Chapter 36: You Come Play the Great Sage

After the box office failure of his first film, Wu Jing was abandoned by the film circle, and for a considerable period he couldn't find any acting work.

Left with no choice, he could only turn to TV dramas, subsequently appearing in *Water Margin: The Later Chronicles* and *Taiji Grandmaster*.

The ratings and reputation of *Taiji Grandmaster* were still decent, giving him some fame, but it did not significantly boost his resources.

Apart from the rising big director Jiang Heng hiring him for a supporting role, no one else sought him out.

The reason, too, is simple.

At the end of the 1990s, the Neidi film and TV market had few martial arts and action productions; even if there were good roles, one needed fame and connections to obtain them.

In Hong Kong and Taiwan, there were somewhat more martial arts and action productions, but in the era of an overall sluggish market, competition was also quite fierce.

Wu Jing only had connections with Yuan Heping and Zhang Xin Yan in Hong Kong and Taiwan, because *The Kung Fu Kid Breaks Through the Love Pass* was directed by those two.

But because of the box office failure, Wu Jing didn't dare contact those two, and just stayed there feeling depressed, not knowing where his future lay.

Originally, Yuan Heping would have prepared to film *The Little Li Flying Dagger* at the end of 1998, but due to the collapse of Huana Company's *The Matrix* project, he returned to Hong Kong early, and by a twist of fate, the role of Ah Fei went to someone else.

Wu Jing, feeling depressed in Jingcheng, didn't know what he had missed.

But the phone call from Jiang Heng let him know what he would gain.

"Hey, brother, are you home?"

Jiang Heng is several years younger than Wu Jing, knowing his future achievements, he has always been polite.

Wu Jing, meanwhile, felt honored and surprised; he considered himself just a nobody, yet such a big director as Jiang Heng addressing him as a brother truly gave him face.

"I'm home, I'm home, Director Jiang, you, you've come back from abroad!"

"Yeah, I'm back, post-production is all done, preparing for release next month!"

Wu Jing was overjoyed: "Great! If there's anything I need to busy myself with before the release, just let me know!"

Jiang Heng laughed: "I really do have something to ask you!"

Wu Jing said: "Then let's find a place to chat while we drink?"

"Sure, where are you now? I'll drive over to pick you up!"

Wu Jing, without hesitation, immediately gave a place name, then immediately asked: "Can you find it? Or should I take a taxi there?"

Jiang Heng laughed: "No need, when I'm free I often drive around the Four-Nine City; I might know it even better than you!"

Wu Jing thought: "How could that be!"

But he didn't know that Jiang Heng was speaking of a past life, not this one.

After the phone hung up for over half an hour, Jiang Heng's car arrived at the agreed spot; Wu Jing gazed at the BMW 728 before him, envy beyond words.

After getting in the car, he exclaimed: "This car is really gorgeous!"

Jiang Heng said: "No need to feel that way; in two or three years you'll be able to drive this car too!"

Wu Jing instinctively replied: "How could that be!"

He immediately thought of a possibility, looking at Jiang Heng beside him, feeling both hopeful and uneasy.

"Well, I'm planning to produce a film, and I want you to play the lead!"

Upon hearing this, Wu Jing felt as if a thunderbolt had struck his ears, his whole mind went blank.

Jiang Heng has so far directed two films; one's investment amount is unknown, but its global box office exceeded 400 million US dollars.

The other's box office figures are unknown, but its investment cost over 100 million.

What he's referring to should be his third film, and its investment will certainly not be small.

Even his senior fellow apprentice Li Lianjie probably doesn't have such an opportunity!

"Really?"

Jiang Heng laughed heartily, glanced at his Rolex, and said: "I make hundreds of thousands in minutes; why would I lie to you?"

"That's true too!"

After confirming the matter was true, Wu Jing could no longer contain his inner excitement.

He rubbed his face twice, then asked: "What are we going to film?"

"Journey to the West!"

"I'll play Sun Wukong?"

"Yes!"

"Are we going to film the Havoc in Heaven?"

"No!"

Wu Jing was a bit dazed: "Then what are we filming?"

"Lion Camel Ridge!"

"Lion..."

Wu Jing thought about the description of these three monsters in the original Journey to the West, which is also quite splendid: "The investment won't be small, right?"

"It will definitely be at least 100 million!"

"That's really not a small amount!"

Jiang Heng gave a slight nod; actually, he himself wasn't very confident about it.

Although the stories in Journey to the West are extraordinarily wonderful, foreign audiences might not like them or might not understand them.

Perhaps the plot of escaping from a dinosaur's mouth is a bit lame, but even brothers in Africa and South America could tell what the film is about.

As for the box office, it's really hard to say.

His "Super Microcomputer" has video deduction and generation capabilities far surpassing AI video tool Sora by countless times; shooting special-effects blockbusters essentially costs nothing, so he won't lose money no matter what.

The only fear is incurring a "nominal loss", which would ruin his golden brand!

Seeing Wu Jing still in a dazed state, Jiang Heng didn't waste words and drove to a nearby small Northeastern barbecue restaurant.

They booked a private room, ordered many meat skewers and beers, then started drinking!

Seeing Jiang Heng skillfully shaving scallions with a pencil sharpener, Wu Jing wondered, "You're not from Xianggang?"

"Ah, what's wrong?"

"Do you also eat barbecue with scallions over there?"

"No way!"

"Then you've learned pretty fast!"

Wu Jing was a bit puzzled, "How come you feel more like someone who grew up in the Four-Nine City!"

Jiang Heng laughed, "Perhaps in my past life I was someone from here!"

"That's not certain either!"

Wu Jing raised his cup and drank with Jiang Heng, downing it in one go.

He is now emotionally agitated, with many things he wants to say but doesn't know where to begin.

Jiang Heng smiled and said, "You, do you believe in fate?"

"Back then, you and Yan Zu were also this talkative, right?"

Wu Yanzu once studied for a while at the Shichahai Martial Arts School, becoming a disciple of Wu Jing's senior martial brother, making him Wu Jing's martial nephew.

Moreover, both share the Wu surname and were born in 1974, so while filming the crew of "Prehistoric One Billion Years," their relationship was especially close.

The two often drank together and talked about some things before joining the crew, making Wu Jing extremely envious.

Jiang Heng laughed heartily, "Pretty much; I initially asked him, 'Do you believe this world is virtual?'"

"So do you believe it?"

"I kinda believe it!"

"No way!"

"Do you know that if artificial intelligence develops to a certain level, using AI tools we can realize text-to-video conversion, bringing to life a person who never existed in reality; then you say, wouldn't the characters in the video feel they are real?!"

"Wait, wait, what does that artificial intelligence mean, and what's this AI? You're exaggerating too much!"

Wu Jing felt his head ache; he had been studying at the martial arts school since childhood, so his knowledge of scientific matters is truly lacking!

"Um, let's just talk about the script!"

"Good!" Wu Jing said, downing a cup of beer.

"You, have you read the original Journey to the West?"

Wu Jing shook his head, a bit embarrassed, saying, "I've only watched the TV series!"

Jiang Heng helplessly patted his head, suddenly feeling this drink was a bit excessive; he should just directly tell Wu Jing: the new film Lion Camel Ridge, you play the Great Sage, with an investment of over 100 million, to be released worldwide simultaneously!

(End of chapter)