Volume One: The Eight Coffins Burial Ground Chapter 16: Tianyou Corporation

In that instant, I understood why Wu Tianxiong had brought us here. He must have learned about how my third uncle and I had managed to deal with that haunted house, and had purposefully invited us to this building. Now it was clear—this Wu Tianyou had some matter involving feng shui and wanted our help. Because he needed something from us, he had so casually written off the hundreds of thousands we owed as if it were nothing.

But I still didn’t know what kind of trouble he was facing. It must be something formidable—so severe that even forty thousand couldn’t solve it.

My third uncle, hearing all this, must have realized it too, for I saw him straighten his back noticeably.

Normally, my third uncle is a bit stooped, always walking with a slight hunch. But whenever he’s confident or the conversation turns to something he excels at, he straightens his back, his whole demeanor comes alive.

This was just such a moment. After Wu Tianyou’s question, my uncle sat up straight and nodded. “I have studied the Dao since childhood, delving deeply into many fields. The teachings of Daoism are vast and profound; feng shui is but a single stream within that endless sea.”

I glared at my uncle, inwardly cursing: “You’re really putting on a show. Do you not know your own abilities? We barely made it out of that last job with our lives, and now you’re acting like you can solve anything—even when someone as powerful as Wu Tianyou can’t? You’re digging your own grave. Let’s see how you’ll get yourself out of this one.”

Wu Tianyou listened to my uncle’s words and merely nodded with a faint smile. “So, Master, you come from a distinguished lineage. I have a matter here I'd like your help to resolve. May I ask which mountain temple you practice at? I know you are a man who cultivates the Dao and shuns fame and profit. If you can help me with this, I will go to your temple and make a generous donation, perhaps even rebuild your shrine.”

My uncle was stunned. He had been bluffing, never expecting Wu Tianyou to take him so seriously. Rebuild our temple, rebuild the golden statue? Now things were getting real.

He forced a laugh. “I roam the land, free as the wind, with no fixed abode. And, well, even a wandering Daoist needs his daily meals… So, about rebuilding the temple, perhaps let’s put that aside for now, ha ha…”

Wu Tianyou glanced at my uncle’s plate, which was still littered with chicken bones, and smiled. “All the better. Here’s my offer: if the two of you can solve my problem, I’ll write off the money Tianxiong lent you. And, on top of that, I’ll give you another half a million—for your travels.”

Hearing that sum, I was tempted. Half a million! That was no small amount—far more than what we could expect to make flipping that abandoned building. My uncle’s eyes also gleamed, though the look disappeared quickly.

Seeing we hadn’t replied, Wu Tianyou added, “If that’s not enough, we can negotiate further.”

Any more would have been shameless. Sensing the right moment, my uncle hurriedly said, “Mr. Wu, you are forthright, and we are not greedy people. Why don’t you first tell us the details? We will do our utmost. As for compensation, let’s discuss that after the matter is settled.”

Wu Tianyou nodded and was about to speak when there was a knock at the door. A young woman in uniform walked in.

She bent down and whispered a few words in Wu Tianyou’s ear. After listening, he stood and said to us, “Excuse me, I have an important call to take. My assistant, Miss Liang, will explain things in detail and help with any requests you may have.”

With that, he nodded to Miss Liang, leaned on his cane, and left the room. I noticed that the cane was not just for show—his right leg really did seem to have an issue.

Miss Liang, left behind, looked to be just over twenty, with short, neat hair, a strikingly pretty face, delicate features, and dimples in her cheeks—altogether charming.

But while Wu Tianyou was present, she had worn a polite smile. As soon as he left, her expression changed sharply, turning icy. She glanced at my uncle and me. “So, you’re those so-called masters he invited to see about the feng shui?”

Her voice was lovely—gentle and melodious—but her tone was unmistakably disdainful.

Sizing her up, I figured she was probably not long out of college. Most likely, it was her youth and looks that got her this job—special assistant, they called it, but really just a secretary who had used her charms to rise through the ranks. And now she was looking down on us? What right did she have to think herself superior?

Indignant, I said, “Your surname is Liang, right? Miss Liang, let me correct you. We were invited by your boss—we didn’t just show up unasked.”

