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

Fan Xian was extremely surprised!

Excitement, disbelief, disbelief, and even... a little scared!

He stared wide-eyed at the mask, his raised hand hovering in mid-air as if frozen in place.

There are no Four Great Classical Novels in this world.

There is no Three Kingdoms, no Water Margin, no Dream of the Red Chamber, and no Journey to the West.

The only copy of "Dream of the Red Chamber" that is still circulating in various countries today was copied by him.

Without Journey to the West, there would be no Monkey King.

To an ordinary person, the mask of the black-robed man in front of them would be easily recognizable as that of a monkey; at most, one might think it's a bit too brightly colored and too finely crafted.

But the familiar composition, the familiar style, the familiar colors—the golden headband, the pheasant feathers—all clearly told him:

This is not an ordinary monkey mask.

This is the real Sun Wukong.

He was the Monkey King he had seen countless times in his past life in TV dramas, comic books, cartoons, and toy stalls!

Moreover, he could immediately recognize from the color and texture of the mask that it was made of polyethylene, commonly known as plastic.

Fan Xian stayed in Kyoto for more than half a year, and he was quite certain that Ye Qingmei had brought many technologies such as glass, soap, and salt making back then, but she definitely did not produce plastic.

Plastics production is a downstream product of petroleum refining processes.

Once the world developed oil refining, the modern industrial revolution would probably have already broken out.

Given Ye Qingmei's precedent, Fan Xian was quite certain that time travelers had existed in this world.

He also fantasized countless times about meeting true fellow countrymen and kindred spirits in this foreign land.

When he first heard Zhou Cheng's story of "Why not eat meat porridge?", he was so excited that he couldn't sleep all night. As soon as he arrived at the poetry gathering, he couldn't wait to ask questions.

But that time, he was very disappointed.

After testing the waters, they discovered that Zhou Cheng was not from their hometown; it was all just a coincidence.

Further investigation revealed that Zhou Cheng was a pure local, a ruthless madman who treated human life as worthless.

The huge psychological gap left him unable to recover from the blow for a long time.

Since arriving in Beijing, he has been searching for all kinds of information about Ye Qingmei.

Aside from Ye Qingmei being his mother, it was more because of their shared identity as a kindred spirit.

He plagiarized "Ascending the Heights," and his fame spread to many countries. If there were similar people, they should have come looking for him long ago.

But it never happened.

He had gradually given up on that hope.

But the surprise came so unexpectedly!

For a moment, he felt a sense of unease, as if he were both drawn to his hometown and yet filled with trepidation.

His fists clenched tightly beneath his sleeves, his voice trembling slightly as he tentatively spoke:

"The...Great Sage?"

Fan Xian's reaction was not unexpected by Zhou Cheng.

He wore this mask to establish a foundation of trust between himself and Fan Xian.

He cleared his throat and, using the same voice he had used when he was disguised in Danzhou, said seriously:

"Now that you have seen the Great Sage, why do you not pay homage?"

Fan Xian, who was extremely excited just a second ago, turned pale upon hearing this voice.

The black-robed man's answer surprised him. He didn't understand the joke, but he could still tell from the tone—

That's right, the other person was the fellow villager he had been looking forward to meeting.

It was just that sound!

We're too familiar with each other!

That's the voice of the masked man!

The masked man who stole his domineering true energy in Danzhou back then!

It turns out he's from the same hometown?!

Amidst the shock, Fan Xian suddenly remembered that he already knew the masked man had entered the capital.

The reason Lin Gong died was because the masked man lured Wu Zhu to kill Lin Gong, and even left a message in his name.

Wu Zhu had mentioned that the masked man had changed into a monkey mask, but at the time, he was so preoccupied with the fact that Wu Zhu had killed Lin Gong that he didn't have time to ask any further questions.

But to everyone's surprise, the monkey mask that Wu Zhu mentioned was actually this kind of monkey mask!

"Are you really from the same hometown?" Fan Xian stared, unsure whether to answer yes or no. He didn't dwell on why the masked man was there at this time, but pressed on, "Do you know what this mask represents?"

Zhou Cheng chuckled lightly.

"What? Didn't you realize? You still don't believe me?"

After saying that, he spoke slowly and deliberately.

"Then I'll say, this mask represents—the Monkey King, the Victorious Fighting Buddha, the Keeper of the Heavenly Horses, the Eldest Brother, and Goku. Is that enough?"

"Enough! Enough!"

Putting aside all distractions, Fan Xian nodded excitedly, momentarily unsure what to do with his withdrawn hand.

