"What is the origin of the False Emotional Root?"
Feng Daiku explained, "The True Love Root is transformed from the seed of emotions, conceived deep within the heart, and takes root in the eyes. This False Emotional Root is created from illusions; it is born in the eyes, remains in the eyes, and dissipates in the eyes. It is both true and false, tangible and intangible—a Technique crafted by Illusion Technique."
Could the two of them have this conversation in the cinema without fearing others would hear? Indeed, they had no such fear. The people around them saw no sign of Feng Daiku, nor could they hear the dialogue between the two.
Using Illusion Technique to fabricate the methods of an Emotion Cultivator was something that irritated Feng Daiku. "Wulang, where did this handkerchief come from?"
"From an intimate friend at Black Stone Slope, left behind when the False Emotional Root was extracted."
Feng Daiku murmured to himself, "A False Emotional Root has appeared in Black Stone Slope, but not in Pants Belt Pit. What’s the reason for this?"
Ma Wu said, "The other party isn’t reckless. To forge Emotion Cultivator Techniques in your territory, isn’t that just inviting your punishment?"
Feng Daiku shook his head slightly. "I’m not talking about that. I mean, why would the same film not leave a False Emotional Root here, in my territory? If one has already been left, I need to deal with it immediately. If not, what exactly is different?"
Ma Wu understood Feng Daiku’s point: the films shown at Black Stone Slope could be different from those at Pants Belt Pit. But where exactly did the difference lie?
Ma Wu had already prepared for this. "My subordinates will arrive at Pants Belt Pit tomorrow, and they will bring the films from Black Stone Slope."
Feng Daiku glanced at the screen and twitched his eyebrows. "Just this film? This ’Blood Blade Detective’ is a bit too dreary."
Ma Wu wrapped his arm around Feng Daiku. "There are plenty of good films. Let’s savor them one by one."
...
The next day, in the hotel, Feng Daiku joined Ma Wu in watching ’Blood Blade Detective’ from Black Stone Slope. With his keen mind, Feng Daiku found the key point after about ten minutes.
"Wulang, rewind the film a bit."
Ma Wu reversed the film for about five minutes or so.
The female lead, Xiao Xiufei, was showering under a spray of water when, in a moment of sorrow, a single teardrop fell. The teardrop trailed from the corner of her eye, across her cheek, slid to her neck, then fell upon her Conscience. The male lead, Chu Ningsheng, suddenly entered the bathroom and drew the tear into his mouth.
One must admit, this sequence of shots was extremely well-executed; purely from an artistic standpoint, Ma Wu admired it greatly. ’Blood Gun Detective’ lacked such long takes.
What Feng Daiku had noticed was the scene where the male lead swallowed the teardrop. With that swallow, it was as if he had ingested all of the female lead’s melancholy and wistfulness.
"Wulang, this scene shouldn’t be in the version of the film shown at Pants Belt Pit."
"It isn’t?" Ma Wu paused for a moment.
Feng Daiku shook his head. "Wulang, I’m certain that scene wasn’t in it. This scene is very delicately shot and leaves a deep impression on viewers. The reason you didn’t notice, Wulang, is because you’ve had too many experiences in this regard. Furthermore, some people are naturally indifferent to such things and therefore don’t fall prey to the Technique.
"But such individuals are few and far between. Ordinary people watching this scene would definitely be emotionally stirred; that’s how the False Emotional Root is planted. Wulang, look carefully. First, observe the teardrop, then look at this woman’s Conscience. There’s an Illusion Technique at play here," Feng Daiku instructed, his brow furrowed.
Ma Wu looked carefully and indeed, there was a difference. He had slept with Xiao Xiufei, and her Conscience was a very light color. Here, the color and texture had become much deeper. The Illusion Technique had begun from this point.
Shaking his head, Ma Wu sighed, "After Ling Miaoying died, who knows who’s running this Shadow Play Company. This is quite despicable."
Feng Daiku frowned slightly. "Wulang, I can’t tolerate this. No matter their purpose, using such despicable tricks and forging the Techniques of our Taoist Sect—I absolutely cannot endure this!"
