Chapter 40 

Jiang Zhen sat tensely across from Shengquan.

Even though he had asked this when answering the phone, he couldn’t help but ask again now:

“Are you looking for me to act, not to be a fight choreographer?”

Shengquan handed him a script excerpt. “Of course, to act. Aren’t you an actor?”

Jiang Zhen wasn’t actually familiar to Shengquan.

In the novel, he appears at a funeral—the modern era’s most outstanding martial arts star passed away. When Yuan He attended the funeral, he couldn’t help but lament that good people don’t live long.

It was indeed the case. Jiang Zhen became famous at the age of forty-seven and died at forty-nine, like a brilliant but fleeting firework.

The audition began, and even the inexperienced Shengquan could see that Jiang Zhen was indeed a person with great on-screen charisma.

It was evident that he had been practicing regularly, as someone who hadn’t acted for nearly twenty years couldn’t get into character so quickly.

Of course, Shengquan wasn’t the only one watching Jiang Zhen’s audition. The casting directors sat beside her, and as soon as Jiang Zhen immersed himself in the role, their expressions subtly changed.

The character he was auditioning for was Daoist Xingyun, a Daoist who entered the path without cultivating true essence.

Entering the path without cultivating true essence meant having no spiritual energy but possessing excellent combat skills.

The character needed to dominate even in the face of overpowered cultivators. A mortal body yet capable of competing with cultivators.

No spiritual energy meant no special effects, and all the moves had to be something a mortal could execute. But they also had to be powerful enough to surpass spells. The crucial point was that, for a better presentation, this character wouldn’t have any special effects; it all depended on the actor’s performance.

Upon receiving the actor requirements, the casting directors almost couldn’t resist going to the screenwriter to complain, “We’re making a movie, not an anime! How am I supposed to find someone with these requirements?”

The screenwriter had a good temper but was unwilling to change the setting. “This character is charming and drives most of the plot. For this soulful role, anyone who plays it well will be popular.”

The casting director said, “…”

Yes, whoever plays it well will be popular, but that also requires someone who can play it.

He once swore to the screenwriter, claiming that it was impossible to find an actor suitable for Daoist Xingyun. He even suggested bringing in a foreign actor, dying his hair black, and making him wear colored contact lenses.

Now, watching Jiang Zhen make sonic booms with his punches, the casting director silently abandoned his oath.

Shengquan was truly amazing. She managed to find an actor like this.

The role that had tormented the casting director for so long finally had a suitable candidate. The casting director was both happy and excited, wanting to praise Shengquan a hundred times on the spot.

Considered formidable, Shengquan was deeply engrossed in watching.

Jiang Zhen wore ordinary clothes—a long shirt and pants. He rolled up the sleeves, revealing his wheat-colored, strong muscles. Sweating lightly, as if he had applied highlighter to his wheat-colored skin, especially during intense movements, the muscles between his waist and abdomen were tantalizingly visible. The belt was a rare cloth belt, thin but outlining tight curves.

Although he had a standard broad-shouldered, narrow-waisted, long-legged physique and didn’t possess an extremely robust appearance, once he started performing, he seemed fierce and almost capable of barehandedly beating a cow to death.

His gaze was wild and fierce, perfectly fitting the image of Daoist Xingyun.

Shengquan had never appreciated this type before, especially in her past life, but after watching just one scene, she was so excited that she wished Jiang Zhen could perform eighty scenes right there.

Too handsome, too good-looking.

No wonder wild male leads in novels were so popular. Indeed, he exuded a savory wildness.

Tonight, she would find some novels with similar characters to binge-read!

When Jiang Zhen stopped, applause erupted. He still had a faint warmth about him, and when he looked up, he saw the beautiful girl sitting at the front, her eyes filled with admiration.

She even decisively declared, “Well played! The role is yours.”

So… simple?

In Jiang Zhen’s sharp and deep eyes, there was a rare moment of surprise. It felt like a pie had fallen from the sky. Due to his past experiences, his first reaction was caution and hesitation.

However, when the tall man circled him and scrutinized him seriously, Jiang Zhen, feeling uncomfortable, held his breath and relaxed the tense muscles.

She looked very young. He didn’t want to frighten her.

