Chapter 13: Action Scene

On another viewing platform away from the film set's stage, Lai Shuiqing, who should have been sitting beside the monitor directing the scene, now stood respectfully beside an elderly man.

"You're leaving so suddenly—I was planning to show you around the area," Lai Shuiqing said with a smile.

"I've already booked tonight's flight. Your crew is good, but those folks in Gang Sheng—they keep scouting locations, yet all they pick are narrow corners."

"Too petty. Mainland China is better—this is the true grandeur of the Central Plains."

The elderly man gazed at the surrounding scenery and sighed in admiration.

"You're right—Gang Sheng simply can't capture the grandeur of the mainland."

"What's the next scene?"

"The Lion Slaying Conference."

"The Lion Slaying Conference?" the elder chuckled. "That's a major scene—the grand finale!"

…

"Lion Slaying Conference, Scene 5, Take 9—action!"

"Action!"

"Action!"

"Action!"

…

First on screen was Kong Zhi, portrayed by Zhang Zhongchun:

"Ladies and gentlemen, in combat, weapons and fists show no mercy—kill or be killed. Each man bears his own fate. The sect with the strongest martial skill shall claim Xie Xun and the Dragon-Slaying Saber."

This veteran actor had appeared in four versions of Heaven Sword and Dragon Sabre; apart from playing He Biweng in the 1993 Jet Li version, he had portrayed only monks in all others.

He was old-school Shaolin.

The veteran's lines were excellent, and he was deeply professional.

Even in post-dubbing, he left ample room for the voice actors to perform—far superior to those digital miss and sir actors.

Kong Zhi stepped down; Cheng Chen, portraying Song Qingshu, stepped forward first.

He emerged onto the stage with a solemn expression from the Emei Sect's formation, speaking boldly:

"I, Song Qingshu, on behalf of our sect leader, challenge all heroes present."

Cheng Chen's entrance radiated full presence, representing the entire Emei Sect in a challenge to the martial world.

This was his first appearance as an Emei disciple—and his first battle since mastering his secret technique, his spirit soaring, his gaze dismissive of all others.

"Song Qingshu—how dare the tiny Emei Sect speak so arrogantly?"

"Who are you?"

"Xia Qing."

A fight scene followed. Originally, martial arts director Pan Xiang had worried Cheng Chen's movement skills were lacking and asked if he needed a stunt double—but Cheng Chen refused.

His action choreography was decent; he had trained with his high school PE teacher for a while.

It was just the most common Tai Chi, but he had loosened up his body—ordinary martial arts moves were no problem.

"Cut! Movement's wrong—too stiff. Do it again!"

Yang Tao sat at the monitor, his face dark.

Here we go!

Hearing Yang Tao's command, everyone perked up.

Everyone had seen what happened this morning—Cheng Chen, a minor supporting actor, had overshadowed the director.

They all assumed Cheng Chen's afternoon scene would be rough—but no one expected Yang Dao to be waiting for him in the action sequence!

Cheng Chen remained silent. Martial arts director Pan Xiang stepped forward, gave him a few instructions, and they restarted filming.

"Cut! Movement isn't graceful. Do it again!"

"Cut! Still not good!"

"Cut! Martial arts director—can you do this or not? If not, replace him!"

"Cut…"

Thirteen consecutive NGs. By the end, Pan Xiang didn't even know what to tell Cheng Chen—just gave him a few brief words and moved on.

In his eyes, Cheng Chen's movements were flawless; given his prior martial arts foundation, they even exceeded his expectations.

But the director said no—and as a martial arts director, he had no power to argue.

Cheng Chen's face showed no expression; beads of sweat rolled down his forehead, and the makeup artist had to reapply makeup five or six times.

A searing pain flared constantly along his ribs—he must have scraped his skin raw from the wire harness.

"I'm ready. Again!"

Cheng Chen took his stance; the pressure activated once more.

Most people find wire work novel and fun—they usually pad the harness to prevent the cables from digging into the skin.

But after just a short while, the waist and hips ached terribly; while enduring the pain, one must still coordinate precisely with the wire operators.

If the rhythm doesn't match, you repeat it—again and again, each time more painful.

"This is too cruel!" Chen Shasha growled. Though she had known Yang Tao would target Cheng Chen,

she never imagined he'd dare publicly stall him during an action scene.

Gao Yuanyuan watched from the sidelines, her fists clenching and unclenching, over and over.

She knew every ounce of suffering Cheng Chen endured today was because of her—just as she prepared to rush forward, Yang Tao suddenly said, casually:

"Cut! Good!"

Hearing his words, everyone exhaled deeply.

Finally—it passed!

After finishing the fight with Xia Qing, Yang Tao didn't let Cheng Chen rest, but kept pushing the scene forward.

After a bout of fighting in which Xia Qing was seriously wounded and defeated, Song Qingshu's display of martial arts belonging to neither the Wudang style nor the Emei style aroused everyone's suspicion and doubt.

Beggar Sect's Wu Daqi took the field for the second bout, and for this fight scene, Yang Tao had Cheng Chen do another 5 takes before it passed.

Wu Daqi ultimately died under Song Qingshu's Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms.

A note here: in the original work, Song Qingshu never learned the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms, but rather the lesser Cui Jian Shen Zhua — the director's team made an adaptation here.

First, the fame of the Dragon-Subduing Eighteen Palms was big enough to create buzz.

Second, they also wanted to better tie in with She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan; rumor has it Lai Shuiqing still wants to continue remaking She Diao Ying Xiong Zhuan — the signs can already be seen here.

After all, he had already remade Return of the Condor Heroes, and later generations even went on to remake the Zhong Hanliang version of "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils."

Just as Song Qingshu's confidence was swelling after defeating two challengers in a row, his own father Song Yuanqiao appeared on stage, and Song Qingshu was so startled he took a step back on the spot.

"Father." Cheng Chen called out in a daze.

"Wudang's Song Yuanqiao has come to learn from you, Hero Song!"

"Father…" Cheng Chen continued to retreat.

"Song Qingshu!" Zhou Zhiruo suddenly called out, her gaze stern, carrying a strong sense of forcing a showdown.

"Zhiruo, Father, I…"

His expression was not the ruthless severity the script described, but rather conflicted, his eyes revealing the struggle between love and family.

Originally, two consecutive fight scenes had already left Cheng Chen utterly exhausted, but when it came to the dramatic scene, Cheng Chen showed not the slightest sign of fatigue, and instead threw himself fully into the performance.

"Not bad!"

His bearing and eye-acting were both well controlled — especially under close-up and tight shots, Cheng Chen's expression filled with conflict and struggle couldn't help but make everyone's hearts skip a beat.

Assistant Director Luo Sha stood right behind the monitor, inwardly very approving of Cheng Chen's performance — after all, he was the one she had recommended to Director Lai.

"Although the scene is good, but…"

Chen Shasha, who was familiar with the script, seemed to suddenly think of something and murmured:

"Song Qingshu, like Zhou Zhiruo, falls into a darkened state later on. Although the one he faces next is his father Song Yuanqiao,

he is still forced by Zhou Zhiruo to fight his father — he should have rushed forward ruthlessly and without a care for anything, but Cheng Chen instead…"

If following the script, Cheng Chen should have quickly shaken off his emotions and faced Song Yuanqiao as an enemy, not like now… struggling!

The actors on set, like Chen Shasha, had their eyelids twitch violently, and only one word surfaced in their minds:

Changed the scene!

He actually changed the scene!

Director Yang over there…

Sure enough, Yang Tao suddenly stood up, his face dark as thunder, and opened his mouth to question:

"You changed the scene?!"