"You're really from the same hometown!" His voice was trembling.

He used to harbor some resentment towards the masked man, but now that he knows who his fellow villager is, his old resentment vanishes instantly, only to be replaced by new ones.

He vividly remembers that month he spent in Danzhou, during which he didn't really watch his words.

As someone from the same hometown, the other party should have known his identity much earlier.

The other party didn't say anything, probably just watching him make a fool of himself.

Then I thought about how I became famous by borrowing Du Fu's "Ascending the Heights" and was even hailed as the "Poet Immortal," and now I've run into a real fellow townsman—I have to say, it's quite embarrassing just thinking about it!

However, these thoughts only flashed through my mind.

Fan Xian was too excited. He went over and grabbed Zhou Cheng's sleeve, refusing to let go. He had too many questions in his mind, and for a moment, his mouth was like a machine gun:

"Fellow villager, when did you transmigrate here? You laughed at me back in Danzhou, didn't you? Do you know why we transmigrated? What is your identity? What's your name? Why are you dressed like that? Are you too ugly? What's your relationship with my mother? Are we related too? We...?"

Fan Xian didn't care that he was on the street and the strange looks from passersby. He poured out all the confusion he had accumulated over the years.

Zhou Cheng turned his head away in disgust, avoiding Fan Xian's drool.

He never knew that a person could utter so many words in such a short time.

Seeing that Fan Xian showed no sign of stopping, he felt a headache coming on and quickly raised his hand to interrupt:

"Stop, stop, stop! What are you asking me a million questions? I know you're excited, but calm down. There are too many people around, let's talk in the car!"

Zhou Cheng looked up and gestured to the carriage behind Fan Xian.

Fan Xian then seemed to wake from a dream, glanced at the passersby on the road, and nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes! Look at me—"

He patted his head, turned around and saw Teng Zijing, who was driving the carriage, sitting on the carriage shaft, also giving him a strange look.

This was the first time he had ever seen Fan Xian so excited.

As for what the man in black was saying to Fan Xian, he couldn't understand it at all!

What is this Great Sage? What is this Keeper of the Heavenly Horses? What is this radish? What are all these things?

Fan Xian quickly walked to Teng Zijing's side and lowered his voice, saying, "Old Teng, I'm sorry. I have important matters to discuss with this... old friend, and it's not appropriate for Prince Cheng to know. You go back and rest first; I'll drive the carriage myself."

"good!"

Teng Zijing didn't say much, just nodded, jumped off the carriage, and turned to leave.

Zhou Cheng only required him to report his whereabouts when he was with Fan Xian, but he did not require him to be by Fan Xian's side at all times.

As Teng Zijing walked, she pondered how to write tonight's report.

Zhou Cheng and Fan Xian climbed into the carriage.

Once the sedan curtain was closed, the noise of the outside world was shut out.

The interior of the carriage was fairly well-lit, with sunlight streaming through the roof, casting two hazy shadows on the two figures.

As soon as he sat down, Fan Xian couldn't wait to speak.

However, Zhou Cheng was faster this time:

"I know you have a lot of questions. But as a modern person, you should understand that information has a price. I can answer your ordinary questions, but for some important questions, we need to exchange them for something of equal value. Just like when I exchanged domineering true energy with you."

Zhou Cheng's words were like a bucket of cold water poured over Fan Xian's head.

Fan Xian's excitement at meeting an old friend in a foreign land vanished almost instantly.

Zhou Cheng's words reminded him of how the mourner had "exchanged" his domineering true energy back then.

Is that an exchange? First they threatened me, then they threw out an ambiguous riddle—that's blatant robbery!

Fan Xian took a deep breath to calm himself down.

He stared at the mask on Zhou Cheng's face, his eyes filled with complex emotions.

"In that case, why don't you tell me about the free option first?"

Zhou Cheng chuckled softly, the sound sounding somewhat muffled behind the mask.

"Okay, let's start with the questions you asked at the beginning."

He leaned against the car wall, speaking casually.

"Strictly speaking, I traveled here a little earlier than you. I knew of your existence even before I was in Danzhou. My identity is a secret; my name is a secret. As for how you address me, you can call me Ghost-Faced Man or Great Sage, if you prefer."

Fan Xian listened silently, inwardly rolling his eyes.

He had long suspected that the other person had transmigrated earlier than him. He considered himself a prodigy, having practiced diligently since childhood, yet his martial arts were only at the eighth rank.

If the other party hadn't transmigrated earlier, how could they have such strong abilities?

As for what to call him, he still thinks "Ghost-Faced Man" is better.

