Hong Kong films: Starting from Shaolin Temple

Page 201

This confrontation is more challenging than ever before, because their enemy stands atop the high ground of "rules."

Chapter 157 Wang Xian'er is Threatened

Lester's appearance was like a precise poisonous thorn, piercing the most vulnerable spot in Oolong Courtyard.

He didn't bring any supernatural power; he simply stood there, holding a thin contract, a professional, impeccable smile on his face. Yet, the pressure he exerted was far heavier than that of the previous Vietnamese assassins.

Because he represents "order" and "law".

The atmosphere inside the main hall was solemn.

Wang Xian'er stared at the young man named Lester, her face pale. She had signed that contract several years ago, a ten-year deal. According to the contract, during the contract period, all her personal freedom and work arrangements had to be subject to the company's control. If she breached the contract, she would face astronomical compensation payments, enough to bankrupt any star.

"What do we do? What do we do?" Uncle Da paced anxiously. "These guys are too cunning! They're trying to force Miss Xian'er to go back!"

"Go back? That's like walking into a trap!" Xiao Zhen, unusually, stood on the same side as Uncle Da. "That Vladimir guy is a pervert! If Sister Xian'er goes back, who knows what he'll do to her!"

Zhang Ling stroked his chin, his brow furrowed. "This is troublesome. Even if we get Li Ying and his 'Dragon Group' involved, it won't do any good. This is a civil contract dispute; it's not their jurisdiction. They can't exactly send the army to help us tear up a legal contract, can they?"

The wise master also sighed and shook his head.

This is where Vladimir's brilliance lies. He saw through Long Yan and the others' weakness—although they possessed extraordinary power, they still lived in a society constructed by mortal rules. They could fight against demons, but they could not fight against the "law."

All eyes turned to Long Yan.

Long Yan, meanwhile, was looking at Wang Xian'er.

He asked, "Miss Wang, what are your wishes? Do you... want to go back?"

Wang Xian'er suddenly raised her head, tears welling up in her eyes. She shook her head violently, "I don't want to! I'd rather die than go back! I don't want to leave here, I don't want to leave you..."

She practically screamed her last words, filled with boundless fear and longing.

Long Yan's heart trembled slightly.

He stood up and slowly walked towards the door.

"Great monk, what are you doing?" Zhang Ling asked hurriedly.

“Tear up the contract, break his legs, and then throw him down the mountain.” Long Yan’s answer was calm, yet filled with an undeniable domineering authority.

In the face of absolute will, so-called "rules" are nothing more than a piece of waste paper that can be torn up at will.

"No!" Master Zhihui immediately stopped him. "Nephew Longyan, you mustn't! If you do that, you'll be playing right into their hands! They'd love for you to make a move! Once you hit someone and disregard the law, they'll have enough reason to escalate the situation and get the mortal police involved! Then you'll go from being a 'victim' to a 'perpetrator,' and public opinion and the law will be on their side! They could even apply for a restraining order to prevent you from ever getting close to Miss Wang again!"

The wise master's words were like a bucket of cold water, waking everyone up.

Yes, that's the terrifying thing about open schemes. It's like a meticulously crafted trap, leaving you in a dilemma. If you follow its rules, you lose; if you break its rules, you lose even more miserably.

Long Yan stopped in his tracks. He clenched his fists tightly; for the first time, he felt his strength was so... powerless.

He could smash a bronze statue with a single punch, withstand bullets with his bare body, and even deliver malevolent spirits from the dead. Yet, he couldn't tear up this thin contract before him.

Seeing the rare anger and helplessness on Long Yan's face, Wang Xian'er felt a sharp pain in her heart, as if it were being pricked by needles.

She knew she couldn't let this man make things difficult for her anymore.

She took a deep breath, wiped away her tears, and slowly walked out from behind Long Yan.

"Sister Xian'er!" Xiao Zhen exclaimed.

Wang Xian'er shook her head at her, and a poignant yet incredibly resolute smile appeared on her face.

She walked to the mountain gate and faced the young man named Lester.

“Mr. Leicester, is that so?” Her voice regained the composure and aura of a big star. “I’ll go back with you.”

