Zhang Linyu was absolutely beside himself.
First, after only four hours of sleep, he’d been dragged out of bed by Jiang Nian to go work out. Fine.
Then, they’d randomly stumbled onto the set of Reign of Assassins and ended up getting invited by Wu Yusen to join the cast. Fine, he could accept that too.
But now, out of nowhere, Jiang Nian just had to start going on and on about wanting to make a cameo appearance as a eunuch?
Zhang Linyu was baffled. What was so great about eunuchs that Jiang Nian was so fixated on them?
He didn’t get it, and so he finally blew his top.
Jiang Nian, however, didn’t hold it against him. He just rolled his eyes and said, “What the hell do you know? This is this gentleman’s master plan for development.”
“Development plan?”
Zhang Linyu laughed in sheer exasperation. “Come on, Jiang-ge, since when is this the development plan for any artist in the industry?”
What was Jiang Nian right now?
He was a top-tier star!
With one performance as Yu Huatian, he’d firmly secured his spot as the most charismatic villain of the first half of 2012. He was unstoppable, with no rivals in sight.
This was the prime time for his career to take off.
And yet, here he was, at this very peak, not thinking about how to raise his status even higher, but instead lowering his own value by willingly taking a cameo role.
And not just any cameo—a eunuch!
“Jiang-ge, let’s put aside for a moment how much this self-devaluation is going to hurt you. Let me just ask you one thing: with your current standing, what production team could even afford to have you as a guest star?”
Zhang Linyu pleaded earnestly, hoping to talk some sense into him.
Jiang Nian knew that Zhang Linyu was looking out for him, thinking about his best interests.
But still—
“Stop trying to talk me out of it. This is this gentleman’s decision, and that’s final.”
Jiang Nian’s tone was firm and resolute.
Of course, he understood how important his career was.
But he also understood something even more fundamental: compared to fame and status, strength was the only thing that really mattered.
If he could master all of Lin Pingzhi’s skills, even if his realm didn’t break through, he’d at least solidify his position as a leading figure among first-class martial artists—maybe even one of the best.
And once he had real power, why would he need to worry about work?
This world had always been one of the strong preying on the weak, where the powerful called the shots.
Besides, it wasn’t like Jiang Nian hadn’t left himself a safety net.
Lin Pingzhi from The Smiling, Proud Wanderer and the Transformed Wheel King from Reign of Assassins—both would be his ace in the hole for a future comeback.
Seeing his resolve, Zhang Linyu sighed, knowing he couldn’t talk him out of it. Helpless, he nodded and pulled out his phone to start making calls.
Meanwhile, Jiang Nian made his way to the mountain where he usually trained, just as the sun was beginning to rise.
Watching the purple haze of dawn roll in from the east, bathed in golden sunlight, Jiang Nian felt his inner energy stir instinctively. He stepped into the light and began his practice.
But he wasn’t working on the newly acquired Transformed Wheel King skills. He was still focused on the Sunflower Evasive Sword technique.
After all, his current comprehension was only at 3 points.
Even if he maxed out all the Transformed Wheel King abilities, it would only bring him to 4 points—still short of Lin Pingzhi’s requirements and still subject to limitations.
So, he figured it was better to wait until he got the next role and train them all together in one go, pushing his comprehension to 5 in a single burst. That way, he wouldn’t waste any time.
Time slipped by as he trained, and before he knew it, the sun was high in the sky.
Jiang Nian still hadn’t found a cameo gig through Zhang Linyu, but an unexpected caller had reached out to him instead.
“Jiang Nian, what the hell are you thinking?”
“Taking a cameo as a eunuch at a time like this? Have you lost your mind?”
Yang Mi wasted no time in demanding answers.
Clearly, she’d gotten wind of his plans.
That was only natural, since both Jiang Nian and Zhang Linyu were under her company’s banner. Any attempt to find a cameo would have to go through her, so it was bound to reach her ears.
Jiang Nian’s attitude remained unchanged: “That’s right. What about it?”
“What about it?” Hearing his casual tone, Yang Mi’s anger flared up. “What’s going on in that head of yours? Do you think you’re some washed-up Hong Kong star who can just churn out garbage films and trashy ads? I’m trying to build you into a high-end brand, and you’re hell-bent on dragging yourself down—why?”
“Tsk, that’s a bit regionally prejudiced, don’t you think?” Jiang Nian replied coolly. “And it’s just a cameo. What’s the big deal? If you’re that worried, just find me a quality production to guest star in. Problem solved.”
