ATLAS TRANSLATES

Few people truly study the ancient arts nowadays. Forget about gun techniques – most can’t even handle longer weapons.

Being able to wield a long spear is considered a skill in itself.

The White Family Army was most famous for their “turn-around spear” technique. None of the actors or even the martial arts director for “Great Yong” knew how to properly execute it, unless they sought out traditional folk artists.

Poor casting choices not only disappoint viewers but also affect the overall quality of the production.

They weren’t making a web series, but a traditional drama.

They needed a Bai Xiangkun that was more historically accurate, not someone who relied entirely on stunt doubles.

Man Xi, with decent acting skills and spear proficiency, became the director’s top choice.

But unexpectedly…

Yan Lu knew the turn-around spear technique?

“Where’s the long spear?” The director was stunned for a moment before quickly instructing the crew, “Give her the spear.”

There weren’t many people left auditioning. Besides Man Xi, almost no one had specifically learned to use a long spear. The crew had already put the spears away.

They hurriedly brought a spear back.

The spear for the audition was brown, longer than what Yan Lu was used to, but lighter. She gripped the shaft, closed her eyes briefly, recalling Bai Lian’s lesson from that day.

Remembering her practice over the past twenty days.

Just from her grip, the director and everyone present felt something unusual—

The modern circular hall seemed to rapidly recede, the wooden floor gradually covered by sand, the surrounding walls transforming into a vast army, into yellow earth highlands…

Yan Lu raised her head, suddenly opening her eyes.

She held the spear with her left hand supporting it, right hand gripping it. With a flick of her wrist, she raised it up, then pressed down with her left hand to thrust the spear!

The flexible spear shaft transmitted power from the butt to the tip. Everyone could see the front half of the spear constantly vibrating!

The director and assistant director, who had the clearest view, stood up from their seats, eyes fixed on the vibrating spear. At that moment, they only saw Yan Lu and her spear.

But it wasn’t over.

Yan Lu pivoted her foot, turning her stance. Bai Lian had once said her technique wasn’t orthodox martial arts, so she could rely on skill rather than raw physical strength.

Her right hand still gripped the spear a third of the way down, left hand pressing the butt. Before the shaft’s vibrations ceased, she unified her waist and horse stance, suddenly reversing the spear to thrust backward!

Her body hadn’t fully turned, but a glint of cold light arrived first!

The spear tip’s ten-centimeter red tassel fluttered slightly with the shaft’s vibrations.

In the audition hall, there was no other sound. Only a single silhouette fell on the wall, the shadow of the long spear in hand seeming to merge with the wall, forming a picture with this part of Xiangcheng!

Yan Lu’s eyes were fixed on the red tassel. She was breathing slightly heavily, her face flushed, the intensity gradually fading from her eyes.

Slowly withdrawing the spear, she calmed herself and looked up at the director. Her red lips pressed together, her face expressionless: “I haven’t mastered it yet. This is all I can do for now.”

The director and assistant director finally came back to their senses.

If Man Xi’s performance was considered very good, Yan Lu’s turn-around spear could only be described in two words—

Absolutely stunning!

Because everyone present could think of those few lines: In youth, with bright robes and angry steeds, a heroine never yields to men—

Iron armor, long tassels, turn-around spear!

“Huh?” The director looked at Yan Lu’s expressionless face, unsure if she was being humble or joking, “You haven’t mastered it?”

This is called not mastered?

“It’s far from perfect,” Yan Lu’s goal was clear – to fully learn everything Bai Lian taught her. “Director Wan, I’ll work hard to study diligently.”

She had been practicing with the spear for twenty days, each time focusing on fixed accuracy. Though not perfect, she had gained some insights.

Every time Bai Lian made a move, it was deceptive and varied, each thrust generating wind. When exerting force, her feet were planted like pillars, combining strength and technique.

The more Yan Lu learned, the more she realized she had only scratched the surface.

Her moves were purely showy compared to Bai Lian’s. Bai Lian wouldn’t even need to move against her – the vibrating spear alone could disarm her.

Director Wan Qiushan: “…”

Wan Qiushan had directed many wuxia TV series. He had only seen this level of performance from actors with real martial arts skills. Among the younger generation, almost all were just popular stars. It was rare to see someone like Yan Lu with actual skills.

Seeing Yan Lu like this, seemingly still needing to study hard, it wasn’t—

Was she aiming to become a grandmaster?

Thinking this, Wan Qiushan composed himself. He carefully observed Yan Lu. From the moment she entered, her movements naturally carried some of the “Great Yong” style.

She wasn’t short either, at 169 cm.

