Chapter 382: The Great Scapegoat: You Monster, I Need You to Help Me Cultivate

Early the next morning, Wei Jin arrived at the company feeling refreshed and went straight to the editorial department to delegate this matter.

Over the years, Wei Jin had rarely touched upon films adapted from true events.

For one, he was not clear about the timeline of the stories, and for another, showing up out of the blue to find the parties involved and tearing open their scars always gave one the feeling of profiting from others' misery.

Therefore, even for *Saving Mr. Wu* previously, it was the editorial department that initiated it, and only then did Wei Jin agree.

However, this type of child-seeking story should not have this problem; after all, as the parents involved, their highest need is to find their child.

Still, Wei Jin specifically instructed that they must respect the opinions of the parties involved, as he remembered that *Dearest* had caused dissatisfaction among some of the parties involved due to excessive artistic embellishment.

Leaving the editorial department, Wei Jin returned to his office, sat comfortably in his boss chair, and paid attention to the situation in the film market.

Currently, *Mojin: The Lost Legend* had been released for 14 days, with box office receipts breaking 600 million, totaling 647 million, and the single-day box office was still maintaining around 30 million.

Wei Jin estimated that once the New Year's holiday arrived, it should be able to usher in another wave of recovery.

Zhang Yimou's *The Flowers of War* had been released for 20 days, with box office receipts of 531 million, but its potential was basically exhausted, and the single-day box office had already fallen below 10 million.

With the release of *Flying Swords of Dragon Gate*, the screening schedule for this film was bound to be cut, and it was estimated that by the time it was pulled from theaters, a box office of 600 million would be considered decent.

As for other films, Wei Jin took a glance and found almost nothing worth paying attention to.

However, one short film did catch Wei Jin's attention: *Father* from the Kuaishou Brothers.

This was a very heartfelt micro-film, especially the song of the same name, "Father."

Wei Jin took out his phone and helped promote it on Weibo: "The film is very good, and the song is also very pleasant to listen to; I recommend everyone to enjoy it."

At noon, the Kuaishou Brothers thanked Wei Jin on Weibo and tagged him.

Many netizens who had gone to watch it based on the recommendation also left comments under Wei Jin's Weibo.

"Thanks for the recommendation, the micro-film is very moving, and so is the song; I really cried."

"Wei Jin rarely gives recommendations, but he never disappoints; thank you."

In the afternoon, Wei Jin timed it perfectly and instructed Zhu Wei to drive to the Great Hall.

The premiere of *Flying Swords of Dragon Gate* was about to begin.

Wei Jin did not worry about this premiere at all; the other 6 major production companies were already eager to make a grand entrance.

It had to be said that the seven major production companies had enough prestige; as the year-end approached, it should have been the busiest time for the entertainment industry, yet the star power at this premiere was incredibly dazzling.

The heads of production companies in the industry, such as Han Sanping of China Film Group, Ren Zhonglun of Shanghai Film Group, Wang Changtian of Enlight, Yu Pangzi of Bona, the big and small Wangs of Huayi, and Ye Ning of Wanda, went without saying.

Other company heads, such as Boss Yang of Emperor, Xiaoma Pentium, LeTV Pictures, and Xinli Media, were all in attendance.

As for other big directors in the industry, Jiang Wen, Chen Shiren, Gu Changwei, and Jia Kezhang were all present.

There were even more celebrities and artists; the Four Dan Double Bing, the Four Young Dan, and other first-tier artists were almost all present, including many well-known artists from Hong Kong who came specifically to show their support.

However, seeing Liu Tianwang here, Wei Jin still could not hide his surprise.

One had to know that some time ago, media reports revealed that the Heavenly King's wife had already been pregnant for several months.

"Thank you, Hua Ge, for coming to show your support, and congratulations to you; you will be a father soon."

"Hahaha, thank you very much. After so many years, I am finally going to be a father."

It was evident that Liu Tianwang was indeed very happy and chatted with Wei Jin for a long time.

"Director Wei, Wah Jai, what are you two chatting about?"

Cheng Long walked over with his signature smile, followed by the Dragon Prince.

"Big Brother, nothing much, Hua Ge is sharing his joy with me."

Wei Jin smiled and greeted him, glancing at the Dragon Prince on the side.

"Big Brother, has your *Chinese Zodiac* wrapped up filming?"

"Not yet. After the new year, I estimate I'll still need to film for a few more months. By the way, when will *Gravity* be released? I'm waiting for you to take me to the next level, hahaha."

Although his tone sounded like he was joking, there was indeed some sincerity on Cheng Long's face.

Back then, due to issues with his salary, he was coerced by his team, which led to him missing out on *The Thieves*, the film that topped the Huaxia box office charts.

But now, calculating it based solely on the domestic box office and the original 20% profit-sharing agreement, Cheng Long could have at least received a salary of over 80 million; it was truly a huge loss.

