"I told you to prepare for a new film, not ’Blood Gun Detective.’ We’ve got the hang of the film industry; it’s time to think about the next step."
It was only then that Ma Wu snapped back to reality. Lately, he had been pushed to the brink by the demands of the film business, completely forgetting about long-term planning. They needed to make a living from this, and they couldn’t rely on "Blood Gun Detective" forever.
Ma Wu immediately returned to Greenwater City and invited a few familiar writers to Xiaoyao Lodge. After arranging good food, good drink, and good company for them, he started discussing script ideas.
These writers were known for their earthiness, unlike the grand literati of Puluo State. Their works were more easily accepted by the masses but had also been labeled as vulgar. Ma Wu wasn’t afraid of the vulgar; the more vulgar, the more story there was.
The writers weren’t pretentious. They laid out their best works for Ma Wu to choose from, and the prices they asked for were also reasonable.
Just as Ma Wu was about to finalize the new script, he received some troubling news. The situation could be significant or minor, but he immediately reported it to Li Banfeng.
"Old Qi, two cinemas in Black Stone Slope have been smashed."
Cinemas being smashed wouldn’t normally concern them, as they didn’t own any. But when cinemas screening "Blood Gun Detective" were attacked, it became their business. If they didn’t handle this, no one would dare to screen their films in the future.
Li Banfeng asked, "Who launched the attack?"
"It wasn’t an attack from the shadows; it was done in the open."
"They smashed the cinemas openly? Has Puluo State lost all its rules?"
Internal issues are indicated by flags; external issues, by the gatekeepers. There is order in Puluo State.
Ma Wu said, "It was done by members of the Strict Law Society, a very special group of people. They’ve declared that if any cinema dares to show ’Blood Gun Detective,’ they will punish them severely."
"Punish severely? They sure talk big! What is the Strict Law Society about?"
"To be ’Qing Jie’—upright and principled—and to ’Shou’—uphold these values—that is the essence of ’Qing Shou.’ They are an organization formed by people of high moral character and reputation."
"A Gang then?"
"Not at all!" Ma Wu replied without hesitation. "The Strict Law Society is on a much higher level than Gangs, much more esteemed. They claim our film is a scourge to public morals, an unparalleled disgrace in Puluo State for nearly a century. This is a difficult situation to handle. I need to go to Black Stone Slope and find some connections to speak with them."
The corner of Li Banfeng’s eye twitched. "You need connections just to talk?"
Ma Wu sighed. "Without connections, we might not even get to see them. In fact, I should have been prepared. It was only a matter of time before the Strict Law Society came looking for trouble."
Li Banfeng had little understanding of the Strict Law Society, but he was more concerned about another matter. "Is the Strict Law Society unique to Black Stone Slope?"
Ma Wu shook his head. "Not at all; the Strict Law Society is in every part of Puluo State."
"Then why didn’t they cause trouble in Greenwater City? It’s the largest city in Puluo State."
"They probably don’t want to offend the Lu Family. Maybe they don’t know the Lu Family has already withdrawn from our company," Ma Wu said, rubbing his forehead. "Since the incident occurred in Black Stone Slope, there’s still room to maneuver. If it were in Greenwater City, the trouble would be much bigger. We wouldn’t even be able to get an audience with the Strict Law Society in Greenwater City. When Zhang Xiuling first became the Sect Leader of the Hundred Flowers Gate, the Strict Law Society condemned her as immoral and labeled the Hundred Flowers Gate as a lowly Gang. Zhang Xiuling, with a group of her followers, went door to door to apologize, struggling for a full half a year to settle the matter. The Hundred Flowers Gate, once considered a first-rate Gang, was thereafter relegated to being a second-rate one."
Li Banfeng frowned. "Do they have the final say on who is first-rate? Are their cultivation levels high? Are they good fighters?"
Ma Wu shook his head. "It’s not about fighting. It’s about status. Many elders in the Strict Law Society have no cultivation level, but they are the moral paragons of Puluo State. The Hundred Flowers Gate cannot act against the Strict Law Society. Anyone who does becomes an enemy of all Puluo State. Lu Maoxian is one of the elders of the Strict Law Society. Monkey Qiu and the two young Lu Family masters have constantly been picked at by him, yet Monkey Qiu still doesn’t dare make a move against him, fearing the Strict Law Society behind him."
Li Banfeng had some impression of this person.
"Initially, Monkey Qiu asked us to do business in Black Stone Slope to restrain Lu Maoxian, right? Then, I was ambushed by Ling Miaoying at the train station, so I never made it to Black Stone Slope, and the business was delayed as a result."
Ma Wu nodded. "Black Stone Slope is Lu Maoxian’s territory. I suspect he might be involved in this. I’ll head there first to seek out connections. If that doesn’t clarify things, I’ll return to Greenwater City to ask Lu Maoxian for mercy. Old Qi, I’m afraid ’Blood Gun Detective’ cannot be continued. With the Strict Law Society in Black Stone Slope stirring things up, other regions will likely follow suit. I can only do my utmost to ensure the third film is completed. Whether we can produce other films will depend on the whims of the Strict Law Society."
Upon hearing this, Li Banfeng suddenly sniffed. "There’s a smell."
Ma Wu was taken aback. "What smell?"
"This Strict Law Society you’re talking about has a certain stench."
"What kind of stench?" Ma Wu still didn’t understand.
"You go to their doorstep, and they still won’t see you. Even if they see you, the matter might not be settled. And even if it’s settled, you’ll still have to pander to them in the future. That stench, I’ve smelled it before—the reek of scoundrels!"
Ma Wu urged, "Old Qi, it’s not the time for angry words. That’s just how the Strict Law Society operates. It was inevitable that they’d target us for making such films. We’ve made enough money. Calling it quits might be for the best. You don’t need to debase yourself; I’ll handle it."