Chapter 122: Brother, Are We Mistaken? This Isn’t a Tourist Spot (Long Chapter)

After finalizing the agreement with Li Rong, Su Mu did not go anywhere else and spent the entire day resting at the hotel.

Originally, he had intended to meet Zhang Huaimou first to seek advice on film investment and production. Su Mu planned to start pivoting toward the big screen next year. If he could land a film project with a decent salary, that would be ideal. If not, he already possessed some quality scripts he could use as a stepping stone, or even try his hand at investing himself. However, being a newcomer, he knew that to maximize his interests, he needed the guidance of a heavyweight director like Zhang Huaimou.

Unfortunately, Qian Jida received an invitation from Jianghe Film and Television Company. Director Xu Jiang expressed a desire to meet with Su Mu as soon as possible to finalize the contract. After weighing his options, Su Mu decided to meet with Xu Jiang’s crew first. Once next year's work was locked in, he would then go have a proper chat with Zhang Huaimou.

The business pressure of this trip to Beijing was quite significant. When tallied up, the salary for his new drama was 50 million, plus 60 million for the car brand endorsement—this trip alone was practically a 100-million-yuan project.

"Sigh, it's really not easy to make money these days. Running around everywhere, and it’s only 100 million," Su Mu remarked suddenly while eating cherries.

Qian Jida: "...?"
Little Orange: "...!"
Master Zhu: "Sigh."

…

Jianghe Film and Television Company was located in the Film and Television Industrial Park on the outskirts of Beijing. It was very close to the Beijing Film and Television Base, making it convenient for both filming and recruiting extras.

In reality, there were countless film and television companies, large and small, in this park. Unlike top-tier investment firms like Huayi Aolai, many of the smaller companies here were merely shell companies. A small portion were established by film crews, or were studios like Su Mu’s that actually had projects to handle. As for the rest, it was hard to say. Some might be dreamers holding onto aspirations, while others just put up a front, using the name of a film company to scam meals and drinks, or to fool naive boys and girls fresh out of school who had dreams of stardom. In short, it was a mixed bag of people. Beneath the veneer, it really wasn't very high-end. The only advantage was that the rent here was much cheaper than in the city’s CBD.

…

The business vehicle drove into the park and pulled up to the last building. Su Mu, Qian Jida, and the others got out. This wasn't Su Mu's first time here. His very first collaboration with Zhang Huaimou on *Rapid Storm* had taken place at the Beijing Film and Television Base. The hotel he stayed at back then was nearby, so he was quite familiar with the environment.

At that moment, many idle people holding signs were milling about. They weren't laborers; they were foremen for extras, most of whom had dozens of people they could dispatch. Su Mu wore a hat and mask, so no one recognized him. Shortly after, a few people walked out of the building and greeted them warmly.

"Su Mu, Manager Qian, hello! I’m Xu Jiang. This is the deputy director and a partner from Jianghe Film."

Su Mu looked over. The man was middle-aged, wearing round black-rimmed glasses and a boxy, plaid shirt—he had the look of a down-and-out artist. Xu Jiang’s reputation in the industry wasn't as loud as Zhang Huaimou’s or Chen Anzhi’s. In fact, many of his films were lukewarm, and if you looked at his face, not many people would recognize him. Su Mu had been prepared, having had Qian Jida look up Xu Jiang’s photo beforehand.

"Hello, Director Xu Jiang," Su Mu responded.

Xu Jiang nodded with a smile. "I spoke with Manager Qian on the phone earlier. I didn't expect you to arrive so quickly. This is great. Please, come inside and have a seat at the company."

As he spoke, Xu Jiang led Su Mu and the others into the building.

Not far away, half a head peeked out of a small van before quickly ducking back in.

"Boss, they went in!" said Little Li.

"The person who came down to receive them seems to be a director, right? What was his name?" asked Little Zhang.

"Xu Jiang," Sun Liaojun provided the correct answer. When it came to professional knowledge of the entertainment industry, he was quite sharp. He then smiled triumphantly. "I told you, Su Mu's trip to Beijing is definitely not simple. He first went to the headquarters of Huaxia Wuling, making a big boss like Li Rong reluctant to see him leave, and now he's at the film base... I’m afraid he has a big move planned for next year."

"Boss, does that mean Su Mu has a new film?" asked Little Li.

"Director Xu Jiang greeted him, so is he collaborating with this Xu Jiang?" added Little Zhang.

Sun Liaojun didn't speak. The interior of the van was silent for a few seconds. Then, all three pairs of eyes widened! They seemed to realize something.

