Chapter 8, The Great Five Elements

What scars are these? It turns out that the throne of Emperor Yongle was not easily obtained; it was seized from his nephew, Emperor Jianwen.

Song Li took a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his face and sat down heavily on the chair: "Oh, my legs are numb... Since we parted ways in Tongzhou, it wasn't long before I headed south to the banks of the Yellow River to receive a shipment. This was to transport bricks and tiles made in the capital for use in constructing the main hall. I just returned a few days ago—these wise brothers, even if you are unaware, can surely deduce this."

In that case, do you have copies of the drawings for the projects at hand?

Song Li hurriedly replied, "Please feel free to say anything you need, just say it."

Liu Jianshen carefully took the object with both hands and saw that it was a piece of bright yellow glazed tile, heavy to the touch and exquisitely crafted. He examined the front and then turned it over to look at the back, but could not discern anything amiss. However, Song Li had been an official for many years, and having surely weathered countless storms, it was strange for him to be so alarmed over a mere tile; there must be something unusual about it. Thus, he turned away from Song Li and softly recited: "Shangqing Liuxia, Hui Zhen Jidan, Ziyun Yingling, Yangjing Jiaohuan..." Using a set of Shangqing rituals, he wiped his eyes and noticed that the tile faintly emanated a sense of resentment, swirling and refusing to dissipate.

Song Li's expression fluctuated between dark and light as he tugged at Liu Jian's sleeve, pulling him into a side room of the Ministry of Works. After seating themselves as host and guest, he ordered tea to be brewed. Only then did he manage to calm his mind slightly, slamming the ledger in his hand onto the table with a loud "bang" and saying, "I was just about to send someone to invite you, yet you came on your own. Did you really calculate this perfectly?"

Liu Jian saw him with a flushed face and a forehead full of sweat, realizing that something truly significant had occurred. He could no longer pay attention to the child's stammering and firmly grasped his shoulder, asking: "What happened? Don't rush, take your time to explain"

General Yongle, a commander by birth, was ruthless and quick-tempered. How could he tolerate this? He pointed at Mr. Fang's nose and threatened, "Aren't you afraid I will exterminate your entire clan?" But Mr. Fang was equally stubborn; he straightened his neck and replied, "If you have the ability, go ahead and exterminate ten clans!" He also said, "No matter how many people you kill, in the end, you cannot escape this word..."

"Indeed, indeed, nowadays..." As Song Lihua was speaking halfway, he suddenly paused, his expression filled with astonishment, "Did you predict this again?" Liu Jian smiled slightly: "Recently, a similar incident occurred in the Shuntian Prefecture, and I have come precisely for that reason"

He made a gesture, turned around, and left. After a short while, he returned and waved to Liu Jian, saying: "Dismiss everyone, come and take a look. However, you may only browse inside; you are not allowed to take anything away or make copies."

Liu Jian kicked and said, "Go borrow it!" Peng Deng sighed, "Alas," and hurriedly rushed out the door

All one could see was the sweat pouring down Song Li's forehead, his chin trembling as if he were forcing himself to remain calm. He had just entered the door, turned around to close it, bolted it shut, and then stared at Liu Jian for a while. Suddenly, he knelt down on both knees, groaning as he said: "Brother, this time we are truly finished"

It is said that at that time, Yao Guangxiao advised Emperor Yongle: "Please calm down and do not stoop to his level. If you were to kill this person, it would likely extinguish the seeds of scholarship throughout the realm." However, Emperor Yongle was extremely enraged and did not listen at all. Mr. Fang intended to use the character "usurp" to seal his fate, which truly touched the reverse scale of the dragon. Once Emperor Yongle's temper flared, even a hundred carts could not turn him back.

Liu Jian looked at him in surprise and said, "How did you know to come here to find me?"

Liu Jian placed the letter on the desk, opened it, and was astonished to find five thick volumes of illustrated albums bound in yellow silk inside, causing him to involuntarily gasp. Song Li set the candlestick on the table and said to Liu Jian, "I will step out to attend to some matters and also to prevent anyone from barging in. Take your time to look through it." With that, he turned and left, closing the door behind him.

