Xiao Chuanzi hadn’t just prepared the Golden Juice; he and his workers had also set up all the mechanisms used in the battle in front of the cinema in advance. Over a hundred barrels, all filled to the brim with Golden Juice, had been readied, for which the workers had no shortage of complaints. Although the pay was good, the job was far from pleasant.
The crowd surrounding the Strict Law Society had all dispersed, fearing they’d get caught up in it.
Otherwise, things wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.
Seeing that the time was about right, Li Banfeng ordered, "Ring the bell."
That was the rule for starting the movie, but Xiao Chuanzi, standing by his side, said, "Seventh Master, the custom in Black Stone City is to sound the whistle."
The cinema was connected to a neighboring factory’s steam pipes. These were used for heating during winter and for cleaning and disinfecting at other times. Once the valve was opened, the steam whistle would sound. All the cinemas in Black Stone Slope used a steam whistle instead of a bell.
It wasn’t just cinemas; in Black Stone Slope, those who had their own boilers used them. Those who didn’t, bought steam from the factories. Every household had steam pipes.
As the steam whistle blew, the audience filed into the cinema, cheerful and laughing, all set to watch the movie!
The onlookers were gone. The Strict Law Society had fled in disgrace, and Xiao Genzi and Xiao Chuanzi were leading their people to clean up in front of the cinema.
The cinema had dealt them a harsh blow.
But Li Banfeng still had a hold on the Strict Law Society, and he had no intention of letting go.
Li Banfeng returned to the factory and instructed Bai Qiusheng and the others to hurry up with the articles.
The front-page headlines had already been written: "Strict Law Society Beats Elderly Woman in the Streets" and "Elder Splashed with Manure, Infamy Spreads Far and Wide."
Following the front-page news were major news commentaries. These meticulously analyzed the causes and consequences of the Strict Law Society’s attack on the cinema, their street assault on the elderly woman, and the subsequent manure attack they suffered.
These weren’t the words of just one newspaper; several writers offered their own perspectives.
Some believed the Strict Law Society attacked the cinema because "Blood Gun Detective" was immoral and didn’t meet their moral standards.
But with clear pictures of the Strict Law Society beating up the old lady, these people also appeared to lack morals.
So this argument didn’t hold water.
Another writer suggested that Tang Peigong, the elder of the Strict Law Society, was old and impotent. He also had a primary wife and twenty-six concubines, which put him under immense pressure.
This explanation was more logically sound.
Another story, less logical but more interesting, claimed that all twenty-six of Tang Peigong’s concubines were infatuated with the male lead of "Blood Gun Detective." Some reportedly even wrote letters to the male lead, leading Tang Peigong to suspect he’d been cuckolded and thus despise the movie.
This story had even been turned into a novel, featured mainly on the third and fourth pages of the newspaper. In this tale, Song Chunjie, the male lead of "Blood Gun Detective," played a significant role. He had just conquered the first two concubines, and the story was set to continue as a series in newspapers and magazines.
There was also speculation that Tang Peigong had been bought off by Ling Family Film Industry. His supposed task was to help them eliminate competitors by targeting "Blood Gun Detective," a plot that also involved the interests of Old Master Lu, Lu Maoxian, and others.
With all the major commentaries, opinions abounded. Tonight’s "Night-blooming Jasmine" newspaper would dedicate nearly a third of its pages to the Strict Law Society.
For such a major event, one newspaper’s coverage was clearly insufficient.
Li Banfeng had similar concerns, but in such a short time, he had only managed to get one newspaper operational.
Luckily, he had another helper.
Li Banfeng called over a worker, gave him one Foreign Silver Dollar, and asked him to invite Zeng Wenbing from the Green Fire Gang.
Confused, the worker asked, "What do you need him for?"
Li Banfeng said, "Just tell him that our business has made a big profit, and I’d like to settle the Hua Hong with him."
The worker was even more puzzled. "Give Hua Hong again? Didn’t you already give twenty thousand before?"
