Chapter 2498: Chapter 1671: Filming Continues (Yan Yun Is More Fun Than Expected)

When Duanmu Huai appeared in front of Kana Arima and the others again, he was glowing and looked full of energy.

"Xiao Ai, what’s happened to you?"

Seeing Duanmu Huai’s contented appearance, Kana Arima curiously asked.

"Did something good happen?"

"More or less, anyway, it was quite fun."

Faced with Kana Arima’s question, Duanmu Huai chuckled.

"I went out to have fun and found something amusing, had a great time."

"Hey... that’s rare for you, I don’t often see you enjoying yourself."

Kana Arima’s words weren’t incorrect. Though Duanmu Huai didn’t usually have a stern face, he gave the impression of someone who preferred calmness, with relatively stable emotions. Rarely did he exude such a relaxed and happy vibe, no wonder Kana Arima was curious.

Well, for Duanmu Huai, having an indestructible punching bag to vent stress was indeed the most effective way.

Unfortunately, that guy still died.

Forget it, it doesn’t matter, there should be other punching bags around.

Duanmu Huai thought to himself while touching the guitar case behind him. The sword was still lying in there, surely there’d be some place to use it.

Maybe.

Next, Duanmu Huai plunged back into the intense film shooting work.

Filming a blockbuster is different from shooting an ordinary movie. A low-budget film might be finished in a few months, but a big production requires much more time than generally expected. Filming a sci-fi blockbuster in Hollywood takes at least four years, something Duanmu Huai is not keen on spending. Luckily, this film did not use Hollywood standards, and Duanmu Huai managed many parts needing special effects by himself.

Yet, even so, this remains a long-term effort.

After filming the edge of Kyoto City, to speed things up, the crew split into two groups: one to film scenes at the survivor camps and the other to head straight to the research facility.

Standing in the lobby of the research facility, Duanmu Huai curiously looked around. They were here to film the final scene of the movie—the protagonists discover a clue, arrive at the research facility, and then uncover the reason behind the disaster as well as the monster BOSS sleeping within.

Of course, like many sci-fi films, the antagonists also follow the protagonists here. The antagonists are supposedly a cult-like organization. They worship the monster that caused the disaster and decide to capture the male lead as a sacrifice to their deity.

So, they followed the protagonists, and when the male lead discovers the monster BOSS, the antagonists rush in to capture the protagonists. The leader of the antagonists tries to awaken the BOSS, only to get eaten by the BOSS—in typical sci-fi movie trope, nothing we haven’t seen before.

Then the protagonists are chased by the BOSS, leading to a thrilling escape sequence where the male lead vows to defeat the monster BOSS using courage and wisdom. And just as the protagonists catch their breath, Duanmu Huai makes his entrance.

Already exhausted from being chased by the monster BOSS, the protagonists are no match for the fully armed Duanmu Huai and are quickly knocked down. Just as Duanmu Huai is about to kill the male lead, the monster BOSS revives and clashes with Duanmu Huai, leading both to tumble into the deep pit below the research facility...

"Speaking of which, why does this research facility have such a big pit?"

Duanmu Huai stood at the edge of the shooting location, staring at the huge pit ahead with a curious frown.

"Could it be this place used to conduct human experiments, secretly dumping the bodies here?"

"Please, that’s not funny at all."

Nearby, Katakeyama Yuriko looked tense.

"Hahaha, this isn’t the kind of place Miss Duanmu is talking about."

A staff member beside them laughed to explain.

"This was originally used for researching plant medicine, not humans. The hollow underneath is just a simple garden, nothing else. When designing this research facility, they seemingly deliberately built an aerial corridor like this..."

"Then I can only say the designer’s mind wasn’t quite right."

Duanmu Huai thoughtfully glanced at the dark pit below.

"So, per the storyline, do I push the monster down here, or do we both fall?"

"No, it’s during the fight that the floor collapses and you both fall... Of course, we start shooting from the second floor with cushions below."

Even though Duanmu Huai could jump straight down from five or six floors high, since it’s a film shooting and not real danger, just because he’s willing doesn’t mean the crew is. If this got leaked, the crew would be in trouble.

Of course, there was no real monster in the filming, so Duanmu Huai merely swung his weapon, performing as if actually facing the monster, until walking to the shattered balcony edge, and then collapsing—later the camera catches up as Duanmu Huai and the monster fight, ultimately disappearing into darkness.

Then, an explosion.

