The taut and bloody atmosphere slowly spread through the air, the intense shifts between offense and defense too swift for the eye to follow. This was no longer a mere performance; it was an authentic one-on-one confrontation. As if two individuals stood on a boxing ring, they ignited their lives in battle. The slightest lapse could result in being pinned down, leading to a complete defeat.
With a slight imbalance in his stance, Renly was sent sprawling to the ground.
Gal averted her gaze with a heart full of reluctance. In the dim light, the dancing dust stirred a parching dryness in her throat. The surging wave of hormones was so intense that breathing became difficult, and her chest held a breath in a stifling grip, searingly hot. She could almost envision Renly losing his advantage after falling. Just one swift step from Vin, and he could press Renly to the ground, fighting until he spat blood. It was a sight too painful to behold.
Yet, unexpectedly, Renly regained his footing without using his hands, relying solely on the power of his waist and abdomen. With a vigorous movement, he propelled himself upward like a carp breaking the surface of water. Before breaths could be swapped, equilibrium was restored. The ever-changing brutality in that instant seemed to set the air ablaze with sparks.
Knowing he couldn't give Vin a moment to catch his breath, Renly supported himself on his right foot and thrust forward with all his might. He soared into the air, his clenched right fist descending from above, a forceful dive that shattered the sound barrier. It landed accurately and mercilessly on Vin's neck and shoulder, a blow with the weight of a thousand pounds, sending Vin hurtling through the air. He crashed forcefully into the wall, emitting a painful grunt.
However, Vin wasn't about to surrender. Before he could even register his own reaction, heedless of Renly's response time, he reflexively swung his fist.
Renly, having seized the advantage, deftly evaded Vin's punch, exerted force with his legs, and rocketed forward like a bullet. His shoulder rammed heavily into Vin's waist, but instead of punching directly, he used his shoulder to lift Vin off the ground. Vin's awkward, heavy body pressed down hard on Renly's shoulder, his chest on the verge of rupturing. Renly had to clench his teeth, hold his breath completely, push with his heels and his core, lifting Vin and harnessing the momentum to toss him away.
"Clatter!"
Vin crashed directly into the nearby glass window, landing amidst a flurry of glass shards. Even someone as strong-willed as he couldn't help emitting a short, agonized cry. Every muscle in his body seemed to protest, and the searing breaths churned through his lungs, leaving him gasping for air.
Observing Vin lying amidst the glass shards, Renly knew this was a perfect opportunity. Earlier, Renly had been on the ground, but Vin had missed his chance to attack, allowing Renly to find an opening for a comeback. However, he wouldn't let this chance slip away now.
Raising his fist, Renly prepared to leap over the windowsill and continue his assault. Yet, at that moment, Justin's hoarse, strained shout reached his ears, "Cut-Cut!"
Renly's footsteps faltered briefly, his boiling brain cooling slightly. Then, he saw Justin rush forward in long strides, positioning himself between Renly and Vin. In the mere span of two breaths, Vin had already risen again, his gaze fierce and venomous on Renly, akin to an injured wolf king, his crimson eyes exuding madness.
However, neither of them moved forward once more.
Justin glanced at Renly, then at Vin. He had wanted to reprimand them fiercely, yet upon reflection, he was at a loss as to how to begin. Vin had initially exerted more force, but Renly had swiftly matched him blow for blow—neither was yielding.
Inexplicable, wasn't it?
Amid a straightforward face-off devoid of any tricks, Renly withstood Vin's onslaught, even retaliating, once again!
Though utterly overpowered in the realm of raw strength, Renly was being firmly suppressed. However, when it came to strategic acumen, he utterly outclassed Vin. Be it in the execution of moves or the timing of evasions, Renly had pushed his advantages to their limits.
What was initially believed to be a one-sided slaughter had evolved into a standoff. This was precisely the scenario "Fast 5" aimed to depict—a desirable turn of events indeed.
But, when enemies met, envy flared. Both had managed to kindle a trace of fervor. It was evident that both had sustained injuries. Yet, these were merely surface-level observations; the extent of internal damage remained hidden. This complicated matters.
All words caught in their throats, Justin hesitated momentarily. The discouraging words never left his lips; he merely raised his voice and suggested, "Change the angle and proceed with the subsequent shoot." Thus, the ongoing filming was suspended.
Renly and Vin still stood poised for action, their fists unlowered. The tense air between them lingered. Justin felt as if he were suffocating, unable to move. He stared in terror at the two combatants, swallowed a mouthful of saliva, and wiped his brow over his recklessness. What if he ended up as collateral damage?
After a brief pause, Renly was the first to gradually ease his stance. Yet, his gaze remained fixed on Vin, unwaveringly vigilant. Subsequently, Vin also straightened his body, relinquishing his tension, though his muscular contours remained taut.