Li Banfeng smiled. "I’m generous. A little extra ensures peace."
The worker was baffled, but since he had taken Li Banfeng’s money, he had no choice but to follow orders.
Before long, Zeng Wenbing arrived, a cigarette dangling from his lips. Upon entering, he first kicked the worker a few times and then knocked the neatly piled newspapers all over the floor.
"Damn it," he cursed, "making money and getting cocky, eh? You have Hua Hong and don’t bring it to me; you expect me to come and collect it myself?"
Li Banfeng personally went out to greet him. "Second Master Zeng, we invited you here to settle the account in person, didn’t we?"
Zeng Wenbing sized up Li Banfeng from top to bottom.
"What the hell is there to settle? Hand over twenty thousand first!"
Li Banfeng feigned surprise. "Second Master, isn’t twenty thousand a bit much?"
"I came all this way myself, and you damn well dare to complain it’s too much? Am I giving you too much face?"
Li Banfeng said in astonishment, "So, you’ve come to ask for face? Alright then, as you wish, twenty thousand."
Zeng Wenbing spat his cigarette butt onto the ground and eyed Li Banfeng. "What the hell do you mean? Are you tired of living or—"
SMACK!
Li Banfeng suddenly appeared before him and slapped Zeng Wenbing so hard a molar flew out of his mouth.
Zeng Wenbing saw stars. He stared at Li Banfeng. "You dare..."
Li Banfeng slapped him again, crushing the bridge of Zeng Wenbing’s nose.
Zeng Wenbing clutched his nose and yelled to his underlings, "Get him!"
The underlings rushed forward. Zuo Wugang stepped forward. Grabbing the underlings one by one as if they were chickens, he threw them to the ground and instructed the workers, "Step on their faces! Yes, hold them down! Press hard with the soles of your shoes, stamp firmly! Once you’ve got them pinned, don’t move!"
Seeing all his men pinned down, Zeng Wenbing looked at Li Banfeng, his face a mask of dread.
Li Banfeng gave Zeng Wenbing another slap and said cheerfully, "You demanded twenty thousand right off the bat; that’s a bit hard to give. I’ll give you three first. That leaves nineteen thousand, nine hundred and ninety-seven. We’ll slowly figure out the interest as you do some things for me."
Zeng Wenbing’s jaw was dislocated from the blows. Bai Qiusheng walked out of the factory building. "Second Master Zeng, that was our Boss Ye who hit you," he said. "I haven’t settled my accounts with you yet. First, tell me, how many newspaper offices are on your territory?"
Zeng Wenbing answered truthfully, "I control three, plus one that sells magazines. Our gang controls fifteen in total, though two might be about to go under."
Zuo Wugang picked up Zeng Wenbing. "You’re coming with us. We need to talk to those three first."
Bai Qiusheng followed Zuo Wugang. They were genuinely there to discuss business. Li Banfeng had no intention of relying on newspapers and magazines to make money, so there was no need to cause trouble for his peers.
At one newspaper office, two writers sat at a table, worrying about what to write that evening.
They were the only two people in this newspaper office; they wrote, printed, folded, and delivered the papers themselves. Selling two to three hundred copies a day, they barely made enough to scrape by.
Seeing Zuo Wugang enter, the two were stunned for a moment, wondering what this large, dark-clad man was there for.
Zuo Wugang placed the man he was carrying—a battered and bloody figure—in front of the two writers, who shivered with fear at the sight.
One of the writers, having better eyesight, looked for a while and finally recognized him. "Is this... Second Master Zeng?"
Zuo Wugang nodded. "Understood?"
The two writers shook their heads repeatedly; they didn’t understand.
Bai Qiusheng quickly stepped forward to explain, "Gentlemen, we’re in the same trade. We’re from the ’Night-blooming Jasmine’ newspaper. We came to discuss something with you. Could you publish a piece of news for us tomorrow?"
"What news?"
Bai Qiusheng showed them the article from "Night-blooming Jasmine." The two writers didn’t dare to agree rashly.
