Ch 101: The World’s Number One Resort

“Bai Jingrong…” Cao Chuansen walked toward Hua Wu. Moments later, he found himself in the middle of the bamboo forest. At the center, a woman in a green dress with long hair and eight tails knelt on the ground, clutching her chest.

In her right hand, she held a sword that was stabbed into the ground, with traces of blood still dripping from its tip. This was left over from her earlier battle with the Sword Sect’s master. Blood also stained the corners of her mouth. Holding the sword, wounded, and in flight… It was a classic film scene. Judging by her expression, the woman was portraying the role with remarkable accuracy.

Cao Chuansen was momentarily stunned.

The woman in front of him was not strikingly beautiful, but her allure was tinged with a sorrowful air. Against the backdrop of her clothing and surroundings, she appeared even more delicate and touching. Yet, what stunned Cao Chuansen wasn’t her melancholy; it was her face.

Phoenix eyes, thin lips, a slightly rounded chin… The woman was unmistakably Tao Ke, looking exactly like the one depicted in Gu Xiangjie’s painting.

This version of Tao Ke was different from how she appeared in Canglan Sword Sect. In the show, while Tao Ke’s acting was solid, her expressions had some flaws. Moreover, as it was an old drama from seven years ago, the costumes and props of the main actors were quite cheap. Hua Wu’s eight tails resembled fuzzy keychain trinkets, which many viewers had mocked for breaking the immersion.

But now, the “Hua Wu” in front of him had Tao Ke’s face. However, her actions and demeanor were fully immersed in the role. The green dress she wore appeared ethereal, like a true fairy’s garment.

“Who is it?” While Cao Chuansen was still in a daze, Hua Wu sensed a presence and spoke out warily.

“Ahem…”

“So, it’s Lord Hui Yue.”

Cao Chuansen cleared his throat, preparing to recite some lines. However, Hua Wu had already drawn her sword and taken a step back, speaking in a steady voice.

Cao Chuansen: Damn, I forgot the lines!

He stared at Hua Wu, who looked back at him cautiously. The two were locked in a sort of staring contest. Cao Chuansen scratched his head. Although he was a die-hard fan of Hua Wu, Canglan Sword Sect had aired seven years ago. No matter how good his memory was, recalling the exact lines was too challenging.

Neither spoke. The breeze blew through, causing Hua Wu’s hair to flutter. Cao Chuansen felt a bit disoriented. The woman before him was the big star, Tao Ke, yet not really Tao Ke. The sensation was surreal but exciting.

“Can we take a picture together?”

After ten seconds of silence, Cao Chuansen finally spoke what would be Lord Hui Yue’s first line. Stroke of the Brush had a photo feature, allowing players to take snapshots that could be shared directly to WeChat, Weibo, Twitter, and other social media platforms—an extremely convenient, high-tech design.

Cao Chuansen knew immediately after saying his line that… he had broken character.

In the original story, Hui Yue was a towering figure in the cultivation world: cold, mysterious, and determined to rule the world of cultivation. Now, he wasn’t exactly living up to the role of a villain.

“Lord Hui Yue, you jest. Meeting you here only solidifies my end. Once my soul dissipates, I ask that you return Hua Wu’s body to the demon clan…” Though Cao Chuansen, the player, was acting out of character, Hua Wu continued following the Canglan Sword Sect storyline.

As she finished speaking, Hua Wu glanced at the sword in her hand and slowly brought it to her neck…

“Hmph, dare to refuse a photo with me? Your little demon fox clan won’t stand a chance then.”

Cao Chuansen wasn’t pleased. The scene felt too realistic, and he didn’t want to watch Hua Wu commit suicide. Besides, it was just a game, so why not have some fun?

After coming to this conclusion, Cao Chuansen took a step forward. Because of the character’s status, as he moved forward, Hua Wu felt a wave of pressure. The sword in her hand shattered.

Cao Chuansen: I’m awesome!

“Lord Hui Yue…” Hua Wu looked at the broken sword on the ground, a wave of desolation washing over her. She couldn’t live even if she wanted to, nor could she die if she wished to.

“How do we take a photo?” Hua Wu asked, raising her head after a brief moment of self-pity.

Cao Chuansen felt a bit awkward. Hua Wu had Tao Ke’s face, and her tearful eyes made things even more uncomfortable.

