8: Chapter 8: First scene after joining the crew

Early the next morning, Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun finished their makeup.

Because it was Teng Zijing's first appearance and the first scene for the adult Fan Xian, the director and the staff on set took this scene very seriously.

This scene was about lunch at the Fan Manor. Fan Xian discovers the Bamboo Shoots are poisoned, finishes them before his grandmother can pick up her chopsticks, and immediately goes outside to induce vomiting.

The servants in the manor are poisoned en masse. Fan Xian determines that Old Ha, the vegetable delivery man, was coerced into poisoning them and heads to Old Ha's house alone with a blade.

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Old Ha is tied to a pillar, desperately signaling with his eyes.

Just as Fan Xian takes a step, the courtyard gate suddenly closes.

Teng Zijing, a secret agent from the Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, has been ordered to kill Fan Xian.

Director Sun Hao sat behind the monitor, holding a walkie-talkie, his expression a few degrees more serious than usual.

“All departments, pay attention.” His voice spread throughout the set via the walkie-talkie.

“Today's scene is Teng Zijing's first appearance. It's written simply in the script, but I hope the actors can perform the character's layers.”

He looked at Yu Liang: “Teacher Yu, are you ready?”

Yu Liang nodded.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When he opened them again, he had already transformed into Teng Zijing.

It wasn't “Yu Liang acting as Teng Zijing,” but “Teng Zijing himself.”

This was a technique he had learned from an old actor in his previous life: let the character become you before the camera starts rolling.

“Good.”

Sun Hao took a deep breath.

“joy of life, Scene Seven, Shot One, Take One, Action!”

Old Ha's house was a dilapidated farm courtyard with mottled earthen walls and a half-open gate.

Yu Liang stood in the courtyard.

The black cloak on his body flapped loudly in the night wind, and the long blade at his waist was not yet unsheathed.

The courtyard gate was pushed open with a “bang.”

Fan Xian rushed in holding a blade.

The first thing he saw was Old Ha.

Old Ha was tied to a wooden pillar in the center of the courtyard, his mouth stuffed with a rag, desperately signaling to him with his eyes.

Just as Fan Xian took a step, the courtyard gate suddenly closed behind him.

He spun around abruptly.

A figure stepped out from the darkness.

Black clothes, black cloak, and a cold, stern face.

It was precisely Teng Zijing.

Teng Zijing stood there, neither drawing his blade nor speaking.

He just looked at Fan Xian with eyes that held no warmth.

As if looking at a dead man.

Yu Liang captured the initial aura of this entrance perfectly.

It wasn't rushed or agitated; it was a kind of condescending certainty.

Because in Teng Zijing's mind, tonight's assassination was already over.

All he had to do was wrap things up.

Fan Xian gripped the hilt of his blade, his palms sweating slightly.

“Who are you?”

Teng Zijing didn't answer.

He raised his hand and flicked his cloak.

Dozens of Flying Daggers were actually hidden inside.

“Holy crap.”

Guo Qilin whispered beside the monitor.

It wasn't a line; it was his genuine reaction.

Because the visual was too shocking.

The moment the black cloak spread, dozens of Flying Daggers were neatly arranged in hidden pockets, like the teeth of a venomous snake.

Fan Xian's pupils constricted, and he involuntarily took half a step back.

But he quickly stabilized himself and stared fixedly at Teng Zijing.

“Are you from the Overseeing Inspectorate?”

Teng Zijing finally spoke.

His voice wasn't loud, but it carried an oppressive chill:

“Fourth Bureau of the Overwatch Council, Teng Zijing.”

He paused.

“Acting on orders to execute a traitor to the nation.”

---

“Cut!”

Sun Hao stood up, a smile he couldn't suppress on his face: “Good! This take is a wrap!”

“Teacher Yu, that movement where you flicked the cloak just now, you mastered the strength perfectly.”

“It didn't feel like you were just acting cool; it really felt like there was killing intent.”

Yu Liang put away the flying dagger props and breathed a sigh of relief: “It's mainly because the prop master did a great job.”

“Don't give me that,” the head of the prop department shouted from behind.

