CHAPTER 416: CHAPTER 289: SHADOW PLAY BUILDING (EXTRA CHAPTER, REQUEST FOR MONTHLY PASS)

Duan Shaohong sat in the Lu Family Mansion, wailing, "Sister, please, have some pity on me! Let me take Huai Yi away. Otherwise, I’ll have no way to live."

Lu Maoxian had dealt a cruel blow to the Zhang Family. Zhang Huaiyi’s nominal father—Zhang Bochu—was beaten half to death.

Duan Shaohong maintained a tough stance. She told Lu Maoxian’s subordinates they could beat them however they wished; her family would absolutely not yield.

But she hadn’t expected Lu Maoxian’s men to beat her as well.

It was one thing for them to beat Zhang Bochu; she didn’t care about him.

But being beaten herself truly hurt—it was excruciatingly painful.

Not only were the couple beaten, but their house was also burned down, all their property was seized, and even her father, the Old Man of the Duan Family, was implicated.

Preoccupied with the Lu Family’s assets, Duan Shaohong hadn’t anticipated how ruthless the Lu Family could be.

Lu Maoxian sent men to order her family of three to leave that very day. Daring not to disobey, Duan Shaohong ran to the Lu Residence to plead with Duan Shaoxia.

Bringing the boy over had been easy, but taking him back was proving difficult, for the current ’Zhang Huaiyi’ was no longer Zhang Huaiyi.

Duan Shaoxia consoled her, "Sister, at times like these, we absolutely cannot bow our heads. We must display the backbone of our Duan Family!"

"There’s no backbone left to display. Several of my bones are broken," Duan Shaohong said, shaking her head. "Sister, please pity me. Let’s just pretend I never brought this up and let it pass, alright?"

Duan Shaoxia slammed the table. "I cannot swallow this indignity! When the first of the month arrives, we must still hold the banquet. This matter must be settled."

"We can’t, we just can’t..." Duan Shaohong threw her arms around Duan Shaoxia. "If we really go through with it, you’ll be collecting the corpses of my family!"

Duan Shaoxia frowned. "That won’t do. What’s decided cannot be changed. Xiao Qiu, how are the banquet preparations coming along?"

Qiu Zhiheng replied with a troubled expression, "Old Master Lu summoned the entire clan, young and old, and publicly announced the situation. Now, no one in the clan will even accept an invitation."

Duan Shaoxia remained silent, somewhat dissatisfied with Qiu Zhiheng.

Duan Shaohong quickly chimed in, "Sister, you must listen to Butler Qiu. We cannot forcibly oppose the entire Lu Family. If none of them acknowledge it, holding a banquet is pointless! Sister, please, just let me take Huai Yi away. I’m begging you, can’t you?"

Duan Shaoxia sighed. "Let’s postpone the banquet for now. But Huai Yi is now my son and must live in the Lu Residence from this day forward."

"Then, then, what am I to do?"

"Why don’t you go back home for now?"

Duan Shaohong exploded, "Go back where? My house has been burned down! Sister, are you truly leaving me with no way out? At least let me stay here with you for the time being!"

Reluctantly, Duan Shaoxia allowed Duan Shaohong to stay temporarily at the Lu Residence.

That night, Duan Shaohong wanted to see her son.

Zhang Huaiyi claimed he was unwell and did not go to see her.

***

Lu Maoxian sat in the main hall, smashing several teacups to pieces.

The incident at the Play Garden had blown up.

A short film, merely ten minutes long, had been released, and everyone now knew that Lu Maoxian, despite his age, was still vigorous and possessed ample courage.

But that was secondary.

The crucial point was that many people now knew of Lu Maoxian’s peculiar taste: he liked to record the process.

Lu Maoxian was an elder of the Strict Law Society, one who preached the theories of Sages and acted as a Person of Great Virtue. Yet, he actually enjoyed filming such things and then showing them to everyone.

Could this be the secret, ultimate skill of a Saint?

This wasn’t just wild speculation; it was what the newspapers were saying.

The Ling Family newspaper put it this way: the ultimate skill of a Saint lies in frankness.

The rising newspaper "Night-blooming Jasmine" also stated: the profound mystery of a Saint lies in directness.

Was this film actually made by Lu Maoxian?

