150: Chapter 150 Fire at Midnight

Wang Jinliang remained silent for a long time. "Today, Zhou Jianjun talked about He Dingkun in the group chat. He said the Octagonal Building on the back hill is ruining the village's feng shui and wants to assemble all the villagers to discuss countermeasures. I suspect this is a new move by He Dingkun."

"A new move?"

"Yes. He Dingkun's life or death is currently unknown. If he keeps waiting like this, he will definitely die. To change his fate, he must take risks. This Octagonal Pagoda is linked to He Dingkun's life. If he wants to wake up, he must first destroy it to rebuild."

"So my assessment was correct. That kid surnamed Han is one of He Dingkun's people, and he came to the village to change He Dingkun's fate."

"In all likelihood, yes..."

"Then what are we waiting for? Even if we can't kill that kid, we can't let his scheme succeed."

"But we are no match for him."

"He is not important. He Dingkun is our enemy. As long as we finish off He Dingkun, I would be willing to die right now."

"What do you intend to do..."

"Yes. Didn't you say that the Octagonal Building is closely connected to He Dingkun? Let's strike first and burn that dilapidated building down."

"There's someone keeping watch over there."

"I'll kill, you set the fire. Even if we have to force our way in, we must burn that ghost pagoda before that kid surnamed Han and Zhou Jianjun do. This is a god-given opportunity. If we miss it, I won't be able to swallow this bitterness even if I live to be two hundred."

Wang Jinliang pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and after smoking more than half of it, nodded heavily. "I remember there's a pressurized water hose in the storage room. I'll go look for it. You get ready too. We'll act at two o'clock."

"Alright." Liu Guihua's aged face seemed to be injected with new vitality. Her eyes shone brightly as she turned and knelt before the shrine on the wall.

The shrine enshrined a seated statue of an old Northeast lady with a childlike face and crane-white hair.

...

Two-thirty in the morning.

Han Jingyang was suddenly awakened by bursts of shouting.

He sat up abruptly.

Shi Xiaoya quickly said, "Brother Lei, something happened at the Octagonal Building."

"What's the situation?"

"I heard Wang Yan on the phone saying the Octagonal Building is on fire. It's burning fiercely. By now, it should be almost burnt out."

"On fire?"

"Yes. Our position here isn't good, so we can't see what's happening over there, but judging by the villagers' movements, it must be true. I just don't know how the fire started."

"It must be man-made."

"Boss, how do you know?"

"You don't even need to think hard to know. How could a perfectly fine pagoda catch fire? There's no electricity, no need for open flames, and the pagoda door is usually locked tight. The probability of an accidental fire is too low. Besides, it was just decided today that the tower would be demolished, and it catches fire at night. No one would believe it wasn't man-made."

"Boss is so smart. But, what about that cauldron..."

Han Jingyang narrowed his eyes. "The cauldron might be buried at the base of the pagoda. Even if it were enshrined inside, it wouldn't necessarily be destroyed. The structure of the pagoda isn't complex; it's just wood, so the temperature is limited."

Upon hearing this, Shi Xiaoya immediately stood up. "Boss, wait for me. I'll go to the scene to see whose hands that cauldron ends up in."

"Let's go together."

"No, it will be dangerous."

"It is precisely because there is danger that the three of us should stay together. Rashly separating will lead to being picked off one by one."

"This... alright." Shi Xiaoya looked at Liu Jing. "Protect the boss well, in case someone tries to launch a sneak attack in the chaos."

Liu Jing nodded heavily. "I know."

After quickly tidying up, the three of them followed the stream of villagers heading towards the scene.

Two minutes later, they could see the small hill where the Octagonal Building was located from afar.

However, at a glance, the ten-meter-high Octagonal Building could not be seen; only the flashing of flashlights of various sizes and sporadic sparks were visible.

By the time the three of them ran up to it, not even a single spark could be seen; only scattered charred wood and ashes remained.

The villagers stood on the perimeter, discussing animatedly, saying all sorts of things.

