CHAPTER 36

In "Zui Xiaoyao," there are many fight scenes, with the male lead having the most. Therefore, there are two martial arts instructors: one primarily trains the male and female lead, while the other works with the second female lead and other supporting characters. The action choreography for the key fight scenes is designed and guided collaboratively by both instructors.

Although it's said to be fight training, the requirements are not excessive. All three main characters have stunt doubles, and the crew also has contracted extras on set. The main actors don't have to fight continuously from start to finish. The director's requirement is that they should fight convincingly, but also sustain the challenge of close-up shots.

Both the male lead and the female lead use swords. The swords used on set are custom-made, exquisitely crafted with an antique look. The second female lead, Xiaoyuan, wields a soft whip made of copper.

The main task for these three is to familiarize themselves with their weapons, ensuring that even simple movements are executed accurately and attractively.

For swordplay, the three main types of attacks are: cut, slice, and thrust. These three types of attacks can be extended into numerous sword techniques and moves.

The first martial arts instructor has low expectations for Fang Hao and Zou Yirui. As long as they can execute a set of moves well, it's enough to impress.

Xiaoyuan watched in awe as the movements dazzled her: there were straight thrusts, turning and whipping the sword, thrusting with the sword while leaning slightly forward, arms straight, and the sword parallel to the shoulders. There were also stances like bow stance rising and slicing down, side cuts, and jumping thrusts...

She watched in astonishment and admiration. The male and female lead are truly impressive. Wielding a sword looks so cool! Who doesn't have a dream of being a sword-wielding heroine traveling the world!

The second martial arts instructor was a woman who seemed to sense Xiaoyuan's thoughts and smiled, saying, "Using a whip can be cool too!"

The whip looked similar to a rope, and to master it, one must first learn to uncoil it and avoid tangling it up, or else they might end up hitting themselves instead of the target.

The second instructor advised her to "whip straight at a line, then whip horizontally like a fan, when it's in your hand, it's a bundle, but when you swing it out, it's a spread." For now, she shouldn't worry about technique, just focus on making the whip look impressive.

Xiaoyuan thought it seemed simple. Watching the instructor's agile and cool moves, she didn't expect that when it was her turn, the whip would completely refuse to obey her commands, frequently striking herself and others.

She copied the instructor's movements, whipping the whip around, and the people nearby exclaimed "Oh!" as she accidentally struck her own shoulder and back, making her wince in pain.

Instantly, the people around her scattered with a whoosh. Cai Juan had long since hidden in a corner, patting his chest, "Oh my, the destructive power!"

Zou Yirui, holding a sword on the other side, laughed at her misfortune.

Xiaoyuan, not willing to back down, asked the instructor to demonstrate for her, and she practiced tirelessly.

"Draw a five-pointed star. Draw an eight-shaped figure, start by drawing it straight, mastering one move at a time, don't rush." the instructor patiently taught her.

The morning quickly passed.

After a two-hour lunch break, Xiaoyuan didn't rest but continued practicing, even sending Cai Juan back to rest, leaving Xiaoyuan alone in the vast training ground.

When training resumed in the afternoon, Fang Hao arrived early. Upon his arrival, Xiaoyuan is taking a water break. Her short-sleeved sports shirt was soaked with sweat on her back, and the loose strands of hair from her bun were sticking to her neck. Her cheeks had a rosy glow from the exercise, and her bright, sparkling eyes spoke to her assistant, "I'm finally getting the hang of it!"

Fang Hao stopped in his tracks.

When Xiaoyuan turned around and saw him, her eyes curved slightly as she greeted him, "You're here?"

Without any makeup, her smile brought a hint of spring to her features, making Fang Hao think that perhaps the love scenes between the male and second female lead would be easy to shoot.

"Yeah, you didn't go back to rest?" As he got closer, Fang Hao noticed a red, swollen mark on her neck and her fair arms.

"I can't sleep if I don't practice well."

Fang Hao pointed to her neck, "Are you okay?"

As his presence drew near, Xiaoyuan paused slightly, turned to Cai Juan, took the water from his hand, and pretended to drink to avoid eye contact. "I'm fine."

Fang Hao seemed to sense something. He stepped back a bit, also showing a smile, making a fist. "Keep it up! I'll work hard too!"

By the time Zou Yirui arrived, they were practicing with their weapons, occasionally exchanging a few words and laughter. Her expression darkened as she quickly grabbed a sword to join them.

This continued for several days, but Zou Yirui grew increasingly frustrated. Fang Hao, originally a singing and dancing idol, had a solid dance foundation and quickly grasped the key movements. While his techniques weren't perfectly precise, they looked powerful and visually impressive. Xiaoyuan, who was said to have learned several dances, demonstrated great flexibility and had already become skilled at using her whip, connecting moves with impressive flair. Only Zou Yirui was still struggling to meet the martial arts instructor's standards.

