Chapter 338: Donkey

What is the origin of a false emotional root?

Feng Daiku explained: "A true emotional root is formed from a seed of emotion, nurtured in the heart, rooted in the eyes,

this false emotional root is forged from illusions, born in the eyes, lingering in the eyes, dissolving in the eyes—both real and false, both illusory and tangible—a trick created by illusion arts."

The two of them were talking inside the cinema, yet weren't afraid others would hear?

They really weren't afraid.

The people around them saw neither Feng Daiku nor heard their conversation.

Using illusion arts to forge a cultivation technique of the Emotion Sect angered Feng Daiku: "Wu Lang, where did this handkerchief come from?"

"From a confidant at Black Stone Slope, left behind when I removed the false emotional root."

Feng Daiku murmured: "A false emotional root appeared at Black Stone Slope, yet none were seen at Pantie Canyon—what's the reason?"

Ma Wu said: "The other side isn't reckless. To forge Emotion Sect techniques on your turf is to invite your punishment."

Feng Daiku shook his head slightly: "I'm not talking about that. I mean, the same film—why didn't a false emotional root form here,

if it already formed, I should've dealt with it earlier; if it didn't form, where exactly did the difference lie?"

Ma Wu understood Feng Daiku's meaning: the film shown at Black Stone Slope might not be the same as the one shown at Pantie Canyon.

Exactly how was it different?

Ma Wu had indeed prepared for this: "My men will arrive at Pantie Canyon tomorrow. They'll bring the Black Stone Slope version of the film."

Feng Daiku glanced at the screen and frowned: "Just this one film? 'Blood Blade Detective' is too dull."

Ma Wu hugged Feng Daiku: "There are plenty of good films—we'll watch them one by one."

…

The next day, Feng Daiku watched the Black Stone Slope version of 'Blood Blade Detective' with Ma Wu in the hotel. Feng Daiku was meticulous; after ten minutes, he found the key moment.

"Wu Lang, rewind this scene a bit."

Ma Wu rewound the film about five and a half minutes.

The female lead, Xiao Xiufei, was bathing under the shower, overcome with sorrow, when a single tear rolled down.

The tear traced her eyelid, slid down her cheek, slipped to her neck, then fell onto her conscience.

The male lead, Chu Ningsheng, suddenly entered the bathroom and swallowed the tear.

One must admit, this sequence was executed flawlessly. Purely from an artistic standpoint, Ma Wu was impressed—'Blood Spear Detective' couldn't produce such a long take.

But the detail Feng Daiku noticed was the moment the male lead swallowed the tear.

That swallow seemed to consume all the woman's grief and melancholy.

"Wu Lang, this scene isn't in the film shown at Pantie Canyon."

"Not there?" Ma Wu paused, recalling he'd seen this scene in the cinema yesterday.

Feng Daiku shook his head: "Wu Lang, I definitely didn't see this scene. It's shot with great precision and leaves a deep impression.

You didn't notice it because you've experienced too much of this kind of thing; others are naturally indifferent and won't be affected by such tricks.

But such people are exceedingly rare. Ordinary viewers would be stirred by this scene—the false emotional root takes root right then.

Look closely: first at the tear, then at the woman's conscience—there's illusion art here."

Ma Wu examined it closely—it was indeed different.

He had slept with Xiao Xiufei; her conscience was pale. Here, its color and texture were much darker.

The illusion art began here.

To sell a few more tickets, they went to such elaborate lengths.

Ma Wu sighed: "After Ling Miaoying died, who's running this film company? This is despicable."

Feng Daiku frowned: "Wu Lang, I won't tolerate this. No matter their motive, to forge our Dao Sect's techniques with such underhanded methods—I absolutely won't tolerate it!"

Ma Wu asked: "What do you plan to do?"

"Wu Lang, can you lure them to Pantie Canyon?"

Ma Wu thought a moment, then shook his head: "They usually stay in Green Water City. Getting them to leave is extremely difficult."

Hearing "Green Water City," Feng Daiku sighed: "If this had happened elsewhere, I'd go confront them myself. But if it's Green Water City…"

Green Water City is under Green Flower's domain—who among the local gods dares say they aren't afraid of Green Flower?

Ma Wu comforted Feng Daiku twice; his mood improved slightly.

"Wu Lang, do you also want to learn their method to earn more ticket sales?"

"Am I that kind of person?" Ma Wu shook his head. "No matter the business, you must keep basic integrity. When I return, I'll expose this immediately—no more people will be deceived."

Feng Daiku touched Ma Wu's cheek: "I'll teach you some illusion techniques. Next time you encounter something like this, you'll spot it at a glance."

Ma Wu was delighted—learning illusion arts from a local god was an rare opportunity.

Feng Daiku poked Ma Wu's forehead: "Always letting you learn from me is too easy on you."

Ma Wu hugged Feng Daiku tightly: "I won't let you lose out—I'll pay tuition!"

…

Early morning, Qiu's Pharmacy was closed. The Mourning Cultivator sat outside the door with his pipe.

With his gloomy demeanor, the pharmacy wouldn't get a single customer all day.

Even those who came to buy medicine avoided entering Qiu's Pharmacy to escape the Mourning Cultivator.

Didn't he have anywhere else to go?

He'd been elsewhere, and after repeated comparisons, he decided this spot was best.

Mainly because this Mourning Cultivator was of high rank—most couldn't withstand him.

