Chapter 257: This Is Art

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

Lu Yuanshan poured Ma Wu a drink. "Junyang, what are you talking about? We're brothers! We're happy for you that you've made money."

Lu Yuanhai chimed in, "Exactly, we're all happy for you."

"Happy for me?" Ma Wu didn't touch his drink. "Shouldn't *you* be happy? We partnered to invest in this movie, and now it's profitable. Let's just split the profits as we agreed!"

"That's not how we do things," Lu Yuanshan said, offering Ma Wu a cigar. "Talking about splitting money is crude among brothers. We don't discuss such things."

Lu Yuanhai added, "Old Five, it hasn't been easy for you to make a living in Greenwater City. Our brothers feel for you, and it's only right that we help you out."

"Help out with what?" Ma Wu grew angrier with every word. "We're business partners; profits are based on sales. Tomorrow, I'll call all the reporters and discuss our profit-sharing arrangement first."

"No splitting, no splitting!" Lu Yuanshan waved his hand. "Uncle Qiu and I have discussed it. All the money earned from *Blood Gun Detective* is yours. Consider our share a sponsorship for your second movie."

Lu Yuanhai continued, "Honestly, we brothers don't need that small amount. Making this movie was for your sake, so please don't be so polite with us."

Polite?

Were these two brothers really that kind-hearted?

Did they truly believe Ma Wu couldn't understand what they meant?

They were giving up the profits from *Blood Gun Detective* not because they genuinely didn't care about the money, but because they didn't want to tarnish the Lu family's reputation.

The film company was a joint venture, with the Lu family holding half the shares. From casting and roles to box office success, the brothers had learned the entire process. They had also gained control over the screenwriters, directors, cinematographers, and the entire production crew.

With experience, resources, connections, and methods now in hand, the Lu family had successfully infiltrated the film industry.

The Ling family's *Blood Blade Detective* had been overshadowed by Ma Wu's *Blood Gun Detective*, suffering heavy losses in both reputation and profit. It was now extremely difficult for the Ling family to dominate the film industry, conveniently creating an opening for the Lu family.

All of the Lu family's objectives had been achieved.

The remaining public scorn was now ready to be shouldered entirely by Ma Wu.

In the future, the Lu family would open a new company to produce legitimate films.

The Lu family would gradually withdraw from the company they co-founded with Ma Wu, ostensibly leaving it to him. In reality, this company would become a "rag" for producing scandalous films and handling disreputable work.

One couldn't blame the Lu family for being ruthless; that's just how business was done.

However, Ma Wu was a shrewd businessman; there was no way he couldn't see through this scheme.

"The press conference for the next movie is coming up soon. If you two brothers don't show up, I'm not making this film!" Ma Wu fumed.

Lu Yuanshan quickly tried to appease him. "Old Five, what you're saying is going to hurt our relationship."

Lu Yuanhai also tried to persuade him. "Old Five, what's wrong with you? This isn't your usual temper. Have a drink and calm down."

Nothing would help!

Ma Wu refused to cooperate. Upon returning to Xiaoyao Dock, he heard Li Banfeng was back. He opened two bottles of fine wine and spent the entire afternoon pouring out his grievances to Li Banfeng.

"Old Seven, do you think this movie can still be made?"

"Of course! Why not?"

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

Li Banfeng put down his wine glass. "I saw it. Twice."

"If you saw it, then you should know it wasn't even a film. It was embarrassing, even I felt ashamed."

"How is it not a film? How is it embarrassing?"

Ma Wu lowered his head and remained silent. Although he came from a wealthy family, he was still a native of Prole Province, and some of his views remained within the provincial confines.

Li Banfeng patiently reasoned, "In other provinces, countless directors have gained fame through such films. This is art.

Greenwater City also has many Western art galleries. Those who paint Western art don't feel ashamed, so why should we feel ashamed?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "Paintings are paintings, and this is a movie. They're different."

"What's different? It's all art. It's only embarrassing if you fail to accomplish something. If you succeed, you become a master! This matter is settled; we must make it."

Ma Wu looked up. "Then should we add your name as well?"

"No, that won't do! It's not that I'm afraid of being embarrassed; my identity is not suitable for disclosure."

Ma Wu sighed deeply. "Alright, I'll listen to whatever you say. Should we film the second movie just like the first?"

"It can't be exactly like the first one. The first one had enough shock value, but the storytelling was a bit weak, and audiences will experience aesthetic fatigue.

Tell those screenwriters to put more effort into making the story more compelling."

"I'm afraid there won't be enough time. I don't know what method the Ling family used, but they can produce a movie in a month. If I take my time to refine the work, I might not get ahead of them."

"There's no need to rush ahead of them," Li Banfeng said, confident in the current situation. "This time, spend more effort. It's fine if you release it ten days or half a month after them; a slight delay might even result in a better outcome. At least half of the Ling family's publicity efforts will benefit us."

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

"Legitimate, very legitimate!" Li Banfeng looked at Ma Wu earnestly. "Trust me, you can't go wrong. We've got this industry cornered!"

"We can't let Ma Wu keep making movies like this, or he'll dominate us!" Zhou Changhong put down his newspaper and told Ling Miaoying, "We need to cause Ma Wu some trouble. If they dare to burn our film, we can smash their set. It's called 'give and take.'"

