[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment":3,"chapter-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-216":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","The Intelligence King of Chinese Entertainment",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2260519,4411,"Chapter 216: Feng Diao Battle, Wuxia Golden Age, the Greatest Winner","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-216",216,"\u003Cp>After dinner, someone suggested going to sing karaoke to relax, but Yan Li didn’t join in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It wasn’t because he was eager to unload inventory for Jiang Xin—today was the premiere of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He wanted to observe the reactions from all sides, then push the Feng Diao battle forward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Instead of returning to the hotel, Yan Li went to Yi’an Garden—his office had a computer and TV, and more importantly, it was quiet, far better than the hotel.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Aside from Yan Li leaving for business, most people chose to stay for the next round, making it awkward for those who wanted to leave.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li was the boss—he could act on impulse, and besides, he’d paid for dinner and clearly said he had matters to attend to; no one would complain.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But others still felt the need to maintain their social circles, lest they be called petty or antisocial.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, once they arrived, sang a bit, and got into the groove, no one really cared whether someone had left or stayed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yang Rong greeted Tong Dawei, the biggest name present, then left first.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Not long after Yang Rong left, Jiang Xin noticed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There weren’t many female actors here today, and the two of them were the most prominent and popular; they’d just had an unpleasant exchange, so it was natural to pay attention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Jiang Xin, who’d felt her bond with Yan Li had strengthened during dinner but hadn’t yet made up her mind, was spurred by Yang Rong’s early departure.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She gritted her teeth, didn’t say goodbye, and slipped away quietly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The karaoke bar wasn’t far from the hotel; fearing Yang Rong, Jiang Xin didn’t bother reapplying makeup or changing clothes—she just went straight to knock on Yan Li’s door, and the harder she knocked, the colder her heart grew.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xin pulled out her phone, thinking of calling Yan Li, but wondered if that might be too much.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After much hesitation, she called anyway. Yan Li answered, saying he was working at the company; Jiang Xin dared not ask further and hung up after a few brief words.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Guess I overthought it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xin felt she’d been overly sensitive—Yan Li had already said he was going back to work, and the hotel wasn’t convenient; going elsewhere was normal.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong leaving early might’ve just been because she disliked the noisy karaoke booth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still, Jiang Xin found herself inexplicably walking to Yang Rong’s room, concocting an excuse, and knocking on the door.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>No one again!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jiang Xin: “...”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That short little thing looked so innocent, spoke so softly—and yet she pulled this stunt on me.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Jiang Xin misunderstood Yang Rong—Yang wasn’t at the hotel to cozy up to Yan Li; she’d gone to find Wang Ou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Look at my arm—it’s all red, and my neck hurts too.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong rolled up her sleeve to show Wang Ou; this time, for her sake, she’d suffered terribly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Oh my, Rong Rong, you’ve been through so much.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou rubbed her arm sympathetically, then couldn’t help adding: “Why let her bully you? Hit her back.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I’d have to be able to beat her.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong grew angry as she spoke: “She’s half a head taller than me, built even sturdier than you, stronger too—I didn’t expect it, and she just pinned me down.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t worry—I’ll remember this. I’ll find a way to get you revenge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou spoke with fierce solidarity; not only was Yang Rong involved because of her, but even if they were just personal enemies, she’d still stand by Yang Rong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Come on—she was Yi’an’s Second Sister, a veteran who’d followed Yan Li for years.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sure, Dong Xuan was untouchable, Qin Lan was untouchable, Fan Xiaopang was untouchable, Li Bingbing was untouchable… but Jiang Xin certainly wasn’t allowed to swagger around her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t just sit there—what are you doing right now?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong wasn’t easy to placate—what if “later” meant years from now? She’d come to Wang Ou not to hear empty promises.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t rush. Think it through. Take it slow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou soothed her, though she wasn’t afraid of Jiang Xin, she wouldn’t dare storm in—what would Yan Li think of her? Even Fan Xiaopang wasn’t that bold.