Ah? Don't let me speak?
Then how do I audition?
Yu Wenliang was a bit bewildered. Could it be that they thought I was a good fit just from the character's appearance?
"Walk a few steps and let's see."
Zhang Yimou still craned his neck, curious if Yu Wenliang would look even more like General Yang Ping when he walked.
Yu Wenliang nodded slightly. He lightly kicked the hilt of the long saber resting on the ground with the side of his foot, effortlessly slinging it behind him. He then dragged the saber as he walked a few steps, the rustling sound of the blade rubbing against the floor, combined with his heavy footsteps.
He hadn't even started acting yet.
Yet, he already gave the onlookers a powerful sense of oppression.
"Are our costumes made this realistically?"
"That's because he wears them exceptionally well, alright..."
"Although this boy is an amateur, he looks more impressive than Peng Peng or Wu Lei!"
The staff of Zhang Yimou's team were all whispering, their eyes lighting up at Yu Wenliang's appearance.
Zhang Yimou, however, had many things to consider. He looked at Yu Wenliang in surprise and asked:
"You walk so lightly, don't you feel this armor is very heavy?"
"It's alright..."
Yu Wenliang remembered how clumsy he was the first time he wore this armor costume during his simulation.
Lao Mouzi's films, in order to create a sense of realism and epic scale, had all their costumes custom-made at great expense.
The Xuanjia armor in 'Hero' before.
The golden armor in 'Curse of the Golden Flower'.
Those were real money, so this kind of armor certainly wouldn't be light!
"Good, good, good..."
Zhang Yimou watched his light footsteps, which didn't change after walking back and forth several times, indicating that he wasn't just pretending to be relaxed by gritting his teeth.
"Then have you practiced martial arts?"
"No one taught you how to use this saber, right?"
Zhang Yimou's team stylist was a bit nervous.
He had just told Yu Wenliang that he didn't need to hold the long saber, and that a simple dramatic scene would suffice later.
But Yu Wenliang had insisted on bringing the long saber out himself, and he seemed to handle it with ease...
"Director, I like martial arts, I'm self-taught," Yu Wenliang humbly stated.
"Alright, then watch out, don't get hurt..."
Zhang Yimou truly thought Yu Wenliang was just practicing for fun, so he didn't pay much attention and directly told the prop master to bring out Pei's umbrella and hand it to Guan Xiaotong.
This was a chance for her to redeem herself. If her fight scene was good, he might not replace her...
"You two will directly try the last fight scene. Xiao Tong, you've been practicing for a month. Be gentle later, don't hurt him..."
Zhang Yimou didn't know about Yu Wenliang's astonishing performance in the Beijing Film Academy's second audition just now.
He just kept telling Guan Xiaotong to hold back.
Fu Lulu hesitated to speak:
"Director Zhang..."
Zhang Yimou was immersed in his role as director, instructing the cameraman to record and arranging for the martial arts director to come over, briefly design the movements, and protect the two auditioning actors to prevent any accidents.
"Ah... me?"
Guan Xiaotong clutched the Pei umbrella with both hands, looking at Yu Wenliang, who was fully equipped. She instinctively felt a little scared, recalling his astonishing bare-handed performance in the audition room earlier. Wouldn't he be even stronger now?
"It's okay, Xiao Tong, swing freely. I have thick skin and won't get hurt."
Yu Wenliang watched Guan Xiaotong's eyes encouragingly, urging her to perform the martial arts scene well and not to be constrained, which would hinder her performance. Although he wanted to Seize opportunities for Zhou Ye, he wouldn't intentionally scare Guan Xiaotong to make her make mistakes and be eliminated.
That would be unethical!
"Begin!"
With the director's command, Guan Xiaotong, encouraged by Yu Wenliang, charged towards him with the Pei umbrella, shouting in shame and anger, "Yang Ping!!!"
Yu Wenliang didn't even move from his spot. He twirled the long saber in his hand, effortlessly bringing it horizontally in front of him for defense, easily blocking the Pei umbrella.
