Chapter 267: First Battle

Li Banfeng said, "My surname is Ye, as in 'night.' I'm buying your cinema."

The owner of Sanfu Cinema was quite knowledgeable. He had read about rare surnames in a magazine and knew that 'Ye' was indeed a real surname.

"So you're Boss Ye. Are you serious about showing *Blood Gun Detective*?"

Li Banfeng nodded. "I just really like this movie."

The owner gritted his teeth and said, "I like this movie too. It's a genuinely good film. If I were a few years younger, I'd join you and fight those bastards..."

As he spoke, the cinema owner choked up.

He truly felt indignant.

Knowing he felt indignant was good; it proved he still had spirit.

"Boss Ye, I can sell this cinema to you. How much are you planning to offer?"

"You name your price first."

The cinema owner asked for two hundred silver dollars.

The price was ridiculously cheap.

The main reason was that the owner was desperate to sell, and the cinema was practically a shell, having been mostly destroyed.

Fortunately, this was Blackrock Slope, where everything was easy to acquire.

The task of tidying up the cinema was given to Xiaochuanzi, with simple instructions: just make it fit for showing movies. Li Banfeng's requirement was that it be completed in three days.

The cinema's nominal owner was Bai Qiusheng. He had lived in Blackrock Slope before, making him less likely to attract suspicion.

As soon as work began, word quickly spread.

In an ancient-style mansion south of Blackrock Slope City, Tang Peigong, an elder of the Qinghou Society in Blackrock Slope, was reading in his study.

Such mansions were rare in Blackrock Slope, and the two streets, front and back, had no train access.

Tang Peigong was a lifelong scholar with a passion for antiquity. He most admired the ancient sages and was utterly devoted to their profound teachings.

He deeply detested things like trains, machines, movies, and newspapers, believing they corrupted both tranquility and morality.

Taking trains as an example, Tang Peigong once commented: "This thing belches smoke and fire, and its sound is like thunder. It is no different from the demons described in ancient texts. People inside the carriages are like entering the belly of a demon. Merely for the convenience of travel, their spiritual essence and vitality are consumed by these demons. To sacrifice oneself for temporary comfort is truly laughable, truly tragic."

In Tang Peigong's view, the convenience brought by machines was the chief culprit for promoting pleasure and depravity.

Tang Peigong often taught his disciples that the purpose of life was to continually refine and grow under the teachings of the sages, and any thought of pursuing pleasure and comfort was a corruption and destruction of body and mind.

He was also very strict with his family, making them persevere in self-discipline and abstain from pleasure.

He required his main wife and twenty-six concubines to attend morning lessons daily, studying the teachings of the sages with him, to prevent any thoughts of depravity from taking hold and spoiling the family's reputation.

As an elder of the Qinghou Society, he was one of the most respected figures in Blackrock Slope. He had led the destruction of two cinemas, and now, hearing that one of them was reopening, Tang Peigong was highly displeased.

"Who has taken over Sanfu Cinema?"

A student replied, "It's a writer named Bai Qiusheng, who lived in Blackrock Slope for over a decade, making a living by writing unremarkable articles. We now hear he's made some money in Lushui City and has returned to Blackrock Slope to run a business."

Tang Peigong sighed. "Giving him a livelihood is fine, but if he dares to show those indecent films again, I will absolutely not spare him!"

The student nodded. "I'll go warn him immediately."

Tang Peigong nodded, and the student immediately headed to Sanfu Cinema.

This student was named Ai Chixiang, Tang Peigong's most loyal disciple.

Bai Qiusheng was busy writing for the newspaper and wasn't at the cinema, so Ai Chixiang lectured Xiaochuanzi instead.

Ai Chixiang spoke in archaic, formal language that Xiaochuanzi didn't understand, but Xiaochuanzi agreed to everything, as per Li Banfeng's instructions.

Several workers renovating the cinema spat at Ai Chixiang.

Ai Chixiang angrily asked, "What do you mean by that?"

A worker laughed. "Spitting. Are you going to take that too?"

Ai Chixiang cursed and walked away.

Xiaochuanzi looked at the workers and praised them, "Alright, you guys have guts!"