Her appearance differed somewhat from historical records, but looking closely at Yan Lu’s dark eyebrows and red lips, her eye shape was closer to willow leaf eyes, with a charming and bewitching beauty.

Most importantly was her unyielding and competitive spirit.

Except for her slightly curly hair, everything else perfectly matched Wan Qiushan’s vision.

Wan Qiushan picked up Yan Lu’s profile. Number 32, Yan Lu, 23 years old, four years since debut, almost no acting experience.

“Yan Lu,” Wan Qiushan asked her a few more detailed questions, including about enduring hardships and using stunt doubles, before finally saying, “Go back and wait for news.”

He let Yan Lu leave first, without calling in the next person.

Instead, he looked at Yan Lu’s profile, then at the assistant director and producer, “What do you think?”

The assistant director looked at Yan Lu’s profile without speaking.

“In terms of the character, Yan Lu is a better fit…” The producer hesitated, “But Yan Lu has no following.”

Yan Lu was practically a complete newcomer, with some negative publicity.

Man Xi was a popular A-list actress.

The producer was practical. Without a following, who would watch the show?

“Following?” The director glanced at the producer, “But this is ‘Great Yong.’”

The producer was taken aback.

It was “Great Yong.” Every character in it – Chen Ye, Emperor Jiang Wu, Bai Xiangkun, Liang Zewen… Each of them—

Came with their own following!

**

Outside.

Yan Lu came out after twenty minutes. When she left, the director didn’t call the next person in.

As soon as she came out, the remaining people’s gazes subtly turned towards her.

Besides Man Xi, Yan Lu was the second person to audition for so long.

“How was it?” Xin Jie anxiously came forward to ask.

Yan Lu didn’t speak, only looking towards Bai Lian.

Bai Lian was leaning against the wall, lazily doing exercises on her phone. Hearing Yan Lu had come out, she casually turned her head. The mask adhered to her face, completely outlining her face shape, revealing only a pair of dark almond eyes.

She didn’t speak, just raised an eyebrow at Yan Lu, her demeanor casual and laid-back.

“It was average,” Yan Lu took off the sunglasses hanging on her shirt collar, answering the two, “Results will be out in two days.”

Bai Lian stood up straight, putting away her phone, “Let’s talk outside.”

Too many eyes and ears here.

After going out, Xin Jie pondered, “The director kept you for so long, Yan Lu. We’re not completely without hope…”

The audition location was quite remote.

Not far away, the Xiangcheng city tower had been closed to tourists and was under construction to build a large film and television base.

The asphalt road underfoot had just been renovated.

Xin Jie stepped on the road surface, only now realizing that since her first visit to Xiangcheng until now—

Xiangcheng’s dilapidated roads seemed to have all been renovated.

Not far away, a horn sounded lazily.

Xin Jie and Yan Lu instinctively looked up to see a sapphire blue car stopped across the street. The passenger window slowly lowered, revealing the man sitting inside.

His left hand rested on the steering wheel, right fingertips still on the horn. His slightly long bangs fell down, the sunlight just right, refracted to give off a cold feeling. Cold yet with a sense of casual laziness.

It was obvious his mood wasn’t good.

Yes.

Someone had said three people would be done in less than half an hour.

Now it was approaching two hours.

Even though they were just across the street, Xin Jie couldn’t bring herself to finish what she was saying.

She quickly averted her gaze.

“Do you want to come back with me?” Bai Lian gripped her phone, turning her head to ask Yan Lu.

She needed to go back to school for class, while Yan Lu would return to the Zhang house to continue practicing with the spear and wait for news.

Yan Lu answered promptly and decisively, her beautiful face expressionless, “I’ll take Xin Jie’s car home. It’s a good chance to discuss upcoming schedules.”

Bai Lian didn’t know that the seemingly cold and aloof Yan Lu was also afraid. “Alright.”

She took off her mask as she walked across the street.

Her demeanor extremely casual.

Only after that car drove away did Yan Lu and Xin Jie finally breathe a sigh of relief.

**

In the car.

Bai Lian was very earnestly explaining to Jiang Fuli, “She cut in line. Otherwise, I definitely wouldn’t have been this late.”

“You could have dragged her out.” Jiang Fuli turned a corner, frowning.

“That would have been a bit impolite.” Miss Bai raised an eyebrow, saying so.

She unhurriedly opened her English vocabulary app and began memorizing words.

Jiang Fuli glanced at her, recalling a certain surveillance video, the corner of his lips curling slightly: “That would indeed have been very impolite.”

