Chapter 196: Chapter 195: Taking a Rest in the Modern World

The next morning, Gu Zhao felt refreshed and energized after washing up. Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi, however, were still lying in bed, drowsy and lethargic. Their pale, slender arms and smooth, firm legs were exposed, a rather tempting sight.

A light slap sent a ripple across her skin.

"We don’t have work today," Jiang Shishi mumbled, rolling over. "Let me sleep a little longer."

Gu Zhao rubbed his hands together. Seeing Xiao Ya lick her seemingly dry lips, he couldn’t resist and pounced on her.

...

For the next few days, Gu Zhao spent most of his time in the modern world. He went out with Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi, taking them shopping, to the zoo, and to a tech exhibition. They even attended a concert by Celestial King Zhang. To his disappointment, however, he didn’t run into a single wanted criminal.

Choosing a free weekday, the group filmed two more videos. While not as stunning or shocking as the White Crane Fist one, they were still far better than any of their previous content.

Li Hui—Zhang Hang’s former exclusive cameraman and now Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi’s part-time videographer—had become one of Gu Zhao’s biggest fans since their very first shoot. He’d been eagerly waiting for a chance to film Gu Zhao again.

He had witnessed Gu Zhao’s skills firsthand and had spent a long time privately planning, designing countless scenes and shots. This time, he specifically used a drone to capture the footage, creating a one-shot sequence designed to showcase Gu Zhao’s abilities.

Unsurprisingly, the video went viral.

"HOLY SHIT! THAT’S SO COOL!"

"The visuals, the sound effects... this has the quality of a movie!"

The video opened with a shot of Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi playing their instruments together. Then, Gu Zhao suddenly appeared, clad in the dashing attire of a swordsman, a veiled conical hat on his head and a longsword in hand. He then proceeded to weave his way through a landscape of mountains, rivers, and ancient buildings.

Along the way, he leaped into the air as if climbing clouds and glided across the water’s surface. The most spectacular part wasn’t his Swordsmanship, but his Lightweight Skill, which made him seem as light as a swallow.

"How the hell is this a single-take drone shot? And it’s a wide shot, too! How did they film this?"

"Bro, ever heard of a little thing called post-production?"

"I know, but it looks more real than what you see in movies and TV shows these days. I can’t even spot any signs of CGI!"

"You couldn’t spot the effects in old movies from the 80s and 90s either. Technology has improved now, costumes, makeup, and props are more exquisite, but the final product is worse than the old films. All you can say is that everyone working in the film and TV industry today is trash."

"Bottom line: he completely demolishes all those pretty-boy idols out there!"

"This guy is way better than most of the kung fu creators on TikTok and Kuaishou who just rely on clever editing. There are barely any people in film history who could capture a true wuxia feel in a single take. Some big shot with an eye for talent needs to sign him, ASAP."

"To the person above: go check the creator’s pinned post. This master is the guy whose White Crane Fist was so good it fooled a Red-crowned Crane. Forget film history, I doubt there have been many like him in all of history. CCTV should invite him to the Spring Festival Gala."

...

Xiao Ya and Jiang Shishi once again broke out of their niche. With several million fans, they were now considered mid-tier influencers. Their fame not only led to their orchestra’s concerts having scalper tickets, but it even helped the orchestra land two group advertising deals, bringing in tangible profits.

As a result, the two women were now the orchestra’s darlings. Fearing they would be poached by an MCN and resign, everyone in the orchestra, from top to bottom, was exceptionally pleasant and friendly toward them.

"Another message for you in the DMs."

On the living room sofa, Jiang Shishi angled her phone so that Gu Zhao, who was resting his head on her lap, could see the private message on the app.

"It’s not for a short-form series this time, but an audition invitation for a web movie," Jiang Shishi said, clicking her tongue. "It even has a big-name star attached."

Xiao Ya came over, glanced at the screen, and added, "A big name from twenty years ago."

