Film and Television: The Villain's Life Begins with Joy of Life

"Wasn't the person dead? How did they come back to life?"

Ye Ling'er caught up with Zhou Cheng, who was walking ahead, in three quick steps, her eyes wide with question marks.

Although she didn't personally examine Teng Zijing's body, the expressions on Fan Xian and Wang Qinian's faces didn't seem fake.

Anyone who practices martial arts should be able to tell whether a person is dead or alive.

Zhou Cheng glanced back at her, his gaze almost as if he were looking at an idiot.

Joy of Life isn't a fantasy novel, so where does the idea of ​​someone coming back to life come from?

Teng Zijing survived, naturally, because she didn't die.

When Teng Zijing broke into the Prince's mansion at night, he gave Teng Zijing a chance to make a move, and at that time he took the opportunity to leave a trace of true energy in Teng Zijing's body.

When he told Teng Zijing that he had paid for her life, he wasn't referring to the small salary Fan Xian had given her, but rather the Hundred-Refined True Qi that had been left in Teng Zijing's body.

Although that strand of refined true energy was insignificant, it was still genuine Grandmaster true energy, usually coiled around the heart meridian, which Teng Zijing could not refine on his own.

Only when subjected to attacks of force at the eighth rank or higher will this true energy react and protect the heart meridian.

Therefore, when Teng Zijing was struck by Cheng Jushu's full power, the true energy immediately spread out, firmly locking and protecting his heart meridian and all his internal organs.

In that state, let alone someone like Cheng Jushu at the peak of the eighth rank, even a seasoned ninth rank expert wouldn't be able to kill him with a single blow.

Of course, since it was external internal energy, Teng Zijing couldn't control it.

As soon as he activated his true energy, he immediately entered a state of suspended animation.

If no one had intervened, he would have woken up on his own after a few hours when his inner energy dissipated.

As luck would have it, Zhou Cheng was there and immediately withdrew the true energy, which naturally woke Teng Zijing up.

Zhou Cheng did not explain in detail to Ye Ling'er, only saying that he had left a strand of true energy in advance.

Ye Ling'er's face was full of suspicion.

"Are you bragging?" she scoffed. "That Teng Zijing is Fan Xian's bodyguard, he shouldn't be weak either, how could he not even dispel a wisp of your true energy?"

Zhou Cheng stopped in his tracks.

Don't believe me?

Ye Ling'er retorted, "Of course I don't believe it."

Zhou Cheng didn't say anything more, but simply raised his hand and pointed.

Ye Ling'er was startled and instinctively reached out to block.

But Zhou Cheng's fingers bypassed her defenses like a ghost and went straight to her wrist.

The next second, she froze.

An extremely condensed aura lingered on her wrist. She frantically tried to dispel it by channeling her inner energy, but it was like water crashing against a rock, with no effect whatsoever.

Even more terrifying, she also lost control of that hand.

She tried to move her finger, but it felt like it wasn't her own and wouldn't obey her commands at all!

No amount of talking can compare to the impact of experiencing it firsthand.

Ye Ling'er was completely dumbfounded.

Her father, Ye Zhong, was a ninth-rank master, and she had experienced the oppressive feeling of ninth-rank true qi since she was a child.

The trace of true energy that Zhou Cheng injected into her body, though incredibly small, was far more refined than that of her father, Ye Zhong!

"You are... a ninth-rank official?" Her voice was somewhat dazed.

"Nine Ranks Upper" is another way of saying "Nine Ranks Peak".

The ninth rank is too big a gap; the difference between the upper ninth rank and the ordinary ninth rank is even greater than the difference between the eighth and ninth ranks.

As for Grandmasters above the ninth rank, she didn't even dare to dream of it!

"If you think so, then so be it," Zhou Cheng said without explanation.

Ye Ling'er is different from Sang Wen.

Sang Wen was completely devoted to him and had no other choice but to follow him, so he told her many secrets without hesitation.

But Ye Ling'er?

There was no affection between them, and Ye Ling'er's stance was definitely still on the Ye family's side, so he would naturally be more reserved in his answers to questions.

After saying that, Zhou Cheng grabbed Ye Ling'er's hand again and withdrew the true energy.

Ye Ling'er flexed her wrists, her eyes wide like saucers, filled with disbelief.

If she hadn't experienced it herself, she would never have believed that Zhou Cheng's martial arts cultivation had reached such a level.

Haitang Duoduo, the Holy Maiden of Northern Qi, was a direct disciple of Grandmaster Kuhe. She broke through to the ninth rank at the age of fifteen and was hailed as the most talented person in a hundred years.

But what did she see now? A seventeen-year-old ninth-rank official?

Nobody would believe me if I told them!

Ye Ling'er stared blankly at Zhou Cheng, feeling as if she were in a dream, filled with unreality.

Her mind was in complete turmoil, and she was filled with a host of questions.

Before she could speak, Zhou Cheng suddenly asked, "Didn't we just agree on a three-move deal?"

Ye Ling'er was stunned for a moment.

