Chapter 258: This Is Art!

Ma Wu didn't care much about reputation, but this time, he was truly angry.

Lu Yuan Shan poured Ma Wu a cup of wine: "Junyang, how can you say that? We're brothers—what kind of bond do you think we have? You made money, we're happy for you."

Lu Yuan Hai chimed in from beside him: "Yes, we're all happy for you."

"Happy for me?" Ma Wu didn't drink the wine. "Shouldn't you be happy? We partnered to fund this movie, now it's making money—let's split it fairly like we agreed!"

"That's out of line, out of line," Lu Yuan Shan lit Ma Wu another cigar. "Talking about splitting money? That's not brotherly. We don't discuss money among brothers."

Lu Yuan Hai said: "Old Five, you've struggled hard in Lüshui City—we brothers all feel for you. Helping you out a bit is only natural."

"What do you mean 'helping'?" Ma Wu grew angrier by the second. "Partnership means profit-sharing based on results. Tomorrow, I'll call every reporter and settle the accounts right then and there."

"No split, no split!" Lu Yuan Shan waved his hand. "We've already discussed it with Uncle Qiu—all profits from 'Blood Spear Detective' go to you. Our share? Consider it sponsorship for your second film."

Lu Yuan Hai added: "Honestly, we don't need this money. We backed the movie for you—don't be so formal with us."

Formal?

Were these two brothers really that generous?

Did they really think Ma Wu couldn't see through their words?

They gave up their share of 'Blood Spear Detective''s profits not because they didn't care about money, but because they didn't want to tarnish the Lu family's name.

The film company was co-founded by both parties—the Lu family held half the shares. They learned the entire process: casting, casting choices, box office promotion… They now controlled the whole team: screenwriters, directors, cinematographers…

Experience, resources, connections, tactics—all in place. The Lu family had already reached into the film industry.

Ling Jia's 'Blood Blade Detective' had been crushed by Ma Wu's 'Blood Spear Detective,' suffering heavy losses in both reputation and profit. Ling Jia's dream of monopolizing the film industry was now nearly impossible—perfectly clearing space for the Lu family.

The Lu family had achieved every goal.

The blame? They planned to leave it all to Ma Wu.

In the future, the Lu family would launch a new company to make respectable films.

The company co-founded with Ma Wu? They'd slowly withdraw, pretending to leave it to him—really turning it into a rag for cleaning up dirty films and dirty work.

Don't blame the Lu family for being cruel—business is done this way.

But Ma Wu was a shrewd businessman—he couldn't possibly miss this.

"The press conference for the next film is coming soon—if you two brothers don't show up, I won't make the movie!" Ma Wu snapped.

Lu Yuan Shan hurried to soothe him: "Old Five, don't say that—it hurts our harmony."

Lu Yuan Hai also urged: "Old Five, what's gotten into you? You weren't like this before. Have a drink, calm down."

Nothing would help!

Ma Wu quit. When he returned to Xiaoyao Wai, he heard Li Banfeng had come back. He opened two fine bottles and poured out his grievances to Li Banfeng all afternoon.

"Old Seven, can we still make this film?"

"Of course we can! Why not?"

Ma Wu waved his hand. "Old Seven, you don't understand. To challenge Ling Miaoying, I staked my reputation. You probably haven't even seen the movie I made…"

Li Banfeng set down his cup. "I've seen it. Twice."

"You've seen it—you know it's not even a film. It's humiliating. Even I feel ashamed."

"Why isn't it a film? Why is it humiliating?"

Ma Wu stayed silent. Though born into wealth, he was still from Pulu Province—some of his views still lay within Pulu's boundaries.

Li Banfeng patiently explained: "In Waizhou, countless directors became famous through films like this. This is art."

"Waizhou has many Western painting galleries—those artists don't feel ashamed. Why should we?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "Painting is painting. This is film. It's different."

"What's different? Both are art. Only failure is shameful. Success makes you a master! This film must be made."

Ma Wu looked up. "Then should your name be added too?"

"No! I'm not afraid of shame—I just can't reveal my identity."

Ma Wu sighed deeply. "Fine. I'll follow your lead. Will the second film be made the same way as the first?"

"No. The first had enough impact, but weak storytelling. Audiences will grow tired. Have your screenwriters put real effort into crafting a better plot."

"I'm worried we won't have time. I don't know how Ling Jia did it, but they finished a film in a month. If I take my time, I'll never beat them."

"You don't need to beat them," Li Banfeng was confident in the current situation. "Spend more time on this one. Even if you're ten or fifteen days late, it won't matter. A slight delay will help even more. Half of Ling Jia's promotion will end up benefiting us."

Ma Wu blinked. "You really think this is legitimate business?"

"Legitimate. Very legitimate," Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu with sincerity. "Trust me—you'll dominate this industry."

"Serious, very serious!" Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu with sincere intent. "Follow me, and we're definitely taking this job!"

"We can't let Ma Wu keep filming like this—he'll swallow us whole!" Zhou Chang Hong lowered his newspaper to Ling Miaoying. "We need to give Ma Wu trouble. They burned our film reels—we'll smash their set. That's how you repay a debt."

'Blood Blade Detective' had underperformed at the box office. Zhou Chang Hong was in a foul mood; Ling Miaoying was under heavy pressure.

Now Zhou Chang Hong wanted to go dirty. Ling Miaoying thought it was irrational.