Of course not.

Lu Maoxian liked women, but he had no interest in shadow plays. The events in the film had indeed occurred, but he hadn’t filmed them.

It was Ling Miaoying who had witnessed it using her Peeping Cultivation Technique and then recreated it on film using a Magical Treasure.

Furious beyond measure, Lu Maoxian summoned more than twenty of his confidants that night. He instructed them to closely monitor Ling Miaoying’s movements and, the moment an opportunity arose, to act immediately and take her life.

Furthermore, Ling Miaoying’s Shadow Play Company was not to be spared. Everyone from actors to Ju Gong would be dealt with, one by one, ensuring no one would dare work under Ling Miaoying in the future.

The cinemas also had to be dealt with harshly. If anyone dared show "Blood Blade Detective" again, their venue was to be burned down.

He had wanted to do this for a long time. It was, after all, the Saint’s command, and he had the Saint’s backing if anything went wrong.

Now that they had completely fallen out with the Ling Family, instead of negotiating back and forth, it was better to make a decisive move before the Ling Family struck hard.

After ten o’clock that night, Lu Maoxian received news that Ling Miaoying and the popular actress Tu Yinghong were in the company discussing a script.

Lu Maoxian immediately took men to the Shadow Play Building. Knowing that Ling Miaoying was an upper-level Peeping Cultivator, he understood that a straightforward attack would be anticipated. So, he first had the Seventh Layer Poison Cultivator Xu Huairong release poison near the building.

Xu Huairong, who had killed quite a few Peeping Cultivators and was familiar with their techniques and habits, placed a bamboo basket on the ground several dozen meters from the building. He then sat by the roadside, puffing on a tobacco pipe.

To the average passerby, he looked like an old man resting. However, dealing with Peeping Cultivators couldn’t rely solely on surprise attacks; the slightest disturbance would alert them. Thus, one had to appear openly while acting covertly.

From his basket, an invisible and colorless Serpent Spirit silently approached the building.

As the Serpent Spirit opened its mouth to release its poison, the Supports on duty around the building suddenly became dazed, their eyes vacant.

They were poisoned, but their behavior showed no significant changes; they continued patrolling around the building as usual.

The Serpent Spirit entered the building and continued releasing poison. Xu Huairong sat on the ground, sweating profusely. He spent over ten minutes dispersing all the Serpent Spirit’s poisonous mist, depleting all his energy in the process.

Inside the Shadow Play Company, everyone’s gaze turned vacant. Still, they carried on with their tasks.

The accountant was still doing the books, his fingers randomly flicking the Beads of the abacus.

The screenwriter was still revising the script, his pen tip scribbling wildly on the paper.

The Ju Gong were still repairing the sets, their hammers striking with aimless, disorganized CLINKS.

Ling Miaoying was still discussing the plot with the film empress. There were fewer changes to the storyline, but the depth was well maintained.

Poison Cultivator Xu Huairong gave Lu Maoxian a slight nod, signaling that he had succeeded.

Lu Maoxian gestured downwards with his hand, signaling him to retract the poison fog.

Xu Huairong knocked out his pipe, sat quietly for a moment, then shouldered his bamboo basket and left the vicinity of the building.

He recalled the Serpent Spirit, and the poison fog was also withdrawn.

To be safe, Lu Maoxian waited a few extra minutes before sending his men upstairs.

He wouldn’t enter the building himself; it was hard to say what traps might be inside. Lu Maoxian was not one to take unnecessary risks.

Sixth Layer Martial Cultivator Lin Zhixiao, leading a dozen men, entered the Shadow Play Company. They ignored everyone else and headed straight to the top floor.

Pushing open Ling Miaoying’s bedroom door, they saw the film empress Tu Yinghong in front, with Ling Miaoying behind her. Both looked dazed but continued to interact frequently.

Lin Zhixiao drew his Short Knife, lunged forward, and with a swift slash, beheaded Ling Miaoying.

Ling Miaoying’s body froze. Blood gushed from the severed neck like a fountain, splattering all over Tu Yinghong.

Tu Yinghong seemed oblivious, her body still swaying back and forth ceaselessly.

Lin Zhixiao chuckled, "Old Xu’s poison sure is potent!"

