Mao Mao to his death." I'm really innocent! I was just acting according to the script! @Director Lin Yuan, does this count as a work injury? Can I apply for overtime pay?]

Hu Ge then posted a photo he secretly took of Lin Yuan drinking coffee on set, adding a sarcastic comment: "Look at this, this is the mastermind's true face. While filming this scene, he was behind the monitor, drinking an iced Americano and laughing happily. @WallaceHuo, does Mount Shu have any purifying spells that could also send this director to the afterlife?"

Wallace Huo finally chimed in after a long pause, his reply perfectly in line with his "old cadre" style: "Tragedy is about showing the destruction of something valuable. Director Lin's emotional progression was very restrained; the sacrifices of Mao Mao and Long Kui completely closed the loop between Jing Tian's divinity and humanity. Everyone acted very well."

Hu Ge immediately jumped up: [Brother Hua! Stop with this academic discussion! Tonight the audience's about to break down and storm Mount Shu! You better come out and take sides!]

Lin Yuan sat on the sofa, watching the guys jumping around in the group chat, a playful smile playing on his lips. He casually typed in the chat:

Lin Yuan: [It seems everyone is discussing the plot a lot, which is a good thing. Tomorrow night, we'll be hosting a celebratory banquet at a hotel in the capital. Remember to be on time. By the way... I've prepared a surprise gift for everyone.]

Hu Ge: [A mysterious gift? Could it be an extra-thick bulletproof vest?]

Lam Chi-chung (playing Mau Mau): [Boss, as long as it's not straw, I can accept anything!]

A burst of joyful laughter erupted in the group chat, instantly drowning out the previously oppressive and sad atmosphere with the sounds of people grabbing red envelopes and playfully teasing each other.

The final chapter of "Chinese Paladin 3" (Part 2).

Having just witnessed the heart-wrenching scene, viewers across the internet watched from their televisions and computers with extremely mixed feelings.

When they saw Jing Tian defeat the Evil Sword Immortal with a single move and completely annihilate this arrogant demon with the Divine Demon Sword, the entire online audience finally breathed a sigh of relief.

"We finally won!"

"You old scoundrel, you actually have a conscience! The people of the world have been saved!"

However, plot twists often come faster than a tornado.

The crisis was over, and the sky above Mount Shu was clear and the sun was shining brightly.

Xu Changqing and Zixuan stood by the lake, each holding a bowl of "forget-love potion" that could make one forget past loves and grudges.

They smiled at each other, their eyes filled with the deep affection, grievances, understanding, and reconciliation of three lifetimes. They raised their glasses simultaneously, tilted their heads back, and drank the water in one gulp. Then, they turned away gracefully, going their separate ways, vowing to forget each other forever.

Seeing this scene, countless viewers were moved to tears once again.

"They let go...they really let go!"

"Waiting for three lifetimes, loving each other for three lifetimes, only to choose to let each other go and forget each other in the vast world... This is a million times more heartbreaking than loving someone but not being able to stay together!"

However, the scene shifts—

The moment Zixuan turned around, taking advantage of Xu Changqing's inability to see, she secretly spat out all the "forgetfulness potion" she had been holding in her mouth into the flower bushes;

Xu Changqing, who was walking on the other side, suddenly stopped and turned his back to Zixuan, spitting out the Forgetfulness Water in his mouth!

Neither of them drank!

They all chose to carry the memories of these three lifetimes, enduring the long loneliness and longing alone!

Snow fell heavily in the Nanzhao Kingdom. Zixuan, with her head full of white hair, stood in the snow and reached out to catch a snowflake. On Mount Shu, Xu Changqing, dressed in a Taoist robe, danced with his sword alone in the snow. Sword energy filled the sky, but his eyes were filled with an unyielding loneliness.

"Holy crap!! Liars! Two big liars!!!"

"I cried my eyes out! They both thought the other had drunk it, and they both wanted to relieve the other's suffering, but now they're both suffering with the memory!"

"Lin Yuan! You pervert! How did your brain even come up with this kind of plot where sweetness hides deadly poison?!"

Before the audience could recover from Zi Xuan and Chang Qing's "fake drinking of the potion of forgetfulness," the most fatal blow of the entire series quietly arrived.

In Chongqing, snowflakes fell in a flurry.

Jing Tian, ​​dressed in a warm cotton coat, looked at the revitalized shops and the cheerful neighbors, a signature sunny smile on his face.

Xuejian, holding his hand, looked up at the swirling snowflakes and shouted happily:

"It's snowing! Caiya, look! It's snowing!"

