Chapter 238: Digging to the Root

At the Lu family mansion, Lu Yuanhai laughed: "Isn't this hilarious? Ling Miaoying made such a huge fuss, and then his movie got burned to ashes! I laughed for a full hour over it."

Lu Yuanshan didn't laugh; he was older than Lu Yuanhai and saw further ahead.

"Uncle Qiu, do you think this is an opportunity?"

Qiu Zhiheng looked at Lu Yuanshan: "You want to make movies too?"

"Ling Miaoying's idea is truly good—filming ten movies at once. If we pull this off..."

Lady Duan Shaoxia beside them said: "Yuanshan, have you ever made a movie? Don't reach for things you can't handle."

Lu Yuanshan replied: "Precisely because I'm unsure, that's why I'm discussing it with Uncle Qiu."

Qiu Zhiheng didn't speak right away—he needed to weigh this carefully.

Lu Yuanhai said: "I think it's doable. It all depends on the actors. If the actors are famous, the movie will sell well."

Duan Shaoxia shot him a scornful look: "Easy for you to say. Where are you going to find good actors? The Ling family has the power to hire the top singers—they say they even turned fake romance into real love. Do you have that kind of ability?"

Lu Yuanhai sneered: "What kind of ability is that? As long as you pay enough, any singer or actress will do anything—don't even mention turning fake romance into real love; you could make them go all the way..."

Lu Yuanshan frowned: "Stop talking nonsense. Focus. Ling Miaoying is remaking this movie. If we beat them to it, this juicy prize is ours!"

"Juicy?" Lu Yuanhai didn't think a movie could earn much.

Lu Yuanshan sighed: "Talking to you is exhausting. I'm not just talking about this one movie—I'm talking about the entire industry! The profits here are enormous!"

"But this is our first time stepping in. If we lose money, it's just a financial loss—but we risk damaging the Lu family's reputation. After that, it'll be hard to ever get back in."

Monkey Qiu understood the stakes, but he had no confidence: "Since we're unsure, let's find someone who is."

Lu Yuanshan thought a moment: "The only person I can think of with experience is Ma Wu."

Lu Yuanhai nodded: "He's perfect for this! I heard he made movies before—but no normal theater would screen them, said they were indecent!"

Duan Shaoxia urged: "Don't keep thinking of tricking Junyang. I heard that in this industry, one misstep means total ruin. Junyang's resources aren't as strong as ours—he can't withstand this kind of gamble."

Lu Yuanshan snapped: "This isn't tricking him—it's helping him. We can contribute some capital; both families benefit."

Qiu Zhiheng nodded: "We cover half the cost, and Ma Wu raises the other half."

"If we lose money, our loss is small and won't harm the Lu family's reputation."

"If we profit, we share the industry's spoils—and we won't shortchange him."

Lu Yuanshan pulled on his coat: "I'm going to find Ma Wu now."

…

In Xiaoyao Wu, Ma Wu and Li Ban discussed the movie.

"Old Seven, should we agree to this?"

"Of course agree. Why not? Haven't you made movies before?"

"The films I made weren't exactly respectable."

"I've seen them. I thought they were fine."

Ma Wu still worried: "The Ling family poured everything into this movie. If we beat them to it, Ling Miaoying will come after us with everything."

"They've already come after us with everything." Li Ban didn't recount the details—he only described Ling Miaoying's usual tactics and methods.

Right now, he cared more about another matter: "How exactly did we end up in conflict with the Ling family?"

Ma Wu had pondered this too, but apart from Lu Xiaolan, he had no other leads.

"Because of Lu Xiaolan? Is she worth it?"

If Ling Miaoying targeted Li Ban and Ma Wu over Lu Xiaolan's beauty, Li Ban flatly refused to believe it—what kind of women hadn't Ling Miaoying seen?

"Maybe it's because we rose too fast. The Ling family wants to crush us early."

"Are we even worth it?" Li Ban shook his head. "You said yourself—the Ling family is the fifth most powerful clan in Pulu Province. Is that all their character? Crushing two newcomers?"

"They run newspapers, records, movies—we've never touched any of those. How could we possibly matter enough to draw their attention?"

"There's something else going on. Someone behind them. We must find out who."

There was another matter Li Ban had overlooked.

As evening lights flickered on, Li Ban went to Miaosheng Phonograph Shop.

The storefront was still small—but small had its advantages.

Since Ling Miaoying's incident, Miaosheng Phonograph Shop had been smashed over a dozen times. Fortunately, only the front hall was damaged. The interior was too complex for ordinary people to enter, and those capable didn't deign to do such petty things.

Behind the battered counter, Ling Miaosheng dozed as usual. Seeing a customer, he lifted his head and offered a faint smile.

He recognized Li Ban. Though Li Ban's appearance had changed, as a high-level Kui Xiu, he still recognized this old patron.