After carefully examining these albums, Liu Jian couldn't help but nod in admiration: "Master Yao is indeed a learned scholar, having long noticed the feng shui arrangement of the previous dynasty. According to his plan, there is a bronze bell to the west, a swallow mound to the south, Guanyin to the north, and a divine tree to the east, with Mount Wansui at the center to stabilize it. This deeply aligns with the principles of the five elements, and only those with great wisdom and courage can accomplish it. With this grand configuration of the five elements, the flow of qi will transform and create something new, rendering the feng shui arrangement of the previous dynasty ineffective and self-destructive." According to his plan, there is a bronze bell to the west, a swallow mound to the south, Guanyin to the north, and a divine tree to the east, with Mount Wansui at the center to stabilize it. This deeply aligns with the principles of the five elements, and only those with great wisdom and courage can accomplish it. With this grand configuration of the five elements, the flow of qi will transform and create something new, rendering the feng shui arrangement of the previous dynasty ineffective and self-destructive.

Looking at the other four albums: one is the red Liao Stone Hill located in the south of the city, commonly known as Yan Dun, which the album requires to be modified into a beacon tower; another is the imperial lumber yard in the east of the city, where the album requests the erection of a golden silk nanmu tree, surrounded by gardens; the third is the Zhen Shui Guanyin Temple, situated within the water gate of Deshengmen—Liu Jian thought for a moment, as this place is the entry point of the Gaoliang River into the city, serving as a crucial point in the city's water system

Wang Yuanhua, after hearing his words, coldly snorted: "Rascals! The 'Ritual Laws' of the Great Ming Code states: 'Those who falsely claim to be knowledgeable in the art of invoking spirits and writing charms, and all forms of heretical practices that confuse the public, shall be executed if they are the leaders, and imprisoned if they are followers.' I have no concern for Liu Jian, but if you speak such nonsense here, I will take you to be a living sacrifice for the great bell"

"Mirror, do you see anything wrong with this tile?"

Casually glancing around, he suddenly asked Song Li: "The new bell cast at the Huayan Bell Factory, Wang Yuanhua said it was to highlight the achievements of the current emperor during the Jingnan campaign, and it sounds like a royal decree. Is that correct?" Song Li nodded: "Exactly." Before he could point it out, Liu Jian swiftly took down a volume from the shelf to the west, its cover golden and its pages edged in purple: "I believe this is it."

Holding the lamp and peering through the crack of the door to see Gao Liang walk away, he then cautiously returned and asked Liu Jian: "Your Excellency, what scheme is Wang Yuanhua concocting?"

Liu Jian responded, and Song Li continued: "This grand hall is now at the stage of laying tiles, yet such a grave matter has arisen... As soon as the tiles are placed on the roof, a character will emerge..."

Liu Jian's right hand was hidden in his sleeve, the sleeve twitching restlessly, his eyes fixed on the beam, his expression a mix of anger and joy. He couldn't help but feel anxious, uncertain whether he could avoid this sudden calamity. Before long, a servant rushed in, carrying a lamp, an ink wash basin, an ink box, and a stack of plain paper, laying them on the desk, saying: "Your Excellency, please use them"

Gao Liang was taken aback and hurriedly turned around to pay his respects. Wang Yuanhua's gaze flickered as he scrutinized him for a while, then asked: "You have a malevolent aura behind your head; is there anyone who has died unexpectedly in your family?"

Startled by the light, I exclaimed: "Um, um, um... Your Excellency, is it possible to resolve this?"

Song Li

Liu Jian nodded slightly, then shook his head again, rinsing the brush in the ink wash before handing it over to the lamp bearer: "I wrote a letter to Wang Yuanhua, just gave him a nudge. Now none of us can do anything to each other, but in the future, we must be even more cautious in our actions. I can no longer get involved in the matters of the Ministry of Works this time."

Liu Jian smiled without answering, merely gazing into the distance. He had been dealing with documents and was accustomed to wandering around the Zhan Shi Fu and the Hanlin Academy's library. He was an expert in searching for texts and books, and did not need Song Li's guidance; it was simply not a challenge for him.

Song Li replied: "Today we just started laying tiles, you are looking at the drawings, I went out for a stroll, and someone came to report that strange characters have appeared... Fortunately, those uneducated people do not recognize this character"

Then, the young man arrived. After the highlight of the narration was completed, he noticed that Liu Jian's face gradually turned pale, and his voice involuntarily lowered even further: "Lord Liu, I spoke without thinking and inadvertently revealed your matters..."

