THUS SPAKE ZARATHUSTRA

1.

When Zarathustra was thirty years old, he left his home and the lake of his home, and went into the mountains. There he enjoyed his spirit and solitude, and for ten years did not weary of it. But at last his heart changed,—and rising one morning with the rosy dawn, he went before the sun, and spake thus unto it:

Thou great star! What would be thy happiness if thou hadst not those for whom thou s.h.i.+nest!

For ten years hast thou climbed hither unto my cave: thou wouldst have wearied of thy light and of the journey, had it not been for me, mine eagle, and my serpent.

But we awaited thee every morning, took from thee thine overflow and blessed thee for it.

Lo! I am weary of my wisdom, like the bee that hath gathered too much honey; I need hands outstretched to take it.

I would fain bestow and distribute, until the wise have once more become joyous in their folly, and the poor happy in their riches.

Therefore must I descend into the deep: as thou doest in the evening, when thou goest behind the sea, and givest light also to the nether-world, thou exuberant star!

Like thee must I GO DOWN, as men say, to whom I shall descend.

Bless me, then, thou tranquil eye, that canst behold even the greatest happiness without envy!

Bless the cup that is about to overflow, that the water may flow golden out of it, and carry everywhere the reflection of thy bliss!

Lo! This cup is again going to empty itself, and Zarathustra is again going to be a man.

Thus began Zarathustra's down-going.

2.

Zarathustra went down the mountain alone, no one meeting him. When he entered the forest, however, there suddenly stood before him an old man, who had left his holy cot to seek roots. And thus spake the old man to Zarathustra:

"No stranger to me is this wanderer: many years ago pa.s.sed he by. Zarathustra he was called; but he hath altered.

Then thou carriedst thine ashes into the mountains: wilt thou now carry thy fire into the valleys? Fearest thou not the incendiary's doom?

Yea, I recognise Zarathustra. Pure is his eye, and no loathing lurketh about his mouth. Goeth he not along like a dancer?

Altered is Zarathustra; a child hath Zarathustra become; an awakened one is Zarathustra: what wilt thou do in the land of the sleepers?

As in the sea hast thou lived in solitude, and it hath borne thee up. Alas, wilt thou now go ash.o.r.e? Alas, wilt thou again drag thy body thyself?"

Zarathustra answered: "I love mankind."

"Why," said the saint, "did I go into the forest and the desert? Was it not because I loved men far too well?

Now I love G.o.d: men, I do not love. Man is a thing too imperfect for me. Love to man would be fatal to me."

Zarathustra answered: "What spake I of love! I am bringing gifts unto men."

"Give them nothing," said the saint. "Take rather part of their load, and carry it along with them—that will be most agreeable unto them: if only it be agreeable unto thee!

If, however, thou wilt give unto them, give them no more than an alms, and let them also beg for it!"

"No," replied Zarathustra, "I give no alms. I am not poor enough for that."

The saint laughed at Zarathustra, and spake thus: "Then see to it that they accept thy treasures! They are distrustful of anchorites, and do not believe that we come with gifts.

The fall of our footsteps ringeth too hollow through their streets. And just as at night, when they are in bed and hear a man abroad long before sunrise, so they ask themselves concerning us: Where goeth the thief?

Go not to men, but stay in the forest! Go rather to the animals! Why not be like me—a bear amongst bears, a bird amongst birds?"

"And what doeth the saint in the forest?" asked Zarathustra.

The saint answered: "I make hymns and sing them; and in making hymns I laugh and weep and mumble: thus do I praise G.o.d.

With singing, weeping, laughing, and mumbling do I praise the G.o.d who is my G.o.d. But what dost thou bring us as a gift?"

When Zarathustra had heard these words, he bowed to the saint and said: "What should I have to give thee! Let me rather hurry hence lest I take aught away from thee!"—And thus they parted from one another, the old man and Zarathustra, laughing like schoolboys.

When Zarathustra was alone, however, he said to his heart: "Could it be possible! This old saint in the forest hath not yet heard of it, that G.o.d IS DEAD!"

3.

When Zarathustra arrived at the nearest town which adjoineth the forest, he found many people a.s.sembled in the market-place; for it had been announced that a rope-dancer would give a performance. And Zarathustra spake thus unto the people:

I TEACH YOU THE SUPERMAN. Man is something that is to be surpa.s.sed. What have ye done to surpa.s.s man?

