13: Chapter 13 Chairman Liu's Secret

Lin Yuan's question was like a cold scalpel, slicing directly into the core of what Chairman Liu was trying to hide.

Boss Qian didn't speak; he just silently stepped back half a pace, took out a cigarette, and lit it. His gaze shifted between Chairman Liu and Lin Yuan, looking like an outsider who nonetheless saw through everything.

Chairman Liu's face looked even paler in the sunlight, with fine beads of sweat on his forehead gathering into drops that slid down his fleshy cheeks. He pulled out a handkerchief to wipe them away, his eyes darting around as he stammered, "Consultant... Consultant Lin, what do you mean by that? The renovation plan was naturally done by a professional design company; what could be special about it? Burying things? How is that possible! I'm running a legitimate cultural and creative business..."

"Chairman Liu," Lin Yuan interrupted, his voice not loud but carrying an unquestionable calmness. "Inside, I encountered more than one kind of 'thing.' I can understand the resentment of those who died in the boiler explosion in the eighties. I've also found clues of a strong resentment from Infant Spirits in a specific location, likely from an early medical accident. But there's another kind... a 'metal baleful qi' that, when combined with resentment, can even form an aggressive physical entity. This doesn't seem natural. The machinery of a textile factory might have resentment from industrial accidents attached to it, but it would never form such a pure, ominous aura with the sense of 'warfare and slaughter.'"

He took a step forward, his eyes burning like torches. "From a professional perspective, the layout of the renovated park has several areas that deliberately form a 'Gathering Yin and Locking Evil' configuration. This isn't an amateur mistake; it requires significant knowledge of Feng Shui and was done intentionally contrary to the norm. Using a 'Secret Room Escape' to turn fear into entertainment acts as a breeding ground that constantly stimulates and feeds those negative energies. Chairman Liu, tell me, what kind of 'legitimate cultural and creative business' requires such a design?"

"I... I don't know! The designer said it would be impactful and generate buzz..." Chairman Liu defended himself, but his tone was weak.

"The designer?" Lin Yuan pressed. "Which designer? Which company? You still have the blueprints, right? I can 'take a look' for you; perhaps I can see if the designer had any 'special' intentions."

Chairman Liu was speechless and looked toward Boss Qian as if for help.

Boss Qian blew a smoke ring and spoke slowly, "Old Liu, there's no point in hiding things at this stage. Consultant Lin is a truly capable person and has identified the key issue. Back then, you used some shady methods to get that land at a low price and stirred up trouble. Later, you tried to use a Feng Shui malice-trap to 'suppress' or even 'transfer' the trouble. Quite a few people in our circle know about this mess. Now it's out of control, the malice-trap has backfired, and the park has become a ghost den. You want someone to clean up after you, but you're afraid to tell the truth. If this continues, losing money will be the least of your worries."

Chairman Liu trembled all over, as if his bones had been removed. He almost collapsed but was caught by Boss Qian.

"I... I had no choice!" Chairman Liu finally broke down, his voice tearful. "When bidding for the land, I used some tactics to squeeze out a few competitors. Later, when the foundation was being dug, we really... really dug something up! Not bones, but several incredibly rusty... ancient swords, and a bronze fragment engraved with strange talismans! The foreman was scared to death. I found someone to look at them, and they said they were very old, possibly relics from an ancient battlefield. They were stained with blood-malice and were extremely ominous objects that couldn't be kept or thrown away casually, or they would invite disaster."

"And then?" Lin Yuan pressed, his heart racing. Ancient battlefield relics? That would explain the source of the "metal baleful qi"!

"Later... I used some connections to find a master who supposedly understood 'suppression objects.' After he looked at it, he said the malice was too heavy to be suppressed by ordinary methods. But he said... we could 'nourish the layout with malice, turning misfortune into wealth.'" Chairman Liu's voice grew lower. "He redesigned the park's layout and reburied those ancient swords and fragments underground in specific positions and ways, especially under the core workshop. He said this would lock in the malice and form an 'Earthly Malice Wealth-Gathering Array.' Although there would be some 'minor side effects'—meaning hauntings—as long as there was enough foot traffic, the Yang energy of the living would suppress it and even boost financial luck. The 'Secret Room Escape'... was also his suggestion. He said using the vigor of young people and their focused Yang energy during the game would balance and 'divert' the malice..."

