127: Chapter 127 Jumping off a shopping mall? Wei Tai is too expensive, I might as well just jump.

After the title of "Ladder War God" spread through the crew, Su Zhe's status in the eyes of his fellow stuntmen skyrocketed.

Now, when everyone looked at him, they no longer saw a "Little Fresh Meat," but a "Lead Big Brother."

After all, a man who could perform wonders with a broken ladder and even earn everyone extra chicken legs for their meals deserved respect.

...

Three days later.

The filming reached the absolute climax of the entire movie, and also the most dangerous scene—the mall chase.

Location: A 1:1 mall atrium built by the crew at a massive cost.

Plot setting: Chan Ka-kui (played by Su Zhe) is cornered by the villains at the railing on the sixth floor of the mall. To pursue the villain leader who has escaped to the ground floor, he must descend as quickly as possible without using stairs or elevators, which are out of service.

The only path is the metal pillar in the center of the mall, which is covered in decorative fairy lights.

Height: 20 meters.

Equivalent to six stories.

On set, several huge industrial fans were blowing, creating a tense atmosphere.

Director Chen stood behind the monitor, holding a walkie-talkie, his hand trembling slightly.

"All departments, pay attention!

This scene is too dangerous!

Wire team, where the hell is the wire team?

Check the steel cables; there must be triple insurance!

Green screen, is the green screen set up?

Is the post-production VFX team in place?"

According to Director Chen's plan, this scene was to be filmed in segments.

First, film the jump, then the landing, and the sliding process in between would be composited using a green screen.

Although it looked a bit fake, it was safe.

After all, Su Zhe was now a top-tier star with a high net worth; if anything happened to him, the production couldn't afford the compensation.

Just then.

Su Zhe walked over.

He was wearing that iconic police jacket and jeans, and on his feet were still those combat boots sent by Lei Shen.

He looked up at the pillar.

Then he looked at the busy wire and VFX teams.

His brows furrowed tightly.

"Director."

Su Zhe spoke.

"How much is the budget for this scene?"

Director Chen was stunned: "Budget? You mean the VFX costs? This scene is a major spectacle; just for post-production wire removal, background compositing, and lighting rendering, it will cost at least two million."

Two million?

Su Zhe's voice instantly became shrill, like a cat whose tail had been stepped on. "It costs two million to jump off a building? Is the building made of gold?"

He clutched his chest in distress and continued, "Director, we're making a police/crime film. We value realism and being hardcore!

Using VFX?

The audience will see through it in an instant.

This money is being wasted!"

Director Chen said helplessly, "Then what else can we do? We can't actually jump, can we? That's the sixth floor! Twenty meters! One slip and you're a meat patty!"

Su Zhe walked to the railing.

He glanced down.

It was indeed very high.

The people below were only the size of ants.

If he jumped directly, they would probably have to scrape him up with a shovel.

But...

He glanced at the pillar.

It was wrapped in many decorative fairy light wires; although they were in the way, they could also provide friction.

Most importantly.

If he didn't use wires or VFX and just shot it for real...

That would save two million!

Two million!

If calculated by commission or bonus...

A raging fire ignited in Su Zhe's eyes.

"System!"

He shouted in his mind.

"Is there a... skill for jumping off a building without dying?"

The system replied instantly:

[Recommended Skills:]

[1. Leap of Faith (Assassin's Creed Version): Price 100,000 popularity points. As long as there is a special haystack below, one can emerge unscathed from a height of fifty meters. Note: Special haystacks are hard to find in reality.]

[2. Spider-Man Possession (Trial Version): Price 200,000 popularity points. Palms can secrete adhesive. Note: Too expensive and difficult to explain.]

[3. Extreme Parkour · High Altitude Fall Buffering Technique (Master Level): Price 50,000 popularity points.]

[Note: Master biomechanics, friction control, breakfall rolling, and other techniques. Able to use the surrounding environment (such as pipes, wires, walls) for deceleration and buffering, reducing lethal damage to a minimum. One of the core skills of Jackie Chan's Playground.]

"Fifty thousand?"

Su Zhe did the mental math.

Fifty thousand popularity points in exchange for a two-million-dollar budget.

A massive profit!

"Bought!"

[Ding! 50,000 popularity points deducted. Exchange successful.]

Su Zhe felt his body become light; his fear of heights vanished, replaced by an urge to conquer gravity.

He turned around.

He looked at Director Chen.

His gaze was firm, as if he were Dong Cunrui about to blow up a bunker. "Director.

Take down the wires.

Take down the green screen.

I'll jump directly."

The walkie-talkie in Director Chen's hand dropped.

"Are you crazy?

Su Zhe, I know you want to save money, but you only have one life!

If you fall to your death, how am I supposed to explain it to your tens of millions of fans?

How am I supposed to explain it to your creditors?"

Su Zhe waved his hand.

"Don't worry.

I've calculated it.