Guan Xiaotong, instead, was shaken back half a step, her beautiful eyes wide, thinking, 'How is this possible?'
Following the several movements required by the martial arts director, Yu Wenliang pushed away the Pei umbrella resting on the saber. Unexpectedly, with a slight force, Guan Xiaotong's body lost balance, staggering back a few steps and almost falling...
He had been practicing for over half a month.
He had assimilated Yang Ping's abilities.
His martial prowess was increasing a bit too quickly!
Yu Wenliang did not show pity for women but was immersed in the role of Yang Ping. Facing the sudden female assassin, he would only drag his saber forward, leap into the air, and deliver a simple, direct cleaving strike. It actually produced a whooshing sound in the air!
"Holy crap?"
The martial arts director, who came from an unconventional background, had his big, rough face gaping wide.
This was the simplest movement he had designed.
He had thought that the long saber was heavy, and the handsome young man was too young.
It shouldn't achieve much effect, and there was no danger.
But in Guan Xiaotong's eyes, this saber strike was terrifying, like a Yama King coming for her life. It scared her slender legs into weakness, and her already stumbling delicate body naturally fell to the ground, unable to complete the umbrella-blocking movement the martial arts director had taught her.
Fu Lulu covered her mouth and screamed. If that saber strike had landed, Guan Xiaotong would have been in danger.
Zhang Yimou anxiously stood up from his director's chair. That saber strike was too fast!!!
The staff's hearts were in their throats, and even Zhou Ye and the other two widened their eyes!
Isn't this just an audition?
It's too scary?!
As a result, the long saber, which should have fallen with gravity and downward momentum, stopped abruptly, pausing at the height where it should have clashed with the Pei umbrella. Yu Wenliang saw Guan Xiaotong, who had fallen to the ground, crying from fright, and immediately stopped:
"Are you alright?"
Clang!
The several-pound long saber was thrown to the ground by Yu Wenliang, and everyone present covered their ears.
He squatted beside Guan Xiaotong, carefully helped her up, and gently comforted her:
"Are you okay? Are you hurt? Did I scare you???"
Zhou Ye in the crowd silently narrowed her eyes.
But Yu Wenliang wasn't a central air conditioner.
He was just worried that Guan Xiaotong might get hurt because of him.
This was Jing Quan Gege. If he offended her, would he be in trouble?!
"I'm fine..."
Guan Xiaotong leaned on Yu Wenliang's shoulder. Scared silly, she felt his warm body temperature and gentle comforting voice. Her frantic mood gradually calmed down, and she breathed heavily with lingering fear, taking a while to recover.
"Thank you..."
Guan Xiaotong stood steady, looking deeply at Yu Wenliang, her smiling face showing no discouragement.
She knew her martial arts performance just now was very poor, but she had found something even more valuable...
Compared to the flustered, clumsy, and busy Guan Xiaotong, Yu Wenliang appeared much more at ease.
That saber strike just now made Zhang Yimou stand up, a classic emo-shocked expression.
Moreover, Yu Wenliang's quick withdrawal of the saber to protect Guan Xiaotong also showed extremely strong skill!
Zhang Yimou became more and more satisfied with Yu Wenliang. He came to Guan Xiaotong and encouraged her, "It's okay, Xiao Tong, this was an accident. If you're fine, go home and practice more. After the third audition, come back and try again."
"Thank you, Director..."
Guan Xiaotong bowed to Zhang Yimou, and before leaving, she looked at Yu Wenliang again.
Only then was she helped out by her agent.
Zhang Yimou stood with his hands behind his back, watching Guan Xiaotong leave, then he smiled and patted Yu Wenliang's shoulder:
"Kid."
"You're very good."
"Come to my office later, we'll have a good talk..."
Light burst forth in Yu Wenliang's eyes. He excitedly looked at his friends, especially Zhou Ye.
Did I make it, Daoist Priest?!
I made it!
Hahaha!