In the 1960s, Hark Tsui watched the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story" directed by Li Hanxiang. Twenty years later, Hark Tsui asked Shaw Brothers to borrow Li Hanxiang's version of the movie "A Chinese Ghost Story" and found that there was still a lot of room for him to explore. He found the martial arts instructor Siu-Tung Ching he knew when he directed the drama "The Love of the Golden Sword" in his early years, and said to him: "The current movies do not show romantic dramas between men and women. Let's make a love story."
But the boss did not support it at first. Hark Tsui said to him: "This is not a question of costumes, but a question of mentality. Now people need something romantic and emotional. I think Liao Zhai is a story that can be used well." So Hark Tsui and Siu-Tung Ching freely adapted the story of "Liao Zhai·Nie Xiaoqian", and got inspiration from "Ghost Playing Man" to create the role of tree demon.