All beings. .h.i.therto have created something beyond themselves: and ye want to be the ebb of that great tide, and would rather go back to the beast than surpa.s.s man?

What is the ape to man? A laughing-stock, a thing of shame. And just the same shall man be to the Superman: a laughing-stock, a thing of shame.

Ye have made your way from the worm to man, and much within you is still worm. Once were ye apes, and even yet man is more of an ape than any of the apes.

Even the wisest among you is only a disharmony and hybrid of plant and phantom. But do I bid you become phantoms or plants?

Lo, I teach you the Superman!

The Superman is the meaning of the earth. Let your will say: The Superman SHALL BE the meaning of the earth!

I conjure you, my brethren, REMAIN TRUE TO THE EARTH, and believe not those who speak unto you of superearthly hopes! Poisoners are they, whether they know it or not.

Despisers of life are they, decaying ones and poisoned ones themselves, of whom the earth is weary: so away with them!

Once blasphemy against G.o.d was the greatest blasphemy; but G.o.d died, and therewith also those blasphemers. To blaspheme the earth is now the dreadfulest sin, and to rate the heart of the unknowable higher than the meaning of the earth!

Once the soul looked contemptuously on the body, and then that contempt was the supreme thing:—the soul wished the body meagre, ghastly, and famished. Thus it thought to escape from the body and the earth.

Oh, that soul was itself meagre, ghastly, and famished; and cruelty was the delight of that soul!

But ye, also, my brethren, tell me: What doth your body say about your soul? Is your soul not poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency?

Verily, a polluted stream is man. One must be a sea, to receive a polluted stream without becoming impure.

Lo, I teach you the Superman: he is that sea; in him can your great contempt be submerged.

What is the greatest thing ye can experience? It is the hour of great contempt. The hour in which even your happiness becometh loathsome unto you, and so also your reason and virtue.

The hour when ye say: "What good is my happiness! It is poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency. But my happiness should justify existence itself!"

The hour when ye say: "What good is my reason! Doth it long for knowledge as the lion for his food? It is poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency!"

The hour when ye say: "What good is my virtue! As yet it hath not made me pa.s.sionate. How weary I am of my good and my bad! It is all poverty and pollution and wretched self-complacency!"

The hour when ye say: "What good is my justice! I do not see that I am fervour and fuel. The just, however, are fervour and fuel!"

The hour when ye say: "What good is my pity! Is not pity the cross on which he is nailed who loveth man? But my pity is not a crucifixion."

Have ye ever spoken thus? Have ye ever cried thus? Ah! would that I had heard you crying thus!

It is not your sin—it is your self-satisfaction that crieth unto heaven; your very sparingness in sin crieth unto heaven!

Where is the lightning to lick you with its tongue? Where is the frenzy with which ye should be inoculated?

Lo, I teach you the Superman: he is that lightning, he is that frenzy!—

When Zarathustra had thus spoken, one of the people called out: "We have now heard enough of the rope-dancer; it is time now for us to see him!" And all the people laughed at Zarathustra. But the rope-dancer, who thought the words applied to him, began his performance.

4.

Zarathustra, however, looked at the people and wondered. Then he spake thus:

Man is a rope stretched between the animal and the Superman—a rope over an abyss.

A dangerous crossing, a dangerous wayfaring, a dangerous looking-back, a dangerous trembling and halting.

What is great in man is that he is a bridge and not a goal: what is lovable in man is that he is an OVER-GOING and a DOWN-GOING.

I love those that know not how to live except as down-goers, for they are the over-goers.

I love the great despisers, because they are the great adorers, and arrows of longing for the other sh.o.r.e.

I love those who do not first seek a reason beyond the stars for going down and being sacrifices, but sacrifice themselves to the earth, that the earth of the Superman may hereafter arrive.

I love him who liveth in order to know, and seeketh to know in order that the Superman may hereafter live. Thus seeketh he his own down-going.

I love him who laboureth and inventeth, that he may build the house for the Superman, and prepare for him earth, animal, and plant: for thus seeketh he his own down-going.

I love him who loveth his virtue: for virtue is the will to down-going, and an arrow of longing.

