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Chapter 390 Stone Bridge Zen

The weapon wielded by Xi Yu is called the Water-Splitting Sword. It is a soft sword that can turn instantly when used with internal force, like a nimble snake, attacking enemies from unexpected angles. When used, it looks like rain and snow falling. You can only see the image but not hear the sound before you have already killed someone.

Xi Yu's performance in this fight scene is very vivid. Her moves are unpredictable and unparalleled, yet swift, sharp, and decisive. She seizes the opportunity to kill with one move, and her martial arts characteristics also reflect her personality.

The fight was fast-paced, with the five fighters primarily using lateral rotations to execute their movements on the field. After moving into the interior of the farmhouse courtyard, they leaped and somersaulted vertically within the cramped space. This rapid-fire combat was visually spectacular and captivating.

Inside the room, Yu Feihong stood with her sword sheathed, her cloak unstained by blood, her expression still cold and aloof. Behind her, Jiang Xin leaned against a pillar, coughing up blood, staring at Yu Feihong's retreating figure and murmuring:

"No matter how skilled you are in martial arts, once you embark on the path of the martial world, don't expect to escape unscathed. We'll be waiting for you on the road to the underworld..."

After she finished speaking, her body slowly collapsed.

"Pass!"

This one scene took two days to film. Wu Yuchen quickly called the staff to help the actors playing the corpses on the ground, since there were both old and young actors among them.

"Thank you all for your hard work!"

An elderly man with a full head of white hair, but still full of energy, smiled and said to Wu Yuchen, "It's not hard work. Being able to work with you, Director Wu, makes all the hardship and fatigue worthwhile!"

Wu Yuchen laughed and said, "Haha, Teacher Wang, you flatter me. We'll have plenty of opportunities to meet in the future!"

Don't underestimate these five minor supporting roles; they were all carefully selected.

The person who just spoke to Wu Yuchen is Mr. Wang Deshun, the actor who plays the Divine Constable, a stage actor, a mime artist, and a master of human body art. The old gentleman is very trendy. In his previous life, at a fashion event in 2015, the 79-year-old appeared shirtless on the runway, looking very fit and full of vigor, which made him an internet sensation.

The actor playing the Killer Bear is Shi Xingyu, who also played "Twelve-Road Tan Leg" Coolie Qiang in "Kung Fu Hustle." He's standing to the side, grinning sheepishly at Wu Yuchen. Shi Xingyu trained in martial arts at the Shaolin Temple from a young age and actually entered the film industry several years ago, but it was "Kung Fu Hustle" that truly made him memorable. This opportunity to participate in Wu Yuchen's film again adds another asset to his resume.

The actress playing the man-eating bear is Jiang Xin. She was chosen because she had experience in period action scenes in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils". However, this time she has to play an ugly character, and her appearance is quite unique.

She originally wanted to compete for a supporting actress role, but she lost to Yan Danchen, who has a teacher-student relationship with Wu Yuchen. However, it was not a wasted effort. Getting such a role in "Reign of Assassins" was worth it, after all, it is a movie directed by Wu!

The role of the old woman is played by Chen Qi, a veteran artist and a national first-class actor; the role of the grandson of the ghost is played by Wu Lei.

Although the five assassins were killed by the female lead as soon as they appeared, the actors performed very well, and the scene achieved Wu Yuchen's expectations.

Then Wu Yuchen waved: "Let's move on to Luomaqiao!"

There are three types of people to be wary of in the martial arts world. The old man and the child have already appeared in the previous scene of the ambush and killing, so it's time for the monk to be next.

Upon seeing Nie Yuan, with whom she was about to have a scene, Yu Feihong immediately stared at his head and asked Wu Yuchen, "Director Wu, isn't he playing a monk? Why does he have hair?"

At this moment, Nie Yuan was wearing Buddhist beads around his neck and a gray monk's robe, clearly dressed as a monk. However, he was not bald, but had a buzz cut of about 1 centimeter.

Wu Yuchen didn't look up: "Because he hasn't shaved his head yet and is practicing with his hair still on, that's why we still call him by his secular name, Lu Zhu."

"I see. So, did he develop romantic feelings before he was ordained?"

Wu Yuchen looked up at Yu Feihong and said, "It's because you two have fallen for each other!"

Wu Yuchen then said to Nie Yuan, "Act well. The character Lu Zhu is very important in the whole film. He affects all the subsequent plot developments, and his shadow is still present until the end. He can be called the core of this film!"

Listening to Wu Yuchen's words, Nie Yuan felt his own importance and was greatly encouraged.

When Lu Zhu was 6 years old, he listened to the abbot of Yunhe Temple in Jinling explain the Diamond Sutra. At the age of 10, he entered Shaolin Temple to practice Buddhism and martial arts while still keeping his hair. He was the number one Buddhist and martial arts master in Shaolin Temple in 40 years, which shows how powerful he was.

