Chapter 266: Qing Shou Hui (Requesting Monthly Votes)

The movie "Blood Spear Detective" premiered as scheduled, and the entire city of Lüshui was deserted as everyone flocked to see it.

In terms of story, visuals, source material, and impact, this film was unprecedented in Pulu Province; the male lead, Song Chunjie, first unraveled layers of mystery within the city, then shifted to new terrain to begin a life-or-death battle.

To Li Banfeng, even if this film were shown outside Pulu Province, as long as it screened smoothly, its effect would inevitably be explosive, even sparking a revolutionary breakthrough in cinematic philosophy.

At least in terms of species, this film had already achieved a breakthrough.

The movie was a huge success, and Li Banfeng should now fulfill his promise to Qiu Luoye.

During filming, Qiu Luoye provided tremendous assistance to the crew, and Li Banfeng had promised to open three new plots of land within Qiu Luoye's territory.

This too was a major breakthrough.

In Pulu Province, opening new land generally offered only two choices.

One was brute force: defeat every challenger, all strange creatures that came to test you.

The other was attrition: avoid direct combat with the strange creatures and exhaust every means to stretch the time until the trial ended.

Qiu Luoye didn't want to make things difficult for Li Banfeng in opening the land; he said this could just be a formality.

Li Banfeng was confident, but Qiu Luoye feared mishaps and had specifically consulted Shui Yongquan about it.

"What methods did Li Qi and Ma Wu use? Did they use brute force or attrition? I told my people not to make things hard for them."

Shui Yongquan pondered for a long time; this question was genuinely hard to answer.

"Ma Wu leaned toward brute force; Li Qi leaned toward attrition," Shui Yongquan finally said after much deliberation.

Qiu Luoye prepared meticulously: since Li Qi excelled at attrition, he must not send strange creatures with sharp perception to test him, nor those with overwhelming combat power.

After the trial ended, Qiu Luoye realized all his preparations were useless—throughout three full days, Li Banfeng never showed his face.

This enraged Qiu Luoye; even if you're good at hiding, you should at least make a symbolic appearance and fight.

He went to ask Shui Yongquan: "Old Shui, is Li Qi really this shameless?"

Shui Yongquan thought for a moment and asked: "Who's next to open new land?"

"Ma Wu."

Shui Yongquan replied with absolute certainty: "Li Qi is a man with honor. A very honorable man."

Ma Wu began opening new land. On the first day, Qiu Luoye watched closely.

On the second day, Qiu Luoye didn't want to watch anymore—he wanted to crush Ma Wu under his foot.

On the third day, he abandoned the idea of crushing Ma Wu; he no longer wanted to approach that plot of land.

He warned all female strange creatures on his territory not to go near that land, and forbade anyone from mentioning the matter.

But Qiu Luoye didn't want to talk about it, yet many unworthy female creatures still went willingly to Ma Wu.

Qiu Luoye could no longer tolerate it; he sent an elderly crone to Ma Wu's plot.

Ma Wu was busy—holding a hedgehog in his arms, with a pangolin waiting behind him.

He looked at the old woman: her hair was white, her back bent, likely over seventy years old.

"Elderly lady, you've come to see me too?" For the sake of opening the land, Ma Wu could sacrifice a little—but he had to clarify his intentions.

"Pah!" The old woman spat, then shouted, "All men under heaven have a member, but I've never seen a scumbag like you who uses his member to eat! An eight-foot man with iron bones can't carry your nine-foot-thick shame!

You, female hedgehog—get out from under him! You've disgraced every woman's dignity! And you, pangolin—get out! You've spent half your life burrowing through mountains, and now you're just digging holes for others—aren't you ashamed?!"

This old woman knew how to curse!

Both the pangolin and the hedgehog recognized her; they whispered warnings: "Brother Wu, don't be fooled by her human form—she's a native of new land, called the Street-Cursing Hag.

She's not someone to provoke. Brother Wu, don't fight her—just endure her curses. Her words are vile, but don't take them to heart."

The pangolin and hedgehog fled in fear; the old woman cursed Ma Wu for a full day and night.

This old woman's curses were truly vile, and she wielded technique in her abuse—easily provoking rage.

But Ma Wu had a good temperament; he'd been cursed since childhood and had heard every vile insult imaginable.

He was initially angry, but he could control himself. The Street-Cursing Hag had one trait: if the target could endure the first half of her tirade, the second half became no problem.

The danger lay in those with short tempers—those who couldn't last three words, growing angrier with every insult; they'd suffer greatly.

Ma Wu endured to the end. Other female strange creatures on the land dared not approach. The plot was successfully opened.

The third to open new land was Xiao Genzi. Qiu Luoye exhaled deeply—he'd finally gotten a decent man.

Xiao Genzi didn't use the shady methods of Li Qi or Ma Wu; he always acted with integrity. Qiu Luoye again promised: if he opened the land openly and honorably, the trial would be a mere formality, no hardship.