Turning his head, Justin's gaze fell upon the blood on Renly's cheek—real blood. Just earlier, Vin had delivered a brutal punch to Renly's cheekbone, causing blood to spatter. The sight was truly alarming. Even now, the blood from the wound was still slowly trickling, disconcerting to behold. If Renly's visage were marred in this way, the consequences would indeed be... Just contemplating this sent a shiver down Justin's spine.
"Renly, are you alright?" Justin asked with concern.
In response came a dismissive "Tch," but not from Renly. Turning his head, Justin could see the contemptuous gaze from Vin. Vin spat to the side, thick with blood, his gaze unwavering and unyielding, assessing Renly from head to toe.
However, Renly remained indifferent. Lifting his left hand, he gently wiped away the blood that had slid down his cheek. His gaze remained locked onto Vin, his scorching eyes exuding a faint scent of blood, brimming with a dangerous allure that sent shivers down one's spine.
The tension was palpable, and then, a crowd swarmed between the two—Renly's team, Vin's team, crew members... A bustling throng effectively separated the two combatants.
The mixed crowd interrupted their visual exchange. Neither said much, retracting their gazes and moving in different directions, briskly departing.
Renly took a seat nearby. Nathan, who stood dumbfounded at the side, finally regained his senses. He hurried over, glancing at the blood on Renly's face. "...Renly, are you alright?" As the words left his mouth, Nathan realized his voice was trembling slightly.
Vin Diesel, currently the leading figure among the young generation of action actors in the industry, had gained widespread recognition for his prowess. He embodied the archetype of a power-based action star. Besides Dwayne Johnson, no one could easily gain an advantage against Vin in a head-to-head encounter—it was truly an arduous task.
Renly knew that in a direct confrontation, he was far from being Vin's equal, whether it was in terms of strength or agility. However, he also understood that if he allowed himself to be suppressed, Vin would not only refrain from relenting but would also exploit the situation. Vin hadn't forgotten about the incident surrounding "Buried"—he held grudges.
This situation was a dead-end loop without a solution. The only way to respond was to break through head-on. Vin was obstinate in nature. Only by withstanding his storm-like attacks could Renly compel him to back off. Whether it was for "Fast 5" or for his own sake, Renly needed to launch a resolute counterattack.
Renly's sole advantage lay in his agility and adaptability.
Vin adhered to traditional American action actor methods, using fewer martial techniques and opting for straightforward approaches. When facing China's top martial arts stars, Vin would undoubtedly be outmatched—herein lay Renly's solitary opportunity. He could predict Vin's patterns, essentially a few combinations of punches. In a contest between Vin and Dwayne, it would be punches clashing against punches. However, Renly could shatter those patterns, fight fire with fire, and seize the upper hand in the confrontation.
Judging from the previous shooting, Renly had succeeded.
"I'm fine," Renly waved his hand, still catching his breath. Vin's punches were truly heavy; each blow pressed into his muscles, even his internal organs felt a dull ache. Every inch of his body throbbed with pain, making it hard for him to concentrate.
A fist-sized ice pack came into view within his line of sight. Renly furrowed his brow and lifted his head. He saw Nathan's face brimming with concern and the makeup artist standing nearby, appearing troubled. Paul's voice echoed in his ears, "Renly, to ensure continuity for the next scene, it's best if you apply some ice and touch up your makeup."
This time, Renly didn't refuse. He accepted the ice pack, placing it against his wound. The freezing sensation immediately caused his face to burn. Renly involuntarily clenched his teeth, exhaled deeply, and the boiling blood finally subsided slightly. Sensing Nathan's worried gaze, Renly lowered his eyelids and jokingly remarked, "It's nothing. Just a scraped bit of skin. The wound looks scarier than it actually is. It'll be fine in a day or two."
Renly hadn't seen the wound, but he felt it. His facial muscles were fine; Vin probably hadn't anticipated that his punch would actually hit home. The precision of his strength had faltered, resulting in a friction wound.
"Compared to a rock, it's manageable," Renly applied the ice pack, deadpan.
"Chortle," Paul couldn't hold back, bursting into laughter. "Rock" was Dwayne Johnson's nickname "The Rock". Renly's words on the surface meant that he'd merely been struck by a fist, not a stone, so the extent of damage wasn't that severe. However, the underlying implication invited contemplation—was he suggesting that Vin wasn't on par with Dwayne?
Gal and the others soon grasped the situation. Observing Renly's bedraggled appearance while still maintaining a sense of humor left them both amused and exasperated. Nathan crouched stupefied in his spot, nearly breaking into tears.