Qiu Zhiheng had inquired: his name was Yu Heshun, a sixth-layer Mourning Cultivator who had turned eighteen villages into wastelands.

Villagers couldn't endure his misfortune—some died, others fled.

With the villages abandoned, he could no longer cultivate. Forced to move constantly, now old, he simply didn't want to move anymore—he sought a suitable household to cling to for a few more years.

Few households could withstand a sixth-layer Mourning Cultivator. Like the steamed bun shop in Ligu—he'd tried there too—but the owner was an honest man.

An honest man runs an honest business; he couldn't endure much harassment. After Yu Heshun cursed him a few times, the shop nearly shut down. Another few days of this, and the owner would've killed himself.

Qiu Zhiheng was clearly no ordinary man. To Yu Heshun, someone like him might endure ten or twenty years before dying—this job had to be held onto.

Of course, if he'd heard Qiu Zhiheng's name, he wouldn't dare linger so long.

He tolerated him for now to avoid bad luck—but that didn't mean Qiu Zhiheng would endure him forever.

"Qi Qi, you handle Li's newspaper business. Are you familiar with the people at Medicine King Gully Newspaper?"

Li Banfeng said: "Not very familiar, but I recognize them."

"Recognition is enough. Have them come over later."

"Brother Qiu? You don't mean to have the newspaper expose this old man, do you? He doesn't even know shame—this won't work."

Qiu Zhiheng shook his head: "He knows shame—it depends on the matter. Wife, prepare this medicinal stew for Yu Heshun."

Sister Fu looked at the recipe, blushing: "Will this work? He's so old…"

Qiu Zhiheng replied seriously: "He's old, so he needs nourishment. Cao Ye, stop crying—lend me your two draft donkeys."

…

At noon, Sister Fu brought a bowl of lean pork congee to the door and handed it to Yu Heshun: "For you. Eat."

Yu Heshun stared at the congee, glum: "Did you poison it?"

Sister Fu frowned: "How dare you speak like that?"

"What did I say? What did I say? I just asked if it was poisoned! Why are you angry? Are you guilty?" Yu Heshun's mouth kept spouting nonstop.

Sister Fu turned away. Yu Heshun lifted the bowl and devoured it, muttering: "This congee's too watery—full of emptiness, no substance! Clearly not a wealthy household!

How can a place like this even stay in business? Can't even afford real ingredients for a bowl of congee—deserves to be poor forever!"

As he ate, Yu Heshun constantly tasted the ingredients, fearing poison.

But Sister Fu hadn't poisoned it—only medicinal herbs. She was a high-level Food Cultivator with exceptional cooking skills; this congee was made with care. Yu Heshun finished every drop, then smashed the bowl:

"You didn't even feed me properly! Clearly you have ill intentions!" He spat on the ground.

A passerby asked: "You didn't even pay them. They gave you food—why insult them?"

"What did I say? What did I say?" Yu Heshun shouted. "I wasn't full! Was I wrong?"

Don't argue with him—every word spoken is a loss.

The pharmacy assistant came out to dump trash and led two donkeys to Yu Heshun's side.

Yu Heshun glowered: "What's this? Are you blind? Can't you see I'm here? Why bring animals here?"

The assistant ignored him and returned inside.

Yu Heshun didn't leave—he sat beside the donkeys.

Two donkeys are supposed to drive me away?

What are you thinking?

Qiu Zhiheng stepped behind Yu Heshun and lightly tapped him. Yu Heshun turned and cursed: "I'm warning you—don't touch me! Touch me again, and your whole family will die in misery!"

This was a Mourning Word—a Mourning Cultivator technique. If Qiu Zhiheng touched him again, his family wouldn't die, but misfortune would strike.

Qiu Zhiheng raised his hands and shook his head: "I won't touch you. I just want to give you money so you can move elsewhere."

"No. I won't go anywhere. I like it here. What are you going to do?"

Qiu Zhiheng nodded. This was Yu Heshun's final chance.

Sister Fu's congee contained no poison—only tonic herbs.

But combined with Qiu Zhiheng's technique, it became something else entirely.

Yu Heshun sat by the door, smoking another pipe, when suddenly the donkeys brayed beside him.

Mmm~ Ah!

Strange, why does this donkey bray so beautifully?

Yu Heshun looked up at the donkey once, then lowered his head again.

Mmm~ Ah!

The donkey brayed again.

Yu Heshun's face turned slightly red.

It really does sound beautiful.

The donkey brayed a third time; Yu Heshun didn't lift his head, but it seemed… he lifted it again.

The donkey brayed several times in succession, and Yu Heshun stood up.

What's going on?

Yu Heshun felt something huge was about to happen to him.

No, absolutely not…

He wanted to leave.

Mmm~ Ah! The donkey brayed again.

Someone had loosened the donkey's reins; the donkey walked toward the entrance of Paifang Street.

Yu Heshun walked away.

He followed the donkey.

His eyes now held nothing but the donkey!

When he reached a crowded area, Yu Heshun lost control.

The donkey lost control too.

He got behind one donkey and mounted it.

Another donkey got behind him and mounted him.

All passersby stared, dumbfounded.

This is a street entrance!

This is a donkey!

Even the reporters from Yaowanggou were stunned.

Li Banfeng said from the side: "What are you standing there for? Take photos! Record it!"

"Ah…" the reporter replied, recording while wondering how to write the news story.

PS: If this news gets published, Yaowanggou will probably become famous, right?

(End of Chapter)