“Follow me—do a peace sign…” After a moment of awkwardness, Cao Chuansen raised his hand and made a “V” sign. He rarely took selfies, and the peace sign was one of the few poses he knew.

And so, amidst the lush bamboo forest, the two struck peace sign poses for the camera. As they posed, Cao Chuansen tentatively moved to touch Hua Wu’s shoulder. Not because he intended to be inappropriate, but because he was genuinely curious—could players actually interact with NPCs?

“Ding, minor violation by player. Please follow the guidelines. After three violations, access to [Stroke of the Brush] will be restricted.” As Cao Chuansen’s hand was just five centimeters away from Hua Wu, a crisp system message sounded.

Cao Chuansen: …Wow, Great Tang Resort really doesn’t give any perks.

He was quite disappointed, but after a moment, he returned to his photo session. After all, taking selfies with a celebrity was sure to make him the star of his social media circles.

…

“Wait, you can play like this?” Inside [Stroke of the Brush], Cao Chuansen was snapping photos non-stop. Meanwhile, outside, Su Guang and Gu Xiangjie exchanged baffled looks.

This wasn’t what they had envisioned.

According to Yuntian Entertainment’s plan, Hua Wu was supposed to be an elegant and tragic goddess-like figure, the absolute focal point of the bamboo forest scene. Players would interact with Hua Wu, but overall, she would retain her leading status, much like the toad monster in [Drinking alone under the moon]. However, she was intended to remain the “C-position” throughout the scene.

But now, Cao Chuansen and Hua Wu were happily posing for selfies. Although Hua Wu had Tao Ke’s face, undeniably, the attention naturally shifted to Cao Chuansen. It felt just like an online game, where no matter how intricately designed an NPC was, the focus always followed the “player.”

Hua Wu might have Tao Ke’s face, but even if it were changed to Zhang Ke or Wang Ke, it wouldn’t feel out of place.

“Su Ge, should we start over?” Gu Xiangjie scanned the surroundings. The way players interacted with the scene varied, but generally, it was similar. ‘Hua Wu Tao Ke’ seemed less like the protagonist of [Canglan] and more like a background NPC, just there to complement the players, regardless of how beautiful she was.

“Let’s wait a bit… Did you get it all recorded?” Su Guang pondered for a moment before turning to the two assistants.

“We got some clips and a lot of photos,” one of the assistants replied, raising their phone. With today’s advanced smartphone features, recording videos and taking photos was very convenient.

“Send them to my email,” Su Guang nodded.

“I’m heading back first. You guys are free to do what you want.” With that, Su Guang gave a few more instructions and then walked toward the bus stop. His laptop and toolkit were in his room. Although [Canglan Hua Wu] differed from his expectations, it wasn’t a complete failure.

Now, he had countless ideas for their next steps.

“What should we do?” The two assistants were left a bit confused as Su Guang walked away in a hurry.

“Play around?” Gu Xiangjie glanced at his reward points, then looked at the surrounding game pods, earnestly suggesting, “How about trying a game?”

“Nope,” the two assistants quickly shook their heads, like a pair of rattles. Being Tao Ke’s assistants meant they were constantly under pressure. Now that they finally had a chance to relax, they were determined not to see anything related to Tao Ke!

So, the two assistants found a game pod and decided to play [Bicycle Ride]. Gu Xiangjie hesitated for a moment and chose [Drinking alone under the moon] as his target.

As for [Canglan Hua Wu]… better wait for Su Guang’s further instructions.

…

While Gu Xiangjie and the two assistants enjoyed their games, back at the Bianjing Inn, Su Guang organized the photos sent by the assistants and forwarded them to Tao Ke’s private email.

“Is this the scene in [Stroke of the Brush]?” Su Guang was pacing back and forth when, five minutes later, a video call from Tao Ke popped up. Tao Ke had been guest-starring as the third female lead in an idol drama these past two days, with all her scenes shot back-to-back. She had just finished filming today.

At this moment, Tao Ke was resting wearily on the hotel sofa. When she saw [Canglan Hua Wu], she was truly amazed. The Hua Wu from [Canglan] looked just like her younger self, reminding Tao Ke of the glorious days she had a few years ago. Back then, she was the leading figure among the new-generation actresses, but now, everything had changed.

