Chapter Seven, Bell Foundry

Liu Jian sat cross-legged on the bed and called for Peng Deng to bring a chair to sit in front of him. Only then did he speak: "You say you already know the details regarding Shen Wansan, but that is not entirely true. Wang Yuanhua certainly did not tell our governor the whole truth."

Holding the lamp with unease, fearing that the cart would turn back to capture them once it unloaded its cargo, he casually tucked the red copper stone into his bosom and implored Gao Liang to take him to see the truth of the matter, seeking some reassurance. Gao Liang hesitated a bit, but when the lamp holder brought Liu Jian out, he had no choice but to agree.

At this point, Chen E hesitated somewhat. Liu Jian pressed on: "It seems that the governor has something on his mind. Please feel free to speak candidly."

But do not base ... ...

Holding the lamp, I dared not write any more, only replying through tears: "I was a bit late buying breakfast, and I should be punished. However, sir, your repeated blows seem rather excessive." Liu Jian glanced at the food he was holding and snorted coldly: "The reason for striking you once is because of your tardiness."

From Deshengmen to East Chang'an Street, this journey cannot be considered short; it took the two of them more than half an hour to arrive. A large area of official buildings was present, with the Ministry of Works in the center, the Ministry of War facing it to the north, and the Ministry of Personnel to the east. Holding a lantern, they handed Liu Jian's notice inside, saying: "I request an audience with the Minister of the Ministry of Works, Lord Song."

I see, "Peng Deng just let out a sigh of relief, but suddenly remembered something, 'Sir, if you do this, won't it break Wang Yuanhua's formation? How could he possibly let you off easily?'

Only now, holding the lamp, do I realize that what Gao Liang said was not false, and I cannot help but tremble. If Wang Yuanhua had been following the car that he just cursed, I fear even Liu Jian would not be able to save his life.

During these days, as I held the lamp, I heard Liu Jian speak of Wang Yuanhua's various formidable qualities, and I couldn't help but stick out my tongue in surprise, secretly feeling fortunate. However, his temperament has always been that of a cooked duck—tender meat but a tough mouth, still shouting: "So what? Can he really chop off my head?" Gao Liang let out a "tch" sound, retracting his head slightly, as if still haunted by the memory: "I didn't mean to scare you, Little Liu. A few days ago, while we were working by the Grand Canal in Tongzhou, I personally witnessed a minor official bump into Lord Wang's cart, and he was directly dealt with in an instant." It seemed he was still haunted by the memory: "I didn't mean to scare you, Little Liu. A few days ago, while we were working by the Grand Canal in Tongzhou, I personally witnessed a minor official bump into Lord Wang's cart, and he was directly dealt with in an instant."

So what he means is that this is all intentional? But why would he do that?

Liu Jian had not yet spoken when Deng Deng jumped out from the side and shouted, "My master is from the Zhan Shi Fu..." Before he could finish his sentence, Wang Yuanhua and several small officials from the supervision office walked out while conversing. Upon seeing Liu Jian standing at the entrance, Wang Yuanhua's expression first stiffened, then he stroked his beard and smiled, stepping forward to clasp his hands in greeting and said, "Brother Liu."

Regarding the Huayan Bell Factory, Liu Jian had long heard of it. This place was established as a dedicated foundry by the court during the Yuan Dynasty, and the bronze bells hanging in various temples, including the Bailin Temple, originated from Huayan. With the reconstruction of Beijing, it is not surprising to cast a large bell; however, Liu Jian found it peculiar that the bell was cast rather early. The outer walls have not yet been completed, the imperial city has only laid a foundation and constructed a few side halls, and the facilities for various official departments are not yet in place. In terms of priorities, casting a bell should not be at the forefront. Moreover, since there is a new bell, there must be a new temple. Liu Jian had accompanied Song Li to Beijing and had made several trips to Shuntian Prefecture in recent days, yet he had not heard Song Li or Chen E mention anything about building a new temple in Beijing. In this world, how can there be a temple that is not yet completed, yet a bell is cast first?

