Tomb Raiding: The Bloodline of Dragons and Snakes, Starting from the Kunlun Divine Palace

"Don't worry, I've already seen the people you mentioned in the surveillance footage and printed out their photos. I've instructed our security guards to be on high alert and absolutely not allow them to enter." Yin Jiangxue was already very dissatisfied; the restaurant was having an event today, and someone actually dared to start a fight in their parking lot.

If I had another chance, I would make sure they never came back!

"That's good. Ji Wen and Big Gold Tooth, you two go and arrange the private banquet for tonight. I'll go back to my room to rest for a while. If Uncle Ming arrives, arrange for him to have a good rest in a VIP room," Wu Yufeng instructed.

“Okay, I understand.” Long Jiwen and Big Gold Tooth nodded together.

Chapter 24: Haitang catches Uncle Ming and holds a gun to his head.

It was 7:30 p.m. that day.

Kowloon Hall, third floor of the Crescent Hotel.

This is a luxurious private room with a dining table nearly three meters in diameter and more than twenty seats.

Because the desktop is too large, a special rotating circular desktop was designed to hold the food.

This table is definitely made to match the presidential banquet table at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

The wood used is even more high-end, made of rosewood from northern Myanmar. The calligraphy and paintings hanging on the surrounding walls are all genuine works by Ming Dynasty calligraphers, and the ornaments next to them are blue and white porcelain used in the Ming and Qing imperial palaces.

It could be configured to be a level higher than the current state banquet hall of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.

Next to the banquet hall is a reception room, separated by a screen, which facilitates meetings and business discussions.

It also makes it convenient for dedicated waiters and bodyguards to be on standby here at any time.

Many important business deals can be discussed at the table and then formally signed here.

Uncle Ming attended as a co-producer and sat to Wu Yutian's left, while A Dong stood in the reception room waiting.

Because Jet Li had already returned to the sports school to rest, Haitang, as the mainstay of the artists attending today's meeting, arrived early. She immediately recognized Uncle Ming.

"Uncle Ming! I didn't expect to run into you here!" Haitang said, reaching for her gun.

She had a small women's pistol strapped to her leg; it wasn't very powerful, but it was enough to kill someone in the head at close range.

"Don't move!" Haitang felt a cold gun barrel pressed against the back of her head.

"Put down your gun!" Adong shouted sternly from behind him.

"Oh dear, what's going on here!" Song Shiren, who had just walked into the private room hand in hand with Yang Qian'er, was startled by the scene. "What kind of film crew is this?! Michel, let's not film anymore!"

Song Shiren called Yang Qian'er by her English nickname, and seeing this scene, he couldn't help but tremble.

"I told you before that's how the film and television industry is," Yang Qian'er said, unfazed. "They're not pointing a gun at you, so what's there to be afraid of? If they kill one of them, wouldn't I be able to get the lead role?"

"Yes!" Song Shiren exclaimed. Hearing that there was profit to be made, the businessman's courage grew considerably. "We also have bodyguard A-Zheng!"

"Mr. Song, don't be afraid, I will protect you." Xu Zhengyang stood up in front of the two men and gripped two throwing knives, ready to subdue them at any moment.

"Mr. Wu, I think I should leave first." Uncle Ming felt guilty upon seeing Haitang and got up to leave. "Adong, you just need to control this crazy woman. There's no need to hurt her."

Uncle Ming got up to leave, but Wu Yutian grabbed him.

“You are all my guests, how can you leave now?”

"Could this be a trap you all set together?" Uncle Ming secretly groaned. If Wu Yutian and Haitang were on the same side, then he, with only A Dong as his subordinate, would probably never be able to leave this room.

"No, I did sincerely invite you both to attend. It's purely by chance that you two met here today." Wu Yufeng patted the seat next to him. "Come, sit down."

"Let me introduce you two. This is our co-producer, Uncle Ming, Lei Xianming. Uncle Ming has a lot of experience in outdoor adventure, so I invited him to be the co-producer."

"Hehe, outdoor adventure?" Haitang put away her gun and sat down next to Wu Yufeng. "I bet you're very experienced in outdoor running around."

"You owe the Donghu Gang five million, including principal and interest. When do you plan to pay it back?"

Uncle Ming knew he was in the wrong and remained silent. He waved for A Dong to leave, then clasped his hands together in a devout manner. "Haitang, Uncle Ming watched you grow up. Do you think I'm the kind of person who doesn't keep my word? I just cut off contact with the outside world because I was heartbroken over my mother's death."

"My mother's last wish before she passed away was that I bring my father's body back to be buried with her, otherwise she would not be able to rest in peace!"

As he spoke, Uncle Ming looked heartbroken, as if he was about to shed tears. He then said in a sobbing voice, "But my father is said to have died in a dangerous glacier while exploring the Kunlun Mountains. This place only reappears in winter. Reaching there and finding my father's body will require a lot of manpower and resources. I had no choice but to bring the last of my funds to do this first."

"Once my parents are buried together, fulfilling their long-cherished wish, I will naturally come looking for you. I will repay you whatever amount you have then. If you still owe me, you may kill me or torture me, it is all up to you!"

Haitang considers herself to be one of the best actresses, but even she can't do a good crying scene in one take. When Uncle Ming speaks so emotionally and without any flaws, she begins to believe him to some extent.

Moreover, Haitang herself is a filial daughter. When she heard that Uncle Ming had hidden his whereabouts so that his parents could be buried together, she felt a bit sorry for him.

"You can just tell us about this. I'm not a gangster. I'll naturally tell my family to give you more time."

“Miss Haitang, you are not, but your father’s other men are all ruthless!” At this point, Uncle Ming couldn’t help but shudder.

