MMLDU Chapter 31

“Ready to start shooting tomorrow?” Director Jin asked, his expectations for Pei Lang high. Frustrated by the female lead’s performance, his mood slightly improved upon seeing Pei Lang.

“Yes, I’m ready.” Unlike others who were intimidated by Director Jin, Pei Lang remained composed, confident, and polite. “I watched for a while earlier. Your filming techniques are unique, perfectly capturing the storyline. The choreography and the spirit of chivalry are vividly portrayed—truly worthy of a director.”

How strange. Compliments from others sounded like flattery, but when spoken by Pei Lang, they felt genuine and uplifting.

Director Jin’s expression softened. “This kid, when did you learn to say such things?”

“Just speaking the truth,” Pei Lang replied, standing calmly beside the director. His white shirt was clean and crisp and his demeanor poised, making it hard for others to look away.

His athletic build and determined gaze caught Director Jin’s attention. “Kid, do you have a background in martial arts?”

“Yes.” Pei Lang nodded hesitantly, unsure where this was leading.

“Liu Ran has a few scenes she can’t get through. Her performance is fragmented. I want you to step in and handle the more challenging moves as her double,” Director Jin said, his sharp, experienced eyes twinkling with determination.

This statement drew gasps from the surrounding crew.

Asking the male second lead, Pei Lang, to act as a stunt double for the female lead, and for high-difficulty action sequences at that, was almost unheard of. Even if the director demanded it, few would agree. It was also an implicit criticism of the female lead, Liu Ran. In this production, many actors, even older supporting roles in their forties or fifties, performed their stunts personally. The use of a stunt double for the female lead could tarnish both her reputation and Pei Lang’s.

Director Jin wasn’t eager to resort to this, but the scene had stalled for hours, and everyone was stuck without dinner. With his patience wearing thin, he had no choice but to seek a stunt double. If Pei Lang hadn’t been present, a martial arts coordinator would have likely stepped in. But since Pei Lang was there, he was clearly the best candidate.

Pei Lang had a slender yet athletic build, making him a perfect fit as the female lead’s stunt double. Director Jin was still captivated by Pei Lang’s performance during the audition. Now that Pei Lang was on set, the director couldn’t wait to see more of his skills and test the limits of his abilities.

Although Director Jin held significant authority, asking the male second lead to be the stunt double for the female lead was unprecedented in the entertainment industry. The crew expected at least a hint of dissatisfaction from Pei Lang.

Countless pairs of eyes fixed on his face, including the lighting crew, who adjusted the brightness just in case they missed even the subtlest change in his expression.

But Pei Lang didn’t react as they expected.

There was no discontent, no forced restraint. Instead, he seemed momentarily surprised before breaking into a gentle smile. “Director, doesn’t this request go beyond the terms of my contract?”

His tone was polite but subtly conveyed a refusal.

The crew braced themselves for some drama, but then Pei Lang shifted his tone. “So, you’ll need to pay extra.”

At these words, the director burst into hearty laughter. “Pay more? Of course, we’ll pay more!” After laughing, he immediately shouted, “Stylist! Makeup artist! Get him ready!”

Then, the director handed Pei Lang a copy of the script for the scene. Pei Lang only needed a single glance to memorize it. He had already studied the significant roles thoroughly, so when acting opposite others, he knew their lines and actions, allowing him to immerse himself fully in the performance.

As he passed Liu Ran, he noticed her glaring at him with indignation, her expression almost murderous. Pei Lang merely gave her a slight smile in response. Meanwhile, the male lead standing nearby also wore a dark expression. With his bold, strikingly handsome features, he was a natural-born actor. But the thought of performing alongside Pei Lang—dressed as a woman, no less—clearly soured his mood.

It was obvious that Director Jin valued Pei Lang highly. No matter how much the others disapproved or looked down on him, none dared to act out.

Pei Lang headed to the makeup room, where he was styled and dressed in the same outfit as Liu Ran.

