HEIFEIGU -Chapter 133

After Xie Jixing moved in, he really didn’t bother showing any courtesy.

If he said no romance, then there was no romance.

He threw all his time and energy into preparing for the role of Zhang Xianhai.

At first, Qian Shuyun had hoped to leverage his acting experience for some advantage, but he forgot there was also Yin Wenshan at home.

Who could teach better than Teacher Yin, a firsthand witness of this era?

Even Qian Shuyun had to consult Yin Wenshan.

Xie Jixing was practically thrown into a pile of reference materials by Yin Wenshan.

He needed to fully understand this world and that era first, only then could he hope to portray the character well.

These past few days, he had been buried in books and documentaries, enduring hardship after hardship.

At noon, he frowned and chewed on the beef stew Aunt Wang had cooked, looking murderous.

Qian Shuyun cautiously asked, “How was your morning’s research?”

Then he earnestly suggested, “Why don’t you stop studying this afternoon and go out on a date to change your mood?”

“Those bastards!” Xie Jixing swore with a newly learned curse.

“Now I know… some humans are scarier than demons!”

Well.

The request for a date was once again ignored.

Qian Shuyun sighed lightly and quietly offered Xie Jixing a bite of bitter melon.

“You’ve cursed so fiercely, have some bitter melon to cool your temper.”

Engulfed in rage, Xie Jixing absentmindedly took a crunchy, bitter bite, suddenly pulled back to reality.

He chewed while angrily protesting, “You actually fed me this?!”

“Master said, if you can’t date, you need to eat more vegetables—especially bitter ones,” Qian Shuyun said, taking a bite himself. “To vent the anger.”

Since there was no time for romance anyway, with Yin Wenshan tutoring Xie Jixing at home, Qian Shuyun decided to step back and handle the rest of the work.

Directing is very different from acting; there are many small tasks to manage.

Costumes, props, and locations all needed preparation.

Cameras and lighting required not only equipment but also personnel coordination.

Though Qian Shuyun didn’t have to handle these personally, he still checked everything.

Besides the two main characters, other roles needed casting.

For his own company’s movie, dark-skinned Mengmeng had to participate.

With excellent acting skills and some wheedling toward Qi Zhen, he got the role of the traitor Kurihara.

This time, he could finally enjoy playing a major villain.

The actor playing Zhang Xianhai’s senior brother Zhang Xianrui was also an old acquaintance.

Until now, Luo Feiang, who always played top-tier male leads, had proactively contacted Qian Shuyun to play a supporting role this time.

He had initially wanted the Kurihara role too but had lost out because he had never acted opposite Meng Zezhou during auditions.

Still, playing the rough senior brother Zhang Xianrui was a major breakthrough compared to his usual domineering CEOs, school heartthrobs, or movie star roles.

Fei Zhehan and Huai Xinhou would play Zhang Xianhai’s master Zhang Haoqian and Fan Wei Yuan, father of Fan.

There were also two standout female roles. One was Fan Qingshan’s eldest sister, Fan Qingyan.

After Fan Qingshan decided to become a movie star, she shouldered the Fan family’s responsibilities alone. This role would be played by Jiang Yueli.

The other was Fan Qingshan’s underground contact.

In the escape-room reality show Xie Jixing had participated in, there was a female underground agent Yang Jinwei who used embroidery to pass messages, leaving a deep impression on Qian Shuyun.

He incorporated this character into the script, casting Yu Yueting again.

The required scenes could mostly be accommodated by the new film base.

On the first day of shooting, the ceremony was held in the street district specially renovated for Yin Wenshan.

The offerings prepared by the crew were all Yin’s favorite foods.

Besides the usual custom cola towers, there were even a few bowls of mustard greens dumplings.

To ensure the film’s quality, Qian Shuyun didn’t shoot in separate groups this time.

He decided to complete Zhang Xianhai’s storyline first, then shoot Fan Qingshan’s scenes.

This was Xie Jixing’s first time playing such a substantial role.

Almost every scene involved him, and naturally, he felt a bit nervous.

This shoot was also different from the last.

Last time, Qian Shuyun and he were both leads.

He was acting for the first time, and Qian acted like a gentle, kind teacher—guiding, protecting, and comforting him.

This time, Qian Shuyun stood in the director’s position, very strict.

Xie Jixing had hardly seen him like this before.

Critical to the point of being harsh.

Fortunately, the other two co-actors were familiar faces.

The first scene was the three disciples negotiating whether to leave the mountain.

“This time, I’ve been promoted a level,” Fei Zhehan adjusted his fake beard and taunted Xie Jixing, “Teacher Xie, call me Master and see how it sounds.”

Luo Feiang joined in, wearing a worn cotton jacket, raising his chin to Xie Jixing with his handsome face, “Xingxing, call me Brother and see how it sounds.”

Xie Jixing was speechless, silently rolling his eyes.

Luo Feiang, on the other hand, shrank his neck.

Why did it feel like someone was glaring at him?

Then he got the first NG (No Good) for the scene.

“Cut.”

Qian Shuyun’s voice came through the speaker, cold in tone, “Teacher Luo, don’t intentionally show off your jawline to the camera.”

“For a Taoist, the jawline isn’t important.”

“Also, Teacher Fei, pay more attention—the sense of age should be stronger.”

“Teacher Xie is fine. Keep the state and continue.”

Fei Zhehan and Luo Feiang had acted in many idol dramas; Luo even in two films.

Yet, acting opposite them, Xie Jixing was not only equal but slightly better.