"Could it be that project Xu Jiang was preparing to shoot last year? I remember the lead actor had an accident; it caused quite a stir," said Little Li.

"Wow, is Su Mu actually daring enough to take that on?" said Little Zhang.

Sun Liaojun narrowed his eyes, yet he couldn't hide his excitement. If he really had taken that role, this would be a genuine, explosive scoop! It was much more sensational than Su Mu endorsing some car brand.

Last year, that film of Xu Jiang’s had actually caused quite a scandal, mainly due to the male lead who had the accident. Initially, the project had been highly anticipated. Many had been looking forward to that actor’s performance, seeing him as a rising star about to enter the big screen. The result, however, was a total disaster. Of course, there were plenty of people who wanted to use that opportunity to replace him, but the controversy online was so massive that the crew had to suspend production. No one expected it to be restarting now—and with Su Mu, of all people!

Sun Liaojun lit a cigarette, excited. "Finally, a massive opportunity dropped in our laps. Su Mu is true to form; if he's going to choose, he picks something highly controversial. Whether it's a success or he gets roasted, it’s his style. He’s got guts."

"Boss, I think Su Mu is just reckless," said Little Li.

"But with his current traffic, he doesn't need to take on this hot potato," added Little Zhang.

Sun Liaojun shook his head, exhaling a cloud of smoke, looking profound. "No, you two are still young in how you look at problems. In this industry, the people who truly reach the pinnacle don't always move steadily upward; they jump by seizing the right opportunities. And the conditions that allow for such a leap are always controversial. Trying to take a risk is dangerous, but once successful, the rewards are greater than you can imagine. Many big names in the industry went all-in on a single bet, reaching the top of the box office with one film, thus ushering in their own era. Su Mu is just that kind of person."

"So that's it!" said Little Li.

"I thought he chose it because the script was good," said Little Zhang.

Sun Liaojun smiled. "I understand people like Su Mu best. Not following the beaten path is his nature. It's very likely he'll reach the summit in the future. In any case, stick close to him; there's money to be made again!"

…

Inside Jianghe Film and Television Company, Su Mu didn't know that Sun Liaojun was evaluating him this way. In reality, his reason for choosing this project was simple: it was because of the script.

He followed Xu Jiang into the office, and everyone took their seats. Also present were a partner from Jianghe Film, the deputy director, and a representative from the investors. After some brief pleasantries, Xu Jiang went straight to the point.

"I think you already know some things, so I won't say much more. This is the current situation with the project. Although your 50-million-yuan quote is a bit expensive, I’m willing to gamble. But there is one thing I must be clear about: playing Hu Bayi will likely put you under significant pressure, especially regarding public opinion."

Su Mu smiled. "Don't worry, Director Xu. Since I quoted this price, I naturally expect to bear any impact that comes with it."

Xu Jiang hadn't expected Su Mu to be so composed, and he admired him even more. "Since you can say that, I’m relieved. We can sign the agreement whenever you're ready."

Su Mu replied, "No rush on the signing. Director Xu, I’d like to know what stage the crew is at in terms of preparation."

Xu Jiang said, "Currently, the sets have been built at the film base. We can take you to see them in a moment."

Su Mu stood up suddenly. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's go see the filming site."

"Now?" Xu Jiang asked.

"Of course," said Su Mu.

Everyone: "!!!"

They were all stunned. They hadn't expected Su Mu to want to go immediately. He was a man of action. Xu Jiang did not refuse Su Mu's request. After chatting for a little longer, they stood up, led them downstairs, and drove straight to the film base.

In truth, Su Mu’s decision to inspect the site was also because he had his own concerns. Often, no matter how good a script or subject matter is, if the production and manufacturing aren't handled with care, it will end up a failure. The core of the tomb-raiding series—the essence that attracts the audience—is the degree of authenticity in the tomb-raiding scenes. You could say that if the scene recreation is a perfect score, the drama is already half-successful. Audiences for this type of film are looking to physically experience the tension of descending into a tomb. The complex mystery and clues are secondary. If the final product involves people flying around with Victoria’s Secret wings, then you could hire ten of the most skilled actors, and it would still be a total disaster.

…

Ten minutes later, the group arrived at an indoor soundstage at the Beijing Film and Television Base. The stage was huge. The entrances outside were sealed with black cloth; one had to go inside to see the full panorama. Su Mu followed Xu Jiang in and was immediately captivated by the set. Honestly, it was far beyond his expectations! It was clear that Xu Jiang’s level of dedication to this drama was much higher than Su Mu had imagined.