Liu Jian raised his eyebrows and said, "Could it be that someone has died mysteriously recently"

Liu Jian waved his hand and said, "There is no need for 'however'; this is merely the aftermath of Wang Yuanhua killing Shen Wansan. Once it has passed, there is nothing to worry about." The lamp holder found his words to be rather casual, and although he did not dare to refute him, he felt that the host was timid, avoiding trouble, and lacked responsibility, muttering a few words under his breath. Suddenly, Liu Jian's expression darkened, and just then, the door was pushed open, revealing Song Li entering.

Wang Yuanhua lowered his head, took out a badge, and handed it to him, saying slowly: "If you want to save your life, go find Liu Jian. Aren't you familiar with him? He is currently at the Gongcao Yamen; with this, you can enter."

"It was said by Lord Wang that you are here, and he gave me a token to enter. He also mentioned that if I want to survive, I should seek out Lord Liu... where are you, Lord Liu?"

At that time, skilled craftsmen from all over the country were gathered, and subsequently, around 200,000 to 300,000 farmers and some soldiers were requisitioned. Under the supervision of Song Li, the construction of the Forbidden City was completed in two years, and it took an additional twelve years to fully complete the city of Beijing, which can be considered quite rapid progress. Furthermore, Song Li also excavated the Huitong River and dredged the Wei River, making significant contributions through his hard work. This individual had a tough character and was very strict in managing his subordinates, resulting in very few close friends in the officialdom. However, he was known for his integrity, and when he died in office, the "Ming History" noted that he "had no surplus wealth in his family," which led to him being posthumously awarded the honorary title of Grand Guardian of the Crown Prince.

Holding the lamp, he hurriedly helped Gao Liang up and dragged him into the room. Liu Jian closed the door and quietly asked, "Gao Liang, what on earth happened?" Gao Liang's face was ashen, his lips trembled, and he could only gasp for breath, unable to utter a word for a long time. At this moment, Holding the lamp calmed down and spat, "What a big guy, looking like a bear!" He turned to Liu Jian and explained, "Your Excellency may not know, just now Brother Gao rushed in, sword and shoes..."

It is said that in the present day, the Yongle Emperor is in power. This emperor possesses great talent and ambition, commanding respect far and wide, with both civil and military achievements surpassing those of previous dynasties. Although the founding of the Ming Dynasty has not yet reached fifty years, the realm enjoys peace and prosperity, with both officials and common people thriving, presenting a scene of great prosperity. However, there is one matter that remains a deep and unavoidable scar etched on the face of the court and in the hearts of the people.

Song Li, upon hearing this request, clicked his tongue, feeling somewhat troubled. Liu Jian deliberately intensified his tone: "This matter is of great importance. If there is no way to consult the blueprints, I fear that even I will be powerless to assist you." After hesitating for quite a while, Song Li finally stamped his foot and said: "Fine, I will take full responsibility for this. Heaven knows, Earth knows, you know, and I know. I trust that my younger brother will not go around spreading rumors!"

Liu Jianyuan initially thought it was related to Wang Yuanhua, but upon hearing this, it seemed to pertain to something else. Feeling puzzled, he took a deep breath and said: "My lord, do not be alarmed; please elaborate in detail."

There was a person who forcefully uncovered this sore, namely the leader of the Confucian scholars, "Mr. Goucheng" Fang Xiaoru. In the past, when Emperor Jianwen was defeated and committed self-immolation, after the Yongle Emperor stormed into Nanjing, he summoned Mr. Fang to draft the imperial edict for his ascension. However, Mr. Fang arrived dressed in mourning clothes and vehemently scolded him. The Yongle Emperor comforted him greatly, handed him paper and pen, and as a result, he wrote a large character for "usurpation".

Holding the lamp, she hurriedly jumped to his side, her expression flustered, and shouted, "Your Excellency, the situation is dire!"

Although Song Li stood up, his legs were still trembling, and his complexion alternated between pale and ashen. He hesitated to speak, merely glancing at the lamp with the corner of his eye.

Liu Jian increasingly found it strange: "Since Wang Yuanhua intends to sacrifice you, why would he be willing to guide you on the path to survival? Don't rush; tell me the whole story in detail without missing anything."

Liu Jian hurriedly smiled and said: "This official does not dare to... my lord, is that character indeed 'bamboo' as the head and 'foot' as the base?"

Liu Jian picked up the brush, dipped it in ink, pondered for a moment, and then completed the writing in one stroke. He then folded it several times and handed it to Gao Liang, saying: "You must return immediately to deliver this to Lord Wang, but you must not open it privately; otherwise, even the gods cannot save you." Gao Liang nodded and bowed, tucking the letter away, and replied: "My lord, rest assured... I am not familiar with many big characters either."

