I consulted a feng shui master in Hong Kong.

When we came out of Yong'an Lane, the sky had already begun to darken.

Huang Shouzhou was still savoring the atmosphere of the old building he had just left. After walking two blocks, he couldn't help but ask, "Junior brother, are you getting more and more enthusiastic about demolishing things now?"

Chen Qinghe, still clutching the three coins he'd pulled from under the threshold, glanced at him and asked, "What do you mean?"

"The Huo family, the Su family, the Pei family, and now this dilapidated building." Huang Shouzhou clicked his tongue. "Looking at you now, it doesn't seem like you're just looking at the situation for the money. It's more like someone set up a trap, and you want to drag everyone involved out with you."

After hearing this, Chen Qinghe actually smiled.

"We still need to make money," he said. "It's just that if we've stumbled into some situations, it's not much trouble to delve a little deeper into them."

Hearing this, Huang Shouzhou felt no relief at all.

Because he knew that although his junior brother spoke casually, he had actually remembered all these things in his heart.

From the Huo family's external affairs, the Su family's oppressive situation, the Pei family's five ghosts transporting wealth, to that old building in Yong'an Lane.

Each one is deeper and dirtier than the last.

They may look different on the surface, but they're essentially the same thing at their core.

Using feng shui to influence people's hearts, using people's hearts to consume their lives, and then using their lives to make money.

When the two returned to the Sanxuan Temple, night had just fallen.

Huang Shouzhou went to the backyard to fetch water, while Chen Qinghe placed the sketch given by Gu Chengyue, the altered Sanxuan Talisman from the Pei family, and the three coins he had dug out from under the threshold of the old Tang Building on the table.

On the table were the old account book left by Li Zhengfeng and an old map with dots around it.

When the light came on, the old ink and new pen marks on the paper became clear.

When Huang Shouzhou returned with the bucket, he saw Chen Qinghe holding a pen, slowly drawing lines on the map.

"Junior brother, what are you doing?"

"The line," Chen Qinghe said.

With a flick of his pen, he first placed the tip on the location of the Huo family's hillside residence, then another flick on the Su residence, and then dragged it down to connect the Pei family's gold shop and the old building in Yong'an Lane.

The four points are scattered on the map and seem to have nothing in common, but once connected, they all involve two or three places: Jin Fu Lou, Chengzhai Xiao Fo Temple, and an old wooden signboard called Yongchang Construction.

"What is this place?" Huang Shouzhou asked as he took a closer look.

"Gu Chengyue mentioned it briefly in the case file," Chen Qinghe said. "Two years ago, Yongchang Construction Company was hired to repair the staircase and back window of that old building in Yong'an Lane. The Pei family also used Yongchang people to change the entrance, replace the lights, and move the counters. Although the Su residence hasn't been investigated in detail yet, judging from the placement of the mirrors at the staircase and the arrangement of the bronze beasts, it's likely that they also relied on these kinds of people who do storefront work and carpentry."

Upon hearing this, Huang Shouzhou's eyes slowly widened.

"You mean, besides those feng shui masters, there also needs to be a group of craftsmen who can actually build houses?"

"Hmm." Chen Qinghe nodded. "No matter how good you are at planning, if you don't apply the plans to doors, windows, stairs, counters, and incense tables, they won't amount to anything. We need people who can plan; we also need people who can modify houses according to those plans."

Now things are much clearer.

This isn't just one or two charlatans swindling money.

Instead, it was a whole group of people: some laid out the lines, some took on business, some modified houses, and some drew talismans to perform the rituals.

Everyone has their own life to do and their own food to eat.

No wonder the situation could be spread out so far.

Huang Shouzhou felt a chill run down his spine: "So this has really become a profession."

"That's true," Chen Qinghe said, "but this line of work is too dirty."

After he finished speaking, he closed the ledger and was about to look at the transcript given by Gu Chengyue again when there was another knock on the door.

Huang Shouzhou's heart tightened, and just as he was about to open the door, Gu Chengyue's voice came from outside.

"Master Chen, it's me."

As soon as the door opened, Gu Chengyue walked in with a tall, thin police officer.

Both of them had the dampness of the night wind on their faces, clearly indicating that they had just come from outside.

