141: Chapter 141 The Fisherman's Pleasure

Han Jingyang picked up the compass and entered Qi Observation mode.

With a single glance, the state of the earth qi everywhere within his sight came into view.

After a moment, he let out a sigh.

Shi Xiaoya immediately asked, "Boss, what's the verdict?"

"It's definitely here."

"Are you sure?"

"Yes, the situation here is similar to Jinding No. 1."

"Gathering the power of the entire village to sustain a single pagoda?"

"Roughly, though the primary target isn't the village itself, but the qi veins it sits upon. The village is just incidental."

"Are the consequences serious?"

"For Dongpo Village, it's not extremely severe, but they will certainly be affected."

Shi Xiaoya nodded slightly. "In other words, that pagoda is being used to extend He Dingkun's life?"

"Correct."

"And the tripod is inside the pagoda?"

"Yes. There must be a life-bound object of He Dingkun's inside the tripod, like a doll inscribed with his birth chart."

Shi Xiaoya was a bit excited. "Boss, does this kind of method actually work?"

Han Jingyang shook his head. "It works. If it didn't, those wealthy merchants wouldn't be scrambling to set them up. However, it can also backfire; stealing the secrets of heaven comes with karmic consequences."

"Karma?"

"I'm just speaking figuratively, don't take it too seriously."

In truth, Han Jingyang wasn't sure about karma either. He only knew that the qi absorbed by the Feng Shui formation He Dingkun had arranged wasn't purely beneficial. Qi had attributes—Yin and Yang, the Five Elements, and even more detailed and complex classifications. What the effect of absorbing it all indiscriminately would be on a person, even a deity couldn't say for sure.

If there were only benefits and no downsides, He Dingkun's physical condition before his accident wouldn't have been such a ghostly mess.

The problem now was that if Han Jingyang wanted to get that bronze tripod, he had to enter the wooden pagoda, and might even need to damage it.

The pagoda's guard was nothing.

However, the attitude of the entire Dongpo Village population was very important.

He couldn't act recklessly before figuring out the villagers' stance. It would be bad if he incited the hostility of the whole village.

He needed a complete and thorough plan.

It would be best to take the bronze tripod without anyone noticing.

At the very least, he had to keep the villagers in the dark.

In any case, he couldn't let the villagers see him as a saboteur ruining Dongpo Village's Feng Shui.

To put it bluntly, he would steal it if he could; if not, he'd find another way to steal it.

The item was ownerless.

Removing it would be beneficial to Dongpo Village, not harmful.

Therefore, Han Jingyang felt no psychological burden about playing the thief.

Shi Xiaoya didn't know Han Jingyang's plan and excitedly volunteered, "Boss, I'll take this mission. I'll go steal that bronze tripod tonight."

"There's a high probability you won't be able to steal it."

"My skills aren't weak. Dealing with a mere pagoda guard is no trouble."

"What about the thousands of villagers?"

Shi Xiaoya immediately shut her mouth. She wasn't stupid and quickly realized the sensitivity of the pagoda.

Doing something like this in a village was fine if you weren't caught.

But if you were discovered, you would absolutely draw the hatred of the entire village.

After pondering for a few minutes, Shi Xiaoya still had no ideas. "Boss, then what do we do? How about... we kill them to silence them?"

"You really aren't afraid of causing a scene," Han Jingyang shook his head. "Go back and study it properly. We can't just act blindly."

"From the sound of it... Boss, you already have an idea?"

"A little one, but it still needs refining."

"As expected, the Boss is different from brutes like us; your brain works well," Shi Xiaoya chuckled, casting a pointed glance at Liu Jing.

Liu Jing, who had been playing the role of a wooden statue, instantly flared up. "Shi, who are you calling a brute?"

"Myself, dear sister. Do you have a problem with that?"

"You, you..."

When the talkative Liu Jing encountered Shi Xiaoya, she couldn't even use ten percent of her skills; she was suppressed at every turn.

A fated nemesis.