"What do you want to do about it?" asked Ma Wu.
"Wulang, is there any way to lure them to Pants Belt Pit?"
Ma Wu reflected for a moment before shaking his head. "These people usually stay in Greenwater City. It’s extremely difficult to lure them out."
Upon hearing Greenwater City, Feng Daiku let out a sigh. "If this had happened somewhere else, I would have gone to confront them myself, but if it’s Greenwater City..."
Greenwater City was Green Flower’s territory. Which Local Deity would dare claim they weren’t afraid of Green Flower?
Ma Wu comforted Feng Daiku a couple of times, and his mood improved somewhat.
"Wulang, do you also want to learn their method to earn more from movie tickets?" he asked.
"Do I look like that kind of person?" Ma Wu shook his head. "No matter what business I’m in, I must maintain my basic integrity. When I go back, I’ll immediately expose this matter to prevent others from being deceived."
Softly touching Ma Wu’s cheek, Feng Daiku said, "I’ll teach Wulang some Illusion Techniques so that when you encounter similar situations in the future, you can identify them at a glance."
Ma Wu was overjoyed. To learn Illusion Techniques from a Local Deity was an incredibly rare opportunity.
Feng Daiku poked Ma Wu’s forehead. "Letting you learn skills from me all the time... I’m making it too easy for you."
Ma Wu hugged Feng Daiku tightly. "How could I let you suffer a loss? I’ll pay tuition!"
...
Early in the morning, Qiu’s Pharmacy had not yet opened, and the old Grieving Cultivator was already sitting at the door with his tobacco pipe pot. With his gloomy demeanor, the pharmacy might as well give up on any business for the day. Even if someone wanted to buy medicine, they wouldn’t dare enter Qiu’s Pharmacy to avoid the Grieving Cultivator.
Didn’t this Grieving Cultivator have anywhere else to go? He had been to other places, but after careful comparison, he decided this spot suited him best. The main reason was that, as a high-level Grieving Cultivator, ordinary people could not cope with him.
Qiu Zhiheng had made inquiries. This man was named Yu Heshun, a Sixth Layer Grieving Cultivator who had turned eighteen villages into abandoned villages in his lifetime. The villagers could not withstand his troublemaking. Those who could escape fled, and the rest died. Once a village became deserted, he couldn’t cultivate. With no other choice but to keep moving, and now old, he didn’t want to move anymore. So, he decided to find a suitable household to latch onto and live out a few more years.
Not many households could withstand a Sixth Layer Grieving Cultivator. Take the steamed bun shop in Li Gou, for example. Yu Heshun had once visited, but the owner was an honest man. An honest man running an honest business couldn’t withstand much torment. After Yu Heshun bothered him for a few days, the steamed bun shop nearly closed. A few more days of this, and the owner probably would have killed himself.
Qiu Zhiheng, however, was clearly no ordinary person. In Yu Heshun’s view, someone like him couldn’t be worn down even by a decade of pestering, so he was determined to hold onto this "meal ticket." Of course, if he had heard of Qiu Zhiheng’s reputation, he would not have dared to persist in this harassment. Qiu Zhiheng tolerated him for the moment because he didn’t want to attract bad luck, but that didn’t mean he would put up with him indefinitely.
"Old Qi, I’m leaving the Lu Family News Agency business in your hands. You should be familiar with the people from the Medicine King Valley News Agency, right?"
Li Banfeng said, "Not exactly familiar, but I recognize them."
"Recognizing them is enough. Invite them over in a bit."
"Big Brother Qiu, are you thinking of having the news agency expose this old codger? He’s completely shameless; I’m afraid it won’t have any effect."
Qiu Zhiheng shook his head. "Whether he feels shame depends on the situation. Dear, follow this prescription, prepare a potent medicinal meal, and send it to Yu Heshun."
The Sister-in-Law blushed. "Will this really work? He’s so old..."