"Ma Wu has the Lu family behind him. If we strike at them, we'll tear the veil off completely."

"We don't need to act ourselves. How's the contact with San Ying Men going?"

"The Second Boss is friendly with us—he'll likely help. But they speak in gang terms. How far they'll go is uncertain."

Zhou Chang Hong was confident: "We don't need them to go far—just send people. Ma Wu's film is too dirty; the Lu family doesn't want to get too deep. When San Ying Men moves in, they'll stay hidden. Then Ma Wu will have to bear it alone—I want to see how he handles this!"

Zhou Changhong felt assured: "No need to demand perfection—they just need to send someone."

Ma Wu had cast the actors and finalized the script. On the first day of shooting, a thin young man arrived with over a dozen followers.

The assistant director stepped forward: "Gentlemen, we're filming. The director said everyone not involved must leave."

"What's 'everyone not involved'?" The young man bit into a meat bun, chewing as he spoke. "You're making a film? We're here to watch. Can't we watch?"

The assistant director tried to argue further but was shoved back by one of the young man's men.

The director knew these men were here to cause trouble. He sent someone to notify Ma Wu immediately.

When Ma Wu arrived, the young man was scolding the female actress: "You're young, pretty—why do this? Once this film's out, everyone will see your body. How will you live? Who'll marry you? Who'll want you?"

The actress was in tears. Ma Wu stepped forward and stared at the young man. "Sir, what do you want here?"

"Sir? Advice?" The young man laughed. "We don't call each other 'sir.' We call each other 'brother.'"

Zuo Wu Gang whispered beside Ma Wu: "Five Master, these are from San Ying Men. They all call each other 'brother.'"

Ma Wu said: "I've had no conflict with San Ying Men. Why are you here today?"

"Conflict? How can you say there isn't any?" The young man cut him off. "Our brothers are decent people—we can't stand your dirty business. Think for yourself—is this decent? Don't you feel ashamed?"

Zuo Wu Gang whispered again: "Five Master, don't ask more. They're here to cause trouble. Fight or not?"

If it came to fighting, Zuo Wu Gang wasn't afraid.

"A grudge? How can you say there isn't one?" The young man cut in. "Our brothers in San Ying Gate are upright people—we can't stand your shady business."

San Ying Men wasn't a great family—they were a gang. They had countless underhanded tricks. If they tore the veil, it'd be like poking a hornet's nest. Ma Wu had no defense against their methods.

Gangs coming to disrupt a set—was this about money?

Ma Wu ordered a hundred silver dollars brought over and handed them to the young man. "Brother, my business depends on your goodwill. This is just a token of my respect."

The young man pushed the money back. "Five Young Master, I won't take this. We've met before—you probably don't remember me. I'll give you one piece of advice: stop making this film. Never make another. You've made enough money. Quit now while you still can."

Shooting was canceled that day. Ma Wu returned to Xiaoyao Wai and told Li Banfeng everything.

Li Banfeng was curious: "Why would San Ying Men target us?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "I've thought about it all day—I can't figure out why. We've never wronged San Ying Men."

The young man pushed the silver dollars back to Ma Wu. "Young Master Wu, I won't take this money. We've met before, but you probably don't remember me. Let me give you one piece of advice:"

"Lu Yuan Shan said he'd ask around. But I doubt he'll get an answer. If I'm right, this is Ling Jia's doing—they hired San Ying Men."

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead. The relationship between Pulu Province's wealthy families and gangs was too complex—he couldn't untangle it yet.

"Who is that young man who came to disrupt the set?"

Ma Wu said: "Old Zuo is investigating. No results yet. Word is he's a rising talent in San Ying Men—nobody knows his name or surname."

Li Banfeng lowered his hat brim. "I'll meet him tomorrow."

"Old Seven, don't provoke San Ying Men—they're dangerous."

"I don't want to provoke them. But I won't let them walk all over us!"

"Who is that young man who came to disrupt the set?"

The next day, filming resumed. Soon after, the young man returned with his men.

Today he wasn't eating meat buns—he was eating a chicken leg.

He slapped his greasy hand onto Ma Wu's shoulder and grinned. "Five Young Master, you still don't get it. I told you not to make this film—why won't you listen?"

Ma Wu said to the young man: "Brother, let's talk somewhere private."

"Talk anywhere—it's still the same thing," the young man followed Ma Wu to the back of the set. "Five Young Master, if you want to go hard, I'm ready. We can fight anywhere. But today, you're not shooting this film."

"Then when will you let us shoot?" Li Banfeng stepped out from the shadows and walked toward the young man. "What's your real meaning? Why are you disrupting us?"

The young man stared at Li Banfeng—his chicken leg fell to the ground. "T-that… Seventh Brother…"

Li Banfeng was stunned. "Who are you?"

PS: Someone familiar has arrived.

"If we step aside to talk, won't it still be the same thing?" The young man followed Ma Wu to the back of the set. "Young Master Wu, if you want to go tough, I'm ready. We can fight anywhere—but this film won't be shot today."

"Then when are you going to shoot us?" Li Banfeng appeared from a corner backstage and walked up to the young man. "What's the meaning of this? Why are you causing trouble here?"

The young man looked at Li Banfeng and dropped his chicken leg on the ground. "Uh, uh, Seventh Brother…"

Li Banfeng was startled. "Who are you?"

PS: Someone familiar has arrived.

(End of Chapter)