Chapter 259: Hollow Code Copper Seal

"Seven Brother, it's me, Qin Tianjiu."

Qin Tianjiu, Qin Xiaopang, had met Ma Wu once before; he remembered Ma Wu and recognized him.

Ma Wu remembered Qin Xiaopang, but he simply couldn't recognize him now.

The first time Ma Wu saw Qin Tianjiu, this little fatty was about one meter seventy tall and weighed around one hundred and seventy jin.

Now, the boy before him was still about one meter seventy tall, but his weight barely reached ninety jin; his body had changed, his face had changed, and because he'd become so emaciated, even his voice had changed.

No wonder Ma Wu didn't recognize him—even Li Banfeng hadn't recognized him.

Only after Xiaopang revealed his identity and explained his purpose did things become clear.

He would never hide anything from Li Banfeng.

After Qin Tianjiu ate the Changlu Silk Moth, his appetite exploded; within half a year, he advanced continuously and became a Level Three cultivator. The Three Heroes Gate regarded him as a talent and broke protocol to promote him to Copper Seal.

In truth, this so-called break-in-promotion wasn't much of a privilege; in the Three Heroes Gate, Level One and Two cultivators were Iron Seals, while Level Three and Four were Copper Seals—this had been the rule for years.

Xiaopang wasn't suited to be a Copper Seal mainly because his seniority was too shallow; he was only twenty-one, which was clearly too young—none of the familiar Copper Seals were under forty.

Besides, he'd only joined the gang for less than a year; other Copper Seals had spent at least ten or twenty years climbing through the ranks.

Someone in his position, even if made a Copper Seal, would struggle to command respect, especially in a traditional place like Yaowang Gully—if Xiaopang became a Copper Seal, the gang would fall into chaos.

So the Three Heroes Gate simply transferred Qin Tianjiu to Lüshui City and made him a Hollow Code Copper Seal.

What was a Hollow Code Copper Seal?

It meant he was given the title but no territory.

In the Three Heroes Gate, a Copper Seal controlled several streets; all merchants on those streets paid him tribute.

But a Hollow Code Copper Seal had no territory, meaning no income—Qin Tianjiu and his few subordinates' food and expenses were entirely subsidized by the gang.

Isn't that fine? It's like someone's paying your salary.

Actually, it wasn't fine at all.

In the Three Heroes Gate, brothers risked their lives daily; who didn't want a better life?

But Xiaopang's life wasn't good; he was nominally a Copper Seal, yet his earnings barely matched an Iron Seal's and weren't much better than an ordinary gang member's.

Yet Xiaopang was content—he knew clearly that rapid advancement came with this cost.

Besides subsidies, the gang also rewarded Hollow Code Copper Seals if they completed special missions.

Today's mission was especially unusual: Xiaopang had been ordered by the Silver Seal to provoke Ma Wu on set.

"Seven Brother, I didn't know this film was yours—if I had known, I wouldn't have come."

"But since I'm here, it might not be a bad thing. Keep filming. I'll handle the rest."

Li Banfeng said: "This order came from your Silver Seal. What can you possibly do?"

"Why not arrange a meeting? Get your Silver Seal to meet us—maybe we can resolve this."

Qin Tianjiu replied: "We'll definitely arrange a meeting, but not yet. I know the Silver Seal's nature and the gang's ways—leave this to me."

"Also, I need to discuss something with Seven Brother: these next few days, I'll bring a few brothers to stay on set. They might speak crudely or even act roughly—don't pay them any mind. Pretend they don't exist."

Li Banfeng nodded. Ma Wu looked at Xiaopang and said: "Qin Brother, how much time has passed? Your transformation is enormous."

"Young Master Wu, there's more to it, but now isn't the time to talk. Let me finish this task first, then we'll chat properly."

Qin Tianjiu and his men stayed on set; Ma Wu continued filming.

His subordinates watched Xiaopang, confused about his intentions.

One subordinate, named Yue Shucai, a Level One Literary Cultivator, was close to Xiaopang. He lowered his voice and asked: "Brother Nine, are we not doing this job anymore?"

"Of course we are—just watch for now." As he spoke, Qin Tianjiu's expression turned grim. Yue Shucai dared not ask more and sat quietly beside Xiaopang.

At noon, the crew ate. Ma Wu specially prepared meals for Xiaopang and his men.

Yue Shucai still couldn't understand. He asked again: "Brother Nine, what's going on? Do we eat or not?"

"Eat. Eat first, then talk."

Xiaopang ate first; the others followed. The meal was eaten with uneasy hearts—they all felt something was coming.

In the afternoon, Qin Tianjiu told the group: "Stay here. I'm going to see the Silver Seal."

Yue Shucai panicked: "Brother Nine, is something wrong? Don't leave us here!"

"Something's happened, but how to handle it depends on the Silver Seal's orders. Listen to me: no one moves without my command!"

Xiaopang left. The rest waited, trembling, silent until the crew finished work.

Qin Tianjiu truly went to see the Silver Seal.

Silver Seal Tan Jinle was listening to opera in a private room at Qingyun Tea House. When he heard Xiaopang had come, he dismissed all others, set down his teacup, and half-reclined in his chair: "Did you finish the job with Ma Wu?"

Qin Tianjiu shook his head: "I went, but I didn't finish."

"If you didn't finish, why are you here?"

"I brought my men. I told him to stop filming. He refused. I thought of forcing him—but Ma Wu didn't back down. He said if I moved, he'd fight back, and he'd take responsibility."