One worker angrily said, "Those bastards, they're not even human. What's wrong with watching a movie? Who are they to disgust us? They say watching a movie is indecent, but isn't it indecent for their master to marry twenty-six concubines?"

Many other workers joined in the cursing.

Li Banfeng sat on the second floor of the cinema, hearing everything clearly through his thread-pulling earrings.

The cinema owner was a spirited person.

It seemed such people were not an isolated case in Blackrock Slope.

This might be a characteristic of Blackrock Slope.

Lu Maoxian's businesses were all in Blackrock Slope, but he didn't live there himself, which likely had something to do with Blackrock Slope's unique characteristics.

Xiaochuanzi called these workers together and whispered, "There's another job, to be done at night, for triple pay. Are you interested?"

Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi, along with a group of writers, spent half a day compiling the first issue of the newspaper. That afternoon, it was typeset and printed, totaling three thousand copies.

Li Banfeng frowned. "Only printing this many?"

Bai Qiusheng smiled. "For a new newspaper launching for the first time in Blackrock Slope, this quantity is already significant. Paper and ink both cost money, so printing too many wouldn't be economical."

"How much do you plan to sell them for?"

Ma Wu replied, "The price is sixty cents. For a new newspaper, it's just to get the word out first."

"That's the newsstand price, right? What's the wholesale price for newsstands?"

Li Banfeng didn't understand newspaper business practices, especially those in Blackrock Slope.

Ma Wu explained, "Newspapers don't have a wholesale price. We deliver them to various newsstands to sell. For sold papers, we split the money; unsold papers are returned to us, and we sell them as scrap paper to the paper mill, then buy new paper with the proceeds. Simply put, if two thousand out of three thousand copies are sold, we break even and make a small profit. If only a thousand are sold, we take a loss."

Li Banfeng shook his head. "We can't sell them like that. Print five thousand, and sell each paper for twenty cents."

"Twenty cents?" Ma Wu shook his head repeatedly. "We can't do that. Even if we sold all of them, we wouldn't cover our costs."

"You're truly a business whiz," Li Banfeng chuckled. "Are you really expecting to make money from this?"

Ma Wu slapped his forehead. As a businessman, he was used to calculating every bit of profit, and he had truly forgotten the main objective.

"Alright, twenty cents, as you say."

Using the hand-cranked printing press, an additional two thousand copies were printed, and people had to be hired to fold the newspapers. They worked until dusk, and finally, the first issue of *Night Fragrance* was distributed.

With renowned authors and a low price, those who bought the newspaper recognized its quality. That evening, newsstands everywhere sold out.

The next day, newsstands requested more copies. Ma Wu printed an additional five thousand, and Li Banfeng urged the writers to rush the second issue. One printing press was no longer enough.

Ma Wu called Xiaochuanzi and had him buy two more printing presses. With three machines working simultaneously, the second issue of *Night Fragrance* sold twenty-five thousand copies.

Newsstands, large and small, demanded even more reprints.

Ma Wu went to buy machines and hire more hands, and the factory was bustling with activity.

The third issue of the newspaper was released, and the first issue of the magazine also came out.

The front-page news of this issue wasn't copied from other major newspapers; it was personally written by Bai Qiusheng and Yuwen Qi.

*Blood Gun Detective 3* was opening tonight at Sanfu Cinema, with a special 40% discount for the premiere.

Nearly half of the articles in the magazine were a series of film reviews for *Blood Gun Detective*.

The newspapers and magazines were neatly packed. Just as Ma Wu was about to arrange for delivery, someone came knocking.

Li Banfeng thought it was the Qinghou Society, and if they came now, it would indeed be difficult to deal with them.

Yuwen Qi reminded him, "Seventh Master, don't forget the Qinghou Society's three tactics: 'beating with sticks,' 'pulling pigtails,' and 'pinning hats.' You must be careful in dealing with them."

But when Bai Qiusheng went out to look, it wasn't the Qinghou Society. It was a group of men in their twenties and thirties who kicked the packed newspapers and magazines all over the floor and then started kicking and hitting the workers who were folding them.

The workers of Blackrock City were not cowards; they stepped forward to confront the thugs, but Bai Qiusheng quickly intervened to stop them.

Inside the factory, Yuwen Qi lowered his voice and said to Li Banfeng, "These are members of the Green Fire Gang. They're not easy to deal with."