The Great Sage?

This is an insult to the Great Sage! Don't lay a hand on him!

Zhou Cheng was unaware of the slander Fan Xian harbored towards him. He paused for a moment.

"I have no real relationship with Ye Qingmei. I just learned a lot about her through certain channels. As for my relationship with you—that's complicated. We're friends, enemies, brothers, father and son, all of those things."

"What?"

Fan Xian couldn't help but shout it out.

The first half of what he said was as good as saying nothing at all.

The relationship between the two people in the following sentence—friends and enemies—is barely understandable, but how did the words "brothers" and "father and son" end up together?

Fan Xian felt that the masked man was playing a trick on him, after all, he had a criminal record.

He barely suppressed the urge to spit: "That's it?"

Zhou Cheng nodded.

[Fan Xian's negative emotions +110!]

Fan Xian was at a loss for words.

He did have some crucial questions he wanted to ask, but he had been tricked once when he tried to exchange his domineering true energy for a secret.

He was worried that if he continued to pay a high price, the other party would still resort to the same old riddle-solving tactics.

For a moment, he pondered and hesitated, then looked up and suddenly thought, "I'll leave the other questions aside for now. Let me ask you, what brings you here all of a sudden? Surely you can answer that?"

"certainly."

Zhou Cheng did not hide anything.

"I have a feeling you're about to face a crisis. I'm prepared to protect you today in exchange for a favor you owe me."

"???" Fan Xian paused for only a moment before replying without hesitation, "No trade!"

What does it mean to have a premonition that he is in danger today?

That's ridiculous!

He plans to spend the day at the Honglu Temple.

What kind of place is the Honglu Temple? It's inside the Imperial City!

Unless someone rebels, how could he possibly be in danger at the Court of State Ceremonial?

Fan Xian is of average martial arts skills, average abilities, average relationships, and average worth, but he is a man of his word.

He worried that the masked man would use human relationships as leverage to force him to do things against his conscience.

Zhou Cheng wasn't angry about being rejected. He leaned against the car wall, his gaze seemingly looking into the distance through the carriage:

"No need to rush to refuse. We can wait."

He paused.

"If you owe me a favor, rest assured, I will not make you do anything against your principles and morality."

"No, not at all—"

Fan Xian opened his mouth to refuse again.

But the story was only half-finished—

"Fan Xian!"

A deep voice came from outside the carriage.

Fan Xian was taken aback.

He lifted the inner curtain and saw another figure shrouded in a black robe standing beside the carriage.

The black robe covered him from head to toe, and his face was covered by a thick black mask, revealing only his eyes.

"Lord Shadow?"

Fan Xian glanced at the shadow, then looked back at Zhou Cheng's attire.

A thought inexplicably popped into my mind: Could it be that the black robes these two people are wearing were bought from the same place?

Shadow is the head of the Sixth Division of the Detective Agency, a top-level expert of the ninth rank, known as the number one assassin in the world. He usually stays by Chen Pingping's side to protect him.

The other party contacted him, which must mean that Chen Pingping wanted to see him.

"What does Dean Chen want with me?"

Outside the carriage, the shadow's voice remained completely still:

"Someone wants to kill Dean Chen."

Fan Xian stuck his head out of the carriage, completely unconcerned:

"There are many people in the world who want to kill Chen Pingping. Where is he now?"

"In the Forensic Center."

"Then it's alright. Without heavy military force, who could storm the Censorate and kill someone?"

"The dean is now all alone."

What does "nobody" mean?

"Zhuang Mohan has entered the capital. One group has mobilized its entire force, three groups are not in the capital, and the other powerful forces have also been transferred away by Yan Ruohai. Now, only Yan Ruohai's men remain in the Observation Institute."

The shadow's voice was cold.

"Yan Ruohai intends to harm the dean. He'll make his move within half an hour."

Fan Xian frowned.

"Yan Ruohai? He'd kill Dean Chen? How many people could he possibly organize, given his extensive network of organizations?"

"There are at least four eighth-rank officials, about twenty seventh-rank officials, and even more sixth-rank officials, at least over a hundred."

"..."

Fan Xian was speechless.

He's only an eighth-rank official now.

He considered himself to be quite strong among the eighth-rank, but even facing four eighth-rank and a bunch of sixth and seventh-rank opponents, he couldn't last more than a few rounds!

Fan Xian's mood instantly plummeted to its lowest point.

He didn't think shadows could lie.

Given the current situation, even if he went, it seems unlikely he could save Chen Pingping.