With his rough and low voice that was slightly hoarse due to recent activity, Jiang Zhen answered, “I can accept it. Can I see the contract?”

His slightly hoarse voice made him sound even more attractive and charming.

Shengquan cleared her throat. “You’ve maintained your physique well. After joining the crew, you’ll need to continue maintaining it. We’ll arrange a nutritionist and various coaches for you. You have to follow the crew’s arrangements for eating and drinking. Can you accept that?”

Although Jiang Zhen had always felt that big pies didn’t fall from the sky, facing the friendly and clearly appreciative Shengquan, he nodded.

Because of his recent activity, his voice was slightly hoarse, adding to the allure as he replied, “I can accept it. Can I take a look at the contract?”

She thought, Oh, his voice being a bit husky makes it even more attractive and charming.

Shengquan coughed and said, “We’ll sign him! We must sign him!”

If Shengquan’s previous intention to finalize Jiang Zhen was because of the ending in the book, after witnessing his strength firsthand, she suddenly felt that the decline of martial arts actors was truly a degradation of aesthetic taste for the audience.

Shengquan not only signed Jiang Zhen but also, after discussing with the screenwriter and Xu Man, decided to change the entire Daoist sect where Daoist Xingyun belonged to this “Overcoming Ten with One Power” style while the plot hadn’t started filming yet.

So, this day became the most memorable day for many martial arts actors who either had to switch careers or struggled to get by.

In a small rental house, forty-year-old Ai Xiao finished a day of work, pushed open the door, and saw herself in the dressing mirror at the entrance. Observing the muscles that slightly tensed with a bit of effort, she bitterly smiled and threw her clothes onto the mirror.

Decades of diligent learning and training ultimately led to her being eliminated.

While planning to fix something to eat for herself, Ai Xiao’s phone suddenly rang. Weary, she answered, but upon hearing the voice on the other end, she turned around in disbelief.

“Audition for me? Is it for ‘Cultivator’?”

Qin Kai, currently shooting night scenes on set, also answered the call, “Audition for ‘Cultivator’? Audition for a martial arts actor? Alright, alright, I’ll be there on time.”

In a typical three-person family, Zhao Xuehan hung up the phone, excitedly went back to the room, and gave a peck on the cheek of her daughter, who was sleeping soundly. Her husband, half-awake, asked, “What’s wrong?”

“They’re auditioning for me, specifically for martial arts actors, and it’s for a big production with a high salary.”

Her tone carried unstoppable excitement: “I’m in my thirties, and they called me specifically. As long as I don’t mess up, it should be secure.”

That night, many martial arts actors were tossing and turning in excitement. Most of them were over thirty, not because of any shortcomings on their part—they were dedicated and professional—but simply because they had been left behind by the times. And now, it seemed like a new era was unfolding.

—

After binding Jiang Zhen, the money was indeed well spent.

That’s why Shengquan wanted to place the newly sponsored individual in “Cultivator,” as she could continue to use the funds for the production.

However, before that, she took Jiang Zhen for a health check-up.

The famous hospital charged a hefty fee.

When Jiang Zhen heard the doctor say, “You can recover up to ninety percent of normal activity,” the large man, who seemed too big even sitting down, trembled with excitement.

After the accident, he spent five years bedridden. Then, another ten years were dedicated to rehabilitation, but no matter how hard he tried, he could only recover to about seventy percent.

And now, hope is placed right in front of him.

Jiang Zhen naturally wanted the treatment, but thinking about the high cost, he hesitated.

As if knowing what he was thinking, Shengquan, the girl who looked so young and beautiful, as if she belonged to a different world, smiled softly. “Well then, earn money for me.”

“I want to make Starshine the top talent in the world, the top artist of the top company. Of course, you have to be the absolute top. Do you have the confidence?”

Jiang Zhen looked at her, as if the sharpness in his eyes was quietly gathering again.

A person who managed to turn the tide at the age of forty-seven—how could he willingly accept this?

And now someone believes in him.

Why couldn’t he also believe in her?

The tall man lowered his head in front of Shengquan, and all the sharpness in his body converged before her, like a wild beast retracting its claws and fangs.

With a beating heart, he willingly promised, “I will become the top artist under your command.”