“Good, good! Just maintain this state!” Chang Yan exclaimed with delight. Qi Yuqiu’s current demeanor could perfectly capture the charm of the Grandmaster Uncle character. He truly hadn’t expected Qi Yuqiu to have such a side to him. “Xiao Qi, you really are full of surprises.”
Qi Yuqiu smiled calmly. Well, what could he do? After all, he was originally the Grandmaster Uncle of Qingyang Mountain.
Before joining the crew, he had been a bit worried—if he were really asked to perform a scene of wailing and crying, he would have found it hard to shed tears. But after receiving the detailed script, he felt relieved. This role seemed tailor-made for him.
Back at Qingyang Mountain, although he spent most of his time slacking off, he still had to maintain the dignity of the Grandmaster Uncle in front of others. Over time, putting on the image of a lofty master had become second nature to him.
Han Chen’s expression darkened further upon hearing Chang Yan’s words. Seeing that the paparazzi he had arranged were already in position, he sneered inwardly and walked over to Qi Yuqiu with the script in hand. “Yuqiu, our next scene is a face-off. Want to run through it together?”
Since Qi Yuqiu joined the crew, anyone with a bit of reputation in the production had been wary of being dragged into publicity stunts by him. No one had spoken to him so openly and boldly. Surprised, Qi Yuqiu glanced at the newcomer and immediately sensed his ill intentions.
He stood up and stretched lazily. “No need to rehearse. I only have one line anyway.”
Han Chen smiled. “Alright then. I just thought we could get into the mood together, so we don’t get scolded by Director Chang later for failing to get into character.”
To others listening, if any issues arose during the actual filming, they would naturally assume it was Qi Yuqiu’s fault. After all, someone had offered to rehearse with him, and he—a notoriously poor actor—had refused and ended up holding everyone back. How utterly shameless.
Qi Yuqiu studied him. This man was narrow-minded, jealous, and couldn’t stand to see others succeed. It was unclear what malicious scheme he was plotting, but if this guy dared to treat him like a pushover, things were about to get interesting.
“If you’re really worried, you should study the script carefully. Don’t hold everyone back later,” Qi Yuqiu suggested earnestly, smoothing his hair as he spoke.
Han Chen nearly choked with anger. This Qi Yuqiu really had some nerve, daring to tell him not to hold everyone back.
A few crew members standing nearby were also put off by Qi Yuqiu’s arrogance. The slight goodwill they had felt upon seeing his face vanished instantly, replaced by looks of disdain.
Even Sheng Yuke, who had been lost in admiration for the Grandmaster Uncle, quietly distanced himself from Qi Yuqiu with mixed feelings. The guy was fine when he kept quiet, but the moment he opened his mouth, the illusion was shattered.
Qi Yuqiu’s first scene involved demonic creatures attacking the immortal sect. The head disciple sounded the warning bell, alerting the Grandmaster Uncle, who then shattered the demons with a single sword strike, resolving the crisis.
The characters appearing in this scene were the Grandmaster Uncle, the head disciple of the immortal sect, and Sheng Yuke’s character, the young apprentice.
As the demonic creatures stormed the mountain, the injured head disciple rang the warning bell. The Grandmaster Uncle appeared gracefully with his young apprentice, wielded his sword to slay the demons, and saved the head disciple. When the head disciple asked to borrow the sword, the Grandmaster Uncle instructed his young apprentice to carry the sword and follow him.
The scene had few lines, with the focus primarily on Qi Yuqiu. As this was the Grandmaster Uncle’s first appearance, it was crucial to convey his character traits. Director Chang took this scene very seriously, briefing each actor individually before preparations began.
Qi Yuqiu and Sheng Yuke secured their harnesses and, after confirming everything was in order, began filming the first scene.
The senior disciple stumbled toward the warning bell, pursued by demonic creatures. Even at the risk of being injured, he was determined to ring the bell, buying a sliver of hope for his fellow disciples down the mountain.
Han Chen’s performance in the scene was passable, and after a few retakes, the shot was completed.
The next scene featured the Grandmaster Uncle and his disciple gracefully gliding into frame.
This shot required both actors’ movements to be fluid and elegant. Curious, Qi Yuqiu tugged on the rope attached to him and said to Sheng Yuke, “Disciple, are you afraid?”
Sheng Yuke shot him a glare and whispered, “Focus on keeping your balance.”
“Don’t worry, your master has seen it all,” Qi Yuqiu replied, patting his shoulder.
As the clapperboard snapped, Qi Yuqiu and Sheng Yuke leaped from the high platform. For Qi Yuqiu, such a height was something he could have managed without a harness in his previous life. Though his current body was still weak, the ropes posed no issue at all.
Chang Yan watched the handsome, aloof young man in white robes on the monitor and remarked with satisfaction, “His movements are precise, and the landing is steady—surprisingly so.”
An assistant nearby added, “It’s rare for both actors to perform flawlessly. The entire sequence was smooth and concise, and the editing will surely enhance the effect.”
Qi Yuqiu landed, his sword sweeping lightly through the air as the demonic creature was instantly cleaved in two. His movements were crisp and decisive, leaving almost no room for criticism.
With a call of “Cut,” the crew quickly moved in to reset the scene. Chang Yan turned to Qi Yuqiu and said, “When you deliver your lines later, make sure to stay focused, understood?”
Qi Yuqiu nodded. Beside him, Sheng Yuke watched with a complex expression. He had practiced this scene countless times in private to ensure his movements and expressions were perfect, which was why he had managed it in one take.
He had been prepared to endure multiple retakes with Qi Yuqiu, but to his surprise, they had completed the shot flawlessly on the first attempt.