Zhou Jianjun was there too, his expression exceptionally ugly. He scanned the crowd from time to time, as if looking for someone.

Seeing Han Jingyang and the other two, he walked over quickly. "Master Han, what should we do?"

"What do you mean, what should we do?"

"About the demolition of the tower. In this situation, will it affect the dragon vein?"

"There is an impact, but it's not a big problem. The foundation wasn't burnt, so we can continue with the demolition. Follow the steps I mentioned and take it slow."

"Good, good, that's good." Zhou Jianjun let out a sigh of relief, then shouted loudly, "Everyone is here, so let's speak plainly. I chatted with you in the group chat this afternoon. Speak your minds, and then we can make a decision soon. This matter should be done sooner rather than later."

As soon as Zhou Jianjun finished speaking, someone shouted, "What else is there to discuss? Jianjun, just tell us what to do, and we'll do it. We trust you."

"Exactly, we trust Little Zhou."

"Jianjun's achievements over these years are obvious to everyone."

"Everyone knows Boss He's situation. It's time to make a change. Besides, the tower has become like this, what's the point of keeping it if we don't tear it down?"

"If you ask me, while everyone is here, let's just tear it all down in one go and start the new project sooner."

The villagers were not stupid. Knowing that they would no longer receive financial support from He Dingkun, they were naturally unwilling to let He Dingkun's private tower continue to occupy the village's land.

Not to mention those rumors about feng shui behind the scenes.

Messing with the village's feng shui harms the concrete interests of every villager. When there were subsidies, they could tolerate it, but once the subsidies were cut off, who cares who He Dingkun is? Moreover, He Dingkun's life or death is unknown, the He family is almost wiped out, and Dingshen Group has been acquired. Even if they peed on the graves of He Dingkun's ancestors, they wouldn't fear retaliation, so naturally, there's even less need to worry about tearing down a tower.

Therefore, Zhou Jianjun could be said to have had everyone's support.

But just as the crowd was worked up, someone coughed. "Demolishing the tower is fine, but who can guarantee that the new project will definitely be good?"

Everyone quickly turned their heads to look at the person who spoke.

Zhou Jianjun frowned. "Old Wang, what do you mean?"

Wang Jinliang said calmly, "Before, you took He Dingkun's money and gave such a prime piece of feng shui land to He Dingkun to build a tower to extend his life. Now that He Dingkun's life or death is unknown, who can guarantee that the new building to be built after the tower is demolished won't continue to be used to extend He Dingkun's life?"

"If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense."

"I understand. I just don't want to work in this industry."

A villager scolded, "Just because you say you understand, you understand? I could say I understand too."

Wang Jinliang didn't even look at the other person, but stared at Zhou Jianjun. "My grandfather was a yin-yang master, and my father was a yin-yang master. I learned from a young age, and by fifteen or sixteen, I had already surpassed my father. If it weren't for my father strictly forbidding me from entering this industry, you would all be coming to me for your funerals and weddings. You have no right to say I don't understand."

Zhou Jianjun was silent.

This was a fact.

Wang Jinliang's father was indeed the village's yin-yang master. It was interrupted for twenty or thirty years due to the political climate, and he only returned to the profession in the eighties. However, he passed away less than ten years later, and since then, Dongpo Village had no yin-yang master.

And this made Zhou Jianjun not know what to do.

This was a field he was unfamiliar with.

Looking around, he could only look to Han Jingyang for help.

Han Jingyang watched coldly from the sidelines, his heart completely unmoved.

I only want the cauldron.

Everything else has nothing to do with me.

Especially the grudges and entanglements between Wang Jinliang, Wang Wei, and He Dingkun, I am even less interested in that.

Once I get the cauldron, I'll turn around and leave, not staying for even a minute longer.

However, touching the third-grade compass in his chest pocket, he really felt a bit embarrassed to refuse directly.

Having accepted such a heavy gift just moments ago, turn around and act like a stranger?

That is not my style.

Thinking this, Han Jingyang stood out under the gaze of hundreds of people.