"How are they difficult to deal with?"

In Pruro Province, doing business invariably involved two hurdles: powerful families and gangs. Regardless of which side you aligned with, you had to pay protection money.

Yuwen Qi said, "The Green Fire Gang is ruthless when it comes to money and vicious in their actions. They burn down shops, kill people—they do everything. Seventh Master, should we confront them head-on, or take a softer approach?"

Li Banfeng smiled. "They've come at just the right time. These people will be very useful. Let's take a softer approach first."

Yuwen Qi didn't understand. What use could these thugs possibly be?

The minor leader of these gang members was Zeng Wenbing, who was the second oldest in his family and called himself Second Master Zeng.

Bai Qiusheng recognized him and bowed respectfully. "Second Master, when did you arrive? You didn't even let us know beforehand. Please, come inside..."

Zeng Wenbing slapped Bai Qiusheng. "Don't try to be familiar with me. Do I know you? Doing business on our turf without even a greeting—do you understand the rules?"

Bai Qiusheng dared not say more. Even after being slapped, he maintained a smile. "Second Master, my business just opened. I hadn't had a chance to inform you..."

"Cut the damn excuses. Bring twenty thousand yuan immediately. This is your initiation fee. The monthly protection money will be calculated separately."

"Second Master, we're just a small business and haven't made any money yet. You're asking for twenty thousand right off the bat..."

"Are you still looking for a beating? I'll tell you this: I'm going to stand here and smoke a cigarette. If that cigarette is finished and you haven't brought the money, I'll burn this place down."

Bai Qiusheng quickly returned to the factory and told Li Banfeng, "He wants twenty thousand."

Li Banfeng said, "Give it to him. Remember that slap you just took, and remember what they did to the workers. We'll get it all back, principal and interest, in a couple of days."

Bai Qiusheng handed over the money, and Zeng Wenbing left with his men.

Ma Wu instructed his people to sort the newspapers and deliver them to the newsstands.

The next evening, Li Banfeng had everything prepared. He sat quietly on the cinema roof, behind the sign, waiting.

Many people gathered in front of the cinema. *Night Fragrance* had been heavily advertised, and *Blood Gun Detective* had strong appeal.

And crucially, the people of Blackrock Slope had guts.

As long as the cinema dared to show it, they dared to watch!

The film was still half an hour from starting, but the hall was already packed.

Tang Peigong, the elder of the Qinghou Society in Blackrock Slope, arrived with his men.

He was accompanied by over a hundred disciples. Ai Chixiang walked at the very front, pushing and shoving the crowd, shouting at them:

"Rotten wood cannot be carved! A wall of dung cannot be plastered! Do you not know how to write the word 'shame'? Your virtues as human beings have all been corrupted!"

Yuwen Qi said, "Seventh Master, they've started 'beating with sticks'."

They made their way to the entrance, where Tang Peigong loudly proclaimed, "Ma Junyang, a dissolute and shameless scoundrel! His shameless acts throughout his life are countless..."

Tang Peigong began to enumerate Ma Junyang's crimes.

Yuwen Qi said, "Seventh Master, now they're 'pulling pigtails'."

After detailing the accusations, Tang Peigong sternly declared, "Movies are not the legitimate tradition of theatre. These Western ingenious tricks, which entertain people with sights and sounds, are a source of depravity! Shameless scoundrels create such shameless films, and you, ignorant of the truth and unaware of their true nature, willingly allow yourselves to be poisoned by them. This truly pains me deeply! This cinema, having been punished by me for showing such shameless films, has repeatedly refused to mend its ways. It must be utterly destroyed to serve as a warning to others!"

Yuwen Qi said, "Seventh Master, this is the Qinghou Society's ultimate tactic: 'pinning hats'. 'Beating with sticks,' 'pulling pigtails,' and 'pinning hats'—once these three ultimate tactics are used, no matter how good a reputation someone has, it can be ruined."

Xiaochuanzi, standing nearby, gritted his teeth and said, "Today, we'll see who truly gets disgraced!"

Tang Peigong ordered them to act, and a group of disciples prepared to smash the cinema.

Li Banfeng commanded, "'Beat them with sticks!'"