Then she shook her head vigorously, like a rattle-drum, her ponytail swinging back and forth in arcs through the air:

"No! I don't know what you're talking about! Oh dear, I just remembered, Wan'er seems to have something to attend to! Your Highness, please excuse me for taking my leave!"

After saying that, he was about to make his escape.

"Alright then." Zhou Cheng didn't stop her.

Ye Ling'er felt as if she had been granted a pardon and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Unsure of Zhou Cheng's abilities, her agreement to the "three-move agreement" showed confidence!

Now that she knows Zhou Cheng's strength, she still hasn't forgotten the "three-move agreement," so she's just a fool!

Ye Ling'er, a chivalrous woman of the martial world who keeps her word, is certainly not stupid!

Ye Ling'er's thick skin was still not thick enough. She clasped her hands in a fist salute to Zhou Cheng, not daring to look at him, and turned to run away.

But after taking only two steps...

"I was thinking of giving you some pointers to help you break through to the seventh rank since you've reached the sixth rank bottleneck." Zhou Cheng's unhurried sigh came from behind. "Since you and Wan'er have other important matters to attend to, I won't take up any more of your time. That's fine then."

Ye Ling'er's foot, which she had stepped out, was left hanging in mid-air.

She held on for less than two seconds before abruptly turning around, a smile instantly spreading across her face as she casually walked back: "Your Highness, is what you said true? Can it really help me break through to the seventh rank?"

Zhou Cheng chuckled, "Of course I can. But—" He raised an eyebrow, "Didn't Miss Ye have important business with Wan'er?"

"Oh dear, things have priorities!" Ye Ling'er chuckled, her ponytail swaying with each step. "Of course, His Highness's affairs are more important!"

Zhou Cheng smiled nonchalantly: "Then Miss Ye, please come back to the manor with me. I have nothing to do today, and I've long admired the Ye family's Flowing Clouds Freehand Technique. Let's exchange skills and learn from each other."

Ye Ling'er hesitated for a moment when she heard that she was going to Prince Cheng's mansion, but when she heard that Zhou Cheng was interested in the Flowing Cloud Scattered Hand technique, she immediately put her concerns aside.

It's normal for both sides to have something to gain from each other!

Which martial arts practitioner wouldn't be interested in the Ye family's Flowing Cloud Scattered Hand technique?

Although she doesn't know the Flowing Clouds Scattering Technique, she does know the Great Coffin Splitting Technique, which is derived from the Flowing Clouds Scattering Technique!

Rounding down, doesn't that mean she can also use the Flowing Clouds Dispersion Technique?

Martial arts training requires not only agility of movement, but also agility of mind!

Afterwards, downstairs at the restaurant, Ye Ling'er got into the carriage and went with Zhou Cheng to the Prince Cheng's Mansion.

Zhou Cheng kept his word, meticulously guiding her throughout the day, even using his true energy to help her break through to the seventh rank.

During this process, he also witnessed the Great Coffin Splitting Technique through Ye Ling'er.

Well, judging solely from the Great Coffin Splitting Technique, the Flowing Cloud Scattering Hand technique is indeed powerful, but its strength is only comparable to his Hundred Refinements True Qi.

However, Zhou Cheng knew in his heart that the Flowing Cloud Scattered Hand was a completely different thing in the hands of someone else and in the hands of Ye Liuyun.

Ye Liuyun is the most talented among the four grandmasters, and the only one who broke through to the grandmaster level through his own comprehension.

The same technique, when used by him, can unleash a power that no one else can match.

When Ye Ling'er broke through to the seventh rank, it was already dusk. She was overjoyed and couldn't wait to share her joy with acquaintances.

She sincerely bid farewell to Zhou Cheng and prepared to go home.

Zhou Cheng was not about to let go of the meat that was delivered right to his mouth.

Since she was his fiancée, Ye Ling'er had no choice at all.

He wasn't a true gentleman like Fan Xian. By the time Ye Ling'er realized something was wrong and tried to escape, it was already too late!

……

The night was dark.

Tears streamed down Ye Ling'er's face, her body felt like it was falling apart, and her eyes were filled with regret.

She clearly guessed that Zhou Cheng had ill intentions, but she still clung to a sliver of hope and couldn't resist the temptation.

Sang Wen brought over hot water and carefully helped her wipe her body. Although she felt a little jealous, seeing Ye Ling'er's miserable appearance, she couldn't help but turn around and glare at Zhou Cheng reproachfully.

Zhou Cheng made an innocent expression. There was nothing he could do; martial arts practitioners were just different from ordinary girls, and he could easily become a little too indulgent.

He casually threw on an outer robe and went to the study.

Teng Zijing had been waiting for a long time.

During the day, with his inner energy protecting him, Teng Zijing's injuries were much lighter than Fan Xian's. After another day of treatment and medication, although he still had trouble using his full strength, he could now engage in normal activities without any problems.

As soon as Zhou Cheng sat down behind his desk, Teng Zijing strode forward, knelt down on both knees without saying a word, and kowtowed.

"Teng Zijing thanks Your Highness for saving my life!"

During the period of feigned death, he did not completely lose consciousness.

