Li Aihua said, "Because your script and the one written by Li Yibai are strikingly similar, Li Yibai is convinced that you plagiarized him. Is that true?"
"Ridiculous." Guan Kunling sneered coldly, "I’ve never plagiarized. He plagiarized ."
Screenwriter Yao asked, "Earlier you said you lost so novel drafts. Do you recall which ones?"
Guan Kunling replied indifferently, "Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes, Return of the Condor Heroes. I already had drafts prepared, but they were lost inadvertently. For Shanghai Beach, I had an outline, but it vanished as well."
These words were certainly thought-provoking!
Li Yibai laughed twice, then abruptly stood up from his chair, "Fuck your mother, can you not be so shaless! Claiming I plagiarized you — who would believe such nonsense from just a handful of your words?"
"Watch your language." Guan Kunling glanced at him, her gaze icy.
Naturally, Screenwriter Yao and Li Aihua couldn’t possibly believe her based solely on her words.
Li Aihua asked, "You claim you wrote these two martial arts novels. We’re curious to know—why did you write them? Where did your inspiration co from?"
"To be honest." Guan Kunling said, "I hail from a distant mountain where my ancestors were reclusive masters. I inherited their ancient martial arts and developed a fascination with wuxia since childhood, constantly hearing stories of Seven Heroes and Five Gallants."
"Oh?" Screenwriter Yao’s eyes lit up. "Which mountain are you referring to? Which hidden family from China’s retreating clans?"
Guan Kunling shook her head. "It’s a family rule. I cannot divulge the details. I hope you can understand."
Screenwriter Yao looked disappointed. He was aware that people like her valued tranquility and mystery, disliking external interference.
"Then, do you have any other proof to substantiate your inspiration?"
Guan Kunling’s gaze flitted around, seeking sothing. "Could you provide with a sword?"
Li Aihua: "A sword?"
Guan Kunling: "A wooden staff would suffice."
Eventually, the police brought a wooden stick.
Guan Kunling lightly picked up the end of the stick and stood still. Suddenly, her figure shifted. The stick in her hand seed to transform into a sword, thrusting forward and leaping upward.
Li Aihua: "Is she practicing martial arts?"
Screenwriter Yao stared intently: "I think she’s performing a sword dance."
Graceful as a startled swan and nimble as a swimming dragon, the wooden stick in her hands shifted between light and heavy strokes, alternately sharp and smooth. Her movents stirred delicate veils in the air.
She resembled a white butterfly, fluttering with elegance yet exuding confidence and vitality.
The display didn’t last long. Suddenly, Guan Kunling halted, standing upright with the stick resting behind her back. She smiled faintly at them and asked, "How does that suffice?"
The crowd was dumbstruck, then erupted into applause. Indeed, only soone like this could write exquisite wuxia novels!
Guan Kunling said, "Actually, Li Yibai and I are acquaintances. We’ve had grudges in the past, so he might hold a grudge against . I’d like to speak with him alone—is that acceptable?"
"Alright." Li Aihua and Screenwriter Yao now believed her. After exchanging a glance, they agreed.
It was undeniable; Li Yibai had been deeply impressed by Guan Kunling earlier. But this woman was dangerous, and he dared not underestimate her.
Left alone together, Li Yibai suppressed his anger and adopted a negotiating tone. "Eggy, we’re both from the sa place—why fight one another? Let’s compromise: Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes and Return of the Condor Heroes could be mine, while Shanghai Beach could go to you. How about it?"
Guan Kunling’s lips parted slightly: "No. All three must be mine."
The conversation was over—he’d never encountered soone as brazen as this woman. Li Yibai’s eyes filled with malicious rage, and he snapped bitterly, "You shaless woman, you want to monopolize everything? Well, then I outright refuse to admit I plagiarized!"
Li Yibai sneered. "And if you accuse of plagiarizing, aren’t you worried I’ll spill your secret?"
Guan Kunling, half-smiling, slowly approached him. Suddenly, with lightning speed, she touched him in a pressure-point attack. Li Yibai’s face turned pale as ice flooded his body. Stiff and immobilized, he could not utter a single sound!
Terrified, he stared at Guan Kunling.
He wanted to cry for help, scream curses, demand answers about who she really was and what she wanted!
"Those who know my secrets either matter to or end up dead. Do you wish to die too?" Standing beside him without looking directly at him, Guan Kunling gazed ahead and said coldly, "I can kill you silently in a hundred different ways. You know—I practice martial arts."
From nowhere, she produced a dagger. The blade skimd his face near the corner of his eye, gradually moving lower until it pressed against his vulnerable neck.
The cold, sharp edge lay against his throat, chilling him to the core, every ounce of his blood screaming in fear.
"Just like now—a single slice is all it takes..."
Cold sweat ford on Li Yibai’s forehead. If he could move, he’d be trembling uncontrollably.
No, no, he didn’t want to die! He’d been given a second chance at life!
Even a life of humiliation was better than death!
Forget being accused of plagiarism—he didn’t care anymore!
Why was his rebirth destined to face a master of ancient martial arts!
He surrendered; he chose surrender!
"Even if I spare you today, I’ll find you later. You’ll never escape my grasp. If you value your life, disappear far away. Never let see you again, and don’t ddle in my business again. Otherwise, I’ll make your death miserable." Guan Kunling added, "Crushing you would be as effortless as squashing an ant."
Li Yibai blinked furiously, tears escaping from his eyes to signal his submission!
Guan Kunling sheathed the dagger and released his pressure points. Li Yibai collapsed on the table like a pile of mud, his scalp prickling with fear. He completely believed this woman nad Eggy was capable of killing him. From her, he felt the chill of murderous intent. He didn’t have her skills to take her down, so he had no choice but to retreat.
A short while later, Li Aihua and Screenwriter Yao returned.
Li Yibai was already back to normal. He confessed to them, "I plagiarized Eggy’s work, and I’m willing to admit it."
So easily? The two were stunned. They glanced at Guan Kunling’s composed face, then at Li Yibai, who didn’t appear coerced. Regardless, with this confession from Li Yibai, there was no need to interrogate further, and now they could explain things publicly.
Screenwriter Yao asked, "Ms. Eggy, now that Li Yibai has admitted to plagiarizing your ideas, how do you plan to proceed?"
Guan Kunling replied, "Let it be. To err and correct is a great virtue. I’ll take my leave. Farewell to all."
She waved her sleeve without taking away a single cloud. The crowd rubbed their eyes—this was what a true master embodied! Calm, free-spirited, magnanimous.
The next day, news of Li Yibai admitting to plagiarism was all over the newspapers, causing an uproar. Li Yibai was stripped of his exchange student qualification by Beijing University. The authorship of Heroic Legend of the Condor Heroes and Return of the Condor Heroes was updated to credit Eggy, while all of Li Yibai’s other works vanished overnight, like he had evaporated from the world—a clear sign soone powerful was targeting him.
Reviews
All reviews (0)