According to the records in "The History of Ming: Biography of Song Li," Song Li, styled Da Ben, was a native of Yongning, Henan. During the Hongwu period, he was appointed as the Assistant Censor of Shanxi after being a student at the Imperial Academy, and later he was demoted to the position of Principal of the Ministry of Revenue. During the Jianwen period, he served as the Assistant Censor of Shaanxi and as a Deputy Minister of Justice, but his official rank remained relatively low. However, he gained the favor of Zhu Di, and shortly after the beginning of the Yongle period, he was promoted to Vice Minister of Rites, and in the second year of Yongle, he became the Minister of Works.

The final volume, however, discusses the Great Inner Town Mountain, indicating in the atlas that the soil excavated from the moat and the remnants of the old city walls should be piled up to the north of the new imperial city, forming the elevated green mountain from the Yuan Dynasty, renamed "Wansui"—which is also commonly referred to as "Coal Mountain".

Gao Liang took a deep breath, gesturing as he spoke, revealing that he had broken up with Peng Deng in the morning and had gone to work in the construction shed. While he was setting up the scaffolding, he suddenly heard a sound of "Eh" from behind. When he turned around, he saw a thin man with a mouse-like mustache; it was none other than Wang Yuanhua, the deputy director of the Water Division of the Ministry of Works.

Not bad

I would like to review the drawings, but I am unsure if it is convenient

Hearing Song Li's detailed account of the events, Liu Jian couldn't help but feel a bit of a headache. As the saying goes, "One wave has not yet settled, another rises," even if Wang Yuanhua had the audacity, he would not dare to bring up such a treasonous word to frighten people; there must be some hidden circumstances. He reached out to rub his temples and asked Song Li, "When did this matter begin?"

Gao Liang bowed and said: "My lord, please see clearly. The father of this lowly one indeed suffered a water disaster a month ago and was buried just a few days ago. I should not have come to work, but at home..." Wang Yuanhua frowned and asked: "Water disaster? How do you know it was a water disaster?" Gao Liang, not daring to conceal anything in front of the official, recounted how Liu Jian had advised his father to hide at home to avoid danger, how his father miscalculated the days, leading to his unfortunate demise in the ditch, and he explained all the known circumstances and consequences.

The office of the construction supervisor was hastily built; the storage room for the blueprints was originally a rice granary, completely sealed off from the outside. Inside, it was filled with shelves, all packed with various engineering blueprints. Song Liyang held a lamp at the entrance while he took Liu Jian inside, lit a candle, and pointed at the shelves, saying: "What are you looking for? Just tell me. It may look chaotic, but I have a clear understanding of where each blueprint is."

At this time, it had only been a mere three years since Mr. Fang's ten clans were exterminated. As soon as the phrase "bamboo as the head, and the foot as the base" emerged, Song Li immediately thought of the countless corpses outside Nanjing City. Having struggled in the officialdom for many years, he possessed a certain level of political awareness and quickly ordered a complete halt to the tile work. Fortunately, the character "usurp" had too many strokes, and the few tile workers he encountered did not recognize it. Song Li merely claimed that the style was not up to standard, and all the tiles that had been laid were removed under the pretext of seeking approval from illiterates. Strangely enough, once the tiles were taken away from the roof, the characters disappeared, but as soon as they were placed back, they reappeared. Trying more than ten tiles from different baskets, none were exempt from this phenomenon, which greatly distressed Song Li.

Liu Jianduan picked up the teacup and smiled: "It’s just a coincidence, merely a coincidence. However, I calculated that Lord Song had been away from Beijing for a while and has just returned; otherwise, I wouldn’t have dared to come to the Ministry of Works to find you."

Liu Jian's heart skipped a beat, thinking that Wang Yuanhua's actions might have changed again. However, he quickly recalled that Song Li was a second-rank official, favored by the emperor, and that Wang Yuanhua would likely not dare to harm him. Thus, he hurriedly bent down to assist Song Li, reassuring him, "My lord, there is no need to be like this; you are killing me with your actions. Please feel free to speak your mind."

This is natural

Song Li sighed: "Not just this tile, I have just returned from the construction site. This entire batch of tiles, once placed on the roof, will surely reveal a character faintly; if taken down, it will disappear. I have already ordered the tile workers to stop their work, but if this matter reaches the higher-ups, I fear for our lives!"

