Body Like a Galloping Horse, He Came Treading on Water

Jiang Shu drew back his foot and stood steady.

Yet he had no idea that, in Ye Zhenzhen's eyes, every movement and stillness of his was utterly unlike that of an ordinary high school senior. He was more like a fierce tiger that could pounce and devour its prey at any moment!

How could a boy like this possibly be gay?!

Ye Zhenzhen's mind drifted. Only at this moment did she suddenly understand why Director Zheng, despite his lofty position, valued Jiang Shu so highly.

"If you're alone in the future, don't go burrowing into the mountains and forests. You yourself said in the cinema that the world was about to change. So why, when it comes to you, are you so careless about your own safety?"

"How did you know? No, wait—you're the son who was beside that auntie?"

Staring intently at Jiang Shu's profile, Ye Zhenzhen finally remembered. Her eyes widened as she cried out.

The cinema had been dim then, and she had been wearing sunglasses, so she had not paid much attention to Jiang Shu.

Thinking about it now, Jiang Shu, who had practiced martial arts for half a year and knew Director Zheng, probably knew even more secrets than she did.

What she had said in front of that auntie...

In an instant, Ye Zhenzhen's face flushed slightly.

She felt like an ordinary student explaining lessons to a poor student in front of a top scholar—embarrassed beyond words.

"Your voice and build can't deceive anyone." Jiang Shu cast his gaze into the distance and, unusually, offered an explanation.

From halfway up the mountain, he looked down upon a corner of Jicheng. Cars flowed like a river, pedestrians crawled like ants. "I don't know what you think. I only know that when the world truly changes, the only person one can trust is oneself."

"Right now, perhaps you only see getting started with the Horse Stance as a prerequisite for filming the Martial Arts Promotional Video. But merely getting started with the Horse Stance will never let you experience the Martial Dao. Only when you achieve minor mastery of the Horse Stance and sense your own Blood Qi will you understand just how intoxicating the Martial Dao is."

"If you had strength in your body today, why would you fear a mere little viper?"

"Go back."

"Mm..."

Ye Zhenzhen lowered her head, her voice barely audible.

As Jiang Shu spoke, she felt as though she had returned to an elementary school classroom.

She was the student below.

And Jiang Shu was the teacher standing high above at the podium.

The image of Jiang Shu throwing a punch and stomping down with one foot left an indelible impression in her mind.

"Rustle, rustle, rustle."

Jiang Shu stepped on the fallen leaves and slowly made his way down the mountain.

Ye Zhenzhen followed close behind, no longer as carefree and boisterous as she had been on the way up.

Over the following days, Ye Zhenzhen rarely slacked off again. Gifted to begin with, she got started with the Horse Stance in around ten days.

The Martial Arts Promotional Video officially began filming as well.

After holding it in for ten days.

She had finally reached her field of expertise!

"Jiang Shu, yes, yes, yes, that angle. Don't move—be natural. Just act how you normally act. Why does your face suddenly get so stiff the moment the camera is on you? How is the cameraman supposed to film you like that?"

"Just standing in stance is too boring. Do you know any fist techniques? Show us a set—something cooler. Maybe we can edit it in later."

"Actually, Jiang Shu, why don't you get a buzz cut? A buzz cut is the only true test of whether a guy is handsome! Trust your sis's eye. I've roamed the entertainment industry for so many years and never once misjudged anyone! If you get a buzz cut, you'll definitely have that abstinent kind of handsomeness. You'll charm a whole crowd of little girls to death."

"Your hair right now is neither here nor there—not long, not short. If it were a bit longer, that would be fine too. A handsome man in ancient costume! Put on a mask, then take it off—perfect! I'm telling you, you understand the Martial Dao. But when it comes to promotional videos, I definitely understand better. Standing in stance, throwing punches—they're all there to serve handsomeness!"

"Only being handsome attracts people. Trust me. If you want to grow your hair out, do it next time. Get a buzz cut! It'd be absolutely explosive!"

