Chapter 260: Want to Crash My Set?

The second installment of "Blood Spear Detective" sold even better than the first.

Lu Yuanhai grew restless and consulted Lu Yuanshan: "Brother, should we still pull out? We've made a fortune!"

Lu Yuanshan pondered long, then shook his head: "We still need to pull out. Money isn't the issue—this is dirty work, and we can't get too deep."

Lu Yuanhai was reluctant: "What if we discuss it with Uncle Qiu?"

"No need to discuss—he knows his own nature. He'll tell us to quit early."

"Those things Ma Wu is doing? Fine to watch once or twice, but after that, it's just boring."

"This isn't sustainable. We can't let our family's reputation get dragged in."

This really should've been discussed with Qiu Zhiheng—he understands better than anyone.

Lu Yuanshan and Lu Yuanhai grew up in a wealthy household; they'd seen and tried everything. The things in films seemed novel at first, but after watching too much, they grew dull.

But ordinary people haven't experienced this—the techniques and angles in films aren't just novel to them, they're aspirational. How could they ever grow tired of it?

If they'd been to Waizhou, they'd know—even watching hundreds of these wouldn't bore them.

Unfortunately, Qiu Zhiheng had been busy with other business and hadn't paid attention to the films.

Ma Wu had already shot two installments of "Blood Spear Detective," clearly pushing beyond the cognitive limits of Puzhou. Could no one want to intervene? Could no one want to stop him?

Yes.

Many wanted to intervene.

Major newspapers and famous commentators had vilified Ma Wu endlessly; daily editorials condemning him were easy to find.

But talking was easy—actual action? None.

This involved the Lu family and also San Ying Gate.

Ordinary people dared not act against Ma Wu; those who dared didn't want to wade into this mess.

Ma Wu had come to accept it now: if the papers wanted to slander him, let them— the more they slandered, the more popular he became.

If the Lu family wanted to withdraw, let them—Li Qi was right: this industry was ours to keep, and we'd become masters of it. The Lu family didn't want to eat this meal? That's their loss in vision.

At Jiuyang Restaurant, Li Banfeng and Ma Wu hosted Qin Tianjiu for hotpot lamb.

Ma Wu knew Qin the Fat was a Food Cultivator; upon entering the private room, he ordered the waiter to slice ten catties of meat.

Qin Tianjiu put down his chopsticks.

Ma Wu blinked: "Brother Qin, what's this mean? You think this place isn't good? We can go elsewhere?"

Qin Tianjiu shook his head: "Hotpot lamb is fine—I truly love it. But if you're going to slice ten catties, let's just chat, have a little, and call it done."

Ma Wu was baffled.

Li Banfeng chuckled: "Brother, isn't it enough?"

Qin Tianjiu laughed: "Don't hide it from Seventh Brother—since I ate that worm, I can't get full on less than fifteen catties per meal."

"Even if I eat my fill now, I'm hungry again within three hours—even if I'm asleep, I wake up starving."

"The money the Gate gives me? All gone. Every month, not a single copper coin left—and I've starved myself into this state."

"Right now, chatting with Seventh Brother and Fifth Young Master, I've already felt uneasy. If we chat any longer, I'll need to find another meal."

Hearing this, Ma Wu immediately called the waiter: "Add twenty more catties of lamb—tonight, I won't let you go hungry."

The three brothers ate and chatted; when they touched on San Ying Gate, Qin the Fat had actually gathered some news: "This matter was commissioned by the Ling family to our Gate. Our Second Boss agreed to it."

"I've done this much, and the Second Boss hasn't said a word—so it's tacit approval."

"Seventh Brother, keep filming. I can't promise anything else, but no one from San Ying Gate will come to bother you."

…

At Ling Family Film Studio, Zhou Changhong frowned: "I said I wouldn't hold a grudge, but San Ying Gate went to such lengths and ended up like this?"

Ling Miaoying sighed: "I told their Second Boss the same thing, but he said they'd done enough."

"What counts as enough?"

"They sent people daily. Ma Wu was indeed delayed—previously, they beat us to release. This time, they didn't even make it—two weeks late…"

Ling Miaoying's voice grew quieter.

Two weeks late—and still lost. Ling Miaoying now deeply doubted her own abilities.

Zhou Changhong shook his head: "They were two weeks late because they actually put effort into the film—this one's quality differs from the previous ones."

"San Ying Gate can't be counted on—what about other gangs?"