"Absurd!" Lin Yuan couldn't help but shout. "Using the Yang energy of the living—especially the chaotic Yang energy stimulated by games of fear—to balance ancient battlefield blood-malice and earthbound resentful spirits? That's not diverting; that's adding fuel to the fire! Fear, tension, anxiety—these emotions themselves are high-quality food for negative energy! That 'master' was using your place as a malice-breeding ground, or perhaps conducting some kind of evil experiment!"

Chairman Liu's face turned ashen. "But... but for the first few months, nothing really happened! It was even a bit of a hit for a while! It only started going wrong slowly... That master, after performing the ritual, burying the objects, and giving me the blueprints, took the money and left. I haven't been able to contact him since..."

Lin Yuan closed his eyes and quickly sorted through the information. Everything was connected: ancient battlefield ominous objects (the source of the metal baleful qi) + factory accident resentment (the foundation for earthbound spirits) + potentially existing Infant Spirit resentment (attracted from outside) + the deliberately arranged Gathering Yin and Locking Evil layout (the catalyst and amplifier) + the continuous supply of fearful emotions (the nourishment) = a growing, increasingly uncontrollable composite malignant energy aggregate.

This wasn't a simple supernatural event; it was a man-made, slowly fermenting energy disaster!

"That master—what was his name? What did he look like? Any distinguishing features?" Lin Yuan opened his eyes, his gaze sharp.

"I don't know his real name; everyone called him 'Mr. Mo.' He always wore a black Tang suit and round sunglasses. He was about sixty years old, tall and thin, and spoke with a bit of a southern accent. He seemed to have a ring on his hand—black, but I couldn't see the material clearly..." Chairman Liu tried to recall.

Mr. Mo? Lin Yuan noted the name. This person was likely a cultivator or someone related to deities who operated in the gray areas or was even proficient in evil arts.

"Consultant Lin, what... what should we do now? Will that thing... come out?" Chairman Liu was truly terrified.

"That aggregate has already developed a preliminary territorial nature; for now, it shouldn't leave its 'nest'—the core workshop—of its own accord. But if left alone, its range of influence will expand, its aggressiveness will increase, and it will eventually spiral completely out of control." Lin Yuan gave a harsh assessment. "Your previous headaches, the employees fainting, and the accidents were all just 'radiation' it unconsciously emitted and occasional 'foraging.' My entry today was equivalent to disturbing it. It has already remembered my aura and now has a stronger desire to 'feed.'"

Chairman Liu's legs went weak, and he had to be held up by Boss Qian.

"Consultant Lin, do you have a way to solve this? Whatever you need, just say the word!" Boss Qian stubbed out his cigarette, his expression turning serious. The situation had clearly exceeded the scope of ordinary trouble.

Lin Yuan didn't answer immediately. A way? His only means of attack right now were two talismans and a broken bell. His faith reserve was hitting bottom, and his divine duties were still at the most basic "emotion-sorting" stage. Dealing with a monster that fused ancient battlefield malice, multiple resentments, and was artificially nurtured? It sounded like a fantasy.

But... was it truly hopeless?

He thought of the characteristics of his "Optimization" divine duty, the ideas in that "Preliminary Plan," his attempt to temporarily isolate the Infant Spirit resentment with a simple thought symbol, and even the snippets of information from that young man in the black market about the uses of "Chaos Essence Fragment" and the "mark of conquest."

"There is a way, but the risk is extremely high. It requires Chairman Liu's full cooperation and a price far exceeding what was previously agreed upon," Lin Yuan said slowly.

"Tell me! As long as it can be solved, any amount of money is fine!" Chairman Liu said, as if clutching at a life-saving straw.

"It's not just about money." Lin Yuan shook his head. "First, I want complete and detailed geological survey reports and historical records of the park and the surrounding land—the more detailed, the better. Second, I want the records of the exact locations and methods used to bury those 'ancient objects'; if there were blueprints or ritual records, they must be given to me. Third, until the problem is solved, the park must be closed indefinitely, and no one is allowed to enter, including you and your employees. Fourth, during the process, I may need to use unconventional methods that might cause some degree of damage to the park's buildings or facilities. You need to be aware of this and authorize it in advance."

"This..." Chairman Liu hesitated.

"Old Liu, which is more important: your life or your wealth?" Boss Qian said indifferently from the side.

Chairman Liu gritted his teeth. "Fine! I'll do as you say! I'll have the materials organized as soon as I get back and sent to you by tonight at the latest! I'll immediately install the highest level of fencing and surveillance for the park and have dedicated personnel guard it 24 hours a day—absolutely no one will get in! As for damage... as long as you don't blow up the buildings, it's up to you!"

