Eunuch, do you really know these martial arts?

The fourth day since the film crew got back on track.

At six o'clock in the morning, the lights were already on in the dressing room of the film and television base.

Jiang Nian sat in front of the mirror, closed his eyes to rest, and let the makeup artist do the final makeup on his face.

Chen Xiao sat in the seat next to him, still silently memorizing his lines for the day.

"Teacher Jiang, it's done."

"The makeup artist said softly."

Jiang Nian opened her eyes. In the mirror, Lu Chenxi's gaze was calm, with the focused look characteristic of a doctor.

"Thank you."

He stood up and straightened the collar of his white coat.

Chen Xiao also stood up and took a nervous breath.

"Teacher Jiang, I'm still a little unsure about the emotional transition in today's operating room scene."

Jiang Nian picked up her script, walked over to him, and turned to a page.

"Here, Chen Yang is handling an emergency independently for the first time. Your nervousness is not out of fear, but from the weight of responsibility."

"Remember, your hands can tremble, but your eyes must not wander."

Chen Xiao listened attentively and nodded repeatedly: "I understand, thank you, Teacher Jiang."

"You're welcome. The performance itself is yours."

Jiang Nian closed the script. "Let's go, it's time to get to the film set."

The two walked out of the dressing room one after the other.

In the corridor, several staff members were setting up the lighting equipment. When they saw Jiang Nian, they all nodded respectfully and said, "Good morning, Teacher Jiang."

"Good morning," Jiang Nian replied.

The film set is already bustling with activity.

Director Zhang Yi was sitting behind the monitor, discussing something with the cameraman.

He waved to Jiang Nian when he saw him.

“Jiang Nian, you’ve come at the right time. I plan to do this surgery scene in one take today, from preoperative preparation to the end of suturing, without any breaks in between.”

Chen Xiao watched from the side, his eyes full of seriousness.

At 7:00 AM sharp, all departments were ready.

This scene is a minor climax in the play.

Lu Chenxi led a medical team to rescue a seriously injured car accident victim, and Chen Yang, as the second assistant, participated in this level of surgery for the first time.

"Attention, all departments!" the script supervisor shouted. "Scene 72, Shot 1, Lifeline, action!"

The operating lights came on.

Jiang Nian stood before the operating table, extending his hands. The nurse skillfully put sterile gloves on him. His eyes changed instantly; it wasn't the look of an actor, but the absolute focus of a surgeon facing life.

"Establish two intravenous lines and begin rapid fluid resuscitation. Prepare for open-chest surgery." Jiang Nian spoke quickly and clearly, his hands moving without the slightest hesitation.

The scalpel cutting through the skin was captured in close-up.

Chen Xiao stood opposite him. According to the script, his character should be showing a tense but restrained state at this moment.

Fine beads of sweat appeared on his forehead.

This isn't makeup; I'm genuinely nervous.

"Pinky promise," Jiang Nian said.

Chen Xiao quickly reached out, but because his movements were a little slow, he almost knocked over the equipment tray.

“Focus.”

Jiang Nian didn't even look at him, her voice turning colder, "Here, the price of a mistake is your life."

This line wasn't originally in the script; he added it on the spot.

Chen Xiao's body jolted, his eyes suddenly focused, and when he reached out again, his movements were much more steady.

Behind the monitor, Zhang Yi nodded slightly.

The surgery proceeded smoothly and methodically.

Jiang Nian's every movement was clean and efficient, as if he had actually performed hundreds of such surgeries.

Even the real surgeon who was brought in as a technical consultant couldn't help but whisper to his assistant, "Is he really trained in medicine? His technique is too professional."

The film was shot in one continuous take and lasted for eight minutes.

"Cut!" Zhang Yi stood up and clapped his hands vigorously. "Great! That's a pass!"

Applause erupted on set.

Jiang Nian took off his gloves, took the water Xiao Min handed him, and took a sip.

Chen Xiao was still standing there, somewhat dazed, clearly not yet fully out of character.

"Well done."

Jiang Nian walked over and patted him on the shoulder.

Chen Xiao snapped out of his daze, his face flushed with excitement.

"Thank you, Teacher Jiang!"

"Don't dwell on what's past," Jiang Nian interrupted him. "Remember that feeling; you'll do even better next time."

During his lunch break, Jiang Nian sat on a folding chair and ate his boxed lunch.

A phone vibrating means it's sending an encrypted message.

He glanced at it, put down his chopsticks, and said to Ah Jie, "I'm going to the restroom."

“I’ll go with you.” A-Jie immediately stood up.

"No need, it's right next to me."

Jiang Nian waved his hand and walked alone to the makeshift restroom in the corner of the film set.

He closed the door, took out his specially made phone, and unlocked the screen.

The message, from Bai Yongxu, consisted of only one line: "10 PM tonight, same place."

