Chapter 352: Emotions Overlapping, Illusions Adding

Li Banfeng had previously used the record his wife made to search for a "hook" in Xiaoyao Lake. He had searched people, rooms, and practically every corner of Xiaoyao Lake.

When he searched people, the cleaner wasn't carrying a broom. However, when he searched the rooms, the cleaner was holding a broom and actively tried to avoid Li Banfeng. Who would have thought the "hook" would be attached to a broom? No wonder Ling Miaosheng once said that a "hook" exploits every vulnerability, requiring not just skill but also cunning.

Who could have placed this hook? It was most likely He Jiaqing who instructed the Ling family to place it, but for safety, it would be best to confirm this first.

"Can you trace the origin of the hook?"

"Yes," Luo Zhengnan replied without hesitation.

Li Banfeng handed Luo Zhengnan 500 silver dollars. "Take this to spend for now. If you need more money, just come to me."

Luo Zhengnan was silent for a moment, then looked up and said, "Seventh Master, there's something else I need to tell you. Young Master Ma, the fifth son of the Ma family, might be in trouble."

"Tell me the details."

"Do you know He Jiaqing, the eldest son of the He family?"

Li Banfeng shook his head. "I've heard of him, but I don't know him personally."

"Young Master He's new film was disrupted by Fifth Master Ma. Yesterday, a woman he contacted might make a move against Fifth Master Ma."

Ma Wu sat in his room, holding an invitation, his face beaming with delight. Huo Ling and A Qin sat nearby, their faces grim.

Li Banfeng entered. Ma Wu eagerly stepped forward and said, "Seventh Brother, this is an invitation from Shen Rongqing. She's invited me to dinner at Peace Building tonight!"

A Qin snorted coldly. "Go on, let that little vixen serve you well!"

Huo Ling spat. "What 'little vixen'? That woman is in her late thirties, a dangerous age. Just wait until she drains you completely, leaving nothing behind!"

Li Banfeng looked at the invitation. "Fifth Brother, this woman is not simple."

"Of course she's not simple! She's the most talented woman of her generation; even Zhang Xiuling respects her."

"Indeed, a talented woman. Not only is she cultured, but she also understands business. I used to think she only ran leather and paper factories, but I didn't expect her to get involved in the film business. The Ling family's film company should now be under her control."

Ma Wu froze for a moment, sweat beads forming on his forehead.

A Qin quickly urged, "Fifth Brother, you can't go! This is a trap!"

Huo Ling continued to mock from the side. "Go on, if he wants to go! 'Die under the peony, and be a romantic ghost'."

Ma Wu nodded slightly. "Ling'er has a point. 'Die under the peony.' This time, let's see who really dies!"

At 7 PM, Ma Wu arrived at Peace Building for the banquet. Peace Building, owned by the Lu family, was the tallest structure in Lushui City and even the entire Puro Province. The 36-story building featured a steam-powered elevator, housing restaurants, hotels, shopping malls, cinemas, and dance halls. Peace Building was built by Lu Dongliang, who had intended to make it Lushui City's premier landmark. Unfortunately, even on the day Lu Dongliang entered the Lotus, Peace Building's status still fell slightly short of the Bailimen.

Ma Wu took the elevator to the sixteenth floor of the building and, guided by a waiter, entered the private room reserved by Shen Rongqing. This was Ma Wu's first time meeting Shen Rongqing, Puro Province's most talented woman.

Was Shen Rongqing beautiful? It depended on who you compared her to. Based purely on her looks, among ordinary women, she was quite attractive, but she fell short of the stunning beauty of women like Jiang Mengting, Xiao Xiufai, and Tu Yinghong. However, once she spoke, it was a different story. Ma Wu was familiar with Jiang Mengting and Xiao Xiufai. On some occasions, when they attended banquets, they needed to prepare scripts in advance, or their spontaneous remarks might spoil others' impressions of them.

Upon seeing Ma Wu, Shen Rongqing was the first to stand up, bowing respectfully with clasped hands. "I have long heard of your esteemed name, Young Master. It is truly my good fortune to meet you today!" Her demeanor was elegant with a hint of seriousness, and spirited with a touch of playfulness.