"Xian'er!" Uncle Da and Long Yan exclaimed at the same time.

Wang Xian'er turned around, smiled at Long Yan, and her smile was as radiant as a summer flower, yet it also carried a hint of farewell.

“Long Yan, you taught me that light is precious because someone fights in the darkness. Now, it’s my turn.”

“You can’t always be protecting me. This time, it’s my turn… to step into the darkness.”

She looked at Lester, her eyes turning cold and sharp: "Go back and tell your new boss, Mr. Vladimir. I've accepted his 'invitation.' I will honor the contract. I will complete the work. But I have one condition."

Lester raised an eyebrow with interest: "Oh? Miss Wang, please go ahead."

"From this day forward, I, Wang Xian'er, have no further connection with Wulong Temple or Master Longyan." Her voice, firm and resounding, echoed throughout the temple gates. "All your Vladimir Group wants is me. Then please stop using any means to disturb the tranquility of this temple. This is the 'contract' between us. If... you dare to touch a single blade of grass here, dare to harm any one of you..."

She paused, a resolute glint flashing in her eyes—a glint no one had ever seen before.

"Even if I destroy myself, I will never let you get a complete and obedient 'work'."

These words resonated deeply!

She used herself as her only bargaining chip to wager a huge gamble against that terrifying "shaper" from afar!

She wanted to use her own body to build a firewall for Long Yan and Wulongyuan (Wang Zhao's)!

Looking at the woman who had suddenly unleashed such an astonishing aura, Lester's smile became somewhat unnatural for the first time. He remained silent for a moment before regaining his professional smile and giving Wang Xian'er an elegant bow.

“Miss Wang’s courage is admirable. I will convey your terms to His Highness Prince Vladimir.”

"Then, please, my... leading lady."

Wang Xian'er took one last deep look at Long Yan, her eyes filled with reluctance, love, determination, and encouragement.

Then, she resolutely turned around and, under everyone's gaze, walked step by step towards the black Lincoln sedan that symbolized a prison.

Long Yan stood there, watching the car slowly drive away and disappear at the end of the mountain road.

His fists clenched so tightly they cracked. An unprecedented, chilling killing intent was growing wildly within him.

Chapter 158 Dragon Flame in Seclusion

Wang Xian'er's departure plunged Wulong Temple into a deathly silence once again.

The air still seemed to carry her faint fragrance and her resounding farewell words.

Uncle Da collapsed to the ground, tears streaming down his face, muttering repeatedly, "Good girl... such a good girl... just like that... just like that, she walked into the tiger's den..."

Xiao Zhen's eyes also reddened. At this moment, all her jealousy and resentment towards Wang Xian'er vanished, leaving only heartfelt admiration and worry. This seemingly fragile woman, in this crucial moment, displayed courage stronger than anyone else.

"Damn it!" Zhang Ling slammed his fist into the pillar beside him and cursed, "It's so frustrating! It's so damn frustrating! I have all this skill, but I can only watch helplessly as a woman takes the fall for us! I'll fucking kill Vladimir! Don't let me get a chance, or I'll use my Five Thunder Talisman to blast him to smithereens!"

This was the first time he had felt so powerless and angry.

Master 670 sighed and shook his head: "Vladimir is a man of deep cunning and ruthless methods. His actions have killed two birds with one stone. He has taken Miss Wang away and, in this way, planted a seed of inner demon in the heart of Junior Nephew Long Yan. He wants to make Junior Nephew Long Yan suffer from powerlessness and anger, thereby disturbing his Dao heart. What a vicious scheme."

All eyes were focused on Long Yan.

Long Yan remained standing quietly in front of the mountain gate, gazing in the direction Wang Xian'er had left, motionless, like a petrified statue.

No one knew what he was thinking. He didn't exude any astonishing aura, nor did he show any anger. However, everyone who knew him could sense that beneath that calm exterior, a terrifying storm, capable of destroying the world, was brewing.

After a long while, he slowly turned around.

His eyes were eerily calm.

He said four words to everyone: "Wait for me to come back."

After saying that, he turned around and walked towards the forbidden area behind the mountain.

"Great monk, what are you doing?" Zhang Ling asked hurriedly.