What frustrated her more was that these two had already passed their assessments and continued to practice late into the night. Zou Yirui couldn't rest at home, unable to withstand the pressure they brought, so she stayed behind to practice as well.

These two top students were too annoying. Why work so hard? She just wanted to pass!

The morale of the crew increased significantly, and the atmosphere was great.

The director and producer were quite satisfied when they came to observe the shoot.

On the evening of the fourth day, they began a script reading session. Director Liu Qin, screenwriter Shi Hai, and other key creative personnel were all present. Led by Director Liu, the actors read aloud the lines and plot of the first episode by character, sitting together to discuss and rehearse the script.

In the scene, Jiang Xiaoyao's master, Song Yunshan's father, Song Qingshan, held a birthday banquet, and various martial arts sects came to congratulate. Song Qingshan and his wife intended to announce their engagement at this event.

Jiang Xiaoyao and Song Yunshan had a heartfelt conversation here, letting people know through these words that they had grown up together as childhood sweethearts.

Fang Hao and Zou Yirui's acting skills passed, but the director felt that their chemistry was lacking. There wasn't a sense of familiarity in their dialogue. She gave a few pointers.

Fang Hao and Zou Yirui nodded in agreement.

Fang Hao sat between Zou Yirui and Xiang Xiaoyuan, scratching his head as he silently memorized the director's words. Xiaoyuan passed a pen to him, pointing at the script, encouraging him to make notes. He smiled appreciatively and took it.

This brief interaction between the two caught Zou Yirui's eye. She pursed her lips, turned away, but also found a pen in the assistant's bag, marking key points in the script.

Everyone continued to review and organize the upcoming scenes.

Just as the birthday banquet was in full swing, an uninvited guest arrived—Duan Chouye, one of the four leaders of the demonic sect in the martial arts world. He claimed to be here to offer congratulations but actually sought a marriage alliance for his daughter.

Song Qingshan, known for his integrity and reputation in the martial arts world, had connections with officials. The guests at the banquet came from all over, including high-ranking officials, renowned sect leaders, and nameless bandits, but there were also members of the demonic sect who were secretive and at odds with the imperial court. Since righteousness and evil cannot coexist, he could not accept such congratulations and requests, leading to a conflict that escalated into a brawl.

Duan Chouye came prepared with many people and injured one of Song Qingshan's disciples. Enraged, Song Qingshan declared, "Today, I shall clear these villains from the martial world on behalf of myself!"

Duan Chouye shouted back, "I have always found you so-called righteous and prestigious sects distasteful. If not for my daughter's interest in your disciple, I would never consider an alliance with such hypocrites like you."

"You oppose the court, clash with fellow righteous sects, act recklessly, and kill innocents. There is no possibility of us forming an alliance!"

"My sect entered the Central Plains a hundred years ago solely for survival. We refused to be bound by the court's decree and were labeled as 'heretics' and 'evil sects.' It is you righteous sects who, under the guise of chivalry, have pursued and eradicated our members! We cannot coexist!"

The actors playing Song Qingshan and Duan Chouye, both mid-generation male actors, were once stage performers. Their voices naturally carried a rich surround sound—one deep and resonant, the other clear and melodious. Their line delivery was impressive, through their dialogue alone, the characters came to life vividly. The two actors held their scripts, reading while glaring at each other, as if they were about to draw their swords and throw punches at any moment.

"Wow!" Everyone burst into applause.

Someone joked, "Fight! Fight!"

Laughter erupted from the crowd, and the atmosphere became much lighter.

Continuing with the plot, the birthday banquet of Song Qingshan descended into chaos, turning into a brawl.

Jiang Xiaoyao and Song Yunshan joined the fight.

Song Yunshan asked, "Senior brother, do you know this little saintess of the demonic sect?"

Jiang Xiaoyao replied, "Junior sister, I truly do not know her, I've never seen her before."

With a hint of jealousy, Song Yunshan said, "If you've never met her, then why does she want to marry you so badly?"

Jiang Xiaoyao responded, "Junior sister, I speak the truth with no intent to deceive you. I really have no idea."

Storming off in anger, Song Yunshan was followed by Jiang Xiaoyao, setting the stage for Xiaoyuan to make her entrance.

The script indicated that she would wear a red outfit, with a whip at her waist and a veil over her face, jumping down from the rooftop in front of them.

Jiang Xiaoyao questioned, "Who are you?"

