Feng Mang

Chapter 6:    Such an important role!

Translator: Aafkee

Proofreader: ChaiTea

Han Dong brought Li Shang with him to his temporary residence, chatting along as they walked. “What have you acted in before?” Li Shang asked. Han Dong answered, “What have I acted in… there are too many to count. I acted as an important character in the adaptation of the ‘Journey to the West’.” Li Shang was interested in an instant, “Which important character?” Han Dong lifted his brows, “Take a guess.” Li Shang had seen that series before, but since there were more Ox-Heads and Horse-Faces* than normal human faces in that series, it was difficult for him to guess. He could not help but mutter, “Important character… It definitely can’t be the Monkey King…” (T/N: 牛头马面: They are known as the Chinese mythological guardians of the underworld.) “Although it’s not the Monkey King*, it was a character who had intimate connections to him!” (T/N: 孙悟空: Sun Wukong, the Monkey King. He is the main character of the Journey to the West.) Li Shang was surprised, “It can’t be the Six-eared Macaque, can it?” “I didn’t mean that they looked similar. I’m talking about playing opposite the Monkey King!” “You even got to play opposite him?” Li Shang tossed a gaze filled with envy towards Han Dong, “The one acting as the Monkey King was an A-Lister and you actually played opposite him? Don’t tell me you acted as the third Crown Prince of the Dragon Palace of the Eastern Sea?” Han Dong shook his head, “Guess again.” “The Ox King? Metal Lord of the West? Taishang Laojun? The Pagoda Bearing Heavenly King? Erlang Shen?* The monsters? …” In the end, Li Shang even nearly spit out ‘the Princess of Iron Fan’, but Han Dong still shook his head. (T/N: These are pretty notable characters from the Journey to the West. I will not give detailed explanations for each of those characters or it will get too long so feel free to google them if you are interested! They are 牛魔王, 太白金星, 太上老君, 托塔天王 and 二郎神 respectively.) “The characters you mentioned were all examined and approved in advance. I’m only an extra that was recruited on the spot, how could I have acted as those characters?”
Li Shang thought it through and realised that he was, indeed, right, “Then who did you act as?” “I was the extremely important soldier that came out to save the Handsome Monkey King of the Flowers and Fruit Mountain when he was in danger. Without me, he would have been finished!” “D-don’t tell me you acted as the golden cudgel?” Li Shang was stupefied. Han Dong swung his fist at him, “You’re the freaking golden cudgel, not me!” Li Shang laughed so hard that he coughed, “T-then who did you act as?” Han Dong, neither servile nor overbearing, said with a powerful voice, “I acted as Great Monkey King’s first doppelgänger that pops out when he blew out his fur*!” (T/N: One of the skills the Monkey Key has is to summon his doppelgängers by plucking fur from behind his ears and blowing them outwards with his breath.) Li Shang almost choked to death, “You call this playing opposite the Monkey King?” “How is that not considered? I do have a script, too.” “What lines did you have?” Li Shang asked. Han Dong immediately did a perfect imitation, “My King!” Li Shang wiped the cold sweat off his forehead, “What an ‘important’ role, but I don’t think the role of a monkey is suitable for you. You should have taken the role as your King’s mouth.” “What do you mean?” Han Dong cast him a sidelong glance. Li Shang smirked, “Since you can bullshit so well!” “Who was bullshitting?” Han Dong lit his cigarette unhurriedly, “You need to know your own place. We’re merely extras, even having a single line isn’t easy. How many people do you think there are who has acted in over a dozen films and yet did not have the opportunity to appear in front of the camera! I’ll show you all the scenes I was involved in when we’re back at my place. There were so many that you probably won’t even be able to watch them!” Just as Li Shang was about to open his mouth, he heard Han Dong whistle. “Hey, beautiful. Do you want a face reading? I won’t take your money, you only need to give me your phone number.” The pretty lady glared at Han Dong, “Pervert.” Han Dong continued to stare with absolutely no restraints. He only turned towards Li Shang after the lady hurried away, holding half a cigarette butt in his mouth as he tilted his head with a smirk on his face as if he was enjoying the aftertaste of seeing the pretty woman, “What a little flirt, wearing that…” Li Shang had to admit, the person who exposed Han Dong earlier was right on the bullseye!