This further solidified their confidence in transitioning.

All three roles had martial arts scenes, which was Xie Jixing’s strong suit.

He fought with elegance and fluidity, with great strength—so much so that the stunt coordinator gave a thumbs-up.

Fei Zhehan and Luo Feiang were impressed.

On Nanxia Bay Island, they only thought he was good at whipping ropes, splitting coconuts, and drumming; they hadn’t expected such rapid acting progress.

Both his dramatic and action scenes were top-notch, quickly earning him the title of the crew’s “Xie One.”

The atmosphere naturally became competitive.

During the noon break, Xie Jixing could be seen adjusting Luo Feiang and Fei Zhehan’s moves.

Luo Feiang completely shed his idol persona, no longer angling for the camera, fully immersing in his role.

Even with Qian Shuyun’s exacting standards, filming progressed rapidly.

Xie Jixing and Zhang Xianhai shared a similar temperament.

But Xie Jixing was luckier.

At least he protected the people he wanted to protect.

Zhang Xianhai, in the end, had protected none.

Before shooting the pivotal scene of the master and senior brother’s deaths, Xie Jixing was in a bad mood.

As a boyfriend, Qian Shuyun felt heartbroken, but as a director…

This situation was actually conducive to filming.

Qian Shuyun hesitated for a long time but ultimately did not comfort Xie Jixing.

On the day of shooting, C City had its first snow of the winter.

At first, it was light, tiny flakes.

Xie Jixing kept NG-ing, dragging out the schedule.

“Cut,” Qian Shuyun’s voice was cold and strict, “Teacher Xie, you can’t cry.”

Xie Jixing touched his face blankly; a tear had slipped down without him noticing.

Before filming, Qian Shuyun had explained the scene to him, and Yin Wenshan approved the acting choice.

Both agreed that Zhang Xianhai must not cry over Zhang Haoqian and Zhang Xianrui’s deaths.

But once he imagined that the deceased were Xie Zhi’ning and Song Chu, Xie Jixing couldn’t hold back.

He raised his hand, signaling he needed a short break.

The extras playing corpses got up to drink hot ginger tea.

Xie Jixing did not return to the van, sitting quietly in the snow, head down, lost in thought.

The wind and snow grew stronger, his nose, ears, and hands turned red. Watching from the monitor, Qian Shuyun was filled with worry.

When filming resumed, Xie Jixing still couldn’t hold back.

Qian Shuyun called cut again, “Teacher Xie, wipe your tears.”

“Sorry,” Xie Jixing said, red-eyed, looking at the camera, “I couldn’t hold it, I wasted everyone’s time.”

Qian Shuyun wanted to rush forward, wrap him in a coat, and gently comfort him.

Kiss his reddened eyes and the small mole under them.

But in the end, he only took several deep breaths, then calmly said, “Take a 10-minute break, then we continue.”

Sniffling, Xie Jixing slowly moved to the small bell, tilting his head to drink a cup of ginger tea.

Then he started daydreaming.

His eyes were bloodshot, making him look pitiful.

Luo Feiang couldn’t help whispering to Fei Zhehan beside him, “Isn’t Teacher Qian and Xingxing a couple?”

“Why are the demands so strict?”

“I felt Xingxing already did really well in those two takes; I almost cried with him. Why doesn’t he get it?”

Fei Zhehan didn’t understand either. “I think the emotional expression was already strong. I couldn’t have done it.”

Huai Xinhou appeared behind them holding a thermos, casually commenting, “No wonder Qian can be a director.”

“Once a person cries, they become weak.”

“Zhang Xianhai’s hatred right now is overflowing; he cannot show weakness.”

“He wants blood—he cannot shed tears.”

Luo Feiang and Fei Zhehan looked at each other, dumbfounded. They didn’t understand what he was saying, but it sounded convincing.

Ten minutes passed quickly. Xie Jixing returned to his position.

This time, his emotions had completely changed.

His sadness was buried in the deepest part of him.

Zhang Xianhai stared at the mutilated corpses of his master and senior, lying before him, and remained silent for a moment.

Then he knelt down and kowtowed three times—bang, bang, bang.

The first knock made Xie Jixing’s forehead turn red.

The surrounding extras flinched at the force; it felt like the ground itself had shaken.

The entire crew was shocked; even their breathing quieted.

At the second knock, the center of Xie Jixing’s forehead swelled and a vein of blood appeared.

Qian Shuyun clenched his fists so tightly his nails dug into his palms.

He wanted to take him home immediately and warm him up.

What movie? No filming!

After the third knock, a streak of bright red blood streamed down Xie Jixing’s forehead.

The blood, not much but mixed with snow, froze into red slush on his face—and no one wiped it away.

At that moment, Xie Jixing and Zhang Xianhai were truly one.

He stood silently for a while, then retrieved the peach-wood sword from his master’s waist that had been pinned under the body.

Afterward, he turned calmly and walked into the distance.

“Cut! That’s a wrap!”

Even though Qian Shuyun called cut, the set remained silent.

Behind the monitors, Luo Feiang felt a prickling sensation on his cheeks. He touched them and realized that he had, somehow, cried without noticing.

On the screen was a frozen frame: half of Xie Jixing’s face was covered in blood, his features barely discernible.

And those bloodshot eyes were filled with hatred and unwillingness.

Luo Feiang felt he might finally understand what Huai Xinhou had meant earlier.

So… what kind of acting monster is Xie Jixing?

Why did he suddenly become so strong?