Hong Kong 1990: From stuntman to King of Kung Fu

Chapter 63: Filming Wraps Up, Jet Li Goes Missing

The person who arrived was none other than Brigitte Lin.

Her gossip news is more than that of Wang Zuxian, Tang Long, and Zhang Xueyou combined.

Tang Long became a sensation after starring in "New Dragon Gate Inn," attracting media attention and inevitably leading to scandals.

Despite his and Liu Jialing's carefulness, their frequent visits to Taikoo Shing still caught some clues from the media.

Then they reported it in exaggerated form.

Not to mention him, even the wildly popular Jet Li was not spared.

Before Tang Long set off for the mainland, the Oriental Daily News reported that Li Lianjie and Li Zhi were secretly dating.

The paparazzi in Hong Kong are truly ubiquitous.

Of course, their news is nothing compared to Brigitte Lin's.

Her complicated relationship with the two Qins has lasted for more than a decade, from the 1970s to the present, and could be made into a Qiong Yao drama.

Last year, she also collaborated with Qin Han on a TV series called "Red Dust," and the two were later photographed interacting sweetly.

Media outlets are speculating that the couple's long-term relationship may be about to enter a highly publicized phase.

"Sister Qingxia, we're gossiping."

"Gossip? What gossip?" Lin Qingxia sat down next to the group.

Just as Tang Long was about to speak, Zhang Xueyou preemptively told Lin Qingxia about the scandal between Deborah and He Daheng.

"Their relationship had been strained for a long time; even without He Sheng, they would still be getting a divorce."

Lin Qingxia learned more about the inside story.

"Sister Qingxia, what about you?"

"Me? You mean me and Qin Han?"

"yes."

She was very nonchalant and didn't shy away from her own scandals at all.

"I have nothing to do with him anymore; it was all for the sake of movie promotion."

"Red Dust" is an art film, so its box office performance won't be very high. This is the only way it can attract attention.

I'm not a teenage or twenty-year-old girl anymore, whether it's Qin Han or Qin Xianglin.

I've long since severed all emotional ties with them; at most, it's just work-related cooperation.

Whether Tang Long was telling the truth or not didn't matter; what mattered was that everyone was having a great time chatting.

Chatting about gossip during breaks from work is quite relaxing.

Seeing a group of people gathered around, Liu Jialing immediately went over.

Although her near-kidnapping was not reported by the media, it was widely known within the industry.

However, all they knew was that Tang Long stood up for her, but they didn't know exactly how he resolved the matter.

Both parties involved are present now, and several people have been urging them to talk about the matter.

There's nothing to hide about this, Tang Long said, and Liu Jialing occasionally added details, giving a general account of what happened.

Of course, the specific details of the negotiations between Deng Guangrong and Cai Ziming were not discussed.

Despite this, Wang Zuxian and Zhang Xueyou's gazes toward Tang Long changed somewhat.

So he had such powerful connections.

They were also being coerced by the gang, but had no choice but to comply.

Because she had a powerful agency behind her, she wasn't forced to make Category III films, and she was still able to get most of the pay.

But that sense of humiliation can never be erased.

Unexpectedly, the newly rising Tang Long was backed by the powerful Deng Guangrong.

What moved them the most was his character.

What he did for Liu Jialing was absolutely commendable, showing great loyalty and a strong sense of responsibility.

This isn't just Tang Long praising himself; it's all Liu Jialing's enthusiastic addition.

Seeing the happy look on her face, I knew these things were true.

Having witnessed countless instances of people abandoning each other in times of trouble, or even turning against each other for personal gain, Tang Long's actions deeply moved them.

Who wouldn't want to be friends with someone so loyal and righteous?

Even Brigitte Lin's gaze towards him held a certain inexplicable meaning.

Wang Zuxian looked Tang Long up and down; he seemed quite good-looking, even a little handsome.

……

Zhang Xueyou and Wang Zuxian play Jiang Asheng and Zeng Jing before their transformations, respectively, and their roles are not many.