I love him who reserveth no share of spirit for himself, but wanteth to be wholly the spirit of his virtue: thus walketh he as spirit over the bridge.

I love him who maketh his virtue his inclination and destiny: thus, for the sake of his virtue, he is willing to live on, or live no more.

I love him who desireth not too many virtues. One virtue is more of a virtue than two, because it is more of a knot for one's destiny to cling to.

I love him whose soul is lavish, who wanteth no thanks and doth not give back: for he always bestoweth, and desireth not to keep for himself.

I love him who is ashamed when the dice fall in his favour, and who then asketh: "Am I a dishonest player?"—for he is willing to succ.u.mb.

I love him who scattereth golden words in advance of his deeds, and always doeth more than he promiseth: for he seeketh his own down-going.

I love him who justifieth the future ones, and redeemeth the past ones: for he is willing to succ.u.mb through the present ones.

I love him who chasteneth his G.o.d, because he loveth his G.o.d: for he must succ.u.mb through the wrath of his G.o.d.

I love him whose soul is deep even in the wounding, and may succ.u.mb through a small matter: thus goeth he willingly over the bridge.

I love him whose soul is so overfull that he forgetteth himself, and all things are in him: thus all things become his down-going.

I love him who is of a free spirit and a free heart: thus is his head only the bowels of his heart; his heart, however, causeth his down-going.

I love all who are like heavy drops falling one by one out of the dark cloud that lowereth over man: they herald the coming of the lightning, and succ.u.mb as heralds.

Lo, I am a herald of the lightning, and a heavy drop out of the cloud: the lightning, however, is the SUPERMAN.—

5.

When Zarathustra had spoken these words, he again looked at the people, and was silent. "There they stand," said he to his heart; "there they laugh: they understand me not; I am not the mouth for these ears.

Must one first batter their ears, that they may learn to hear with their eyes? Must one clatter like kettledrums and penitential preachers? Or do they only believe the stammerer?

They have something whereof they are proud. What do they call it, that which maketh them proud? Culture, they call it; it distinguisheth them from the goatherds.

They dislike, therefore, to hear of 'contempt' of themselves. So I will appeal to their pride.

I will speak unto them of the most contemptible thing: that, however, is THE LAST MAN!"

And thus spake Zarathustra unto the people:

It is time for man to fix his goal. It is time for man to plant the germ of his highest hope.

Still is his soil rich enough for it. But that soil will one day be poor and exhausted, and no lofty tree will any longer be able to grow thereon.

Alas! there cometh the time when man will no longer launch the arrow of his longing beyond man—and the string of his bow will have unlearned to whizz!

I tell you: one must still have chaos in one, to give birth to a dancing star. I tell you: ye have still chaos in you.

Alas! There cometh the time when man will no longer give birth to any star. Alas! There cometh the time of the most despicable man, who can no longer despise himself.

Lo! I show you THE LAST MAN.

"What is love? What is creation? What is longing? What is a star?"—so asketh the last man and blinketh.

The earth hath then become small, and on it there hoppeth the last man who maketh everything small. His species is ineradicable like that of the ground-flea; the last man liveth longest.

"We have discovered happiness"—say the last men, and blink thereby.

They have left the regions where it is hard to live; for they need warmth. One still loveth one's neighbour and rubbeth against him; for one needeth warmth.

Turning ill and being distrustful, they consider sinful: they walk warily. He is a fool who still stumbleth over stones or men!

A little poison now and then: that maketh pleasant dreams. And much poison at last for a pleasant death.

One still worketh, for work is a pastime. But one is careful lest the pastime should hurt one.

One no longer becometh poor or rich; both are too burdensome. Who still wanteth to rule? Who still wanteth to obey? Both are too burdensome.

No shepherd, and one herd! Every one wanteth the same; every one is equal: he who hath other sentiments goeth voluntarily into the madhouse.

"Formerly all the world was insane,"—say the subtlest of them, and blink thereby.

They are clever and know all that hath happened: so there is no end to their raillery. People still fall out, but are soon reconciled—otherwise it spoileth their stomachs.

They have their little pleasures for the day, and their little pleasures for the night, but they have a regard for health.

