From unemployment in crosstalk to top star in Chinese entertainment

The next morning, Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun had already finished their makeup.

Because it was Teng Zijing's first appearance and Fan Xian's first scene after he grew up, the director and the staff on set attached great importance to this scene.

This scene depicts lunch at the Fan family residence. Fan Xian discovers that the bamboo shoots are poisonous, so he eats them all before his grandmother can even pick up her chopsticks, and then immediately induces vomiting as he leaves the house.

A large number of servants in the mansion were poisoned. Fan Xian deduced that the vegetable deliveryman, Lao Ha, had been coerced into poisoning them, so he went to Lao Ha's house alone with a knife.

Old Ha was tied to the pillar, desperately trying to signal with his eyes.

Fan Xian had just taken a step when the courtyard gate suddenly closed.

The Imperial Detective Agency's secret agent, Teng Zijing, was ordered to kill Fan Xian.

Director Sun Hao sat behind the monitor, holding a walkie-talkie, his expression more serious than usual.

"Attention, all departments." His voice echoed throughout the set via walkie-talkie.

"Today's scene is Teng Zijing's debut. The script is simple, but I hope the actor can bring out the layers of the character."

He looked at Yu Liang: "Teacher Yu, are you ready?"

Yu Liang nodded.

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened her eyes again, she had transformed into Teng Zijing.

It's not "Yu Liang is playing Teng Zijing," it's "Teng Zijing himself."

This was a technique he learned from an old actor in his previous life: before filming begins, let the character become you.

"it is good."

Sun Hao took a deep breath.

"Scene 7, Shot 1, First Take: Action!"

Old Ha's house was a dilapidated farmhouse with mottled earthen walls and a half-closed gate.

Yu Liang stood in the courtyard.

His black cloak fluttered in the night wind, and the long sword at his waist remained unsheathed.

The courtyard gate was pushed open with a "bang".

Fan Xian rushed in, knife in hand.

The first person he saw was Old Ha.

Old Ha was tied to a wooden post in the middle of the yard, his mouth stuffed with rags, desperately trying to wink at him.

Fan Xian had just taken a step when the courtyard gate suddenly closed behind him.

He turned around abruptly.

A figure emerged from the darkness.

Dressed in black, wearing a black cloak, with a stern expression.

It was Teng Zijing.

Teng Zijing stood there, neither drawing his sword nor speaking.

She simply looked at Fan Xian with a pair of emotionless eyes.

Like looking at a dead person.

Yu Liang seized the opportunity to make his first appearance.

It's not about being impatient or restless; it's about a confident composure from a superior position.

In Teng Zijing's mind, the assassination attempt tonight was already over.

All he had to do was wrap things up.

Fan Xian gripped the hilt of his sword tightly, his palms slightly sweaty.

"Who are you?"

Teng Zijing did not answer.

He raised his hand and flicked his cloak.

There were dozens of throwing knives hidden inside.

Holy crap.

Guo Qilin whispered something next to the monitor.

It wasn't a line from a script; it was his genuine reaction.

Because the scene was so stunning.

The moment the black cloak unfurled, dozens of throwing knives were neatly arranged in a hidden pouch, like the fangs of a viper.

Fan Xian's pupils contracted sharply, and he involuntarily took half a step back.

But he quickly regained his composure and stared intently at Teng Zijing.

"Are you from the Forensic Service?"

Teng Zijing finally spoke.

The voice wasn't loud, but it carried a chilling, oppressive quality:

"Fourth Division of the Censorate, Teng Zijing."

He paused.

"By order, execute the traitors of the state."

---

"Card!"

Sun Hao stood up, a barely suppressed smile on his face: "Good! This one's done!"

"Teacher Yu, the way you shook your cloak just now, you controlled the force very well."

"It doesn't feel like he's just showing off; he genuinely exudes a murderous aura."

Yu Liang put away the throwing knife prop and breathed a sigh of relief: "It's mainly because the props teacher did a good job."

"Don't give me that." The head of the props team shouted from behind.

"I spent half a month making this cape, but I never expected that the shaking technique I used would produce such an effect."