“Hua Wu’s realism is impressive. However, it doesn’t seem particularly outstanding.”

Tao Ke composed herself. She had seven or eight videos of tourists in hand, and just as Su Guang had analyzed, no matter how she looked at them, she seemed like a beautiful yet lifeless NPC from an online game… It felt strange to Tao Ke.

“Hua Wu’s personality, similar to her character in [Canglan Sword Sect], is well-developed. However, because of her predetermined traits and the limitations of the bamboo forest scene, her image fails to come across as three-dimensional. Furthermore, due to the tourists’ god-like perspective, Hua Wu’s character becomes increasingly diminished… Tao Ke, I have an idea, but it might be a bit unconventional.”

Su Guang analyzed seriously and, as he reached the end of his thought process, seemed to make a difficult decision.

Tao Ke was taken aback. Five minutes later, she understood what Su Guang was implying.

Tao Ke initially debuted under the title of Hua Ying Academy’s campus belle. In her early years, she gained popularity, often playing roles like urban white-collar workers and romantic female demons—characters that were well-received and easy to attract fans. Although a character is not the person themselves, as Tao Ke became more famous, people began to believe she was the embodiment of positive energy, a hardworking star with no negative traits. However, after the double scandal, her image completely collapsed.

As people were quick to kick her when she was down, her downfall over the past two years matched her earlier fame.

Su Guang’s suggestion was clear: use this opportunity with [Stroke of the Brush] to completely reinvent herself, even if it meant leveraging controversy to spark her return.

“After what happened, maintaining a pure and innocent image isn’t suitable anymore. Now, we can use [Stroke of the Brush] to get some attention. However, since we don’t have an exclusive partnership with Great Tang, once the hype around [Stroke of the Brush] grows, other actresses will also target this lucrative opportunity. We have only about a week to work with…”

After saying this, Su Guang continued. Tao Ke’s scandal was too big, and if she took this path, she might not be able to make a full comeback. However, given the current situation, it seemed like the most viable option.

“Ah, it would have been perfect if Great Tang had agreed to an exclusive contract.” With this thought, Su Guang sighed again. He had previously considered buying out Tao Ke’s exclusive rights for a year for 30 million. However, as discussed earlier, Great Tang was doing open business and wouldn’t play favorites for Tao Ke.

Su Guang then lowered the terms to cover other actresses of Tao Ke’s level. Yet Tang Huai still refused.

Initially, Su Guang felt Tang Huai was being stubborn. There were only four or five actresses competing with Tao Ke. Calculating based on three million for three years each, five actresses would amount to just fifteen million, far less than the thirty million Yun Tian Entertainment had offered. But after spending a day wandering around, Su Guang felt that the stubborn one was actually himself.

Given Great Tang Resort’s money-making capabilities, thirty million was just half a month’s revenue, right? With the resort’s resources, they had no reason to make special concessions for him.

“Alright, let’s go with your plan.” While Su Guang was caught up in his scattered thoughts, Tao Ke spoke calmly on the other end.

“Are you sure?” Su Guang was taken aback. Though he had expected this response, he still felt a bit conflicted when Tao Ke agreed so decisively. Strictly speaking, the two had known each other for seven years and were already close friends.

“Will you lead the video conference tonight?” Compared to Su Guang’s complexity, Tao Ke was much more straightforward. She referred to her public relations team, which was previously her own but had become a shared company resource after her fall from grace.

“I’ll organize the workflow first; we’ll start in an hour.” Su Guang nodded. They chatted for a bit longer before Tao Ke hung up.

Tao Ke opened the curtains, lit a cigarette, and began to smoke skillfully. Reflecting on her career, she thought about how, during her peak years, despite sometimes being a bit demanding, she mostly played by the unspoken rules of the entertainment industry. She never expected so many people to kick her when she was down the moment a scandal broke.

Thinking about the scandal, Tao Ke took a deep drag. Zhang Lei’s new film was coming out. Ever since he married his female assistant, his career had been on the rise, and his position in the film industry was even stronger than it was a few years ago.

Zhang Lei had been involved with his female assistant even before they got together. Zhang Lei probably married her for fame and resources, while she, with her fiery temper, chose to retaliate with an affair of her own. Both had cheated, but what Zhang Lei did was arguably worse. Yet, Zhang Lei was forgiven by his fans, while she was mocked by the masses.