"We have discovered happiness,"—say the last men, and blink thereby.—

And here ended the first discourse of Zarathustra, which is also called "The Prologue": for at this point the shouting and mirth of the mult.i.tude interrupted him. "Give us this last man, O Zarathustra,"—they called out—"make us into these last men! Then will we make thee a present of the Superman!" And all the people exulted and smacked their lips. Zarathustra, however, turned sad, and said to his heart:

"They understand me not: I am not the mouth for these ears.

Too long, perhaps, have I lived in the mountains; too much have I hearkened unto the brooks and trees: now do I speak unto them as unto the goatherds.

Calm is my soul, and clear, like the mountains in the morning. But they think me cold, and a mocker with terrible jests.

And now do they look at me and laugh: and while they laugh they hate me too. There is ice in their laughter."

6.

Then, however, something happened which made every mouth mute and every eye fixed. In the meantime, of course, the rope-dancer had commenced his performance: he had come out at a little door, and was going along the rope which was stretched between two towers, so that it hung above the market-place and the people. When he was just midway across, the little door opened once more, and a gaudily-dressed fellow like a buffoon sprang out, and went rapidly after the first one. "Go on, halt-foot," cried his frightful voice, "go on, lazy-bones, interloper, sallow-face!—lest I tickle thee with my heel! What dost thou here between the towers? In the tower is the place for thee, thou shouldst be locked up; to one better than thyself thou blockest the way!"—And with every word he came nearer and nearer the first one. When, however, he was but a step behind, there happened the frightful thing which made every mouth mute and every eye fixed—he uttered a yell like a devil, and jumped over the other who was in his way. The latter, however, when he thus saw his rival triumph, lost at the same time his head and his footing on the rope; he threw his pole away, and shot downwards faster than it, like an eddy of arms and legs, into the depth. The market-place and the people were like the sea when the storm cometh on: they all flew apart and in disorder, especially where the body was about to fall.

Zarathustra, however, remained standing, and just beside him fell the body, badly injured and disfigured, but not yet dead. After a while consciousness returned to the shattered man, and he saw Zarathustra kneeling beside him. "What art thou doing there?" said he at last, "I knew long ago that the devil would trip me up. Now he draggeth me to h.e.l.l: wilt thou prevent him?"

"On mine honour, my friend," answered Zarathustra, "there is nothing of all that whereof thou speakest: there is no devil and no h.e.l.l. Thy soul will be dead even sooner than thy body: fear, therefore, nothing any more!"

The man looked up distrustfully. "If thou speakest the truth," said he, "I lose nothing when I lose my life. I am not much more than an animal which hath been taught to dance by blows and scanty fare."

"Not at all," said Zarathustra, "thou hast made danger thy calling; therein there is nothing contemptible. Now thou perishest by thy calling: therefore will I bury thee with mine own hands."

When Zarathustra had said this the dying one did not reply further; but he moved his hand as if he sought the hand of Zarathustra in grat.i.tude.

Suddenly seeing Yang Anyu, who he hadn’t seen for this many days, Yi Chenyan’s gaze jerked and he involuntarily froze.

“Young Master Yang, why have you run over here?” Towards this, Li Ye was also rather puzzled.

At the centre of the filming site, Yang Anyu was standing on the cargo train. Although he was only a stunt-double, he had clearly become everyone’s focal point.

“Action!” Following the director’s single shout, the script supervisor also immediately snapped the clapperboard.*

Yang Anyu, who was wearing the wire rig, leapt back and forth across several trains. He made a flurry of martial arts moves utilizing the fist and leg. It had the volume of Form and Will Boxing and Tai Ji Fist’s subtlety. Yang Anyu’s entire sequence of movements was a mixture of softness and strength. Though it was br.i.m.m.i.n.g with force, it didn’t lack a feeling of beauty.

Clearly, he had just received the martial arts instructions, but this guy had surprisingly memorized all the actions!

The other stunt-double trading blows with him was secretly shocked. Moreover, he almost didn’t have any mistakes and stiff areas, matching blows cleanly and nimbly. At glance, you could see that his standard was very high.

Besides this, Yang Anyu had unconsciously added his own insights towards this character. His face thus very naturally showed the focus and seriousness the male lead should have. It was as if people had truly seen ‘Jiang Yunxue’ – that unceasingly hardworking youth, who wanted to become that generation’s boxing master.

Finally, Yang Anyu flew down from the train. He smiled, having completed this scene’s mock-combat very breezily.