Qiu Zhiheng answered very seriously, "He’s old, so he needs to build up his constitution. Cao Ye, stop crying and lend me the two donkeys you use for pulling carts."
...
At noon, the Sister-in-Law brought a bowl of lean meat porridge to the door and handed it to Yu Heshun. "Here, this is for you. Eat up."
Yu Heshun took the porridge and looked at it, his usual gloomy expression fixed on his face. "Have you poisoned this porridge?"
The Sister-in-Law frowned. "What are you talking about?"
"What did I say? What did I say, huh? I’m just asking if it’s poisoned! Why are *you* getting angry? Feeling guilty, are we?" Yu Heshun’s words tumbled out like rapid-fire shots, unstoppable.
The Sister-in-Law turned and walked away. Yu Heshun began to gulp down the porridge, muttering all the while, "This porridge is too watery, all liquid, lacking in substance. Clearly, this isn’t a generous household! How can people like this stay in business? They can’t even bear to put real ingredients in a bowl of porridge. A family like this deserves to be poor for a lifetime!"
As he ate the porridge, Yu Heshun kept tasting the drugged ingredients it contained, afraid that someone had poisoned it. But indeed, the Sister-in-Law had not poisoned it. As a high-level Food Cultivator, her cooking skills were excellent, and this bowl of porridge had been made with care. Yu Heshun finished every last drop, then smashed the bowl to pieces.
"You don’t even provide enough food to satisfy hunger, clearly showing your bad intentions!" Yu Heshun also spat.
A passerby inquired, "You didn’t give them any money, and they gave you food. Why are you still cursing them?"
"What have I cursed? What did I curse them for?" Yu Heshun shouted loudly. "I wasn’t satisfied with the meal! Did I say anything wrong?"
An attendant from the Medicine Shop came out to dump some waste and brought the two donkeys over to where Yu Heshun was.
With his usual gloomy expression, Yu Heshun said, "What’s this? Are you blind? Can’t you see there’s someone here? Why are you bringing livestock over?"
The attendant ignored him and turned back into the Medicine Shop.
Yu Heshun did not leave either, just sat down beside the donkeys.
Qiu Zhiheng came up behind Yu Heshun and lightly tapped him. Yu Heshun whirled around and snarled, "I’m warning you, don’t touch me! Touch me again, and your whole family will die a horrible death!"
This was known as an Ominous Utterance, one of the Grieving Cultivation Techniques. If Qiu Zhiheng were to touch him again, his family might not necessarily die, but they would surely encounter misfortune.
Qiu Zhiheng raised his hands and shook his head. "I won’t touch you. I just want to give you some money to find another place to stay."
"I won’t go! I won’t go anywhere! I like it here. What can you do about it?"
Qiu Zhiheng nodded.
There wasn’t any poison in the Sister-in-Law’s porridge, only tonic ingredients. But if combined with Qiu Zhiheng’s Technique, it would be a different matter altogether.
Yu Heshun sat by the doorway, smoked another pipeful of dry tobacco, and suddenly heard the donkey beside him bray.
HEE-HAW!
Yu Heshun looked up at the donkey, then lowered his head again.
HEE-HAW!
The donkey brayed again.
Yu Heshun’s face reddened.
The donkey brayed a third time. Yu Heshun didn’t look up, but then... it seemed he did.
After the donkey brayed a few more times, Yu Heshun got up.
HEE-HAW! The donkey brayed once more.
Somehow, the donkey’s reins were loosened, and it started walking toward the entrance of Paifang Street.
Yu Heshun walked away.
He followed the donkey.
Now, his eyes could only see the donkey!
When he arrived at a crowded place, Yu Heshun lost control.
The donkey lost control too.
He got behind one donkey and did the deed with it.
The other donkey got behind him and did the deed with him.
All the pedestrians were flabbergasted.
Even the reporters from Medicine King Valley were taken aback.
Li Banfeng urged from the side, "What are you gawking at? Take pictures! Record it!"
"Ah..." The reporter stammered, starting to film while already
PS: If this news gets out, Medicine King Valley will probably become quite famous, huh?