Chapter 198 Movie Release

Chapter 198: The Movie Release

What frightened Tan Qi about the *human coffin* wasn’t the special effects in the story, nor the demons seizing the chance to reincarnate—it was the insatiable desires of humans.

Despite already possessing wealth, glory, and power, they still sought to cheat death and live forever... If not for the demons' interference, had the *human coffin’s* scheme succeeded, how would he be any different from those very demons, even if he remained “alive”?

*Night Sky Observations* brutally showcased living humans turned into coffins, drained of vitality and manipulated, all set to eerie music that instilled a creeping dread.

After this, Lu Xu's character Wei Qingfang and Li Yan's character Zhang Bannu made their official appearance, acting as emissaries between humans and gods, putting an end to the *human coffin* incident.

Both understood that as long as human greed existed, today it might be a *human coffin*, tomorrow it could be an "animal coffin," or even a "divine coffin."

The moment Lu Xu appeared on screen, Tan Qi felt her friend lightly tap her side.

“There he is! There he is!” Tan Qi couldn't help but shake her friend in excitement.

Wei Qingfang, a character detached from the mortal world, was *so* breathtaking!

Flowing, wide-sleeved robes swirled around him, and the word “immortal” suited him perfectly. Unlike Ji Xiuya’s heavily stylized makeup, Wei Qingfang’s look was subtle, almost otherworldly, giving Lu Xu an aura of ethereal elegance.

An already handsome face became even more striking under the lens of a film. Tan Qi had felt this way watching *Wings of Youth*, but with *Night Sky Observations*, the effect was even more intense.

*Wings of Youth* had the typical college-boy look—sporty and brimming with youthful charm. But Wei Qingfang—

Tan Qi’s mind flashed to a certain internet meme: “Can I be XXX’s loyal simp?”

Here, XXX could very well refer to Wei Qingfang.

Wei Qingfang radiated icy aloofness, the coldest character Lu Xu had ever portrayed—all in the power of his face.

When the trailer was released, why hadn’t the production team given Lu Xu a full-face close-up? Who’d even think twice about buying tickets after seeing that?

Just for that face alone, the ticket price was worth it.

And *Night Sky Observations* held up just as well in its storytelling.

The *human coffin* arc was a masterful blend of eerie occult and mystique, its atmosphere so immersive that it was easy to get lost in. Beyond that, the vast world the film unfolded was equally mesmerizing.

The unfathomable depths of the ocean, the divine sword buried under the icy North Sea... Rather than just beautiful visuals, *Night Sky Observations* presented a grand, never-before-seen world where demons and deities were nothing like those in recent fantasy films.

Though Wei Qingfang and Zhang Bannu were demon slayers, they kept their distance from humans beyond their duty.

After the *human coffin* incident, they witnessed humans trapping demons with emotions—extorting not just personal prosperity but generational wealth for their descendants—and also beheld the arrogance of lofty immortals.

During the scene where Wei Qingfang was turned into a *human coffin* by demons, Tan Qi didn’t dare blink once.

Lu Xu’s acting was phenomenal!

The righteous Wei Qingfang was striking, but when tainted by evil, his beauty became something else entirely. Though both wore ancient attire, Wei Qingfang’s madness was distinct from Ji Xiuya’s. And when this fallen version of him clashed with Li Yan’s Zhang Bannu—

The doomed inevitability—that even closest friends must cross blades—was something only the finest acting could convey!

Tan Qi could swear she heard a clear scream from somewhere in the theater.

She wanted to scream too.

Though there were no elaborate sword fights—just simple special effects—for the audience, while action sequences mattered, the subtle emotional shifts between characters were just as gripping.

As long as Li Yan and Lu Xu occupied the center of the screen, Tan Qi found it hard to tear her gaze away from their faces. Wei Qingfang still wore his original face, his cool demeanor unchanged, but when he turned his gaze toward Zhang Bannu, even Tan Qi got chills.

This was not the same Wei Qingfang anymore!

Tan Qi was on edge for Zhang Bannu in that moment.

Though she knew full well that both Lu Xu and Li Yan were the leads of *Night Sky Observations*, and given their current star status, they would never be easily written off in any film, that didn’t stop her from feeling tense about the unfolding plot.

She barely dared to breathe.

To Tan Qi, the thrill *Night Sky Observations* delivered was no less intense than some overseas blockbusters with dazzling special effects. The difference was that the tension in foreign films was explosive—one moment calm, the next a monster suddenly appearing on screen or someone abruptly dying. *Night Sky Observations*, however, was more slow-burning. Its tension was conveyed through the actors' performances.

Lu Xu and Li Yan were quietly but fiercely going head-to-head. Both were actors capable of restraint and depth, and the unspoken tension between them was something the audience could easily sense.

Great performances are always something an outsider can feel.

Some performances claim to be pretentious yet fail to resonate with the audience at all.

Later, when the film revealed that it had all been an act between Zhang Bannu and Wei Qingfang, Tan Qi still felt fooled by the two of them. Their acting had been so convincing, so utterly real, that she remained uneasy throughout the subsequent scenes, half-expecting Wei Qingfang to snap and turn into a demon.

Thankfully, that didn’t happen.

The two of them took down the demon behind the conspiracy, only to stumble into something even darker.

The layers of the plot unfolded seamlessly, never letting the audience down with a weak payoff. Zhang Bannu’s line, *"Are you really Wei Qingfang?"* only deepened the mystery.

With each new monster that appeared, Tan Qi let out a gasp. Whether it was the willow tree spirit or the cat demon, the film’s designs kept some of the creatures’ defining features without being creepy.

There were beautiful monsters and gods alike!

The visual spectacle of *Night Sky Observations* was absolutely next-level!