Ma Wu quickly responded, "You flatter me, Miss. I have admired you for many years, and finally meeting you today fills me with immense joy."

They clasped their hands in salute to each other and gazed for a while. Shen Rongqing couldn't help but chuckle. "I'm currently writing a wuxia novelette. Don't you think our exchange just now had a bit of a wuxia flair?" With that single remark, she dispelled all the awkwardness of their first meeting, and they seemed to become old friends reunited after many years.

Ma Junyang said, "When will your new work be published, Miss Shen? I am so eager I can't sleep at night."

Shen Rongqing's cheeks flushed slightly. "It's my first time writing wuxia, and I'm afraid people will laugh at me."

Ma Junyang sighed with emotion. "As long as it comes from your pen, I would read it ten thousand times and never grow tired of it."

Shen Rongqing was deeply touched. "It's a rare gathering today, so I'd like to tell you the story synopsis. I only ask that Young Master Ma not tell anyone else." Within a few words, a secret had formed between them.

Ma Junyang nodded. "Since Miss Shen trusts me, I assure you that no third person will know what is spoken here today."

The two began to discuss the story. The protagonist was named Nangong Xuan. If anyone else had chosen such a name, Ma Wu would surely have found it vulgar, but when Miss Shen recounted it, it carried a unique elegance.

"'Young Master Nangong met the heroine Yue Haitang and softly asked, 'Miss, where exactly are you headed?'"

"'Yue Haitang replied, 'The world is vast, Ma Junyang, you must no longer engage in the film business.'"

Ma Wu was startled. He instinctively felt the voice just now was deep and resonant, striking directly into his mind, unlike Shen Rongqing's. Yet, there was no one else in the room.

Ma Wu directly asked, "Miss Shen, what did you just say?"

Shen Rongqing's lips curled slightly, showing a hint of displeasure. "'Yue Haitang said, 'The world is vast, is there truly no place for me to belong?' Young Master Ma, weren't you listening carefully? Is the story not captivating?"

Ma Wu repeatedly waved his hand. "No, the story is too fascinating. I just got a bit distracted."

Shen Rongqing continued the story. When she reached the reunion of the male and female protagonists, her voice trembled slightly. "'Yue Haitang said with a sorrowful expression, 'Young Master Nangong, it has been over a decade since we parted. I hope you have been well.'"

"'Young Master Nangong replied, 'Ma Junyang, do not interfere with the film business ever again!'"

Ma Wu sat motionless and dazed, remaining silent at the table for a long time.

Shen Rongqing smiled faintly, raising her wine cup. "Young Master Ma, Young Master Nangong said, 'Twelve years have passed like a lifetime. Now that we've reunited today, let us not miss this fate again.'"

Ma Wu nodded numbly, a bloodshot line appearing in his eyes.

This was Shen Rongqing's unique technique of "False Affection," combining the skills of Mind Cultivation and Literary Cultivation, and using the artifacts of Illusion Cultivation and Affection Cultivation, to plant a "false affection root" in Ma Wu. The Literary Cultivation technique quickly drew Ma Wu into her scheme, allowing Shen Rongqing to establish familiarity and trust in the shortest possible time. The Mind Cultivation technique issued a command to Ma Wu, ensuring he would never again interfere with the film industry or be an adversary to Shen Rongqing. The Illusion Cultivation artifact concealed the precursors of the technique, preventing Ma Wu from sensing it or taking precautions.

Logically, these methods should have been sufficient. Why was an Affection Cultivation artifact also necessary? Because the effects of Literary Cultivation and Mind Cultivation techniques do not last long. If Shen Rongqing had only employed these two, Ma Wu would certainly have developed an extreme aversion to the film business within three to five days after the meal. However, once those three to five days passed and the techniques weakened, Ma Wu would resume his film business, as it is a merchant's nature to pursue profit. With the Affection Cultivation artifact, this command became long-lasting. The core of Affection Cultivation techniques lies in unwavering devotion. Shen Rongqing had just said, "Twelve years have passed like a lifetime," which meant she had planted an affection root in Ma Wu that would last for twelve years. For the next twelve years, Ma Wu would be unable to interfere with the film business.

