Chapter 446: Completing the Gamble, Postponement, and Passing Review

Speaking of "Brotherhood of Blades," which hit theaters a little over three years ago, the film industry generally recognizes it as one of the rare quality martial-arts films from the mainland.

It blazed a new trail, using the situation at the end of a dynasty, with the empire on the verge of collapse, as its blueprint, supplemented by the petty struggles of small figures in the Imperial Guard.

It also wove together court intrigue, power struggles, foreign invasions, the fleeting passions of the Laughing Jianghu, and tender love, telling a story of family, country, and the world.

Compared with the traditional martial-arts films from Hong Kong Island, "Brotherhood of Blades" undoubtedly possessed a unique sense of national righteousness and historical weight, leaving a deep impression.

Back then, Director Lu Yang leveraged this very film to ascend into the ranks of hundred-million-yuan club directors, and now he is a member of the 500-million-yuan club.

Now, four years later, Lin Nan Pictures is making a sequel?

Setting aside what the production industry thinks, the actors in the entertainment circle alone are thrilled.

Because without a doubt, this is one of the top-tier film resources in the industry!

"Tiny Times 4" set.

Yang Mi stared at the so-called "grapevine news" about "Brotherhood of Blades" in the entertainment news, her emotions complicated, feeling a mix of anxiety and anticipation.

When "Brotherhood of Blades" wrapped filming, Lu Yang had publicly told the crew that if the box office was decent, he would discuss a sequel plan with Lin Nan.

Moreover, the ending of "Brotherhood of Blades" was clearly incomplete, open-ended, leaving a sense of lingering meaning—plenty of stories could follow!

"This 'Brotherhood of Blades 2: Asura Battlefield,' it's not baseless rumor…"

Yang Mi's voice was soft, but her tone was quite certain. Only her mood at this moment was an indescribable tangle.

On one hand, she still clung to a sliver of hopeful thinking—after all, this was a series, and the original cast would naturally be the first choice.

But on the other hand, she had to face a reality: she was no longer an artist of Shanhai Media. Was there still any possibility…?

"Deng Jiajia…"

Yang Mi called out to Ceng Jia.

In a short while, the latter strode quickly into the rest room exclusively belonging to Yang Mi.

"What's wrong?"

Actually, Ceng Jia had her guesses—after all, the grapevine news about "Brotherhood of Blades 2" had already spread throughout the industry.

When she was chatting outside just now, quite a few artists, agents, and assistants were talking about this matter.

Moreover, these people, whether intentionally or not, were all asking her whether Yang Mi knew any reliable information.

Sigh, how could she possibly know!

"Deng Jiajia, go find out for me, confirm it."

Yang Mi raised her head, looked at Ceng Jia, and said firmly.

There aren't many good resources in the industry, and top-tier resources are even fewer. Her best achievements were all tied to Lin Nan Pictures, and she didn't want to give up…

"But, what can you confirm?"

Ceng Jia frowned, feeling Yang Mi's idea was somewhat unrealistic.

"I think 'Brotherhood of Blades 2' is real, not baseless fake news. Help me find out and confirm."

"And then? So what if it's real, so what if it's fake? We've already left, is there still any possibility?"

Ceng Jia said "earnestly."

Yang Mi didn't waver. She looked at Ceng Jia: "By the end of this month or the beginning of next month, the 'Tiny Times' series can be completely wrapped.

But you know, beyond the high pay and high popularity, this series has also brought me a lot of scolding and negative impact. I need some universally recognized good films, quality films. 'Brotherhood of Blades 2' is exactly that."

Listening to Yang Mi's words, spoken word by word in earnest, Ceng Jia felt a pang of guilt for a moment. "Tiny Times" had indeed cost Yang Mi dearly in terms of reputation.

She nodded and agreed: "I'll go find out, but if it's true, what can you do? President Yue… Yue Jun most likely won't bother with me."

"If it's true. I'll, go myself."

After a moment, Yang Mi said calmly, as if she had made some decision.

…………

Three days, four seminars, each at least two and a half hours.

Lin Nan felt he was about to be driven crazy by the ordeal, but thankfully no one bothered him when he dozed off.