They stayed on set for less than a week before wrapping up filming and returning to Hong Kong.

Xie Xian finally arrived late, urged by the film crew.

He and Deborah ultimately did not divorce. He owed not only casino debts but also money to other people, and he couldn't afford to divorce.

Xie Tingfeng debuted at the age of sixteen and said that he was paying off his father's debts, which was not an exaggeration.

Although Xie Xian doesn't seem to be in good condition, his professional skills are truly undeniable.

King Resurrection is the most complex and tragic character in "Reign of Assassins".

He is not only a villain with unparalleled martial arts skills, but also a pitiful person trapped by his identity.

The extreme contrast in his identity, his obsessive obsession, and his complex and twisted emotions create the chilling yet pitiful image of the Wheel King.

Unlike traditional villains who pursue domination of the martial arts world, the Wheel King's ultimate motivation is more personal and twisted:

To regain his complete male body and reclaim the dignity of an ordinary man.

So, to play the role of the Wheel King well, you really need to have some skills.

Xie Xian grasped the core essence of the character perfectly, and his portrayal of King Zhuanlun was flawless, leaving Tang Long and Cheng Xiaodong with no room for criticism.

With the actors in good condition and their performances flawless, the filming of "Reign of Assassins" is progressing faster than originally planned.

The most time-consuming part is actually traveling.

Because the film involves multiple shooting locations, it requires frequent travel between locations, and transportation in mainland China is not yet very convenient.

The entire crew consists of dozens of people, plus costumes and equipment, and it takes several days to travel together.

However, this is an external factor and is easily overcome.

From September to the end of October, "Reign of Assassins" had been filming in mainland China for almost two months without anyone noticing.

Finally, in the final showdown with Drizzle, King Wheel-Turning underestimated his opponent due to his arrogance.

Unexpectedly, Xi Yu had already learned from the eminent monk Lu Zhu the four hidden moves in the Bi Shui Sword Technique that he hadn't taught her, and was ultimately killed in the process.

After filming this last shot, "Reign of Assassins" officially wrapped up filming.

"Fourth Brother, this is a red envelope."

Cheng Xiaodong handed a red envelope to Xie Xian.

In movies, the crew usually gives a red envelope (cash gift) to those who die in the film, as a way to ward off bad luck.

The red envelopes aren't very big; they usually contain ten Hong Kong dollars.

In the Guangdong-Hong Kong region, red envelopes are not very large; people value the meaning more.

"Xiaodong, keep an eye out for suitable roles for me in the future. I'm really itching to act lately."

"No problem, I'll definitely keep an eye out for Fourth Brother."

Xie Xian smiled upon hearing this, patted Cheng Xiaodong on the shoulder, and said:

"I won't be attending the wrap party; I'm heading back to Hong Kong first."

"There's no need to rush. We'll have the wrap party tomorrow. Choi Bo-joo has already made all the preparations."

"Whether I eat at the wrap party or not is the same. I'll just come to the celebration party for 'Reign of Assassins' when the time comes."

Cheng Xiaodong liked hearing this, and seeing that the other party was really in a hurry to leave, he didn't try to stop him any further.

The following day, after having a wrap party in Hangzhou, the crew set off back to Hong Kong.

After filming in mainland China for nearly two months, Tang Long couldn't help but feel a little tired.

He rested at home for two days before coming to see Xu Ke.

However, the atmosphere at the film studio seems a bit off today.

He arrived at Xu Ke's office and saw him frowning deeply.

"Director Xu, what's wrong? You look so pale."

Xu Ke was about to get angry when he looked up and saw Tang Long, so he swallowed back what he was about to say.

"Is filming for 'Reign of Assassins' finished?"

"Filming wrapped up three or four days ago, didn't you know?"

"I've been busy with other things these past two days and haven't noticed."

"What's making you feel so bad?"

Upon hearing this, Xu Ke couldn't help but sigh deeply:

"That good-for-nothing Li Lianjie has disappeared."