Chapter 39 039 So Scary!

Chapter 39 039 So Scary!

This time, Kong Le's attention was no longer on the script, but entirely focused on Lu Xu.

His inner balance had silently tipped in favor of Lu Xu, though he wouldn't say it out loud. He still wanted to see if Lu Xu could deliver a performance that would amaze him in this scene.

Yu Yi's first act of revenge was swift and deadly, a single, decisive strike to end a life.

The rulers of the underworld are always so cautious, with an intimidating number of bodyguards. Because they hold power, they can easily take the lives of others. To them, others are mere ants, their lives are just insignificant numbers, not worth caring about.

Yet, they themselves cling to their own lives dearly, perhaps knowing that even as executioners, their veins are as thin as anyone else's, and the blood that spurts when a knife pierces their throat is just as red.

No more noble than the average person.

...

The crew hadn't arranged for other actors to be present, so the assistant director had to step in personally, temporarily acting alongside Lu Xu.

He played the role of the person responsible for executing the plan. In his youth, this man had also lived a life of bloodshed, but later he found that fighting and killing were far less comfortable than being someone's dog. When Yu Yi infiltrated, he was initially very alert, attempting to subdue Yu Yi with what little strength he had left. When he found that this approach didn't work, he turned to bribery.

"I'll give you money, a house, whatever you want, as long as you let me go today."

Both Lei Ai and Kong Le wore complicated expressions.

The assistant director was not professionally trained and presumably had no acting experience. Although he believed he had conveyed the character's fear, his gaunt face, with its downturned eyebrows and flat delivery, meant that Lu Xu not breaking character was already a win.

Yet—

Facing an opponent who was utterly uncooperative, Yu Yi's tone showed no fluctuation: "Money, a house?"

The other thought he was swayed and gestured for Yu Yi to open a suitcase in the corner, which was stuffed full of money—US dollars, enough to tempt anyone.

Yu Yi's gaze did indeed turn to that corner, his expression inscrutable.

But just as the other thought he had agreed to spare him, in the next second, a sharp blade precisely pierced his throat. In his fading vision, he saw Yu Yi's eyes, colder than the blade's tip.

This strike was fast and fierce, with a sharpness that nearly severed the windpipe.

Perhaps it was because Lu Xu's expression was too cold, or perhaps it was because his movements were so ruthless, as if he were killing himself, that the assistant director froze in place, not daring to move.

Even though Lu Xu was only holding a pen.

But the assistant director felt that at this moment, Lu Xu carried the weight of ten lives on his shoulders.

He subtly turned his head, casting a pleading look at the director.

Lei Ai mouthed to him, "Finish the scene," so the assistant director could only watch as Lu Xu, holding the pen, stabbed down again and again. The other's eyes seemed to see blood spurting out, yet in this situation, his stabbing motions remained steady, one after another, as if he were performing some ancient, sacred ritual.

The act of torture is brutal, but compared to the calm, almost mundane expression Lu Xu displayed, the scene became even more terrifying.

The assistant director thought he might have nightmares tonight.

He could only say, a handsome killer is a hundred times more terrifying than an ugly one, ahhhh!

Why wasn't there an actor here today?

Why couldn't the director step in himself?

Why couldn't he be the director?

In this scene, Lu Xu still has very few lines. He brings the character of Yu Yi to life through his actions and expressions.

After carrying out his first act of revenge, Yu Yi methodically cleans up the scene.

This first experience made him realize that maybe he wasn’t the warm-hearted guy he thought he was. After killing, he remains eerily calm, his heart rate not even accelerating, as if what he is doing is just an ordinary, mundane task.

He will continue next time.

He gets rid of the money in the box, making it look like a gang shootout.

As he walks away, his warm smile returns, the earlier bloodthirsty cruelty now completely vanished. He even bends down and places a folded paper bird into a little girl's arms.

Kong Le suddenly turns to Lei Ai, his excitement practically bursting out—

It's him!

No one could be more suitable than Lu Xu!

Lei Ai signals with his eyes that he understands.

He realizes this famous writer isn’t exactly the calm and collected type. The reason he appeared composed during the previous auditions was simply that he hadn’t encountered an actor who truly moved him.

Once he finds the right actor, he’s ready to sign them on the spot, terrified they might slip through his fingers.

But Lei Ai also understands Kong Le's feelings.

"The Path of Bones" has been searching for a male lead for quite some time, and Kong Le’s PTSD is too intense. If an actor has even the slightest flaw that dissatisfies him, he will definitely pass on them.

Now that they’ve finally found the right guy, why wait? They should lock him down ASAP.

Besides, Lu Xu isn’t some nobody. After the success of "The Son of Heaven," Lu Xu has almost become the most talked-about newcomer in the entertainment industry this year.

They can’t come off as desperate, though. Lei Ai glances toward the door. After the audition, Lu Xu's agent has been watching closely!

Lu Xu himself shouldn't be hard to deal with, but his agent...

Lei Ai doesn't understand how Lu Xu ended up being signed by this person.

