Chapter 4: In Character

Lai Shuiqing sat on a chair, silently sizing up the two men standing in the room—Cheng Chen clearly outshone Luo Peng in looks and costume, but as for acting… it was hard to say.

As a professional acting graduate, Luo Peng probably had no major issues with performance; after all, the film academy's reputation was undeniable.

Cheng Chen came from a background of minor roles; his acting ceiling was likely low, but he had a certain spark—still, his looks were truly formidable.

This left Lai Shuiqing torn: should he choose Cheng Chen, whose appearance matched the original novel, or Luo Peng, whose acting was at least passable?

"I'll go first." Just as Lai Shuiqing was hesitating, Cheng Chen took a deep breath and stepped forward.

Not bad—courageous.

Lai Shuiqing silently praised him; going first was always a disadvantage, especially when two actors were performing the same scene, but exceptions did happen…

Cheng Chen took a deep breath, glanced at the script, then set it aside, mentally rehearsing the upcoming performance before instantly slipping into character.

The scene he was to perform was Song Qingshu's personal climax.

Song Qingshu kills Mo Shenggu.

The plot: Song Qingshu falls into Chen Youliang's trap and insults an Emei Nüxia.

Mo Shenggu attempts to discipline Song Qingshu for breaking sect rules, but is ambushed by Chen Youliang, causing Song Qingshu to kill his uncle, Mo Shenggu.

"I'll play the scene with you." Seeing Cheng Chen enter the role, Lai Shuiqing wore his usual "let's see what happens" expression; the casting director Wang Qiang had no choice but to pick up the script and portray Mo Shenggu.

Cheng Chen nodded silently.

Killing Mo Shenggu was the turning point where Song Qingshu's entire personality changed; this scene contained too many nuances, demanding exceptional acting skill.

First, Song Qingshu's shame and rage when questioned by Mo Shenggu about the insult to the Emei Nüxia.

Then, his regret and helplessness after accidentally killing Mo Shenggu.

Finally, his grief and powerlessness upon realizing the truth—that Chen Youliang had manipulated him.

The emotions shifted subtly and layered, the lines were long and dense—even professional actors needed to rehearse five or six times before daring to perform it.

Cheng Chen closed his eyes, embodying Song Qingshu, recalling several filmed versions of "The Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber" he had watched, then nodded to Wang Qiang, signaling he was ready.

Wang Qiang picked up the script, looked at Cheng Chen: "Qingshu!"

Instantly, Cheng Chen seemed possessed—his expression turned haggard, his voice low with remorse: "Seventh Uncle, I didn't…"

"Seeing is believing—you don't need to explain to me. Come, return to Wudang with me!"

"No, I'm defenseless now—no matter how right I am, I can't explain it. If I go back, Father will kill me!"

Cheng Chen stepped back, shaking his head, his eyes fixed on Wang Qiang, his whole body instinctively resisting, his expression twisted with struggle and stubbornness.

"This kid's lines are sharp." Seeing Cheng Chen's performance, Lai Shuiqing's eyes lit up.

The four pillars of acting: voice, diction, form, expression—"diction" being the lines. A performer's foundation is best revealed through their lines.

Cheng Chen's first words pulled everyone into the scene, conveying Song Qingshu's remorse, shame, and cowardice entirely through his delivery.

Wang Qiang glanced at Cheng Chen in surprise, quickened his steps toward him, and continued: "You're leaving today, whether you like it or not!"

"I can't return to Wudang—I truly can't! Seventh Uncle, please let me go!"

"No!"

"Thud"

Cheng Chen dropped to his knees, pleading with Wang Qiang: "Seventh Uncle, I beg you!"

This sudden shift startled Wang Qiang—he was truly in character. This kid had something!

Wang Qiang barked sharply:

"You've disgraced our sect, shamed Wudang! If I let you go, how will I answer to Emei? What face will Wudang have before the martial world?"

Cheng Chen's face twisted with conflict and pain: "Seventh Uncle…"

"Don't push me!"

"I won't let you go!"

According to the script, the next part was a fight scene—no need to act it out.

In the 2003 version, Chen Youliang ambushes Mo Shenggu from behind during the fight, causing Song Qingshu's sword to pierce Mo Shenggu.

"Qingshu… you dark-warred me…"

Wang Qiang gasped weakly.

Cheng Chen's eyes flew open—he stared blankly at the sword in his hand, then at Wang Qiang.

His eyelids twitched slightly; his steps felt shackled by a thousand-pound chains, his body trembling uncontrollably.

As if mourning a lost loved one, sorrow slowly spread across his face, building to its peak, then bursting forth in anguish:

"SEVENTH UNCLE!!!"

Like a mourning bird's cry, it moved everyone present, stirring deep emotion.

"Brilliant!"

Lai Shuiqing slammed the table, eyes locked on Cheng Chen, his skin prickling—this performance was utterly brilliant.

From confusion to released grief, to that stroke of genius—the desperate cry.

Emotional transitions were seamless, expressions perfectly controlled, lines delivered with precision—even though they deviated from the script, they were the perfect finishing touch.

His power to infect and evoke empathy was fully displayed in this performance.

It showed the transformation of Song Qingshu—the once proud, leading third-generation disciple of Wudang—into a villain who violated an Emei Nüxia.

Excellent—this young man is truly excellent!

"Song Qingshu—settled!"

Lai Shuiqing's eyes shone with admiration; the heavy stone in his chest finally lifted. He nodded repeatedly at Cheng Chen.

But Cheng Chen ignored him—he was slowly pulling himself out of the role.

Over twenty years—across his past life and this one—Cheng Chen had struggled in the entertainment industry, acted alongside movie stars and veteran performers.

He was also deeply passionate about studying acting, having audited acting classes at every major academy.

The theory of performance had long been put into practice through the roles he built up, one after another.

Every actor has their own unique way of performing, and Cheng Chen was no exception.

So when he got Song Qingshu's scenes, the first thing he did was familiarize himself with the lines and script as quickly as possible.

The second step was to "replay" in his mind the performances of the Song Qingshus of every previous version.

Finally, he would fuse his own acting style into it, and this formed his one-of-a-kind style.

So although this scene of Song Qingshu was of vital importance and a tremendous test of acting skill, Cheng Chen's handling of it was still fairly satisfactory.

"No need to audition for the later scenes, I already know what you can do." Lai Shuiqing rubbed his hands together, never expecting that today he had actually unearthed a treasure.

In his eyes, Cheng Chen's acting could stand up against those already-debuted actors out there without losing a single step.

He just didn't know why a kid with such good acting had ended up as an extra.

"Director Lai, I haven't auditioned yet." Luo Peng hurriedly spoke up from the side.

"Uh…"

"Fine, then Luo Peng, give it a try."

"Okay, Director Lai…" Hm? Why does something feel off, Luo Peng muttered inwardly.

……

Luo Peng's audition ended very quickly.

"How was it, Director Lai?" Luo Peng asked with a smile.

Without comparison there is no harm; the plot that everyone had watched with such gusto and relish at Cheng Chen's place instantly became, at Luo Peng's, like sitting on a bed of needles, like a thorn in the back, like a fishbone stuck in the throat.

Not only did his overall performance copy Cheng Chen outright, he even replicated verbatim that roar when killing Mo Shenggu.

His old man Luo Tao, watching this, couldn't help but shake his head, regretting sending his child to study acting—so much so that now the awkwardness could be used to dig out an entire Yuyang District with his toes.