Lunch was very hearty.

The portions weren't huge, nor was it particularly exquisite.

But it was full of flavor—an authentic rural taste that was much more genuine than those city restaurants that claimed to specialize in country-style cooking.

It was similar to the meals Han Jingyang used to eat at locals' houses when he went on field assignments during university.

The ingredients, however, were more carefully selected. The chickens and ducks were free-range birds raised by the village chief's brother-in-law, and the vegetables were all home-grown.

You could tell the difference with just one taste.

A simple plate of stir-fried farm eggs unexpectedly became the most popular dish.

They ate and drank their fill.

After a brief rest, Han Jingyang headed out carrying various bags and leading Liu Jing and Shi Xiaoya, looking every bit the dedicated angler.

He walked around the reservoir once and headed toward a crowded spot.

He set his bait and cast his line. After sitting for a while, he took the opportunity to help a middle-aged man in a Yellow Vest land a fish.

It was a grass carp weighing seven or eight pounds.

Han Jingyang praised, "Good fish, good luck. It's really something to land such a big fish in the middle of the day."

"Haha, the fishing is good here. I go home with a full load every time I come, though the fees aren't cheap."

"It really isn't cheap. Fifty an hour, four hundred for ten hours. If I hadn't heard the service here was decent, I wouldn't have come."

"Yeah, the safety equipment is quite complete, and they help with netting fish and retrieving rods. But the main thing is the fish are good, the water quality is excellent, and they don't use feed. Everything caught is purely wild. Look at this color; it's completely different from the farmed fish sold in the market."

"It really is. This kind of fish must taste very fresh."

"You'll know if it's fresh once you taste it," the man in the Yellow Vest said. After recasting his line, he waved to a staff member by the reservoir. "Old Liu, bring a barbecue grill over."

Han Jingyang's eyes widened. "You can barbecue on-site?"

Yellow Vest laughed. "More than just barbecue. Braised, steamed, or even made into grilled fish—everything's possible. You can do it yourself if you want, or if you're lazy, there's a chef to help. There's a fee, of course, but we like barbecuing. It doesn't interfere with fishing and has a unique flavor."

"This place is great."

"Otherwise, we wouldn't come every day," Yellow Vest said with a smile, glancing at Liu Jing and Shi Xiaoya. "Brother, you're quite lucky with the ladies. You know how to enjoy life better than we do."

"Hehe, just friends, just friends."

"I understand, 'friends,' hahaha. Have your friends come and try my cooking. I guarantee this fish is so fresh it'll make you lose your tongue."

Han Jingyang beckoned to Shi Xiaoya and Liu Jing.

Liu Jing continued to act like a wooden statue.

Shi Xiaoya, however, was full of clever chatter, making the atmosphere quite lively.

By the time the fish was grilled, the atmosphere was even better.

The fish was indeed excellent, truly delicious enough to make one's tongue melt.

However, Han Jingyang's focus was never on the fish, but on the Octagonal Pagoda on the hillside.

So, he intentionally or unintentionally steered the conversation in that direction.

After Yellow Vest shared some information Han Jingyang already knew, Han Jingyang said as if casually, "I heard someone say this is a grand Feng Shui formation set up by a rich guy. Is that true?"

Yellow Vest's expression changed, and he lowered his voice. "Can't say, can't say. This topic is a taboo in Dongpo Village."

"A taboo?" Han Jingyang also lowered his voice, but his expression grew more excited. "How is it a taboo? Don't tell me they're all involved?"

"This..." Yellow Vest cautiously looked around. "In the past, you couldn't even mention this. But now, it can be brought up a little. Do you know He Dingkun?"

"Who doesn't know him? Lord Kun of Quancheng. He's a famous tough character in Quancheng," Han Jingyang's expression suddenly shifted. "This place couldn't be He Dingkun's work, could it?"

"It is," Yellow Vest replied. Noticing Han Jingyang's suspicious look, he said defensively, "Brother, what's with that look? I saw it with my own eyes."