“I spent half a month making this cloak, but with that flick just now, even I didn't expect it to produce that kind of effect.”

Guo Qilin leaned over, his expression complex: “Brother, let me ask you something.”

“Speak.”

“When you're doing Cross-talk performances with me, that happy-go-lucky look... is it acting or for real?”

Yu Liang glanced at him: “Take a guess.”

“...I won't guess. I'm afraid I'll end up traumatized.”

Zhang Ruoyun burst out laughing nearby.

Even though Zhang Ruoyun was the male lead of this major male-oriented drama, he never put on airs.

Instead, he and Yu Liang, who was a few years younger, called each other 'Brother.'

Zhang Ruoyun walked over and patted Yu Liang's shoulder: “Brother Liang, let's go over the movements for the next scene.”

The next scene was the highlight of the day.

The fight scene.

Before the actual filming began, the Martial Arts Director called Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun together and drew a simple movement diagram on the ground.

“There aren't many movements in this fight scene, but there are a few key points.”

The Martial Arts Director crouched down, pointing at the ground with a twig.

“At the start, Teng Zijing strikes first, forcing Fan Xian back with three Flying Daggers.”

“Fan Xian dodges and rushes up with his blade. The two engage in close-quarters combat for five to six rounds.”

He looked at Yu Liang: “Teacher Yu, the script says 'the two fight for dozens of moves,' but for the actual shoot, we've only designed six core movements.”

“The rest will be covered by cinematography. Understand?”

Yu Liang nodded.

“Among these six movements, there's one high-difficulty one.”

The Martial Arts Director stood up and gestured, “Teng Zijing sidesteps Fan Xian's straight thrust while simultaneously using the back of his blade to strike his wrist.”

“Then, the moment Fan Xian's blade leaves his hand, he closes in and holds a dagger to his throat.”

He looked at Yu Liang: “This movement requires extreme speed. The force of the blade back hitting the wrist must be 'real.'”

“The hold on the throat must be 'steady.' It's best to get it in one take.”

“Because at that angle of holding the throat, doing multiple takes can easily lead to danger.”

Yu Liang stretched his wrist: “I'll try.”

“It's not 'try,'” the Martial Arts Director said seriously, “it's 'must be done.'”

Yu Liang didn't say anything more, just nodded.

He walked into the courtyard, pulled out the long blade at his waist, and tested its weight.

The prop blade was lighter than a real one, but the weight distribution was well-done, making it feel close to a real blade.

He casually performed a flourish with the blade.

The blade edge traced a smooth arc in the moonlight.

The Martial Arts Director was stunned for a moment: “Teacher Yu, have you practiced before?”

“A little bit.”

“This isn't just 'a little bit' level.” The Martial Arts Director stared at his hand, “That blade-spinning technique you just used is the foundation of the Bagua Blade.

The Bagua Blade spins on the back of the blade, not the edge, so you won't hurt yourself.

Normally, it takes three years of practice to do that without cutting your hand.”

Yu Liang smiled and didn't explain.

He couldn't explain.

He couldn't exactly say, 'I practiced martial arts from a young age in my last life and was a martial arts stunt double for over ten years,' could he?

The Martial Arts Director gave him a deep look, then turned to Sun Hao and said, “Director, I think we can increase the difficulty of the movements a bit more.”

“How so?”

“After Teng Zijing pins Fan Xian, add a detail.”

He looked at Yu Liang and continued to Sun Hao, “When Fan Xian struggles, Teng Zijing's dagger will press a faint bloodline onto his neck.”

“Not a real cut, but that kind of pressure that 'just barely touches the skin.'”

He paused: “This movement doesn't test technique; it tests trust. Because the blade edge is only one millimeter from the carotid artery.”

The courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Then Zhang Ruoyun spoke: “Let's try it.”

Intending to use this 'joy of life' to elevate his status, he knew how important 'flesh-to-bone' fight scenes were for a major IP.

Yu Liang looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said one word: “Okay.”

“All departments, attention. Prepare for the actual shoot.”

Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun took their positions.

One stood in the moonlight, the other in the shadows.

“joy of life, Scene Nine, Shot One, Take One, Action!”