"Saving the Earth, huh? How old are you to still be this chuuni?" The producer couldn't help but laugh at Xu Shulou's absurd excuse, turning to Song Ping and Bai Roushuang for agreement, only to find anxiety and worry written across their faces. For a moment, he felt like Alice tumbling down the rabbit hole—surrounded by absurdity, as if he were the only sane person left in the world.
Helpless, the producer could only watch blankly as Xu Shulou strode away with unwavering resolve.
Fortunately, even without Xu Shulou, the variety show's filming went exceptionally well. Bai Roushuang showed no trace of a newcomer's nervousness, speaking eloquently during interviews without overshadowing the others. When the host asked about her creative process, she explained it clearly. Later, when invited to demonstrate her swordplay, she obliged without hesitation, performing dazzling moves that drew thunderous applause from the audience.
Watching her, the producer couldn’t shake the feeling that she was someone accustomed to grand stages, making her background all the more mysterious.
Finally, the host asked, "There were rumors online about tension between you and Xu Shulou, but we’ve heard you refer to each other as martial sisters. What’s the real nature of your relationship?"
Bai Roushuang didn’t want to overplay their bond in front of so many people, so she simply answered with sincerity, "Without her, there would be no me."
Her performance was flawless, and judging by the audience's reaction, the episode would undoubtedly boost her popularity.
While pleased, the producer couldn’t help but feel a pang of regret—if only Xu Shulou had joined them.
But Xu Shulou hadn’t given it a second thought. That evening, she returned to the set in high spirits, as if she’d just been on a leisurely trip—complete with souvenirs for her junior siblings.
Bai Roushuang was especially excited, having never been to space before. "Senior Sister, what did you bring back from the asteroid?"
"I brought back the asteroid."
"..." So she just hauled the entire thing back? Song Ping, who had been about to ask how the mission went, promptly shut his mouth. If she’d brought the asteroid as a souvenir, was there even a need to ask?
"I split it in half—here, one for each of you." Xu Shulou handed them each a storage talisman. "It’s a bit large in diameter, so make sure you’re in an open area before taking it out."
"...Thanks," they said, accepting the gifts. "Truly a unique present."
"I also ran into some alien mantises that served tea while holding their claws like orchid blossoms," Xu Shulou added with a shrug. "But I couldn’t bring them back—too dangerous."
"...Orchid mantises?"
Song Ping chuckled at Bai Roushuang’s words. "Orchid mantises got their name because they resemble orchids—they’re known for their beauty, not for serving tea with dainty claws."
"Actually," Xu Shulou mused, stroking her chin, "I made a discovery on this trip. Orchid mantises were sent to Earth as spies by their alien kin. To avoid suspicion, they were dressed up all pretty before deployment. Turns out, the mantis planet was facing overpopulation—they wanted to invade Earth."
"What?!" Don’t say something so terrifying so casually!
"But don’t worry," Xu Shulou reassured them. "The orchid mantises defected."
"Oh... Wait, what?" Song Ping and Bai Roushuang were lost.
"Apparently, they loved Earth’s environment so much they decided to stay permanently. They smashed their communicators and cut ties with their homeworld," Xu Shulou explained, amused. "A hundred years later, the alien mantises finally sent scouts to investigate. But by then, the orchid mantises had gone through nearly 200 generations. The newer ones had no idea about their extraterrestrial origins—they just thought they were native Earth mantises."
"..." Xu Shulou’s stories were always this bizarre. Even as seasoned cultivators, Song Ping and Bai Roushuang were left speechless.
Xu Shulou continued, "And because Earth’s environment isn’t as harsh as their home planet, the orchid mantises grew complacent. Over 200 generations, they lost their alien intelligence. Now, aside from being prettier, they’re no different from regular mantises."
"..." So they evolved their brains away?
Song Ping cautiously asked, "Do the other alien mantises still plan to invade Earth?"
"No, they solved their overpopulation problem through... internal consumption."
"Internal consumption?"
Xu Shulou’s expression shifted slightly. "They ate each other."
Bai Roushuang wrinkled her nose. "Well... at least orchid mantises kept some habits. Females still occasionally eat males, right?"
"..."
"Anyway, space is fascinating," Xu Shulou concluded. "I’ll take you both there someday."