Drama Title: The Mortal Swordsman

Male Lead: Fu Zhixing, played by the award-winning actor Zhong Yixiao

Female Lead: Qin Junru, portrayed by actress Liu Ran

Second Male Lead: Wen Yan, played by Pei Lang

This drama centers on the epic conflict between the righteous sects and the demonic cult. The male lead, Fu Zhixing, is the son of a legendary swordswoman. Due to past grievances and the existence of a rare martial arts manual, his family is annihilated by the demonic cult, setting him on a path of vengeance.

Along the way, he hones his skills while being relentlessly hunted by the cult. During one such encounter, he is saved by the female lead, Qin Junru. However, this rescue brings disaster upon her family, who also fall victim to the cult’s wrath. United by their shared hatred for the cult, the two embark on a journey together.

Pursued by the cult’s elite assassins, their quest for vengeance is fraught with peril. Tonight’s shoot involves one of the scenes where they are being chased.

Pei Lang had some time before he was fully dressed, so everyone rested and waited. Those who were hungry had a light snack to pass the time. Pei Lang’s role as a stunt double—let alone his ability to perform the difficult moves—was already enough to slap Liu Ran in the face, which made her resent him.

The makeup room was shared. During the break, Liu Ran came in to see how much Pei Lang was really capable of.

Zhong Yixiao was also there. The two leads stayed with Pei Lang while he got dressed. After all, he was just a stunt double, so there was no need for him to be on camera. As long as the clothes and hairstyle were the same, it would be fine. Pei Lang wasn’t used to makeup, so he skipped that part.

Pei Lang was 27 years old, while Zhong Yixiao, two years older, had entered the industry earlier and gained fame sooner. At his age, Zhong was already considered a seasoned actor, having won an acting award once. He was gentle, well-mannered, handsome, and friendly to everyone—known in the industry as the “warm man”.

Despite his good temperament, there was an undeniable coldness when it came to Pei Lang. In Zhong Yixiao’s eyes, his position was not the highest, but it was far above Pei Lang’s. The latter’s poor reputation and the various negative evaluations of him made Zhong Yixiao feel disgusted. Soon, they would have to film a scene where Pei Lang’s character and Liu Ran’s character fought together to escape. Zhong Yixiao couldn’t help but feel a sense of unease.

But the director had given the order, so he dared not disobey.

For the sake of fluid action sequences, Pei Lang’s role as a stunt double wasn’t just about performing those few high-difficulty moves; he had to portray the entire battle scene.

Pei Lang accepted, though Zhong Yixiao found it difficult.

What he didn’t expect, however, was that when Pei Lang finished dressing, he was even more beautiful than the female lead. Holding the female lead’s weapon, a slender, exquisite sword, Pei Lang looked every bit the noble, heroic woman of the story.

As Pei Lang emerged from the makeup room, everyone was stunned.

Pei Lang looked handsome and dashing in men’s clothing, but when he donned women’s attire, his face became androgynous, the red mole at the corner of his eye adding a touch of allure. Yet his demeanor was upright, exuding the presence of a righteous, heroic woman from a prestigious sect.

The praise from all around made Liu Ran feel uncomfortable. She glared at Pei Lang, her eyes filled with murderous intent. Zhong Yixiao, on the other hand, was momentarily stunned before returning to his usual calm, yet cold expression.

The martial arts instructor gave a solo demonstration of the movements. After a single round, Pei Lang indicated that he had memorized them. He then gestured to the director that they were ready to begin filming.

Everything was ready, and filming officially began.

Pei Lang instantly entered character, gripping his sword as he stood shoulder to shoulder with Fu Zhixing, alert to their surroundings. Masters of the martial world lurked nearby. Even the slightest rustle of leaves signaled their presence. The two of them, on the run, were all too familiar with the suffocating pressure of an unknown pursuit.

Qin Junru: “Elder Brother Fu, they’ve tracked us here. We have no choice but to fight them.”