After sending off Chen E, Liu Jian left the tavern and walked slowly towards the Berlin Temple with Deng Deng. By this time, it was already late, and the streets were sparsely populated. Deng Deng approached Liu Jian and said, "Hehe, even if you don't say anything this time, I already know about Shen Wansan. However, I would appreciate it if you could explain the story behind the straw sandals to me."

Holding the lamp, he quickly greeted, "You are up early, sir." The old man puffed his beard and replied, "Is this early? It's not early at all. Young man, you are still young; you should get up even earlier. As the saying goes, 'The morning of a day is crucial.'" After exchanging a few pleasantries and preparing to take his leave, suddenly the old man glanced to the side and exclaimed, "Ah!"

Liu Jian nodded: "Exactly. I heard that Shen Wansan was beaten to death, and I also heard from the old scribe that many people went to desecrate his corpse. That was when I began to have my doubts. Think about it, which execution of a criminal in public does not require strict protection? If it had been declared in advance that Shen Wansan had committed treason, that would be one thing, but generally speaking, how could it be possible for bystanders to trample on a corpse right after someone has just died?"

Liu Jian hurriedly returned the greeting Wang Yuanhua asked: "Brother Liu, being in the Zhan Shi Fu and managing the classics, you must hold a prestigious position. Why have you come to this chaotic place today?"

Chen E replied with a bitter smile: "... My foolish brother has been having frequent nightmares lately, often waking up drenched in cold sweat, fearing that his life may not last much longer. Today, I originally came here to drown my sorrows in wine, didn't I? The more I think about it, the more alarmed I become. Suddenly, I looked at my virtuous younger brother and couldn't help but lose my composure. ... Please do not mock me, dear brother."

Liu Jian made a sound of acknowledgment: "During these forty-nine days, he must have been arranging..."

He was throwing with great enthusiasm when suddenly someone pressed down on his arm. Looking up, he saw it was the old clerk's son, Gao Liang, gripping his arm with a look of panic on his face, asking: "Little Liu, what are you doing?"

According to the "Record of Dreams After Spring Ming": "The Bell Foundry is called Huayan Bell Foundry, located inside Deshengmen." In fact, Huayan Bell Foundry is the name of the institution where large bells were cast during the Yuan, Ming, and Qing dynasties. The most famous of these is the Yongle Bell, which is still preserved in the Bell Temple, as well as the large bell in the Bell Tower, which was originally made of iron but was changed to bronze due to poor sound quality. During the renovation of the Bell Tower in 1983, it was also moved to the "Bell Forest" in the Bell Temple.

Huayan Bell Factory

Another cloth shoe flew out of the room, hitting the bridge of the nose for the third time, leaving the young scholar with a flushed face and tears welling in his eyes. Liu Jian then walked out of the room, wearing only socks and holding the other cloth shoe in his hand, and coldly said: "So you do know how to come back"

Liu Jian paid him no mind and returned to his room with the red copper stone, examining it repeatedly. Although he was well-versed in the arts of yin and yang numerology, his knowledge of geological minerals was limited. Nevertheless, he could discern that this piece of ore was of exceptionally pure quality, indeed a fine product, and was certainly intended for bell casting.

Hao Liang whispered: "This is the place. Some say they need to cast a bell that is two zhang high, and the original casting furnace mold is insufficient. These past few days, they have been gathering materials everywhere and are still digging new mold pits."

As soon as he entered the courtyard, a官靴 flew out from the room, striking him squarely in the face. The lantern bearer let out a cry of distress; with both hands occupied holding food, he had no way to shield his face and could only brace himself and charge inside. After taking just a few steps, another官靴 flew out, hitting him in the face once more. The lantern bearer dared not proceed any further and shouted into the room: "My lord, why do you hold me responsible with your footwear?"

Moreover, the involvement of Wang Yuanhua adds to the sense of intrigue.

Liu Jian extinguished the oil lamp and said in the darkness: "As for these matters, there are experts who can resolve them, so you and I need not worry."

