Chapter 268: Green Fire Gang

Xiaochuanzi prepared over a hundred buckets for Xiaogenzi, all filled with golden liquid. Workers complained endlessly about this, for even though the pay was generous, the work was extremely unpleasant.

The people who had been besieging the Qing Shou Association all dispersed, afraid of getting splattered.

Not only was the golden liquid prepared by Xiaochuanzi, but all the mechanisms and supplies for the battle in front of the cinema were also prepared in advance by Xiaochuanzi and the workers. Otherwise, things wouldn't have gone so smoothly.

Seeing that the time was almost right, Li Banfeng gave an order: "Ring the bell."

This was the customary signal for a movie's opening. Xiaochuanzi, standing by, said, "Seventh Master, the rule in Blackrock City is to sound the whistle."

This cinema was connected to a steam pipe from the adjacent factory. In winter, it was used for heating; normally, it could also be used for cleaning and disinfection. When the valve was opened, the whistle would sound, and all cinemas in Blackrock Slope used whistles instead of bells.

It wasn't just cinemas; in Blackrock Slope, those who had boilers at home would fire them up, while those without boilers would buy steam from the factory. Every household had steam pipes.

When the whistle sounded, the audience members entered one after another, happily going to watch the movie!

The onlookers were gone, and the Qing Shou Association retreated in disarray. Xiaogenzi and Xiaochuanzi led people to clean up in front of the cinema.

The cinema’s strike was quite severe.

However, Li Banfeng still held the Qing Shou Association's "braid"; he had no intention of letting go.

Li Banfeng returned to the factory and instructed Bai Qiusheng and others to quickly produce drafts.

The front-page news was already written: "Qing Shou Association Assaults Septuagenarian Woman in the Street," and "Elder Gains Notoriety After Being Splashed with Excrement."

Following the front-page news were various commentaries, meticulously analyzing the entire sequence of events: the Qing Shou Association's vandalism at the cinema, their assault on an elderly woman in the street, and their subsequent mobbing and splashing with excrement.

This was not just one side of the story; several writers had their own ideas.

Some believed that the Qing Shou Association vandalized the cinema because "Blood Gun Detective" was deemed indecent and did not meet the Qing Shou Association's moral standards.

However, the Qing Shou Association's assault on an old woman in the street was clearly shown in photo after photo. It seemed this group also lacked morality.

Therefore, this argument was untenable.

Another writer's theory was that Tang Peigong, an elder of the Qing Shou Association, was old and impotent. He had one legal wife and twenty-six concubines, which put him under great pressure.

Now, seeing a film like "Blood Gun Detective," where the male lead, Song Chunjie, was depicted as triumphantly strong and vigorous, Tang Peigong felt deeply distressed, tormented by a burning resentment that he couldn't suppress. He insisted on absolute opposition to the film.

This explanation was more logically coherent.

There was also a slightly less logical but more entertaining theory, which claimed that all twenty-six of Tang Peigong's concubines were infatuated with the male lead of "Blood Gun Detective." Some had even reportedly written letters to the male lead. Tang Peigong suspected he had been cuckolded and therefore deeply hated the film.

This theory had evolved and was primarily featured on pages three and four of newspapers. Song Chunjie, the male lead of "Blood Gun Detective," played an important role in the story. Having just "conquered" the first two concubines, the series would continue to be serialized in newspapers and magazines.

Furthermore, another theory suggested that Tang Peigong had been bribed by Ling Family Films to help them eliminate a competitor, deliberately targeting "Blood Gun Detective." This also involved the interests of Old Master Lu Maoxian of the Lu family and others.

The various commentaries offered divergent opinions. Nearly a third of tonight's "Evening Incense" newspaper was dedicated to the Qing Shou Association.

For such a major event, promotion by only one newspaper was clearly not impactful enough.

Li Banfeng also had similar concerns, but in such a short time, he could only manage to establish one newspaper.

Fortunately, there was still a helper.

Li Banfeng called a worker, gave him a silver dollar, and told him to invite Zeng Wenbing of the Green Fire Gang over.

The worker was puzzled: "What do you want him for?"

Li Banfeng said, "Just tell him that our business made a huge profit, and we want to discuss his share of the bonus."

The worker was even more confused: "Still giving a bonus? Didn't we already give him twenty thousand?"