As for the news circulating online, he and Liu Liu Yifei couldn't be bothered to respond; in a few days the bureau would naturally make it public.

At this moment, the industry's eyes were all on the film market, on the new entertainment news—Lin Nan had completed the box-office gamble.

"'Taking Mount Mount Weihu' has been in theaters for two weeks, with a cumulative total box office of 1.208 billion yuan, the Spring Festival box-office champion."

"'The Monkey King' came in second with 670 million yuan."

……

"After 14 days, the box office exceeded 1.2 billion. According to the total box-office gambling and revenue-sharing agreement signed between Director Lin Nan and the theater chains:

The four production and distribution companies—Lin Nan Pictures, China Film, Wanda, and Enlight Media—will receive 46% of the distributable box office after the film leaves theaters…"

Most film companies and filmmakers in the industry had the same thought:

"In less than half a month, the 1.2-billion-yuan box-office gamble was completed. Lin Nan shortened that time by nearly half. From another angle, how much will the final total box office reach? Will it double?"

More and more people began to estimate the final box-office result of "Taking Mount Mount Weihu."

Although many people didn't want to see certain things happen, they still couldn't help thinking of the number "2 billion."

At five in the afternoon, Lin Nan came back from outside looking as if he had finally been liberated.

"From today until the film leaves theaters, there probably shouldn't be any more 'symposiums.'

Sitting for hours on end, back aching, and it went on for several days straight! I just can't figure out, how did those people train themselves for it?"

Lin Nan complained to Liu Liu Yifei.

"How about I give you a massage?"

Miss Liu blinked her sparkling eyes, said with a smile, looking expectant.

Lin Nan hesitated for a moment, then nodded. "Give it a try?"

"Come, on the sofa, lie face down." Liu Liu Yifei instantly perked up, directing him.

"Isn't it just a little squeeze? How did you end up flat on your stomach?"

Lin Nan was a little puzzled, but obediently lay down anyway.

But the next moment, a pig-slaughtering shriek burst from Lin Nan's mouth: "Ahhh… kill… ahhh…"

Liu Liu Yifei grabbed one of Lin Nan's arms, pressed her knee into his back, and began what she called her "little squeeze."

"When I filmed 'The Return of the Condor Heroes' and 'The Forbidden Kingdom' before, I had to train in martial arts for several months, even half a year, and on top of my usual practice, these simple stretches were mandatory. Stop yelling!"

"And you call this simple? You're just using me to practice on, aren't you?"

After a long while, Lin Nan struggled to turn his head and look back at Liu Liu Yifei — sure enough, she wore a teasing expression.

"Hehe, it's the first time I've actually gotten to work on someone else. I'll get the hang of it eventually."

'Use me to get the hang of it?' Lin Nan muttered, on the verge of tears.

"Just admit it — don't you feel a bit more relaxed?"

Liu Liu Yifei plopped herself right down on Lin Nan's back, arms crossed, chin lifted, and demanded imperiously.

Fine, Lin Nan couldn't deny it — after the pain, it really did feel a lot better; his whole body was relaxed.

"Mm, Princess Liu Qianqian is amazing!"

"Hmph, naturally."

Liu Liu Yifei shifted her bottom with a tsundere little wiggle.

……

The Berlin International Film Festival awards ceremony was out of reach — the time difference made it two or three in the early morning hours there.

But for the first half of the closing ceremony red carpet, Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei could still catch a look.

Lou Ye was very bold — he actually got real blind actors to perform in 'Blind Massage,' and they walked the red carpet too, drawing quite a few gasps from foreign media.

Huang Dong Xuan got lucky — he was even shoehorned into Lou Ye's crew for a supporting role. Looks like following Jiang Teacher Wenli really did mean joining the right company!

What left Lin Nan and Liu Liu Yifei utterly dumbfounded and laughing nonstop was Ning Hao.

The guy led Xu Zheng, Huang Bo, Yu Nan and a few others down the red carpet.

It was clearly a high-end casual suit, but on him it somehow looked exactly like a gangster boss.