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Jiang Xin only dared to pull Yang Rong aside and threaten her—if she truly laid hands on her, Yan Li would kick her out immediately.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Violence won’t solve anything. If we act, we’ll use a smarter method—make her hurt more, suffer more, and have no one to complain to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong glanced at her: “Who said I wanted violence?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She pulled Wang Ou close and whispered into her ear, then said: “Make it obvious—I’ll make that Jiang woman suffer tomorrow.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Such a cute little girl, but such a wicked heart—I like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou tapped Yang Rong’s forehead, then pulled her along to help pick out clothes—cool and sexy, but not too flashy; crucially, they had to allow freedom of movement.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, they chose a green velvet dress with a suit collar and fitted skirt, leaning toward an evening gown.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Last time Yan Li took her to Shanghai for a business event, she hadn’t had time to buy clothes; Wang Ou learned her lesson and later bought two outfits in Dongyang’s city center specifically for business occasions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She hadn’t yet had a business event, but wearing them to impress Yan Li wasn’t a waste.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Afterward, Wang Ou applied her makeup while selecting shoes, spending even longer than she had picking out the dress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong was getting impatient: “Enough already—there are dozens of shoes, you can’t keep dawdling or we’ll both be asleep.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You wouldn’t understand.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou had confided some private things to Yang Rong, claiming they told each other everything—but she’d still held back a bit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yang Rong had always assumed Wang Ou loved buying shoes simply because she liked them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That wasn’t wrong—some women loved shoes, others loved handbags, some loved scarves; Yang Rong knew one woman who hoarded shoes even more obsessively than Wang Ou.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under Yang Rong’s urging, Wang Ou picked a light apricot-colored pointed heel, creating a visual contrast with the deep green dress and enhancing its elegance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed and ready, Wang Ou grabbed her small bag to leave, but Yang Rong still felt uneasy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“You’re sure you can find him? And you’re not even calling ahead first?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Relax—I’m not useless. Just wait for my good news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou waved confidently and left; Yang Rong didn’t go either, deciding to stay overnight in Wang Ou’s room—it wasn’t the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Remembering Yan Li’s mention of The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ premiere, she turned on the TV to watch.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This drama aired on more satellite channels than The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng—four in total: Jiangsu, Zhejiang, Henan, and Guangdong.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She turned on the TV and picked a channel at random—The Legend of the Condor Heroes had already started.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The plot had reached the point where young Yang Guo was sent to Zhongnan Mountain to train, then bullied by Quanzhen monks.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong checked the time—based on the two-episode premiere, it was either the end of the first episode or the start of the second.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Little Longnü hadn’t appeared yet; Yang Guo wasn’t played by Huang Xiaoming, but by child actor Ding Dang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The pacing is fast.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Since it was based on a novel with her own company’s lead actor, Yang Rong had read The Legend of the Condor Heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though she hadn’t read it carefully, she vaguely remembered the early plot—hadn’t it taken more than one episode just to reach Longnü?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But it made sense—the early scenes were setup; TV adaptations cut what they could, and getting the leads onscreen as soon as possible was the priority.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just as she was thinking this, the plot reached Yang Guo accidentally entering the Tomb of the Living Dead, where Sun Laopo rescued him—and Liu Tianxian’s Longnü made her entrance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Dressed in plain white, stepping on white silk, she floated in, ethereal and cold as the moon.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The drama deliberately crafted Longnü’s stunning debut—setting, plot, camera work, editing, and music all aligned; Yang Rong was genuinely impressed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As an 80s-born, Yang Rong’s most unforgettable Longnü was Li Ruotong from the 1995 version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Comparing Liu Tianxian’s version now, regardless of who’s better, at least in appearance and aura, Liu wouldn’t be harshly criticized.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Yong’s dramas carried huge influence, with many classic versions and iconic portrayals—every new adaptation inevitably faced comparison with the old ones.