Upon hearing Liu Jian's words, Chen E finally set down the heavy stone that had been lodged in his chest

The Casting Bell Factory is named after the alley where the Huayan Bell Factory is located, situated in the northeastern part of today's Xicheng District. It stretches from the old Drum Tower Street in the east to the Drum Tower West Street in the west, forming the shape of the character "厂". It was later renamed "Casting Bell Alley". To the south of Casting Bell Alley is Heihu Alley, which was divided into large and small Heihu Alleys after the Republic of China. Numbers 24 and 26 of Small Heihu Alley were originally the "Golden Furnace Holy Mother Casting Bell Temple". According to legend, the large bell of the bell tower could not be cast for a long time, and the deadline was approaching. The bell caster had a daughter who, in order to save her father, leaped into the molten copper, and thus the large bell was completed. Consequently, later generations built this temple to worship her. This Casting Bell Mother Temple can be considered the "factory temple" of the Huayan Bell Factory.

Every day, Peng Deng would rise early and go outside the temple to buy breakfast for Liu Jian. This child was born with a carefree disposition; while his master excelled in numerology and talismanic arts, he was solely fascinated by the supernatural and the bizarre. That night, after listening to a discussion, his curiosity, instead of being suppressed, swelled several times over. One morning, after getting up, he went to the south side of Lord Wang's alley to buy soy milk and fried dough sticks. Seeing that it was still early, he was not in a hurry to return; instead, he turned southward and began to wander around.

Holding the lantern and laughing, he said: "Oh, you. Today is neither the fifth nor the tenth, yet you dare to come out for a stroll?" Gao Liang smiled in response, saying: "Thanks to your esteemed family for the rescue." After a brief laugh, the lantern holder suddenly furrowed his brows: "We were just enjoying ourselves, why do you stop me?" The first half of the sentence was in plain language, but the latter half shifted to a more formal tone. Gao Liang glanced around to ensure no one was watching, quickly pulled him aside to the path, and whispered: "Little Liu, you really have guts, do you dare to throw stones at the water department's supply cart?"

Liu Jian solemnly said: "The governor is overly worried, which has led to a state of distraction. You will not encounter any danger. I will write a talisman for you shortly. After you return, burn it, dissolve it in yellow wine, and swallow it, and that will suffice."

Ah? According to what Grandpa said, Wang Yuanhua is truly audacious.

As he was walking, he was also practicing the tongue twister he had just learned: "An old man with a white beard comes from the south, leaning on a white cane..." Just at that moment, as soon as he finished speaking, an old man really appeared at the corner of the street to the south, with a long white beard and leaning on a cane. Upon seeing the lantern holder, he smiled. The lantern holder recognized him; this old man often squatted by the roadside telling stories, and the "Eight-Armed Nezha City" was one he had mentioned to him before.

After the lantern bearer brought back lunch, both the master and servant finished their meals. Liu Jian increasingly felt that something was amiss, so he said to the lantern bearer, "Take your things, and let us go for a stroll at Huayan." The lantern bearer, fearing that the coachman would recognize him as the one who had been cursing and throwing stones in the morning, was very reluctant in his heart. Liu Jian pretended to be about to hit him, which made the lantern bearer hurriedly cover his head and prepare his things, hastily following him out the door.

At this time, Beijing was still the provisional capital, and it was certainly not possible to establish the Six Ministries; instead, only the six departments of Personnel, Revenue, Rites, Military, Works, and Justice were set up, all under the management of the Minister of the "Executive Department." Even the six departments had been established only recently, and the offices were still temporary, located on the south side of East Chang'an Street, which later became the official site of the Six Ministries of the court.

"Brother Wang, you are responsible for many important matters in the Water Affairs Department, and you also have to oversee the casting of bells. Truly, those who are capable bear more responsibilities," Liu Jian feigned to flatter. However, Wang Yuanhua did not appreciate the compliment and coldly replied, "Brother Liu, you may not be aware that this bell is meant to highlight the Emperor's achievements in pacifying the realm, and it is entirely different from other construction sites in the city. It must be managed by a dedicated person. Moreover, since the bell is an auspicious object, we must also be cautious of too many unrelated individuals, as it could disturb the auspicious atmosphere."