Xu Wen isn’t the type of agent you can easily push around. He’s sharp as a tack and always puts his clients first. Having been with Feiyang Entertainment for so many years, he is most skilled at dealing with various production teams, and his experience is quite extensive.

The mere thought of dealing with Xu Wen gives Lei Ai a headache.

He's afraid that Xu Wen will notice how eager they are to sign Lu Xu. Well, they are indeed very eager.

Lei Ai helplessly glances at Kong Le. It has to be said, those in the author circle have much simpler minds than those in the entertainment industry. Their thoughts are too easy to read, and when it comes to casting for "The Path of Bones," Kong Le's opinion indeed carries more weight.

As the original author, he has given up a lot of benefits, all in the pursuit of creating a truly great drama.

...

Lu Xu is shocked by his new contract. He silently looks at his agent: "Does the production team have some dirt on you?"

The salary is a number much higher than he imagined, several times what he earned from "The Son of Heaven." More importantly, the other party has agreed to some terms that are quite difficult from the production team's perspective.

Xu Wen states that this is simply Lu Xu's current worth.

"Taking low-paying roles randomly is detrimental to your development," Xu Wen says. "I only believe that 'The Path of Bones' has offered a salary that matches your abilities."

This salary isn't particularly high. There are many actors less capable than Lu Xu who dare to ask for higher prices. When it comes to pricing, Feiyang Entertainment is far less bold than other companies.

Xu Wen is not the kind of agent who solely pushes his artist to take on high-paying roles for the sake of hefty commissions. The contract with "The Path of Bones" crew is merely a signal he sends out—Lu Xu is an actor with personal standards and refined taste, and low-quality productions should not approach him.

Lu Xu: "..."

He isn't as noble as his agent believes; in fact, he's eager to try out roles that involve dramatic, over-the-top action.

...

When Lu Xu officially joined the crew to film "The Path of Bones," he discovered that the crew wasn't as reluctant as he had anticipated. In fact, they seemed to welcome his arrival with genuine enthusiasm.

"Our crew has many fans of 'The Path of Bones,' all disillusioned by the previous adaptation. They believe that if they had been part of that crew, the show wouldn't have turned out so poorly," Lei Ai said, pointing to himself. "I'm also a fan of 'The Path of Bones.'"

Precisely because he is a fan, he patiently accompanied Kong Le through audition after audition, ultimately selecting Lu Xu.

The character Yu Yi is the sole core of "The Path of Bones." While the original work is gripping, with the protagonist eliminating enemies one after another, Yu Yi's life is far from a thrilling tale.

What happiness can there be in a life consumed solely by revenge?

His teammates are already dead; in this world, he has no close friends, no confidants, and can only bury his hatred deep within, until he completes one bloody act of vengeance after another.

Even after his revenge is fulfilled, his friends won't return.

The once warm families of his friends have already fallen apart, and the love they were too shy to express... is lost in the shimmering tears of a young woman.

The harsh realities remain unchanged, unaffected by his revenge.

Yet the only thing Yu Yi can do is seek revenge.

Lei Ai was busy with preparations nearby when the photographer, who had collaborated with him many times, quietly approached, glancing at Lu Xu. "Is this really the male lead chosen by Teacher Kong?"

"If it weren't for Kong Le's choice, he wouldn't even be here."

"This..."

The photographer struggled to articulate his thoughts. On set, Lu Xu appeared quite sunny, his smile reminiscent of their family's golden retriever. When he wasn't smiling, he sat quietly, engrossed in the script, exuding a serene demeanor. Yet, no matter how he looked at it, the photographer couldn't find any resemblance to Yu Yi.

After hearing his thoughts, Lei Ai gave him a look that seemed to say, "You have much to learn."

Though Lei Ai remained silent, the director's expression at that moment made the photographer question his own judgment.

As the assistant director passed by, he sighed and patted the photographer's shoulder. "Why weren't you present during the audition?"

"At the very least, couldn't you have picked up some acting skills quickly?"

Photographer: "..."

What exactly happened during the audition that day? Why did he feel so excluded?

The photographer's confusion was soon answered—

Although Lu Xu found the methods of "The Path of Bones" crew to be somewhat unconventional.

Unlike the other two crews Lu Xu had worked with, in "The Path of Bones," similar scenes were shot on the same day. Lu Xu's first scene after joining the crew involved killing someone.

As the director put it, the fake blood was prepared, the actor was on set, and the prop knife was ready—wasn't it just a matter of getting the shot?

Otherwise, after one killing scene, the crew would have to clean up and reset the stage, only to return to a similar setup later. Wouldn't that be a hassle?

But Lei Ai also reminded Lu Xu to pay attention: the intensity of hatred varies among different characters, and he needed to capture the nuances of their emotions during filming.

Lu Xu: "..."

He was caught off guard by the Director's bold opening move.

But since the crew had arranged it this way, Lu Xu didn't need to overthink it; he just had to proceed with the filming.

Not long after, the photographer saw how Lu Xu, who had been low-profile and hardly noticeable when he joined the crew, abruptly morphed into a vengeful demon.

It was terrifying!