025 Fang Long Is Deeply Worried

Martial arts is more than just a genre; it is a culture. In Daxia, it boasts a storied history spanning thousands of years. To wield a sword across the ends of the earth, to share a drink in the world of the jianghu—these are the dreams of many. "The greatest of knights-errant serve their country and their people." The spirit of martial arts is etched deep into the marrow and DNA of the Daxia people. From the eighty-year-old man leaning on his cane to the eight-year-old child playing in the mud, no man is immune to its allure.

Where there is demand, there is supply. Under this immense spiritual yearning, martial arts culture flourished. It began with novels. Within the world of ink and paper, there were not only martial arts masters but also legendary secret manuals. A mere glimpse of such a world was enough to make one yearn to step inside. The grievances were complex, often fueled by grudges spanning generations or tangled webs of love and hatred. Sects were scattered everywhere, some hidden in deep mountains and ancient forests, others reigning over bustling towns. It was all so captivating, so maddeningly tempting.

In these novels, the descriptions of internal energy and combat techniques—some incomparably fierce, others soft enough to overcome the rigid—were particularly enthralling. And then there was the light-foot technique, allowing one to scale walls and leap to the heavens in a single bound, leaving countless fans utterly obsessed. Yet, these remained mere fantasies, impossible to manifest in reality.

Then came the movies. Martial arts stories were brought to the big screen. Ancient knights roamed the earth, while modern ones used their skills to challenge the law. The heroes of the jianghu, once only imagined in the mind, were vividly brought to life by actors who mimicked the moves described in the novels through physical performance. With the help of simple special effects, they showcased the legendary lightness of foot. The golden age of martial arts films arrived, and the Daxia martial way reached its zenith.

However, as society evolved, the tastes of the audience began to shift. People realized that light-foot techniques had no scientific basis. Combined with the rise of modern combat genres, martial arts films transformed into action films. During this period, many actors with genuine martial arts backgrounds rose to prominence, becoming famous kung fu stars across Daxia. It was against this backdrop that Jackie Lung became the reigning king of kung fu in Hong Kong.

But nothing stays in bloom for a hundred days, and no one stays at the peak forever. Audience preferences are ever-changing. The raw, gritty style of action films gradually fell out of favor. As the saying goes, life is like a chess game; every match is a new beginning. Jackie Lung was in desperate need of a transformative role to return to his former glory. Previously, when the ten-billion-yuan blockbuster "Tai Chi" by Star Shine was in pre-production, he had his assistant contact the production team to explore the possibility of a collaboration.

At the time, Zhang Mou had considered bringing Jackie Lung on board; after all, he was a renowned kung fu icon in Hong Kong. His involvement would certainly have been a massive boost for the box office. But back then, Wang Xingxing, with his nose in the air, believed that the status of Daxia actors simply didn't match the massive scale of the "Tai Chi" investment. He pushed Cheng Jie to suggest to the big boss, Jiang Yan, that they cast an international superstar instead. Consequently, the discussion went nowhere.

To be honest, Jackie Lung was quite disappointed at the time. After all, "Tai Chi" was a massive ten-billion-yuan production. And he? Despite his long-standing fame, he hadn't been on a film set in a long while. Times had truly changed. The Daxia people were no longer fond of the "fist-to-flesh" style of action movies. They found the viewing experience unpleasant. They would rather watch fantasy blockbusters if they had the time. After all, the vast universe and ancient paths held a much stronger appeal to the people of today.

Everything comes down to novelty. Especially in entertainment, once homogeneity becomes severe, it is a fatal blow to the entire genre. And action films—even later rebranded as "kung fu films"—were no longer winning the hearts of Daxia moviegoers.

With the production of a ten-billion-yuan project like "Tai Chi," if he could have joined the cast—even if not as the lead, but as the second or third—it would have been greatly beneficial to his career. But all that thinking was for naught, and the failure only left him with regret. If only he had been more proactive back then. Jackie Lung had always regretted it.

However, events often take unexpected turns. After the summer season concluded, "Tai Chi" only managed a box office of 110 million. While this left the Daxia public stunned, it made Jackie Lung feel it was a misfortune in the midst of luck. Thank goodness he hadn't joined! Otherwise, he would have been the one to take the blame for the poor performance. It wasn't that he lacked responsibility; it was just that in his current situation, any negative impact would have been the final straw. He didn't want his acting career to end like that. In the prime of his life, Jackie Lung felt he could still reach greater heights.

Many industry professionals analyzed the failure of "Tai Chi" as a result of its screenplay. It had little to do with the actors. The rampant online criticism about the actors' awkward, foreign-accented delivery could have been fixed with dubbing, but that wouldn't have saved the film from its inevitable failure. Regardless of who starred in it, the movie was destined to flop. But the general public didn't care about these nuances; if a film was bad and flopped, the actors would be mocked. And some directors took these factors into account when casting.

