Chapter 58: Advance Screening
The May Day holiday in 2000 was not a popular period at all.

In late April, when "Lion Camel Ridge" was about to be screened, most theaters were deserted and not even a ghost could be seen.

But at the Huaxing Cinema in Beijing, there were crowds of luxury cars and people.

There were the main creative team, stars who came to show their support, bosses, film critics, reporters who interviewed, and lucky audiences who bought preview tickets.

The scene was noisy and joyous.

In the largest theater in the cinema, Jiang Heng led a group of leading actors including Ding Haifeng, Wu Jing, Lin Zhicong, Zang Jinsheng, Zhao Wenzhuo, Hong Jinbao, Zhu Longguang, Tao Huimin, Jiao Xinjun, etc., to go on stage according to the roles they played, first do a brief promotion, and then enter the preview session.

After the lights in the theater dimmed, the dragon logo appeared on the big screen, followed by the opening animation of iQiyi, Youku and Tencent Video, and then the main film began.

In the long shot, on the endless wasteland, an ascetic monk is walking forward with a staff in the afterglow of the setting sun. In the distance, a team of cavalry dressed in foreign costumes are roaring towards them.

Most people in the theater were stunned when watching this scene. Isn’t this a scene from "Lion Camel Ridge"?
What’s going on in this plot? Did the staff play the wrong movie?

Just when everyone was confused, a close-up of the monk appeared. It was played by Ding Haifeng. He stood on the side of the road with his brows slightly frowned and his head lowered.

Unexpectedly, when the cavalry passed by, one of the Hu people drew his sword and swung it violently, causing heads to fly and blood to spurt into the sky.

The last scene changed to a long-range shot and it was dusk, so the bloodiness was greatly reduced, but it still scared many people.

What the hell is this plot?
What’s going on? If you don’t come out and explain, we will scold you!
Fortunately, the scene changed, and Ding Haifeng suddenly sat up in the ruins of the barren mountains, with fine beads of sweat appearing on his shiny forehead.

Lin Zhicong, who plays Zhu Bajie, said, "Master, are you having a nightmare again?"

Wu Jing, who plays Wukong, gloated, "Master cultivated for ten lifetimes, and died in the first nine lifetimes. However, he awakened his wisdom and can always recall the way he died in each lifetime. What a feeling!"

"Big Brother, Master is so scared and you are still making sarcastic remarks!" The monk Sha, played by Zang Jinsheng, stood up for justice and said, "What you think about during the day, you will dream about at night. Master should let go of the cause and effect of previous lives as soon as possible!"

Tang Monk sighed, "In my first life, I was born during the Taikang period of the Jin Dynasty. When I grew up, I experienced the Rebellion of the Eight Kings. The barbarians ravaged the Central Plains and the Han people were in a miserable situation. I heard that there is Buddhism in the West that can resolve the grievances of the world and save the dead, so I thought of going west to seek it, but I didn't want to die under the sword of the barbarians."

Zhu Bajie snorted and said, "That was because he didn't meet me, Old Zhu. If he had protected Master at that time, he would have killed all the bandits!"

Tang Seng continued, "After that, I repaired the temple again, but I didn't expect that every time it was a chaotic world, the people were suffering, as if they were in a ghost cave. I wanted to go to the West and ask the Buddha. He said that all beings are equal, so why is there a distinction between the noble and the humble in the world? He said that he wanted to save all people, so why do people live such a hard and painful life!"

Sun Wukong sneered: "The Tang Dynasty is rich and stable. Why don't you be a good monk and seek justice for your past life? You also want to make us suffer. Humph!"

Tang Seng was silent, and Zhu Bajie tried to smooth things over, "Hey, aren't we also guilty? If we see the Buddha, our sins will be forgiven and we will regain our righteousness!"

Sun Wukong turned his head to look at the sky. Zhu Bajie walked over and said with a smile, "When Monkey King was the Great Sage Equaling Heaven, you were very majestic. But during the 500 years you were in the Five Elements Mountain, no one came to see you. If you can't go west, you will be a monster that people look down on for the rest of your life!"