Wang Yuanhua turned around and pointed to the workshop: "Brother Liu, you flatter me; I should not keep anything to myself. However, the mold pit for casting the bell has not yet been properly excavated. We still need to apply mud, shape the mouth, refine the form, and fire it. It will take at least three months before we can adjust the inscription. It would not be too late for Brother Liu to come and see it then."

Holding the lamp, he recounted the incident of encountering the bright light in its entirety, only omitting the part about provoking the vehicle for no reason. Upon hearing Wang Yuanhua's name, Liu Jian was momentarily taken aback, then immediately asked the lamp holder for the red copper stone. The lamp holder took it out from his pocket and handed it to Liu Jian, fearing he would ask further questions, and pretended to be obedient, saying: "Sir, I will go prepare lunch for you." After saying this, he swiftly ran out of Berlin Temple.

What about the lives of those common people? Do they not count? Sir, you do not usually teach me this way. The saying goes, 'Heaven has a benevolent nature towards life'...

Chen E, after all, is the governor of Shuntian, a high-ranking official of the fourth grade. Although Wang Yuanhua is not under his jurisdiction, his rank is considerably lower. Chen E repeatedly pressed for answers, his tone growing increasingly severe. Under pressure, Wang Yuanhua had no choice but to explain that the beggar who went by the name "Shen Wansan" was originally a descendant of the former dynasty's Director of the Astronomical Bureau. His ancestors were tasked with burying auspicious objects at eight locations in Beijing to ensure the prosperity of the Yuan dynasty. Now that the capital is to be moved to Beijing, it is imperative to dismantle the previous dynasty's feng shui arrangement. Since one location has already been excavated, this arrangement has been effectively broken. The remaining seven locations, as well as the fate of Shen Wansan, have become less significant.

The tall wall turned a corner by the roadside and headed west. Holding a lamp, he stepped onto the thoroughfare, just as he was about to follow the wall's trajectory, he suddenly heard a thunderous roar from behind: "Get out of the way, don't block the road!" Startled, he instinctively dropped his soy milk and fried dough sticks, hurriedly jumping to the side of the road, barely avoiding it. It turned out to be a large cart that brushed past his shoulder, carelessly speeding away. He turned his head and saw that all his breakfast had rolled into the mud, infuriated, he pointed at the receding cart and began to curse. He noticed a few stones tumble off the cart, so he rushed over to pick them up one by one and hurled them at the cart that had already run far away.

As the post was handed in, one could see Song Li holding a ledger in one hand and lifting his robe with the other, rushing to the door in just a few steps. He was a second-rank official, and due to the requirements of his position, it was only natural for him to come to Beijing and not stay at the Ministry of Personnel, but rather to visit the Ministry of Works. However, his appearance was truly unbecoming of his official status, leaving Liu Jian momentarily taken aback.

After finishing listening to the lantern, I picked up the stool and walked towards the outer room, still mumbling: "Although these two matters have been resolved, they have brought forth even more issues. The fate of Wang Yuanhua and the unraveling of the previous dynasty's feng shui arrangement remain a mystery within a mystery, just like the nine-linked rings."

As they traveled in silence, upon passing the An Ding Gate, I recalled that just outside the city gate lay the grave of Shen Wansan. Holding the lantern, I could not help but ask, "The straw sandals have already been taken out; that grave must be of no use now, right?" Liu Jian sighed and replied, "Though that may be the case, it has indeed added many wronged souls; it is truly a sin, a sin." I wanted to utter a few words of condolence and lamentation for the grave, but on one hand, I had nothing to say, and on the other, my nose still ached. So, I touched my face and fell silent.

