Chapter 347: Xu Xuan

Inside Treasure Qing Workshop, Jiang Yan's portrayal of the little fox spirit wore a red garment and green bellyband, holding a smoking pipe, barefoot with thighs exposed, full of charm, making many people's eyes light up.

Someone wondered, 'Where did Director Jiang find this actor, so spirited?'

But actually, Jiang Yan, born in 1986, entered the entertainment industry in 2005; one can only say that in this circle, without background it's really hard to get ahead.

In her previous life, Jiang Yan struggled in the circle for many years but never gained any fame.

Only in 2024, when she played Yao Yuling in Zheng Xiaolong's directed Southbound and Northbound, did she earn the Best Supporting Actress at the White Magnolia Award, barely counting as having made it.

Unfortunately, the best years have already passed.

However, in this life, because of Jiang Heng's endorsement, I believe her acting career will develop even better.

On the silver screen, the little fox spirit explained the marvel of the hairpin: it can absorb others' magic for one's own use and also seize the user's memory, then immediately gave Xiao Bai a scale from the hairpin's original owner.

The audience could tell that the scale must be from the snake mother, yet Xiao Bai was still pondering hard.

Late at night in the forest, Zhao Liying's portrayal of Xiao Qing came over intending to kill Xu Xuan; Xiao Bai fought her and regained part of her memory.

When the little Daoist was chasing Xiao Bai, he once brought people to the village where Xu Xuan was, turning a bun that Xu Xuan had bitten into a bat, and all the way eventually reached Xu Xuan and Xiao Bai.

Xiao Qing discovered the 'bat' and concluded that the snake-catcher Xu Xuan was an accomplice of the Great Yin Daoist.

But Xiao Bai trusted Xu Xuan, and they launched a major battle against Xiao Qing.

As a result, Xu Xuan fell into the underground demon-subduing formation; unexpectedly, Xu Xuan was also versed in the Mystic Gates and Eight Trigrams, and actually led the trapped Xiao Bai out through the 'Life Gate'.

'Damn, this kid's knowledge is all over the place!'

'Not bad, not completely a useless waste!'

'This must be the Leifeng Pagoda, right!'

'The demon-subduing formation looks pretty formidable!'

On the silver screen, Xu Xuan went to find a way out.

Xiao Bai, according to the scriptures on the formation, saw images of snakes and snake demons being captured and killed, and regained all her memory.

She sat down on the ground and said to the returning Xu Xuan, 'Are demons born just to be exterminated?'

Xu Xuan couldn't take it; he picked up his snake-catching tool, struck the engraved plaque with the scriptures, 'Day after day we exterminate demons and spirits, forcing us to catch snakes… Xiao Bai, no matter what, I'm here!'

At that moment, Xiao Bai's fragile heart was completely moved; she fiercely embraced Xu Xuan, then pulled away, they glanced at each other, and kissed.

Xiao Bai glanced at her reflection on the Daoist True Words Copper Stele, frowned slightly, then closed her eyes as her clothes slipped off…

The light music 'Entwined' began to play, and the atmosphere became very sorrowful.

Similar to the entangled scenes of Ning Caichen and Nie Xiaoqian in A Chinese Ghost Story, a man must first confirm she is his woman before braving the blade mountain and oil cauldron for her.

Otherwise, you'd risk life and death for her while she just says thanks, then turns to someone else—that would be utterly melodramatic! Of course, the film wouldn't be shot like that.

But without this scene, the male lead's conviction to risk life and death, even sacrifice his life, would be somewhat lacking.

After all, Xu Xuan played by Jiang Heng may be handsome, but he's truly just a poor kid from the lowest rung of society.

Suddenly encountering a goddess-like girl, with this relationship, it's naturally 'gods block gods, buddhas block buddhas, even Jesus can't hold her back'! But the audience was a bit dissatisfied, seeing only the clothes slip off to reveal smooth, fair shoulders, without even a back shot.

'Too perfunctory!'

'At least show some spirit of sacrifice!'

'You could use a body double!'