However, regarding Bai Lian’s mention of someone cutting in line, he made a mental note to ask someone about it later.

Bai Lian was very serious about this matter with Yan Lu.

At present, it wasn’t just because Zhang Shize was temporarily away, but also because of the role Yan Lu was auditioning for. So she had rushed here without eating lunch, and seeing Yan Lu perform well put her mind at ease.

The two of them found a random restaurant near the school.

Long past lunchtime, the restaurant was nearly empty.

As the two entered through the front door, the owner looked up with a smile, about to ask “What would you like to eat?” when he was silenced by a cool glance from someone. The owner even pulled out a piece of paper to carefully wipe clean the table and chairs where the two sat.

Then he handed over the menu.

Unlike Jiang He, Jiang Fuli didn’t care where or what they ate. After all, sometimes when they were stuck in the lab for long periods, they would just eat steamed buns to get by.

Looking down at the menu, he casually ordered three dishes.

He had no preferences or favorites. Everything he chose was to Bai Lian’s taste. For Jiang Fuli, spending time on food and entertainment was a waste, but this was the first time he had tried to remember someone else’s preferences.

It was a very strange experience.

Bai Lian was looking at her phone, which showed a message from the person in charge of Dongwu—

[Are you not planning to join?]

Bai Jian: [No time (smile)]

On the other end of the phone.

The Dongwu representative looked at this witty smile—

That’s right, this must be a respected elder!

**

After eating, Bai Lian returned to school.

The lunch break was long over. During class breaks, a bunch of people were excitedly discussing something.

Since Zhang Shize left, it was the first time Class 15 had been so lively.

“Lian Jie, have you heard?” Seeing Bai Lian approach, others shared this exciting news with her, “An hotel is going to open in our Xiangcheng, did you know?”

Bai Lian was a bit confused.

She pulled out a chair and sat down.

Lu Xiaohan turned around, also extremely excited, “They’ve already started demolition, it seems. Looks like they’re really going to develop our Xiangcheng this time.”

Everyone was excited about the decision to develop Xiangcheng.

Everything was moving forward.

“That’s great.” Bai Lian said sincerely.

She seemed to have heard Xu En say there would be a press conference this weekend.

After school in the afternoon.

Bai Lian, Lu Xiaohan, Ning Xiao, Yang Lin, Wen Qi… and Tang Ming, who had somehow mixed into Class 15 from another class, all walked towards the gate together, a large and impressive group.

They attracted the gazes of countless students.

Many people came forward to greet them, some putting their arms around Wen Qi’s shoulders asking for Bai Lian’s number.

Some found Bai Lian to ask about physics problems.

Some asked Lu Xiaohan about video editing…

Except for the cold and unapproachable Ning Xiao and the silent Yang Lin.

Behind them, the once-popular group from Class 8 remained as before, with no one daring to approach.

But now it was different. Before, Class 8 had made people feel a sense of distance.

Chen Zhu, who used to be untouchable in terms of family background and grades, had now been steadily surpassed by Ning Xiao for several consecutive tests. Even Tang Ming had caught up, ranking second in this joint exam.

Chen Zhu, Ren Wanxuan, and the rest of Class 8 had lost much of their luster.

Some levels are not insurmountable after all.

“They’re about to leave,” Chen Zhu withdrew his gaze, looking at Ren Wanxuan, “Aren’t you going to talk to Bai Lian?”

Ren Wanxuan held a red invitation in her hand, looking at the group ahead, her gaze deep.

She finally called out to Bai Lian just as they were about to exit the school gates: “Wait, I have something to give you.”

She finally circled in front of Bai Lian at the school gate, examining Bai Lian for a long time with her gaze, then handed the red invitation to Bai Lian: “My grandfather told me to give this to you.”

This short sentence immediately attracted the attention of those around Bai Lian.

The gazes of Lu Xiaohan, Wen Qi, and others all fell on the invitation in Ren Wanxuan’s hand.

Bai Lian didn’t know why Ren Wanxuan had appeared before her again. She didn’t accept it, only raising her eyebrows slightly.

Ren Wanxuan pressed her lips together. Since the other party hadn’t spoken, she also became a bit impatient: “What do you want? I’ve already been punished by my grandfather for so long. There are only twenty of these invitations in all of Xiangcheng. Giving it to you is an apology. Are you still not satisfied?”

Beside her, Chen Zhu explained for Ren Wanxuan, “Bai Lian, this is an invitation to Xinda’s banquet.”

Bai Lian lazily crossed out a word, her expression unchanged. Chen Zhu immediately realized.

Right, how would an ordinary person know what Xinda is?