Over the past two years, Zhang Lei and his assistant’s relationship had been spun into a “meant-to-be” love story.

Tao Ke used to be baffled by it, but after two years in the shadows, those old feelings now felt like a joke. She had a clear goal: to rise to fame again at any cost.

In the past, she had an image to maintain and was afraid of gaining attention through controversy. But now, there was nothing left to lose.

One hour later, Su Guang and Yun Tian’s PR team held a meeting. The entire discussion lasted three hours.

…

In the Sora sea area, Tang Huai finally came ashore after a long swim. It was already 4 p.m. by the time he was done. After changing his clothes, he headed toward the Delicious Restaurant.

Aunt Miley was experimenting with her goat milk cake. Besides goat milk, she had added various juices, like dragon fruit and watermelon, creating a culinary concoction that bordered on the adventurous side…

“Jellyfish, sea urchin, lobster? Manager, we could have a lavish seafood feast tonight!”

Seeing Tang Huai, Aunt Miley put down what she was doing and exclaimed dramatically. Tang Huai was holding a black net bag in his right hand, filled with various sea creatures, some still entangled in seaweed. From the looks of it, there were at least twenty pounds’ worth of seafood.

“I caught these in the Pacific Ocean,” Tang Huai said as he placed the seafood in the kitchen.

Initially, he hadn’t planned on catching sea creatures. However, on his way back, he found a net bag in the ocean, tangled with a silver hook. From the surroundings and common sense, it was likely a fishing net that had accidentally fallen off a boat.

The net bag was in perfect condition, so Tang Huai inspected it and decided to try his hand at being a part-time fisherman. And thanks to his “Transparent Shark” skill, he was surprisingly adept at catching fish and shrimp.

“Make it spicy, maybe use those Sichuan chili peppers we tried last time,” Tang Huai said, washing his hands. Sichuan peppers are famous, and he had brought back quite a few.

Aunt Miley gestured an ‘OK’ sign and eagerly started preparing the ingredients. Tang Huai smiled and, seeing that there weren’t many customers in the restaurant, walked around for a bit before finding a quiet corner to sit.

He then opened his personal inventory.

[Encyclopedia of Species]: Contains 16,000 species, usable across different regions.

[Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon]: Upgraded hot air balloon that can be used freely within a 300-mile radius around Sora Island, accommodates up to 10 people, with no height restrictions.

In addition to the [Windmill] and [Mountain Road], there were two unused items in his inventory. The [Species Compendium] was a rare intermediate-level item, while the hot air balloon was an upgraded version of a recreational project.

Tang Huai studied them briefly before putting the [Encyclopedia of Species] away.

Sixteen thousand species was an overwhelming number. Tang Huai had a hunch that once the [Encyclopedia of Species] was used, Sora Island’s ecosystem would become far more vibrant. However, the Sky Forest was still under construction, and though there were currently seven scenic areas, Sora Island was vast. To play it safe, he decided to wait until the island had further developed—at least until the Sky Forest was completed.

In comparison to the Sky Forest, the [Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon] seemed much simpler. Tang Huai flipped the card over and skillfully clicked “Use.”

He chose the camouflage mode, and the location: Great Tang No. 2.

“Notification: [Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon] successfully deployed. Please proceed to receive it.” As soon as he clicked, a system prompt sounded. Tang Huai immediately made his way toward the Sora Port.

Now that the sky had cleared up, the spring rain left behind a refreshing atmosphere. Many tourists in swimsuits and sun hats were busy exploring the tide pools near the port. Professional AI crew members patrolled the area, ensuring the safety of the visitors.

The Great Tang No. 2 stood like a mighty giant at the port.

Tang Huai walked over.

The Great Tang No. 2 required a mid-level AI to operate, which he hadn’t yet acquired. However, basic crew members like helmsmen and maintenance workers were easily available.

As soon as he acquired the Great Tang No. 2, Tang Huai purchased twenty AI crew members from the system shop. When they saw him approaching, the AIs thoughtfully opened the ship’s intelligent deck, allowing him to board.

The interior facilities of the Great Tang No. 2 followed the system’s standard design. While not overly luxurious, the details gave off a vibe of understated elegance. Led by an AI, Tang Huai arrived at the main deck.

