The Overlord of Puluo

Chapter 258: Blank Copper Seal

”Big Bro Qi, it’s me, Qin Tianjiu.”

Qin Tianjiu, Chubby Qin, had met Ma Wu once before. He remembered Ma Wu and recognized him.

Ma Wu remembered Chubby Qin, but he truly did not recognize him.

The first time they had seen Chubby Qin, the chubby fella had been around 1.7 meters tall and weighed around 54 kilograms.

Now, the young man standing before them was still around 1.7 meters tall, but he might not even weigh 45 kilograms. His physique had changed. His appearance had changed. And because he had become so thin, even his voice had changed.

It was not just Ma Wu who had failed to recognize him. Even Li Banfeng did not recognize him.

After Chubby Qin explained who he was, he also revealed the purpose of his visit.

No matter what it was, he would never hide anything from Li Banfeng.

After Chubby Qin consumed the Intestinal Roller Silkworm, his appetite surged every day. Within half a year, he advanced continuously and became a level-three Gourmandism Cultivator. The Three Heroes Sect regarded him as a talented member, so much so that they made an exception and promoted him to Copper Seal.

In truth, this so-called exception was not really an exception. Within the Three Heroes Sect, cultivators at levels one and two served as Iron Seals, while cultivators at levels three and four served as Copper Seals. This had been the rule for many years.

However, the reason it was an exception was that Chubby Qin was not suited to be a Copper Seal, and that was mainly because he did not hold much seniority. After all, he was only twenty-one this year; he was clearly too young. None of the Copper Seals they knew was under forty years old.

Moreover, he had not been in the sect for long; it had not even been a year. The other Copper Seals had spent at least ten to twenty years struggling up the ranks of the sect before they became Copper Seals.

With Chubby Qin’s situation, it would be difficult for him to command respect even if he did become a Copper Seal, especially in a relatively traditional place like Medicine King Gully. If Chubby Qin were made a Copper Seal there, the sect would certainly fall into chaos.

So the Three Heroes Sect had simply transferred Chubby Qin to Greenwater City and made him a Blank Copper Seal.

What was a Blank Copper Seal? It was a title that did not come with a territory to control.

A Copper Seal could oversee several streets, and the merchants operating there had to pay fees to the Copper Seal.

However, a Blank Copper Seal had no territory, and that meant they had no income. Chubby Qin and the several brothers under him had to rely entirely on stipends from the sect for their daily expenses.

Didn’t that sound pretty good? It was like having someone pay them a salary. But in reality, it was not good at all.

The members of the Three Heroes Sect made a living by putting their lives on the line, facing down knives and shedding blood. Which one of them wouldn’t want to live an easier and better life?

However, Chubby Qin’s life was far from good. He had the glorified title of a Copper Seal, but the money he earned was not even comparable to that of an Iron Seal. In fact, he was only slightly better off than ordinary members of the sect. Despite that, Chubby Qin was very content. He understood that rising in status so quickly came with such a price.

Aside from the stipends, the sect would also grant rewards to Blank Copper Seals, provided they could complete certain special tasks. Today’s task was a special one. Acting on the order of a Silver Seal, Chubby Qin had come to Ma Wu’s film set to stir up trouble.

Chubby Qin said, ”Big Bo Qi, I truly didn’t know this movie’s yours. If I had known, I wouldn’t have come at all. But since I’m already here, it might not be a bad thing. You continue filming, and leave the rest to me.”

Li Banfeng replied, ”This is an order from a Silver Seal of you sect. How do you plan to handle it? Why don’t you set up a meeting and bring your Silver Seal out here? Let’s see if we can settle this matter.”

”I will definitely arrange a meeting, but now isn’t the time. I understand the Silver Seal’s temperament, and I’m familiar with how things work in the sect. Just leave this matter to me.

There’s one more thing I need to discuss with you, Big Bro Qi. Over the next few days, I’ll bring a few brothers to stay here, at the set, when you’re filming. They might speak roughly, and sometimes they might get aggressive and want to fight people. But don’t pay them any mind. Just act as if they aren’t there.”

Li Banfeng nodded.

Ma Wu looked at Chubby Qin and remarked, ”Brother Qin, it doesn’t feel like it’s been that long since we last met, yet you’ve changed immensely.”

”Young Master Wu, there are reasons for that, but now isn’t the time to talk about it. Once I deal with the matter at hand, we can sit down and have a proper chat.”

Chubby Qin hung around on the set with his men while Ma Wu continued filming.