“Alright, since we’ve come this far, let’s put this aside for now,” Wu Yufeng said, mediating between the two. “I’ll act as guarantor. If Uncle Ming defaults on his debts and runs away, your Donghu Gang can come to me for help.”

“But, Mr. Wu, it’s not appropriate for you to take the blame for him. What if he really runs away again? It’s fine for me, but the gang will definitely come after you.” Haitang was afraid of implicating Wu Yutian. She finally had such a talented screenwriter and producer who appreciated her, and she didn’t want to become his enemy because of this.

"Don't worry, he can't run away. I believe Uncle Ming is capable of making enough money to turn things around. Otherwise, A-Dong wouldn't be so devoted to him, right?"

Wu Yufeng glanced at A Dong, and Haitang looked in the direction of the voice. Indeed, someone with A Dong's physique and skills was clearly a specially trained special forces soldier. If the boss didn't have some strength, he wouldn't have run away with him.

"Alright, let's talk about the movie first. I was wrong earlier, and I apologize!" Haitang gestured for Yang Qian'er and the others to come and sit down.

Chapter 25: Li Xiangqin and A Xing Recommend Themselves

Yang Qian'er and her boyfriend Song Shiren took their seats together. Xu Zhengyang stood in the reception room acting as their bodyguard.

Before long, the other guests arrived as well.

Jiang Tiansheng sat with Da Fangting, Chen Haonan sat with Xiao Jieba, and Shanji stood in the reception room as a bodyguard.

Ding Xiaoxie and Xiao Fangting took their seats together, and a burly bodyguard stood guard in the reception room.

Fang Zhanbo, acting as the agent, brought Xiao Youzi into the venue.

Big Gold Tooth brought Gong Li into the venue. Although Gong Li had not yet signed a full-contract artist agreement with Wu Yutian, they already had a long-term cooperation intention. Wu Yutian promised to help her pass the entrance exam for the Central Academy of Drama and to sponsor her university studies. She also promised that as long as she was admitted to the Central Academy of Drama, she would be willing to sign a five-year full-contract artist agreement with Wu Yutian.

In reality, university studies last for four years, so a five-year contract isn't considered long.

"Ji Wen, check if everyone on the invitation list has arrived?" Wu Yufeng beckoned.

"Yes, Mr. Wu, everyone is here." Long Jiwen had been greeting guests at the door, and no one else was entering.

“Then have Boss Yin arrange for the food to be served. The brothers over there don’t all need to stand. Add a table for them in the reception room so they can eat together.” Wu Yutian looked at the tense atmosphere that had just been there, with the bodyguards wary of each other. He needed to ease the tension. “Once you’re inside this door, you’re all part of the crew. I don’t want to see anyone pointing a gun at their own people on set again.”

"Okay, I'll arrange for the dishes to be served." Long Jiwen greeted the restaurant staff and told them to start serving the dishes.

"Ji Wen, come sit down too, there's still a seat here." Wu Yutian looked around and saw that there was an empty seat next to Xiao Youyi. After Long Jiwen finished arranging the food to be served, he sat down.

Wu Yutian looked around.

Count clockwise to your left.

In order: himself, Uncle Ming;

Da Fangting, Jiang Tiansheng, Xiao Jieba, Chen Haonan;

Gong Li, Big Gold Tooth;

Hu Bayi, Shirley Yang, and Fatty Wang;

Long Jiwen, Fang Zhanbo, and Xiao Youyi;

Xiao Fangting and Ding Xiaoxie;

Yang Qian'er, Song Shiren;

Begonia.

19 people in total.

I and Uncle Ming, as producers, sat in the seats of honor.

Roughly speaking, the main actors are close to the producer, while the supporting actors and other staff are at a distance.

This mainly involves the lead actor representing their side in negotiations.

Shirley Yang, Fatty Wang, and Hu Bayi, this iron triangle, attended as stage managers.

"There's one extra seat, let's move it out first." Wu Yutian had originally prepared twenty seats in this room.

Originally, a seat was reserved for Xu Zhengyang as well, but seeing how affectionate Song Shiren and Yang Qian'er were, it would probably be a bit awkward for Xu Zhengyang to sit with them at this time, so he was left at another table.

"Wait, may I recommend myself?" A familiar voice rang out, sounding like Tang Sanzang from "A Chinese Odyssey".

A middle-aged bald man barged in.

"I'm sorry, sir, you are not allowed to enter without an invitation," Long Jiwen said kindly as he stood up.

"No!" the newcomer declared righteously, raising his hand. "You not only need me, you also need my team!"

He was followed by two men and one woman.

"Oh, tell me, why do we need you?" Wu Yutian gestured for him to have a chance.

This person looks exactly like Luo Jiaying, but I don't know which drama she came from.

However, the young man behind him who looked remarkably like Stephen Chow and was dressed as a butcher was deeply etched in everyone's minds.

"It's a long story..." The bald man, who looked very much like Luo Jiaying, began to speak in a Peking Opera style.

"Alright, let me speak." A neatly dressed woman with short, ear-length hair handed over her business card. "My name is Li Xiangqin. I've worked as a production manager on several film crews in the South. I can help provide everyone with the most comfortable accommodation and dining environment, and coordinate all kinds of necessary living supplies. These three are my usual catering team."

"This is Da Vinci, the food purchasing manager. This is our head chef, the pork prince Ling Lingqi. And this one, who's a bit less handsome, is Iron-Legs Water-Walking, who can run errands and deliver goods for everyone."

Li Xiangqin reported everyone's identity and special skills clearly, as if reporting to a superior.

It's obvious they've received professional training.