Ten minutes later, Qiao Moyu took Luo Luo's little hand and the two of them left together.
Since she gained some popularity recently, she made sure to put on a disguise.
Luo Luo was well behaved. Before heading for the movie theatre, they stopped by the nursery.
Qiao Moyu donned her robes and tied her hair into a bun, then applied neutral makeup on her face. After putting on the final touches, she now resembled an immortal.
Meanwhile, Qiao Moyu placed a wig on her son's head. She was worried that his thin baby hair would give him out. Now that Luo Luo's small head was covered with a wig, the toddler suddenly transformed his appearance into that of an ancient street boy. He was too cute!
Qiao Moyu picked him up and kissed his face several times, then she took ahold of his hand and walked out of the nursery.
Their unusual style of clothes attracting man people's gazes, but Qiao Moyu didn't care. She and her son went forward to their next destination.
All of the actors and directors were already present just half an hour before the premier. The director has worked hard these past three years to make this small film. However, the entire process of filming, editing, and negotiating with the theatres has not been smooth sailing.
The movie is about to begin, but not even a fifth of the seats at the premiering cinema has been sold despite giving out presale tickets the past week.
The director extremely anxious. When he suddenly heard a knock at the door, he immediately stood up and went straight for the entrance.
What greeted him was Taoist priest accompanied by a young Taoist disciple. The Taoist priest had beautiful brows and an aura of an immortal while the younger boy was quite adorable, just like a doll from a New Year's Card.
Angry and disappointed at what he saw, the director scolded: "Get out and leave, we're here for business. We don't give out alms!"
Qiao Moyu fully anticipated this type of reaction. She guarded Luo Luo behind her while replying in as rough a voice as she could manage: "No, no! We're not here to beg for alms, we're offering to open the light for you!"
"We don't need it, whether it's alms or opening the light!" The director shooed them away impatiently while muttering to himself, "Not only is the film going to flunk, there's still others after my money!"
"You're wrong!" Qiao Moyu refuted. She comforted Luo Luo behind her before stepping forward. She raised her horsetail whisk and slapped the table loud and clear, attracting the attention of everyone in the room.
Qiao Moyu gazed back at the stupefied onlookers and said, "Haven't you ever heard the phrase 'Try to save the dead horse as if it is still alive'? (meaning: do the impossible, for it may truly be possible). From my childhood, I, Xiao Dao, was trained by a master for many years to open the light. Among the hundreds and thousands I have met, there is not one situation I have not encountered. Since your movie's premier is somewhat lacking, why not try it out just once? Xiao Dao promises not to take a penny if my services show no results. However, if you are successful, you will be charged 10% of the box office earnings. Right now, you're about to lose your business. Are you really going to turn down this opportunity without trying once? How can you lose your one big chance?"
When she spoke, she used her inner qi to make her robes flutter slightly while releasing a noble aura at the same time. This instantly shocked all who were present.
The director hesitantly asked: "If you don't succeed, you really won't accept a penny?"
"Yes," she replied with a nod.
"Alright, I'll try it once!" The director glanced at Luo Luo who smartly stood to the side, then asked, "Then, he is–"
"This boy's unique physique qualifies him to become a master, which is why he is the 32nd generation who will succeed in my place." Qiao Moyu maintained a poker face as she declared: "Prepare to open the light!"
After Qiao Moyu finished speaking, she pulled over a table and propped up the candlestick she had brought with her. She then took out a bronze bowl and filled it with water before setting it next to several paper notes.
Luo Luo stood to one side and watched curiously as Qiao Moyu prepared. He dared not utter a word since he had promised her before they left that he wouldn't make trouble at her work.
So even if his eyes were wide with curiosity, he dared not speak or move.
Next to him, the director couldn't help but sigh as he stared at the Taoist child who looked only two or three years old.
He put his hopes on these two Taoist priests because his logic was muddled by his desperation. By the time Qiao Moyu lit up the candlestick, the director no longer felt like stopping them.
'The sky was black, and the earth was pale. The universe was formed in a chaotic mess…." Qiao Moyu said as she began to open the light. In fact, she could achieve the same effects without doing such rituals, but in order to appear more professional in front of other, she simply recited the text she studied back then.
She leapt forward while chanting; one moment, she was reciting from the 'Book of Changes' and the next she chanted from 'Tao Te Ching.' Despite her growing headache, she kept a straight face, acting as if she was some respectable master.
(T/N: Book of Changes is an ancient Chinese divination text and the oldest of the Chinese classics; Tao Te Ching is a Chinese classic text traditionally credited to the 6th-century BC sage Laozi.)
As she recited, Qiao Moyu picked up her peach sword and began to wave it about. Due to her martial arts training, her sword dance was quite skillful, enough to startle the director and the actors from the audience.
Although this priests appeared young, he must truly be a master!
Luo Luo stood by the side and watched his mother with interested. Whenever Qiao Moyu danced more rigorously, he followed along to her movements as well.
Luo Luo ran to a corner in order not to bother her while he attempted to imitate his mother's movements. The chubby little boy lacked a sense of balance; when he twirled around, he ended up falling on his butt and sitting on the ground.
The director and his companions laughed. Was this the so called 'unique' physique?
Qiao Moyu leapt onto the table and lit a paper note. When it had almost burnt out, she threw it directly onto the bronze bowl that was filled with water.
The blackened paper instantly melted into the liquid, causing the water to turn pitch black and cloudy.
Qiao Moyu gently caressed the bronze bowl and closed her eyes. She suddenly opened them again, but this time, with a glint in her eye. After picking up the bronze bowl, she approached the director and said, "Hand me a prop that you used in this movie!"
The director motioned to his men below, and soon, someone brought over a broken backpack.
"That's it?" Qiao Moyu asked.
"Yes," the director said with a nod. "It's a prop that's used from beginning to end within the film."
Qiao Moyu didn't say much. She sprinkled half of the water on the broken backpack and the other half on the director. After reciting a few more sentences, she waved her horsetail whisk and declared: "Open the light and succeed!"
The director felt remorseful about his damp shirt; it was actually worth more than a hundred shirts, and yet now it's been stained black!
However, what he didn't know was that after several days come to pass, he will eventually pick up this shirt and display it on his wall! He would call it his 'baby' without letting anyone touch it!
"So, Kai Guang Master, is it over yet?" The director had no hopes for Qiao Moyu in the end. After checking the time, he addressed the actors: "It's time. Let's go backstage."
The premier started 20 minutes before the film was aired. When the director stepped out of his seat and looked at the audience behind him, he felt as if his heart was crushed into a pool of blood; dozens of people were chatting and whispering to one another in the audience.
Nevertheless, he had already prepared himself psychologically for this kind of disappointment. While trying to comfort himself in his mind, the director approached the host and said: "Thank you for today…"
At this very moment, outside of the theatre.
"Hey, isn't there a premier here? Let's go and see it!"
"Why is nobody here for the premier? Now that's sad, this babe decides to show her love and support then!"
"The director looks familiar, this Lady will give him a call!"
"The actor for this movie is so ugly. I, the Young Master, will go watch this movie to flaunt my superior looks."
Outside the theatre, people kept coming for exotic reasons and bought movie tickets.