As the audience relaxed, the tension suddenly heightened again. Yan Chixia pursued Nie Xiaoqian and was blocked by the Tree Demon Granny. "You old daoist! We all just want to live here. In fact, the people I kill deserve to die. Why do you keep bothering me!" "Heh, who's bothering you? I'm hiding in this damned place just to avoid worldly grudges." "Everyone wants to reduce the wicked in the human world, which is benefiting mankind. In essence, we are all kindred spirits!" "Kindred spirits my ass! I don't care if you kill bad people, but if you kill even one good person, I will eliminate you!"
The distinction between good and evil has always been a controversial matter. The Tree Demon Granny used her subordinates to tempt lustful men, and then these lustful men were labeled as bad people by her. At this moment, many lustful viewers couldn't sit still. "I'm just a pervert, but that doesn't warrant losing my life, does it?" "I admit I can't resist such temptation, but it's not a capital offense..." "Who did I, Huang, offend?" "I have to object to this. Such a beautiful female ghost, even a straight man couldn't resist." This was the refutation from the lustful audience. I'm a pervert, but it doesn't mean I deserve to die. You actively seduce me and then call me a bad guy?
However, while the audience was still debating this plot point, another terrifying yet comedic scene unfolded. The room was filled with dried corpses. While everyone was worried about Ning Caichen, he, in search of an inkstone, unintentionally wiped out a room full of dried corpses. The audience, who had just been scared half to death by the terrifying atmosphere, now felt immense sympathy for these poor creatures.
Then came the famous scene of the entire drama. Ning Caichen found Nie Xiaoqian. But suddenly, the Tree Demon Granny appeared and put Ning Caichen into a water bucket. This scene can be described as tense yet humorous. Simultaneously, it perfectly advanced the main plot, allowing the emotional connection between the two to continue to heat up. Especially the kiss when Ning Caichen, unable to hold his breath, surfaced and Nie Xiaoqian gave him air. It made countless viewers exclaim with envy!
"Hiss... I finally understand why Zhang Yang abandoned a great background like Tingyu to go into filmmaking." "Hahaha, I sincerely envy Zhang Yang, getting such an exciting drama right from the start!" "Holy cow, that's a real kiss!!" "Can we stop mixing drama and reality? This scene was well-shot, and the extraordinary performance of the two played a significant role." "Indeed, this shot is simply beautiful!"
This was not enough. After the two had a falling out, Ning Caichen left in a huff, then saw the wanted poster and mistakenly believed Yan Chixia was a murderer. He ran back to save Nie Xiaoqian. That bed scene was absolutely heart-pounding! Nie Xiaoqian lay softly in Ning Caichen's arms. The extremely sensual plot did not make her appear frivolous; instead, it exuded a captivating charm and purity. This passionate scene was definitely a textbook-level bed scene. The visual beauty was perfectly captured. It was both "suggestive" and "beautiful," with a sense of ritualistic sanctity.
That's right. In a horror film, one could see a passionate scene more aesthetically pleasing than a literary film. This was absolutely an unprecedented experience. "This Ning Caichen is truly a role model for us! He actually goes for it when there's a ghost!" "Damn it, I've seen many people driving, some driving big rigs, some driving toy cars, but this is the first time I've seen someone driving a hearse!" "It's as if you wouldn't drive such a beautiful hearse if it were given to you..." "Haha, that's right, as long as you're brave enough, female ghosts will take maternity leave!" "Before watching this drama, I was afraid of ghosts, but after seeing this, I'm not scared at all. Instead, I have a bold idea." "Hiss... Even I, a pervert, think you guys are perverts." "I often feel out of place because I'm not perverted enough."
While the drama was romantic and humorous, it also contained many thought-provoking satirical plots. For example, Ning Caichen had no money before, and the shopkeeper wouldn't even let him look at paintings. After he had money, the attitude changed drastically, saying he was of high status just because he was rich. Also, when reporting the crime, the exaggerated county magistrate, speaking in a sing-song voice, asked for money at every turn. Although it looked amusing, upon closer reflection, it was a satire of the backdrop of a populace in dire straits, especially the line "Retire the court for free," which left a particularly deep impression.