Ling Miaoying wouldn't overpromise: "I can ask them to try, but they won't be much stronger than San Ying Gate."

"No need to try—they're all the same garbage," Zhou Changhong rose. "I heard their third film is half-shot. I'll handle this myself—turn their own methods against them. I'll burn their film reels."

Ling Miaoying said: "That won't work—I heard Ma Wu kept multiple negatives, not just one."

"I'll burn as many as there are. Get his spies to investigate—burn the set too!"

…

That night, Ma Wu's set caught fire; the film reels burned.

Ma Wu was relieved—he'd kept more than one copy.

But the next night, Xiaoyao Wu caught fire; another copy burned.

Ma Wu panicked, ordered Zuo Wugang and others to intensify security at the film company.

Two days later, the film company burned again; the reels burned.

Who was this ruthless?

Not only cruel—but how did they know exactly where to strike?

Only one copy remained—if that burned too, what then?

…

In Suishenju, Li Banfeng was watching a film with his wife.

"Oh, husband, this is too shameless! Where did this come from? I can't watch this!"

"Why not? This is uncut—others can't even see it."

"This—this, what kind of techniques are these? Could our little husband do this? Won't you ruin yourself?"

Hongying snapped: "Just tell me how you did it!"

The phonograph laughed: "Hohoho, you wench—can't see it? Let me drive you mad with frustration!"

The last film reel was hidden in Suishenju—Zhou Changhong couldn't find it.

But the film wasn't finished. Ma Wu moved to a new set and resumed shooting. After just two days, another fire broke out—cameras, props, and sets all burned.

Burning things wasn't the worst—just buy more.

But if someone died? The matter would explode.

Ma Wu ordered Zuo Wugang to tighten security. Zuo Wugang didn't sleep at night, added extra patrols, and fortified the set completely.

But all that effort was useless—at 3 a. ., the new set burned again.

By 4 a. ., the fire was out.

The arsonist left no trace—how he came, how he left—Zuo Wugang couldn't trace a single clue.

The incident made the newspapers: "Ma Wu Shameless, Defying Morality—Righteous Hero Acts, Drives Him to Desperation."

Newspapers could be ignored.

Ma Wu didn't blame Old Zuo.

But the set problem had to be solved—otherwise, filming couldn't continue.

"Seventh Brother, we've changed sets dozens of times—every corner of Lüshuicheng has been searched. No place lasts three days."

Lüshuicheng seemed impossible.

Li Banfeng already had a plan: "If Lüshuicheng won't work, we move elsewhere."

Ma Wu blinked: "Where? All our people and machines are in Lüshuicheng—we can't leave."

"Why can't we leave? When Ling Family feared us disrupting them, they moved the set to Wuqinxiang—why can't we?"

Ma Wu thought a moment: "Didn't you realize Ling's intent? Wuqinxiang is their territory—they'd have support there."

"You think we have no territory?"

Ma Wu froze: "You mean… shoot in Lanyang Village?"

"Lanyang Village won't do—go to Zhengjing Village! Get Yanzi and Aqin and everyone else— I don't believe we can't guard the set!"

Ma Wu stared blankly: "Shoot in a new place?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "You've never tried it, have you?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "No one's ever tried! What is a new place? How do you prepare? Where do you get equipment? And who'd want to go there?"

Li Banfeng licked his lips: "Isn't this all for art? I went to the cinema yesterday—don't think good ratings mean audiences won't complain."

"Some viewers said: too many indoor scenes, too few outdoor ones—and the outdoor scenes aren't grand enough!"

"If we shoot in Zhengjing Village, what scenes won't we have? Forests, wastelands, deserts, lakes, all kinds of rare beasts—how grand would that be?"

"If you're willing, let Yanzi and the others appear—you and Yanzi can do a duel scene. Isn't that perfect?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "This is useless. Actors won't go. Crew won't go. In the end, it'll be just you and me—what could we possibly film?"

"You lack sincerity. Go call Zuo Wugang. I'll talk to him—we'll move the entire crew to Zhengjing Village tonight."

Ma Wu didn't stint on manpower—he'd hired over three hundred people for the crew to speed up production.

That night, Ma Wu gathered everyone and announced the plan to shoot in a new location.

As expected, the crew and actors refused.

New land wasn't for just anyone!

Those without cultivation and without experience? Going there meant death.