Ling Yao gazed at him with beautiful eyes, smiling, "I am Ling Yao."

Before Jiang Xiaoyao could react to who Ling Yao was, Song Yunshan coldly asked, "You are the little saintess of the demonic sect, Ling Yao?"

Ling Yao glanced at her, "I am."

"You want to marry him?"

"I want to."

"Do you know if he is willing to marry you?"

"I haven't asked him. But I am willing."

"You! You have no shame, a woman deciding to marry on her own!"

"If I want to get married, of course I'll make my own decision. You're strange!" Ling Yao looked at her, puzzled, then smiled, "I know who you are, you are Brother Jiang's junior sister. You want to marry him too, right?"

"You!"

To those watching, the back-and-forth between Xiaoyuan and Zou Yirui had no gaps, but it was clear that Xiaoyuan was much more relaxed and at ease. Her lines had emotional layers, with key phrases like "I want to" and "Brother Jiang" delivered with rising excitement, while speaking to Song Yunshan with a deliberate sense of neglect and disdain.

On the other hand, Zou Yirui's rhythm was thrown off, and she became a bit flustered.

Song Yunshan was characterized as a cold beauty, except for a touch of shyness when facing Jiang Xiaoyao, she maintained a distant, proud demeanor towards outsiders, exuding an ethereal quality.

Her speech wouldn't be rushed or frantic, it had to convey a sense of proud confidence. After all, it was she who was promising a lifetime to him, not anyone else.

This contrast shouldn't be too obvious, especially since everyone present was familiar with the characters and their personalities in the script.

As Zou Yirui angrily uttered her final "You," the room fell silent. No one spoke.

Fang Hao sensed the awkwardness and rubbed his nose.

Shi Hai remained silent, sighing inwardly. He had actually never seen Zou Yirui perform, her appearance was fitting, and she looked great, but her line delivery seemed a bit lacking.

Of course, compared to Xiaoyuan, it was a whole different level.

Shi Hai recalled his original description of Song Yunshan, "Dressed in white, with a delicate sword, fluttering garments, beautiful features, like a wisp of light cloud and faint mist in the mountains."

He doubted whether Zou Yirui could embody that kind of temperament.

At this point, there was nothing he could do. With the backers nodding in approval, he could only stay silent, keep his mouth shut, and drink his tea.

"Ahem." Director Liu lightly cleared her throat, being considerate of Zou Yirui as the female lead, and tapped the table. "Alright, let's move on."

Next, Jiang Xiaoyao and Ling Yao conversed. Jiang Xiaoyao expressed gratitude for the girl's favor, mentioning his only interest was his junior sister, but Ling Yao, with a gentle smile, suggested giving her a chance to compete fairly, stating that since they were not engaged or married, she had the right to compete.

Song Yunshan disdained conversing with such shameless women, so she turned to leave and used her light skills to fly away.

Jiang Xiaoyao found himself entangled with Ling Yao, and the two even sparred a few times. Jiang Xiaoyao didn't exert full force, only wanting to quickly get rid of his pursuer, but Ling Yao's skills were exceptional, entangling him and rendering his light skills useless.

The script reading wasn't an actual shoot, they were rehearsing and refining the lines, focusing on verbal skills. However, in this lengthy segment where physical combat and dialogue intertwined, it inevitably felt a bit dry when acted out verbally. Actors like Fang Hao sometimes struggled with the rhythm. On the other hand, Xiang Xiaoyuan spoke with a smile in her voice, gesturing slightly in the air, calculating the gaps between actions and lines accurately, unaffected by any constraints.

"Brother Jiang, I genuinely like you, and I just want a chance to be with you. I will compete fairly with your junior sister, you need not worry."

"Brother Jiang, you didn't use your full strength in the 'Treading on Thin Grass' move. But it's fine, I can handle it."

"Your junior sister's father is Song Qingshan, whose 'Seven Styles of the Melody' is renowned. Miss Song must have learned a move or two from her father, so she won't be in danger. Brother Jiang, don't worry too much!"

Her voice was clear and crisp, calling Brother Jiang affectionately like a little girl, sitting there gracefully. Everyone in the room could see the charm of a beautiful woman expressing her feelings in front of the one she liked. She was adept in light skills, not resorting to weapons, engaging with him solely through martial arts, graceful and charming, with a continuous smile.

During this segment, the room fell into another kind of silence. Among the attendees were the director, actors, lighting crew, art department staff, and everyone shared the same thought as the scriptwriter Shi Hai:

'This actress is perfect for the role! In fact, she's the best among the main cast!'

Shi Hai remained silent, a faint smile playing on his lips as he continued to sip his tea.