Also, Yan Chixia's words: "The human world is too complicated, difficult to distinguish right from wrong. Being with ghosts and spirits, where black and white are clear, is actually simpler." These were filled with the good and evil of human nature, and the strong "apocalyptic" sentiment in the movie. However, it also showed a sense of hope. Ning Caichen, "weak, helpless, and soft," such a character would probably not survive a few minutes in the apocalypse. Yet, Ning Caichen miraculously survived, and not only that, he lived quite comfortably. In a world where rituals and rules had long collapsed, he still maintained his integrity. If Yan Chixia represented the "way of the knight," then Ning Caichen was the "scholar-knight." Although he was a fallen scholar, he could still "draw his sword to help when seeing injustice." Even knowing Nie Xiaoqian's tragic past, despite his fear, he used his mortal body to fight against demons and spirits to save Nie Xiaoqian and allow her to reincarnate. This was the central theme of the movie: "good and evil." Although humans are weak, having humanity makes them good. If they lose this original intention, they are worse than ghosts! The distinction between humans and ghosts is not innate. Ghosts can be kinder than humans, and humans can be more evil than ghosts. Those who abandoned humanity for bestiality in the apocalyptic world are the true ghosts.
The subsequent plot had one climax after another. When the audience saw the Tree Demon Granny finally killed, they felt immense satisfaction. Ning Caichen took Nie Xiaoqian's ashes urn away. The moment Nie Xiaoqian appeared at the restaurant, the audience's anxious hearts finally relaxed. "The ten-mile flat lake is filled with frost, and every strand of black hair sighs through the years. Gazing at the moon, alone and hoping for protection, we only envy mandarin ducks, not immortals..." When this love poem was recited, many viewers exclaimed. "Only envying mandarin ducks, not immortals. What a beautiful poem!" "As expected of the old thief Jiangnan, only Tingyu can match this literary talent!" "Why do I have a sense of unreality? Jiangnan's plots are never this beautiful!"
Indeed. The plot could not be this beautiful! Before the audience could savor the sweetness for long, a sudden change occurred! Nie Xiaoqian was captured by the Black Mountain Old Demon. Yan Chixia slashed open the boundary between the yin and yang with his sword! The dual heroes of Confucianism and chivalry went to the underworld to save Nie Xiaoqian. Here was the most tear-jerking part of the entire drama. Especially when Nie Xiaoqian picked up Yan Chixia's sword, which killed ghosts and spirits, to save Ning Caichen, the deep sense of powerlessness made many feel suffocated. However, the focus was not here. After defeating the Black Mountain Old Demon, the biggest heartbreak of this drama arrived! The sun rose. Ning Caichen used his body to shield Nie Xiaoqian from the morning sun. The frustration of being unable to be together despite their love. The despair of the insurmountable barrier between humans and ghosts. The regret of not being able to see each other even for the last time. This pushed the emotions of the entire drama to their peak! At this moment, many viewers couldn't help but shed tears on the spot! "Actually, being born at the wrong time is more tragic than being a ghost." Yan Chixia's final words perfectly captured the theme. Rather than calling this a tragedy of human-ghost love, it was more of a reflection on the current social reality. Humans cannot break free from the times. Every ordinary person struggles desperately in the mortal world for their dreams. As a result, when a great wave of time washes over them, everything is lost. Some people go with the flow and sink, while others, who remain steadfastly in the light, are forced into inner torment. As a result, the beautiful things in their hearts, such as youth, love, integrity, virtue, generous aspirations, and the spirit of chivalry, vanish like dreams, becoming increasingly blurry, leaving only the former youths to walk alone on the rugged and vast path of the human world.
As the music of "A Chinese Ghost Story" began to play, the entire movie officially concluded. The lights in the cinema turned on, but the audience did not get up to leave. Whether they were moved by the story, still reminiscing, or wanted to listen to the deeply touching theme song until the end.