Despise the enemy strategically, but take the enemy seriously tactically.
Although Lu Chen had immense confidence in *A Chinese Ghost Story*, which he directed himself, he would never underestimate any opponent on that account—especially a fiercely competitive, same-genre film like *Painted Skin*.
*Painted Skin* was a blockbuster backed by Huaguan Pictures for their entry into the Hong Kong market. Adapted from *Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio*, the film openly claimed a total investment exceeding one hundred million, featuring a powerhouse cast that brought together a large number of top-tier stars from across the mainland, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. Word had it that its post-production visual effects had been contracted to New Vision Visual Effects in Hong Kong.
Chapter 510