After Xi Yu killed the prime minister's son and knocked him off the bridge, the monk Lu Zhu rushed over. He wanted to resolve the martial arts conflict caused by the remains of Luo Mo and to convert Xi Yu. Therefore, for three months in a row, Lu Zhu followed Xi Yu like a shadow. No matter how much Xi Yu learned in her life, she could not get rid of Lu Zhu.

Three months of time together is enough for the young man and woman to develop feelings for each other, even though one is a female assassin and the other is a monk.

Banzhu Village in Xinchang City is an important village on the ancient Tianmu Post Road. It is surrounded by mountains, with babbling streams, beautiful scenery, and lively wild birds. It has mountains, water, and ancient bridges.

Walking on Luoma Bridge, watching the stream flow gently by, and as the sunlight shines down, Yu Feihong couldn't help but exclaim, "The scenery here is truly beautiful!"

Wu Yuchen smiled upon hearing this but didn't say anything. The current goal was to help Yu Feihong blend into the environment and create a very poetic scene.

The crew spent several months selecting this location, and the stone bridge, Luoma Bridge, corresponds to the storyline between Lu Zhu and Xi Yu. It is taken from "A Thousand Years of Waiting," one of the four classic Buddhist love stories, and later evolved into "Stone Bridge Zen."

At night, in a dilapidated temple, the walls are covered with mottled bas-reliefs, and a campfire flickers beneath an old stone Buddha. Beside the campfire, Lu Zhu, played by Nie Yuan, sits cross-legged with his back to Xi Yu, who stands behind him holding a sword.

At this moment, Wu Yuchen called the photographer to point the lens at Nie Yuan's face. He specifically found an angle where the monk's face in the lens changed light and shadow with the flickering of the campfire, which also showed his inner turmoil.

Nie Yuan said with his eyes closed, "You haven't mastered four sword techniques."

"So what if it is?" Yu Feihong countered.

“I’m worried that in the future, if you encounter a true master, and he sees through your weakness…”

But Yu Feihong interrupted him, taking a step closer with his sword in hand: "Turn around and look at me!"

Nie Yuan opened his eyes upon hearing this, but still did not turn around. He then slowly said, "I cannot see you again. In a few days, I will officially become a monk."

Upon hearing the monk's words, Yu Feihong's expression changed drastically. Fear and astonishment flashed in his eyes, and his body trembled. He involuntarily took a step forward, pointing the tip of his sword at the monk's head, and questioned him:
"You're only talking about taking vows now? Then why have you been clinging to me for three months?" The monk still had his back to her. "After we part today, I will chant sutras for you morning and evening to cleanse your karma, and I will ask Buddha to make a vow so that you may realize the power to sever all dharmas and all suffering in the world, so that you may escape the sea of ​​suffering and reach the other shore."

A look of sorrow appeared in Yu Feihong's eyes: "Can you sever it...?"

Then her expression turned cold, her eyes flashed with a fierce light, and she said in a cold and resolute tone:
"If any temple dares to ordain you, I'll slaughter everyone in the temple, young and old!"

After saying that, she turned around and left.

"Wait!" Nie Yuan then stood up and called out to Yu Feihong. He then murmured:
"Today, it is time for me to absolve myself of this karmic debt and end this entanglement."

After saying that, Nie Yuan took the initiative and started fighting with Yu Feihong.

At Wu Yuchen's request, action director Dong Wei designed a set of moves for Lu Zhu using chopsticks as weapons. Chopsticks are everyday items and originally have no lethality, nor do they have any advantage in terms of weaponry. Instead, this highlights his high level of martial arts skills, yet he is also compassionate and unwilling to kill.

"Conceal your clumsiness through skill!"

"Use obscurity to achieve clarity!"

"Find purity within turbidity!"

"Bending is a way to advance!"

He unleashed four consecutive moves, each one countering Xi Yu's attacks, leaving her unable to defend herself, demonstrating the formidable skill of Monk Lu Zhu.

The monk then stopped his attack and stood still, saying, "These four moves against your Water-Splitting Sword will surely kill you!"

Upon hearing this, Yu Feihong, already emotionally hurt by the monk's words, was further enraged by the monk's continued verbal abuse. He charged forward again with his sword.

Nie Yuan also picked up his chopsticks and went to meet her again. After one move, Yu Feihong seized the opportunity and thrust her sword straight out. Unexpectedly, Nie Yuan in the air did not dodge or avoid, and delivered his chest to her sword.

Yu Feihong watched helplessly as the slender, flexible, and highly elastic Bi Shui sword in his hand pierced the monk's heart, frozen in place.