Especially that thick gold chain around his neck — gleaming, blindingly eye-catching! It drew plenty of foreign press cameras.

Lin Nan stuck it out until 11, then shut the computer — he'd just check the news first thing in the morning.

……

The next morning, everyone had originally been focused on yesterday's Berlin awards news, but a notice from the Film Bureau hit the industry even harder.

"Forwarded from the Film Bureau's public document:

After thorough review and consideration, we hereby approve the joint extension key application submitted by four production companies — Lin Nan Pictures, China Film, Wanda, and Enlight Media — for the mainstream commercial film 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu.'

The new extension key will take effect on March 1st, with a duration of one month. The film 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu' will be extended and pulled from screens on March 31st."

Not a single production company in the industry could hold back its cursing — were they really not leaving anyone a way to survive?

"Holy crap, it actually got extended!"

"The films releasing in March — so miserable. Even a whole month apart, you still can't escape Director Lin."

"Settled — this is a steady march toward 2 billion…"

……

Huayi.

They had just arrived at the office early in the morning when they heard the news, and Wang Wang Zhongjun and Wang Wang Zhonglei immediately flew into a rage.

In the chairman's office, Wang Wang Zhonglei said with a cold laugh:

"Heh, the extension key application for 'Personal Tailor' was rejected on the grounds that it didn't meet the conditions.

Now I finally know which condition it didn't meet — turns out the name 'Personal Tailor' was wrong; it should've been called 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu'!"

Wang Wang Zhongjun scrolled through the Film Bureau's official website: "China Film co-invested, Han Han Sanping starred, mainstream commercial film, broke 1 billion, gunning for 2 billion.

Top to bottom, nothing missing — every box ticked for political achievement. This is a green light from start to finish, top to bottom!"

Although they knew mainstream-theme films enjoyed special treatment, and that was fair enough.

The fact that 'Personal Tailor's' application was rejected to save an extension key slot for 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu' still left the two Wangs feeling deeply wronged.

But no matter how wronged and furious they were, it was useless — clearly, even the Film Bureau was playing favorites…

"The road is long. We'll wait it out. I refuse to believe he never lets his guard down."

……

Lin Nan ate breakfast while feeling a pang of regret for Ning Hao.

In the film news, the news that 'The Taking of Mount Mount Weihu' had secured an extension key had already been pushed off the headlines.

Now it was all Berlin news.

Lou Ye's 'Blind Massage' had won the Silver Bear for Outstanding Artistic Contribution, but 'No Man's Land' came away empty-handed.

Still, the biggest winner this time remained the Chinese-language films.

'Black Coal, Thin Ice' took the Jin Xiong, and Liao Fan became the first Chinese Best Actor at Berlin, winning the Silver Bear for Best Actor.

"Before going to Berlin he was all big talk, swearing up and down that the Silver Bear's color wasn't pretty, saying once he brought back the Jin Xiong he'd lend it to me for a couple of days! That's gotta sting, right?"

Lin Nan teased mercilessly.

"Haha, when they get back, you're not gonna rub salt in the wound in person, are you?" Liu Liu Yifei took a bite of her fried egg and burst out laughing.

"Can't say for sure."

In Lin Nan's view, given the quality of 'No Man's Land,' making it all the way to the final jury deliberation at Berlin — whether it won an award or not really came down to the flip of a coin. All he could say was, it ran out of luck.

After a quick breakfast, Lin Nan drove straight to the company — there was still plenty of real work to handle.

Yue Jun arrived at the office first thing.

"After 'Taking Tiger Mountain by Strategy' surpassed 1.2 billion, the daily box office in the third week is still around 40 million..."

"What are you holding?"

Lin Nan interrupted Yue Jun's words and looked at the thing in his hand.

Yue Jun placed the invitation on the office desk. "Our movie is too eye-catching; Alibaba has sent another invitation."

"What event is this time?"

Although Lin Nan was unwilling to deal with Alibaba, as they were too full of themselves, it didn't stop him from being curious.

"They have completed the handover and integration of the acquired China Culture and are preparing for formal operations; for this, they have invited many large companies in the industry."

Hearing this, Lin Nan was dazed for two seconds; finally, they were about to enter the arena!