Liu Jian's furrowed brow gradually relaxed: "You need not worry about me. First, Wang Yuanhua may not necessarily know that this matter is related to me; secondly, I anticipate that his actions will ultimately not escape the discerning eye of Master Yao. Cleverness can lead to one's own downfall; he is too preoccupied with his own affairs to have the leisure to trouble me. I have explained both of these matters to you, so I trust that fulfills your wishes"

Given the other party's attitude, Liu Jian found it inappropriate to insist further, exchanged a few casual pleasantries, and turned to leave. Deng Deng asked him, "Sir, are we really not going to check the clock?" Liu Jian shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Did you not hear him? The model is not yet completed, so where would the clock come from?" Deng Deng then asked, "So where are we going now? I heard there is a place for cheese at Xizhimen..." Before he could finish his sentence, he received a blow to the head: "All you think about is eating! Stop the nonsense and come with me to the Gongcao Yamen." Deng Deng asked him, "Sir, are we really not going to check the clock?" Liu Jian shrugged his shoulders and replied, "Did you not hear him? The model is not yet completed, so where would the clock come from?" Deng Deng then asked, "So where are we going now? I heard there is a place for cheese at Xizhimen..." Before he could finish his sentence, he received a blow to the head: "All you think about is eating! Stop the nonsense and come with me to the Gongcao Yamen."

Holding the lamp, one cannot help but feel indignant: "Yao Guangxiao actually employs such wicked sorcery, the original instigator... does he not fear being cut off from descendants!"

Holding the lamp, he thought of Liu Jian, and suddenly exclaimed "Oh no," breaking into a cold sweat. Gao Liang asked him what was wrong, and he hurriedly clasped his hands and said, "I must leave now, I must leave now." After saying this, he turned and ran away. It turned out that he had suddenly remembered that he had come out to buy breakfast for Liu Jian, and now the sun was already high in the sky, with soy milk and fried dough sticks lying in the mud on the main road. How could he explain this upon returning? With no other options, he had to jog along the way, casually buying some leftover soy milk mixed with dregs from a roadside stall and some fried dough sticks that had been fried earlier and had gone cold, hurrying back to Bailin Temple.

After finishing his words, he folded his arms, squinted his eyes, and presented an attitude that clearly rejected anyone from approaching. It was evident that he was saying: "You, an idle person, may chat if you wish, but if you want to see the construction site, that is out of the question"

This remark, though soft, carries a sting, clearly reproaching Liu Jian for his lack of diligence. Liu Jian, however, remained unperturbed and replied slowly: "Brother Wang, you may not be aware, but I have been tasked with collecting various inscriptions from the Yan region. I have thoroughly searched all the bells and tripods, large and small, in and around Beijing. Now that I have heard that a new bell is being cast here, I am overjoyed and came specifically to broaden my horizons. I did not expect to encounter you here."

Holding the lamp and hearing the words, he realized that he had just circled around the ghost gate of the map book, and his face turned pale. The stone he held in his hand was also drenched in sweat. He spread his fingers and saw that the stone was the size of a walnut, with sharp edges, clearly shattered; its color was a bluish-gray, yet it had golden yellow veins running through it. Upon seeing this, Gao Liang exclaimed, "Ah! This is red gold stone."

"Alas, alas, what a calamity!" Song Li spoke somewhat incoherently, "Indeed, my dear brother, you are truly extraordinary; you predicted my misfortune with remarkable precision..."

"What is this, gold?" Deng Deng exclaimed with joy. However, Gao Liang merely shook his head: "Xiao Liu, this is red gold, used for smelting copper." Deng Deng was greatly disappointed and asked, "How do you know so much?" Gao Liang pointed to where the large cart had disappeared: "Not far from here is the Huayan Bell Factory; all this red copper is being transported there. My brother was requisitioned to the foundry to build a shed these past few days, and I heard them talking about it a lot, so I remembered some of it."

This matter came to a temporary conclusion, but not long after, a sudden outbreak of deaths occurred in Beijing. Chen E initially paid little attention to it, but in the following days, the guards who had escorted and beaten Shen Wansan also began to die one after another under mysterious circumstances. Investigations revealed that those who had died suddenly were all individuals who had previously abused Shen Wansan's corpse. Chen E could not help but feel a sense of panic; he invited Wang Yuanhua to his residence for a discussion, but Wang Yuanhua always hesitated to speak clearly and, in recent days, had simply vanished without a trace.

