8: Underworld version of A Chinese Ghost Story

The underworld version of A Chinese Ghost Story began filming. "Actors in position! Lighting! Lighting! Dim the lights a bit more, the faces are too pale; you'll scare the ghosts at night!" You Wu barked orders, feigning authority. Then, turning his ghost face around, he said servilely, "Big Sis, do you think this is okay?"

"Let's begin!" With Shang Wan Ning's command, every department prepared, and filming officially started!

The Female Ghost Officer playing Li Xiaoqian was dressed in white, her long hair fluttering and her eyes filled with resentment as she slowly walked toward the camera.

The male lead, Chen Caichen, had the air of a scholar. Holding a folding fan, he followed Li Xiaoqian with a hint of nervousness.

"Scene one, action!"

At that moment, a gust of yin wind blew past, and a dense fog filled the woods.

Li Xiaoqian suddenly stopped, turned her head, and gave Chen Caichen a bizarre smile.

Terrified, Chen Caichen backed up a few steps and asked stutteringly, "Who... who are you?"

Li Xiaoqian said softly, "I am Xiaoqian. I died here with a grievance, and I am waiting for someone destined to save me."

Before she could finish, a giant ghost emerged from the ground, baring its fangs and brandishing its claws as it lunged at the two.

"Cut, cut, cut~" Shang Wan Ning rose from the director's chair and snapped, "Props team, who prepared this ghost? Open your ghost eyes and look—this skinny thing is supposed to be 'giant'?"

"BOSS, spiritual energy has only just begun to recover, so we can only catch some first-rank ghosts to make up the numbers." The props team leader was trembling. The BOSS's temper had been particularly explosive these past few days; could it be that time of the month?!

"When filming a micro-movie, we must strive for perfection."

"BOSS, I've discussed it with the storyboarding team; we'll add special effects in post-production."

"Special effects? How much incense value will that require?"

"Not much, at least 5 million to meet the BOSS's standards," the props team leader said with a fawning smile.

"5 million, huh!" Shang Wan Ning sat down quietly. "This ghost is actually quite well-built. Come on, actors in position, scene seven, action..."

Chen Caichen and Li Xiaoqian were terrified and took off running.

They ran into an abandoned temple. Chen Caichen hurriedly closed the main gate, attempting to hold off the ghost's pursuit.

However, the ghost easily broke through the door and approached them step by step.

Li Xiaoqian stood in front of Chen Caichen, using all her ghostly power to cast the Smoke Mist Technique, temporarily halting the ghost's advance. "Caichen, you go first."

"No, Xiaoqian. You go first." Chen Caichen held Xiaoqian's hand, his eyes full of affection.

"No, you go first."

"No, Xiaoqian, you go first."

After repeating this a dozen times—

"No... you..." Xiaoqian's ghostly power manifested into a large hammer, which she slammed into Chen Caichen. With a loud "clang," Chen Caichen fainted in Xiaoqian's arms. "This Old Lady is sick of this mushiness; your lines are trash."

"Cut, cut, cut~ Where did this violent version of Xiaoqian come from? You nearly knocked the male lead unconscious. I want you to portray a soul-stirring love between the leads, not a bandit robbery!" Shang Wan Ning roared.

The Female Ghost Officer weakly raised her hand. "Big Sis, the lines are too mushy for a ghost. I see that mortals nowadays like plot twists; why don't we perform something a bit different?"

"Different? Do I have to hit you until you look 'different'? Do it again! You've ruined such a classic movie."

"Oh! Fine!" The Female Ghost Officer had a face full of overtime-induced resentment.

"Scene twenty-four, action!"

Xiaoqian knew deep down that this was only a temporary measure and she couldn't resist for long. Just as they were falling into despair...

A mysterious 'Golden Finger' old man appeared. The old man wore a black robe, had a kind face, and held a poster in his hand.

He told Chen Caichen and Li Xiaoqian that only by finding Li Xiaoqian's skeletal remains and burying the poster with them could her soul find peace and escape the ghost's harassment.

After hearing this, Chen Caichen and Li Xiaoqian decided to follow the old man to the place where the remains were hidden.

"Cut, cut, cut~" Shang Wan Ning shouted.

This shout made all the ghost officers shudder, thinking: It's over, the BOSS is dissatisfied again, we're going to get scolded... However, to their surprise, Shang Wan Ning followed up with: "Half-hour break. You Wu, bring up the Cola Soup to relieve the fatigue."

Hearing this, the ghost officers finally breathed a sigh of relief, their faces lighting up with joy.

"Right away, BOSS!" You Wu replied with a smile.

A moment later, the Cola Soup was wheeled out. You Wu distributed it to each ghost officer according to the number of ghost heads.

While drinking the Cola Soup, the ghosts said emotionally, "Sob sob sob! The BOSS is so kind-hearted. Although she has a bit of a temper, she's actually quite good to us subordinates."

Other ghosts chimed in, "Yes! Yes!"

One ghost even said excitedly, "The BOSS didn't even drink any Cola Soup and left it all for us. The BOSS is so good; I'd smash my head against a wall for her!"

"I'm the BOSS's number one fan! Don't even try to compete with me."

Meanwhile, Little Four, lying paralyzed in the system space, cursed loudly, "Are all your ghost eyes filtered?! Can't you see she can't drink cold things during her special time? Letting you rest is just so she can exploit you better!"

Hearing Little Four's voice, Shang Wan Ning asked eerily, "Little Four! Has the underworld app client been uploaded to the app store yet?"

"N-not yet, great host!" Little Four answered tremulously, his voice shaking like a leaf in the wind.

"If not, then hurry up! Are you dawdling because you want to eat a high-heeled shoe?" Shang Wan Ning's tone was full of threat and impatience. Her sharp gaze made Little Four feel an invisible pressure.

"Right away, Host, please wait a moment." Little Four hurriedly responded, fine beads of sweat appearing on his forehead. He moved quickly, not daring to delay for a second.

"Hmph, that's more like it." Shang Wan Ning nodded in satisfaction, then crossed her arms and gracefully walked away, her slender waist swaying.

Little Four wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a sigh of relief. He muttered under his breath, "Auntie Flo! I hate you! Give me back my gentle Host!"

Half an hour later, filming resumed.

"Scene thirty-seven, action." At Shang Wan Ning's command, all the actors quickly entered their roles.

In the shot, they finally found Li Xiaoqian's remains and buried them according to the old man's instructions. As the poster and the remains were interred, the surrounding eerie atmosphere gradually dissipated, and the ghost vanished.

Chen Caichen and Li Xiaoqian looked at the old man gratefully, their eyes filled with tears. At that moment, an unexpected scene occurred—the old man suddenly turned around, revealing a hideous smile, and opened his bloody maw, swallowing both of them in one gulp.

He let out a satisfied burp and turned to leave again.

Then, the old man dug up the grave and took out the poster, which read: "Wild ghosts are not to be trusted. If you encounter a ghost in the wild, please call the Underworld Hotline ******." Below it was a line of small text: "Download the underworld app client now and scan the QR code below to receive 100 incense value!"