"Another new show? Is this guy made of iron?"
"A typical screenwriter might produce one drama a year, and if one out of three projects in three years becomes a hit, that's enough to call them top-tier in the Great Zhou TV industry. But Jing Yu... what on earth is in his head? He pumps out several works a year, and each of them explodes in popularity. High volume, high quality—if he keeps it up for one year, he's a genius; for two, he's a monster; by the third year, I thought he must be an alien. Now that it's the fourth year… can anyone tell me when this guy's creative peak is going to end?"
"'Fate/Zero' is only halfway through, and now we're getting 'Legal High' and 'Natsume's Book of Friends'? You've got to be kidding me. Can't he at least let the rest of the industry breathe a little? There are only four quarters in a year—what's he going to do, dominate them all?"
"I give up. Three years ago, when the six major networks got crushed by a young writer, I thought it was because they weren't taking things seriously—just a fluke. Two years ago, nothing changed, and I figured maybe the era had shifted. Last year, when they were still getting stomped in every way, I accepted it wasn't that the six networks were weak—it was that Jing Yu is just that strong. And now? Jing Yu's basically the god of screenwriting in the Great Zhou."
"I seriously don't think he's human anymore. I mean, two new shows again? I bet the six big networks are panicking right now."
Compared to regular viewers, fellow screenwriters had an even more visceral reaction to the news.
At some point, Jing Yu as an individual had grown so influential that his actions shook the entire industry as much as a major move from one of the six networks.
If someone planned to launch a big drama in a certain quarter, the first bit of intel they had to gather wasn't just which flagship dramas the six networks were pushing—but also whether Jing Yu had a show scheduled. If he did, most creators already felt like they'd lost before even starting.
No one liked to admit it, but deep down, they knew: their work probably couldn't compete.
Especially with works like 'Hikaru no Go' or 'Initial D'. To most writers, creating something on that level once in their life would be a career-defining achievement.
But Jing Yu? He seemed to crank out one or two of these a year.
At first, they thought 'Fate/Zero' had only so-so word of mouth and maybe the audience was finally growing tired of him—but nope. Even so, the ratings were insane.
Once the news of his upcoming dramas was posted via the official Qingyun Blog account, the once-idle departments at BlueStar Media roared to life.
Especially the newly formed production teams for 'Legal High' and 'Natsume's Book of Friends'.
Some had to start casting, while others dove into script analysis.
'Natsume's Book of Friends' wasn't too hard to localize. Bringing its setting into a Great Zhou context was fairly straightforward.
After all, the monsters in the show couldn't just be copied directly from Japanese folklore—Great Zhou had its own rich tradition of supernatural beings. Those aspects would need careful adaptation.
But 'Legal High' was a different story.
Its plot heavily relied on Japanese law. While broadly similar to the Great Zhou's system, the differences weren't trivial.
One plotline, for instance, involves residents suing a developer because a new high-rise blocked their sunlight.
"Sunlight rights" in Jing Yu's previous world had little traction in China, and in the Great Zhou? That'd be considered absurd.
Yet in the show, the outcome was unexpectedly nuanced.
So, what did Jing Yu do with the script?
Simple. He wasn't a legal expert, and trying to tweak the entire legal framework would be a mess. So instead, he just set the story in Japan of the BlueStar World.
'Fate/Zero' had done the same—and no one had minded. Viewers still loved it.
Would using the original legal conflicts from 'Legal High' make audiences uncomfortable?
Based on the massive popularity of 'Legal High' in his previous life, China, clearly not.
Nobody watches 'Legal High' to study law. They watch to see the main character's antics. The fact that the fictional "Japan" had legal quirks different from Great Zhou's didn't bother anyone.
Jing Yu thought the setting worked just fine. When he showed the draft to Cheng Lie, he agreed. So did everyone else in the company.
As long as it made the show better, everything else was secondary.
With that decided, the next challenge was casting.
The role of Komikado required an actor who was flamboyant, greedy, a bit of a rascal, but also deeply principled when it counted. The success of the show hinged entirely on this performance.
For just the role of Komikado, Cheng Lie had contacted dozens of A- and B-list actors from across Great Zhou.
And once they heard it was a Jing Yu show and the lead role? Nearly all of them enthusiastically agreed to audition. Some even offered to take a 30–40% pay cut. That's how much weight "Written by Jing Yu" carried in the industry.
If Jing Yu wanted someone in the cast, 99% of actors would say yes.
BlueStar Media felt like a fully revved-up engine.
Late February. Right before episode 8 of 'Fate/Zero' aired…
Last week's viewership had already approached the mythical 10% average mark.
Yunteng TV invested heavily in promoting the show this week.
Even though they didn't own the copyright, a 10% rating said everything. The value it brought to Yunteng TV easily justified the investment.
