Chapter 3: Upper Mountain, Lower Earth: This is Splitting

When the production assistant went to invite Lu Kuan into the room again, Zhang Jizhong still wore a look of indifference, while Meng Fanyao was all smiles.

Only Ju Jueliang looked indignant, seemingly unable to do anything about it, holding his breath and remaining silent on the side.

The young Daoist took in the expressions of everyone present and accepted the contract document, which still smelled of printer ink, handed over by Meng Fanyao.

Touching it in his hand, it was still warm, clearly fresh off the press.

"Daoist Lu, we understand your meaning."

"The previous contract is void; we will sign a new one. This labor contract is valued at 200,000, which is the total amount of that religious consultant contract from just now."

Meng Fanyao smiled with hidden daggers: "Now you can't play hard to get anymore and say we lack sincerity, right?"

Lu Kuan remained calm: "Oh, let me see."

The production manager and the bearded man exchanged a glance, secretly mocking him in their hearts; they didn't believe a young Daoist from the deep mountains would know anything about legal contracts.

The young Daoist flipped through the pages with familiarity, thinking to himself that this old fox truly refused to give up.

Working in PR, he was naturally no stranger to yin-yang contracts; the dinner party Lu Kuan attended before dying of a sudden heart attack from drinking was for the sake of landing a PR project for Sister Eight Hundred Million.

But this civil contract in his hand, purchasing metaphysical geomancy services for 200,000, was legally an invalid contract and had no legal force whatsoever.

If he signed it and the other party refused to pay, he would have no recourse at all.

If Lu Kuan pestered them for an explanation, Meng Fanyao could even countersue him for fraud.

In the 80s and 90s, the domestic craze for lacquer work had just faded, and the authorities were cracking down hard on religious cults; things like feng shui and geomancy that skirted the edge of the law were easily labeled as such.

Money makes the mare go; Meng Fanyao clearly didn't want to give up the huge sum of money within reach, and Zhang Jizhong continued to "open sources and cut costs" under the crew's financial distress.

The rhetoric he had just used to persuade Zhang Jizhong and Ju Jueliang was also simple:

If he really is a master, he definitely won't sign; if he is a fake, we'll just scam him back.

Ju Jueliang naturally disagreed.

Even masters can be ignorant of worldly affairs; with an old fox like you who has been in the film industry for over a decade, there's no guarantee the master won't be scammed to death by you.

He was still counting on Master Lu to point him toward the right path!

Lu Kuan’s expression was calm as he quickly let his pen fly across the contract.

Meng Fanyao glanced at Ju Jueliang without changing his expression, the meaning in his eyes self-evident: Director Ju, you still misjudged him, didn't you?

It’s only these Xiangjiang directors who believe in this stuff; it’s just too unreliable.

Holding the pen, Lu Kuan flipped to the last page, and Meng Fanyao prompted him: "Daoist Lu, you need to sign the last page and across the seal."

"Oh."

Everyone watched him sign with a flourish and felt relieved; Zhang Jizhong thought to himself that he was nothing special, and he had actually thought he was some brilliant young talent.

Looking at it this way, his speculation that he had received information in advance was likely true; if he could really divine the future, would he not see through this little trap?

Meng Fanyao took the contract with a chuckle, glanced at it, and froze, then immediately threw it on the ground in anger: "You! Are you trying to cause trouble on purpose?"

"What's the situation?" Zhang Jizhong, seeing his furious expression, couldn't suppress his curiosity and walked over to pick up the contract.

"Changfeng?"

Meng Fanyao was so angry he nearly vomited blood; are you fucking messing with me?

Zhang Jizhong shook his head with a bitter smile, looking at the composed Lu Kuan, knowing full well that this was a little trick the young Daoist had played on purpose.

"Alright, Daoist Lu, don't toy with us anymore. Let's discuss the terms, shall we?"

Zhang Jizhong sat on a single-seat sofa, facing Lu Kuan, his body language showing that he now regarded him as a negotiation partner worthy of serious attention.

In his past life, Lu Kuan had also struggled his way up from being a nobody in the bustling world.

What kind of losses hadn't he suffered?

What kind of traps hadn't he dug?

What kind of women hadn't he played with...

Well, that one he actually hadn't; as everyone knows, PR companies are very professional.

Lu Kuan smiled: "An honest person doesn't speak in riddles. I'll be open and honest with Director Zhang."

"First, I must declare one thing!"

"As a formally registered member of the Socialist Daoist Association, I have always been committed to providing interpretations of traditional Daoist thought that align with the excellent traditional culture of China."

"Therefore, the geomancy, feng shui, and other religiously colored remarks I provide are merely my personal interpretations and are not me peddling services to you. You must clarify this point first."

