18: I won't kill you.

In the afternoon, Li Xiuwu arrived at the stables.

The horse trainer led over a cold-blooded horse. This was a European-bred horse, tall and upright, looking very majestic but actually quite gentle.

European horses, like Europeans, are strong, tall, and powerful—excellent livestock.

Historically, from the 12th to the 16th century, Europeans and European horses were among the highest quality goods for Arab merchants.

The horse trainer's historical lecture on European horses made Li Xiuwu look at him repeatedly.

"Ahem, riding a horse first requires building a rapport. You can start by leading it for a few laps to let it get used to you."

Realizing he had strayed off-topic, the horse trainer began explaining riding techniques.

"Alright." Li Xiuwu walked up to the tall black horse.

"How are you doing?" Li Xiuwu radiated goodwill.

"Not great. I feel like someone wants to ride me." The black horse pulled a long face, turning its head so its large, jewel-like eyes reflected Li Xiuwu.

"This is your job. If no one rides you, you'll just be slaughtered for meat."

The black horse glared at Li Xiuwu. Li Xiuwu met its gaze without a hint of guilt; yes, he intended to ride it.

"Come on up then. I won't throw you to your death," the black horse neighed.

"If you dare throw me, I'll roast and eat you tonight," Li Xiuwu warned. He gripped the saddle and nimbly vaulted onto the horse.

"Hey, hey! Don't be in such a rush to mount. Get familiar with it for a bit longer." The horse trainer was startled; Li Xiuwu had mounted in the brief moment he was distracted.

"It's fine. I feel like it's quite gentle." Li Xiuwu grabbed the reins and gave them a shake.

The black horse began to trot. "I'll say one-two-one, and you follow my rhythm."

The black horse really was afraid of being eaten, so it carried Li Xiuwu carefully and even guided him on how to coordinate his legs and hips to absorb the impact.

Its guidance was much more meticulous than the trainer's, as it could use its own sensations to remind Li Xiuwu whenever his movements were off.

With his excellent physical fitness, naturally high comprehension, and the black horse's cooperation and guidance, Li Xiuwu quickly mastered the skill of riding.

"Faster." Li Xiuwu nudged the horse's flanks with his feet. Receiving the command, the black horse accelerated, its hooves clattering across the stables.

The horse trainer watched Li Xiuwu in astonishment. From a novice to a proficient rider, it had only taken him half an hour.

"Who is that? Their horsemanship is so good." Zhao Jian came over to check on the progress of everyone's equestrian training.

"As expected of the top scholar of the college entrance examination, he learns everything quickly." The horse trainer thought for a while before reaching this conclusion.

"What? That's Li Xiuwu?" Zhao Jian looked on in shock as Li Xiuwu galloped across the field.

The clatter of hooves grew closer as Li Xiuwu finished a lap of the stables and returned.

"Didn't you say you didn't know how to ride?"

"I just learned." Li Xiuwu dismounted with a stylish flourish.

"It's quite simple." The black horse nudged him, and Li Xiuwu pushed its face away.

"I told you I have an affinity for animals. This horse is very gentle; it's a good horse."

Zhao Jian looked at Li Xiuwu and then at the black horse. Wherever Li Xiuwu walked, it followed.

He could almost see a fawning expression on the horse's face.

He looked at the horse trainer, who was also staring in amazement at the black horse following Li Xiuwu.

While this was one of the gentler horses at the stables, it shouldn't be following him like he was its master after just one ride.

Zhao Jian gave Li Xiuwu a thumbs up. "You've passed the training camp. For the rest of the time, feel free to do as you please."

"You learned how to ride!" Jiang Xin and Chen Hao ran over.

They had just seen Li Xiuwu riding; only this morning, he had said he didn't know how.

"Yeah." Li Xiuwu stroked the black horse's mane, and the horse looked like it was enjoying it.

"Do you have some kind of trick?" Jiang Xin asked. She had many scenes involving riding, so she had to know how to ride and gallop.

She found it incredibly difficult. It had taken her several days just to overcome her fear and manage to turn in circles while mounted with the trainer's help.

"What trick? You just get on and run." Li Xiuwu couldn't exactly say he could communicate with the horse and have it cooperate.

"We've been learning for over ten days, working so hard that our calves tremble by the end of the day, yet you learned in a single afternoon." Jiang Xin glared at Li Xiuwu, refusing to believe there wasn't a trick.

"If hard work were all it took, what would be the point of geniuses like us?" Li Xiuwu tilted his head up.

Jiang Xin clenched her fists, glaring at the haughty Li Xiuwu. She really wanted to punch someone right now.

"You guys chat, I'm going for another lap."

He nimbly vaulted onto the horse. Without needing any prompting, the black horse trotted onto the track and gradually picked up speed.

On the horse's back, Li Xiuwu felt a mental connection with the animal, experiencing the thrill of lightning speed.

It was a different kind of extreme speed thrill compared to driving a car.

While everyone else was in training, no one bothered him. He spent his days riding the horse, reading books, or taking his kitten out to sunbathe, making everyone extremely envious.

"You brat, stop distracting everyone from their training. Go find Old Zhou at the film crew." Since everyone was suffering while Li Xiuwu was relaxingly idle, Zhao Jian shooed him away.

With no time constraints, Li Xiuwu thought it over and decided to drive to Wuxi to report to Zhou Xiaowen.

"Teacher Zhou."

"You're here already? I was thinking of sending someone to the airport to pick you up." Zhou Xiaowen looked at Li Xiuwu's sudden arrival in surprise.

"I drove here," Li Xiuwu explained.

"I see." Zhou Xiaowen realized. "Take a good look around the set. If there's anything you don't understand, just ask."

"Thank you for the trouble, Teacher Zhou."

Li Xiuwu followed along to observe and learn every day, asking questions whenever he didn't understand something. Zhou Xiaowen was generous with his knowledge, explaining the crew's preparation work and various details.

[Detected: Protagonist is comprehending an Illusion Array. Comprehension Aura activated.]

With the Comprehension Aura, he developed an interest in directing and spent every day learning by Zhou Xiaowen's side.

Time passed quickly, and the actors finished their training camp and arrived at the film set.

Liu Yifei also arrived a few days before filming began. Li Xiuwu drove to the airport to pick up the mother and daughter.

"Li Xiuwu!" As Liu Yifei walked out of the airport, she saw the tall Li Xiuwu. Standing there, he really stood out from the crowd—tall and handsome.

"Auntie, Xixi, you're here." Li Xiuwu waved and went to meet them, taking the things from Liu Xiaoli's hands.

"You're not even helping me." Seeing Li Xiuwu help her mother with the luggage, Liu Yifei was instantly jealous.

"Do your own work. Are you and Auntie the same?" Li Xiuwu carried the luggage, opened the trunk, and put it in the car.

"You drove all the way from Beijing?" Liu Xiaoli recognized Li Xiuwu's BMW.

"During the training camp, Zhao Jian thought I was in the way and told me to come early. I figured since I wasn't in a rush, I'd just drive myself. Having a car makes getting around easier."

"It is indeed more convenient to have your own car. I'll rent one in the next couple of days." Liu Xiaoli nodded.

Li Xiuwu started the car and headed back.

"Auntie, you can just use mine. If you want to rent something, you might as well rent an RV."

A look of doubt appeared on Liu Xiaoli's face. Noticing this, Li Xiuwu explained.

"Lately, I've been following Director Zhou Xiaowen to several confirmed filming locations. Many of them are in the wilderness. During filming, we might have to stay in tents."

In this era, there was no such luxury as renting buses to shuttle actors back and forth every day.

Both actors and staff had to endure the hardships of the wilderness.