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>New versions, with few supporters at first, rarely surpassed those long-established, widely beloved, or emotionally resonant versions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If a new version wasn’t utterly destroyed by the classics—if it had something worthwhile—it was already good; if it could rival them in some aspects, it was a success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong felt a pang of envy—the popularity of The Legend of the Condor Heroes was obvious to anyone who understood.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If Liu Tianxian’s appearance and aura matched the role, she’d already succeeded half-way—if the drama itself held up, her fame would climb even higher.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If she remembered right, Liu was barely an adult, already a rising star—climbing another level might mean she’d start rivaling the Four Little Divas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How many of those 70s and 75s-era leading actresses could survive against her? Soon, the entertainment world might belong to her alone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong pondered for a while, sighed, then thought—whether someone was famous or not had nothing to do with her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For the acting industry, Yang Rong didn’t have big ambitions.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mainly because she was lazy, didn’t want to push herself so hard—she preferred staying home or traveling over filming.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, moving up was better—more money, more stability—but if she couldn’t, she wouldn’t force it; she had a permanent position with the Shanghai Theater Troupe anyway—no dramas, she could still act in plays and never lack food or clothing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Sometimes Wang Ou teased her with Yan Li’s resources and money, and Yang Rong wasn’t completely unmoved—but she was far less affected than other actresses.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In fact, compared to Yan Li’s money and resources, she actually preferred hearing Wang Ou’s stories about her private life with Yan Li.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>By then, the two episodes of The Legend of the Condor Heroes had ended; Yang Rong took one of Wang Ou’s face masks and prepared to apply it before sleeping.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She had to admit—even though she’d criticized Wang Ou’s unhealthy values—Wang Ou’s life was far more comfortable than hers.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She shopped, spending thousands on clothes and shoes without blinking, used only premium cosmetics, even had custom-made products from Hong Kong, replaced her phone and computer with new models every few months, flew first class, stayed in five-star hotels…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though Wang Ou played the female lead, her fame had been small before, her pay modest—her family didn’t drain her, let alone give her money.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With low income but such lavish spending, it was obvious where the money came from.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The longer Yang Rong knew Wang Ou, the less she advised her—even sometimes began borrowing Wang Ou’s cosmetics.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was psychological or not, branded face masks really did feel more comfortable than ordinary ones…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lying in bed with the mask on, her phone rang—she picked it up and saw it was Wang Ou, surprised as she answered.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Done already? So fast?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Mm.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou whispered: “No, Boss Yan is busy with real work—I just called you to keep you company.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Tsk tsk.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong couldn’t help teasing: “Looks like your charm isn’t that strong—when you brag to me, you always say he’s so hot he can’t resist you—why not just strip and jump him?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t talk nonsense.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Ou’s breath suddenly became unstable, then fell into an eerie silence, though faint, fragmented sounds could still be heard.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Only after one or two minutes did Wang Ou speak again: “Rongrong…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Rong your grandpa.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong’s face darkened; she wasn’t stupid. Wang Ou’s odd behavior, combined with her experience watching livestreams, made the situation clear with just a little imagination.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t… don’t be angry. I’m just bringing you good news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Yang Rong had figured it out, Wang Ou smiled awkwardly, explained himself, and gradually relaxed—his voice lingered for days, echoing endlessly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Crazy.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong cursed under her breath, flushed, and threw the phone away. After stewing in silence for a while, she heard static and realized the call hadn’t been hung up.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She stood up, picked up the phone, and angrily prepared to end the call—but her finger hovered over the hang-up button, never pressing it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Time ticked away second by second until the sounds on the other end stopped. Moments later, a slightly surprised male voice came through the phone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Still on the line?