“Too excellent!” The director clapped his hands successively. He was simply overjoyed by the unexpected surprise. The other workers and staff had also been shocked stiff. Because of Yang Anyu, this scene had reached an outcome even better than they had imagined.

Guo Lixu once again had his eyes wide and mouth open in a daze. This brat had really concealed himself too deeply.

Gu Xin’s smile grew even more unfathomable, but Yu Siyuan’s expression was a little bad. Yan Feng at his side also had a complicated gaze. And, not far away, Yi Chenyan and Li Ye had also frozen at their original spots.

This was a Yang Anyu they had never seen before.

“Haha, this is totally the ‘feel’ that I want!”

Director Zhou loudly laughed as he patted Yang Anyu’s shoulder. He, who had obtained this treasure, acknowledged Yang Anyu in just an instant.

Although Yang Anyu’s performance was still relatively inexperienced, as a martial arts body-double, he had already done very excellently.

Nowadays, many combat takes in television dramas always had to rely on special effects and post-editing, and there were fewer and fewer genuine hand-to-hand fights. An authentic and stirring take like this, once matched to a soundtrack, will definitely be able to make people’s blood boiling-hot.

“Director.”

The next moment, Yi Chenyan’s voice suddenly rang out.

Yang Anyu panicked, subconsciously retreating backwards. This big Film Emperor had appeared, so Director Zhou naturally chuckled and went forwards. “Chenyan, you’ve come ah.”

Yi Chenyan smiled and shook hands with Director Zhou. Subsequently, Gu Xin and Yu Siyuan also followed in greeting him. Because of Yi Chenyan’s arrival, the whole drama crew’s atmosphere instantly livened up.

It was Guo Lixu’s first time meeting the real person. Guo Lixu, who had always extremely revered him, was also endlessly excited to the point that he was a little tongue-tied. “Senior Yi, very… very happy… to see you.”

Yi Chenyan nodded towards Guo Lixu, then his gaze turned, and he reached out his hand towards Yang Anyu, who was beside Guo Lixu. “First time seeing you, nice to meet you.”

First time… seeing you?

Yang Anyu froze. Yi Chenyan’s action had clearly been this graceful, his tone warm, yet it had instead pulled their distance further again.

Indeed, pretending to be unacquainted was still better for them.

Yang Anyu lightly grasped his hand. “Nice to meet you, Yi… Yi Senior.”*

From ‘Mr Yi’ to ‘Senior Yi’ now? The depths of Yi Chenyan’s heart faintly fluctuated, but his face still didn’t have much expression. Meanwhile, Li Ye paused slightly. He swiftly glanced at Yang Anyu, and sighed in his heart.

This little Young Master who was working hard to suit a certain Emperor of Film Acting, was suddenly causing people to have a bit of heartache.

After that, Guo Family sent people to fetch Guo Lixu, and Yang Anyu hence followed him in returning. Before leaving, he had even snuck a look at Yi Chenyan’s face, but a certain Film Emperor still had an indifferent expression as usual. He couldn’t see any emotions.

After Yang Anyu left, Yi Chenyan finally drooped his eyelids a little. With just a glance, Li Ye saw something, and went over to softly ask, “Tonight, you’re definitely not returning?”

Yi Chenyan, being busy with work, had already been absent from home for four, five days. Yang Anyu had always been watching over their “home” alone.

Yi Chenyan still shook his head.

However, upon thinking that Yang Anyu had clearly been very lonely just now, but was forcing himself to stay strong, Yi Chenyan’s emotions became a little mixed.

Taking out his phone, Yi Chenyan unceasingly read through his contacts, but after a long time, he couldn’t find the person he was looking for.

“This is his number.”

Li Ye, who was by the side, couldn’t continue looking on and kindly had his own phone pushed over.

Yi Chenyan’s expression changed slightly. He turned his back and properly saved Yang Anyu’s number, but didn’t call, and sent a text message instead.

The other person, Yang Anyu, left the film studio with Guo Lixu. Upon doing so, their whole bodies relaxed. Yang Anyu, who was sitting in a privately owned car, had originally been talking with Guo Lixu. However, who knew that his phone would suddenly vibrate.

He lowered his head to look. It was a text message an unknown number had sent, and the contents were also very simple.