As long as I grab that pole and use friction to decelerate, the gravitational potential energy will be converted into thermal energy.

At most, my hands will be a bit scorched and my pants a bit worn.

I definitely won't die.

And..."

Su Zhe pointed downstairs, "Have the props team move that ball pit from the children's playground over and place it at the bottom to catch me.

Double insurance."

Director Chen looked at Su Zhe's "if I don't go to hell, who will" expression.

His eyes moistened.

What kind of spirit was this?

This was the spirit of sacrificing oneself for art!

"Good!"

Director Chen gritted his teeth.

"All departments, prepare!

Clear the set!

Ambulance, get the ambulance to the entrance, and don't turn off the engine!

Cameras!

Film this from every angle with no blind spots!

If this jump succeeds, it will be a cinematic classic!"

...

Ten minutes later.

The entire set was silent.

All eyes were concentrated on the tiny figure on the sixth-floor railing.

Su Zhe stood at the edge.

He took a deep breath.

[Ancient Martial Arts Master · Core Strength] + [Extreme Parkour · High Altitude Buffering].

A double skill stack.

He aimed for the metal pillar that was two meters away from the railing.

Two million...

Two million...

He chanted this number in his heart to bolster his courage.

"Action!"

Following the command.

Su Zhe moved.

Without the slightest hesitation.

He leaped!

His entire body was like a Roc spreading its wings as he flew off the railing.

He traced a heart-stopping arc in the air.

Ah!

The staff members below couldn't help but scream.

Pa!

Su Zhe accurately grabbed hold of that metal pole.

A massive downward force instantly transferred to him, making his arms ache sharply.

Zzzzt!

His body began to slide down at high speed.

His palms and pant legs rubbed violently against the metal pole, making a tooth-grinding sound.

Even blue smoke started to rise!

"Hot, hot, hot!"

Su Zhe bared his teeth in a grimace.

But this wasn't even the worst part.

The pole was wrapped in those small decorative fairy lights.

During the descent.

"Crack, pop, snap!"

Bulbs burst.

Wires tangled.

Su Zhe was like a piece of clothing in a washing machine; as he slid down, he smashed through the bulbs all the way.

Sparks flew everywhere!

The visual effect was simply explosive!

"Holy crap! My pants! My pants!"

Su Zhe felt a chill on the outside of his thigh.

His jeans had been worn through.

This was a pair of genuine Levi's he had spent a hundred yuan on.

The heartache was even more intense than the pain in his hands.

Bang!

Finally.

When he slid to the bottom.

Su Zhe let go.

He fell heavily into the ball pit below like a sack of potatoes.

Splash...

The plastic balls flew everywhere.

The entire set was dead silent.

Director Chen threw down his walkie-talkie and rushed over like a madman.

"Su Zhe, Su Zhe! Quick! Doctor! Doctor!"

Everyone swarmed around.

Everyone thought Su Zhe was either dead or crippled.

Just then.

The balls moved slightly.

A hand reached out.

In the hand, he was still tightly clutching a section of torn wire.

Su Zhe's head popped out.

His hair was a bit frizzy from the electricity, his face was covered in black and white soot, and his clothes were in tatters.

But he was alive.

And his eyes were clear.

"Di... Director."

Su Zhe panted heavily, his voice raspy.

Director Chen's tears started falling as he grabbed him: "I'm here, I'm here! Don't speak! The ambulance will be here soon!"

Don't...

Su Zhe grabbed Director Chen's sleeve, "Don't call the ambulance... the starting fee isn't cheap... I'm fine."

He pointed to his thigh.

There, a large hole had been worn into his jeans, revealing the pink long johns underneath.

"It's just that my pants are broken.

This counts as a work injury, right?

Can I get a reimbursement?"

Director Chen: "..."

The entire crew: "..."

Director Chen took a deep breath.

He looked at this eccentric man who had just completed a stunning stunt that would go down in cinematic history, yet the first thing he cared about after escaping death was the issue of pants reimbursement.

He suddenly didn't know whether to laugh or cry.

"Reimbursed!"

Director Chen roared.

"I'll reimburse you for ten pairs! From now on, the crew will cover all your pants!"

Su Zhe's eyes lit up.

"Really? Does that include underwear?"

"..."

"Yes! All of it!"

Su Zhe chuckled.

He slumped back into the ball pit, feeling like all the bones in his body were falling apart, and his palms were stinging with a burning pain.

But...

"Two million...

Saved two million.

Now Director Chen should be too embarrassed not to give me a bonus, right?

If he could give me even a tenth of that two million in cash...

I could buy Qingxue a better bag."

Thinking of this.

Su Zhe closed his eyes.

He wore a blissful smile.

He had no idea.

That the jump just now.

Had been completely recorded by the cameras.

And on the big screen in the future, it would become a "Leap of Faith" that made countless viewers cover their eyes and scream, and made countless Hollywood action stars give it a thumbs up.