He was completely unfazed, brushing it off as if it were nothing.
Yang Mi let out a cold laugh. “Easy for you to say. We’ve barely started the new year—where are we supposed to find a quality show that needs a cameo right now? And a eunuch, no less. Even if one did exist, do you really think they could afford your fee?”
“See? That’s not my problem. If you can’t find a good show, then I’ve got no choice but to take whatever garbage comes along.”
Jiang Nian seized the opportunity to shift the blame right back onto her.
Yang Mi was speechless, a string of question marks practically floating above her head.
“The hell?! Are you even speaking human language right now?”
“You know what? Fine. You’re impossible. I’ll let you take this crappy cameo, but you have to agree to one condition of mine.”
Knowing that once Jiang Nian set his mind on something, not even ten oxen could drag him back, Yang Mi took a deep breath, gave up trying to reason with him, and settled for a compromise.
Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow. “What condition?”
“Next month, you’re coming with me to shoot a variety show for Mango TV. I’ve done the math—by then, your hype will have died down. A variety appearance will keep you in the public eye.”
Yang Mi laid out her terms.
Normally, Jiang Nian would have shot that down without a second thought. He already had his hands full with martial arts training—how could he possibly have time for some variety show?
But today, after a brief pause, he nodded in agreement.
It wasn’t that he’d suddenly developed an interest in variety shows.
It was that he felt he owed them some reassurance.
Sure, he knew that taking these eunuch cameos was a strategic move to boost his strength so he could secure better opportunities down the line.
But Yang Mi and the others didn’t know that.
From their perspective, he’d gone completely off the rails—obsessed with playing eunuchs to the point of madness, refusing to listen to anyone.
He needed to give them some kind of peace of mind.
Hearing his agreement, Yang Mi’s expression softened considerably.
Then she brought up another topic: “Oh, and I’ve got some good news for you. Remember that documentary you shot while filming Flying Swords of Dragon Gate? Director Xu released it, and this morning, the National Radio and Television Administration reached out to me. They asked if they could use your likeness rights.”
“Likeness rights? For what?” Jiang Nian was puzzled.
“What else? Your acting was so masterful that they want to include it in a textbook! Jiang Nian, this is going to make you a legend in the industry!”
Yang Mi’s voice was practically bubbling with excitement. As both his boss and his partner, she naturally felt proud of his achievement.
After all, it wasn’t every day that an actor caught the attention of the NRTA and got featured in official teaching materials for aspiring performers.
And Jiang Nian was still so young.
From this point on, as long as he didn’t get caught up in any major scandals, his career in the entertainment industry was practically guaranteed to skyrocket.
“Ohhh~”
Jiang Nian understood now. But then a thought struck him, and he frowned. “Hey, hang on. If I end up in a textbook, they’re not going to pull that ‘reading comprehension’ crap, are they? You know, like when they ask, ‘Why did the tree represent the author’s father?’—that kind of nonsense?”
Yang Mi: “???”
The two chatted for a while longer, until Huang Junwen came looking for him, saying it was time to shoot.
Jiang Nian ended the call and headed to the set.
By now, his scenes as Lin Pingzhi had quietly progressed to the ninth episode of the original story.
And this episode marked a major turning point for the character.
After all the scheming and backstabbing, the current head of the Lin family, Lin Zhennan, and his wife had barely escaped the jaws of Yu Canghai, only to fall straight into the tiger’s den of Mu Gaofeng.
Mu Gaofeng threatened them with Lin Pingzhi’s life, demanding they hand over the Sunflower Evasive Sword manual.
They knew that if they revealed the sword manual’s whereabouts, Mu Gaofeng would never let their family live.
So, to protect their son from harm, they stayed silent. Their stubborn defiance enraged the “Northern Desert Camel” Mu Gaofeng.
Without hesitation, he reached out and grabbed Lady Lin by the neck, twisting it until it snapped.
Watching her die in an instant, Mu Gaofeng felt a surge of triumph. He thought this would break Lin Zhennan and force him to surrender the manual.
But Lin Zhennan was made of sterner stuff.
Seeing Mu Gaofeng’s cruelty only strengthened his resolve never to hand over the sword manual. So he made a resolute decision—he channeled his inner energy and destroyed his own meridians, preferring to shatter into pieces rather than surrender intact.
Enraged by this defiance, Mu Gaofeng raised his palm to strike at the corpses, determined to leave them mutilated even in death.
Fortunately, at that moment, Linghu Chong and Yilin’s voices sounded from outside, scaring Mu Gaofeng away.