Sun Wukong clenched his fists, his expression somewhat sinister, "There's nothing wrong with being a monster!"

Sha Monk said, "Brother, please don't say such angry words. Who would be willing to become a demon if they can achieve the right result? You should cheer up and think about how to hurry on. The closer we get to Lingshan, the more powerful the demons we will encounter!"

Tang Seng suddenly said, "Wukong, you are the most capable among us. If you really encounter difficulties that you can't overcome, please help me go to the West to ask a question!"

Sun Wukong still looked up at the sky and snorted, "Ask yourself, I won't pass on my last words!"

Then the camera turned and slowly moved to the sky, and three big words appeared on the screen - Lion Camel Ridge.

A melodious and sad soundtrack sounded. It was the song "Tomorrow" from "The Return of the Great Sage". It was so perfect with the scene of Tang Monk and his disciples trekking through mountains and rivers and going through hardships.

Everyone in the theater thought the soundtrack was amazing, but no one knew who composed the music.

Most film critics were thinking about the lines between the master and his disciples. With this change, the intention is completely different, and they are looking forward to the subsequent plot even more.

The four masters and apprentices came to a city, but saw that the city gate was bustling with people. Sun Wukong sniffed and suddenly said, "It smells a bit wrong!"

Zhu Bajie said: "Oh, maybe people in this city never take a bath, you are the only one who is suspicious!"

Tang Seng, who was riding on his horse, suddenly said, "Wukong!"

Sun Wukong had an expression of understanding, he stepped forward, and his eyes suddenly emitted two pale yellow rays of light, which swept towards the crowd at the city gate, and he found that they were all normal people!

"It's okay, Master!"

Tang Seng nodded slightly, and the master and his disciples lined up to enter the city. Above the city gate were clearly written the words "Lion Country"!

"Weren't all the people of Lion Country eaten by three monsters?"

"Yup!"

"How come there are still common people?"

"So many adaptations!" The audience in the theater kept discussing.

On the screen, there were Buddha statues everywhere in the city, and the people would put their hands together when they met.

Tang Monk, who was riding on his horse, couldn't help but say, "I didn't expect that this was a country where Buddhism flourished!"

Zhu Bajie smiled happily, "That's great, the people all believe in Buddhism, they will definitely give us vegetarian food!"

As the sun was about to set, the four masters and apprentices entered an inn in the city.

After entering the room and ordering vegetarian food, the waiter brought the food soon.

Zhu Bajie couldn't wait and picked up the bowl to eat.

At this moment, the sun had completely set, and the waiter at the stairs suddenly became ethereal.

Wukong in the room had a look of surprise on his face, sniffed, and his brows became even more furrowed.

Looking at the table, the food on the plate had turned into rotten snakes and insects, and the stench was terrible.

"Oh no, it's a ghost town!"

Zhu Bajie, who was standing aside, had already dropped his bowl and was leaning against the wall, vomiting violently.

Tang Monk, played by Ding Haifeng, had a resolute expression, but his body was still trembling slightly. "How could this be?"

Sun Wukong frowned, his expression fierce, "He is a Buddhist master who slaughtered all the people in the city. The aura of Buddhism is too strong on him, and there are many Buddha statues in the city. He can suppress the resentment during the day, and even my Fiery Eyes and Golden Pupils were fooled!"

Tang Seng was horrified, "How could the people of a city be like this?"

Sha Seng shouted, "Master, elder brother, stop talking about that, the ghosts are coming!"

He immediately opened the window, only to see countless half-virtualized evil spirits, wearing helmets and armor and holding machetes, flying towards him, just like Tiancan and Dican playing the piano in the distance in the movie "Kung Fu".

In 2000, before the release of "Kung Fu", mainland audiences had never seen such a famous scene and were all stunned.

(End of this chapter)