Retired for A Hundred Years: Re-Employment for the Apocalypse Bigshot!-Chapter 102: Guidance

The crowd immediately stepped forward, smiling and exchanging pleasantries with Ji Ning.

If someone could gain Feng Zhong’s special attention, they must possess exceptional qualities; befriending them had no downside.

Feng Zhong also hoped Ji Ning could provide some guidance on the fight choreography for the lead actors. He intentionally called them forward and introduced them, "Xiao Ning, these are the leads of our show, Wang Yanyan and Gu Lin. They have a scene this afternoon, could you give them some pointers?"

Wang Yanyan stepped forward first, smiling as she exchanged greetings, "Teacher Ji, I’ll be counting on you this afternoon."

Ji Ning nodded slightly.

Gu Lin, with his martial arts background, typically looked down on ordinary action directors. Feng Zhong had specially invited someone from the Martial Arts Association specifically to earn his respect.

Now, with the sudden appearance of another advisor, so young at that, he instinctively doubted Ji Ning’s capabilities. However, as an actor and in front of Director Feng, he maintained a well-mannered and polite expression as he greeted Ji Ning.

Ji Ning looked at him twice.

Feng Zhong then took Ji Ning and her newly appointed assistant, Bai Xiaotang, on a tour around the set, introducing every member of the crew and their responsibilities in detail, particularly making a grand introduction at the action choreographer’s side.

"Teacher Mao, this is our specially appointed action advisor, Ji Ning, who previously suggested the fight choreography for some scenes. You can exchange ideas more often in the future. There happens to be a scene now, and you can help Xiao Ning see how to make it more reasonable."

Mao Qiushuang, who was drinking tea, was not as enthusiastic as Feng Zhong, only giving Ji Ning a cold, brief glance and nodding lightly.

At this moment, a stunt double suddenly clasped his fist towards Ji Ning, "I’m a straightforward person. Since you’re the new advisor, your martial arts must be excellent. How about we have a sparring match?"

"Okay." Ji Ning directly accepted.

Feng Zhong knew martial artists like Mao Qiushuang didn’t care about imaginary titles or reputations; capabilities and strength couldn’t be spoken of—only proven beneath the fists, so he didn’t stop it. Instead, he wanted to see Ji Ning’s skills again.

"Please enlighten me!"

The stunt double first moved to an open space on the side, clasped his fists towards Ji Ning, and his gaze and aura instantly changed, taking a step back with his left leg and setting his stance.

Ji Ning slowly walked to face him, standing with her hands behind her back, nodding slightly.

The stunt double was somewhat courteous, "You’re a girl, you make the first move."

Ji Ning raised an eyebrow and asked, "Are you sure?"

"Of course, I never actively hit a woman." The stunt double lifted his head slightly, a bit disdainfully.

"Alright."

With that "Alright," the stunt double was already airborne, falling straight three meters away.

The onlooking Bai Xiaotang rubbed her eyes vigorously, looking at Ji Ning, who seemed to remain unmoved. "Sister Ning, did you move?"

Ji Ning smiled and spoke to the fallen stunt double who couldn’t get up, "Thank you for letting me win."

The surrounding staff immediately rushed forward to check, asking if his injuries required medical attention, but the stunt double only felt like he had been hit hard by something heavy. His abdomen burned with pain, his mind a blank slate, wanting to say nothing.

Ji Ning glanced at the stunt double surrounded by people and said flatly, "He’s fine. The pain will pass soon."

"How could he be fine? It was just sparring, was a heavy hand really necessary?" Someone spoke up in defense.

Bai Xiaotang was unhappy, "If Sister Ning really used a heavy hand, he’d be spitting blood by now."

The person, stifled, muttered softly, "I won’t argue with you, young girl."

...

Sitting not far away with his tea, Mao Qiushuang had spilled half his cup, eyes wide with shock.

Having practiced martial arts for decades and being a renowned martial artist on the Hua Continent, he had only caught a hint of the girl retracting her fist. When she struck, and how she moved, was completely unseen, speaking to the terrifying speed she possessed.