Li Banfeng smiled: "I'm a generous person. Giving a little more ensures peace of mind."

The worker couldn't understand, but since he had accepted Li Banfeng's money, he could only follow instructions.

Soon after, Zeng Wenbing arrived, a cigarette dangling from his mouth. As soon as he entered, he first kicked the workers a few times, then overturned the neatly stacked newspapers, scattering them everywhere.

"Damn it," he roared, "you made money and now you're putting on airs! If there's a bonus, why don't you send it to me? Why do I have to come get it myself?"

Li Banfeng personally went out to greet him: "Second Master, I invited you here precisely so we could settle the accounts face-to-face, didn't I?"

Zeng Wenbing looked Li Banfeng up and down. This person seemed different from the one he saw yesterday.

Different or not, it didn't matter. A newspaper office could be here today and gone tomorrow. He couldn't be bothered to think too much about such matters.

"What accounts are you talking about? Just give me twenty thousand first!"

Li Banfeng paused: "Second Master, isn't twenty thousand a bit much?"

"I came here myself! And you dare to complain it's too much? Am I being too kind to you?"

Li Banfeng said, dumbfounded: "So you're here to save face? Very well, then, twenty thousand it is."

Zeng Wenbing spat his cigarette butt on the ground and looked at Li Banfeng, saying, "What the hell do you mean? Are you tired of living..."

Li Banfeng suddenly appeared in front of him, and a slap knocked out one of Zeng Wenbing's molars.

Zeng Wenbing saw stars and looked at Li Banfeng: "You dare..."

Li Banfeng slapped him again with his other hand, collapsing Zeng Wenbing's nose.

Zeng Wenbing clutched his nose and yelled at his subordinates: "Fight him!"

His subordinates swarmed forward. Zuo Wugang stepped forward, grabbing them one by one like chickens and tossing them to the ground. He then told the workers: "Stomp on their faces, yes, hold them down, use the soles of your shoes, stomp hard; once they're pinned down, they won't move."

Seeing all his subordinates pinned down, Zeng Wenbing looked at Li Banfeng with terror on his face.

Li Banfeng gave Zeng Wenbing another slap and said with a chuckle, "You ask for twenty thousand right away, that's really hard to give. I'll give you three first; there's still nineteen thousand nine hundred ninety-seven left. We'll calculate the interest slowly, after you help me with something."

Zeng Wenbing's jaw was dislocated from the beating. Bai Qiusheng walked out of the factory building: "Second Master Zeng, that was our boss, Night, who hit you. I haven't settled my accounts with you yet. First, tell me, how many newspaper offices are in your territory?"

Zeng Wenbing answered truthfully: "I control three, plus a magazine seller. Our gang controls a total of fifteen, and two of them might be closing down."

Zuo Wugang, holding Zeng Wenbing, said, "You come with us first. We'll go find those three businesses to discuss something."

Bai Qiusheng followed Zuo Wugang. They were indeed there to discuss matters. Li Banfeng did not intend to make money from newspapers and magazines, so there was no need to make things difficult for his peers.

Arriving at a newspaper office, two writers were sitting at a table, worried about what to write that night.

This newspaper office only had the two of them. They wrote the drafts, they did the printing, they folded the newspapers, and they delivered them. They managed to sell two to three hundred copies daily, barely making a living.

Seeing Zuo Wugang arrive, the two were stunned for a long time, not knowing what this big, dark man was doing.

Zuo Wugang placed the person he was holding in front of them. Seeing the person bloody and battered, the two shivered in fright.

One of the writers had better eyesight. After a moment of looking, he finally recognized him: "Is this Second Master Zeng?"

Zuo Wugang nodded: "Do you understand now?"

The two writers shook their heads repeatedly. They didn't understand.

What did this mean?

Would this territory no longer be under Zeng Wenbing's control?

Would future bonus money be given to this big, dark man?

Bai Qiusheng quickly stepped forward to explain: "Gentlemen, we are colleagues. We are from 'Evening Incense' newspaper, and we're here to discuss with you whether you can publish a piece of news tomorrow."

"What news?"

Bai Qiusheng showed them the news from "Evening Incense." The two writers hesitated to speak.

Publishing news was not a big deal; normal news was often copied from elsewhere. But the key was that it involved the Qing Shou Association.