Seeing Ma Wu's somewhat dazed expression, Shen Rongqing raised her cup and said, "Young Master Ma, you've lost yourself in thought again."

Ma Wu rubbed his eyes, half-dreaming, half-awake. "I feel a bit tired today."

Seeing that the time was right, Shen Rongqing prepared to see him off. "Since you are tired, Young Master, after this drink, please return early to rest. My humble work is not yet finished, so please, do not reveal anything about it."

Ma Wu agreed repeatedly. With this promise, what happened today would not be leaked.

The next morning, Shen Rongqing yawned, opened her eyes, and looked at Ma Junyang beside her. Wait. Why was Ma Junyang beside her? Why was she in the same bed as him? Shen Rongqing looked down at herself in the bed. Where were her clothes...?

Ma Wu embraced Shen Rongqing from behind and said, "A single night, yet it feels like a lifetime has passed. Miss Shen, from now on, you are my woman."

Shen Rongqing trembled. Ma Wu's expression was calm, but truthfully, he was quite terrified. Shen Rongqing was a fifth-level Literary Cultivator and a fourth-level Mind Cultivator. If she truly intended to kill him, Ma Wu's life would be in danger. But now it was too late to try and kill him; she couldn't bring herself to do it. She shouldn't have used the Affection Cultivation artifact on Ma Wu. Ma Wu, having undergone further training by Feng Daiku, was able to use the characteristics of Affection Cultivation to transfer the affection root to Shen Rongqing.

Leaving Peace Building, Shen Rongqing returned to the film company in a state of dismay. Sitting in her office, she clutched her hair, unsure of what to do next.

Her secretary reported, "Mr. Zhong is here again."

Shen Rongqing composed herself, then adjusted her makeup in the mirror, paying particular attention to her lipstick. Her lips were a bit swollen, but it shouldn't be too noticeable. It would have been better if that last moment hadn't happened before he left.

Shortly after, the young man in white entered the office and asked Shen Rongqing, "Miss Shen, what have you decided regarding our previous discussion?"

Shen Rongqing calmed her thoughts, reverting to her shrewd and competent demeanor. "Mr. Zhong, I have conveyed what you said previously. However, we know too little about your side to make a hasty decision."

"It seems I haven't been clear enough on some matters," the young man in white said, taking out a handkerchief and presenting it to Shen Rongqing. "Please accept this gift, Miss."

Shen Rongqing took the handkerchief and examined it closely. It was yellow with cloud patterns. As the most talented woman of her generation, she naturally knew the origin of this handkerchief. The young man in white said, "Miss Shen, the Sage yearns for talent. I hope you and others do not disappoint the Sage's sincere intentions."

He Jiaqing, disguised as a repairman, was fixing seats in the waiting room of Yuezhou East Station. From underneath a seat, he pried off a magnet. After securing the magnet, he checked into a hotel near the station and produced another magnet. The two magnets clicked together, revealing a white ring. He Jiaqing then placed the magnets on top of his head. After a series of spasms, He Jiaqing sighed, muttering to himself, "The efficiency is still slow. It's not that the absorption is slow, it's that I'm slow. Why didn't I borrow that 'Travel Cultivation' technique? Is Zhao Xiaowan's technique different?"

As he was pondering, Shen Rongqing's message came through: "Jiaqing, Zhong Huai'en is here again. He brought a yellow handkerchief with a dragon pattern."

He Jiaqing was startled. "Is that used by the Emperor?"

"That's right. I've examined its quality; it's indeed imperial. Jiaqing, he still wants to recruit you. Do you want to meet him?"

He Jiaqing considered for a moment. "No rush, Sister. Continue to engage with him for a while longer and learn more about their background."

"Emperor? Sage?" Luo Zhengnan blinked. "They're not talking about that Sage at the post, are they? No wonder Chief Xiao cares so much about that place."