Half a month later, Qionzhou Film and Television Base.
The crew of 《The Hidden Sentry》 welcomed the ultimate showdown of the entire drama.
According to the plot, with the Oriole Plan's net closing in, the naturally suspicious Lu Cheng decided to personally take the top-secret list to meet with the Japanese.
As his most trusted confidant, Zhou Jinnan escorted him closely to the warehouse, preparing to drive out of the side entrance to avoid detection, while Squad Two Captain Fu Xiao led his men to clear the perimeter.
On the realistic set of the Secret Service warehouse, water dripped from the overhead pipes, and the incandescent lights flickered.
Xu Pingqiu held a megaphone and roared, shaking the heavens, “All departments, pay close attention! For this grand finale, we're doing a single-take shot!”
Action Director Old Sun handed over a sketch and gestured. “Jiang Yue, in a moment, you'll kick Fu Xiao's gun away, transition into an over-the-shoulder throw, and then draw your gun to press it against his forehead. The movements must be big to maximize the visual tension.”
Jiang Yue glanced at it and shook his head decisively.
“Brother Sun, agent combat isn't about looking good; it's about killing in one move. This routine is too flashy.”
He pointed at the sketch. “It only takes Fu Xiao 0.5 seconds to draw his gun. The windup for an over-the-shoulder throw is too long. It's enough for me to die twice.”
Old Sun was taken aback, wondering how this kid knew the killing techniques of secret agents so well.
Before he could ask further, Jiang Yue walked to the center of the set and lowered his center of gravity slightly.
“The simplest way is to take the shortest straight line.”
Jiang Yue gave a crisp, clean demonstration. “Intercept the wrist, strike the neck, seize the gun. Three steps and it's done.”
His tone was incredibly nonchalant, causing Han Song, who was listening nearby, to swallow hard.
“Wait, Brother Jiang.”
Han Song prudently changed how he addressed him, shielding his own neck. “Take it easy when we shoot later. My cervical spine isn't covered by critical illness insurance, and this wouldn't count as a workplace injury.”
Jiang Yue smiled and nodded. “Put your heart at ease, Brother Han. It's pure physical disruption. I guarantee that before your brain can even register the pain, you'll already be lying down peacefully.”
Behind the monitor, Xu Pingqiu made the final decision. “Modify it according to Jiang Yue's suggestion! We want absolute realism! Silence on set, prepare for the real take!”
The clapperboard snapped.
“Action!”
The light inside the warehouse was dim and yellow.
Two black Ford sedans were parked in the center.
Fu Xiao leaned against a car door, smoking, his black overcoat open.
Zhou Jinnan, carrying a leather suitcase containing the list, followed half a step behind Lu Cheng as they walked down the steps.
“Is the outside cleared?”
Lu Cheng stopped and asked without looking back.
Fu Xiao threw down his cigarette butt and stepped on it, crushing it.
He squinted at Zhou Jinnan, his face full of sarcasm. “Don't worry, Chief. Not even a fly can get in. Captain Zhou, you'd better hold onto that suitcase tightly today. Don't go crawling under the table again the moment you hear a little noise.”
The surrounding Squad Two agents let out a wave of suppressed laughter.
Zhou Jinnan didn't reply.
He stood in place, his head lowered, bangs obscuring his eyes.
The only sound around was the hum of the exhaust fan.
Suddenly, his fingers loosened.
Clack.
The leather suitcase slammed heavily onto the concrete floor.
The moment it hit the ground, Zhou Jinnan drew the sidearm hidden behind his waist.
“Bang! Bang!”
Two ear-splitting gunshots.
The bullets precisely pierced the foreheads of the two trusted guards standing beside Lu Cheng.
The corpses collapsed to the ground.
Fu Xiao's hand froze at his waist as he went to draw his gun, while Lu Cheng spun around rapidly.
Zhou Jinnan looked up.
His back was straight, the muscles under his suit tensed.
The greedy, hypocritical smile that usually plastered his face was completely gone.
“Zhou Jinnan! Have you turned traitor?!”
Fu Xiao roared, his right hand swiftly drawing his gun.
Zhou Jinnan didn't waste a single word.
The instant Fu Xiao's muzzle began to rise, Zhou Jinnan kicked off the ground with violent force.
His leather shoes screeched harshly against the floor as he lunged directly in front of Fu Xiao.