"I heard Zhao Zhao Yanzi is already a shareholder, and a major one at that." Yue Jun added another sentence.

Lin Nan shook his head. "Shareholder or not, it has nothing to do with us. I can't spare the time; you arrange for someone to go."

"Then, okay."

On the other side, Ceng Jia went through several turns and finally got news that was nine out of ten accurate.

"It should be true. I heard from a few familiar former employees that Director Lu Yang frequently returned to the company recently and met with Zhang Yi and Lei Lei Jiayin on the third floor.

I checked their schedules and found that both are free for the first half of the year and are not accepting any acting contracts."

Ceng Jia would have been better off not saying this; after she finished the sentence, not only did Yang Mi's eyes light up, but she herself also realized it.

A movie that the company could get Zhang Yi and Lei Lei Jiayin to act in simultaneously was, of course, high-quality resources, wasn't it?

Yang Mi had already taken out her phone, flipping through her contacts, hesitating and struggling...

"Mimi, I'll go out first." Ceng Jia couldn't bear to watch anymore.

"Mm, you go rest. I'll handle the rest."

"Don't take it too seriously."

"I, know."

While speaking, Yang Mi called Yue Jun.

After Lin Nan and Yue Jun finalized the time to go to South Korea again, Yue Jun left.

Before he could walk back to his own office, a phone call came in.

Looking at the name on the caller ID, Yue Jun instantly realized what was happening.

For artists he had once guided in with a contract signature and who left after their contracts expired, he still felt some emotion.

He walked into the office in a few steps and answered the call.

"Director Yue, this is Yang Mi..."

Before Yang Mi could continue with her greetings, Yue Jun interrupted her words.

"You might as well get straight to the point. Knowing you as I do, you wouldn't call for no reason."

Yue Jun's words made Yang Mi instantly freeze; the polite words on her lips could only be swallowed back.

"No matter what, I must always thank Director Yue for your care towards me back then."

"Sigh, let's talk about the real matter."

"Director Yue, I heard 'Brotherhood of Blades' is starting a sequel. I wanted to ask..."

Yue Jun did not intend to hide it:

"Yes, a sequel is starting. The script is under review, but this project is fully under Director Lu's responsibility. Considering our familiarity, I'll give you some advice."

Hearing this, Yang Mi was instantly somewhat delighted. "Please speak, Director Yue."

She only heard Yue Jun sigh:

"You are developing very well now; don't think too much about these things."

"I still have matters on hand here, so I won't chat with you much longer."

In an instant, Yang Mi found it hard to accept; her head was buzzing, and she stammered, "Then, Director Yue, you are busy, a-again... goodbye."

"Mm."

"Don't think too much, don't think too much..."

Yang Mi muttered this sentence repeatedly in her mouth and suddenly understood something;

"Don't think too much? Does that mean there is a female lead in the movie, telling me not to think too much!"

She gritted her teeth, mustered her courage again, and dialed Director Lu Yang's phone number.

Two minutes later, Yang Mi was in a daze, as if she had suffered a severe blow.

Because she only got one sentence from Director Lu Yang: "Someone has already been chosen, someone more suitable than you!"

"More suitable than me?"

Yang Mi asked herself; she had acted in the first one, was a popular young leading lady, and who else could be more suitable than her?

She was very certain that Liu Liu Yifei would absolutely not act in this movie!

"Zhao Zhao Liying? Dilraba? Or some other top leading lady?

Should I, go ask her..."

The review efficiency for movie scripts is far higher than for TV drama scripts.

Only a day later, the news that the script for 'Brotherhood of Blades 2: The Battle of the Asura' had passed review appeared on the official website of the Film Bureau, including some necessary introductions.

After the media reported it, all the actors in the entire film and television industry couldn't help but look over.

"The protagonist hasn't changed, and there are quite a few major characters."

"It's not a sequel to *Brotherhood of Blades*; this film's timeline is set before *Brotherhood of Blades*!"

"So it really is a series. Looking at it this way, there might even be room for a third installment."

"When will the auditions and casting take place?"

……

(End of Chapter)