Jiang Nian replied: "Received."

He deleted the message, washed his hands, and left the bathroom.

The afternoon shoot was relatively relaxed, mainly consisting of several dialogue scenes.

Jiang Nian and Lin Wan's on-screen chemistry is becoming increasingly seamless, and director Zhang Yi is very satisfied with their on-screen chemistry.

"Jiang Nian, Lin Wan, you two come here for a moment."

Before wrapping up, Zhang Yi called the two of them to the monitor and played back a dialogue scene that had just been filmed.

In the scene, Lu Chenxi and Su Mian are discussing a case in the doctors' lounge, with night falling outside the window.

“Look here,” Zhang Yi paused the video, “Jiang Nian, you made a very subtle change in your gaze at this moment, from professional discussion to… how should I put it, a very faint appreciation. Lin Wan, your reaction was also spot on, that slight panic after noticing the change in the other person’s attitude.”

He looked at the two of them: "This kind of subtle interaction is the most valuable thing about this show. You two must continue to maintain it."

Lin Wan smiled a little shyly: "It's all thanks to Teacher Jiang's excellent guidance."

Jiang Nian calmly said, "You can handle it."

"Alright, let's save the mutual flattery for the victory celebration."

Zhang Yi waved with a smile, "That's all for today, everyone has worked hard."

Back at the hotel, Jiang Nian took a shower and changed into a dark tracksuit.

"Teacher Jiang, do you need me to prepare a late-night snack?" Xiaomin asked, knocking on the door.

"No need, I'm a little tired and want to rest early."

Jiang Nian's voice came from behind the door, "You should all get some rest too, don't wait for me."

"Okay, Teacher Jiang."

At 9:50 p.m., the light in Jiang Nian's room was turned off.

There were no lights in the warehouse, only moonlight shining in through the dilapidated windows, casting dappled shadows on the floor.

Jiang Nian walked into the warehouse, his footsteps echoing in the empty space.

"on time."

Bai Yongxu's voice came from the darkness.

Immediately afterwards, a portable work light turned on, illuminating a small area in the center of the warehouse.

Bai Yongxu stood there, with a young technician in casual clothes and wearing glasses beside him.

"This is Engineer Qin, who is in charge of technical support for this mission," Bai Yongxu introduced.

Qin Gong, who looked to be in his early thirties, nodded somewhat reservedly to Jiang Nian: "Hello, Consultant Jiang." "Get straight to the task." Jiang Nian stopped opposite them.

Bai Yongxu took out a tablet computer from his briefcase and pulled up a satellite image of the South China Sea.

“The plan has been slightly adjusted.” He pointed to a point marked on the map.

"The original coordinates have shifted 15 nautical miles to the east. There is an underwater canyon here with more complex hydrological conditions, which can provide better concealment."

Jiang Nian leaned closer to take a look: "Depth?"

"The average depth is 920 meters, and the deepest point is 1,100 meters."

Engineer Qin chimed in, "This depth is the limit for conventional submarines, but it's no problem for our improved 'Jiaolong'."

"Where is the signal transmitting device?" Jiang Nian asked.

Qin took out a black device, about the size of a laptop and ten centimeters thick, from the metal box at his feet.

The casing is made of matte material and has no markings on the surface, only a few simple interfaces and status indicator lights.

Engineer Qin explained the operating procedures in detail.

Jiang Nian listened attentively, occasionally asking one or two key questions.

"Regarding safety," Bai Yongxu added after Qin finished speaking, "we will have one Jiaolong vessel on standby at a depth of 500 meters, and another maneuvering at a depth of 300 meters. After you complete your mission, you must return to the rendezvous cabin within 30 seconds and then ascend at full speed."

"What is the estimated reaction time of the enemy's defense system?" Jiang Nian asked.

"According to the final data analysis of Ghost 3, it takes at least eight seconds from detection to locking and then activating that blue light field."

Engineer Qin pushed up his glasses. "But that's for units that break into the core area."

“You’re just sending signals at the edge, it could be slower, it could be faster. So we’ve prepared for the worst.”

He took out another palm-sized silver disc from the box.

"This is an emergency jammer. If things go wrong, press this button and it will instantly release a full-band interference pulse, which can buy you three to five seconds."

Jiang Nian took the plate, weighed it in her hand; it was very light. "What's the price?"

"It will burn out its own circuitry."

Qin Gong paused for a moment, then said, "It will produce extremely strong electromagnetic radiation, which will have a brief impact on the wearer's nervous system."

“We have tested it, and given your physical condition, it may cause one to two seconds of confusion.”

"Understood." Jiang Nian put the disc away.

Bai Yongxu glanced at his watch: "It's 10:40 now. You need to be back at the hotel before 4:00 AM."

"The submarine is in position at Pier 7 in South Harbor, disguised as the oceanographic research vessel Explorer."