"Well, action!" 𝒻𝑟𝘦𝘦𝘸ℯ𝒷𝑛𝘰𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝘤𝘰𝘮

The shots in the research facility were relatively easy to film, as Jichuan Dahui and Katakeyama Yuriko were star actors with excellent cooperation, and Duanmu Huai was naturally adept. What remained was a group of minor and background actors whose job was to storm in, scream, flee, and subsequently get eaten.

This part was indeed the hardest to film.

When the day’s shoot ended, everyone was exhausted.

"Ugh... so tired..."

Katakeyama Yuriko stretched, continuously patting her legs.

"Once this film is done, I’m definitely going on a diet."

"Really?"

Jichuan Dahui gazed at the script nearby, asking indifferently.

"Yeah, with all the running, jumping, and climbing here, it feels more tiring than a workout."

While speaking, Katakeyama Yuriko looked towards Duanmu Huai.

"Xiao Ai, do you want to join me for a soak in the hot springs later?"

Upon hearing Katakeyama Yuriko’s question, Duanmu Huai pondered for a moment.

Katakeyama Yuriko—great beauty, star actress, excellent figure.

Hmm, not a loss.

"Then I... "

"Hey."

However, before Duanmu Huai could finish speaking, he saw a few staff members running over from a distance.

"Have you seen Chiye?"

"No."

"I can’t reach him on the phone, where did he go?"

"What’s wrong?"

Hearing the staff members’ conversation, Jichuan Dahui curiously asked, and upon hearing his inquiry, the staff exchanged hesitant glances before speaking.

"Actually, Uehon who is responsible for logistics disappeared, and we are looking for him."

"Could he be lost?"

Katakeyama Yuriko joined in.

"Hard to say, this place looks complicated. But we tried calling, and we can’t even reach him... Ah, today’s shooting ends here, everyone can go back first. The director has arranged a vehicle, we plan to search more..."

"Hmm, that’s fine then."

Jichuan Dahui nodded.

"Let’s return then... Hmm? Where’s Xiao Ai?"

"Eh?"

At this moment, everyone realized that Duanmu Huai, who ought to be standing here, had disappeared silently.

Where did he go?

Dim, pitch-black corridors.

Broken walls.

Dust everywhere, an abandoned junkyard.

Duanmu Huai walked slowly with his phone in hand, illuminating the path ahead.

"This way...? No, maybe it’s this way..."

Duanmu Huai reached the junction, looked around, then pushed open the door of a nearby laboratory.

"Clang———!"

The shrill sound of the door opening echoed in the silent corridor, Duanmu Huai entered the laboratory and raised his phone.

Under the phone’s light, the ceiling of the laboratory was covered with writhing, swollen tumors, and amidst them, a man in work clothes was tightly bound.

"I felt something was off here, but I didn’t expect a real issue."

Duanmu Huai sighed quietly.

"But the crew didn’t notice before, I thought we’d finish filming and leave, but didn’t expect this in the end..."

That’s right, Duanmu Huai had noticed this thing during shooting. When he stood on the rooftop gazing into the huge hole, he clearly saw the bizarre mass resembling tumors at the bottom, but the staff and others noticed nothing, and filming proceeded smoothly, so he put it aside.

Unfortunately, the thing didn’t plan to let it end like this.

"What a nuisance."

Duanmu Huai silently opened the guitar case and pulled out a weapon.

"I hoped to finish shooting smoothly; if there’s a missing staff incident, filming will be delayed, damn you!"

Glaring at the monster, a hint of killing intent emerged in Duanmu Huai’s eyes.

"Do you know how much money is wasted for a day’s delay? Bastards!!"

With a roar, Duanmu Huai wielded the Sharp Blade and charged at the monster!

Since Duanmu Huai suddenly vanished, they couldn’t just leave. Soon, everyone started searching for him in the laboratory again.

"Xiao Ai? Where are you?"

"Xiao Ai———can’t reach the phone either."

Jichuan Dahui glanced at his phone, frowned.

"We should inform the crew to designate an area for shooting where no one leaves."

"I don’t really like this place."

Katakeyama Yuriko seemed uneasy, looking around.

"I always feel this place gives me the creeps. Though Xiao Ai was joking, I really don’t have a good feeling about it..."

"I apologize."

"Ah!"

Hearing the sudden voice from ahead, both involuntarily jumped, quickly looking forward to see Duanmu Huai approaching, holding an unconscious man.

"Xiao Ai? Where did you go? Is this the missing staff?"

"I heard you say he was missing, so I went to check, and found him."

Duanmu Huai shook the unconscious man in his hand.

"He seems to have fallen, hit his head, and fainted. Take him to the hospital first."