[part:gemini-3.1-flash-lite]

"Very well." Lin Yuan nodded. "Finally, regarding the remuneration. The base commission of 50 faith points remains unchanged. However, given the complexity and danger of the problem, I need to add 'risk compensation' and 'resource consumption compensation'. The specific amount will be determined after I formulate the final action plan based on the detailed data. But it will not be lower than the base commission."

"Fine! As long as you can solve it!" Chairman Liu had no other choice at this moment.

"Boss Qian, please bear witness." Lin Yuan looked at Boss Qian.

"No problem." Boss Qian readily agreed, his assessment of Lin Yuan rising another notch in his eyes. This kid not only had some skills, but his ability to negotiate and seize opportunities was also quite seasoned.

The matter was temporarily settled. Chairman Liu left in a daze, probably to go back and prepare the materials and seal off the park.

Boss Qian, however, was in no rush to leave and handed a cigarette to Lin Yuan. "You don't mind, do you?"

Lin Yuan waved his hand in refusal.

Boss Qian lit it himself, looking at the gloomy park in the distance. " 'Mr. Mo'... I seem to have heard this name before. In the black market, he belongs to that type of ruthless character who 'does anything for money, but you bear the aftermath yourself.' This time, you might not just be solving a baleful formation; you might even attract some other trouble."

"I have too many debts to worry about more." Lin Yuan replied indifferently. He already had enough trouble on his hands.

"You have guts." Boss Qian smiled. "By the way, if you need black market channels for the 'special tools' you require, or if you need trusted help, you can come to me. Of course, the commission is extra."

"Not for now, I'll look at the data first." Lin Yuan declined. He was not sure if Boss Qian simply wanted to do business or had other intentions.

Returning to the apartment, it was already afternoon. Lin Yuan first treated the injury on his right arm, which had worsened from using the Ancient Battlefield Talisman again. Then, he forced himself to eat something and began waiting for Chairman Liu's data.

Around seven in the evening, the encrypted email arrived. The content was complex: the geological report showed that there was a chaotic shallow groundwater vein underground in the area, which was historically a silted area after a small river diverted, so the Yin energy was naturally quite heavy; historical data confirmed the existence of the edge of a mass grave and a private clinic; most importantly, there was a blurry copy of construction records and several hand-drawn sketches, marking several points, written with "suppression object burial points" and simple directional descriptions and depths. One of the largest points was about three meters underground in the escape room venue, marked as "Main Sword Position".

There were no specific ritual records, only a few scribbled words: "Use blood as a guide, use resentment as a lock, absorb earth energy and baleful Yin, cultivate the aura of metal and spears, and the foundation can be formed in forty-nine days."

A typical evil technique for cultivating baleful energy!

Lin Yuan looked at these materials, his brain running at high speed. Simply purifying or violently destroying this aggregate was impossible with his current strength. But the idea of "Optimization" might offer a different path.

What is the essence of "Optimization"? It is to improve efficiency and establish more reasonable order. For this chaotic and destructive energy aggregate, can it be "optimized"?

Not to make it "good", but... to change its structure and goals?

For example, treat it as a chaotic, high-risk "asset package". What he needed to do was not to destroy the assets, but to conduct "asset restructuring" and "risk isolation".

Specifically: 1. Stripping: Attempt to separate resentments of different natures (work injuries, Infant Spirits) from the Ancient Battlefield Talisman baleful energy. This requires precise energy guidance and "cutting" techniques. 2. Isolation/Sealing: For the core baleful energy (Ancient Battlefield fierce objects) that is difficult to purify after stripping, perform powerful sealing or transfer. 3. Guidance/Resolution: For relatively pure resentment (such as Infant Spirits), attempt to guide, appease, or transcend them. 4. Pattern Reshaping: Thoroughly change the energy pattern of the park, changing from "gathering Yin and locking baleful energy" to "circulation and dredging", or even introducing positive energy.

This requires a precise "surgical" plan, not a crude "bombing".

He thought of his "Optimization" intent, the shockwaves of the heart-cleansing bell (perhaps the frequency could be adjusted for "combing"), the baleful energy of the Ancient Battlefield Talisman (could it be used to fight poison with poison, to "cut" or "suppress" baleful energy of the same origin?), and even that mark of conquest with unknown uses—could it be used to temporarily "mark" or "deter" a certain part of the aggregate?