However, since Chen Pingping returned to the capital, he had been taking good care of him. Moreover, Chen Pingping had a close relationship with Ye Qingmei, and he learned from Wu Zhu that it was Chen Pingping who had avenged Ye Qingmei by massacring the capital back then.

Regardless of the relationship, he could not stand by and watch Chen Pingping be surrounded and killed by the traitors.

Fan Xian clenched his fists, unsure of what to do.

In the midst of his chaotic thoughts, his gaze swept over Zhou Cheng, who remained silent beside him.

He instantly realized what was happening.

Eyes wide open.

Good guy!

Did he have a premonition that he was about to encounter a crisis?

In exchange for his protection?

It seems he was waiting for this!

Seeing Fan Xian's pained and conflicted expression, Zhou Cheng smiled behind his mask.

"So, have you made up your mind? If you agree, I will ensure your safety today. No one can kill you."

Fan Xian was extremely distressed.

He didn't want to agree a thousand times, but reason told him that he had no choice but to agree.

If he goes to rescue Chen Pingping, the traitors will not let him go.

The masked man would protect him, which would naturally allow him to suppress the rebels, thus protecting Chen Pingping.

He had no doubt about the masked man's strength.

He had never seen a Grandmaster make a move, so he couldn't be sure if the masked man was the legendary Grandmaster, but the destructive scene of the man's fight with Wu Zhu was still vivid in his mind.

He believed that someone of his rank, an eighth-grade official, would be no better than a chicken to be slaughtered by the other side.

...Well, calling it killing a chicken seems a bit of an exaggeration.

"What should I do?"

The more conflicted Fan Xian became, the more suspicious he became of the masked man's identity.

He speculated that the current rebellion of the Censorate and Chen Pingping's imprisonment might be related to the Ghost-Faced Man.

Otherwise, the timing of their approach was far too coincidental!

It's like having a prophet who knows the script beforehand!

Fan Xian's expression was uncertain. Finally, he let out a sigh of dejection.

It's just a favor!

Could his favors be more valuable than Chen Pingping's life?

He gritted his teeth.

"Okay! I agree!"

……

Let's go back a few breaths.

Just as Zhou Cheng opened his mouth, the shadow outside the carriage was startled.

He originally thought that Fan Xian's carriage was stopped here to wait for someone to drive it.

Unexpectedly, there were other people in the carriage besides Fan Xian!

As the world's number one assassin and a top-tier master of the ninth rank, he failed to notice anyone inside the carriage, even through the wooden planks separating them!

This is terrifying!

During the few seconds that Fan Xian hesitated, cold sweat almost soaked through his entire body behind the shadow!

The person next to Fan Xian inside was not Wu Zhu.

He had seen Wu Zhu since childhood and was familiar with Wu Zhu's voice.

Wu Zhu could naturally deceive his senses, but the one inside was definitely not Wu Zhu.

The person in the carriage who could deceive his senses must be at least a ninth-rank upper-level individual, and must be skilled in assassination, able to perfectly control their aura, heartbeat, and even their true qi perception.

If you want to kill someone like that, he will most likely die instantly if he is caught off guard, or at the very least be seriously injured.

Of course, the ninth rank is just his lowest estimate.

Based on my confidence in my abilities and expertise, and according to normal logic, the probability that the person in the carriage was a rank nine or above was less than 20%.

The remaining 80% probability is—

Grandmaster!

But that doesn't make sense either!

As everyone knows, there are only four Grandmasters in the world.

The Imperial Observatory is naturally keeping a close eye on the Grandmaster's movements.

Not only has the one in the palace not left the palace for decades, but Si Gu Jian is in Dongyi City, Ku He is in Northern Qi, and Ye Liu Yun is still wandering around the world.

Unless a fifth Grandmaster has unknowingly appeared in this world, or another person of Wu Zhu's kind has emerged, the person in the carriage should not be a Grandmaster!

The shadow was completely baffled and filled with dread.

......

Fan Xian, of course, was unaware of the shadow's shock, or rather, fear.

He reluctantly agreed to Zhou Cheng's request and then rushed to the Forensic Institute to see Chen Pingping.

It's still quite a journey from the Fan residence to the Observatory. If what Shadow said is true, Yan Ruohai will make his move in less than half an hour.

If they arrive too late, they might only be able to collect Chen Pingping's body!

Fan Xian lifted the carriage curtain, leaped onto his horse, and took the initiative to drive. He then gestured for Shadow to hurry up and come up, not even bothering to introduce the people in the carriage to him.

He suddenly jerked the reins.

"Walk!"