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yang Rong, who had been listening entranced, snapped back to reality, frantically hung up, then hurried into the bathroom, her face still flushed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>————\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The next day, Yang Rong, who had no scenes, broke her usual pattern by not showing up on set. Jiang Xin, seeing the mark Wang Ou had deliberately left on Yu Yanli’s neck, couldn’t help but burn with anger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>That Yang guy was too lowdown—he pulled the old trick of feigning one move while secretly executing another…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli ignored Jiang Xin’s growing agitation and focused instead on the premiere ratings of “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Today’s newly released statistics showed “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” had been a massive success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhejiang TV, which broadcast the drama, led all programs aired during the same period with an average viewership rating of 2.94; Jiangsu TV came in second; Henan and Guangdong TV ranked slightly lower at fifth and seventh, respectively.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The combined market share of the four networks on the premiere day surpassed 20%.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This result outperformed the premiere of “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Yong’s wuxia is Jin Yong’s wuxia—Zhang Da Hu Zi’s reputation isn’t empty. No matter how much they hyped the “Lu vs. Feng” battle, the Condor’s momentum was clearly stronger.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But compared to its ratings, the critical reception was somewhat noisy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Critics found fault on every front, but the main target was Ding Dang’s portrayal of young Yang Guo.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How to put it? As a child actor known for playing mischievous, quirky boys, Ding Dang had no shortage of liveliness, but he wasn’t a handsome kid.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether Yang Guo is the most handsome male lead in Jin Yong’s wuxia is debatable, but he’s certainly among the most handsome—renowned for his ethereal beauty. Ding Dang had none of that.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Liu Tianxian’s portrayal of Xiao Long Nu also drew some controversy, but the positive and affirming voices outweighed the negative.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” benefited from its rivals’ mediocrity, standing out by contrast; audience expectations were low, so its reputation naturally soared.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Legend of the Condor Heroes” didn’t lack strong competitors. Under Zhang Da Hu Zi’s famed name, there were many advantages—but it also meant people unconsciously raised their standards for him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>For Yu Yanli, scoring 60 on the same test meant passing, 80 meant a pleasant surprise, 90 meant divine status.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But for Zhang Da Hu Zi, even an 80 drew complaints; if he scored 60, he’d be the worst of the worst.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yu Yanli had anticipated the reception of “The Legend of the Condor Heroes.” Now that it had just premiered, it hadn’t even fully unleashed its impact—what came next would likely be even more dramatic.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Having seen the finished product, Yu Yanli knew exactly where the drama’s biggest weakness lay—at least in the early episodes, it would inevitably face mockery.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thinking of this, Yu Yanli pulled out his phone and called the producer of “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The ‘Condor’ side has probably already started trashing us. You guys should join in—but no, don’t rush to retort. First, help them trash themselves.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Don’t be afraid to be harsh. Yes, I can yell too—get a few leaders to point fingers and scream. The louder and more outrageous, the better.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I want you to create the impression that the ‘Lu vs. Feng’ battle is already decided.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Also, contact media outlets in Hong Kong and Taiwan—I have a use for them.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After making his arrangements, Yu Yanli called Zhang Da Hu Zi: “Master Zhang, get ready to fire.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Already fired. Just wait for the news.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Zhang Da Hu Zi replied, and that afternoon, during an interview, he publicly voiced his opinion on “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” for the first time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He rambled on about depth, style, and spirit—his words, in essence, boiled down to three words:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yu Yanli is no good!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, numerous media outlets and online platforms began promoting “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” while belittling “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Just days ago hailed as a potential wuxia classic and the new benchmark for Gu Long dramas, “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” had suddenly become “dog shit.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This enraged the fans of “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the most popular TV drama of the past few weeks, it had no shortage of devoted fans. Though caught off guard, their outcry was still loud.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” had undeniable ratings; “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” lacked effective weapons to counter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then—the weapon arrived!