Although the line was long, Wang Shu's audition surprisingly ended quickly.
Many who had finished their auditions emerged with crestfallen faces or grumbling.
Wang Shu guessed that most of them had likely failed to secure a role.
This was understandable, however, indicating the director's meticulous and stringent selection process.
He showed no leniency, even towards his own juniors.
A few minutes later, Wang Shu entered the audition room along with the same group of young men who had previously looked down on him.
While those young men didn't openly express their disdain for Wang Shu, they kept snickering. In their eyes, many of their classmates had already been eliminated, so how could this amateur, self-taught individual possibly land a role?
The audition room was a hotel conference room. A total of five people, including Wang Shu, entered.
They all introduced themselves briefly. As Wang Shu was introducing himself, a stout man at the judging panel suddenly recognized him.
"You're Wang Shu? I'm the assistant director that Young Master Wang introduced you to yesterday!"
The stout man waved at Wang Shu.
Beside the stout man, the chief director, Chen Bo, found Wang Shu's presence quite displeasing.
"I said we don't allow nepotism in our crew. What's going on?"
Chen Bo said coldly to the assistant director.
The assistant director was taken aback and quickly explained, "Director, this is someone recommended by Young Master Wang Shi Cong. I forgot to report it to you yesterday!"
Upon hearing the name Wang Shi Cong, Chen Bo became even more annoyed. What reliable person could a rich second-generation heir, who did nothing but rely on his family, possibly recommend? His impression of Wang Shu further diminished.
"Alright, let's begin the audition. You go first!"
Chen Bo pointed at Wang Shu and said impatiently.
The other men beside Wang Shu couldn't help but feel a sense of schadenfreude.
They could tell the director was not pleased with this outsider.
"Our drama is a grand film about Guoshu, and it will be filmed abroad. Therefore, I hope our actors have at least some knowledge of Guoshu and possess excellent action foundations!"
Chen Bo announced to everyone present, holding a microphone.
The other four young men present showed expressions of joy upon hearing the requirement for action skills.
Besides being acting students, they also worked part-time as instructors at a taekwondo studio.
They had some foundation in martial arts-related fields, which gave them confidence in this audition.
When they looked at Wang Shu, they couldn't help but anticipate his downfall.
After all, this young man looked so frail and weak, as if he could collapse at any moment. Forget Guoshu, he probably would struggle even with a simple set of calisthenics.
"Now, Mr. Wang Shu, please demonstrate your basic movements for me!"
After stating the requirement, Chen Bo looked at Wang Shu and said.
The four young men behind Wang Shu also turned their attention to him.
"Improvise?"
Wang Shu asked doubtfully.
"Whatever you wish!"
Chen Bo replied again.
Then, Wang Shu took a deep breath, settled his energy in his dantian, and began to circulate his qi.
"How awkward, has this kid watched too many movies? Trying to act all profound here?"
"Hilarious! He's closing his eyes to circulate his qi. Even a martial arts grandmaster isn't as theatrical as him!"
"I suspect he's contemplating whether to do elementary school calisthenics or middle school calisthenics later!"
At this moment, upon seeing Wang Shu's actions, the four young men couldn't help but mock him again.
At the judging panel, Chen Bo furrowed his brow, feeling that this fellow was merely putting on an act.
But in the next second, Wang Shu suddenly opened his eyes, like a hawk suddenly opening its sharp gaze.
A palpable aura of lethal intent filled the entire audition room.
"This aura is unusual!"
An elder with white hair beside Chen Bo, who had remained silent since the audition began, exclaimed in a low voice.
"Old Qin, what do you think of this fellow?"
Chen Bo asked the elder beside him with some curiosity.
This Elder Qin, named Qin Hesong, was a renowned martial arts master nationwide. He had gone to great lengths to invite him to be the action choreographer for this film.
However, this was the first sentence he had spoken since the audition began.
Therefore, Chen Bo couldn't help but become curious about this favored acquaintance, Wang Shu.
Subsequently, Wang Shu began to execute his punches based on the images in his mind.
As he unleashed his moves, his fists sliced through the air with a whistling sound. The entire room fell silent, everyone holding their breath as they watched Wang Shu's performance.
"These punches are so fierce!"
The previously silent Elder Qin exclaimed again.
Qin Hesong straightened his posture and began to meticulously observe Wang Shu's techniques.