After signing the contract, Xiao Genzi prepared to open the land.

On the plot, he built thirty-six golden mounds, symbolizing perfect fortune.

Qiu Luoye gazed from afar, then turned to the strange creatures: "Who among you will go through the motions?"

Everyone lowered their heads in silence.

Qiu Luoye looked at the Tree Person: "You go. Those are excellent fertilizer."

The Tree Person paused, then said: "Too concentrated. I can't digest it."

…

All three new plots were opened. Ma Wu gathered workers to build houses and set up scenery, preparing for the next movie.

Li Banfeng told Ma Wu: "Don't just prepare one movie—prepare several at once."

Ma Wu was startled: "You mean shoot the sequels to Blood Spear Detective all at once?

That won't work—the actors can't switch roles. If we change the lead, it loses meaning."

"I'm not asking you to prepare Blood Spear Detective. I'm asking you to prepare new films. We've mastered this industry—now we must plan for the next step."

Only then did Ma Wu snap back to awareness.

Lately, the pressure of the movie project had overwhelmed him—he'd forgotten long-term planning.

They were here to make a living; they couldn't rely on Blood Spear Detective forever.

Ma Wu immediately returned to Lüshui, invited several familiar writers to Xiaoyao Wu, arranged fine food, drink, and beautiful women, then began discussing screenplays with them.

These writers were known for their earthy, populist style—unlike the great literary masters of Pulu Province, their works were more accessible to the masses, yet branded as vulgar.

Ma Wu didn't fear vulgarity; the more vulgar, the more compelling the story.

The writers were unpretentious; they laid out their best works for Ma Wu to choose from, with fair prices.

Ma Wu was nearly finalizing the new screenplay when he received troubling news.

The matter could be big or small, but he immediately informed Li Banfeng.

"Old Qi, two movie theaters in Heishipo were smashed."

Theater smashings should have nothing to do with them—they didn't own the theaters.

But since Blood Spear Detective was playing when they were smashed, this matter now involved them.

If they ignored this, no one would dare screen their films again.

Li Banfeng asked: "Who's behind this?"

"Not a hidden hand—it was done openly."

"Openly smashing theaters? Has Pulu Province lost all order?"

For internal matters, watch the banners; for external matters, ask the checkpoints—Pulu Province had order.

Ma Wu said: "It was the Qing Shou Hui. They're a special group. They've declared that if any theater dares to screen Blood Spear Detective, they'll punish them severely."

"Severely punish? How bold! What is the Qing Shou Hui?"

"'Upright and Disciplined'—that's Qing Shou. They're an organization founded by respected elders."

"Are they a gang?"

"No!" Ma Wu answered without hesitation. "The Qing Shou Hui is far above gangs in status and prestige.

They say our film corrupts public morals, a disgrace unprecedented in Pulu Province in a hundred years.

This is hard to handle. I must go to Heishipo and find a way to speak with them."

Li Banfeng's eyebrow twitched: "You need connections just to speak?"

Ma Wu sighed: "Without connections, you won't even get to see them. I should've prepared earlier—these Qing Shou Hui people were bound to cause trouble."

Li Banfeng knew nothing of the Qing Shou Hui; he cared more about another question: "Is the Qing Shou Hui unique to Heishipo?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "No. There are Qing Shou Hui branches throughout Pulu Province—front, middle, and rear."

"Then why haven't they caused trouble in Lüshui? Lüshui is the largest city in Pulu Province."

"They probably fear offending the Lu family. Maybe they don't yet know the Lu family has withdrawn from our company," Ma Wu rubbed his forehead.

"If this happened in Heishipo, there's still room to negotiate. But if it happened in Lüshui, the trouble would be immense.

In Lüshui, we couldn't even meet the Qing Shou Hui. When Zhang Xiuling first became Sect Master of Baihua Gate, they branded her immoral, called Baihua Gate an inferior gang.

Zhang Xiuling, with a dozen followers, visited each member of the Qing Shou Hui to apologize, traveling for six full months until the matter was settled. Baihua Gate, once a top-tier gang, sank to second-tier status."

Li Banfeng frowned: "Do the Qing Shou Hui decide who's first-tier? Are they highly cultivated? Are they all strong fighters?"

Ma Wu shook his head: "This isn't about strength. It's about status. Many elders in the Qing Shou Hui have no cultivation at all—but they're Pulu Province's moral elite, the paragons of virtue and integrity.

Baihua Gate couldn't strike back at the Qing Shou Hui. Anyone who attacks the Qing Shou Hui becomes the enemy of all Pulu Province.

Lu Maoxian is one of their elders. Monkey Qiu and the two Lu sons have been constantly scolded by him, yet Monkey Qiu still dares not touch him—out of fear of the Qing Shou Hui behind him."

Lu Maoxian.

Li Banfeng remembered this man.