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In episode four of “The Legend of the Condor Heroes,” the male lead, Huang Xiaoming, finally made his long-awaited appearance, grinning foolishly as he called Liu Tianxian, who was nearly ten years younger than him, “Auntie.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Boom!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If during the premiere, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” had merely had minor flaws and overall received neutral or even slightly positive reviews…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Huang Xiaoming’s debut instantly caused its reputation to plummet.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【Props thoughtful, sets realistic, visuals beautiful—only flaw is the male lead】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【So awkward. Their appearances—Yang Guo could be Xiao Long Nu’s father, yet he calls her ‘auntie’】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【It’s not just that he looks old—the real problem is how awkwardly he acts, clinging and creepy】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I beg you, Huang Xiaoming, watch your own scenes back! That idiotic expression is unbearable—I got goosebumps】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【I used to think Ren Xianqi’s Yang Guo was the ugliest—now I’ve met the most disgusting one】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>【…】\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It could be said that over half of “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”’s negative reviews targeted Huang Xiaoming—threads on Tieba, Tianya, and Tudou were flooded with insults.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing this sudden reversal, Yu Yanli wasn’t surprised at all.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously encouraged the hype around “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” precisely for this moment—mediocre noise was nothing compared to a satisfying reversal and slap in the face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>True to form, fans of “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” seized on Huang Xiaoming’s flaw to launch a counterattack, and even many bystanders joined in.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The day before, “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” had been smug; now it was thoroughly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng” vs. “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of casting and lead performances, the former utterly won.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>There was no way around it: “The Legend of the Condor Heroes”’s core was Yang Guo and Xiao Long Nu. No matter how well Xiao Long Nu was cast, if Yang Guo failed, the whole drama collapsed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Similarly, “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng”’s core was Lu Xiaofeng. Even if you pulled every other character—Hua Manlou, Ximen Chuixue, Sikong Zhaixing—straight from the novel, if Lu Xiaofeng was poorly cast or poorly acted, the drama was ruined.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At present, Zhang Zhilin was already widely regarded as the best Lu Xiaofeng—though not yet universally accepted, simply because too little time had passed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, Liu Tianxian’s Xiao Long Nu still had to compete with Li Ruotong; Huang Xiaoming’s Yang Guo was already trampled underfoot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was the outside world’s view. Yu Yanli, having seen the finished product, knew Huang Xiaoming’s performance wasn’t as bad as it seemed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang had real acting ability—especially in the later, emotionally tormented phases of Yang Guo. In Yu Yanli’s personal opinion, even if not the best version, it ranked among the top.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But his early performance dragged the whole thing down.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was a common flaw among most actors: they could portray age, but not youth.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If they had self-awareness, they could hold back—though it might feel slightly off, the overall impression wouldn’t be terrible, and they’d survive the phase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Huang Xiaoming didn’t hold back—he deliberately chased after so-called “youthful charm,” failed to strike the right balance, and delivered a pathetic performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The worst part? If he’d been paired with a co-star his own age, the effect might’ve been poor, but not so jarring.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Unfortunately, his scene partner was a girl under twenty—visibly youthful, brimming with collagen—making him look like a clown by contrast.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This awkwardness persisted until the middle of the plot, when Yang Guo matured and grew more composed, gradually easing the discomfort.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>So Yu Yanli understood: despite the current uproar, Huang Xiaoming’s and Yang Guo’s reputations would improve somewhat in the middle and later episodes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But some viewers wouldn’t make it to the end, and the overall rating would still be dragged down—especially in its adversarial state with “The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.” Even if you performed well, it wouldn’t matter much; but if you performed poorly, everyone would exploit it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Even Yu Yanli himself, though objectively holding a relatively high opinion of Huang Xiaoming, didn’t hold back when striking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He directly targeted Huang Xiaoming in his verbal sparring with Zhang Da Hu Zi.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I think Huang Xiaoming’s performance was poor—mostly due to the production team’s fault. They highlighted his weaknesses and ignored his strengths.