Fu Zhixing stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Qin Junru. “Junru, when the fighting starts, take the chance to escape. Go to the Lixixi Inn at the south of the city. Wait for me there. If I’m not there by dawn…”

“Elder Brother Fu, I won’t let you say that. I won’t leave…”

“Junru, listen to me.”

“Tonight, no one leaves.” Fu Zhixing’s words were interrupted before he could finish. The newcomers were the Four Protectors of the Demon Sect. They’d been chasing them all the way here.

From all directions, assassins surrounded the two of them, their murderous intent palpable. The knives in their hands gleamed with a cold, sharp light, stained with the blood and souls of countless victims. The suffocating pressure of death bore down on them, but the two of them were resolute. This night, they would either die or continue fleeing.

After so long on the run, the fear had lessened when facing the Demon Sect’s assassins. With every encounter, their resolve became more unshakable and their bravery greater than before.

“Kill them!” With a command from the Four Protectors, a sea of assassins swarmed toward them. Fu Zhixing and Qin Junru exchanged a brief glance before drawing their swords, preparing to fight.

In an instant, the sound of clashing swords and blades echoed through the forest. Fu Zhixing and Qin Junru fought side by side, battling the assassins. It was an intense scene unfolding before Director Jin, with countless cameras capturing this thrilling moment.

The wire on their waists became unnecessary, especially for Pei Lang. His movements were graceful, some even more flawless than the martial arts instructor’s demonstrations—elegant and precise. The moves that Liu Ran struggled to execute, he completed effortlessly. His actions were so fluid, it seemed as though he wasn’t an actor but a real “heroine” skilled in martial arts. He was light as a feather when necessary, powerful when called for and moving like flowing water. If not for the wire, it almost seemed like he would soar into the trees using light kung fu.

The long sword in his hand seemed to come alive and his swordsmanship was exceptional. For moves that the martial arts director hadn’t choreographed, Pei Lang added some on his own, making the scene even more perfect.

During the fight, he didn’t forget his lines.

Qin Junru’s martial skills were no match for Fu Zhixing. As they fought, Fu Zhixing kept an eye on Qin Junru, noticing when she needed assistance. The Four Protectors of the Demon Sect seized this opportunity, charging at Qin Junru with their knives.

Qin Junru was overwhelmed by too many assassins and couldn’t react in time. Fu Zhixing swiftly moved to help but was unfortunately struck, blood gushing from the wound, his pain evident. He then released a smoke bomb and used the distraction to help Qin Junru escape.

Coincidentally, ahead of them was a cliff. Faced with death at the hands of the Demon Sect, they chose to jump, clinging to a slim hope for survival. As the assassins closed in, the two of them leaped off the edge together.

At this point, the scene ended.

The “cliff” wasn’t a real one, just a prop with a bed of sea foam below. They only needed to perform the jump. After climbing back up, Pei Lang returned to his normal state, tossing the sword into the air. As it fell, the scabbard caught it perfectly without him even looking, relying solely on his sense of distance and timing, flawlessly executed.

After the scene, Director Jin clapped, and everyone followed suit with applause. Who could have imagined that Pei Lang would nail it in one take? The other actors had failed countless times, becoming familiar with the action and camera angles, but Pei Lang was different. He had just arrived. After the teacher explained the scene once, he performed it perfectly, doing it so well.

“Kid, you really surprised me, hahahaha~~” Director Jin was very pleased. The other production staff also praised him. Zhong Yixiao glanced at Pei Lang but said nothing. However, the corner of his mouth lifted in a smile.

Pei Lang’s performance had a greater impact on him than the scenes with Liu Ran. Though his scenes with Liu Ran hadn’t been bad, they always felt slightly lacking. But acting alongside Pei Lang, the other actor’s immersion and skills brought out the perfect feel he had been striving for.

Pei Lang was a talented actor who truly knew how to act.

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