"You mean you don't intend to take this 200,000?" Meng Fanyao was somewhat incredulous.

He had previously heard that he was just a down-and-out Daoist who swindled people; how was he now, like a sow wearing a bra, coming up with one set of arguments after another?

"I haven't finished yet, Director Meng, don't be impatient."

Lu Kuan picked up the disposable paper cup on the table, took a sip of tea, and continued: "I happen to be establishing a business consulting company recently. If you are interested, I am willing to provide some business advice to the crew or to Director Zhang personally."

"Hmm, limited to the commercial field."

At the end, he added: "This has nothing to do with the feng shui nonsense I was talking about to myself. Please be sure to distinguish between them."

"You!!!"

Meng Fanyao felt he needed to go to the hospital to check his blood pressure; today he was practically turning into Zhou Yu, being angered more than three times by this goddamn young Daoist.

This was a naked liability waiver! He had taken the money while preventing himself from being accused of fraud!

Such minor contract traps were naturally a piece of cake for a PR company boss.

"Enough!"

Zhang Jizhong was clear-headed; throughout this whole affair, his side had become like a bunch of clowns, while the other party had seen through everything from the start and was just playing along with them.

The bearded man stood up from the sofa: "Daoist Lu, 200,000 in consulting fees, we will prepay you 100,000. First, help us out of our predicament and see how to resolve the urgent needs of our crew."

"The remaining balance will be paid after the wrap-up. Is that acceptable?"

Ju Jueliang and Meng Fanyao looked again at the young Daoist sitting on the sofa with a calm expression; that ethereal temperament seemed to have entered the world, switching from Daoist Lu back to the Boss Lu of his past life.

"That 200,000 just now nearly bought me ten years in prison, Director Meng."

"Now that it's still the same price, isn't it a bit inappropriate?"

"300,000. Sincerity brings spiritual response."

Meng Fanyao slapped the arm of the sofa, his expression unkind: "Daoist Lu, isn't it a bit too ruthless to raise the price on the spot? Is 200,000 not enough for a few words from you?"

Boss Lu instantly switched back to the role of the little immortal: "The Huainanzi: Miscellaneous Sayings states, 'Fortune arises from oneself, and misfortune is born from oneself.'"

"One thing is one thing; Director Meng, having made a mistake just now, should realize the principle that karma is never wrong."

"This 100,000 is merely to buy your 'retribution for good and evil follows like a shadow'."

Meng Fanyao’s face flushed red, but his wolfish ambition had been laid bare, and he couldn't deny it.

Ju Jueliang stared at him with dissatisfaction; it was all because of this shortsighted mainland production manager, ruining the crew's major affairs for a few pennies!

He couldn't help but look at the bearded man again; after all, Zhang Jizhong was still the one in charge.

The bearded man sighed: "Daoist Lu is new here; give us some time to consider."

"Little Fan, take Daoist Lu to the finance department to withdraw 10,000 yuan to get settled in first, would that be alright?"

Lu Kuan’s expression was indifferent; fishing requires patience: "Fine, then I won't delay your work any longer."

"Infinite Life and Boundless Daoist."

This was a common blessing used by Daoists, similar to saying bye-bye and wishing you good luck.

Lu Kuan lightly brushed his Daoist robe, one hand behind his back, his posture as upright as a pine or cypress, as if he had become the immortal-looking young Daoist they had first met.

Provided one ignored his old-fox-like negotiation stance just now.

Ju Jueliang was completely convinced now and respectfully stood up to see him out.

"By the way, Director Zhang, there is one thing I must say beforehand." The young Daoist stopped as if remembering something, his brows furrowed as he looked at the bearded man.

"Please speak."

"I didn't explain the hexagram for the change just now. Based on the situation of this office and the main creators of the crew, the Hexagram of Oppression is very likely to develop into the Hexagram of Splitting!"

"Upper Mountain and Lower Earth is Splitting; splitting the bed at the feet, destruction."

This time he didn't wait for Zhang Jizhong to ask, continuing to explain: "In short, if the legs of the bed rot, they will fall off; this is a matter that damages the foundation."

"I hope you consider it early; do not procrastinate. If you procrastinate further..."

"It will surely lead to a great disaster. I have said all I have to say!"

Having said this, he turned and entered the curtain of rain, the mist swirling, looking even more like that detached and ethereal person from beyond the world.

The Legend of the Condor Heroes crew faced difficulties throughout; Li Yapeng hitting people and Li Yapeng getting injured during subsequent filming are all true events, not fabricated by the author. Details can be seen in the easter egg chapter.

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(End of this chapter)