Long Yan didn't turn around; his voice drifted back from afar: "Go into seclusion."

Retreat!

A chill ran through everyone. They understood that Long Yan's seclusion this time was no small matter. He wasn't trying to escape, but rather to accumulate strength. He wanted to transform all the anger, helplessness, and worry for Wang Xian'er in his heart into motivation for cultivation!

When he emerges from the border again, the entire Hong Kong will likely tremble!

Watching Long Yan's disappearing figure, Zhang Ling paced anxiously for a few steps. Suddenly, as if he had made up his mind, he slapped his thigh!

"No! We can't just sit here and wait!" he said to Master Wisdom and Master Long Eyebrows. "The Great Monk has gone into seclusion, but we can't just sit idly by! Doesn't that Vladimir like to play dirty tricks and use the rules of mortals? Fine! I'll go down the mountain, into his mortal world, and have some fun with him!"

"Master, what do you mean?" Master Long Eyebrows asked, puzzled.

A cunning yet crazed light gleamed in Zhang Ling's eyes, like a fox preparing to descend the mountain to hunt.

"Didn't he buy Miss Xian'er's agency? Doesn't he want to tie her down with a contract and make her act? Fine! I'll go to his company and apply for... a 'religious advisor' position on the film crew!"

"A religious advisor?" Everyone was taken aback.

“That’s right!” Zhang Ling chuckled. “Isn’t he going to make a movie? I told him that the movie you’re going to make involves our Eastern metaphysics and ghosts. If there’s no professional like me on site to guide you, it’s easy to offend the spirits and bring bad luck! I want to see if he dares not to use me!”

"I'll infiltrate his side, infiltrate the film crew, and keep a close watch on his every move! If he dares to lay a finger on Miss Xian'er, I'll secretly cast some 'bad luck charms' and 'money-losing charms' on him, so he'll choke on his drinks and trip over his feet! I don't believe he can do anything to me in the mortal world!"

This idea is wildly imaginative and incredibly audacious!

Upon hearing this, the wise master was first taken aback, then clapped his hands and exclaimed, "Brilliant! Brilliant indeed! As the saying goes, 'Treat others as they treat you.' He uses a calculated strategy, so we will use a calculated strategy to counter it! Your plan, Master, may seem absurd, but it strikes at the heart of the matter! Only by going deep behind enemy lines can we truly know ourselves and our enemy!"

"Great! Let's do it this way!" Uncle Da clapped his hands excitedly. "Master, you go down the mountain, and I... I'll be your assistant! I used to work on film sets, so I know the ropes!"

"You should just forget about it, Uncle Da," Xiao Zhen rarely complained. "If you go, you'll be lucky if you don't cause any trouble."

Thus, an unprecedented "infiltration plan" was decided hastily and quickly.

The next day, a minor but significant piece of news broke in the Hong Kong film industry.

Charlie Films, recently acquired by the Vladimir Investment Group, has announced the upcoming production of what it claims to be the most expensive fantasy horror epic in Hong Kong film history. The female lead, naturally, is Wang Xian'er, who is currently under contract.

Meanwhile, the production team is recruiting for a special position – a religious affairs and folk culture consultant, requiring in-depth knowledge of Buddhism, Taoism, and Southeast Asian folk tales.

That afternoon, a young Taoist priest, dressed in a faded robe, who seemed somewhat cynical yet could spout a lot of profound and mysterious theories, successfully passed the interview.

His name is Zhang Ling.

In this way, a Taoist priest from Maoshan infiltrated the enemy's ranks in the most peculiar way.

Chapter 159 Vampire Company

After being acquired by the Vladimir Investment Group, "Charlie Films" was renamed "Eternal Night Films".

The company's office space was moved from the original office building to an old Gothic-style building in the Mid-Levels of Hong Kong Island, which had been completely purchased. This was Isabella's former headquarters in Hong Kong.

When Zhang Ling first stepped into this place, even he couldn't help but mutter "extravagant" under his breath.

The hall was carpeted in crimson Persian crimson, a huge crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling, and the walls were covered with priceless classical oil paintings. A faint, musty scent filled the air, a mixture of perfume and stale aroma.