Chapter 8: The Spirit of a Swordsman, Stunned the Director

Chapter 8: The Spirit of a Swordsman, Stunned Director

"I've made inquiries. You aren't just up against ten opponents; there are sixteen."

"That many?"

"Indeed."

"They’re taking this awfully seriously, aren't they?"

"Who knows? Of course, not everyone among those sixteen is a formidable competitor, but there is one named Andy On—you must be careful of him."

"Andy On."

Chen Ping knew the man. He was a powerhouse of an actor. Beyond his acting prowess, his physical presence was exceptional. Having been a singer and a model before transitioning into acting, his 1.8-meter frame, defined eight-pack abs, and chiseled features made him a perfect match for the character of Chao Xiaoshu, given that their ages were similar. This put considerable pressure on Chen Ping.

...

"No, this won't do."

"How is this pretty boy supposed to play Chao Xiaoshu?"

"This one doesn't work either."

Director Yang Yang shook her head repeatedly, having rejected several actors in a row for the role of Chao Xiaoshu.

This prompted the producer, Wang Yuren, to express his confusion: "Director Yang, it's just a small role. Why such emphasis?"

"Mr. Wang, even if it is a small role, Chao Xiaoshu plays a crucial part at the beginning of the film. Specifically, I intend to shoot an alleyway combat scene, which is one of the highlights of the original work. If we don't find the right person, the quality of this series will be greatly diminished."

"Furthermore, Mr. Wang, although this is a web series, we have invited quite a few heavyweight actors. If I mess this up, I won't have the face to answer to you."

"Fair point. By the way, there’s an actor named Andy On coming up later who is quite decent. Take a look at him in a moment."

"I've seen him. His physical condition is good, but we’ll have to see how he performs."

Subsequently, Director Yang auditioned a few more, but she remained dissatisfied. It wasn't until Andy On appeared that her eyes lit up. She had seen his photos before the audition, and upon seeing him in person, even before he began, she was already favorably impressed by his physical presence.

"Here is a line of dialogue. Try the scene."

"Very well."

Although not exceptionally famous, Andy On was a seasoned veteran. He had appeared in *Black Mask 2* as early as 2002. Upon receiving the role of Chao Xiaoshu, he performed with ease, without a hint of hesitation. After a few minutes, both Director Yang and producer Wang Yuren nodded periodically.

"Alright, Andy On, go back and wait for news for now."

Although she was satisfied with Andy On, the auditions weren't over, and Director Yang couldn't make a final decision on the spot.

"How about it, Director Yang? I told you this Andy On was good."

"He is indeed quite good."

"We've wasted a lot of time these past few days; we need to hurry."

"Don't worry, we're still on schedule... It seems there is one more actor auditioning. Call him in."

"Another one?"

"Since he's already here, we can't just send him away."

"Let me see..." Wang Yuren looked at the file on the table and chuckled, "Director Yang, another pretty boy. These people—if they’re going to force someone into a role, they should at least find someone with some talent."

Of course, despite his words, Wang Yuren did not intervene. With so many investors in a film, it was natural for some to try to shoehorn their own actors in. Not to mention others, even he, as the producer, had done the same—and his candidate was playing a significant role.

"Mr. Wang, you've misunderstood this time. Do you know who recommended this actor?"

"Wasn't it Sheng Teng?"

"No, it was Professor Jiang."

"Chairman Jiang? You're joking."

"Why would I be?"

One could ignore many people, but as the chairman of the Hengcheng Actors Guild, Jiang Tianxing was someone whose requests could not be ignored.

"Fine, let’s see what he’s like in a moment."

With Chairman Jiang's name mentioned, Wang Yuren had nothing more to say.

...

"Chen Ping, I have some bad news."

"What is it?"

"The directing team is very satisfied with Andy On. Unless something unexpected happens, they will likely choose him."

"But I haven't even auditioned yet."

"I expect..." Wu Yu didn't finish her sentence. Everyone knew how it worked: once they were satisfied with someone early on, the rest were just going through the motions to save face for various powers.

However, Chen Ping wasn't overly worried. He entered the system. Having passed the acting exam, the system had awarded him one talent point that he hadn't used yet. Checking his attributes, he opened the temperament talent panel. His lines and acting talents were already at level 4, which was more than enough for the role of Chao Xiaoshu. The character didn't require exceptional looks, so he could skip that for now. The only thing lacking was temperament.

"Chivalrous heart and righteous spirit."

If one had to define Chao Xiaoshu in a single word, it would be "chivalry." He was chivalrous toward the Tang King, and he was equally chivalrous toward the protagonist, Ning Que. To seek justice for his fallen brothers, he went alone to the Sword Pavilion to challenge Liu Bai; though he failed, it was an act of pure chivalry.

Without further thought, Chen Ping spent the talent point to unlock [Chivalrous Heart and Righteous Spirit] under the temperament talent.

[System: Host has unlocked the Swordsman Temperament. You possess a chivalrous heart, a righteous spirit, and heroic courage, and have acquired the Swordsman Action talent.]

"Huh..."

As Wu Yu was worrying about Chen Ping, she suddenly felt him change. It was as if he had been buffed in a game; his entire aura had shifted completely.

"Chen Ping, you, you..." Wu Yu stared at him, stunned.

"Sister Wu, what's wrong?"

"No, nothing..." She looked at him closely. If the original Chen Ping only physically resembled Chao Xiaoshu, the current Chen Ping felt like a true wanderer of the pugilistic world—chivalrous, tender, and indescribably charming.

"Let's go, Chen Ping, it's your turn."

"Right."

"Wait, hold on."

"What's wrong?"

"Chen Ping, good luck."

Giving him an encouraging gesture, Wu Yu suddenly felt an immense sense of confidence.

"Greetings, teachers. My name is Chen Ping, a signed actor with Sheng Teng Entertainment."

"Chen Ping."

Watching him, Director Yang Yang was also momentarily dazed. From the moment Chen Ping walked in until he stood before her, the impression he gave her grew more intense with every step. When she saw him from a distance, she thought he had put effort into his costume and makeup, but having been a director for decades, she had seen all sorts of actors. Effort didn't always translate to suitability, especially for someone in their twenties.

But as Chen Ping walked up to her, Yang felt a wave of the swordsman's spirit wash over her. The Chen Ping before her was like a hero from the legends of old, one who naturally commanded longing and respect. Even the atmosphere in the room seemed to have shifted, filled with the flavor of the martial world. They were merely extras in this vast world, while Chen Ping stood as the hero everyone sought. Even without the cameras rolling, all focus was locked onto him.

"Master Swordsman, are you here for a meal or to stay the night?"

Unable to help herself, Director Yang blurted out the question.