Publishing a news piece wasn’t a big deal; they often copied news from others anyway. But the crucial part was that this involved the Strict Law Society.
Spreading rumors about the Strict Law Society could bring a lot of trouble.
Bai Qiusheng, having worked in this profession, knew their concerns. "Brothers, this news is true. And we’re not asking you to do this for free. We’ll pay. Thirty Ocean Dollars to run it for one day! If any trouble arises, you just come to us. We’ll take full responsibility!"
Thirty Ocean Dollars a day!
The two of them together didn’t earn thirty Ocean Dollars in a month.
The two writers looked at Zeng Wenbing. Zuo Wugang, still gripping him, slapped him across the face. "Well? Give them an answer!"
Zeng Wenbing nodded weakly. "Okay..."
The two writers agreed on the spot. Zuo Wugang, still hauling Zeng Wenbing, went to the next establishment.
The next establishment was a magazine office in the middle of a photoshoot. When Zuo Wugang entered, still carrying Zeng Wenbing, he scared all the models away.
Zuo Wugang slapped Zeng Wenbing. "Speak!"
Stuttering and slurring, Zeng Wenbing cried out, "Print newspapers."
Bai Qiusheng stepped forward to explain, "There’s a small matter we’d like to trouble you with..."
After visiting the three newspaper offices, Bai Qiusheng asked Zeng Wenbing, "Your boss is around, right? Let’s go pay a visit to your Hall Entrance."
Zeng Wenbing remained silent.
Bai Qiusheng slapped him. "Not talking, are you?"
Zeng Wenbing still didn’t speak.
Bai Qiusheng looked at Zuo Wugang. "Master Zuo, my hand isn’t strong enough."
Zuo Wugang had just raised his hand when Zeng Wenbing hurriedly spoke up, "The boss is at the Hall Entrance! I’ll take you there!"
Zuo Wugang took hold of Zeng Wenbing. "Let’s go. We need to find Seventh Master first."
Bai Qiusheng said, "Master Zuo, for such a small matter, there’s no need to bother Seventh Master. We can handle it."
"No. Seventh Master gave orders. If we’re going to the Hall Entrance, we must inform him."
Zuo Wugang wasn’t one for making decisions; he simply followed Li Qi’s and Ma Wu’s orders, regardless of the task’s difficulty.
Guided by Zeng Wenbing, Li Banfeng and the others arrived at the Hall Entrance of the Green Fire Gang.
The Green Fire Gang was so insignificant in Puluo State it couldn’t even be considered a third-rate gang. Their Hall Entrance was small, situated within a factory.
Zuo Wugang was about to enter, but Li Banfeng stopped him, telling him to wait at the gate.
As expected, two Ghost Servants stood guard at the entrance. Li Banfeng walked into the factory, and the two Ghost Servants followed him from behind.
The front yard of the factory was overgrown with weeds, and abandoned equipment lay rusting, its original form unrecognizable.
But Li Banfeng knew the reason.
This factory was thick with Yin Energy, and many Lost Souls wandered nearby, making it highly suitable for a Nightmare Cultivator’s practice.
Upon reaching a quiet part of the factory, Li Banfeng suddenly drew his Clock Pendulum, injuring the two Ghost Servants and sending them into his Portable Residence.
His wife, after tasting them, exhaled steam and said, "Oh dear, husband, today’s offering isn’t very fresh, and its quality is rather lacking."
That single comment revealed the Gang Leader’s status.
Li Banfeng strode towards the factory building. Two ruffians guarding the entrance stopped him. "What do you want?"
Li Banfeng politely asked, "Is your boss in?"
One of the young ruffians pushed Li Banfeng. "I asked what you’re here for!"
The other, older ruffian remained silent.
Li Banfeng looked at the young ruffian and, with a sweep of his Sickle, slit his throat.
The older ruffian shuddered and lowered his head. "I’ll take you to the boss."
PS: Having taken action, we need to let the Strict Law Society feel the pain. The second battle, hitting them again!