Entertainment: Who Said That the Golden Supporting Role Cannot Become the Top Stream

77: Desert smoke, sharpening swords on the battlefieldDirector Marcus Lee’s ”Western Regions Immersion Experience” trip arranged for Lin Da was astonishingly efficient.

Just three days after their conversation that changed An Si Yuan’s character fate, Lin Da, accompanied by Emily and escorted by a capable team of professional guides, translators, and security personnel, embarked on a journey to the mysterious land of China’s northwest frontier, a place filled with ancient legends and exotic charm.

There was no script, no lines, not even a clear mission.

Lin Da’s sole purpose for this trip was, as Marcus Lee hoped, to feel, to experience, to completely immerse himself in that unfamiliar environment, so different from modern cities, and to find... his own unique An Si Yuan.

The plane soared over the vast Gobi Desert; outside the window, there was endless yellow sand and continuous snow-capped mountains. That desolate, majestic, and isolated grand scenery made Lin Da’s heart expand along with it.

He knew that this land had once been a crucial hub of the Silk Road and an ancient battlefield where countless heroes competed. An Si Yuan’s story unfolded in such a land full of legendary and tragic colors.

Upon arriving at the destination—a small town near the border that still retained a strong nomadic flavor—Lin Da did not immediately begin the so-called ”experience.”

He first spent two days, led by the guide, exploring every corner of the town. He visited the local bazaar market, tasted the rugged and hearty roasted whole lamb and mare’s milk wine, listened to the desolate ballads sung in ancient Hu language, and had simple exchanges with the dark-skinned, simple-eyed local residents.

He tried his best to see with his own eyes, listen with his own ears, and feel with his own heart... every vibrant life, every unique mark on this land.

The [Cross-Cultural Communication Handbook (Beginner)] played a huge role in this process. It allowed Lin Da to adapt more quickly to the unfamiliar language environment and cultural customs, and also made it easier for him to build trust and friendship with the locals.

And the ”Affinity” mode in the Aura Control (Intermediate) skill made him like a natural ”diplomat”; no matter where he went, he could quickly integrate into the local atmosphere and get along well with the straightforward and hospitable herders.

On the third day, the real ”immersion experience” officially began.

Through the guide’s introduction, Lin Da stayed with a Kazakh nomadic family who had been herding for generations.

This was a typical nomadic family, living in traditional yurts, eating simple naan bread and milk tea. Although their life was tough, it was full of primitive vitality and reverence for nature.

Lin Da ate and lived with them, herded together, milked together, and sang and danced around the bonfire together.

He learned to ride a horse; although he fell many times at first, with the guidance of experienced herders, he quickly became able to gallop across the vast grassland like a true prairie man, feeling the exhilarating freedom and boldness.

He learned archery; although his aim still needed improvement, every time he drew the bowstring and aimed at a distant target, he could feel a warrior’s focus and decisiveness.

He even followed a respected old Aken (Kazakh folk singer) and learned a few lines of heroic epic sung in the ancient Hu language. The desolate and soaring melody, the powerful and tragic lyrics, made him feel as if he had truly traveled through time, back to that heroic era of war and swift revenge.

During this process, Lin Da did not deliberately ”act” An Si Yuan, nor did he think about the plot and lines in the script.

He simply emptied himself, like a sponge, greedily absorbing all the nourishment this land gave him.

He felt the roughness of the Gobi wind and sand blowing across his cheeks, the icy coldness of the snowmelt, the scorching heat of the earth under the blazing sun, and the tranquility and vastness of the grassland under the starry sky.

He laughed and grieved with the simple and kind herders, and together, in a harsh environment, they showed the most instinctive love and resilience for life.

Gradually, he found that the character An Si Yuan was no longer cold words on a script, nor was he deliberate conceptions in his mind.

He seemed... to have truly come alive.