Ye Zhenzhen circled around Jiang Shu as he stood in the Horse Stance, hopping about while her little mouth fired like a machine gun, rapidly criticizing every shortcoming she saw in him. "My eye can't be wrong. If you don't believe me, ask my team!"

She pointed ahead.

Several meters away.

The makeup artist, lighting technician, and cameraman stood at a distance, nodding frantically.

They did not dare say anything.

They did not dare ask anything.

They let Ye Zhenzhen do whatever she pleased from start to finish.

After all, their pay came from this little ancestor before them.

"I won't cut my hair. How about this—I'll wear a wig and try an ancient-costume look?" Jiang Shu had a bit of a headache too. If he had not already promised Director Zheng, he truly would not want to keep fussing over such troublesome promotional filming.

With this time, wouldn't it be better to grind a little more?

Raise his proficiency?

"Really can't cut it? But a buzz cut really is handsome."

"No."

Jiang Shu's tone was calm and direct.

He had spent half a year painstakingly growing his hair to his neck.

If he cut it all in one go, he might look handsome filming the Martial Arts Promotional Video.

But what would he do in the Great Jing Dynasty?

He could not keep showing himself in a wig forever, could he?

"Fine, then give it a try!"

Disappointment appeared on Ye Zhenzhen's face. She sighed helplessly and waved her hand. The makeup artist hurried over and led Jiang Shu into the simply erected tent to change clothes and put on makeup.

"Can you borrow some small boats? We'll film by the lake. My idea is for me to ride one of the boats to the middle of the lake. One cameraman will follow me in another boat, while the other cameraman films from the shore."

Before long, Jiang Shu emerged from the tent dressed in a long robe.

He decided to film the Martial Arts Promotional Video at his own pace.

Otherwise, if they kept dragging things out like this, they probably still would not finish even after another half month.

By then, the College Entrance Examination would have already begun.

"What are we filming?"

"Don't worry about it. Just do it."

"Oh."

Ye Zhenzhen made a call. Half an hour later, everything was ready.

Jiang Shu sat in a small boat and rowed alone to the middle of the lake.

The boat swayed slightly on the water.

Yet he seemed not to care in the slightest. He rose to his feet and settled into a firm Horse Stance.

Sunlight fell directly upon his handsome face. Jiang Shu tilted his head slightly, letting the breeze lift his long hair.

A boat upon the lake. A man upon the boat.

At that moment, they melded together perfectly, like a painting.

The cameraman in the other boat crouched low and filmed the wide shot.

Through his lens, Jiang Shu and the boat drifted with the current, slowly floating toward the shore.

"The lake ripples. Even on an unsteady drifting boat, he can still hold the Horse Stance firmly. It can show the realm of the Horse Stance while also harmonizing with nature, giving it a feeling of oneness with heaven and earth."

"Tch. Who would have thought that blockhead could come up with a scene like this? What a pity—it's still a little too boring. With some soothing music, it could make people lose themselves in it for a few seconds. But only a few seconds. People these days are too impatient. Who's going to watch without an explosive highlight?"

"If he were closer, it would be fine. We could zoom right in on his face. He could make a living off that face of his. But Jiang Shu is so far from the shore now, and there's no way the cameraman can clearly capture his face."

"Such a good setting can only be edited into a few seconds. But that's enough. Better than having nothing."

On the shore, Ye Zhenzhen watched the small boat gradually drift over from the center of the lake.

She murmured softly.

Yet just as her words fell.

Jiang Shu suddenly let out a long howl from atop the boat.

She looked up.

Jiang Shu, who had been holding the Horse Stance on the boat all along, actually kicked the bow of the boat.

The boat shot forward, water spraying in all directions.

Jiang Shu leaped from the boat.

One foot landed upon the water's surface.

While still more than ten meters from the shore.

He came toward Ye Zhenzhen and the others—

Like a galloping horse, treading across the water!