What greeted his eyes were artificial rock walls and dark tunnels. As he walked deeper, he could hear the sound of electric welding and spray painting, likely workers still finishing the scenery. However, most of the framework was already perfect. There were tomb corridors, mysterious statues, tunnels that one couldn't tell were dead ends or paths forward, and coffin props. If not for the occasional staff member walking by, it would have been genuinely eerie and terrifying.

Deep inside, Su Mu even saw a temporarily constructed ancient building; the set truly captured the mysterious feeling of an ancient desert city. The mechanisms and details were all of high quality. Su Mu walked through it, looking at the hidden mechanisms, and for a moment, he forgot he was just visiting; it was genuinely interesting.

Behind him, the partner and the investor representative who had come along whispered to Xu Jiang.

The partner said, "Director Xu, I don't think this Su Mu is anything special. Aren't many young, handsome actors like this? Anyway, you made the call, so you'll have to bear the consequences. If it doesn't meet expectations, that's the end for Jianghe Film."

The investor representative added, "Perhaps Su Mu is worth the price, but the protagonist of this drama really doesn't need 50 million. If you put half that budget into post-production to go with the sets you've built, it could be a massive hit. I think you might have been impulsive this time, Director Xu."

The two did not hide their words from Xu Jiang. The implication was clear: they felt the money Xu Jiang spent on Su Mu was wasted. There was no need to squander 50 million on one actor. Xu Jiang listened silently from behind. He didn't retort. In truth, he knew this was simply because of previous events, which had caused the partner and investor to lose the trust they once had in him. That was understandable. After all, it concerned money; even if investors were wealthy, they didn't get their money from the wind to squander it. They invested for a return. But Xu Jiang didn't regret choosing Su Mu. If he was going to gamble, he had to gamble big.

Xu Jiang smiled, completely ignoring their skepticism, and walked toward Su Mu.

"Hmph, when his temper flares, he's stubborn; no one can talk him out of it," the partner muttered.

The investor representative chuckled. "Then let's see if his choice ends up being worth the price."

At that moment, Su Mu was wandering in the tomb maze. Driven by the atmosphere of the surroundings, he naturally slipped into the character of Hu Bayi. Thinking of a scene from the script, he entered the role.

"Seeking the dragon and dividing the gold, watching the mountain ranges; each layer of mountain is a barrier..."

[Line proficiency +1]
[Behavior proficiency +1]
[Skill point +0.01...]

Su Mu looked for the exit, looked up at the ceiling, and recited the line about dragon-seeking and tomb-probing. The background of the protagonist, Hu Bayi, was very special; his ancestors were "Gold-Touchers." The family-inherited *Sixteen-Character Yin-Yang Feng Shui Secret Art* was the key that guided the protagonist to explore secrets.

[Notice: Proficiency gained]
[Tomb-Raiding Proficiency LV1: 0/10]

"???"

Just as Su Mu was trying to merge with the environment to get a simple feel for the protagonist’s state of mind, a new proficiency popped up. What the hell? Su Mu was stunned. This proficiency left him a bit bewildered. What kind of nonsense was this? Don't tell me I'm supposed to 'grind' this thing! That's illegal! I’m a law-abiding citizen. If I actually went out and did this, I’d be inside with that guy from before, sewing mailbags, within two days.

Of course, even if the proficiency appeared, he could choose not to grind it. At most, he would just lack a little bit of empathy when playing the role of Hu Bayi.

…

On the way back, Su Mu leaned against the window and looked outside. Ever since that proficiency appeared, he had been dazed. However, the subsequent matters would be handled by Qian Jida, so he didn't need to do anything.

While he was struggling with this, the car happened to pass by a cemetery. From quite a distance away, one could see rows and rows of tombstones.

[Tomb-Raiding Proficiency +1]
[Skill point +0.01]

Su Mu was startled! Damn it, even this counts?

After a long while, Su Mu said, "Wait, could you please make a turn?"

The driver asked, "Where are we going, Mr. Su?"

Su Mu replied, "Oh, that's the Beijing Western Suburb Cemetery, right?"

"Yes," the driver said.

Su Mu said, "It’s rare that I’m here. Let’s go inside and take a look; I need to clear my mind."

Driver: "???"
Qian Jida: "!!!"

The car went silent instantly. The driver’s face turned green. *Did we get something wrong, brother? This isn't a tourist attraction...*