In the center of the deck was a colorful airbag, about half the size of the deck, with a 5-meter by 5-meter light-colored basket hanging below it. Above it, there was a ten-meter-high heat mechanism. Around the basket were light linen sofas, an open kitchen, and a mini fridge—the interior decor was both exquisite and lavish.

Tang Huai glanced around and noticed a smart sightseeing device in the middle of the basket. When activated, the sides of the basket turned into light wooden railings intertwined with vibrant floral vines.

When deactivated, the wooden railings would lower, and a transparent safety barrier would rise, almost invisible except for the sensation of having a solid surface underfoot.

The basket measured about 25 square meters, comparable to a medium-sized living room. With its luxurious interior, it would be a top-tier experience for anyone who wasn’t afraid of heights.

“Manager Tang.” As Tang Huai continued inspecting the basket, two casually dressed AIs approached. They were the onboard attendants that came with the Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon.

“How’s the safety performance?” Tang Huai asked, getting to the most critical point. The Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon was an aerial transportation tool, and regardless of its luxurious interior, safety was paramount.

“The Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon comes with an aerial safety guarantee. It is surrounded by AL safety gel, which prevents passengers from attempting any self-harm during the flight,” one of the more composed-looking AIs patiently explained.

Tang Huai was amused. With the system’s high-tech features, safety was evidently not something he needed to worry about.

“When can it be used?” Tang Huai circled around the basket. Just from its appearance, the Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon was a high-value project sure to attract those with a taste for a dreamy, scenic experience.

“Anytime,” the attendant replied.

Tang Huai stepped onto the basket but, after thinking for a few seconds, decided to step back down. It was already 5:30 p.m., with dinner only half an hour away. Tang Huai decided to save the test flight for tomorrow. If the test flight went well, the Ocean Horizon Hot Air Balloon would become one of the new attractions at Great Tang Resort.

After giving the AIs some encouraging words, he disembarked.

Although they weren’t fully sentient, the AIs could perform basic system-based reasoning, and they genuinely appreciated Tang Huai’s encouragement.

…

“It’s getting hard to wait; it smells so good!”

“My stomach has been spoiled. Once I go back in a few days, I’ll definitely miss Aunt Miley.”

“Haha, if only the Delicious Restaurant would open a branch in China.”

…

At 6 p.m., Tang Huai returned to the Delicious Restaurant. By then, the place was already bustling with visitors. Everyone was holding their cutlery, eagerly gazing toward the kitchen… Over time, they had become Aunt Miley’s devoted fans. Apart from the attractions, the highlight of their day was indulging in her culinary skills.

The daily flood of compliments used to be a bit awkward, but since they found out that praising the restaurant could result in freebies, people had been showering the chef with creative and flowery praise.

The diners were happy, and Aunt Mileyenjoyed the appreciation. It was a win-win situation.

“Chives scrambled eggs—”

“Charcoal-grilled lamb leg, white wind-flavor eggplant—”

In the midst of this anticipation, a lively waiter began announcing the dishes, while the others brought them to the tables one by one.

“Manager Tang, this is a special seafood feast.” Tang Huai, watching from the side, was soon approached by two AI waiters carrying a large clay pot.

When they opened the pot, it revealed an array of lobsters, sea cucumbers, and other seafood. Since the island was near the coast and Tang Huai had the advantage of his system’s abilities, the seafood he gathered was all fresh and large. As he stared at the lobsters, thick as his forearm, he hesitated for a moment, not sure where to start…

Meanwhile, other diners glanced over, their expressions mixed with envy. Although they were on Sora Island, opportunities to eat fresh seafood were scarce. While the restaurant did serve seafood dishes, they were usually imported and of a standard size. Now, comparing the shrimp on their plates with the ones on Tang Huai’s… they couldn’t help but feel a pang of jealousy.

The size of Tang Huai’s shrimp was impressive, so much so that some curious guests couldn’t resist taking out their phones to snap a few pictures. The seafood was cooked with Sichuan chili peppers, and as Tang Huai started to dig in, the spicy aroma filled the entire restaurant.

Visitors: We want to eat that so badly!

And so, under the watchful eyes of the guests, Tang Huai began his seafood feast.

He tried his best to ignore the attention, but in his mind, he began to contemplate. With the Transparent Shark skill, perhaps he could venture into fishing and develop a seafood project?

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️