Ma Wu's words meant nothing; it was time for Zuo Wugang to speak.

Zuo Wugang stepped before the group, cleared his throat, and said, "We're talking about this movie—this movie's great! Why's it so great? I don't get it—I'm just a rough guy. Hey, Cao, put that knife down."

Cao Zhida jammed his short knife onto the table and looked at the actors and crew. "Zuo Tou, don't worry about me. Keep talking."

Zuo Wugang continued, "Our Seventh Master said making movies is art. What art is, I don't understand—but I think art must be about brotherhood."

"If you don't have brotherhood, where's the art? Now, I'm sending you all to Xin Di—I, Old Zuo, guarantee you'll face no trouble."

"With our brothers watching over you, nothing bad can happen. I'm telling you—Zhen Jincheng, what are you doing? We're having a calm talk here, why are you pulling your knife again?"

Zhen Jincheng sheathed his knife. "Nothing, Zuo Tou. Keep going."

Zuo Wugang went on, "Everyone here is loyal. Carriages are ready. Let's leave now."

"If anyone's disloyal and doesn't want to go, stay behind—we'll settle it alone."

The crew, still loyal, followed Cao Zhida and Zhen Jincheng onto the carriages.

Xiao Chuanzi and Xiao Genzi prepared over twenty carriages and transported everyone to Zhengjing Village overnight.

The news spread through Lüshui City.

Ma Wu sent over three hundred people to Xin Di overnight.

What was he trying to do?

Make a movie!

Make a movie in Xin Di!

Is this man insane?

What kind of movie could he possibly make?

Sending people wasn't enough—he needed equipment too.

Xiao Chuanzi and Xiao Genzi made multiple trips back and forth, delivering equipment, then procuring supplies—three hundred people needed food, drink, waste disposal, and sleeping arrangements.

Beyond daily needs, they needed film production gear—sets for indoor and outdoor scenes, massive construction projects requiring many hands.

Fortunately, manpower wasn't lacking. Hunters who normally roamed Xin Di gathered in Zhengjing Village to work for the crew.

Pay didn't matter—they only wanted one thing: to appear in the movie.

In Pulu Province, movies were still rare. Many hunters had never even had their photo taken; appearing in a movie was a tremendous honor!

More hunters arrived, the project grew larger, Zhengjing Village buzzed with activity, and the surrounding lands came alive.

A group of crew members were building a set by the lake; Zhou Changhong blended in, helping set up cameras and lights.

He disguised himself as a hunter, perfectly—no one noticed.

The entire crew had Yanzi guarding with three Sui'e Ladies, and Aqin patrolling with her sisters—but even this couldn't stop Zhou Changhong!

After finishing the set, Zhou Changhong stared at the film cameras in the crew's possession.

These cameras were bought from Lüshui City—if damaged, they'd need new ones from Lüshui. Round trips might be too costly for Ma Wu to afford.

Zhou Changhong made up his mind, ready to act—when suddenly someone called beside him: "Young brother, could you help me carry this light stand?"

Zhou Changhong turned and saw a thin, elderly man standing beside the light stand, waving him over.

"Old man, you're this old and still working here?"

The elder chuckled. "Just curious—I've never seen a movie made in my life."

The light stand was heavy. After they carried it into place, the elder asked, "Young man, you've got strong arms—your cultivation base must be high?"

Zhou Changhong smiled. "I'm a Wu Xiu at Level Two."

The elder gasped. "You're this young and already Level Two? I only reached Level Two at my age."

"What's your name, old man?"

"I'm Master Shui. Folks around here call me Old Shui. That older brother over there is Master Qiu—we call him Old Qiu."

As he spoke, a large, stout old man with a simple smile walked up behind Zhou Changhong.

Suddenly, Zhou Changhong was sandwiched between the two elders.

He glanced between them. "Elders, what's this about?"

The thin elder licked his lips. "Young man, I can tell you're no ordinary soul. I came to speak with you about something."

"We old fellows love bustle. Unfortunately, this place used to be quiet. Now it's finally lively—we want it to stay that way. Do you understand?"

Zhou Changhong stayed silent.

The stout elder frowned. "Old Shui, you talk too roundabout—that's why he doesn't get it. Young man, let me say it plainly: can you just leave?"

PS: Zhengjing Village lies on the border between Shui Yongquan and Qiu Luoye's territories.

With rising popularity, Xin Di might become Zheng Di.

(End of Chapter)