Qionzhou Film and Television Base.
The next scene to be filmed was the duel between Zhou Jinnan and Lu Cheng, which included a lot of high-intensity gunfights, running, and close-quarters combat.
To ensure the actors maintained peak physical energy, Xu Pingqiu had intentionally rearranged the shooting schedule, clearing a few transitional shots of minor characters first.
At that moment, on the warehouse set.
Action Director Old Sun was running through the positioning with Jiang Yue and Chen Jiaming.
“Teacher Chen, after your straight punch is blocked, go straight into a swift leg sweep.”
Old Sun demonstrated with his own hands and feet. “Jiang Yue, after you block, retreat quickly. Your back should slam heavily against the car body, and you'll give a stumbling reaction to show the impact.”
Jiang Yue nodded. Building on Old Sun's guidance, he offered a few suggestions, changing several slightly flashy choreographed moves into more direct, efficient strikes.
Although Chen Jiaming was older, he had a solid foundation and high standards for his acting.
During the walkthrough, neither of them held back. Their fists and feet collided with real force.
After an hour of repeated adjustments, their movements and positioning were fully set.
After reviewing the run-through, Xu Pingqiu nodded in satisfaction. “Excellent! We'll shoot it just like that. All departments, get ready! Clear the set, prepare for the real take!”
The clapperboard snapped.
“Action!”
The light inside the warehouse was dim and yellow, the atmosphere instantly turning solemn and murderous.
Fu Xiao's corpse lay sprawled in front of the Ford.
Blood slowly seeped toward the drain along the slope of the concrete floor.
Lu Cheng stared at the gun pointed right between his eyes, his chest heaving violently.
His gaze shifted from shock to fury, finally settling into an extremely cold, sober clarity.
“Zhou Jinnan...”
Lu Cheng's voice was raspy. He stared at the young man before him. What flashed through his mind wasn't the details of the past three years, but a scene from much further back. “That ungrateful wolf cub from the military academy back then... has finally grown its fangs after all.”
Back at the military academy, Lu Cheng had already established contact with the Japanese. He had become an instructor specifically to scout talent for the Secret Service he would later establish.
Zhou Jinnan hadn't been the best fighter in that class, but he was the smartest and most unmanageable troublemaker.
He had acted completely indifferent to everything, forced into the military by his family, but in truth, a fire burned deep in his eyes that no one could decipher.
Lu Cheng prided himself on being an excellent judge of character.
He had concluded that someone like Zhou Jinnan had no beliefs, only interests, making him perfect material for espionage.
Thus, he had intentionally shown him favor, drawing this "promising talent" step-by-step to his side.
He thought he had raised a dog that knew exactly how to adapt to any situation.
He never expected that it was a lone wolf that would tear its master's throat out.
Zhou Jinnan held the gun steady with one hand, the smile on his face long gone.
“Instructor Lu, the very first lesson you taught us back then was to never ask what is right or wrong, but only to follow one's own heart.”
Zhou Jinnan's voice was cold and hard, devoid of any fluctuation. “I learned it well.”
“Bang!”
Lu Cheng's response was to draw his gun and fire without a second thought.
The bullet grazed past Zhou Jinnan's ear, carrying a scorching wave of air.
Zhou Jinnan lowered his center of gravity and ducked behind a concrete pillar.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
Gunfire erupted throughout the warehouse.
Both were experts with firearms. Using the vehicles and pillars as cover, their bullets wove a web of death in the dim space.
Sparks flew, car windows shattered one after another, and shallow craters were blasted into the concrete pillars.
“Click.”
“Click.”
Almost simultaneously, the crisp sound of dry firing echoed from both of their weapons.
They were out of ammunition.
Silence enveloped the warehouse.
In the next second, Lu Cheng threw down his pistol and lunged at Zhou Jinnan like an infuriated tiger.
After all, he had been a military academy instructor, and his close-combat skills were already peerless.
Zhou Jinnan also discarded his empty gun. Instead of retreating, he advanced, meeting him head-on.