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“I don’t believe the entire crew didn’t notice the problem with this Yang Guo—why didn’t anyone speak up?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Moreover, I believe Huang’s appearance and style don’t suit Yang Guo at all. This was a casting mistake from the start. I heard this was Master Zhang’s decision against all advice—he bears primary responsibility.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“As creators, we must avoid arrogance and stubbornness. The consequences of self-importance are severe.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Yu Yanli’s target was Zhang Da Hu Zi, labeling Huang Xiaoming’s casting as a mistake also amounted to a rejection of Huang Xiaoming himself.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Someone even dug up that Yu Yanli had a good relationship with Nie Yuan, who had competed with Huang Xiaoming for the role of Yang Guo, suggesting he was avenging his friend.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But this was still Yu Yanli’s gentle cut. A heavier blow was coming—a guest of weight would deliver a crushing critique.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A passionate Hong Kong journalist took a DVD of the drama to Jin Yong and received the following evaluation:\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“The actor playing Yang Guo is slippery and cunning. When facing Xiao Long Nu, he’s exaggerated and frivolous, showing no respect for his master—he seems to be seducing her. I don’t like it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Yong had a good personal relationship with Zhang Da Hu Zi and generally praised his Jin Yong adaptations—though mostly for costume, makeup, and thematic intent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As for actors, he praised them often, but he also criticized them when needed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He had previously criticized Li Yapeng for portraying Ling Huchong as dull and ungraceful; now, he directly criticized Huang Xiaoming’s performance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>As the original author, Jin Yong’s opinion wasn’t absolute—but it couldn’t be easily ignored.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Huang Xiaoming and “The Legend of the Condor Heroes” found their public situation increasingly dire.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At this moment, another enthusiastic Taiwan-based journalist went to interview Gu Long’s son.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In contrast to Jin Yong’s dissatisfaction, Mr. Xiong gave high praise to the cast of The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He even complimented Yan Li and Yi An, believing they had sincerely portrayed a wuxia world people longed for, and expressed hope to continue collaborating with Yi An to promote Gu Long’s wuxia works.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gu Long had three sons; after his death, they formed the [Gu Long Works Management and Development Committee].\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A polite way to put it was promoting Gu Long’s wuxia culture; a harsher way was selling their father’s copyright to make a living.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But regardless of the description, they sincerely wished their father’s works would become wildly popular, so they could benefit from the success.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Thus, Gu Long’s sons indeed held Yan Li in high regard for making The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng a hit, and did not hesitate to praise him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>One criticized, the other praised.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Never mind whether it was marketing hype—whose endorsement carried more weight, Jin Yong’s or Gu Long’s sons’? Regardless, The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng was dominating public opinion over The Legend of the Condor Heroes.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet The Legend of the Condor Heroes still had room to fight back: its viewership ratings were high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though its reputation suffered, the “Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng” debate drove massive attention; after brief fluctuations, The Legend of the Condor Heroes’ viewership surged steadily.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Viewership quickly broke 4%, market share for several satellite channels kept rising, and the White Dragon Lady and Yang Guo appeared in countless households amid controversy.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Smart satellite channels in Beijing and Shanghai, seeing this, also began rebroadcasting The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although rebroadcasts yielded lower ratings than The Legend of the Condor Heroes, their performance remained impressive.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beijing TV, as the first to rebroadcast, seized the early advantage and repeatedly cracked the top three in its time slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At its peak, six satellite channels—broadcasting both The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng and The Legend of the Condor Heroes—occupied the top ten simultaneously.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Due to the extraordinary heat, other satellite channels grew envious; one even rebroadcast Liu Tianwang’s version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes during the secondary prime time.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>And surprisingly, the tactic worked well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Because Zhang Dahuizi’s version of The Legend of the Condor Heroes had high ratings but poor reviews, the old version’s broadcast created a stark contrast and attracted many viewers, briefly cracking the top three in its time slot.