Master-Level Blade Technique?
As soon as Luke returned to his room, he couldn't wait to check out the new skill the system had granted him.
Just like always, it was a memory of decades spent honing blade techniques, appearing out of nowhere in his mind.
The blade, often called the "courage of all weapons."
If swordplay gives off a graceful, almost ethereal vibe, blade techniques carry a raw, unstoppable ferocity—a bold, in-your-face energy.
It's no wonder they call it the courage of all weapons.
The essence of swordplay lies in the "thrust," while the heart of blade technique is the "slash."
Though both weapons are similar in length and weight, their use feels completely different.
As Luke swung his long blade, his mind kept circling back to his swordplay.
Comparing blade and sword techniques, they seemed to blend and elevate each other, pushing him to new heights.
By the time he sheathed the blade and snapped out of the memory, Luke felt he'd mastered yet another master-level skill.
He already had master-level swordsmanship, hand-to-hand combat, and throwing knife skills—forming a solid foundation for real-world self-defense.
Adding a master-level blade technique didn't seem that practical in everyday life.
But in action movies, blades are a go-to weapon.
Luke couldn't always rely on swordplay to fight enemies on screen. Wielding a long blade with a slick set of moves was essential for expanding his action roles.
Take his upcoming role in Pirates of the Caribbean, for example. There'd be plenty of scenes swinging a cutlass on ship masts, fighting for dear life.
So, even if the blade technique wasn't a game-changer in reality, Luke was still thrilled.
But then, the system hit him with a golden notification:
[Host has mastered three master-level weapon skills. When the host acquires five such skills, they will fuse to create a brand-new skill.]
Just as he thought!
Other skill types could fuse to level up, breaking through the master-level bottleneck—the only known way to do so.
Looks like weapon skills followed the same rule.
Master five master-level weapon skills, and they'd combine into something new, possibly surpassing master level.
Right now, Luke had three weapon skills under his belt—more than halfway there.
The system sure was generous with rewards when he interacted with girls.
Suddenly, Luke found himself looking forward to tomorrow's shoot. Would the reward be another weapon skill?
…
…
When Can Jian's presence enveloped her again, Ru Yue gently wrapped her arms around him, soft and fluid like rippling water.
The room was filled with nothing but Ru Yue's voice, while Can Jian stayed silent.
Seeing this, Director Zhang nodded approvingly. "That's it! I didn't expect Luke to coach her so well, so fast."
Today, Gao Yuanyuan's performance wasn't stiff anymore. She perfectly captured Ru Yue's joy and shy charm.
It was like her hard shell had been peeled away, revealing the juicy, vibrant core inside.
At that moment, Fei Xue arrived outside the door, hearing the sounds from within through the curtain.
Her hands clenched tightly, her eyes turning red, her gaze growing fierce.
After standing there for a moment, she seemed to make up her mind and quickly turned to leave.
When it was all over, Can Jian sensed Fei Xue's departure.
He looked at Ru Yue on the bed, his eyes cold. "Get out."
Ru Yue reached for his belt, silently pleading.
Impatiently, Can Jian snapped, "Just go!"
Only then did Ru Yue realize she'd been used.
Can Jian had only used her to provoke Fei Xue. He didn't love her at all.
A tear slid down her cheek. To hold onto her last shred of dignity, she forced herself to stand strong and leave.
Meanwhile, Can Jian sprinted to Fei Xue's door.
He didn't go in. Standing outside the red curtain, he shouted, "I know you saw. I've been with her like this for three years!"
When Fei Xue didn't respond, her hands gripping the sword on the table, Can Jian pressed on. "I let you see it on purpose!"
With that, he turned to leave.
But he spun back, shouting hysterically, "You're not in my heart at all!"
Clang!
With the sound of a sword unsheathing, a blade pierced through the door, stabbing Can Jian.
Fei Xue stood expressionless, her hand trembling as it gripped the sword.
But Can Jian's face showed a strange sense of relief, like a weight had been lifted.
They stood there, separated by a thin door, silent.
Blood flowed from Can Jian's chest, pooling at his feet.
The blood was so vivid, it outshone the room's sea of red.
Suddenly, Fei Xue yanked out the sword and fled in a panic.
Behind her, Can Jian slid down the door, collapsing.
His eyes held regret, nostalgia, and a trace of unwillingness…
Finally, he closed his eyes.
"Cut!"
Director Zhang shouted excitedly, signaling the scene was perfect in one take.
He was thrilled with this love-hate clash between Can Jian and Fei Xue.
From Can Jian's entanglement with Ru Yue to Fei Xue's jealous, hate-fueled strike, the scene flowed seamlessly.
Luke's performance stole the show. His eyes and subtle expressions perfectly conveyed Can Jian's suppressed rage. Even more surprising was his delivery.
It was incredible!
Even with his eyes closed, just hearing Luke's voice, Director Zhang could feel Can Jian's burning, untamed anger.
That kind of line delivery was jaw-dropping!
In one scene, Luke had completely won over Director Zhang.
A guy with stellar acting, martial arts skills, movie investment savvy, and the ability to help with international distribution—who wouldn't want that kind of all-star on their team?
Smiling, Director Zhang approached. "If we keep this pace, we can wrap your scenes in about a month."
Hearing this, Luke relaxed.
He couldn't stay too long with the Hero crew since Pirates of the Caribbean was about to start shooting.
Hero's locations weren't just this poplar forest. They'd also head to Guilin, Jiuzhaigou, Hengdian, and other spots.
Traveling between those would eat up time, so finishing in a month was ideal.
After nailing the scene, the golden system text he'd been waiting for appeared right on cue:
[Host completed an intimate scene with an A-type female, performed exceptionally, and is rewarded with the skill: Japanese (Master-Level).]
What the heck?