“Thud!”
Their fists collided heavily, producing a dull thud.
Lu Cheng's straight punch was blocked, and he smoothly transitioned into a low sweep at Zhou Jinnan's legs.
Zhou Jinnan raised his knee to block, using the immense force to take two steps back, his back slamming against the Ford's door.
“You've hidden for three years. Did you really think you could defeat me?”
Lu Cheng's attacks came like a torrential tide, his moves wide and powerful, aiming straight for vital points.
Zhou Jinnan protected his head with both hands, constantly searching for openings to counterattack.
His movements were even more cunning and ruthless, every strike aimed at the throat, eye sockets, and other vulnerable areas—pure killing techniques.
Lu Cheng slammed a heavy elbow onto Zhou Jinnan's shoulder blade.
Zhou Jinnan bore the blow through sheer willpower. Ducking low, he delivered a heavy hook to Lu Cheng's ribs.
Both men groaned in pain simultaneously and backed away to create some distance.
Zhou Jinnan's mouth tasted of rust, and the joint of his left shoulder throbbed with pain.
Lu Cheng's face was pale, his forehead beaded with cold sweat.
“Your... your skills...”
Lu Cheng panted heavily, in disbelief. “How could you back at the military academy...”
“I didn't want to join Juntong after graduation, that's all.”
Zhou Jinnan wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth with his thumb.
As soon as the words left his mouth, they clashed once more.
This time, the fight became even more brutal.
There was no technique, only the most primal, desperate struggle.
Finally, Lu Cheng caught a flaw in his defense. His hands clamped around Zhou Jinnan's neck like iron pincers, pinning him against the car hood.
Zhou Jinnan's face flushed red, his breathing cut off.
He grabbed Lu Cheng's wrists, while simultaneously driving his knee upward with violent force, striking Lu Cheng dead in the abdomen.
Grimacing in pain, Lu Cheng's grip loosened.
Zhou Jinnan reached back, drew the dagger tucked into his rear belt, and whipped his wrist forward.
The blade sliced precisely across Lu Cheng's throat.
Warm blood sprayed out.
Lu Cheng's eyes widened. Releasing his grip, he stumbled backward, clutching his neck tightly.
He cast one last look at Zhou Jinnan, his eyes filled with nothing but the resentment of a loser.
“You...”
Before he could finish his sentence, he collapsed heavily to the ground.
Zhou Jinnan supported himself on the hood, stood up, panting heavily.
He was covered in injuries, his suit already torn to shreds.
He picked up the suitcase from the floor and walked toward the warehouse exit, never once looking back.
When he reached the door, he pulled a brass detonator with a fuse from his pocket and yanked it hard.
An explosion erupted behind him like a sudden clap of thunder. Flames soared into the sky, and a wave of heat rushed over him.
The entire warehouse collapsed in the raging flames, burying all the secrets and sins.
Zhou Jinnan's figure walked into the outer darkness, silhouetted against the firelight.
“Cut! Wrap!”
Xu Pingqiu stood up excitedly. It was rare to see him express his joy so openly.
The set was instantly flooded with cheers. Everyone present had thoroughly enjoyed watching the fight scene.
Jiang Yue and Chen Jiaming collapsed onto the ground, covered in sweat and fake blood made of syrup, lacking even the strength to stand.
Makeup artists and medical staff quickly rushed over.
Han Song ran over. Seeing the red mark on Jiang Yue's arm left by the prop dagger, he gasped. “Watching you two fight just now almost made my heart stop! We're acting here, not actually risking our lives!”
Chen Jiaming was helped up by his assistant. Coughing, he laughed heartily. “That was exhilarating! Brother Jiang, your skills really look like they were honed through real combat.”
Jiang Yue waved his hand and took several gulps of mineral water to catch his breath.
“Brother Sun choreographed it well.”
But in his heart, he sighed silently. Achieving this effect hadn't come without a price; every muscle in his body was twitching, sore and aching.
If the director had called cut even a few minutes later, he probably would have just stayed on the ground forever.
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