The entire production team at Yunteng TV was hoping episode 8 would finally push the show over the 10% average rating mark.
Same on the three major streaming platforms. The more viewers 'Fate/Zero' had, the better their market valuation and public perception became.
Let's not forget: when Jing Yu bought 17% of Qingyun for 300 million yuan early last year, some questioned it. But now, with Qingyun's valuation doubled, it was clear: he hadn't taken advantage.
If he weren't Qingyun's second-largest shareholder, if his shows hadn't brought so much traffic and fandom, the platform's rise wouldn't have been so fast.
Now, JingyYu didn't even need to spend more money. Yunteng TV and the big three platforms were competing to fund the promotion for him.
Su Qingwen had been glued to Yunteng TV since 7:40 PM. When the show finally aired at 8:00, he estimated that Yunteng TV had run a full 10 minutes of promos for 'Fate/Zero'. That's next-level treatment.
"Alright. This episode better show Bluebeard and that disgusting Ryunosuke Uryu getting wiped."
Su Qingwen took a deep breath and stared at the opening credits.
Episode 6 focused on the Servants teaming up against Bluebeard.
Episode 7 had expanded on his backstory—his obsession with Jeanne d'Arc and what led to his depravity.
They didn't appear much, but Jing Yu used just enough screen time to explain why Bluebeard was fixated on Artoria.
Episode 8 then zeroed in on the knightly bond between Diarmuid and Artoria.
Both were paragons of justice. Artoria had been wounded by Diarmuid's cursed spear, the wound unhealable.
Yet Diarmuid, hoping to stop Bluebeard's rampage, destroyed his own spear to lift the curse, allowing Artoria to heal and unleash her full strength.
With her might restored, she launched her ultimate attack: Excalibur—the Sword of Promised Victory—and vaporized Bluebeard's monstrous form.
Two true knights, noble to the end. Even on opposite sides, their duel was honorable and clean.
Their Masters, though...
"I have no idea what Jing Yu was thinking. That Kenneth guy and Kiritsugu Emiya? One is sneakier than the other."
"And Emiya... he creeps me out. He says he fights for world peace, but I bet he's the ultimate fake."
"I don't know... but Kenneth is definitely scum. He talked big when he showed up, but in the end, he got stomped by Kiritsugu. Even had his Command Seals stolen by his own fiancée."
"Poor Artoria and Diarmuid. Sigh."
"My favorite female character? Artoria. Favorite male? Diarmuid. Please let them fall in love!"
"I still like Iskandar more, though."
In fan groups, viewers were going wild.
And then came the iconic scene.
Iskandar used his Ionioi Hetairoi to trap Bluebeard and teleport him to Kiritsugu's ambush site. Artoria raised her sword, and Diarmuid held off the Berserker.
The entire city lit up as motes of light gathered into Artoria's blade.
The music soared.
"That shining sword is the embodiment of all the noble dreams warriors hold in their hearts at death's door... a vow of loyalty and courage passed down through time," explained Irisviel.
CG at full throttle.
Su Qingwen felt a wave of emotion.
Our King, radiant as a painting!
"Excalibur!"
Golden light swept across the lake. Bathed in its glow, Artoria looked regal, beautiful, and brave. Hearts fluttered across the country.
"This is what we live for!"
"I love Jing Yu for creating this masterpiece!"
"Artoria is amazing."
"Critics can go die. They said this drama lacked Jing Yu's old magic. Who cares? I'm obsessed with Artoria now. No matter what happens, this love won't change!"
"She's so cool. That's Tang Rui playing her, right? She nailed it. I want to howl!"
All the previous tension exploded in catharsis.
Bluebeard was annihilated. Su Qingwen had never felt so satisfied.
A high-budget episode.
But just when he thought it was over, the twist hit.
After Bluebeard's death…
Kenneth's fiancée had her hand chopped off by Kiritsugu's team.
Then Kenneth, shameless as ever, begged the overseer Kotomine Risei for another Command Seal—only to shoot him dead.
Then he summoned Diarmuid again and berated him, accused him of seducing his fiancée, of being a disgrace to all knights.
When in fact, she had fallen for Diarmuid—and he had repeatedly turned her down.
Loyal to a fault, Diarmuid still refused to abandon his Master.
But Artoria arrived. No other Servants would interfere after such a huge battle. She challenged Diarmuid to a duel.
He was shaken, but touched.
"Only your pure will to fight can calm the turmoil in my heart."
He was grateful. Even Artoria fought left-handed to avoid using the arm he had healed, just for fairness.
Their mutual respect was stirring.
In this chaotic world, their integrity was moving.
Then came the most shocking moment—
In the middle of the duel, Diarmuid plunged his spear into his own heart.