"Hey, that’s still pretty good. We all grew up watching their movies and TV shows," Jiang Shishi said, taking her phone back and continuing to scroll. "Let’s see if there are any offers for a proper theatrical film."

Gu Zhao enjoyed the softness of his pillow and ate a grape that Xiao Ya fed him. "So if there were an offer for a theatrical film, you’d recommend I audition?" he asked leisurely.

"Audition... my ass!" Jiang Shishi retorted. "With its obsession with seniority, its toxic drinking culture, and all the industry hacks, the film circle is completely rotten. It’s just waiting for some outsider to come and save it."

Gu Zhao chuckled. "You’re not even in the film industry. How can you be so sure?"

Xiao Ya replied, "Because some of the senior members in our orchestra have worked on film projects—doing things like musical scoring, choreography, performing, and even making cameo appearances. They’ve come back with a lot of gossip."

"On-set affairs, abuse of power, divas, people showing up late and leaving early..." Jiang Shishi pursed her lips. "It’s a total mess. Their public personas are completely fabricated, designed for the sole purpose of milking their fans."

Gu Zhao nodded. "I can smell the sour grapes. Are you just jealous that people like that can still make a ton of money?"

Xiao Ya giggled. Annoyed, Jiang Shishi bent over and smothered Gu Zhao’s face with her chest. "Sour grapes? What sour grapes? My illusions have been shattered, that’s all! I’m just disappointed that it’s fallen so far!"

"I wouldn’t touch that kind of dirty money! It would burn my hands," Jiang Shishi said defiantly.

Gu Zhao opened his mouth and gave a light nip, making Jiang Shishi sit back up. He took a breath. "You’re a rich girl who doesn’t need the money, of course you can act so high and mighty. But then again, as messy as the domestic entertainment industry is, it’s still considered clean compared to what goes on abroad."

Xiao Ya peeled another grape and offered it to him. "A race to the bottom, is that it?"

Jiang Shishi huffed. "The whole world is one big amateur-hour production. It’s a race to the bottom everywhere. Forget the film industry, we have plenty of our own messes within the orchestra."

Gu Zhao chuckled. "Don’t be so cynical. Most people are just ordinary people. A race to the bottom is hard to avoid, but going against the tide is what reveals a hero’s true character. And every era has its heroes."

"That’s true," Jiang Shishi admitted. "Even though the film industry is so rotten, we still got gems like *The Wandering Earth* and *Nezha*."

Xiao Ya took out her phone. "Let’s talk about something more cheerful. How about we go see a movie this afternoon? Are there any good ones out right now?"

The three of them discussed it for a long time while looking at their phones, but in the end, they decided to go to an escape room instead.

... 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Upon returning from the modern world to the Otherworld, he inhaled a breath of fresh air thick with Spiritual Qi. It transformed into a cool stream that flowed through his limbs and into every corner of his body, surging up from the crown of his head toward the heavens and down from the soles of his feet into the earth.

Gu Zhao emerged from Daluo Palace and was about to head down the mountain to find Zhuo Qingyan when Hu Yufei blocked his path.

"Sect Leader, Sect Leader! Didn’t Yunyang come out of seclusion with you?" Hu Yufei asked.

"Not yet," Gu Zhao said, shaking his head.

Gu Zhao hadn’t brought Yunyang along on the pleasure boat trip. Later, when he brought Yunyang out alone to contact his family, they learned that one of his relatives had passed away. Yunyang had taken leave to attend the funeral and hadn’t returned yet.

Hu Yufei pouted. "He promised he’d go out with me to perform heroic deeds. Why did he suddenly go into seclusion?"

Gu Zhao walked to the entrance and saw Zhuo Qingyan sitting by the pavilion, watching the koi in the pond. He smiled and replied, "Our seclusions are usually short. He’ll probably be out in two or three days, four or five at the most."

Hu Yufei looked at Gu Zhao and nodded thoughtfully. "True. You’re pretty fast, too."