"When Monkey Qiu sent us to Heishipo to do business, was it to pressure Lu Maoxian?"

"Then I got ambushed by Ling Miaoying at the train station, never made it to Heishipo, and the deal fell through."

Ma Wu nodded: "Heishipo is Lu Maoxian's territory. I suspect this incident may be tied to him. I'll go to Heishipo first to find a way in. If I can't get answers there, I'll return to Lüshui and beg Lu Maoxian's mercy.

Old Qi, Blood Spear Detective probably can't continue. The Qing Shou Hui in Heishipo has stirred—other regions will follow. I'll do my best to finish the third film. Whether we can make any more depends entirely on the Qing Shou Hui's mood."

Li Banfeng, upon hearing this, suddenly sniffed the air: "There's a smell."

Ma Wu blinked: "What's 'tasty'?"

"This Qingshou Society you mentioned—it's tasty."

"What kind of taste?" Ma Wu still didn't understand.

"You go knock on his door, he won't even see you,

even if he does see you, the matter may still not get done,

even if it does get done, you'll have to bow to his every whim afterward—

I've smelled this taste before: the stink of a lowlife!"

Ma Wu urged: "Old Seven, this isn't the time for angry words. The Qingshou Society operates by these rules. We made those films—we knew they'd notice us eventually. We've made enough money. It's better to quit now.

You don't have to do the humiliating part—I'll go."

Li Banfeng shook his head: "You can't do it alone. This isn't just about humiliation. If we fail at this, we'll lose both our dignity and our face.

We go together. We call every trusted hand we have. We bring in a few allies too. Everyone who comes with us must have backbone—none of them can be lowlifes."

Ma Wu was startled: "Old Seven, you don't understand the Qingshou Society. We're not going there to start a brawl—we need to reason with them."

Li Banfeng smiled: "I think I understand the Qingshou Society well enough. I just lost to a bunch of lowlifes. I won't lose again!"

…

On the train, Li Banfeng, Ma Wu, and over thirty others headed for Heishipo.

Ma Wu had chartered an entire carriage, paying hefty bribes to the border guards, train conductor, station master, attendants, and station staff to ensure absolute secrecy.

Inside the carriage, several writers sat together, discussing strategy.

One writer, Yu Wenqi, spoke first: "Heishipo has plenty of newspapers. I've published many articles in them before—but all were obscure little papers."

Another writer, Bai Qiusheng, said: "Heishipo doesn't just have many newspapers—it has many magazines too. I've written for magazines. I brought two copies, but I'm too embarrassed to show them…"

Li Banfeng frowned: "Why be embarrassed?"

Bai Qiusheng hesitated, then pulled out the magazines.

Everyone gathered around. The magazines weren't sold for their articles—they were sold for their photographs.

Bai Qiusheng said: "Young Master Seven, look—aren't the lighting and composition excellent?"

Li Banfeng nodded: "Yes, the lighting's good. They're all naked."

Why did Heishipo have so many newspapers and magazines?

Ma Wu said: "Heishipo is a special place. Its publishing industry is even more developed than Lüshuicheng's. The reason is…"

Before he could finish, the old woman spotted the magazines and burst into curses: "Shameless women, showing off their rumps for photos!"

A Qin sneered: "What? Does it upset you? The girls' rumps are beautiful—who's to blame if they still have their youth?"

"Pah! You're shameless too—show yours to everyone then…"

The street shrew and A Qin were about to come to blows when Ma Wu rushed over to break them up.

Getting these two out had taken Li Banfeng considerable effort.

They were subordinates of Qiuluoye. First, they needed Qiuluoye's permission. Qiuluoye had been in a foul mood over the land reclamation, and it took hours of pleading before he finally agreed.

Moreover, they were yiguai. By all rules, they were forbidden to leave Xindi—it would be tantamount to challenging the local gods of Zhengdi.

It was thanks to Shui Yongquan that they'd found a master who disguised them, completely concealing their yiguai aura so they looked like ordinary people—only then could they be taken out of Xindi.

For this, Li Banfeng had signed a contract with Shui Yongquan: within two months, he must build a movie theater in Zhengjing Village.

The street shrew and A Qin grew louder, on the verge of physical violence—then suddenly fell silent.

Xiao Gen walked through them, carrying a ladle and a bucket.

Both women pinched their noses and returned to their seats.

Xiao Gen approached Li Banfeng: "Young Master Seven, this train is so strange—the toilets connect directly to the tracks. How am I supposed to cultivate here?"

Li Banfeng nodded approvingly: "Genzi, put down the bucket first.

Brothers, sisters—when we reach Heishipo, we must win our first battle."

PS: I looked calmly into the mirror and smiled confidently: "Now that I've updated this chapter, who dares laugh at our length?"

The reflection in the mirror smiled even more confidently: "They laugh at your shortness—I've always been long."

(End of Chapter)