Fortunately, he lost on one side but gained on the other; he defied public opinion and joined *Gravity*.

As a sci-fi blockbuster with a production cost of 450 million, Cheng Long felt that the performance of *Gravity* might even be better than *The Thieves*, and he was already starting to look forward to it.

"It's hard to say. I estimate post-production will last until July or August; let's see if we can pick a good release window at the end of next year."

Wei Jin intended for this film to impact the global box office, so naturally, it could not be rushed. Additionally, some preparations were still needed for the technical awards at the Oscar.

"Alright then, contact me in advance when the time comes, and I'll keep my schedule open."

Watching Wei Jin and Cheng Long talk about their collaborative film, Liu Tianwang felt a faint ache in his heart.

Having debuted for so many years, the only film that truly achieved both box office and critical success was *The Martian*.

But back then, due to scheduling issues, he did not take on *The Thieves*. Although he later collaborated with Golden Harvest on a few films, he knew that they could never compare, and thinking about it now, it was truly a great regret.

As the host took the stage, the premiere was about to begin.

After some opening remarks, the creative team was invited onto the stage.

The sixty-something Xu Laoguai, thin and tall like a bamboo pole, looked a bit exhausted after the previous high-intensity promotion, but his spirit was excellent, and his eyes were bright and piercing.

"To film this movie, we specifically invited the production team of *Avatar*. It took 18 months, and today it finally meets the audience. I believe this 3D martial arts film will bring everyone a brand-new experience."

The cast and crew also talked about the hardships during filming; after all, there were multiple shooting locations, and the wind and sand were quite intense.

After the standard procedure, it soon reached the screening segment. The venue became quiet, with only the familiar Dragon Mark and sound flashing by. This version of *Flying Swords of Dragon Gate* from Shanhe Media filled in the plot holes of the original, with clear logic, a smooth story, and even more stunning special effects.

It had to be said that the most brilliant part of this story was not the male lead or the female lead, but Yu Huatian, the Superintendent of the West Depot played by Chen Kun.

It could even be said that this role would likely become the most classic role in Chen Kun's acting career.

"What you Eastern Depot dare not manage, we West Depot will manage; whom you Eastern Depot dare not kill, we West Depot will kill!"

"In one sentence: what the Eastern Depot can manage, we must manage; what the Eastern Depot cannot manage, we must manage even more!"

"Execute first and report later, with imperial authorization—this is the West Depot, is that clear?!"

When these few lines of domineering dialogue appeared, a wave of discussion broke out at the venue.

"Wow, so cool, totally domineering."

"Chen Kun is truly worthy of being the ceiling of good looks; he can even look this good playing a eunuch."

"Love it, love it."

"It is indeed quite good; the feminine beauty is interpreted very well."

Listening to the sounds coming from his ears, Chen Kun's fists clenched involuntarily, and it felt as if there was a ball of fire in his heart.

As the 120-minute film came to an end, warm applause erupted at the venue, putting the minds of the cast, crew, and producers at ease, all of them beaming with joy.

Following that was the popular media interview segment.

"Director Wei, as the lead controller, how much do you think the box office for this film will be?"

As soon as the reporter finished speaking, everyone at the venue turned their gaze toward Wei Jin; after all, his predictions were always too accurate.

Wei Jin did not beat around the bush and gave his own forecast directly.

"As the first domestic 3D martial arts blockbuster, after just watching the finished film, everyone should have an idea in their hearts. With the added support of the New Year Slot and the Spring Festival Film Season, I optimistically estimate that the box office has the potential to reach 800 million."

Once Wei Jin said this, the venue was in an uproar.

However, thinking about it carefully, there was really no way to refute it, as the film would be screening from the New Year's Day of the New Year Slot all the way until the end of the Spring Festival holiday.

Coupled with the fact that 3D special effects blockbusters have very low piracy risks and long-lasting potential, it was indeed possible to achieve this goal.

For a time, many production companies with films scheduled for release in January felt uneasy.

As the cocktail party began, reports related to the premiere also appeared in the entertainment headlines.

"The first domestic 3D martial arts masterpiece — 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate', the premiere is star-studded!"

"'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' premiere site, applause like thunder, constant praise!"

"Ghost director Tsui Hark's new work 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' is about to be released!"

"Great director Wei Jin boasts that 'Flying Swords of Dragon Gate' box office is expected to reach 800 million!"

During the banquet, Han Sanping pulled Wei Jin aside with a mysterious look on his face to chat, but who would have thought that the very first sentence would almost make the latter drop the wine glass in his hand.

"Wei Jin, I am planning to invest in Wu Baige's new film, which will start shooting around the year after next. What do you think?"

Looking at the somewhat showy appearance of Han, Wei Jin was speechless. He had been guessing which big sucker it would be just two days ago, but he didn't expect Han Sanping to run into it again.