Just as Tang Peigong reached the cinema entrance, and his disciples raised their sticks, ready to smash, a seventy-year-old woman suddenly collapsed to the ground, crying out, "What are you doing? Why are you hitting an old woman like me?"

The old woman's face was covered in blood. Tang Peigong froze, and all the other disciples were also stunned.

Who had accidentally harmed the old woman?

The old woman continued to wail, "Were you not raised by humans? Do you have no parents? You're trying to kill an old woman like me! Aren't you afraid of divine retribution? Aren't you afraid of being struck by lightning? Aren't you afraid your ancestors will manifest and take you bastards away!"

Tang Peigong's face turned purple from the insults. Ai Chixiang angrily yelled, "Shameless shrew..."

"Shrew your mother! Who are you calling a shrew? I'm this old, and you open your mouth to curse and raise your hand to hit! Were you even raised by humans? What kind of mongrel brutes are you all?!"

Ai Chixiang's mouth hung open, unable to speak. In front of the cursing woman, Ai Chixiang's tongue-tied mouth couldn't even form words.

Humiliated and enraged, Ai Chixiang lost his temper. He grabbed the old woman's hair, gritting his teeth, "Who are you cursing?"

Li Banfeng commanded, "'Pull her pigtail!'"

A group of photographers emerged from the crowd and captured the scene of Ai Chixiang grabbing the old woman's hair.

The old woman, her face covered in blood, gnashed her teeth. With one hand, she gripped Ai Chixiang's wrist, while with the other, she struggled with him.

Li Banfeng had the film cameras brought out. Such a vivid scene had to be used in *Blood Gun Detective 4*.

Seeing people taking photos around them, Tang Peigong furiously shouted, "Chixiang, stop! Don't fall into the scoundrels' trap!"

Ai Chixiang tried to pull his hand back, but found his wrist clamped firmly by the cursing woman.

Cursing women could easily provoke others, but others should not get into a physical fight with them.

This wasn't about respecting the elderly, but because most people couldn't win a fight against a cursing woman.

Not only could Ai Chixiang not move his hand, but a strange force spread from his wrist joint throughout his body. He was completely controlled by the cursing woman. To cooperate with the filming, she even made him assume ferocious expressions and perform various actions like swinging fists and slapping faces.

With this precious video footage, the second stage, "pulling pigtails," should have ended.

Unexpectedly, this scene provoked public outrage.

"You're harming an old woman, you bastards!"

"Qinghou Society? Qinghou their mother's egg! They're all shameless mongrels!"

"What's wrong with watching a movie? Beat those sons of bitches!"

This was Blackrock Slope, not Jianrengang.

The enraged citizens of Blackrock Slope began to shove Tang Peigong and his disciples.

Seeing the unfavorable situation, Tang Peigong ordered his disciples to quickly escort him away.

Some disciples among them possessed cultivation, and they rushed to the front, preparing to clear a path.

Want to leave?

Not so easy!

Li Banfeng commanded, "'Pin hats!'"

Xiaogenzi stood on the cinema roof, watching the crowd below with a stern expression.

A long ladle hung in mid-air. Xiaochuanzi and his men helped hang ten buckets neatly onto the ladle.

At the opportune moment, Xiaogenzi concentrated his mind, swung the long ladle, and the ten buckets fell from mid-air.

Tang Peigong was an astute person. Noticing something unusual in the air, he quickly looked up.

*Splish!*

One bucket landed squarely on Tang Peigong's head.

Gold Cultivation, Second Layer Skill: Fragrance for Ten Miles!

This bucket truly could spread its scent for ten miles.

Without Xiaogenzi's specially formulated antidote, it couldn't be washed off for half a year.

Tang Peigong removed the bucket. His face glowed golden, and his beard and hair were completely yellow.

He wanted to vomit, but couldn't get it all out; there was too much in his mouth.

He looked for Ai Chixiang, who was still standing motionless, with a bucket on his head.

Li Banfeng coldly watched Tang Peigong. "What's the point of just creating a reputation?"

Xiaochuanzi gritted his teeth and said, "Today, we're going to disgrace him, from the inside out!"

Xiaogenzi, holding the long ladle, roared, "Bring more buckets!"

The villains might curse us as vile through tears, but since they've already cursed us anyway, we must be utterly vile towards them.

(End of Chapter)