【Go home and rest well】

Yang Anyu became a little strange and very swiftly replied.

【Thank you (*^__^*) But, can I inquire as to who you are?】

Looking at this text reply, the big star Yi Chenyan froze for three seconds, then typed three words, ‘Yi Chen Yan.’ But he suddenly paused and deleted it, and finally said nothing at all.

Li Ye silently observed this, feeling that his future worries were increasing.

Because Yang Anyu didn’t want to disturb Yi Chenyan’s work, he didn’t have Yi Chenyan’s number anywhere. Usually, when there’s a matter he would always contact Li Ye the manager. These two people clearly were already husband-and-husband, but this method of communication was……

Li Ye supported his forehead.* His head was starting to hurt again.

He had unexpectedly become Yi Siyuan’s martial arts stunt-double and entered the crew of ‘Boxer’. But Yang Anyu wasn’t particularly ecstatic. Of course, there weren’t many distressing matters, and he treated everything with a constant heart as always. It was just that he had still been a little bit awkward, when Yi Chenyan had been at the film site.

These two days, Yang Anyu constantly watched at a distance while Yu Siyuan and Yi Chenyan rehea.r.s.ed.

Yi Chenyan was acting as the male lead Jiang Yunxue’s Master, Jiang Hai.* Without mentioning costume and make-up, judging from Yi Chenyan’s expressions and actions, he truly resembled a n.o.ble and imposing Master of the Way of the Fist. A smile frequently hung at the corner of his mouth, and his att.i.tude was also very genial. At times when the male lead was lost and uncertain, he would teach his disciple with skill and patience.

Yang Anyu admired him from the bottom of his heart. He thought of the many films and television dramas Yi Chenyan had been the main actor in. No matter the kind of character, Yi Chenyan would always be able to command them well.

Yang Anyu was Yu Siyuan’s temporary body-double. The two peoples’ status and positions were greatly different, so Director Zhou would, of course, shoot Yu Siyuan’s parts first. Even if Yu Siyuan constantly announced that he had some small situations to take care of, Yang Anyu could only cooperate and make allowances.

A difference in treatment was very normal in this circle. Many times, Yang Anyu would be waiting on the outskirts of the film site. He would look at the script, or practice with the martial arts instructor. Everyone was very mystified by and curious about Yang Anyu’s fine arms and slim legs. He wasn’t a muscular man, yet his martial arts foundation were unexpectedly good. His speed and explosive force were also not bad.

Yang Anyu said a few perfunctory sentences, explaining that he had felt very interested in martial arts in the past, and had learnt it for several years.

He also did not want other people to know he was the Yang Family’s little Young Master, and that presently, his older brother Yang Jue was managing Shang Huan Media. He begged Guo Lixu to preserve his secret, and he himself never brought it up. His behaviour had always been very low-key, so besides Yi Chenyan, the drama crew’s staff members had basically no idea about his true background.

“Little Yu, come over.”

At this moment, Director Zhou waved his hand towards Yang Anyu. After two days of interactions, they were already more familiar with each other.

Director Zhou felt that Yang Anyu, that child, had a lot of potential. Not only were his body and hands nimble, he also had an innate talent for acting. If he could find a backer in the future, have even better opportunities, he should be able to get along pretty well.

Hearing the holler, Yang Anyu instantly ran over. He saw Director Zhou smile as he patted him and pointed at Yi Chenyan who was by the side. “The following scene, you have to cooperate with Yi Chen even more, and act even better ah.”

Yang Anyu raised his eyes to glance at Yi Chenyan. Instantly, his scalp felt numb. “Director, do I really have to, with… Senior Yi he……”

“En, en.” Director Zhou continued smiling and nodded his head.

Yi Chenyan had previously shot an action film before, hence he had solid experience. In a bit, this scene’s main purpose would be to narrate the master and disciple’s first meeting. At that time, male lead Jiang Yunxue still did not know Jiang Hai’s ident.i.ty, and Jiang Hai had wanted to test his skill. The two people didn’t have any lines. After battling for several rounds, the outcome was, of course, Jiang Yunxue being leisurely subdued by the grandmaster-level Jiang Hai.

In this scene, Jiang Hai’s martial arts movements didn’t have a high degree of difficulty. Yi Chenyan had been instructed before, and could totally enter the stage personally.