In the script, Ling Yao and Jiang Xiaoyao tangled for a while here, while Song Yunshan left in anger, only to encounter real trouble, being poisoned by a notorious flower thief [Typically refers to a character who illicitly pursues or abducts women, often in a romantic or predatory manner.] in the martial arts world, nearly abducted. Jiang XIaoyao and Ling Yao rushed over and worked together to drive off the villain.

Jiang Xiaoyao escorted Song Yunshan back to the sect, with Ling Yao following him closely.

Song Qingshan fought with Duan Chouye, and neither side could claim victory, both suffering losses. They could only temporarily suppress the poison in Song Yunshan. Jiang Xiaoyao descended the mountain to find medicine for her, becoming inadvertently embroiled in a conflict, getting injured and saved by Ling Yao, who had been following him.

This concluded the first episode.

Just considering the first episode, there were several fight scenes. Some involve large groups, while others feature only two or three characters, but all are crucial scenes.

After the actors finished reading their lines, the director and screenwriter further examined the plot and details, explaining the storyline and confirming the characters' trajectories. Then the next part involved the director and the group leaders of lighting, photography, and other departments discussing, brainstorming, and making preliminary arrangements for the filming of the entire episode.

The creators of this TV drama are particularly serious, intending to make this production a quality piece. Although Liu Qin is described as being too slick in her personal interactions, her professional abilities are exceptional. She is among the best in the country when it comes to filming martial arts dramas, and she is even better than those male directors at handling emotional scenes.

Liu Qin has a loud voice with a slightly rough tone, so even when she speaks calmly, if she's not smiling, she can sound somewhat fierce.

As everyone listened to her step-by-step lay out the plans, her assured demeanor exuded a sense of authority that put people at ease. When she spoke to the actors, her tone softened a bit, and she gave a few instructions to each person.

Zou Yirui wasn't sure if she was being paranoid, but whenever she caught Liu Qin's gaze, she felt that the comment about needing to further refine the characters and keep working hard was directed solely at her.

That evening, when she returned to her accommodation, she couldn't help but throw things and lose her temper. Fang Hao was favored by Boyi, a major investor, and the director naturally treated him gently. If Xiaoyuan hadn't been cast as the second female lead, she wouldn't have felt so overshadowed.

"Do you think that Xiang Xiaoyuan and I are incompatible? Every time she shows up, I end up in trouble!"

Her assistant, the same one from two years ago, cautiously replied, "You are the female lead, she's just an unknown!"

"No matter how well she can act, she won't overshadow you in publicity."

Zou Yirui muttered resentfully for a moment before asking, "Who's prettier, her or me?"

"Both..." The assistant hesitated, feeling that this conversation sounded familiar.

Zou Yirui also remembered. Two years ago, during the filming of "Choice," she had asked the assistant the same question. She was extremely frustrated, it was one thing to be a good actress, but it was another to have such a beautiful face.

Women can be quite perceptive about other women. Everyone in the industry knows who has undergone procedures and who hasn't, they're all mixed in the same circle but choose not to speak openly about it. Over the years, Zou Yirui had also made subtle adjustments to her appearance. She had always been cautious and was well-informed about such matters. When Xiaoyuan wasn't filming, she often appeared with no makeup or light makeup, and it was clear that she was naturally beautiful.

Xiaoyuan, Xiaoyuan—just listen to that name, it's so flashy and showy, as if she's afraid others might not realize how good-looking she is!

Seeing Zou Yirui's gloomy expression and her extremely bad mood, the assistant suggested, "Why not take a break for now?"

To her surprise, Zou Yirui replied "Not yet, bring me the script, I want to take another look."

In the following days, they trained for fight scenes during the day and read the script at night. Zou Yirui was more serious than anyone else, she was determined not to let Xiaoyuan overshadow her again.

.......

A week passed quickly, and the crew arrived at the filming location. Director Liu held a formal opening ceremony, covering the camera with a red cloth, setting up offerings for Guandi, roasting a pig, and displaying various fruits. The main creators of the crew took turns to pay respects, and finally, the red cloth covering the camera was unveiled, a banner was unfurled, and everyone shouted together, "Good luck to the filming of 'Zui Xiaoyao'!"  [Guandi, also known as Guan Yu, is a revered figure in Chinese history, literature, and folklore, known for his loyalty, righteousness, and martial prowess. Guan Yu is especially popular among the Chinese people, and he is often worshipped as a deity in Taoism and Chinese popular religion. Guan Yu is considered a symbol of protection, loyalty, and righteousness in many aspects of Chinese society. His red face is a distinctive feature in his iconic portrayal in traditional Chinese art and literature.]

Finally, filming officially began.

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