At this thought, Liu Jian's heart skipped a beat, and he recalled another matter that he had yet to ponder thoroughly. Suddenly, outside the library, there came the shouting of "gili guala" as they carried the lanterns. Liu Jian set down the album, pushed the door, and stepped out, maintaining a serious expression as he questioned, "Is it your turn to shout and make a fuss at the Gongcao Yamen?"

He then thought: "Shen Wansan's grave is just outside Anding Gate, not far from Desheng Gate. Master Yao has set up the Water-Controlling Guanyin there; could it be that he has seen through the source of Beijing's suffering?" It seems that a few days ago, he speculated that Yao Guangxiao wanted to sever the Mongolian dragon vein without disrupting the flow of water, which is precisely confirmed by the atlas before him.

Liu Jian's expression was slightly grave as he slowly said: "This person has intense thoughts. Although he is taking this step merely to test how many secrets I know, if not handled properly, I fear he might truly sacrifice Gao Liang to the Huayan Great Bell."

The lantern holder was still gasping for breath when suddenly a person emerged from behind him, kneeling before Liu Jian and prostrating himself on the ground, crying out loudly: "My lord, save me! My lord, please save me!" Liu Jian looked and recognized that it was none other than the mason, Gao Liang.

Holding the lamp, he exclaimed, "Your Excellency, then what about Lord Song..."

Liu Jianhui understood and instructed to carry the lamp outside to keep watch, ensuring that no one entered. As soon as the lamp was taken out, Song Li quickly bolted the door again—this clearly indicated the extent of his panic

Liu Jian said with a wry smile, "This matter is quite strange. Could you take me to the site for an inspection?"

Thus, Song Li recounted to Liu Jian the series of strange events that had occurred in the Ministry of Works over the past few days. The situation in the Shuntian Prefecture was quite similar, with several individuals inexplicably dying in a violent manner. After listening, Liu Jian remained silent, slowly savoring a sip of tea before gently placing the teacup down. Song Li, anxious beside him, dared not urge him. Finally, Liu Jian spoke, saying: "Younger brother has come this time, and I hope Lord Song can facilitate this matter for me, so that I may investigate it thoroughly"

Exactly

Liu Jianxin said: "This is indeed a matter of great importance that could cost one their head"

Highlighting the fear, one exclaims: "Commoners are ignorant, esteemed sir, please spare my life!"

Currently, all the projects in Beijing should be under your supervision, right

Liu Jian turned around, furrowing his brows and said: "There is indeed some danger on this roof, however... how did you notice it?"

Why did Wang Yuanhua feel the need to add unnecessary details?

"Impressive, impressive," Song Li praised repeatedly

Song Li let out a long sigh and took a handkerchief from his sleeve to wipe his forehead: "Let us get straight to the point. There have been some recent developments in the Department of Works, and my dear brother, you have been diligently studying numerology. I would like to consult you on some methods of divination."

Emperor Yongle ordered the execution of Mr. Fang and dispatched troops to raid his home. However, according to ancient law, the highest punishment was to implicate nine generations, which included four from the paternal line, three from the maternal line, and two from the wife's family. Now, with Emperor Yongle and Mr. Fang at odds, he insisted on punishing ten generations, which posed a dilemma for the officials. Where could they find that last generation? After much deliberation, they resorted to executing all of Mr. Fang's students and disciples, thus barely meeting the requirement of ten generations.

The highlight was like being struck by five thunders, as she crawled forward, hugging Wang Yuanhua's leg and crying out: "Sir, Sir! The Gao family has only me left; we cannot let the incense be extinguished here!"

Liu Jian further instructed, "If Lord Wang asks what I am doing, you should say that I am wandering around the workshop courtyard, looking from east to west and measuring from south to north, and you do not know what I am doing. Do you remember?" Gao Liang nodded repeatedly, recounted it once more, then bowed deeply and turned to leave the room

Liu Jian sat down and opened each of the five albums, discovering that on the front page of each volume, in addition to the imperial seal, there were the two characters "Daoyan"—Master Yao Guangxiao, originally a monk, was given the Dharma name Daoyan—indicating that the creation of these works was commissioned by Master Yao.