Thus, those in the industry who had previously criticized Wang Xingxing were, in their hearts, somewhat grateful. Because of his rejection, they had been spared. As the saying goes, fortune and misfortune are interdependent, and things often change when one least expects it. In the depths of his mind, Jackie Lung felt there was a movie out there waiting for him—a transformative work that would return him to the peak. But which one?

During a routine company meeting, Jackie Lung was distracted. The leadership was deeply concerned about his future, yet after much discussion, they had no viable strategy. Just like the action genre, the glory of Hong Kong entertainment had dissipated with the wind. Many of their actors hadn't worked in a long time. It wasn't just the newcomers; even the veteran masters with profound acting skills were sitting idle.

The senior management was anxious. They figured if there was no breakthrough, they might as well terminate the contracts of these actors. Letting them go out into the market to fend for themselves was better than waiting to die on the company's sinking ship. After all, while the mainland entertainment industry wasn't exactly thriving, its market was vast. These veteran masters from Hong Kong could at least make a living there.

They decided to act. At this monthly meeting, Hong Kong Entertainment announced a layoff plan. Fortunately, no one objected. After all, staying in the company meant going hungry. The company's willingness to let them go saved them the trouble of paying contract termination fees. The meeting ended in a chorus of sighs.

"Big Brother Jackie," a newcomer who had just joined Hong Kong Entertainment called out to him outside the meeting room.

"Ah, Little Lu." Jackie Lung stopped and smiled warmly. Despite being a renowned kung fu icon, he had a gentle temperament and carried no airs. Even the newcomers dared to approach him.

It was precisely this gentle nature that brought an unexpected turn to his career.

"Big Brother Jackie, do you happen to know Director Qian?"

Lu Guang had only recently joined Hong Kong Entertainment. He had been in the industry for only two or three years when he was hit by the layoff wave. He had grown up watching martial arts films and admired Jackie Lung, aspiring to become a kung fu star like him. But times had changed. Forget martial arts films; even regular action movies had no market.

"You mean Director Qian Lang?" Jackie Lung had, of course, heard of him. Not only had his film "Crazy Stone" defeated "Tai Chi" to top the summer box office—a feat that caused an uproar online—but the recent 7th Daxia Film Wind Awards in Hong Kong had also featured "Crazy Stone" in its nominations, introducing this young talent to the Hong Kong media.

Many artists in Hong Kong were already thinking of cozying up to this young director to see if there was any chance for collaboration. After all, "Crazy Stone" had received rave reviews, and that actor Wang Bo, who had been mocked for being ugly, was reportedly nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role as "Black Skin." It seemed this Director Qian had an extraordinary gift for star-making. Whether they were newcomers or veteran actors looking to reinvent themselves, everyone wanted to be in a Qian Lang movie to make their careers shine.

"Big Brother Jackie, I want to recommend myself to Director Qian, but without a project, I can't even get into the awards ceremony. You have wide connections here in Hong Kong, could you..." Lu Guang didn't finish his sentence. He wasn't the type to be shameless, but having joined the company so recently with no resources, others had always been indifferent to him. He was desperate to get into the ceremony to intercept Director Qian because he didn't want to sit and wait for the end. Opportunity favors the brave! He had always held the chivalrous spirit in high regard. But as a nobody, without the guidance of a senior, even an opportunity right in front of him might be snatched away. Perhaps sticking with Big Brother Jackie would provide some security?

Lu Guang was nervous, waiting to see if Jackie would agree. Jackie Lung, having spent half his life in the jianghu, understood the subtext of the young man perfectly. Nowadays, the most prominent figure in Daxia was likely Qian Lang. Getting a role in his film would surely be a massive boost to his own career.

"Fine, come with me to the ceremony and try our luck," Jackie said, brief and to the point.

"Thank you, Big Brother Jackie!" Lu Guang was so excited he didn't know how to express his gratitude. He bent down to bow, but Jackie steadied him. "Young man, whether you can seize the opportunity depends on your own skill."

This wasn't Jackie being condescending. Even he himself wasn't sure if he could land a role in a Qian Lang film.

"Big Brother Jackie, your acting skills are plain for all to see, your kung fu is excellent, and your fame is great. I can't imagine any reason why Director Qian wouldn't use you!" Lu Guang said with conviction.

But Jackie didn't share that certainty. He still vividly remembered the arrogance of the "Tai Chi" production team. Even if he had personally traveled to the capital, they might not have given him a role. In this world, the big fish eat the small, and the powerful dictate the terms. Now that Qian Lang had made a name for himself, Jackie didn't know if he would still show respect to a former king.

Sigh. Jackie Lung was truly worried.