Once the scene was set, filming moved to the next shot.
The senior disciple, upon seeing the Grandmaster Uncle he admired, suppressed his excitement and reported the demonic invasion of the mountain. He then requested to borrow the Grandmaster Uncle’s sword.
The Grandmaster Uncle merely glanced at him, uttered a single word of approval, and instructed his young disciple to accompany him down the mountain.
On screen, Qi Yuqiu and Han Chen stood side by side in white robes—one facing forward, the other slightly angled. When apart, the difference was subtle, but framed together, it became clear that Han Chen’s portrayal of the senior disciple lacked the ethereal quality of Qi Yuqiu’s character, making him appear somewhat plain by comparison.
As the senior disciple faced the Grandmaster Uncle, excitement flickered in his eyes. Yet, true to his character’s reserved nature—mirroring the Grandmaster Uncle’s own cold demeanor—he only showed a hint of reverence as he clasped his hands and said softly, “Greetings, Grandmaster Uncle.”
At this moment, Han Chen was determined to outshine Qi Yuqiu. He wanted the audience to see that his acting could overpower a mere pretty face with no substance.
Taking advantage of his position, he even flashed a malicious smile at Qi Yuqiu from an angle hidden from the crew, hoping to provoke him and disrupt his performance.
Sheng Yuke also witnessed this and glared at Han Chen with disgust. He never expected the man to resort to such underhanded tactics.
Unfortunately, Han Chen’s trick did not work. Qi Yuqiu slightly lowered his head according to the script and met his gaze. Han Chen felt that Qi Yuqiu’s eyes were like those of a lofty deity—cold and indifferent, as if looking at an ant—yet also like a kind elder, carrying a touch of benevolence.
To describe it accurately, this was precisely the Grandmaster Uncle from the script: one who cared for all living beings yet remained impartial and selfless. Han Chen wanted to look away but found himself completely unable to move, only aware of his heart racing wildly.
Sheng Yuke, standing behind Qi Yuqiu to his left, could not see Qi Yuqiu’s face, but from Han Chen’s expression, he could tell that Han Chen had been completely overwhelmed by Qi Yuqiu. The worry he had been feeling earlier eased into relief.
Chang Yan, outside the camera frame, was also stunned by Qi Yuqiu’s acting. His heart pounded with excitement—this shot, this gaze, was simply perfect!
However, Han Chen, who was supposed to deliver his lines next, faltered. He was completely paralyzed by Qi Yuqiu’s gaze, unable to move a muscle, and even fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.
Chang Yan’s anger surged instantly. Such a perfect long shot, completely ruined by Han Chen!
“Cut!”
Chang Yan roared, and everyone in the frame relaxed. Han Chen knew it was his fault and that he was bound to be scolded, but once Qi Yuqiu withdrew his gaze, he actually felt a wave of relief.
Being stared at by Qi Yuqiu was truly unbearable. Han Chen wiped the sweat from his forehead with a slightly trembling hand.
“Han Chen! What’s wrong with you? Are you a piece of wood standing there motionless, or have you gone mute? If you’re not mute, why aren’t you speaking?” Chang Yan fumed, almost tempted to hit Han Chen on the head with the script rolled up in his hand.
After venting his anger, Chang Yan quickly turned to instruct Qi Yuqiu: “You must maintain that exact state. Do you need time to get into the mood?”
Qi Yuqiu shook his head and smiled. “No need, I’m ready anytime. I think it’s better to give Han Chen some time to calm down, otherwise I’m afraid he still won’t be able to get into the right state later.”
Upon hearing Qi Yuqiu’s words, Han Chen quickly lowered his head to hide the hatred in his eyes, but he apologized repeatedly, claiming that he had just felt dizzy for a moment and promised not to mess up the next take.
Qi Yuqiu looked at Han Chen with an inscrutable expression and chuckled softly. “Just focus and don’t let your mind wander to unnecessary things. Then you’ll naturally get through it.”
Sheng Yuke also sneered. “If your acting isn’t good enough, put more effort into it. What’s the use of resorting to underhanded tricks?”
Han Chen knew they were referring to his earlier little stunt. He wanted to retort but didn’t dare, so he could only grit his teeth and swallow his resentment, obediently agreeing.
When filming resumed, Han Chen tried to get into character, but the fear Qi Yuqiu had instilled in him lingered in his mind. Coupled with the overwhelming Resentful Energy filling his thoughts, his performance was even worse than before. Take after take ended in failure, and he was thoroughly berated by Chang Yan.
Those outside the camera frame, including a few who had overheard the conversation between Han Chen and Qi Yuqiu earlier, were astonished by this reversal of expectations. They never imagined that, once on set, it would be Han Chen dragging everyone down, not Qi Yuqiu, whose acting had previously been considered abysmal.
“It seems Qi Yuqiu has really put in the effort and has a deep understanding of this role.”
Others remained unconvinced: “I think it’s just because he has so few lines that it’s easier for him. Although he’s improved a tiny bit compared to before, you can’t say his acting is better than Han Chen’s.”
No matter what others said, by the time this set of shots was finished, Han Chen felt utterly exhausted.
An assistant helped Han Chen walk to the shade of a canopy to rest. Turning his head, he saw Qi Yuqiu lying leisurely in a chair, holding a thermos cup, showing no sign of fatigue at all. When Qi Yuqiu noticed him looking over, he even waved at him.
That damned Qi Yuqiu—before the movie airs, he must be utterly disgraced! Han Chen gritted his teeth fiercely.
And that damned Sheng Yuke too!