At that, she shot me a glare, retorting, “Hey, I’m not a secretary. My name is Liang Yue. My title is Special Assistant to Mr. Wu. Get it straight, would you?”

I shrugged and smiled. “Isn’t that the same thing? What’s the difference?”

Liang Yue muttered under her breath, “Country bumpkins.”

That got under my skin, and I was about to argue back. My uncle hurried forward to smooth things over. “Ah, Miss… Assistant Liang, my nephew is a bit inexperienced, please don’t mind him. We really were invited by Mr. Wu. We’ll need your help. Why don’t you fill us in on the situation?”

She curled her lip. “Are you sure you’re up to it?”

My uncle smiled. “Rest assured, we’re not like those charlatans. We wouldn’t dare come if we weren’t confident.”

Liang Yue nodded. Though clearly reluctant, she began to explain what had been troubling Mr. Wu.

The problem did, in fact, have some connection to feng shui, and there were rumors of hauntings.

It all started several years ago…

Back then, the economy in Shenzhen was booming, and real estate was booming along with it. Wu Tianyou, starting with just a few thousand yuan, used his keen mind and bold spirit to found Tianyou Group, carving out a place for himself in the business world.

Three years ago, Wu Tianyou set his sights on a neighboring city’s real estate market. (The city’s name is omitted here.) Through bidding, he acquired a prime piece of land in the city center and planned to develop a commercial plaza. The location was bustling, with endless streams of cars and people—everyone considered it a gold mine.

After purchasing the land, Wu rapidly constructed Tianyou Plaza and began attracting tenants. The location was so good that demand far outstripped supply. Tianyou Plaza quickly became the commercial heart of the city and a local landmark, bringing immense profits to Tianyou Group.

But in the past two years, everything changed for the worse. Merchants began to leave, shops stood empty, and customers avoided the place; inside, the plaza was deserted, a stark contrast to the busy streets outside.

Tianyou Group tried everything—massive marketing, generous incentives, and invested a lot of money—but nothing worked.

To make matters worse, the group’s overall business had also declined in the last two years. If the plaza project failed, a fortune would be lost, threatening the company’s future.

Wu Tianyou, a lifelong believer in feng shui, had already invited many masters to take a look, to no avail. This time, it was only by chance that Wu Tianxiong met us and brought us to Tianyou Group headquarters.

Liang Yue’s summary made it clear: we were being called in as a last resort, more out of desperation than hope.

After she finished, Liang Yue looked at us. “Well? This concerns the survival of Tianyou Group. Do you really think you can handle it?”

I shot back, “Why assume it’s a feng shui problem just because the plaza isn’t doing well? Have you looked for business reasons?”

She sniffed. “Our boss is a visionary and has a whole team of business elites. There couldn’t possibly be a management problem.”

I nodded and smiled. “Miss Liang, I think you’re leaving a lot out. At first, businesses were clamoring to get in, but then they all fled. Something must have happened. No feng shui alone could cause such a dramatic change. If you’re hiding something, even the best of us can’t help. And I doubt Mr. Wu wants you to keep us in the dark.”

Surprised, Liang Yue pursed her lips. “Who’s hiding anything? I… I haven’t finished yet…”

My uncle smiled. “Miss Liang, you’d better be thorough. Details help us find the problem, just like a doctor needs details to diagnose an illness.”

She nodded. “Very well. I thought you’d back out, but since you’re so persistent, I’ll tell you. That plaza… for years now, people have been jumping to their deaths there. Every year, without fail. So now everyone says it’s a cursed place, haunted by vengeful spirits. They say if you stay there long enough, the ghosts will latch onto you, and only by jumping can you escape. Who would want to invest in a place like that?”

My uncle nodded. “That makes sense. Can you arrange for someone to take us to Tianyou Plaza?”

“I can,” Liang Yue replied.

I gave her a skeptical look. “You?”

She rolled her eyes. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

I waved my hand dismissively. “You’re just a young woman. That place is haunted—you shouldn’t go. We wouldn’t want to have to look after you if you get scared.”

She spat, “As if! You think I’m so easily frightened?”