"Once you arrive, find the captain. The code is that Old Zhang asked me to come and collect water samples from the South China Sea."

"Understood." Jiang Nian nodded.

"and this."

Bai Yongxu handed over a small earpiece communicator.

"The encrypted channel will remain open up to 300 meters underwater. We will monitor the entire process, and if any anomalies are detected, I will immediately order the mission to be terminated."

Jiang Nian took the communicator and put it in his ear. It was so well-made that it was almost impossible to tell anything was wrong with it.

"The mission will take place at 2 PM tomorrow."

Bai Yongxu finally confirmed, "At that time, the ocean current direction in the target area is most suitable for beacon diving. You need to dive to the predetermined depth before 1:30."

“I will be on time,” Jiang Nian said.

"Be careful." Bai Yongxu patted his shoulder heavily.

Leaving the warehouse, Jiang Nian didn't return the way he came. Instead, he took a long detour and climbed over the fence on the other side of the film and television base. He landed silently, like a leaf.

At 3:50 a.m., he returned to his hotel room.

The lights in Xiaomin and Ajie's rooms were off, and the entire floor was silent.

Jiang Nian took off his coat, went into the bathroom, and turned on the tap. As the hot water washed over his body, he closed his eyes and mentally reviewed the mission process over and over again.

Every detail must be perfect.

The internal energy flowed slowly through the meridians, repairing the minor fatigue from filming during the day and adjusting the body's condition.

At five o'clock in the morning, before dawn, Jiang Nian woke up on time.

He changed his clothes and left the room.

The corridor was quiet, with only the cleaners pushing their carts and working in the distance.

When we arrived at the hotel restaurant, several members of the film crew were already having breakfast.

Everyone greeted him upon seeing him: "Good morning, Teacher Jiang."

"Good morning." Jiang Nian took a bowl of porridge and a few steamed buns, and found a seat by the window.

After taking a few bites, Lin Wan came over with her tray and asked, "Teacher Jiang, may I sit here?"

"Please take a seat."

Lin Wan sat down opposite him, taking small sips of soy milk: "Teacher Jiang, you look great today."

"You slept well," Jiang Nian said.

"I'm a little nervous today," Lin Wan confessed. "I just couldn't get into the feeling for that crying scene this afternoon."

Jiang Nian thought for a moment: "Try not to think about acting out crying scenes. Think about why Su Mian is crying. It's not for any specific person, but for all the patients she couldn't save. That accumulated sense of powerlessness."

Lin Wan seemed to be deep in thought.

"Doctors are not gods, but doctors must face the realm of gods."

Jiang Nian put down her chopsticks. "This kind of conflict is a tragedy in itself."

"I seem to understand."

Lin Wan's eyes lit up. "Thank you, Teacher Jiang!"

"You're welcome."

After breakfast, the two walked together to the film set.

The scenes this morning were relatively light, mainly consisting of Jiang Nian and a few supporting characters' daily life scenes.

The filming went smoothly, and we wrapped up at 11 o'clock.

"Attention everyone!" Director Zhang Yi shouted through a megaphone, "Filming starts at 2 PM!"

"Understood, Director!" Lin Wan replied.

Jiang Nian returned to her hotel room and closed the door.

He changed into a dark gray tracksuit and checked his belongings.

Specialized mobile phones, encrypted communicators, emergency jammers... are all placed in concealed locations.

At 11:30, he went out and said to Ah Jie, who was waiting outside.

“I go to the gym, for about an hour and a half.”

"Do you need me to accompany you?" A-Jie asked.

"No need, you and Xiaomin can rest." Jiang Nian waved his hand and walked towards the elevator.

The hotel gym is on the fourth floor, and it wasn't crowded at this time.

Jiang Nian got on the treadmill, set it to a medium speed, and started jogging.

A faint static sound came from the communicator in his ear, followed by Bai Yongxu's voice: "Test, please respond if you hear me."

Jiang Nian didn't move his lips, but used the slight vibration of his throat muscles to speak: "Received, clear."

"Very good. The submarine is in position, everything is normal. What about you?"

"No problem, we'll depart in an hour."

"Stay connected."

Communications cut off.

Jiang Nian ran for forty minutes and then did several sets of strength training.

At 12:30, he took a shower, changed back into his original clothes, and left the gym.

I hailed a taxi at the hotel entrance: "To Nangang Wharf."

The driver, a middle-aged man, glanced at him in the rearview mirror and said, "Going to the dock at this hour? The ships have all gone out to sea by now."

"I have an appointment to discuss some business," Jiang Nian replied simply.

The car drove out of the city and along the coastal highway. At 1:10, we arrived at South Harbor Pier No. 7.

The dock is very large, with all kinds of ships moored there.

Jiang Nian paid the fare, got out of the car, and walked towards the parking area.

Soon, he spotted the Explorer. (End of Chapter)