Guo Qilin leaned closer, his expression complicated: "Brother, I have a question for you."

"explain."

"When you're performing crosstalk with my partner, is that laughing and joking part of your act or is it genuine?"

Yu Liang glanced at him: "Guess."

"...I'm not going to guess anymore. I'm afraid guessing will traumatize me."

Zhang Ruoyun laughed out loud.

Although Zhang Ruoyun is the male lead in this male-dominated drama, he never puts on airs.

Instead, he and Yu Liang, who was a few years younger than him, addressed each other as "brother".

Zhang Ruoyun walked over and patted Yu Liang on the shoulder: "Brother Liang, let's go over the action sequences for the next scene."

The next scene is the highlight of today's show.

Action scenes.

Before the actual filming began, the action director called Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun together and drew a simple movement diagram on the ground.

"There aren't many action sequences in this fight scene, but there are a few key moments."

The action director crouched down and tapped the ground with a tree branch.

"At the start, Teng Zijing made the first move, forcing Fan Xian back with three flying knives."

Fan Xian dodged and charged forward, drawing his sword. The two engaged in close combat for five or six rounds.

He looked at Yu Liang: "Teacher Yu, the script says 'the two fight for dozens of moves,' but in actual filming we only designed six core movements."

"The rest will be glossed over using visual storytelling. Understand?"

Yu Liang nodded.

"Among these six moves, there is one that is very difficult."

The action director stood up and gestured, "Teng Zijing sidestepped Fan Xian's straight thrust, and at the same time used the back of his knife to strike his wrist."

"Then, taking advantage of the moment when Fan Xian dropped the knife, he lunged forward and held the dagger to his neck."

He looked at Yu Liang: "This movement requires extreme speed. The force of the back of the knife striking the wrist must be 'real'."

"The neck support movement must be 'steady'. It's best to get it right in one take."

"Because of the angle at which the neck is held, it would be dangerous to shoot multiple takes."

Yu Liang flexed her wrists: "I'll give it a try."

"It's not a test," the action director said seriously. "It's something we absolutely have to do."

Yu Liang didn't say anything more, but just nodded.

He walked into the courtyard, drew the long sword from his waist, and tested its weight.

The prop knife is lighter than a real knife, but the center of gravity is well distributed, and the feel is close to that of a real knife.

He casually twirled the knife.

The blade traced a smooth arc in the moonlight.

The action director paused for a moment, then asked, "Teacher Yu, you've trained before?"

"A little bit."

"This is not just a 'little bit' of skill." The martial arts instructor stared at his hands. "The way you turned the knife just now was based on the Bagua Knife style."

The Bagua knife rotates on the back of the blade, not the edge, so it won't hurt you.

It usually takes an average person three years of practice to achieve a level where they can avoid cutting their hands.

Yu Liang smiled but didn't explain.

He couldn't explain it.

You can't exactly say, "I practiced martial arts since I was a child in my past life and worked as a stunt double for more than ten years," can you?

The action choreographer gave him a deep look, then turned to Sun Hao and said, "Director, I think we can increase the difficulty of the action sequences a bit more."

"How should I bring it up?"

"After Teng Zijing subdued Fan Xian, add a detail."

He looked at Yu Liang and continued to Sun Hao, "When Fan Xian struggles, Teng Zijing's dagger will leave a shallow bloodstain on his neck."

"It's not a real cut, it's that feeling of pressure that 'just touches the skin'."

He paused for a moment: "This action doesn't test technique, it tests trust. Because the blade is only one millimeter away from the carotid artery."

The courtyard was quiet for a moment.

Then Zhang Ruoyun spoke up: "Give it a try."

He planned to elevate his status with "Joy of Life," and he knew how important realistic action scenes were for a major IP.

Yu Liang looked at him, remained silent for a few seconds, and then said one word: "Okay."

"Attention all departments, prepare for live filming."

Yu Liang and Zhang Ruoyun took their positions.

One stood in the moonlight, the other in the shadows.

"Scene 9, Shot 1, First Take: Action!"