After receiving their souvenirs and hearing the bizarre tale, Song Ping and Bai Roushuang left to find an open field to admire their halves of the asteroid.
Meanwhile, Xu Shulou ran into the Director, who promptly dragged her into filming a nighttime scene. Despite having just returned from space after cleaving an asteroid, she was still full of energy and agreed without hesitation.
The moon was especially bright and full tonight—no wonder the Director had been inspired to add the scene.
In the script, Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang reminisce about a past encounter at the Black Tortoise Tower. Xu Shulou once told her junior sister how, during a sword duel atop the tower, she accidentally smashed through the roof and fell inside. Instead of being angry, the Old Building Owner gifted her the most beautiful night-blooming cereus in the tower.
Originally, this backstory could have been glossed over in dialogue. But with the show’s rising popularity, the crew was striving for perfection. The Director, enchanted by the moonlight, decided to film the scene properly.
Just imagining it—silent night, pale moonlight, a swordswoman leaping across the rooftops—was enough to know the visuals would be breathtaking.
The props team set up a low wooden frame outdoors, covered with green fabric to stand in for the roof. The rest of the tower would be added digitally, since filming on actual rooftops was too dangerous.
Xu Shulou wasn’t afraid of falling, but out of consideration for her co-star—a stunt double hastily brought in—she didn’t object. She nimbly jumped onto the frame and began rehearsing the swordplay.
The stunt double did his best to match her movements, but even after four or five takes, the Director frowned at the playback. Having been spoiled by Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang’s usual performances, he found the results lacking.
"Xu Shulou, are you holding back? This scene doesn’t seem as exciting as the one you fought with Bai Roushuang."
Xu Shulou replied, "We need time to adjust."
The Director glanced reluctantly at the full moon in the sky. "How long will it take?"
"Hard to say."
"Well…" The Director smacked his forehead, struck by a sudden idea. "How about we get Bai Roushuang to make a cameo? Since this sword-fighting character won’t appear again later, she could just wear a mask—no need to show her face. I’ll darken the footage in post-production, and maybe the audience won’t notice."
"...Stop milking the same sheep over and over," Xu Shulou suggested. "How about I ask Song Ping to step in instead?"
"Huh? He knows martial arts too?"
"Of course. Didn’t he mention it before?"
Wasn’t that just a joke? The Director opened his mouth but hesitated. "Then… would President Song even agree?"
"Shouldn’t be a problem."
The Director suddenly looked puzzled. "Why is President Song so invested in this drama?"
Song Ping often wandered around the set. At first, everyone thought it was normal—after all, he’d spent a fortune backing the production, probably because he was infatuated with someone. But later, they realized his relationship with Xu Shulou and Bai Roushuang wasn’t romantic at all. The deep, bone-deep affection he showed them couldn’t be faked; it felt more like the bond of family after many, many years together. So the Director couldn’t help but wonder: Why did Song Ping keep hovering around the set? He pored over every new script, approved funds for new equipment without hesitation whenever there was an issue. Sure, investors wanted returns, but this level of dedication was excessive—especially when he had other businesses to manage.
"Our reasons are the same," Xu Shulou said with a smile.
"..." That explanation explained nothing. The Director didn’t press further and sighed. "I probably don’t have the face to invite President Song myself."
"I’ll call him."
The Director nodded gratefully and went to hand the stunt double a red envelope before seeing him off.
Xu Shulou dialed her junior brother’s number. The signal was spotty, and Song Ping’s voice crackled through intermittently: "Shijie?"
"I need a favor."
"What is it? Just say the word."
"Put the asteroid away, fly back from Dustless Island, and help me with a cameo fight scene."
Song Ping gripped his phone and glanced around, finding no trace of his shijie nearby. "...How did you know I was near Dustless Island looking at an asteroid?"
"Do I not know you?" Xu Shulou laughed. "I also know you’re definitely with shimei, piecing the two halves of the asteroid together to admire it."
Song Ping chuckled wryly. "Spot on. I’ll head back now."
He hung up. Above him, sprawled across the massive asteroid, Bai Roushuang shrugged. "Shijie always guesses right."
Song Ping looked up at her. "Coming back with me?"
Bai Roushuang rolled playfully across the asteroid’s surface. "Nah, I’ll stay and play a bit longer."
"..."