It is nearly noon now; since you are returning late, you should buy some lunch on your way back. Merely bringing back these leftovers is insufficient; should this be criticized?

Holding the lamp, I could not help but interject: "The Book of Changes states, 'The number of Great Transformation is fifty, and its application is forty-nine.' What could Wang Yuanhua have accomplished in these forty-nine days?"

Exactly

The conversation came to a halt here. Liu Jian sat on the bed, merely lowering his head to play with a folding fan, opening and closing it repeatedly. Holding the lamp, the expression on the master's face was markedly different from usual—Liu Jian was a man without parents, without a wife, and without children, completely unencumbered. Coupled with his naturally carefree disposition, he usually did not take anything to heart, nor did he show it on his face. Three out of ten people who knew him praised him for having an ethereal, immortal-like quality, while seven out of ten criticized him for being frivolous. The expression on the master's face, furrowed in concentration and silent for a long time, was quite unfamiliar to the lamp holder, so he dared not speak further, not even to breathe loudly, but simply stared intently into the master's eyes.

Liu Jian shook his head: "As for this matter, I believe Master Yao is unlikely to be aware of it; it is most likely that Wang Yuanhua is acting on his own cleverness"

Liu Jian nodded and said, "Indeed, that straw sandal must be one of the tools for the living sacrifice formation"

May I ask if the supervisor is your brother Wang

Liu Jian lightly waved his folding fan and smiled slightly: "Matters concerning ghosts and deities are inherently elusive and unpredictable. It is only natural for the governor to worry about potential repercussions for himself."

Do you think I had any ulterior motive in retrieving the straw sandals? If I hadn't done so, I fear even our governor, Lord Chen, would find it difficult to preserve his life

Holding the lamp, he quickly asked what was wrong. The old man raised his cane and pointed to the nearby north-south oriented blue brick wall: "Young man, what does this wall resemble?" The lamp holder casually replied: "This wall is quite strange; it is uneven, rising and falling like a dragon." The old man nodded and smiled: "Good eye. This is actually a dragon!"

Song Li was certainly aware that, given his status, it was impossible for him to run out of the yamen like this. Therefore, he gestured with his hand from inside the door. Liu Jian entered with a lamp in hand, bowing and greeting: "Master Song, how have you been?"

"The Ministry of Water?" Holding the lamp, I found the name familiar. After a moment of thought, I suddenly realized and asked, "But isn't there an official named Wang Yuanhua?" Gao Liang replied in surprise, "Exactly, that's right. Little Liu, you also know Lord Wang's name. Look at that carriage with the tricolor phoenix tail flag; it is the emblem of Lord Wang from the Ministry of Water. Any official below the seventh rank must yield upon seeing it. You are cursing and throwing stones; do you want to get yourself killed?" Little Liu, you also know Lord Wang's name. Look at that carriage with the tricolor phoenix tail flag; it is the emblem of Lord Wang from the Ministry of Water. Any official below the seventh rank must yield upon seeing it. You are cursing and throwing stones; do you want to get yourself killed?"

Liu Jian pondered for a moment, feeling lost and without direction regarding the books. He casually cast six copper coins to divine a fortune, resulting in the hexagram "Da Guo" with Dui above and Xun below. The hexagram indicated that the two Yin lines were external and empty, symbolizing the bending of beams and pillars, suggesting that excessive force could lead to disaster and danger. Liu Jian looked up and saw the bright sun shining outside, yet he felt a subtle unease in his heart

Upon arriving at the Huayan Bell Factory at Deshengmen, Liu Jian presented his identity to the guard. Unexpectedly, the soldier crossed his steel gun and said: "This is a place of imperial importance; without the order of Lord Wang or the esteemed Chen family, no one is allowed to enter."