Outside, a fine rain was falling from the sky.

The little dog bellyband's side face pressed to the ground, being stepped on by the angry‑looking Xiao Qing; comparing the two images, the audience instantly burst out laughing.

'Haha, the bellyband's ears are so useful, they'll definitely hear clearly!'

'Having your head stepped on, you can't avoid listening!'

'Haha, the bellyband's gaze is spot‑on!'

'I want to be a bellyband!'

On the silver screen, after Xiao Bai and Xu Xuan escaped the trap, they approached Xiao Qing, expressing willingness to follow her, and with their backs turned said, 'Ah Xuan, let's just part ways!'

'Why?'

'Heaven's way is ruthless, earth has its rules; there are many things we don't want to do but must, you're human, I'm a demon!'

Xu Xuan fiercely hugged Xiao Bai from behind, then left to think of a way to be together. Xiao Bai couldn't bear to leave, standing on the Buddhist pagoda gazing into the rainy night distance.

Xu Xuan returned to Treasure Pure Workshop with the bellyband, seeking a way to be with Xiao Bai. Jiang Yan's portrayal of the little fox spirit agreed to help, saying she could turn Xu Xuan into a demon, but he would have to offer his essence in exchange.

'You were born human, enjoying the many peaceful blessings of the world—quite naturally, muddled and confused. Once you become a demon, heaven will kill you, people will kill you, Daoists will kill you, other demons will kill you. After I take your essence, becoming a demon makes you only the weakest, smallest demon; no matter how you cultivate, you cannot improve. You… still willing?'

The little fox spirit explained the drawbacks of turning Xu Xuan into a demon, which are somewhat similar to the admonition Guanyin Bodhisattva gave Supreme Treasure before he put on the golden hoop in A Chinese Odyssey.

Xu Xuan, like Supreme Treasure, was resolute and unswerving.

Afterward, he was bound by chains suspending his limbs in midair, posing as if about to be torn apart by five horses.

The little fox spirit thought: 'Oh, I almost forgot—to turn a person into a demon, I still need to take an item!'

Having lost his essence and feeling listless, Xu Xuan asked, 'What item?'

At this moment the camera focused on Xu Xuan's lower body, and the bellyband cried out in fright, 'Ah, this won't do, you guys let him go!'

Seeing this, most of the audience in the venue exclaimed in astonishment, 'No, you can't cut that? Is Director Jiang that ruthless? Filming a movie and cutting himself?'

'If it's cut, wouldn't that just turn him into a demon for nothing?'

'Can a fairy also practice the Sunflower Manual?'

At that moment, the little Daoist rode a three‑headed monster bird to the Buddhist pagoda, battling Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing, but unexpectedly his veil was ripped off, revealing a face full of scars.

The little Daoist's anger surged, and he directly enlarged himself.

But see, the bird embroidery on his clothes turned into golden flies soaring into the sky, numbering over a thousand; each shot out golden conical threads, just like East Invincible.

No, his performance at this moment is even more formidable than East Invincible.

Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing were driven to dodge everywhere, serpentine footwork, in a sorry state.

When they saw the little Daoist lay down a heavenly net and earthly trap with thousands of golden conical threads, subduing Xiao Bai and Xiao Qing, the audience in the venue all marveled, 'This fight scene is truly gorgeous—I never expected Jiang Heng could direct action to this level.'

It's like the male actor in 'Legend of the White Snake' putting on a fierce look, just casually fooling around, while the female actor merely does a few simple actions—there's simply no comparison.

Actually, the reason such a scene can exist is largely because Jiang Heng is adapted from an animation.

Because it's an animated film, it possesses greater imagination.

It can create various beautiful scenes far beyond reality, and also design more spectacular fight action sequences.

These visuals were originally difficult to present in live action, but Jiang Heng has a cheat; after shooting for so many years, he is extraordinarily proficient in special effects production, which is how he managed to create such stunning visuals.

After watching, the audience's first feeling is beauty, the second is handsomeness!

(End of chapter)