With those words, Lin Zhixiao slashed Tu Yinghong with his knife and ordered his men, "Leave no one alive in the building. Kill them all."

The men, each wielding a Weapon, went from the top floor to the bottom, slaughtering anyone they encountered.

After killing the accountant, Lin Zhixiao discovered a secret door in the room.

He pushed it open to find several people inside, their gazes vacant, counting money.

So this is the treasury.

After killing these money counters, Lin Zhixiao found another secret door in the treasury.

This Shadow Play Building certainly has many rooms.

***

Lu Maoxian stood downstairs, quietly waiting for news from inside the building.

"Old Master, there seems to be some commotion," one Support heard faint sounds of killing.

Lu Maoxian was startled; he had heard it too.

Lin Zhixiao is a renowned assassin; he shouldn’t be causing such a disturbance.

Lu Maoxian looked around. Although it was late and the streets were nearly empty, any unwanted attention could still ruin their plans.

A rickshaw puller passed by on the street, seemingly having heard nothing.

A Hua Zi was rummaging through a trash heap for food, also apparently oblivious to any sounds.

Lu Maoxian furrowed his brow, just waiting for Lin Zhixiao to finish up quickly.

How many people could be in the entire building? All of them poisoned. He’s a Sixth Layer Martial Cultivator with so many men under him; why is it taking so long?

"What is that boy doing?" Lu Maoxian muttered, looking around.

A Support said, "He’s on the third floor. I see him."

See him?

Lu Maoxian looked towards the Shadow Play Building, and he too saw Lin Zhixiao.

He was on the third floor, dealing with a few Ju Gong.

The Shadow Play Building turned transparent!

The building is fake?

This is bad—it’s a trap!

Lu Maoxian started to leave, but suddenly Ling Miaoying’s voice sounded beside his ear, "Old Master Lu, where are you going? The show isn’t over yet, and you’re leaving?"

Ling Miaoying’s figure suddenly materialized before Lu Maoxian, with the film empress Tu Yinghong standing beside her.

Lu Maoxian nodded, sighing in admiration, "Boss Ling, impressive skills! To think you can conjure up such a large building out of illusion!"

Ling Miaoying shook her head. "This isn’t fake; it’s real. Your men are currently killing people inside, and there’s an endless supply of them in this building. Ask Lin Zhixiao if the people in this building aren’t real."

"They can talk, they can walk. A knife cut will break their skin and draw blood. They even show symptoms after being poisoned. Do you dare say these are not real people?"

Lu Maoxian was speechless.

In all his years, he had never encountered such methods.

Ling Miaoying patted Tu Yinghong’s Peach, then pointed at the ’Ling Miaoying’ and ’Tu Yinghong’ in the building. "Look, they’re alive again. Their severed heads have regrown. See, they’re at it again. They’re so deeply immersed in their roles—doesn’t that seem real to you?"

Tu Yinghong shook her head. "I don’t think it looks real. Their immersion still isn’t deep enough. Later, I’ll show you what true immersion is."

Ling Miaoying pinched Tu Yinghong’s cheek. Seizing the opportunity, Lu Maoxian suddenly tried to activate a Technique, but a Feather Arrow struck his left cheek, piercing through to his right.

Lu Maoxian spat out a mouthful of blood and fumbled in his robes for a writing brush to write.

A Short Knife descended from the sky, severing Lu Maoxian’s forearm at the elbow.

Lu Maoxian gritted his teeth against the excruciating pain and stumbled back a few steps. Some of the Supports shielded him, while others charged at Ling Miaoying, ready to fight to the death.

The Supports who rushed Ling Miaoying found they couldn’t touch her or Tu Yinghong; they were mere illusions.

Ling Miaoying watched Lu Maoxian calmly and said slowly, "Ever since the fire at my company burned my film stock, I’ve invested heavily in precautions. Old Master Lu, let me ask you: were you the one who set that fire?"

Lu Maoxian shook his head.

"Still won’t admit it?" Ling Miaoying sneered. "I’m about to shoot a new film. I’m afraid you won’t be around to see it."

PS: He Jiaqing asked Ling Miaoying to spare Lu Maoxian’s life, but Ling Miaoying had no intention of doing so. Dear readers, please give all your guaranteed monthly tickets to Shala!