Judging from the three meters distance Ah Fei was sent flying, the girl had been merely two steps away. To unleash such force in such a short span indicated she possessed immense strength.

Those with such ability, their body constitution would have at least surpassed S-Class.

With this thought, Mao Qiushuang’s eyes lit up with a trace of fervor; he put down the teacup and stood to speak to Ji Ning, "There’s a fight scene with the lead actors that Director Feng hasn’t been satisfied with lately. Can you have a look at what’s wrong? Gu Lin, Yanyan, come over and perform for Advisor Ji."

Wang Yanyan’s eyes gleamed briefly and she immediately walked over, while Gu Lin was slightly reluctant, feeling that the series of actions were already well-matured, but Director Feng was nitpicking every last detail, causing his discontent.

Once they settled into their respective positions, Feng Zhong gave the slate operator a knowing look.

The slate operator immediately approached with the clapperboard, "’Gone with the Wind,’ Scene 67, 3, 2, 1, action!"

Gu Lin entered character in a second, collapsing to his knees, clutching his chest, his face full of agony, and "spitting blood" while his other hand hung suspended.

Seeing this, Ji Ning threw an iron rod towards Gu Lin.

Gu Lin reflexively caught it, the rod rotating once on the back of his hand before embedding solidly into the ground.

Wang Yanyan was momentarily stunned, but seeing Gu Lin still in character, she didn’t interrupt, kneeling before him with a worried expression, "Pei Yao, are you okay? Are you hurt?"

Gu Lin thrust Wang Yanyan’s body away forcefully, his voice squeezed out from within his throat, "Go quickly! I can hardly control myself! Go—"

"I won’t leave, I will never leave. No matter what you become, I’ll stay by your side, through life and death with you."

"Ah—"

Gu Lin let out a painful roar, eyes wide open, as the rod in his hand swung directly at Wang Yanyan.

Wang Yanyan was struck directly, yet she still refused to leave. She raised her hand to grasp the rod in Gu Lin’s hand, shouting his name anxiously, "Pei Yao—it’s me! I’m Ah Yao—"

But Gu Lin seemed to lose all reason, his strikes growing stronger, forcing Wang Yanyan to counteract, trying to knock him unconscious.

This fight scene was considered a high-energy segment of the show, and Feng Zhong had always been meticulously nitpicking every action detail, but no matter what Gu Lin and Wang Yanyan did, it never hit the feeling he desired.

"Cut—that will do." Feng Zhong called out first, then turned a smiling eye towards Ji Ning, "Xiao Ning, do you think there’s room for improvement in their fight scene?"

Ji Ning glanced at him then turned to Gu Lin and Wang Yanyan, "Your moves were executed very accurately."

"Thank you, Teacher Ji, for the recognition," Wang Yanyan replied breathlessly.

"But being too precise makes it appear fake."

Wang Yanyan’s expression froze.

Ji Ning turned and pointed to Ye Tong in the crowd, "Come over and play her role."

"Huh?" Ye Tong was a bit bewildered, pointing at herself with her finger, then, seeing Ji Ning beginning to frown impatiently, quickly jogged over and stood in place.

Ji Ning again looked at Gu Lin, saying, "Your character is gravely injured with a somewhat unclear consciousness, has a base urge to destroy everything in front of him, but the remaining sanity has feelings for her, causing you to be intermittently aggressive when attacking her, right?"

Gu Lin, surprised that Ji Ning gleaned so much from his performance, couldn’t help but nod.

"Good. The rod."

Ji Ning extended a hand, and Gu Lin immediately handed her the iron rod.

The clapperboard operator saw Ji Ning and Ye Tong were in place, just about to bring the clapper in when Wang Yanyan said, "Wait a second, Xiao Tong has never practiced my moves, would it be dangerous?"

Ye Tong quickly responded, "It’s okay, I know a bit."

Wang Yanyan swallowed back her words, looking at Ye Tong’s back, her expression slightly darkened.