"Han Dong, are you sure? It hasn't even been a few years since the 'Red Cliff' incident..."

Back then, the box office and reputation of 'Red Cliff' were both poor, and there were quite a few accidents during the process. The meaning in Wei Jin's words was very clear: he was not optimistic about this project.

Unfortunately, Han Sanping was a person with very strong opinions, especially fond of blockbusters, almost to the point where he couldn't move his feet when he saw a big project. At this moment, Han appeared very confident.

"It's different. The story of 'Red Cliff' was too distant, and the coordination work during filming wasn't in place. But this time, it's about something from over sixty years ago. If we do the preparation work well, there will be no problem.

Just think about it: the flames of war, the country and the world, the love between children—isn't it very romantic? It's almost exactly the same as 'Titanic', and it's also a tragedy; the box office will definitely be a big hit! Besides, although 'Red Cliff' was criticized by everyone back then, China Film Group still made quite a bit of money..."

Regarding Han Sanping's words, Wei Jin really couldn't refute them. 'Red Cliff' suffered a cold winter in the local market, but the box office in Japan and South Korea was quite eye-catching, and it actually made money. Who could he reason with about this?

"Han Dong, I remember you said back then that you would never invest in Wu Baige's projects again. It's only been a few years, and you've already forgotten?"

"Cough, that was then and this is now. This time you really have to trust my vision. Our experts have evaluated it, and this project definitely has potential..."

Looking at Han Sanping's stubbornness, Wei Jin really wanted to ask which expert it was, and if they should just fire them.

Forget it, good words cannot persuade a ghost destined to die. Han Sanping was destined not to be able to hold onto his wealth. At this moment, Wei Jin only hoped that Han could be a little stronger when the time came.

"Fine, then I wish Han Dong's new film a big hit."

"Haha, it will definitely be a big hit. I'm going to find Ren Zhonglun to chat."

Watching Han Sanping walk toward his old rival Ren Zhonglun, Wei Jin didn't need to guess to know that he was going to show off again. He just didn't know if the slap in the face would be too painful when the movie was released.

Before long, Boss Yang walked over with a wine glass, still followed by the beautiful young woman Huo Wenxi, who was full of mature charm.

"Wei Zong, the premiere of 'The Viral Factor' is set for the 14th. You must do me the honor of attending, haha..."

"No problem."

As the distributor, showing up to support was the expected thing to do, and Wei Jin agreed immediately.

"By the way, Wei Zong, 'SPL: Sha Po Lang 2' has already wrapped up filming. It is expected that the post-production will be completed after the Spring Festival. Which slot do you think is appropriate?"

"Hmm, Boss Yang, no rush. Let's wait until the policies come out before we choose the slot."

According to the news revealed by Han Sanping, it was estimated that the China-US negotiations would be finalized after the Spring Festival. Wei Jin planned to choose a suitable slot based on the number of imported films at that time.

After all, although the cost of 'SPL: Sha Po Lang 2' was not high, the box office it achieved was quite eye-catching, and Wei Jin still hoped to choose a good slot.

"Mm, I understand."

Boss Yang nodded, agreeing with Wei Jin's idea.

"Wei Zong, can Emperor Group participate in next year's new film?"

Every time they met, Boss Yang couldn't help but ask; the projects of Shanhe Media were simply too tempting.

Looking at Boss Yang's slightly sincere eyes, Wei Jin was noncommittal.

"If there is a suitable project, I will consider it."

After the cocktail party ended, Wei Jin brought Fan Bingbing back to the Golden House. This woman was not behaving herself at the party; she must have been single for too long.

Sure enough, as Wei Jin expected, as soon as they arrived, Fan Bingbing pounced on him impatiently, looking like she was unsatisfied.

After some prelude preparations, Wei Jin directly started tonight's card game.

On the snow-white bed, Wei Jin held Fan Bingbing's breasts with one hand, and with the other, he supported her slender legs which were propped up on his shoulders, fiercely driving the truck in.

"Oh~~~ Uncle, Sister-in-law misses you so much."

Feeling the man's "responsible to the end" attitude, Fan Bingbing sang happily.

"Smack~~~"

Wei Jin slapped her perky buttocks. Being with this woman, he could unreservedly release the evil in his heart.

"Smack~~~"

Wei Jin slapped her again, and the speed and force with which he played his cards grew ever faster.

"Hmph, you little harlot, tonight I am going to fill you up fiercely."

"Oh~~~ alright, Uncle, I'll do whatever you want, don't show me any mercy, oh~~~"

Seeing the woman provoke him with her words, Wei Jin drove his car faster and more fiercely.

"You demon, I want you to assist my cultivation."

That night, Wei Jin fiercely filled up the parking space at Fan Bingbing's home. (End of chapter)