When *Blood Blade Detective* was released, its box office performance fell far short of expectations. Zhou Changhong was in a foul mood, and Ling Miaoying felt immense pressure.

Now that Zhou Changhong wanted to resort to underhanded tactics, Ling Miaoying found it somewhat irrational.

"The Lu family is backing Ma Wu. If we attack the Lu family, we'll completely break ties."

"We don't need to do it ourselves. How's the contact with the Three Heroes Sect progressing?"

"The second-in-command has a good relationship with us, so they should be able to help. However, gang talks are often vague, so it's hard to say to what extent they'll assist."

Zhou Changhong was confident. "Don't be too demanding about the extent of their help; it's enough if they send people.

Ma Wu's movie is too scandalous, and the Lu family won't want to get too deeply involved. If they see the Three Heroes Sect stepping in, they definitely won't show their faces easily. They'll surely leave Ma Wu to handle it himself. Let's see how he manages this time!"

Ma Wu had cast the actors and finalized the script. On the first day of filming, a slender young man arrived at the set with over a dozen subordinates.

The production assistant stepped forward to clear the area. "Everyone, we're filming now. The director just said that anyone not involved should please leave."

"What do you mean, 'anyone not involved'?" The young man held a meat pie, took a bite, and chewed as he spoke. "Aren't you filming? We're here to watch. Are we not allowed to watch anymore?"

The production assistant tried to say more, but one of the young man's subordinates pushed him, making him stumble.

The director knew these people were there to cause trouble and quickly sent someone to inform Ma Wu.

By the time Ma Wu arrived at the set, the young man was lecturing an actress: "Look at you, so young and beautiful. Couldn't you do anything else instead of this?

If this gets filmed, everyone will see all of you. How will you live afterward? Will you still be able to get married? Will anyone want you?"

The actress was terrified and crying. Ma Wu walked closer and looked at the young man. "Excuse me, sir, how may we help you?"

"Sir? Help?" The young man chuckled. "We don't call each other 'sir'; we're all 'brothers' here."

Zuo Wugang, standing nearby, reminded Ma Wu, "Fifth Master, these are from the Three Heroes Sect. Everyone in their sect calls each other 'brother.'"

Ma Wu said, "I, Ma, have no dispute with the Three Heroes Sect. Why have you come today..."

"Dispute? How can you say there isn't one?" The young man interrupted Ma Wu. "Our brothers in the Three Heroes Sect are all decent people, and we can't stand your indecent business.

Think about it yourself. Do you think what you're filming is proper? Don't you feel ashamed watching it yourselves?"

Zuo Wugang interjected, "Fifth Master, don't ask any more questions. They're here to cause trouble. Should we fight or not?"

As for fighting, Zuo Wugang truly wasn't afraid.

But Ma Wu didn't want to resort to violence.

The Three Heroes Sect wasn't a prominent family; they were a gang, and they had countless underhanded tactics. If they completely fell out, it would be like stirring up a hornet's nest, and Ma Wu would be unable to defend himself against many of their methods.

The gang causing trouble at the set must be after money, right?

Ma Wu had someone bring 100 silver dollars and handed them to the young man. "Brother, my business relies on your goodwill. This is a small token of my appreciation."

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

Don't make this movie, and don't make any more in the future. You've already made a lot of money; it's still not too late to quit now."

Filming for the day was canceled. Ma Wu returned to Xiaoyao Dock and recounted the incident to Li Banfeng.

Li Banfeng was curious. "Why would the Three Heroes Sect make trouble for us?"

Ma Wu shook his head. "I've been thinking about this for a long time and still can't figure it out. We haven't offended the Three Heroes Sect in any way."

"What did the Lu family say?"

"Lu Yuanshan said he'd look into it, but I doubt he'll get any answers. If I'm not mistaken, the Ling family got the Three Heroes Sect to do this."

Li Banfeng rubbed his forehead. The relationship between the wealthy families and the gangs in Prole Province was too complex for him to understand at once.

"What's the background of that young man who caused trouble at the set?"

Ma Wu replied, "Old Zuo went to investigate, but there's no news yet. I heard he's a talent from the Three Heroes Sect, but I don't even know his name."

Li Banfeng pulled down the brim of his hat. "I'll go meet him tomorrow."

"Old Seven, these people from the Three Heroes Sect are not to be trifled with."

"I don't intend to offend them, but I can't let them run wild over us!"

The next day, filming resumed. Not long after they started, the young man returned with his subordinates.

Today he wasn't eating meat pies; he was eating a drumstick instead.

He slapped Ma Wu with a greasy hand. The young man smiled and said, "Fifth Young Master, I told you you're really insensible. I told you not to film, but you just wouldn't listen to advice?"

Ma Wu said to the young man, "Brother, let's step aside and talk."

"What's the difference if we step aside? It'll still be the same conversation, won't it?" The young man followed Ma Wu to the backstage area of the set. "Fifth Young Master, if you want to play rough, I'm ready. We can fight anywhere, but this movie definitely won't be filmed today."

"Then tell us, what day *can* we film?" Li Banfeng appeared from a corner backstage and walked up to the young man. "What exactly do you mean? Why are you here causing trouble for us?"

The young man looked at Li Banfeng, and the drumstick in his hand fell to the ground. "That, that is, Brother Seven..."

Li Banfeng was startled. "Who are you?"