“Don’t be anxious, you and Yi Chenyan will be on one stage, but acting out combat is nothing to be afraid of, you can also learn something.” Director Zhou patted Yang Anyu again.

Yang Anyu bitterly smiled.

Why could other people share deeply affectionate gazes with Yi Chenyan – each person saying a sentence, conversing happily – while it was hard for him to even have a chance to work together with him; and yet, without saying a word, the moment they went up they had had to fight?

Alright then, he’ll pretend he’s sparring with the general. Yang Anyu hardened his resolve and stood in front of Yi Chenyan.

“This shouldn’t be an expression you use to look at your master.” Yi Chenyan suddenly opened his mouth. Yang Anyu jumped in shock again. His heart became even more anxious, his palm was also oozing cold sweat.

However, the next second, a warm feeling came from the top of Yang Anyu’s hand. Yi Chenyan had unexpectedly clasped his hand of his own accord, and the corner of his mouth had also surprisingly risen slightly.

“Don’t be afraid.” Yi Chenyan’s gaze was gentle as he smiled faintly.

Yang Anyu instantly turned to stone.* “…….”

“Haha.” Director Zhou who was by the side laughed, hastening to explain, “Little Yu, Chen Yan is bringing you into character.”

Yang Anyu froze. He hastily pulled out his hand, then bowed deeply. “Many thanks for Senior Yi’s teachings.”

He had nearly been fooled by his smile, no wonder he was Film Emperor.

Yi Chenyan kept his smile and recovered his usual indifference. He was truly still not used to the current Yang Anyu.

However, he did not dislike it.

After the various actors were ready in position, following a crisp clapperboard sound, the scene officially began.

Stumbling into the Jiang Family* ancestor’s secret underground room, the male lead Jiang Yunxue slowly groped his way in the darkness as he walked. Suddenly, he suffered an elder’s attack. This elder was Jiang Hai who had been secluding himself.

In the midst of the two peoples’ fight, Yi Chenyan who was acting as Jiang Hai successively dodged Yang Anyu’s offensive strikes. Subsequently, he concentrated his movement energy, and after he gave Yang Anyu’s front and side two strikes, he flipped Yang Anyu over and restrained him.

Following the original plot, at this moment Yang Anyu will be on his knees, having been subdued by Grandmaster Jiang Hai.

However, who knew that Yang Anyu would unconsciously lift his leg and kick. Taking advantage of the time while Yi Chenyan was dodging backwards – his eyes iced over -he turned his body and lunged downwards, pressing Yi Chenyan against the ground.

“Cut!” Director Zhou shouted loudly. His eyebrows furrowed tightly. “Yang Anyu, what happened? You have to act according to the script ah!”

The author has something to say: This text has Golden Fingers* and Sue Lightning*, please endure more!

Wis.h.i.+ng everyone a merry Christmas!

*clapperboard:

*Yi… Yi Senior: I used this instead of Senior Yi because the original text had Anyu stumbling over the ‘Yi.’ Also, the incorrect word placing in ‘Yi Senior’ would further exhibit his nervousness. Readers would still be able to understand the phrase’s meaning as well, so using ‘Yi Senior’, though grammatically incorrect, would not be an obstacle to decipherability.

*supported his forehead:

*Turned to stone:

*Jiang Family: Jiang Hai’s family, not Jiang Yunxue’s.

*Golden Fingers: 金手指;

Means Golden Thumb. What is a golden thumb? A powerful tool that helps the protagonist. An example of the phrase is a book published in 2001 called ‘Golden Thumb’ or ‘金拇指’. 

The protagonist of this story is Ouyang Ningxiu. Ouyang Ningxiu was a laid-off worker and her family was poor. An accidental discovery led her to learn that one of her thumbs was ‘golden’ thumb that could understand the future market of the stock market. She uses her thumbnail to predict stock movements and become the richest woman in the world. –

*Sue Lightning: 蘇雷; Means that the protagonist is a Su, as in Mary Sue (perfect person), and heavenly lightning in will ‘unluckily’ strike down the protagonist’s enemies. Basically, the protagonist is perfect or close to it, and fortunate or unfortunate things will happen to their benefit.

T/N: If you have time, do go over to and take a second to give a rating or an honest review! It would be greatly appreciated! ^^