But by then, it was too late.
Though Lin Zhennan still had a breath left, his shattered meridians meant he was barely clinging to life. With his last ounce of strength, he entrusted his final words to Linghu Chong, then closed his eyes and passed away.
Watching a renowned figure of the martial arts world die before his very eyes, Linghu Chong was frozen in shock, frantically calling out his name.
The commotion inevitably caught the attention of Lin Pingzhi and the others, who were dining nearby with Yue Buqun.
They rushed over and saw Linghu Chong and Yilin emerging from the house together.
Seeing him, Yue Lingshan lit up with joy and ran straight to her senior brother, pouring out her affection.
Lin Pingzhi, still oblivious, stood there in a daze.
Finally, Yue Buqun—unwilling to see his daughter wasting time with such a disappointing disciple—interrupted: “Chong’er, why are you here?”
Linghu Chong snapped back to reality and hurriedly explained, “Master, we just ran into Mu Gaofeng. He’d captured Commissioner Lin of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. We were about to rescue him, but Mu Gaofeng struck too hard, and—”
Before he could finish, Lin Pingzhi’s face went pale.
Mu Gaofeng?
Commissioner Lin?
A terrifying thought flashed through his mind, and he dashed frantically into the house.
Sure enough, the sight that greeted him was his parents, hands bound with ropes, kneeling on the ground.
Panicked, Lin Pingzhi rushed forward to untie them, desperately calling out to them.
But… the dead cannot be brought back to life.
No matter how much Lin Pingzhi refused to believe it, no matter how hard it was to accept the reality before him, the truth was undeniable: his parents were dead.
From this day forward, Lin Pingzhi had no one left to rely on in this world.
Seeing him like this, a flicker of pity passed through Yue Lingshan’s eyes.
Noticing Linghu Chong’s confusion, she explained, “He’s Commissioner Lin’s son, Lin Pingzhi. Father has already taken him as a disciple and wanted to avenge him, but now… sigh!”
She shook her head with a heavy sigh.
Hearing this, Linghu Chong understood the situation and quickly looked away, unable to bear the sight.
The scene shifted.
Lin Pingzhi knelt in the courtyard of the Lin estate, staring at the two coffins laid out before him, tears streaming down his face as his thoughts churned.
Yue Buqun and the others didn’t know what to say, so they stepped outside to exchange pleasantries with Yilin of the Hengshan Sect, saw her off, and then discussed their plans to return to Mount Hua.
The journey back was rough, and in the past, Lin Pingzhi—the pampered young master—would never have endured it.
But now, after everything he’d been through and the grief of losing his parents, Lin Pingzhi had grown.
He was no longer the naive, carefree boy he once was.
His parents’ deaths had awakened in him a desperate hunger for strength unlike anything he’d ever felt before.
But while he was determined to grow stronger, others didn’t share his faith in him.
Especially Yue Buqun’s wife, Ning Zhongze.
Seeing her husband return from his travels with a pretty boy in tow, she couldn’t help but remark:
“Senior Brother, you’ve taken on quite a disciple—so delicate and refined, hardly looks like a martial artist. But that’s fine. If he can’t learn martial arts, a few years of studying the classics might at least get him through the imperial exams.”
There was no flattery in her words.
Ning Zhongze made her lack of faith in Lin Pingzhi painfully clear.
And Yue Buqun? He made no effort to defend his new disciple. Instead, he simply nodded in agreement with his wife’s assessment.
Hearing them talk about him like that, Lin Pingzhi clenched his fists in secret, vowing to himself that he would achieve a level of skill that would make them all eat their words—and avenge his parents.
“Great! Cut!”
At that point, Huang Junwen picked up his megaphone and called a wrap.
The remaining scenes involved Yue Buqun punishing Linghu Chong with confinement, during which Linghu Chong would stumble upon Feng Qingyang’s secret training ground.
None of that had much to do with Jiang Nian, and since it was getting dark, Huang Junwen decided to call it a day and dismissed everyone.
But before leaving, he pulled Jiang Nian aside. “So, uh, Teacher Jiang, I heard you were the one who choreographed all the action sequences for Flying Swords of Dragon Gate. Is that true?”
Jiang Nian was reading and didn’t bother looking up. “Mm, that’s right. Why?”
Huang Junwen rubbed his hands together nervously. “Well, here’s the thing—tomorrow’s scenes involve you training with Yue Buqun. So if it’s not too much trouble, could you maybe… hold back a little? How does that sound?”
Jiang Nian raised an eyebrow at that.