Xuejian leaned on his shoulder, her face full of happiness: "Caiya, we'll be together forever, right?"

Jing Tian ruffled her hair and smiled brightly: "Yes, we'll always be together, make lots and lots of money, and have a bunch of little cabbages and little piglets..."

But the next second, the camera slowly zoomed in, showing Jing Tian's profile.

He gazed up at the sky, the light in his eyes visibly fading against the backdrop of snowflakes. His hand, holding Xuejian's, trembled slightly with uncontrollable force.

That was the warning the Heavenly Emperor had given him—to save the city's inhabitants, he, Jing Tian, ​​had to exchange his own lifespan for it.

He gave his life to bring back the sunshine to Yuzhou City, to bring back the laughter and joy of the people of the city, and to have this brief time with Xuejian.

Jing Tian's smile remained bright as he used his last strength to shout towards the vast sky:

"I don't want to die—! I want to live another five hundred years—!!"

The sound lingered in the sky above Yuzhou City, carrying with it Jingtian's deepest attachment and reluctance to leave this world.

The scene freezes, snowflakes fall, and the melody of the ending theme song, "Forget Time," slowly begins to play:

"Gradually forget, it won't catch up with tomorrow... just hold on tight to the memories..."

At this moment, the entire online chat room fell into a long and terrifying silence.

Five seconds later, a deluge of comments completely overwhelmed the player with a devastating force!

"Jing Tian... Jing Tian only had a few years left to live... He sacrificed his life to save the entire city!!"

"You old scoundrel, Heavenly Emperor! Why didn't you say you'd have to exchange Jing Tian's life for it when you promised to save people?!"

"I'm convinced, I'm truly convinced! Jing Tian risked his life to save the entire city! You old fool, your understanding of fantasy dramas is that everyone who saves the world has to die, right?!"

"No one got a happy ending! Mao Mao died, Long Kui died, Bi Ping died, Chang Qing and Zi Xuan couldn't be together, and even Jing Tian only had a few years left to live... Is this what you call a happy ending?? This is a total wipeout!!"

"The Legend of Sword and Fairy 3—also known as The Survivor Deviation of Yuzhou City! Lin Yuan, if you dare to go out tonight, your fans across the country will build an Eiffel Tower out of razor blades for you!!"

At 10:15 PM, Weibo's servers crashed due to the massive traffic generated by the finale of "Chinese Paladin 3"!

The top ten trending topics were completely dominated by "Chinese Paladin 3":

#Lifespan of Sedum#

#Xu Changqing and Zi Xuan faked drinking the potion of forgetfulness#

#All three endings of Chinese Paladin are tragic#

#Lin Yuan, don't sleep tonight#

#The pinnacle of fantasy dramas and the pinnacle-level swords#

Countless book fans, drama enthusiasts, and casual netizens vented their emotions online. However, behind the overwhelming outcry and barrage of criticism, everyone had to acknowledge one fact—

Lin Yuan completely overturned the mass-produced, terrible dramas on the market that used the fantasy genre as a cover for romance, constantly featuring three lifetimes of tragic love stories, but lacking any sense of national righteousness.

He imbued each character with a real soul and destiny.

Mao Mao's loyalty, Long Kui's obsession, Jing Tian's growth and sense of responsibility, Xu Changqing's restraint and selflessness, Zi Xuan's persistence and dedication...

This is not just a simple fantasy drama; it is a grand epic about destiny, growth, and sacrifice!

Major mainstream media outlets also quickly followed up that evening, with CCTV News' official Weibo account even posting its own commentary:

[Lin Yuan, the game-changer: Redefining Chinese fantasy with *Chinese Paladin 3*! What is fantasy? The greatest heroes are those who serve their country and its people. Even ordinary people can possess great righteousness, and tragedies can forge epics. This work not only created a miracle in viewership but also set a new benchmark for artistic expression in Chinese film and television!]

The online literature world, the film and television industry, and the music industry were all completely stunned by Lin Yuan's name that night.

At just 22 years old, Lin Yuan, who had just graduated from the Beijing Film Academy, gained international fame with "The Shawshank Redemption" and then swept the domestic film and television industry with "Chinese Paladin 3", truly making a magnificent leap from creator to "phenomenon of the times".

Outside, storms raged and the internet was in turmoil, but inside a luxurious private room at a hotel in Beijing...

Lin Yuan was holding a wine glass, smiling as he looked at the cast and crew members surrounding him, cursing him for being "heartless" while frantically toasting him.