Spreading rumors about the Qing Shou Association could bring a lot of trouble.

Bai Qiusheng had worked in this line of business and knew their concerns. "Brothers," he said, "this news is true, and you won't be doing this for free. We'll pay you thirty silver dollars for one day's publication! If anything goes wrong, just come to us; we'll bear the responsibility!"

Thirty silver dollars a day!

The two brothers couldn't even earn thirty silver dollars in a month.

The two brothers looked at Zeng Wenbing. Zuo Wugang, holding Zeng Wenbing, slapped him: "We're asking you a question!"

Zeng Wenbing nodded: "Okay..."

These people were truly ruthless, to beat Zeng Wenbing to such a state.

They came with sincerity, and even offered money, just to do this small thing. There was no reason to refuse.

The two brothers agreed on the spot. Zuo Wugang, carrying Zeng Wenbing, went to the next establishment.

The next place was taking photos for a magazine. Zuo Wugang entered, carrying the man, and scared all the girls away.

Zuo Wugang slapped Zeng Wenbing: "Speak!"

Zeng Wenbing stammered indistinctly, crying out: "Print newspapers."

"Print what newspapers?"

Bai Qiusheng stepped forward to explain: "There's a matter, if you could trouble yourselves..."

After visiting all three newspaper offices, Bai Qiusheng asked Zeng Wenbing: "Is your boss here? Let's go sit at your gang's headquarters."

Zeng Wenbing remained silent.

Bai Qiusheng slapped him: "You're not going to talk, are you?"

Zeng Wenbing still didn't speak.

Bai Qiusheng looked at Zuo Wugang: "Master Zuo, my hand strength isn't enough."

Just as Zuo Wugang raised his hand, Zeng Wenbing spoke: "The boss is at the headquarters, I'll take you there."

Zuo Wugang, holding Zeng Wenbing, said: "Let's go, first we'll find Seventh Master."

Bai Qiusheng said: "Master Zuo, this is a small matter, no need to trouble Seventh Master; we can handle it ourselves."

"No, Seventh Master gave instructions. He must be informed about going to the headquarters."

Zuo Wugang was not good at making decisions. Whether the matter was difficult or easy, he only followed the orders of Li Qi and Ma Wu.

Zeng Wenbing led the way, and Li Banfeng and his group arrived at the Green Fire Gang's headquarters.

The Green Fire Gang wasn't even considered a third-rate gang in Puro State. Their headquarters wasn't large, and it was also a factory.

Zuo Wugang was about to go inside. Li Banfeng stopped him and told him to wait at the entrance.

There was something at the entrance. Zuo Wugang couldn't see it, but Li Banfeng saw it very clearly.

This gang was called the Green Fire Gang. Li Banfeng had already suspected that the leader must be a Nightmare Cultivator.

As expected, there were two ghost servants standing guard at the entrance. As Li Banfeng walked into the factory, these two ghost servants followed behind him.

The factory's front yard was overgrown with weeds, and the abandoned equipment was so rusted its original shape was unrecognizable.

Although the gang wasn't large, they should have some assets and shouldn't be living in such a dilapidated place.

But Li Banfeng knew the reason.

The factory had a very strong yin energy, and many lingering spirits hovered nearby, making it very suitable for a Nightmare Cultivator's practice.

Walking to a secluded part of the factory building, Li Banfeng suddenly drew out his pendulum, cut down two ghost servants, and sent them into his portable dwelling.

His 'wife' tasted them, exhaling steam as she spoke: "Oh, husband, today's 'dishes' aren't very fresh, and their quality is a bit poor."

This single sentence revealed the gang leader's identity.

The 'dishes' weren't fresh, proving that the ghost servants had been kept for a long time. And if old ghost servants were of such poor quality, it proved that the gang leader's cultivation was limited.

Li Banfeng strode towards the factory building. Two thugs standing guard at the entrance stepped forward and stopped Li Banfeng, saying, "Who are you!"

Li Banfeng politely asked, "Is your boss in?"

A young thug pushed Li Banfeng: "I'm asking you who you are!"

The other, older thug remained silent.

There were ghost servants at the entrance. The fact that this person could walk in proved he was no ordinary individual.

Li Banfeng looked at the young thug and with a swing of his scythe, slit his throat.

The older thug shivered and bowed his head, saying, "I'll take you to the boss."