The filming location for The Flourishing Dynasty's Long Ballad was at the hunting grounds more than a hundred kilometers away from Shuiquanwei.
This hunting ground was situated along the banks of the Shuiquan River, which happened to be the sole source of Small Mirror Lake. Covering several hundred square kilometers, the hunting grounds were blanketed with vast stretches of primeval forest and mountains, so there was an abundance of wildlife.
Because of ecological protection requirements, the hunting grounds had basically lost their original hunting function long ago. However, the name "Shuiquan Hunting Ground" had remained and gradually become another scenic attraction.
The Flourishing Dynasty's Long Ballad crew had gone to Shuiquan Hunting Ground the previous day to film. According to the schedule, they would not return to Shuiquanwei until at least the next day, and that was only if filming proceeded smoothly.
On the way to Shuiquan Hunting Ground, the crew staff member acting as their temporary guide enthusiastically introduced the environment there to Lu Chen. Shuiquan Hunting Ground also had Mongol settlements nearby, so conditions were not actually that bad.
He was clearly trying to reassure Lu Chen and keep him from worrying too much about Chen Fei'er's living conditions while filming there.
Zhang Xiaofang drove steadily, and after roughly an hour and a half, they finally saw the wooden stockade walls erected around the outskirts of Shuiquan Hunting Ground, along with battle banners fluttering high in the air.
Passing through what was obviously a temporarily constructed gate, the off-road vehicle entered the herdsmen's settlement inside the hunting grounds. Tents of various sizes were scattered in orderly fashion beneath the foothills, among which a massive golden tent was especially eye-catching.
"That's the Khan's Golden Tent!"
The staff member leading the way pointed at it with unconcealed pride as he introduced it. "I built it together with a bunch of the guys. We even hired quite a few local herdsmen to help. A lot of the props inside were custom-ordered and purchased from Wumeng City."
Lu Chen asked in surprise, "You're the prop master?"
The other man replied bashfully, "I'm still studying and working toward that. Right now I'm just a prop manager."
He had also brought several props with him on this trip to Shuiquan Hunting Ground.
"We're here!"
The vehicle came to a steady stop beside a yurt. Several crew utility trucks were already parked nearby.
The staff member jumped out first and grabbed a nearby colleague to ask, "Do you know where Chen Fei'er is filming right now?"
The colleague rolled his eyes. "Why?"
The guide jerked his chin toward Lu Chen, who had just gotten out of the vehicle. "This guy's here visiting the set."
The colleague immediately stared wide-eyed. "Holy crap, he actually came all the way out here? That's seriously impressive!"
The guide laughed. "Their relationship's good. One day apart feels like three autumns. Totally understandable."
The colleague nodded admiringly. "I'm convinced. They should still be filming inside the Golden Tent right now. Probably almost done."
The staff member explained the situation to Lu Chen.
Naturally, Lu Chen expressed his understanding. "Then I'll just wait here until the crew finishes filming. I won't disturb your work."
The staff member smiled. "Alright then. I need to deliver these props first, so excuse me."
Lu Chen thanked him once again.
After parting ways with the warmhearted man, Lu Chen had Zhang Xiaofang remain in the car while he himself wandered around the settlement inside the hunting grounds.
Aside from a small number of wooden cabins, the area consisted almost entirely of tents. Large numbers of cattle, sheep, and horses were penned outside, so the smell in the air was not particularly pleasant. Mongol people could be seen coming and going everywhere.
They were all very friendly. Upon seeing Lu Chen, they proactively greeted him, and some even invited him into their tents to sit and chat.
Lu Chen responded politely, but tactfully declined the invitations, explaining that he still had matters to attend to.
"Are you here to film too?"
As he was strolling around and taking in the sights, a crisp voice suddenly rang out from nearby, melodious like the song of an oriole.
Lu Chen turned his head instinctively and saw a young Mongol girl standing just a few steps away.
She looked to be only thirteen or fourteen years old. Her skin was slightly dark, but her eyes were large and lively. She wore traditional ethnic clothing, a long fitted dress decorated in bright shades of red, pink, green, and blue. Her black hair was braided into many small plaits, and her pointed upturned hat was inlaid with colorful gemstones.
She was every bit the image of a little Mongolian beauty.
In her hand, she held a long whip.
And behind the young girl hid a little brat with a runny nose, probably her younger brother, who clutched at his sister's belt while peeking timidly at Lu Chen.
Lu Chen found the scene rather amusing. He bent down slightly and replied with a smile, "I'm not here to film. I'm here to visit the set."
Her Mandarin was very standard, without much of a regional accent.
"Visit the set?"
The young girl clearly did not understand the term.
Lu Chen explained, "It means coming to see a friend who's filming here."
"Oh!"
The girl immediately understood. "Then that must be a very, very good friend of yours, right?"
Lu Chen smiled and nodded, then asked, "Little girl, what's your name?"
The girl answered very seriously, "My name is Gegen Tana. In another two years, I'll be an adult."
What she meant was that she was not actually that little anymore.
Lu Chen chuckled. "Gegen Tana? 'Pearl of the Grassland.' That's a beautiful name."
Gegen Tana looked surprised. "You know what my name means?"
Lu Chen only smiled without answering.
In Mongolian, "Gegen Tana" meant "pearl." Lu Chen had pulled that knowledge from Fang Mingyi's memories. Fang Mingyi could speak a little Mongolian and had once traveled across the Mongolian grasslands.
Only, in Fang Mingyi's world, Outer Mongolia had never returned to the motherland, becoming a lingering pain in the hearts of countless people.
As those memories surfaced, Lu Chen momentarily fell into a daze.
Gegen Tana rolled her bright dark eyes and asked, "How long are you planning to stay at Shuiquan Hunting Ground?"
Lu Chen snapped back to his senses and smiled as he replied, "Just a day or two, probably. I came here from Hong Kong."
"Hong Kong…"
To Gegen Tana, Hong Kong was undoubtedly an extremely distant place name, and a trace of bewilderment appeared on her face.
"Who's the person you came to visit?"
Lu Chen replied, "Her name is Chen Fei'er. Do you know her?"
"Big Sister Fei'er?"
Gegen Tana's eyes immediately lit up. "You're Big Sister Fei'er's friend?"
She was clever enough to guess further. "Her boyfriend?"
Lu Chen smiled and nodded.
For some reason, Gegen Tana's expression suddenly dimmed a little.
Just as Lu Chen was about to speak again, Zhang Xiaofang's voice suddenly rang out from the distance.
"Lu Chen!"
His heart instantly tightened.
The filming inside the Golden Tent must have finished, Chen Fei'er was probably coming out!
He no longer had the time to continue chatting with this interesting Mongolian girl and quickly said, "I need to go now. Goodbye."
"Wait!"
Gegen Tana abruptly stopped him, then stuffed the whip she had been holding into his hands.
"This is for you. Don't lose it!"
As soon as she finished speaking, she grabbed her younger brother and turned to run, disappearing among the yurts in the blink of an eye.
Lu Chen stood there in confusion, holding the whip. By the time he wanted to refuse the gift, it was already too late.
But right now, he did not care about such a small matter.
Because even from far away, he had already seen a figure emerge from the direction of the Golden Tent.
Without a second thought, Lu Chen ran toward that direction.
That familiar silhouette grew clearer and clearer before his eyes.
(End of Chapter)
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