Liu Jian raised his eyebrows, ready to erupt. Deng Deng quickly cleared his throat, swallowing all the idioms he had prepared behind him, and honestly reported: "He said Wang Yuanhua wants to use him as a sacrifice for the bell, allowing him to eat whatever he wants, and tomorrow he won't have to eat anymore." Gao Liang beside him nodded repeatedly, pressing down his voice to howl: "Sir, save me"

He looked around and then tugged at his bright sleeve: "This is a crucial place for the workers, why are you howling like that? Come in, hurry up and speak."

Indeed, you have calculated it! Song Li's expression changed dramatically as he stood up

What character?

After securing the door, Song Li strode to the table, seemingly looking for some water to drink, but only a bit of dirty water remained in the ink wash. He sighed, licked his lips, and took out a piece of tile from his pocket to hand to Liu Jian—indeed, it was quite impressive that he could conceal such a large piece of tile in his clothing; had it been a thinner person, it would surely have been a giveaway.

In short, it is nothing but a great act of rebellion against the natural order

These five volumes of illustrated books each represent a significant project. According to the directives from above, it was only necessary to provide a general outline, with the specifics to be planned by the personnel below. However, these five engineering volumes are meticulously detailed and thoroughly explained. For instance, the first volume pertains to the large bell, specifying the width of the bell mouth, the height of the bell body, the passage from Buddhist scriptures inscribed inside the bell, the decorative patterns on the outside, and even the exact location for its installation after casting, all clearly documented.

Liu Jian calculated with his right hand hidden in his sleeve and casually said: "That would indeed be four characters"

Song Li, while serving as the Minister of Works, was responsible for numerous projects, the most significant of which was the construction of Beijing. He personally traveled to Sichuan twice to supervise the excavation and transportation of timber for palace construction. The "History of Ming" records that Song Li once reported to Zhu Di, stating: "We have felled several massive logs, each several zhang long. One night, without anyone to drag them, these logs slid out of the valley and fell into the river (as we had originally planned to transport them by water). Although the sound was thunderous, not a single blade of grass on the road was crushed." The court officials regarded this as a heavenly omen.

Song Li's expression darkened: "Are you still here to make fun of me!"

It seems I have ultimately miscalculated a bit... Liu Jian held the album, his eyes focused, yet his thoughts were racing. Since Yao Guangxiao had already decided to use the method of the Five Elements to break the formation and sever the veins, there was naturally no need to resort to the sinister practice of human sacrifice. From this deduction, it could be inferred that the various entanglements surrounding Shen Wansan were likely merely the sinister intentions of Wang Yuanhua, and had nothing to do with Yao Guangxiao.

Song Li awkwardly shifted his feet and replied, "It's a bit difficult. This matter is of great importance, and you are not one of the officials from the Ministry of Works. If you appear there recklessly, it might leak the news... It would be better to wait until midnight, and I will quietly take you in." At this point, he suddenly realized that going to that sinister place in the dead of night would be quite unsettling, and he couldn't help but shiver significantly.

Liu Jian was so angry that he wanted to stamp his feet, but he finally held it in: "Why are you talking so much? Just casually tell your father on the street to avoid the water disaster, and that should be enough?" Deng Deng interjected, saying: "Your Excellency, I observe that Wang Yuanhua does not truly intend to kill Gao Liang; he is merely testing him with this. " Liu Jian shouted, "Shut up!" He then softened his tone and turned to Gao Liang, saying: "Lord Wang and I are old acquaintances; he is just playing a joke to scare you. Don't be afraid, I will write a letter to him, and you will be safe." As he spoke, he spread his hands, and Deng Deng hurriedly took out a brush from his bag, but then paused and smiled apologetically, saying: "Your Excellency, we only brought vermilion and yellow paper..."

On the construction site, there are also old craftsmen who carry with them talismans and Lu Ban rulers, yet they prove to be completely ineffective. Not only do they fail to subdue the evil spirits, but they also inexplicably tumble off the scaffolding, nearly resulting in fatal accidents. Song Li, anxious as a fat ant on a hot pan, circles around the tile basket in a flurry. Suddenly, he remembers that Liu Jian is still looking at the drawings in the construction style library, so he hurriedly sends someone to seal off the site and, taking a piece of tile with him, rushes back to seek help.

Wang Yuanhua curled his lips and said: "For the great bell to be completed, it is necessary to have living beings for the sacrifice. I see that you are carefree and also have a sinister aura surrounding you. It would be better to offer you as a sacrifice to the furnace, which would count as a merit for you. You may think about what you want to eat and eat it, wash yourself clean, and come here tomorrow morning—you need not think about escaping, for you cannot escape."