He had initially agreed to participate in the casting as a formality, as it was so difficult to find young people with good martial arts foundations nowadays.
Most of the auditionees he had seen so far were all flash and no substance, with no real skill.
He had almost given up, but he never expected to encounter someone who truly understood martial arts.
Moreover, even his gaze and a single movement exuded an aura of mastery.
"Elder Qin, what style of boxing is this?"
Seeing Elder Qin engrossed, Chen Bo asked curiously.
"I can't quite tell, but it's an excellent set of boxing techniques!"
Qin Hesong replied, his eyes fixed on Wang Shu.
He had begun practicing martial arts at the age of eight and dedicated his life to researching and reviving lost Guoshu, and promoting it.
He had initially intended to avoid dealings with the entertainment industry, but he agreed to be the action choreographer when he learned that the film aimed to promote Guoshu.
He never expected to be pleasantly surprised this time. Although he wasn't sure which school this young man's boxing belonged to, he was certain that its power was no less than any boxing style he was familiar with.
However, he was curious how this young man, who appeared to be only in his early twenties, could exhibit such a stance as if he had trained for decades.
"This guy's got something. Is he a martial arts practitioner?"
"I wondered why he dared to audition for this crew. So he's actually from a martial arts background?"
"So what if he's a practitioner? This is filmmaking, not hiring security guards. Skill without acting is useless!"
At this moment, the young men who had been waiting behind Wang Shu to witness his downfall were all astonished by his boxing display.
However, they still felt a sense of unwillingness to concede, believing that even with good moves, Wang Shu might not succeed in the audition.
After all, filmmaking demanded considerable acting skills.
Meanwhile, Wang Shu had finished his complete set of punches and stood still.
"Mr. Wang Shu, I'd like to know the name of your boxing style?"
Chen Bo picked up the microphone and asked Wang Shu curiously.
"Eagle Fist!"
Wang Shu replied.
He wasn't sure of the name of this boxing style, as it had spontaneously appeared in his mind.
However, its moves were as swift and fierce as an eagle pouncing, so he had decided to name it 'Eagle Fist' on the spot!
"Eagle Fist, an excellent boxing style! May I ask which school you are from, young man?"
Elder Qin Hesong's eyes lit up upon hearing Wang Shu's mention of Eagle Fist.
The name was fitting, as Wang Shu's demonstration had been like an eagle's fierce pounce.
Therefore, when Wang Shu uttered the name, he felt that this boxing style should indeed be called Eagle Fist.
However, he was curious about the origins of Eagle Fist.
He had visited martial arts families and schools across the country but had never encountered such a fierce boxing style before.
Thus, he couldn't help but directly inquire about the young man's lineage.
"To answer the elder, I have no master."
Wang Shu could immediately tell that the old man asking him was a martial arts practitioner.
This was evident from the aura emanating from his demeanor and his posture, which were distinctly different from those of the people around him. Furthermore, his voice was full of vigor when he questioned him.
"What, no master?"
Qin Hesong muttered in shock upon hearing Wang Shu's answer.
Based on Wang Shu's demonstration, it was impossible to achieve such a posture without the inheritance of a renowned master.
Yet, this young man claimed to have no master. If he wasn't disloyal to his predecessors, there could only be one explanation!
That this fellow was a martial arts prodigy!
"Director, this brother's movements are flawless and perfectly meet the requirements for the protagonist!"
Qin Hesong pointed at Wang Shu and turned to Chen Bo beside him, saying.
If Wang Shu were to play the protagonist, Qin Hesong would be very satisfied.
"I also think he's very suitable. Alright, today's audition ends here. We have found our suitable candidate!"
Chen Bo said directly, preparing to stand up and leave.
"Director Chen, isn't that too irresponsible? We waited in line for so long, and you're not even giving us a chance to demonstrate?"
At this moment, the young men who had been waiting behind Wang Shu to watch the show, seeing that the audition was about to conclude, spoke up.
"You? Are your moves better than his?"
Chen Bo, whose backside had already left the chair, heard their words and sat back down with a meaningful look, saying to them.
"We are all black belt masters in taekwondo. Besides our classes, we also serve as instructors at taekwondo studios!"
The young men said confidently.
They believed their skills were not inferior to Wang Shu's, as they were certified black belt masters in taekwondo.