The tall, thin policeman was carrying a brown paper bag. After entering the room, he glanced at the statue of the patriarch before bowing his head and greeting him.

Gu Chengyue didn't beat around the bush and put the brown paper bag directly on the table.

"I had people dig up the old stuff in Yong'anli overnight," he said. "You were right, it wasn't just the building that was unclean. We also investigated the contacts between the people who built the building and the deceased over the past year, and we found two interesting things."

Chen Qinghe raised his eyes: "Speak."

Gu Chengyue pulled two pieces of paper out of his bag.

"First, the landlord of Yong'an Lane mortgaged the building to a company called Yongchang Construction half a year ago, ostensibly for building repairs, but he has never paid off the debt. Second, two of the first three victims had been to the same place before they died—Jinfulou."

Huang Shouzhou's heart skipped a beat, and he almost knocked over the teacup beside him.

Gu Chengyue glanced at him, then looked at Chen Qinghe: "I know you've already been to Jinfulou."

Chen Qinghe did not deny it.

"Then you should know that this case is no longer just about one building." Gu Chengyue's voice was very steady. "I came here tonight to ask you one question. If you really figure out the ins and outs of this whole scheme, would you be willing to continue helping us?"

Upon hearing this, Huang Shouzhou couldn't help but look at Chen Qinghe.

That's no small matter.

Helping to watch over a building is a lifesaver in an emergency.

If we go any further, we'll be seriously involved in a major case.

Chen Qinghe, however, seemed to have anticipated this question, and simply asked, "Have you found out where Yongchang Construction is located?"

Gu Chengyue's eyes lit up slightly.

"I found it," he said. "The shop is openly closed, but people are still going in and out of the backyard. It's right behind Guanyincang Lane, not far from the city walled city."

Chen Qinghe nodded, his expression remaining calm: "Then let's start by investigating Yongchang."

"You suspect there's a trap there?"

"It may not be the key to the scheme, but it's definitely a backup plan," Chen Qinghe said. "People who do unorthodox feng shui schemes can't personally modify every house. They need a fixed place to place materials, suppress talismans, make doors and windows, and modify counters; otherwise, they can't handle so many schemes."

Upon hearing this, Gu Chengyue finally understood completely.

Previously, he only thought that this Master Chen was good at interpreting situations.

It was only at this point that he truly realized that the other party was no longer "looking at a building," but rather slowly uncovering the entire dirty path by following a series of feng shui formations.

The tall, thin police officer stood to the side, his eyes filled with barely suppressed admiration.

He had followed Gu Chengyue for so many years and had never seen anyone manage to draw such a clear line from an invisible thread using just a few copper coins, an old talisman, and some door and window decorations.

"Master Chen," he couldn't help but ask, "Shall we go pick up Yongchang Construction tomorrow?"

"Don't rush." ​​Chen Qinghe shook his head. "If you really want to take it, you have to see what's in their yard first. If your people go in and don't understand the layout, the way, and the energy flow, they'll suffer the consequences first."

Gu Chengyue remained silent for a moment, then slowly nodded.

"Then you lead the way, and we'll follow."

Upon hearing this, Huang Shouzhou felt a surge of excitement at first, but then a sense of unease set in. He was excited because his junior brother was now leading the police to investigate people's backgrounds; he was unease because the matter was escalating, and it was likely that the person involved would no longer be a small fry like Feng Siyan.

But then he thought about it again and realized there was nothing to be afraid of.

From the Huo family to the present, has Chen Qinghe never failed to see through things before proceeding?

With that in mind, he gritted his teeth and took the initiative to refill the tea for the two police officers.

"Detective Gu, don't worry." Huang Shouzhou grinned. "With my junior brother here, I guarantee we'll turn Yongchang Construction upside down tomorrow."

Gu Chengyue's tense face finally relaxed a bit.

"Now I actually believe that," he said.

The night outside the window grew deeper, and the wind in Fu'an Lane blew through the newly erected wooden screen, causing the cigarettes to sway slightly. In the small shop of Sanxuan Temple, which had only been set up not long ago, an old map, a new case file, a few dirty copper coins, and several pairs of eyes that were also focused on this line of work slowly gathered together under the lamplight.