Chubby Qin’s subordinates watched him carefully, unable to figure out what he was planning.

One of them was Yue Shucai, a level-one Literary Cultivator who was fairly close with Chubby Qin. He lowered his voice and asked Chubby Qin, ”Elder Brother Jiu, are we not doing this job anymore?”

”We’re doing it! Just watch for now,” Chubby Qin replied, with an unusually serious expression.

Seeing that, Yue Shucai did not dare to ask further. He just sit there with Chubby Qin.

At noon, the film crew had their meal. To the surprise of Chubby Qin’s group, Ma Wu specially arranged for Chubby Qin and his group to have a meal too.

Utterly confused, Yue Shucai asked about it again. ”Elder Brother Jiu, what’s going on? Should we be eating or not?”

”Eat. Let’s eat first and talk later.”

Chubby Qin began eating first, and his surbordinates followed. Yet, the feeling of unease only continued to build. They could not shake the feeling that something was about to happen.

After lunch, Chubby Qin said to his subordinates, ”Wait here. I’m going to meet with the Silver Seal.”

Yue Shucai panicked. ”Elder Brother Jiu, did something happen? You can’t just leave us here!”

”Something did happen, but as for how it’s handled, that will depend on the Silver Seal’s orders. Listen to me. No one leaves here without my command!”

Then Chubby Qin left, leaving his subordinates trembling with fear. From the moment Chubby Qin left until the film crew wrapped up for the day, they did not dare say a word.

Chubby Qin truly went to see the Silver Seal who had given him the special order.

Tan Jinle, the Silver Seal, was listening to opera in a private room at Untainted Melodies Teahouse. Hearing that Chubby Qin had arrived, he dismissed the attendants.

When Chubby Qin approached, Tan Jinle was holding a teacup, half sprawled in his chair. He asked, ”Has the matter with Ma Wu been settled?”

Chubby Qin shook his head. ”I went to handle it, but it has not been settled yet.”

”If it hasn’t been settled, then why are you here?”

”I took the brothers there and told him to stop filming, but he wouldn’t listen. I threatened to use force, but Ma Wu didn’t back down. He said he’d take us on, and if something happens, he’d bear the consequences.”

”Oh, so his temper’s flaring up!” Tan Jinle laughed. ”Sure. Teach him a lesson then. Smash everything he’s got. Tell the brothers to hold back a bit. Don’t cause anyone to lose their life.”

”Elder Brother Jin, he said there’s someone at the set, someone special.”

”Someone special? Isn’t it just Zuo Wugang? Let him try to attack you. I’d like to see if he has the guts.”

”He wasn’t talking about Zuo Wugang. Ma Wu said someone from the Lu Family is there.”

Tan Jinle sat upright at once and set his teacup down on the table. ”Who is it?”

”He didn’t say. I didn’t see anyone either, so I don’t know if he’s telling the truth. I figure he’s bluffing. I was thinking of having the brothers make a move to test and see if there really is someone from the Lu Family there. If there really is—”

”No!” Tan Jinle grew anxious. ”Why would you do anything? If it turns out someone from the Lu Family really is there, wouldn’t that be too late?”

Chubby Qin lowered his head. ”I didn’t dare decide on my own, so I came to ask you. The sect assigned this job to me. I can’t just not do it, or how would I keep my footing in the sect in the future—”

”Who said you can’t do it? You can. Take the brothers and stay at Ma Wu’s place. Don’t take any action. Just watching is enough.”

”Just... watching?”

”What’s wrong with watching? That still counts as doing our part. Do you really want to provoke the Lu Family?”

”If we just watch and don’t act, won’t that be embarrassing?”

Tan Jinle frowned. ”That’s why I say you’re still young. There are things you don’t understand. How is that embarrassing? As long as you’re standing in front of Ma Wu, the Three Heroes Sect’s job is considered done. As for the extent in which the job has been done, that depends on how it’s reported.

I think you’ve handled this quite well. If the boss thinks it’s not good enough, at most he’ll scold you a little. But if you offend the Lu Family, you’ll lose this little life of yours, and I’ll be dragged down with you.”

Chubby Qin sighed. ”Then I’ll take the brothers and keep watch.”

”Go on. Scare them a little from time to time, but absolutely do not take any action!”

Chubby Qin agreed. The next day, he brought his subordinates to the film set and simply stayed there, watching.

With the group of thugs lingering around the set, the cast grew fearful. Chubby Qin’s group shouted and yelled as they gambled to pass the time, and the sight of them made many of the cast members consider quitting.