"Oh my, he's got spirit!" Tan Jinle laughed. "Fine. Teach him a lesson. Smash his gear. Tell the boys to be careful—no one dies."

"Gold Brother, he said there's someone special on set."

"What special person? Left Wu Gang? Let him touch you—I'll see if he dares."

"Not Left Wu Gang. Ma Wu said the Lu family is here."

Tan Jinle sat upright and slammed his teacup on the table: "Who from the Lu family?"

"He didn't say. I didn't see anyone. I don't know if he's lying. I think he's bluffing. I considered ordering my men to attack—see if the Lu family is really there. If they are…"

"Don't!" Tan Jinle snapped. "Attack? If the Lu family really is there, won't it be too late?"

Qin Xiaopang lowered his head: "I didn't dare act on my own. That's why I came to report. This is the gang's order—I can't refuse. Otherwise, how can I ever stand in the gang…"

"Who said you can't do it? Do it! Keep your men stationed at Ma Wu's set. Don't move. Just watch."

"Just watch?"

"What's wrong with watching? It's still effort. Do you really want to provoke the Lu family?"

"But just watching without acting—won't that be humiliating?"

Tan Jinle frowned: "That's why you're young—you don't understand. What's humiliating?

You standing before Ma Wu means the Three Heroes Gate has done its part. How well it was done? That depends on how you frame it.

I think you handled this well. If the boss thinks it's insufficient, he'll scold you a little. But if you anger the Lu family, your life is over—and I'll be dragged down with you."

Qin Tianjiu sighed: "Then I'll take my men and keep watch."

"Go. Occasionally scare them a bit—but absolutely no fighting!"

Qin Tianjiu agreed. The next day, he brought his men back to the set.

Seeing these thugs loitering on set, the actors grew fearful. When they shouted and swaggered nearby, many considered quitting.

But after a few days, they got used to it. It was just noise—loud and intimidating, yet they never actually did anything.

The crew grew accustomed, but outsiders didn't know the truth. Rumors spread that the Three Heroes Gate was going to wreck Ma Wu's set. Passersby now avoided the location entirely.

Zhou Chang instructed Ling Miaoying: "Hurry up filming. While the Three Heroes Gate is tying Ma Wu up, we must release 'Blood Blade Detective' Part Two first."

Ling Miaoying delivered. A month later, Part Two premiered.

On opening day, every theater in Lüshui City was packed.

Some seats were filled by people Ling Miaoying hired to boost turnout; others were genuine ticket buyers.

Ling Miaoying roughly estimated: at least seventy percent occupancy, maybe even eighty.

This was an excellent result. If sustained, the film would make huge profits, and Ling Family Cinema would be firmly established.

Unfortunately, the momentum didn't last. The next day, occupancy dropped below sixty percent.

The third day, it fell below half.

In the following days, theaters grew nearly empty—almost no one came to watch.

Zhou Changhong didn't understand. He went to a theater himself. The movie had barely started when many audience members stood up and walked out.

What was going on?

They paid for tickets—and left before the end?

Two audience members dressed well—clearly wealthy. Zhou Changhong followed them and smiled: "Why leave? I thought it was great."

"Great? If I'd known, I wouldn't have come."

Zhou Changhong urged: "You already paid. Stay a little longer—it's not a loss."

The man waved him off: "A ticket's cheap. The problem is this movie's fake."

"Fake?" Zhou Changhong froze. "What do you mean?"

"Don't you see? Look how tightly they're covered—what's there to see? Nothing real at all!"

Zhou Changhong was baffled. Another audience member said: "We bought the wrong ticket. We wanted 'Blood Spear Detective'—that's the real one. This is a fake. Total waste of time!"

'Blood Blade Detective' had become the counterfeit.

Zhou Changhong sat through the entire film.

The movie had no flaws. Ling Miaoying had poured her heart into it—it would rank among the best even in other provinces.

The problem wasn't the film—it was the audience.

Without 'Blood Spear Detective,' 'Blood Blade Detective' would have easily held seventy percent occupancy.

But these viewers didn't come to watch a movie—they came for blood and guns. 'Blood Blade Detective' didn't match their expectations.

Should Ling Miaoying shift direction—follow Ma Wu's path?

No.

They couldn't do what Ma Wu did—it would destroy the Ling family's reputation.

Besides, films made that way weren't what he wanted—and they'd block future projects.

Zhou Changhong had a clear plan—this matter didn't need rushing; as long as Ma Wu's film couldn't be made, and people forgot his filthy movie, things would return to the original plan.

Ten days later, *Blood Spear Detective Part Two* was released.

Little promotion was done—Ma Wu placed a few notices in the newspapers, then let the film premiere.

On opening day, Zhou Changhong couldn't get a seated ticket, so he bought a standing one.

He watched the film to the very end.

To be honest, he'd seen enough of those shocking images—there were too many of them in Waizhou.

But he desperately wanted to know one thing.

In this film, who was the real culprit?

The story of this film wasn't bad.

The story was solid, and the impact was strong—what could *Blood Blade Detective* possibly compete with?

Grand visuals?

Famous actors?

Lavish filming techniques?

Did any of these truly matter to the audiences of Puzhou?

Zhou Changhong's cheeks twitched repeatedly.

How could he possibly stop *Blood Spear Detective*?

Should he go himself and smash the set?

PS: He wouldn't be that impulsive, would he?

(End of Chapter)