Nie Yuan showed no surprise whatsoever. As the sword pierced him, he removed the Buddhist beads from his neck and slowly hung them on the sword: "The opportunity has arrived. If you can put down this sword and leave this path, I am willing to be the last person you kill."

After saying this, he slowly collapsed, and the string of the prayer beads was cut by the sword blade and scattered on the ground.

Yu Feihong rushed forward to help him up. Finally, the monk sat cross-legged on the ground and said in a weak voice:
"I wish to become a stone bridge, enduring five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, and five hundred years of rain..." Before he could finish speaking, Nie Yuan lowered his head and breathed his last.

"Crack!"

Upon hearing the click, both men in the room tensed up. Wu Yuchen then said:
"Lu Zhu, you overdid it when you said that last part. Even though you've fallen for Xi Yu, don't act all lovey-dovey. You're still a monk; you need to maintain your high-minded monk persona."

Upon hearing this, Nie Yuan scratched his head, somewhat troubled. It was difficult to strike the right balance. Earlier, Wu Yuchen had said he was too ruthless because of his authoritative demeanor, but now he was being criticized for being too sentimental. He was now unsure of how to strike the right line.

Then Wu Yuchen said to Fei Hong, "Use your eyes more, don't cry. Although you've been moved, ice doesn't melt instantly. It's that moment when that coldness is shattered that will touch the audience. Think about that carefully!"

Yu Feihong also breathed a sigh of relief, secretly pondering how to perform.

The two didn't have many scenes, but it still took a full week to film. Director Wu's statement about the importance of their scenes was true; he was very strict with them, both in terms of dialogue and action.

Upon hearing Wu Yuchen's "pass," both Yu Feihong and Nie Yuan thought to themselves, "Finally, we passed!"

A moment later, Yu Feihong got up and ran back behind the monitor to watch the playback with Wu Yuchen. After the playback was over, Yu Feihong asked, "Director Wu, does this mean I'm done filming?"

Wu Yuchen smiled and nodded. The scenes with Xi Yu were almost finished, and Zeng Jing would be taking over later. However, Yu Feihong would remain on set as an assistant director, learning from Wu Yuchen, as he had promised her.

At this point, Yu Feihong discussed this part of the plot with Wu Yuchen again:
"Director Wu, isn't it a bit hasty to have Monk Lu Zhu die under the Fine Rain Sword like this?"

Wu Yuchen explained without hesitation: "He is not only saving you, but also saving himself. Why does the monk want to be ordained immediately? Because he has been moved by worldly desires and his faith has wavered. His path of cultivation has been disturbed by you. He can no longer save the world, but only the person in front of him."

However, Xiyu's personality was extreme, and she would never listen to his gentle persuasion. Ordinary methods were useless, so he had to use himself to guide Xiyu. Moreover, by doing this, he was not only eliminating Xiyu's sins and severing her ties, but also eliminating his own sins and severing his own ties.

Yu Feihong listened to Wu Yuchen's words and gained some insight. As for whether it was melodramatic for a monk to fall in love with a female assassin, she didn't think so; on the contrary, she found it romantic, and that this was common among women. Besides, the story had already been foreshadowed by the Stone Bridge Zen.

Before becoming a monk, Ananda, a disciple of the Buddha, saw a young woman on the road and fell deeply in love with her. The Buddha asked him how much he loved the woman, and Ananda replied, "I would transform into a stone bridge, enduring five hundred years of wind, five hundred years of sun, and five hundred years of rain, just so she could walk across it…!"

A single encounter with a stone bridge can ruin one's life. Even Buddha's disciple Ananda was tempted by worldly desires, let alone Lu Zhu, who was made of flesh and blood.

After a moment, Yu Feihong said, "You're talking about Buddhism and Taoism. People without a certain level of cultural knowledge might not be able to fully understand the foreshadowing you've laid."

Wu Yuchen smiled and said, "I've made it very easy to understand. Even if you don't understand Buddhist or Taoist stories, you can still understand what happened."

The Buddhist approach is what is known as Shiqiao Zen, which is quite common and should be understood by everyone. As for Taoism, it refers to the four moves used by Lu Zhu, which actually come from the "Cai Gen Tan": "Conceal skill in clumsiness, use obscurity to reveal clarity, embody purity in turbidity, and use yielding to achieve extension. This is truly a pot for navigating the world and three burrows for hiding oneself."

The monk not only defeated the female assassin with martial arts, but his moves were also meant to persuade her, ultimately sacrificing his own life to guide her to enlightenment. The female assassin clearly understood his meaning, and based on this, the subsequent plot unfolded: she underwent plastic surgery to change her face, hiding herself away as an ordinary person in the countryside.

After filming this outdoor scene, Wu Yuchen led the "Reign of Assassins" crew back to Xiangshan Film and Television City, and it was time for Zeng Li, the female lead, to make her appearance.

(End of this chapter)