Chapter 104: Finally, a Good Draw—Little Lightning?

News of Su Mu’s horseback riding training had already reached the film crew. Since the training ground was right next door, it wasn't far at all. Many people came over to take a peek, only to return disappointed. They had expected something exciting to happen while Su Mu practiced, but he spent the entire day just trotting in circles around a small paddock. To many of the stunt performers, this practice method was as laughable as a child playing house.

"Director Yuan told Su Mu to learn how to ride, and he really went to the stable next door, but all he did was walk a little pony around all day. Those who know will call it 'training,' but those who don't might think he's just posing for photos."

"I bet he's just putting on a show for Director Chen and Instructor Yuan Zheng. If he really wanted to learn to ride, he’d have to be thrown off dozens of times. How else could he master it?"

"Exactly. Our stuntmen always go to the grasslands to train. Who hasn't ended up bloodied and bruised before finally mastering the technique? Su Mu thinks he can learn it just by strolling around—he’s dreaming."

"I doubt he’ll even be able to keep it up tomorrow. Even walking a horse can rattle your waist and hips to pieces. It’ll be a miracle if he can even get out of bed tomorrow."

"Hahaha, at this rate, he won't even know how to ride by the time filming starts next year, let alone learn the other martial arts moves or how to handle weapons."

"Honestly, I just think the role of Xin Qiji should have gone to Senior Brother Yuan Lang. It’s a pity Su Mu snatched it first. I saw media outlets digging into Su Mu’s background online before; it’s quite mysterious."

"That impressive? Which media?"

"Seems like an official account called 'Black Material King'."

...

Inside the studio, Director Chen Anzhi, Yuan Zheng, and the assistant directors were gathered. After discussing the upcoming work schedule, they finally had some leisure time to chat.

"Director Chen, a friend of mine in the financial sector told me that the global financial system hasn't been great these past few years, and it might decline even further in the next couple of years. Do you think it will affect the film industry?"

Chen Anzhi sighed. "Capital and the entertainment industry have always been closely linked; to say it wouldn't be affected would be a lie. Plus, with foreign productions coming in to compete for the market, the competition for domestic box office revenue is really intense right now."

Yuan Zheng added, "To put it bluntly, it's a matter of content and quality. What can you do if you can't compete?"

Chen Anzhi nodded. "That’s why the Ministry of Culture isn't setting targets for video platforms for no reason. They actually want to create a balance and encourage us to challenge foreign works in terms of subject matter."

Yuan Zheng replied, "It's easy to say, but hard to do. If the level of our film industry doesn't improve, talking about anything else is just nonsense."

Chen Anzhi smiled helplessly, then remembered something. "By the way, Old Yuan, how is Su Mu doing? I heard he spent the whole day riding."

Yuan Zheng said, "It's just the beginning; he has a lot more to face later on. Suffering a little is good for him. The younger generation of actors really needs this kind of tempering. If he can't even handle this little bit of pressure, how would he survive the waves of a larger market?"

Chen Anzhi nodded. "That's true. It all depends on how far this Su Mu can go."

...

As evening approached, the geographical location of Gubei Province caused it to get dark much earlier in the winter than in other provinces. Su Mu didn't know what the crew was saying about him. After reaching the proficiency level of Horseback Riding LV1, he drove back to the hotel with Qian Jida and the others.

The road conditions on the way back were not great, and Su Mu's hips and waist were finally starting to take a toll. His face contorted in a mix of pain and grimacing.

"Hiss... hee hee, ouch, hahaha!"

[Expression Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01]

Even though he was in pain, he kept smiling. This terrified Qian Jida and Fan Xiaoju, who both thought Su Mu’s brain might have been rattled loose by the horse.

Xiaoju whispered, "Mr. Qian, should we take out some accidental injury insurance for Brother Su Mu?"

Qian Jida replied, "You'd be better off finding him a doctor."

Xiaoju said, "A regular doctor definitely can't cure this kind of illness."