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Others tried to copy, but there were too few Lu Xiaofeng TV dramas, and their quality posed no threat.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In the end, CCTV-6 reaped the benefit.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaofeng TV dramas were hard to schedule, but there were still some old films; they rode the wave with ease.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But if they couldn’t air The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng, they’d air other Jin Yong or Gu Long dramas instead.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Major satellite channels cared about their image—or had already milked the Hongli —and even when they aired, they scheduled them for daytime or Lingchen ; local channels had fewer scruples and simply aired any suitable wuxia dramas they had in stock.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to incomplete statistics, from mid-March to early April, roughly thirty-plus TV stations followed suit and aired wuxia dramas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The media cried out: “Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng War! The Golden Age of Wuxia!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether it was truly a golden age is debatable, but the wuxia craze was undeniably ignited by the clash of these two dramas.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Beyond the rivalry between the two shows, it sparked a collision between Jin Yong’s and Gu Long’s wuxia worlds; there were plenty of wuxia fans, including many celebrities.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With blogs at their peak, many celebrities and big V-logs clashed and traded insults online.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The wuxia section on Tianya became so active, with so many posts, it was forced to redirect traffic to other sections.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Baidu Tieba saw its first-ever “ Baoba ” battle, sparked by wuxia novels and characters.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Jin Yong fans unleashed a barrage against the smaller group of Gu Long fans, but later, internal disputes arose among Jin Yong fans over which male lead was stronger and which female lead was more beautiful, giving Gu Long fans a chance to breathe.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet the most fiercely contested online platform was Tudou.com.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A significant portion of supporters for both dramas gathered there, engaging in direct, no-holds-barred battles on dedicated forums.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Gradually, more bystanders and wuxia fans joined in, and the numbers kept growing.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Already intense, Tudou.com then contacted the main creators of both productions, inviting them to appear via video on Tudou.com to thank fans.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Good heavens—if Tudou hadn’t prepared adequately, its servers might have crashed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Tudou’s backend statistics, at the peak of the “Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng” battle, the site registered nearly 100,000 new users in a single day.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This was terrifying by the standards of the internet at the time!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Meanwhile, the more users Tudou gained, the more vibrant it became; original videos flooded in, creating a suction effect on other video sites.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A few well-developed sites barely held on; smaller sites, if this continued, would lose all creators and users, eventually being sucked dry.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>According to Wang Wei’s plan, regardless of authenticity, after the “Condor vs. Lu Xiaofeng” battle, Tudou’s user base would surpass ten million, creating a cliff-like lead over competitors.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>This would raise Tudou’s valuation by at least several times its previous level; Wang Wei aimed to raise $10–15 million by selling 15–20% of equity.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In other words, Tudou’s conservative valuation exceeded $50 million, roughly 400 million RMB.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, Yan Li acquired 30% of Tudou’s equity; excluding resources, he spent only $1 million—nearly 8 million RMB—and now that stake was worth $15 million, about 120 million RMB.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In just half a year, it had multiplied more than tenfold?!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li knew the internet industry had big bubbles and big profits, but he hadn’t expected it to be this extreme.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, this was only Tudou’s valuation—whether it could actually raise that amount depended on negotiations—but in those days, if a project was good, capital eager to gamble was never lacking.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yan Li felt a pang of reflection; outsiders assumed The Legend of the Condor Heroes and The Legend of Lu Xiaofeng’s massive success meant he’d profited handsomely from producing and distributing them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Few realized his true windfall wasn’t from the two dramas themselves, but from Tudou.com.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Production, distribution, platform—ultimately, you must build an industrial chain…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",4958,"2026-06-19T16:16:54.562Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","dfbcf8148a01c76c10fd68ba1e1fd987be43edd4aa38e33c1c4365764b095259","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-217","the-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-chapter-215",405,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fthe-intelligence-king-of-chinese-entertainment-cover.jpg"]