However, after a few days, they got used to it because that was the extent of it. The group from the Three Heroes Sect simply made a lot of noise every day. It was intimidating, but they were never actually violent.

Despite the cast and crew having gotten used to it, outsiders were still clueless about the truth of the situation. They had all heard that the Three Heroes Sect was going to wreck Ma Wu’s set, so passersby avoided the area entirely.

Zhou Changhong instructed Ling Miaoying, ”Speed up the filming. While the Three Heroes Sect is delaying Ma Wu’s production, the sequel to The Legendary Bloodblade Detective must be released first.”

Ling Miaoying was determined to get it done. After a month, the sequel was released.

On the day of the premiere, movie theaters across Greenwater City were packed. Some of that crowd had been hired by Ling Miaoying to fill seats, but many were genuine viewers who had bought tickets to watch the movie.

Ling Miaoying made a rough estimate. To say that eighty percent of the seats had been filled might be a bit of a stretch, but there was no doubt that at least seventy percent had been filled.

That was a very good result. As long as it held, the movie would surely make a big profit, and the Ling Family’s position in the film industry would be secured.

Unfortunately, the momentum did not last. On the second day, the number fell below sixty percent. By the third day, it was less than fifty percent.

In the days that followed, there were few customers in the larger movie theaters. Hardly anyone went to watch the sequel.

Zhou Changhong could not figure out why, so he went to a theater to watch a screening. Just as the movie began, many viewers stood up and left.

What’s going on? They paid for tickets, yet left without finishing the movie?

Two well-dressed viewers, who clearly were not short on money, got up to leave.

Zhou Changhong followed them and asked with a friendly chuckle, ”Why aren’t you watching the movie anymore? I think it’s quite good.”

”What’s good about it? If I’d known, I wouldn’t have come.”

Zhou Changhong tried to persuade them to change their minds. ”You’ve already spent the money. Watching a bit longer won’t hurt.”

The man waved his hand. ”What does the price of a ticket matter? The point is, this movie is a fake.”

”Fake?” Zhou Changhong was taken aback. ”What do you mean by that?”

”Do you even need to ask? Just look at it yourself. We’ve been watching for so long, but the cast are all wrapped up tight in clothes. What can you even see? There’s nothing real about this movie!”

Zhou Changhong was utterly confused.

Another viewer said, ”We bought the wrong ticket. The one we wanted to see was The Legendary Bloodspear Detective. That’s the real movie. This one’s a fake, just a waste of time!”

The Legendary Bloodblade Detective had become the fake one.

Zhou Changhong sat in the theater and watched the entire movie from start to finish.

There was nothing wrong with the movie. Ling Miaoying had put real effort into it. Even if it were taken to the Outer Provinces, it would still be considered a top-tier work. The problem was not with the movie. It was with the audience watching it.

If The Legendary Bloodspear Detective had not existed, The Legendary Bloodblade Detective could have easily maintained sixty percent occupancy.

However, the people coming to theaters were not there for movies. They were there for blood and ”spears.” The Legendary Bloodblade Detective did not meet their expectations.

Should Ling Miaoying also change direction and follow Ma Wu’s path?

No.

They could not do something as shameless as Ma Wu. Otherwise, the Ling Family’s reputation would be completely ruined.

Moreover, he did not want to make movies likee that. It would become impossible to carry out many of his future plans.

Zhou Changhong felt confident. There was no need to rush. If Ma Wu’s movie could not be completed, then people would eventually forget that dirty movie, and everything would flow according to his original plan.

Ten days later, the sequel of The Legendary Bloodspear Detective was released.

Ma Wu did not bother doing much promotion for the movie. He simply placed a few notices in the newspapers and released the movie.

On the day of the premiere, Zhou Changhong could not get a buy a ticket for a seat and had to buy a standing ticket. He watched the movie all the way to the end.

Frankly, he had already seen enough of those shocking, explicit scenes. There were plenty of dirty movies in the Outer Provinces.

However, there was something he really wanted to know.

Who was the real culprit in this movie?

The movie had a pretty good storyline. Seeing as The Legendary Bloodspear Detective 2 had a solid story and powerful impact, what could The Legendary Bloodblade Detective 2 possibly compete with?

Grand scenes? Famous actors? Gorgeous cinematics? For audiences in Puluo, do any of that really matter?

Zhou Changhong’s cheeks twitched uncontrollably.

How can we possibly stop the success of The Legendary Bloodspear Detective? Should I go smash their set myself?