Wei Qingfang and Zhang Bannu pushed ahead, unraveling the mystery of why the mortal world had sunk so low.

As the saying goes, *"When a nation nears its end, monsters arise."* The sheer number of demons in the world, the inability of all beings to coexist equally—it all came down to the balance between the three realms having been shattered.

Wei Qingfang and Zhang Bannu, caught in the midst of it, became the key to resolving this crisis.

*Night Sky Observations* was still a traditional story at its core, not particularly innovative in structure. Yet, by the end, the inevitable sacrificial fate of Wei Qingfang and Zhang Bannu hit the audience hard.

In essence, Zhang Bannu wasn’t dying—but it made no difference.

Zhang Bannu was to become a Kunpeng, no longer able to share drinks with Wei Qingfang, wander the mountains together, or race through the night to gather morning dew for tea.

The two had lived carefree lives.

Zhang Bannu had chosen another path.

To be precise, he would only ever choose this path. Given his nature, he could never stand idly by while the mortal world suffered.

Wei Qingfang’s only response was a quiet, *"Safe travels."*

Seated in the theater, hearing those simple, emotionless words from Wei Qingfang, Tan Qi felt the urge to cry.

Before making his decision, Zhang Bannu had told Wei Qingfang that even if he were possessed by demons at this point, it wouldn’t matter. If a choice had to be made between them, he wanted Wei Qingfang to be the one who remained free.

Yet, now that Zhang Bannu had become the Kunpeng, how could Wei Qingfang abandon the world his dear friend had sacrificed himself for? He continued to keep watch over the mortal world, his eyes still seeing through the threads of fate. He had sent Zhang Bannu down this path with dignity, and he would respect his choice.

In the silence, the two of them said volumes with just their eyes.

How could there be no reluctance when it comes to parting?

Yet, compared to their own selfish desires, the two unanimously chose the right path.

"These two men clearly weren’t in a romantic relationship, but seeing their ending hit me harder than an actual tragic separation!"

No sooner had they stepped out of the cinema than Tan Qi’s friend couldn’t help but start discussing it with her.

"It’s a blockbuster, right? I thought it would just be guns blazing, fortune-telling, and demon-slaying—but then it turned out to be this kind of ending."

"Nobody died."

"Nobody died, sure, but what’s the difference between that and my heart dying?"

Tan Qi: "...Can you be more concrete?"

She and her friend both agreed that *Night Sky Observations* was a fantastic fantasy film—stunning visuals, top-tier special effects, and a plot that, while not Shakespearean (though Tan Qi found it deep enough), still told a complete and compelling story.

In short, the story wasn’t just empty spectacle.

Lu Xu and Li Yan’s performances were perfectly suited for this film. With outstanding visuals, a solid plot, and superb acting... Zhang Bannu and Wei Qingfang’s friendship couldn’t surpass their attachment to the human world, but precisely because of that, their bond felt even more profound.

"Amazing!!! A VFX masterpiece that’s absolutely worth the ticket price!!"

"My No. 1 domestic fantasy film! Another win for the director!"

"I heard *Night Sky Observations* was Li Yan’s idea to invite Lu Xu to star—genius casting!!!"

Tan Qi watched the second morning screening of *Night Sky Observations*. At the time, there weren’t many reviews yet, just marketers’ hot takes hyping the film with phrases like "explosive acting" and "eye-popping special effects"—the same clichés they used when *Sanctuary* was released.

But *Sanctuary* didn’t just explode—it was a total dumpster fire.

*Night Sky Observations*, however, was completely different.

Tan Qi thought the production team would’ve been better off skipping these unreliable marketers and just having Lu Xu go viral more. She had rewatched his conversation with his agent multiple times.

Like her, many fans had gone to see the film purely for Lu Xu.

Tan Qi couldn’t resist posting her own review online. Her thoughts on *Night Sky Observations* were similar to others’—in short, *Night Sky Observations* was just *that* good!

Another feather in Lu Xu’s cap.

Some audience members loved the film’s special effects, while others were more drawn to the story.

"Big-budget but with heart—not rough at all. You’d think a fantasy blockbuster like this wouldn’t demand much acting, and big stars in similar films often end up over-the-top without realizing it. But Lu Xu and Li Yan were completely different—their performances were incredibly, incredibly nuanced!"

"The costumes were insanely gorgeous!!! I loved them. The director and screenwriter clearly know exactly what the audience wants—big spectacle? Check. Handsome leads? Check!"

Tan Qi searched for "*Night Sky Observations*" and scrolled down, surprised to find almost no negative reviews. A few nitpicky critics did point out the lack of surprises in the plot, but they admitted that for an effects-driven blockbuster, weaving the story in organically was already well-executed.

"*Night Sky Observations* has the potential to be a massive hit!"

"Here’s hoping *Night Sky Observations* clears 500 million yuan on its opening day and smashes records!"

The pre-sales for *Night Sky Observations* had already crushed *Fearless Life*’s opening day box office by a wide margin. Blockbusters usually lose steam, but with pre-sales this strong, "Is it too much to dream of a 500 million yuan opening day?"

"Last year’s Spring Festival releases and *Return Undecided* from the year before both cleared 400 million yuan, but their pre-sales couldn’t touch *Night Sky Observations*’?" "Aim high! I’ve already seen *Night Sky Observations*, and I think it deserves even higher box office numbers."

In fact, by noon during the Spring Festival holiday, fans had already given up hope.

Because by exactly 12:00 PM, the first-day box office of *Night Sky Observations* had surpassed 200 million, and when combined with advance ticket sales, it had already raked in a solid 450 million.

Not to mention there was still the entire afternoon and evening ahead.

"This feels like the making of a blockbuster!"

This statement wasn’t wrong.

Because—Lu Xu had just landed one of the top three highest-grossing films of his career.