This requires massive calculations, simulations, and experiments. And he had less than two days to prepare, and his faith reserve was pitifully low.

He glanced at the system.

[faith reserve: 0.505] [divine breath countdown: 26 days 10 hours 18 minutes] [Special items: trace amount of mark of conquest, thin fragment of chaotic essence]

The reserve had barely moved, but time was passing.

He needed faith points, needed to quickly improve his strength, and at least needed enough "fuel" to drive his "Optimization surgery".

His gaze fell on [chaotic essence (fragment)] and [mark of conquest]. The black market young man said the fragment could be used to make one-time scrolls or as a supplement, and the mark was almost useless.

A supplement... what if he absorbed this bit of "chaotic essence fragment"? Would he gain some understanding or resistance to chaotic energy? Or even replenish some "energy"?

It was risky. But there seemed to be no better way to improve quickly.

He hesitated for a moment, finally gritted his teeth, and used his will to guide the absorption of that wisp of [thin chaotic essence (fragment)].

A cold, chaotic energy with a subtle tingling sensation flowed into his divine grid. There was no explosive power; instead, he felt his thinking become slightly sluggish, his perception of various negative emotions seemed to become a bit sharper, and at the same time, his desire for "order" and "Optimization" became stronger. It was like dripping a drop of ink into pure water; although it polluted the water, it also let the water 'know' what 'ink' was.

[faith reserve: 0.505 → 0.507] [Status gained: Weak Chaotic Perception (Temporary)] (Your perception and discrimination of chaotic attribute energy are slightly improved, lasting for 24 hours.) [Deepened understanding of divinity: 'Optimization' includes the cognition and combing of 'chaos'.]

Effective! Although the improvement was minimal, he had gained a useful temporary status and a new understanding of his divinity!

What about that [mark of conquest]? Could he use it for something? For example, try to "communicate" with or "command" a relatively weak part of the aggregate?

He tried to inject his will into the weak mark, imagining it as a "credential of authority" to deter...

No response. The mark was too weak, like dust.

Put it aside for now. He began to design the specific "surgical" steps, converting his ideas into an executable plan. This required extremely precise control of the Power of Faith, and... some extra "tools" for assistance.

He thought of the black market, and Boss Qian's proposal.

Perhaps, he really needed to purchase some more things. But he had no money.

After pondering for a moment, he picked up his phone and dialed Boss Qian's number.

"Boss Qian, it's me. I need two things, they might be a bit obscure: First, a talisman or artifact that can temporarily stabilize or isolate small-scale ground vein Yin energy; Second, if you have it, something that can have a gentle attraction or guidance effect on 'resentment' or 'spirit bodies', preferably something that can be used sustainably, rather than violent transcendence. Also... I need to advance a portion of the remuneration, 10 faith points. It can be deducted from my subsequent commission earnings, or exchanged for another 'service' of mine."

On the other end of the phone, Boss Qian did not seem surprised: "I can help you ask about the items. Advancing 10 points... it's a bit against the rules. However, what is your other 'service'? I'm a bit interested."

Lin Yuan looked at the brief proposal he had just finished on his computer screen about how to design an "Anti-Involution Energy Field Optimization Package" for small and medium-sized enterprises, and said slowly:

"I can provide you, or a client you designate, with a free, in-depth 'Organizational Energy Field and Team Efficiency Optimization Diagnosis', similar to the one I did for Zhang Qiming, but more systematic. I believe this will be helpful for you to maintain client relationships or discover new investment opportunities."

Boss Qian laughed on the other end of the phone: "Pledging future 'Optimization Consultant' services in exchange for current resources? Consultant Lin, you really are cut out for finance. Deal. 10 faith points, will be transferred to your 'account' tomorrow morning (the anonymous faith storage channel commonly used in the black market). I will help you find the things you want as soon as possible, and I will notify you when there is news."

Hanging up the phone, Lin Yuan breathed a sigh of relief. 10 faith points, while not much, was enough for him to recover some state and purchase some key props.

He sat back down in front of the computer and began to perfect the perilous "energy restructuring surgery" plan.

The night outside the window was as thick as ink. And in the direction of Yongxin Cultural and Creative Park, in that darkness that had been deliberately sealed off, some "thing" that had fused metal, resentment, and evil techniques seemed to have sensed the impending "intervention", and in its slumber, it squirmed uneasily.