Chapter 96: The Spirit-Pinning Stake

 Seeing that Lu Fei had taken hold of the coffin, Chen Jinfa immediately waved the workers off. "Alright, you can all leave now!"

 "Mr. Chen, what about our wages?"

 "Ah Long, take them to settle their pay."

 The workers followed Ah Long to one side.

 "Shopkeeper Lu, what exactly is this?" Chen Jinfa asked anxiously, eyeing Lu Fei. "And why are there two of them?"

 "We should discuss this inside. The items in these coffins shouldn't be exposed to light."

 Lu Fei climbed out of the pit using the ladder set up by the workers, carrying the small coffin, and gestured toward the makeshift office.

 The group hurried into the office.

 Lu Fei placed the two small coffins side by side on the desk.

 The two coffins were identical in color, size, and design, as if they had been made from the same mold.

 "There's likely another clay figure inside this one."

 "Clay figures are stand-ins for people, taking their place in being buried within the cement pillars."

 Lu Fei didn't open the new coffin.

 "But why?" Chen Jinfa was utterly puzzled. "It's not an actual person, so what's the point of burying it in a cement pillar?"

 "This is called a Spirit-Pinning Stake," Lu Fei said gravely.

 "A what? What's that?" Chen Jinfa looked even more baffled.

 "Brother Fa, you've probably heard of the practice of using 'living stakes' in construction, haven't you?"

 "Of course I have! Anyone in construction knows about that—it's a heinous act!"

 A living stake was a cruel and ancient building practice, rumored to have originated from the Luban Book.

 In ancient times, if there was a collapse during construction, people believed that breaking ground had disturbed the local spirits, requiring a human sacrifice to appease them so the project could proceed smoothly.

 Essentially, it involved burying a living person inside a cement pillar as an offering to the spirits.

 It was said that when vagrants mysteriously disappeared, it was sometimes because they were taken to be used in such rituals.

 Though inhumane, the practice persisted because any delay in construction could mean significant financial losses, especially for large-scale projects.

 "So some folks suggested this cursed practice to me when my project hit delays, but I slapped them right across the face!" Chen Jinfa said angrily, jabbing a thumb at his chest.

 "I, Chen Jinfa, might not be the noblest man, but I've never stooped to such despicable acts!"

 His outrage seemed genuine, though whether it was an act or true integrity was unclear.

 "The Spirit-Pinning Stake is similar to the living stake ritual, but more ancient—it uses spirits, whereas the living stake uses living people," Lu Fei explained.

 "What?" Chen Jinfa's brow furrowed tightly.

 "To create a Spirit-Pinning Stake, you need the spirits of a man and a woman. By adding items like hair and nails to a clay figure as a proxy for the couple, they're then sealed inside two small coffins with three soul-locking nails."

 "These souls can't escape and remain trapped in the dark forever, buried within cement."

 "Whether using a living stake or a Spirit-Pinning Stake, the goal is the same: to offer human life as a sacrifice, ensuring the project proceeds. Once the ritual is complete, the man and woman represented by the stake die suddenly and inexplicably."

 "The difference is that, legally, no one can be convicted for it—since what's buried isn't a living person, but clay."

 Lu Fei shook his head. Whatever had happened during the initial construction of this mall reeked of hidden foul play.

 "It seems there were problems when this mall was first built."

 "I heard it was built by the Tang Corporation. I'll have to dig into that," Chen Jinfa said, his expression troubled. "But if sacrifices were made, why was the mall still so plagued with incidents? Fires, accidents—it never seemed peaceful."

 "These practices can only guarantee construction completion, not whether there will be future problems," Lu Fei said thoughtfully.

 "The spirits trapped in the cement pillars often harbor deep resentment. Roads constructed using living stakes often have more traffic accidents, don't they?"

 "Add the sharp-cornered buildings casting a Feng Shui shadow, and it's no wonder this mall hasn't known peace."

 "That's just outrageous!" Chen Jinfa swore angrily. "Recommending this mess of a project to me—it's like setting me up! I'll deal with that crook Qiangzi later!"

 "Shopkeeper Lu, since you've figured out what these coffins are, there must be a way to resolve this, right?"

 "You pried open the coffin and broke the seal on the soul-locking nails, releasing the trapped spirits. They've been confined for years, so their grievances are bound to be immense, which is why they're causing trouble, disrupting your project."

 Lu Fei analyzed the situation calmly.

 "Catching these spirits should put an end to it."

 "Great! Shopkeeper Lu, when can you deal with this?" Chen Jinfa asked eagerly.

 "Spirits only appear at night, so it has to be tonight," Lu Fei replied seriously. "But I should tell you one thing upfront, Brother Fa."

 "Oh? What is it?"

 "It's our rule at the Evil Pawnshop. If you want me to help solve this problem, you must give me the cursed object."

 If he could deal with the spirits inside, these small coffins could be of great value, potentially earning Lu Fei a significant sum.

 "That's all? Consider it done!" Chen Jinfa's face lit up, and he waved his hand dismissively.

 "I'd be more than happy for you to take these damned coffins! No problem at all. Not only will I give you the coffins, but I'll also make sure you're handsomely rewarded!"

 "Good. We'll start tonight. Don't move this intact coffin—I'll need it tonight," Lu Fei added.

 "No problem. Whatever you say goes!" Chen Jinfa agreed on the spot.

 Lu Fei smiled.

 After some interaction, he found Chen Jinfa to be quite decent. Though he had the look of a nouveau riche, he was straightforward and accommodating.

 The last thing you wanted in handling cursed items was someone who didn't follow instructions, leading to unnecessary complications.

 Soon after, Chen Jinfa asked Ah Long to arrange rooms nearby so everyone could rest.

 Exhausted after a sleepless night, Chen Jinfa fell asleep as soon as he hit the pillow.

 Lu Fei and Tiger also rested in their room.

 Tiger watched TV until he drifted off, snoring loudly.

 Lu Fei, still a little excited, took out his lightning-struck jujube wood rod, feeling the potent energy within. He couldn't put it down.

 The rod was half a meter long, resembling an ordinary rolling pin. Who would suspect that it was a rare treasure?

 "Now I have my own life-bound artifact. Tonight, I'll test its power!"

 Brimming with anticipation, he forced himself to rest for a while to be in top shape for the evening.

 As dusk fell, Chen Jinfa treated them to dinner, and the group returned to the construction site early.

 Night fell, and the city lights shimmered.

 Traffic roared outside, voices mingling in the bustle of the city.

 The mall's prime location was evident, but whatever problems had marred its history must have been significant enough to warrant the Spirit-Pinning Stake ritual.

 The sharp-cornered buildings creating a Feng Shui disturbance were newer than the mall, clearly not the original cause.

 Lu Fei's eyes narrowed.

 There had been something wrong with this place from the start.