"That's enough, you two," Su Mu interrupted, unable to listen any longer. "Do you think I'm deaf? Saying that right to my face? Xiaoju, be careful, or I'll deduct your salary!"

"Deduct salary?" Xiaoju panicked, eyes welling up with tears. "Boss, I was wrong, please don't deduct my salary!"

Su Mu gave a lopsided grin. "Hmph, knowing you're wrong is a start. Listen up, everyone. From today's horseback riding, I've realized some truths. Let me give you a quick lesson... They say a long road tests a horse's strength, but stay in the saddle too long and you'll ruin your kidneys. An old steed in the stable still dreams of a thousand miles... and why would a dead camel compare its size to a horse? It can't even get on the horse. Therefore, a horse-hoof bun isn't actually made of horse hooves!"

[Speech Proficiency +1]
[Skill Point +0.01]

Driver Zhu: "Bravo!"
Qian Jida: "???"
Xiaoju: "???"

...

Back at the hotel, Su Mu took a shower and collapsed onto his bed. Horseback riding was far more exhausting than he had imagined. It wasn't like what you see on TV, where you just sit and enjoy the ride. As his proficiency increased, the speed of the horse also increased, requiring more strength and coordination to control. Fortunately, the basic attributes he had gained from street dancing helped his physical condition; otherwise, he would be in much worse shape.

Despite the exhaustion, there was a moment during his ride when he felt a glimmer of insight. He seemed to grasp that spirit of galloping with a whip; perhaps that was what Xin Qiji felt, too. However, the feeling was fleeting. The horse he rode today was too lazy, stopping to rest every few steps, which broke his train of thought. But Su Mu wasn't worried; it was just the beginning, and he would definitely switch horses later. Perhaps once he maxed out LV2, he would experience that feeling again.

[Male Artist Panel]
[Skill Points: 8.5]
[Horseback Riding Proficiency LV2: 1/500 (Beginner)]

Looking at the panel, he would start grinding for LV2 tomorrow. It wouldn't be as fast as today, though. To reach a higher level, he would have to grind for several days. With 8.5 skill points accumulated, he decided to try his luck.

"Draw three blind boxes."
[Note: Consuming 3.0 skill points]

[Blind Box 1: Work "Hello Mr. Billionaire"]
[Blind Box 2: Proficiency +200]
[Blind Box 3: Task Blind Box!]
[Task: Ride back and forth: Hotel — Shooting Location, 20 times! (0/20)]
[Task Rewards: Proficiency +2000, Skill Points +5.0, Random Attribute +10.0]

"Uh... ride a horse back and forth?" Su Mu stared at the rewards, stunned. This was quite difficult. Although their shooting location was in the suburbs, where people often passed by with livestock, riding a horse back and forth at his current level was challenging. But if he could grind to LV3, it might be doable.

He looked at the other two boxes. 200 points of proficiency was a good gain. And the script—Su Mu was slightly excited. He finally got something interesting. To think it was "Hello Mr. Billionaire"! This was a huge win. Although he hadn't touched the comedy genre yet, he would eventually try it. Often, comedy was the most profitable and reliable genre. The production cost wasn't necessarily high, but if the content was good, the box office was guaranteed. He wouldn't sell this script like the previous ones; when the time was ripe, it would be a great opportunity.

...

The next day, Su Mu didn't wake up as early. His body was aching, but it was bearable. After applying some pain relief patches, he headed back to the stable.

In the car, Qian Jida looked shocked. "What? You're changing horses today?"

Su Mu nodded. "Yeah, yesterday's was too slow. I need a faster one this time."

Qian Jida asked, "Can you handle it? Wouldn't a slower one be safer?"

Su Mu shook his head. "What's the use of safety? Does safety make money? Only by getting hurt can you realize the value of money. We have to change it; get me the wildest one."

Qian Jida: "..."

At the stable, the staff member looked stunned. "What? Are you sure you want to ride Little Lightning?"

Su Mu replied, "Yes."