What about the second one

The two continued their search, and as they approached Desheng Gate, they indeed saw the tracks of a cart turning a corner, leading into a workshop. Above the workshop, smoke billowed and flames flickered, while the incessant sound of "ding-dang" from hammering was quite bothersome. At the entrance stood four soldiers on guard, and a sign reading "Huayan Bell Factory" was prominently displayed, exuding an air distinctly different from other workshops.

Holding the lamp, I timidly turned my head to glance at the bookshelf where the straw sandals were kept

If we are to speak of a living sacrifice, it becomes comprehensible. A living sacrifice, in brief, involves first applying secret methods to the sacrificial offering to greatly enhance its malevolent energy, then executing it through non-lethal means, followed by a series of treatments on the corpse, using items from its body to set up an extremely cold and dark formation. In this way, we can absorb the souls of the related individuals, which can be used to break the previously mentioned primordial feng shui formation.

Well, he was originally from the Bureau of Inquiry, which was established by Lord Liu Ji of Sincerity. When Lord Liu was alive, Master Yao had differing opinions from him. Now, it is understandable that Wang Yuanhua does not follow Master Yao's orders. We need not consider the righteousness or wickedness of the matter for now; Wang Yuanhua's actions may indeed be one of the simplest and most effective methods.

Upon hearing this, Deng Deng's eyes lit up: "I have heard the details!"

Liu Jian merely pondered and did not engage in conversation. It was not until they returned to the residence at Berlin Temple that he took the lamp in hand, prepared a basin of water for Liu Jian to wash his feet, made the bed, and brewed a pot of green tea, placing it by the bedside

At that moment, the sound of urgent hoofbeats was suddenly heard from afar. The soldiers hurriedly opened the main gate, and a large cart rumbled in, followed by several riders. At the forefront was a thin man with two whiskers, who was none other than Wang Yuanhua, the Deputy Director of the Ministry of Works.

Liu Jian picked up the teapot and took a light sip: "... Regarding the matter of the feng shui formation from the previous dynasty, what has been said may not be unfounded, and Master Yao's edict cannot possibly be false. However, considering these straw sandals and the many sudden deaths, it seems it is not as simple as Wang Yuanhua claims. There is likely a major conspiracy involving Wang Yuanhua himself." Liu Jian paused, as if trying to organize a detailed narrative in his mind: "First of all, if it concerns the national fortune, it should not be so easily resolved by digging in just one place. Furthermore, as soon as Wang Yuanhua arrived in Beijing, he interrogated Shen Wansan for forty-nine days, which is also highly suspicious!"

Holding the lamp, he recalled the words spoken by Liu Jian that night, wondering if this was indeed the location of the dragon vein. After searching for a while and wanting to inquire further, he turned around but could no longer see the old man's figure. Thus, he followed the wall southward, his eyes darting around, observing that this Cloud Auspicious Archway seemed to be a place where malevolent energy accumulated, and that roof with the spine-eating beast appeared to be a demon of sinister nature. In the eyes of this small child, the entire city of Beijing had transformed into a realm filled with ghostly energy. Therefore, he continued southward along the wall, his eyes darting around, noting that this Cloud Auspicious Archway seemed to be a place where malevolent energy accumulated, and that roof with the spine-eating beast appeared to be a demon of sinister nature. In the eyes of this small child, the entire city of Beijing had transformed into a realm filled with ghostly energy

After a considerable amount of time, Liu Jian let out a long sigh, as if speaking to himself: "The 'Mirror Reflection Records' documented a method of live sacrifice, which greatly contravenes the natural order. Could it be that Wang Yuanhua is employing such dark sorcery?"

Holding the lamp with a grimace, he muttered, "Could it be that these third pair of cloth shoes are because I spoke in classical Chinese?" Liu Jian sneered, "You understand it yourself. Now, tell me, where have you been playing?"

"Grandfather, hasn't the 'Mirror Reflection Record' already been lost..." As the lamp was being held, suddenly a shiver ran through, and he quickly shrank his neck, "A living sacrifice? But can we use a living person for the sacrifice?!"