Hong Kong films: Starting from Shaolin Temple

Page 210

Chapter 173 Wang Xian'er Invites Me to Film! New Script: Green Snake

After the Wan Chai night, Lung Yan drew an insurmountable "red line" for Hong Kong in the most direct way.

The days that followed became unusually peaceful and... tranquil.

Those demons and monsters that once made Wulong Temple so fearful seemed to have vanished from the city overnight.

Uncle Da no longer had to worry when he went down the mountain to buy supplies. Even the street thugs would respectfully call him "Uncle Da" when they saw him.

Xiao Zhen's cultivation has also entered a stable period. Without external stimulation, she can focus more intently on harmonizing the two completely different forces within her: the Buddha and the demon.

Zhang Ling, on the other hand, completely "spent" at Wulong Temple. His greatest pleasure every day was to hold a wine gourd and watch Long Yan and Wang Xian'er "dating," occasionally making a few sarcastic remarks, which would then get him chased and beaten by Uncle Da.

The entire Wulong Temple is filled with a warm and homey atmosphere, like a family.

Meanwhile, the "ambiguity" between Long Yan and Wang Xian'er continued to intensify amidst this tranquility.

There was still no explicit declaration of love between them, no worldly promises.

But that unspoken understanding and emotion, transcending words, flows quietly in every everyday detail.

For example, when Long Yan meditated on the back mountain, Wang Xian'er would always sit quietly on the grass not far away, holding a book, keeping him company. She wouldn't disturb him, but occasionally, she would look up at his sculpted profile, and then contentedly continue reading.

For example, when Wang Xian'er encountered a bottleneck while studying the script, Long Yan could always inspire her with the simplest Buddhist principles.

“This character is in great pain because she has fallen in love with someone she shouldn’t have. What should she do?” Wang Xian’er asked, frowning.

"Love itself has no right or wrong," Long Yan would answer calmly. "The pain is not love itself, but the 'obsession' that stems from love. Only by letting go of the obsession can one find freedom."

Wang Xian'er only vaguely understood what Long Yan was saying, but his calm and wise voice always managed to soothe her anxious heart.

On this day, Wang Xian'er received a new script.

It was director Tsui Hark who personally delivered it up the mountain.

Tsui Ka is one of Hong Kong's most renowned "genius" directors, known for his boundless imagination and unique martial arts aesthetics. Ever since the "paying homage to the patron" incident, he has been deeply impressed by Lung Yan and is determined to create a film tailored for this "true high monk."

"Xian'er, take a look at this script," Xu Ke said excitedly. "This is a story I've been working on for a long time, and it's definitely going to become a classic!"

Wang Xian'er took the script and saw two large, flamboyant characters on the cover—

Green Snake.

She opened the script and was immediately captivated by the story, which was full of the supernatural and alluring, yet explored the themes of humanity and Buddhism.

The story tells of the White Snake and the Green Snake, two snake demons who have cultivated for a thousand years, coming to the human world to learn how to be human. The White Snake is gentle and the Green Snake is alluring. They become entangled in a series of love and hate relationships with the scholar Xu Xian and a young monk named Fahai who is ignorant of human affairs.

"How is it, Xian'er? Isn't this script good?" Xu Ke asked expectantly.

"Yes! That's fantastic!" Wang Xian'er's eyes sparkled. "Director Xu, this story is so beautiful, yet so tragic."

"then you……"

“I’ll act!” Wang Xian’er said without hesitation.

Holding the script, she excitedly ran to find Long Yan, like a little girl showing off her treasure.

"Long Yan, Long Yan, look! Director Xu's new movie! It's called 'Green Snake'! It's about a snake demon and Fahai!"

Long Yan was in the yard, pruning a potted plant. Hearing this, he didn't even look up, simply saying:

"It tells the story of how a snake that doesn't understand love learns to love, and how a monk who doesn't understand emotions confronts emotions."

Wang Xian'er was stunned for a moment.

She...she had only just finished reading the script outline! How...how could Long Yan, with just a name, so accurately summarize the core of the entire story?!

"You...how did you know?!" She covered her mouth in surprise, looking at him like he was a monster. "My God! You're amazing!"

Long Yan put down the scissors in his hand, turned his head, looked at her little face full of admiration, and the corners of his mouth turned up slightly.

He had no explanation.

Wang Xian'er seemed to suddenly remember something, her eyes lit up, and she excitedly grabbed his arm, shaking it playfully.

"Long Yan, Long Yan! Will you come with me to film a movie?"

"I?"

“That’s right!” Wang Xian’er’s eyes gleamed with cunning. “Look, in the script, there’s a character named Fahai. He’s a very young, powerful, but also very stubborn monk who doesn’t understand human relationships.”

She looked Long Yan up and down, and commented in a serious tone:

"Hmm, young, capable, stubborn, and clueless about social interactions... it's practically... practically tailor-made for you!"

"You, would you like to play Fahai?"

Chapter 174 Long Yan is filming a movie, playing the role of Fahai!

"Me...playing Fahai?"