"Are you here to buy a phonograph—or to seek revenge? If it's revenge, go ahead. Too bad I don't have much left to smash."

Li Ban glanced at the curtain behind Ling Miaosheng: "If I remember right, the good stuff is all inside, isn't it?"

Ling Miaosheng shook his head slightly: "I can't let you smash what's inside—that's my life."

"I'm here to buy a phonograph. I need to see the goods first."

Ling Miaosheng nodded and led Li Ban into the back room.

The clerks who used to clean each room were gone—no one dared work for Ling Miaosheng anymore.

Li Ban examined several phonographs and chose a hand-cranked one, ready to pay.

The phonograph had good tone—though nothing compared to Niangzi—but it was made in Amikan, and its parts were compatible with Niangzi's.

Ling Miaosheng refused Li Ban's money: "I'm giving you this phonograph as an apology for my past actions. Don't worry—I checked thoroughly. There are no hooks on it."

Li Ban turned the crank. A gentle violin melody filled the air.

"Can I ask you something?"

Ling Miaosheng guessed what he'd ask and answered directly: "About my brother and third brother—I know little. They planted hooks on my shop and phonographs, but even I don't know much."

Li Ban didn't believe him: "You're a Kui Xiu too—and a high one. How could you not detect their hooks?"

Ling Miaosheng smiled bitterly: "You're right—I am a Kui Xiu. I won't boast, but my cultivation surpasses my brother and third brother. But finding hooks isn't about cultivation—it's about cunning."

"This shop is so large, so many phonographs—each hook is like a needle. I simply can't imagine where they planted them."

"Even now, many hooks remain in the shop. I can't find them. I may never know where they hid them."

"The only thing I know is—they work for someone powerful. That person is now in Waizhou. I don't know their goal or what they plan next."

Li Ban stayed silent. Ling Miaosheng carefully packed the hand-cranked phonograph and handed it to Li Ban.

"You probably still don't trust me. That's fine. If you want to fight, let's go outside—just don't break my phonographs."

Li Ban lowered his hat, took the phonograph, and left the shop.

Ling Miaosheng removed his hat, placed it over his chest, bowed, and watched Li Ban walk away.

…

Back at Xiaoyao Wu, Li Ban hummed "Ye Lai Xiang" to the phonograph. No hook snapped.

Ling Miaosheng was likely telling the truth. No further clues here—the trail still led to Ling Miaoying.

The powerful figure in Waizhou.

Who could it be?

…

"Jiaqing, your friend visited my second brother's phonograph shop today and bought a phonograph."

"Just bought a phonograph? I doubt he has that kind of leisure," He Jiaqing chuckled. "He went to ask your brother something."

"I suspect he asked questions too. But my second brother cleared most of the hooks. What they said remains unclear—I plan to ask him myself."

"You know your second brother's nature. Asking him is pointless. My brother is digging to the root. Your second brother never knew much to begin with. I fear his next move will be to find you."

Ling Miaoying nodded: "If he comes to me, that's best. I suspect he's behind the fire. This is the perfect chance to settle things."

"No!" He Jiaqing's tone was firm. "Focus on remaking the movie. Absolutely no more slip-ups."

"Replace the male lead. Find another actor."

"Zhou Changhong is the best actor. You know that."

"Precisely because he's the best, he must be assigned another task."

…

The next day, newspapers announced the Ling family's remake of "Blood Blade Detective." Ma Wu frowned: "They moved fast. I haven't even cast all my actors—they've already started filming."

Li Ban had visited the set several times and knew the main actors well. After reading the paper, he noticed a change: "Why was the male lead replaced?"

Ma Wu studied the list: "They replaced Zhou Changhong. He's a great actor—I could recruit him. But he's been with Ling Miaoying for seven or eight years. I don't know if he'll switch sides."

Ma Wu immediately sent someone to contact Zhou Changhong—only to learn the man had left Lüshuibay yesterday.

Where did he go?

That night, Ma Wu learned from the Border Control Office: Zhou Changhong had gone to Waizhou.

"He's not filming here—why go to Waizhou?" Ma Wu didn't understand. "Does he want to act in movies there?"

He'd followed Ling Miaoying for seven or eight years. Now, just as Ling Miaoying rushed to remake the movie, he left for Waizhou.

Waizhou…

Li Ban told Ma Wu: "Keep watch on his movements. Tell me immediately if you hear anything."

Two days later, news arrived.

Ma Wu said: "Zhou Changhong returned—but didn't take any role. He's reportedly still applying for a travel permit. He's leaving again soon."

Li Ban said: "Watch where he goes. Also, get me the same travel permit. I'll find out if he's delivering a message—or if he's the powerful figure in Waizhou."

PS: Zhou Changhong is the best actor—this isn't just idle talk.

(End of Chapter)