The distance closed instantly.
Zhou Jinnan's left hand locked onto Fu Xiao's wrist holding the gun, his thumb pressing hard against the nerve on the wrist bone.
Pain flared in Fu Xiao's wrist, causing him to lose his grip. His fingers released, and the handgun began to fall.
Immediately after, Zhou Jinnan raised his right elbow, slamming it heavily into the side of Fu Xiao's neck.
At the same time, his left hand swept down, clutching the falling gun grip mid-air.
Thud!
A dull impact echoed.
Knocked backward by the immense force, Fu Xiao crashed heavily against the Ford's door, instantly shattering the window glass into a web of cracks.
Zhou Jinnan switched the gun to his other hand and pressed the muzzle directly against Fu Xiao's chin.
The entire sequence took less than two seconds.
The surrounding Squad Two agents had only just raised their guns, completely stunned in place by the sudden turn of events.
By the time they prepared to fire, Zhou Jinnan had already seized the initiative and neutralized them.
On his end, Fu Xiao was still slumped against the car door, blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
He stared at the man in the crisp, tailored uniform before him.
He couldn't understand.
How could someone who only knew how to flatter, line his own pockets, and run away from fights possess such brutal, lethal skills?
This was a level of prowess that could only belong to someone who had undergone the most rigorous military training.
“You... have been acting this whole time...”
Fu Xiao's Adam's apple bobbed as he squeezed out the fractured words.
Zhou Jinnan looked down at him coldly.
“Fu Xiao.”
Zhou Jinnan's voice was calm. “Go down and beg Old Ghost's forgiveness.”
His index finger pulled the trigger.
Bang.
Fu Xiao's eyes lost focus. His body slid down the car door, collapsing limply onto the ground.
Inside the warehouse, Zhou Jinnan didn't spare a glance at the corpse on the ground.
He turned and pointed the muzzle at Lu Cheng, who stood several meters away.
Lu Cheng stood there all alone.
His facial muscles were locked in an unnatural rigidity, his hands gripping the hem of his overcoat tightly.
“Jinnan?”
A crack finally appeared in Lu Cheng's voice.
He looked at Fu Xiao on the ground, then back at the dark, hollow muzzle. “Do you know what you are doing?”
He refused to accept this.
This was the confidant he had personally promoted and spent three years grooming with countless efforts.
He was the most useful blade in his arsenal!
Holding the gun with one hand, Zhou Jinnan loosened his tie with his left hand, unbuttoned his tightly fastened suit jacket, and let out a long breath.
“Chief, acting in front of you every single day for the past three years has been truly exhausting.”
His tone was entirely flat, devoid of any emotion.
Lu Cheng stared intently at Zhou Jinnan, his lips trembling. “Jing'an Road... the Nanjiao Lane defense line... It was you? It was all you?”
Zhou Jinnan bent down, using his left hand to pick up the leather suitcase containing the original documents of the Oriole Plan.
He stood up straight.
“Director Lu, let's reintroduce ourselves.”
A faint, mocking smile curled the corner of Zhou Jinnan's lips.
“You've always wanted to root out all the hidden sentries.”
“I am one of them. Codename: Nightingale.”
Lu Cheng took half a step back, stumbling against the car's hood.
“Cut!”
The solemn, murderous atmosphere in the warehouse instantly dissolved.
Han Song scrambled up from the ground on all fours. Wiping the fake blood from the corner of his mouth, he gasped in pain.
“Jiang Yue! What on earth do you eat to grow up? You're so strong!”
Jiang Yue immediately shed his cold demeanor, tossed the gun to the prop team, and jogged over to help pat the dust off Han Song's clothes.
“Sorry, Brother Han. I didn't control my strength well.”
Chen Jiaming stood up straight from the hood of the car, took the thermos handed over by his assistant, and took a sip of water.
“Brother Jiang, when you revealed your identity just now, that look in your eyes made me feel like you were actually going to shoot me dead on set.”
Chen Jiaming shook his head and sighed. “Once this drama airs, your market value is going to skyrocket several times over.”
Jiang Yue laughed it off. “Now that the filming has wrapped, if any of you come to Donghai City to hang out, be sure to call me. I'll make sure there's plenty of Szechuan sliced pork to go around!”
The crowd on the set, who had been tense all day, suddenly burst into a relaxed wave of laughter.
Rate on N.U.