Long Yan was clearly caught off guard by Wang Xian'er's wildly imaginative suggestion.

Let him fight, that's fine.

Let him chant scriptures, that's fine.

Let him...act?

“Yes! Yes!” Seeing that he didn’t immediately refuse, Wang Xian’er pressed her advantage and used her “persistent charm”. She shook Long Yan’s arm, her big, watery eyes blinking as she looked at him, her tone full of expectation and pleading.

"Think about it, you were so popular when you played a monk in 'A Chinese Ghost Story'! And this time, you're the lead again! Moreover, the character of Fahai is so much like you! I can't think of anyone else who could play the role so well!"

“Most importantly…” she said, her voice suddenly lowering and her cheeks flushing slightly, “Most importantly… if you go, I… I can see you on set every day.”

This last sentence is her "core objective".

Looking into her bright, expectant eyes and listening to her soft, coquettish voice, the hard rock in Long Yan's heart seemed to melt once again.

He couldn't bring himself to say "no" to her.

After a long while, he sighed softly and nodded: "Okay."

"Yay! That's great!" Wang Xian'er jumped up with joy when he agreed, like a little girl who had received her favorite candy.

She even got carried away and gave Long Yan a quick kiss on the cheek!

After the kiss, she was stunned.

The atmosphere instantly became somewhat... frozen.

Long Yan was also stunned. He subconsciously touched his cheek where he had been kissed, where a trace of warm, soft touch and a faint fragrance still lingered.

Wang Xian'er's face flushed bright red, like a ripe apple. Looking at Long Yan's somewhat bewildered expression, she felt so embarrassed she wanted to disappear into the ground.

"I...I...I'll go talk to Director Xu!" she stammered, then turned and ran away as if fleeing.

Long Yan stood there, touching his cheek. After a long while, a faint yet incredibly gentle smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

……

Unfortunately, this scene was witnessed by several people.

Uncle Da had a beaming smile on his face, constantly muttering, "Oh my, it's done, it's done, it's completely done now..."

Zhang Ling took a big gulp of wine and said sourly, "Tsk tsk tsk, in broad daylight, under the clear sky, in a Buddhist sanctuary... What kind of behavior is this! What kind of behavior is this!"

Xiao Zhen's expression became somewhat complicated.

She watched Wang Xian'er's retreating figure, filled with happiness and shyness, and then looked at Long Yan's gentle, smiling face.

It felt as if something was blocking her heart.

It's a little sour and a little astringent.

"Hmph!" she suddenly snorted, turned around, and ran away.

However, she ran towards the training ground on the back mountain.

For the next few hours, the entire back mountain echoed with her resentful, powerful shouts as she practiced her skills.

……

The matter of going to the film crew to film was settled.

When director Tsui Hark learned that Lung Yen had actually agreed to play the role of "Fahai," he was so excited that he almost knelt down before Lung Yen on the spot.

In his view, this was simply a windfall! With a "real Arhat" joining the cast, it would be hard for his film "Green Snake" not to be a hit!

He immediately set about arranging the relevant matters as quickly as possible.

Meanwhile, Wulongyuan has entered the "pre-battle preparation" stage.

0 ······Requesting flowers·· ··

Uncle Da volunteered to be Long Yan's "life assistant," ostensibly to "take care of the boss's daily needs," but in reality, he just wanted to go to the film set and watch the excitement.

Zhang Ling stated that he would continue to stay at Wulongyuan to "guard the house." He explained that during his recent compass survey, he discovered that while Hong Kong's "geopolitical energy" appeared calm on the surface, something... restless and lurking deep beneath the surface seemed to be stirring.

"Great monk, be extra careful when you go to film this time." Before leaving, Zhang Ling unusually reminded Long Yan seriously, "I have a feeling that there is a lot of demonic energy in the waters near Hong Kong lately. I don't know which blind thing ran up from the sea. Although you are powerful, it is easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark."

... ..... ...

"A monster?" Uncle Da, listening from the side, was terrified. "What monster? A water monster?"

Long Yan nodded: "Thank you for the reminder, Daoist. I will keep it in mind."

Xiao Zhen, on the other hand, kept a straight face and didn't say a word during the farewell.

She handed Long Yan a package and said in a muffled voice, "Here, this is a change of clothes that Uncle Da prepared for you."

Then, after hesitating for a moment, he took out a small peace knot that he had woven with red thread from his pocket and put it into Long Yan's hand.

"This... I just made it on the spot. If you... if you think it's ugly, just throw it away!" After she finished speaking, she blushed and turned away.

Looking at the slightly crooked peace knot in his hand, which was full of girlish sentiments, and then at Xiao Zhen's "proud" back, Long Yan couldn't help but chuckle.

He knew that this seemingly contradictory little girl was showing her concern for him in her own way.

that's it.

Amidst everyone's wishes and blessings (and a touch of jealousy).

Following his role in "A Chinese Ghost Story 3," Long Yan, for the second time, stepped into that bizarre and fantastical world of film sets as an "actor."