Outsiders may not know what Zhou Cheng did, but he knows it in his heart.

At this moment, he had figured out what Zhou Cheng meant by "money to buy life" that day.

He was a man who clearly distinguished between gratitude and resentment, and he knew that he owed Zhou Cheng a life.

At this moment, his attitude towards Zhou Cheng was completely different from his previous coldness and hostility.

Zhou Cheng leaned back in his chair and glanced at him. "Get up. If you really want to thank me, then just do as I tell you. You seem to have a lot of questions?" A slight smile played on his lips. "I'm in a good mood today, so I can answer you."

Teng Zijing stood up and pondered for a moment: "It seems that His Highness had anticipated that I would be in danger and left behind his true energy to save my life."

"That's right." Zhou Cheng nodded. "Because that's the role you play in this game. Even without today's assassination attempt on Niulan Street, you would have died in front of Fan Xian in some other way. That's why I gave you a burst of true energy in advance to ensure your survival."

Teng Zijing frowned: "The role I play?"

"Do you remember how you ended up in the Forensic Laboratory?"

"I..." Teng Zijing recalled, "I stood up for a couple when I saw injustice, which offended Guo Baokun. He framed me and imprisoned me. With nowhere else to turn, I ended up in the Prosecution Institute."

"Then do you think—" Zhou Cheng looked at him, "that your entry into the Forensic Science Institute was really a coincidence?"

Teng Zijing was deeply shaken.

He never doubted it.

Zhou Cheng continued, "From the very beginning, you were a pawn arranged by someone else. Entering the Forensic Academy, being assigned to assassinate Fan Xian in Danzhou, and even asking Fan Xian for help afterward were all part of a script that had been written long ago."

"How is that possible?" Teng Zijing exclaimed in disbelief. "Who has the ability to scheme so much?"

Zhou Cheng laughed: "Why not? You know a person's temperament inside and out. You can basically guess how they'll react to something, what choices they'll make, with pretty much a high degree of accuracy. With just a little arrangement, you can make them follow the predetermined path." He paused, "As for who can orchestrate all of this, even arrange for you to be placed in the Forensic Science Institute—can't you guess?"

Teng Zijing's pupils suddenly contracted.

"You mean... the one who orchestrated all of this, who arranged for me to be placed in the Forensic Institute, is...?" His voice was a little dry, "...the Director of the Forensic Institute, Chen Pingping?"

He then shook his head, his face full of confusion: "But I'm just a martial artist, why would Dean Chen scheme against me like this?"

Who is Chen Pingping? The head of the Investigation Bureau, a dark king second only to the emperor. What makes him worthy of such a person's scheming?

"Of course you're not worth it. But if it's for scheming against Fan Xian, then it is," Zhou Cheng said calmly. "I told you long ago that the capital is a grand game. Fan Xian is the central piece, and the whole game revolves around him."

Teng Zijing was stunned.

"It's just that Fan Xian, well—" Zhou Cheng tapped his fingers lightly on the table, "has no great ambitions, is indifferent to worldly affairs, and only bothers others if they bother him. After coming to the capital, he found himself embroiled in a huge mess, and then discovered that resolving the mess was incredibly difficult… Given his personality, what will he do?" He looked at Teng Zijing, "I guess he most likely plans to marry Lin Wan'er and then return to his hometown of Danzhou. I don't know if he's told you this, but I imagine that's the case."

Teng Zijing's eyes widened in surprise.

Fan Xian did say those words to him, and it was just before the assassination attempt today.

"If Fan Xian goes back to Danzhou, that won't do." Zhou Cheng shook his head. "He's indispensable in this game in the capital. So, to keep him here, simply forcing him won't work; we need to start with the people he cares about."

He looked at Teng Zijing calmly: "You are the pawn deliberately placed by Fan Xian's side, capable of influencing and changing Fan Xian's mind. Sacrificing you will allow him to stay in the capital, and will give him the motivation to stir up this game."

Teng Zijing's throat went dry. He recalled everything, and it all seemed too coincidental.

He wanted to argue that Fan Xian wasn't that important, but when he thought of how Emperor Qing had issued an edict to exonerate Fan Xian from the crime of deceiving the emperor in the Kyoto Prefecture court not long ago, he couldn't say a word.

The more you recall, the more you can feel how different Fan Xian is.

But even greater doubts followed.

Teng Zijing: "But why Fan Xian? He's just the illegitimate son of the Marquis of Sinan, and was even raised in Danzhou for a time. How could he be qualified..."

Zhou Cheng shifted his position in his chair and said meaningfully, "You've been by Fan Xian's side for some time now. You've met the Crown Prince, the Second Prince, and me..."

He paused.

"Didn't you notice a problem?"

Teng Zijing looked at Zhou Cheng, then recalled the Crown Prince and the Second Prince he had seen in the capital that day, but couldn't figure it out for a moment. He could only ask directly, "What's the problem?"

Zhou Cheng sighed helplessly.

"Fan Xian," he said, "looks a lot like us."

Teng Zijing was jolted, his eyes widening as if struck by lightning.