Brother Dao Took the Entertainment Industry by Storm, Fans Beg Me Not to Kill Anymore

Chapter 777: "This Young Man Has Long Outgrown His Current Pond."

"Cough, cough—"

After taking a sip of water, President Mao finally regained his composure. He set down his glass and began asking Xiao He about the basics.

"So... you're Xiao Xiao, right? How long have you been studying this field? I can see you've got a very solid foundation!"

Xiao He smiled and gave a slight nod before replying, "I started preparing roughly last year, but I've only scratched the surface. Thank you for the compliment, President Mao."

If he'd said he'd mastered it in just half a month, that would have been too astonishing and outrageous, so Xiao He deliberately stretched the timeline.

But even this statement still made everyone else suck in a sharp breath of cold air.

At that moment, the way President Mao looked at Xiao He was exactly the same as countless others before him who had wanted to persuade Xiao He to switch careers.

There was a hint of hope, a touch of eagerness to try, and yet also a bit of regret and pity.

Finally, he turned to the other two actors, his face full of expectation.

The other two: ...Thanks, but there's really no need to test us! Compared to this "inhuman" guy, what are we even worth?!

Fortunately, the casting decisions had already been finalized before the production team even landed in Hong Kong, and Director Zhuang wasn't going to make three actors come all the way for nothing. So this visit was really just a formality, with the focus squarely on Xiao He, while the others were merely incidental.

Thus, even though Lyu Dun and Cheng Jingyu answered many questions hesitantly and with half-baked understanding, President Mao didn't say anything. Instead, he quickly filled out the assessment results and forms for the other two as well.

These documents would later be archived at the Association, while the copies stamped with the red seal would be handed over to the production team for use in subsequent official procedures.

But that was the production team's problem now, something Wang Sheng would handle, not the actors' responsibility. Their main job was still just to perform their roles well later.

Once these forms were completed and the red stamp was applied, this trip's mission was essentially finished.

All that remained was a few days of intensive training, and then *Dragon* could officially begin filming.

Lyu Dun and Cheng Jingyu, who had been nervous the whole time, both let out an imperceptible sigh of relief. When they glanced over, they saw Xiao He was perfectly composed, exuding an air of a true master.

Although Cheng Jingyu was curious, her crippling social anxiety—especially when talking to men—made her double down on her fear. She stole a few glances at Xiao He but still didn't ask. Lyu Dun, on the other hand, cheerfully sidled up to Xiao He and asked with curiosity, "Teacher Xiao, how did you learn all this? Is it really possible to learn in just half a year?"

"I have a pretty good memory. Plus, Director Zhuang had someone get me some books to review in advance, so I barely managed to handle it. But honestly, if you put me in a real fight, I wouldn't know a thing."

Xiao He explained himself.

"Books provided by Director Zhuang?"

Lyu Dun and Cheng Jingyu, who had been eavesdropping, both twitched at the corners of their mouths.

You mean that compressed file, which totals 72GB, and after decompression, contains all kinds of Taoist scriptures, feng shui theories, Celestial Master conduct rules, and local folklore documents?

Hehehehe... Well then, you're just ridiculously good.

No words needed, fam. This guy isn't even in the same category as humans.

And if I remember correctly...

Cheng Jingyu finally managed to squeeze out a sentence, shocked: "But... didn't Director Zhuang only send us that compressed file last month?"

Lyu Dun hadn't caught on at first, but after hearing Cheng Jingyu's words, he suddenly had a eureka moment. He tremblingly looked at Xiao He, his pupils shaking: "R-right! Right!"

Don't tell me you didn't start learning last year, but actually only started last month!!!!

Xiao He's smile stiffened for a moment. He gave a light cough and unhesitatingly shifted the blame to Director Zhuang: "Ah, maybe Director Zhuang contacted me first, so I started reading earlier than you all!"

That makes sense...

Lyu Dun nodded.

His role had been swapped out several times before finally being settled. Back then, so many people were eager to join *Dragon*, weren't they all attracted by Director Zhuang and Xiao He?

Word had it that Xiao He's role had been locked in a long time ago, and Director Zhuang had always been a big fan of Xiao He.

So if you counted from that point...

It was still way too insane!

It just defied all logic!

Lyu Dun seriously suspected he was about to walk into a metaphysics channel or something, because right now, he truly felt the world was downright unscientific—especially Xiao He.

Cheng Jingyu said nothing, but her gaze toward Xiao He grew even more admiring.

As the group walked down the hallway, they ran into Zhuang Hongyi, Wang Sheng, and an old man with graying hair.

President Mao, who had been watching Xiao He and the others leave, quickened his pace when he saw the old man. He caught up and respectfully bowed and greeted him: "Grandmaster Hu."

Grandmaster?

Xiao He discreetly glanced over.

For someone to be called Grandmaster by the current President of the Celestial Master Association, this old man's seniority must be incredibly high.

But just as Xiao He's glance landed, it happened to meet the old man's deep and wise eyes.

Those eyes, due to age, were neither clear nor pristine, but precisely because of that, they carried a profound and mysterious sense of having seen through countless vicissitudes of life, giving one an instant feeling of being seen through completely.

Just from that one glance, Xiao He's goosebumps stood up all over, and he felt a chill at the back of his neck.

The last time he'd had such an obvious feeling of "being seen through" was many years ago when he met Bureau Chief Yan Zhengbei—Old Song Zhe's old comrade-in-arms and Zhou Junhao's brother-in-law.

That Bureau Chief Yan was definitely the most formidable police officer Xiao He had ever encountered. What he brought to Xiao He was the oppressive pressure of an experienced cop targeting a future criminal in the making.

But this time, it was a spine-tingling sense of deep, hidden secrets being completely exposed by this old Taoist—

However, he quickly adjusted his mindset.

He didn't avoid the gaze. Instead, he faced it squarely and openly, continuing to meet the old man's eyes while smiling and nodding slightly to show his friendliness.

Sure enough, this "Grandmaster Hu" stroked his beard, a hint of a smile on his face as he nodded slightly back at Xiao He. Then, without stopping, he passed by Xiao He and the others and continued on his way.

President Mao, seeing that Grandmaster Hu had no intention of talking to Xiao He and the group, was puzzled for a moment. Then he simply bid a brief farewell to Xiao He and the others and followed Grandmaster Hu back the way they came.

This left only Zhuang Hongyi and Wang Sheng, who had just arrived.

"Teacher Xiao, so everything's all good now?"

Wang Sheng asked with concern.

Xiao He immediately handed over the stamped documents to Wang Sheng: "Smooth sailing. President Mao was very satisfied with everyone."

"That's fantastic!"

Wang Sheng was overjoyed and looked at Zhuang Hongyi.

Zhuang Hongyi also visibly relaxed and said, "Good work. Let's head back first."

-

Over on their side, President Mao followed the old man back to his office.

As soon as he entered, he began to chatter enthusiastically about the assessment just now, asking with great anticipation, "Grandmaster Hu, he's a real promising talent, don't you think? Should we consider—"

"No need."

The old man stroked his white beard. Even though he wasn't wearing a Taoist robe, his demeanor still radiated an otherworldly and ethereal air.

"His path does not lie here." He looked out the window into the distance, his voice somewhat ethereal but firm, "He has already found his own path."

Forging a new way out of utter despair.

Rising reborn from the flames on a starry journey.

This young man has long outgrown his current pond.