Chapter 1596 - 1559: The Disappearing Neighborhood

“Rumble…”

Dust rose, and buildings collapsed.

This is the Guanjiang Residential Complex in Dachang City.

As an old neighborhood with over sixty years of history, its life has come to an end. Due to the aging of high-rise buildings, many structures within the complex have been classified as dangerous buildings. It was advised several years ago that people shouldn’t continue living here, and today, the complex finally faces demolition and reconstruction.

The uneven roads in the complex were crushed and flattened, trees that have stood for decades were sawed down and hauled away, and even the gate with the four big characters “Guanjiang Residential Complex” vanished, leaving only a wide dirt road for construction vehicles to enter.

Many residents inside the complex applauded because no one wanted to live in such a run-down, aging complex with faulty elevators. They eagerly awaited the reconstruction, hoping to live in new buildings.

However, a group of elderly people in the complex has been staunchly opposing the demolition. They even gathered and blocked the entrance to prevent the demolition work from proceeding.

But these opponents of the demolition are ultimately too old and can’t make decisions on many things. They’re either taken away by their children, or their health doesn’t permit them to engage in long-term struggles with the demolition team. In the end, they failed to stop it, only able to watch the demolition continue helplessly.

“How’s the demolition today? Is everything going smoothly?” Liu Yan, in charge of the demolition, asked as he routinely inspected the site.

An assistant replied, “Everything is normal and proceeding very smoothly. No elderly people have come to interfere anymore. We’ve completely demolished the high-rise area, but the most difficult challenge is the temple behind the complex. People here say that temple is very special and is better left alone. Since the temple isn’t large, we’ve temporarily put it aside.”

“Can’t the temple be demolished? What kind of outdated feudal thinking is this? Have everyone pause, and come with me to take a look. Let’s resolve this difficult issue today.” Liu Yan said.

The assistant nodded and immediately called a demolition team.

A group of people, led by Liu Yan, headed towards the temple behind the complex.

“President Liu, we’ve already checked. This temple was built less than sixty years ago, so it isn’t considered a historical relic. It’s also an illegal building, erected without proper approvals initially.”

“The temple is usually occupied by only one person, but ever since the demolition started, a Grandpa Zhang from the complex has been staying in the temple, threatening to fight anyone who dares touch it. Grandpa Zhang is highly regarded among the older generation, and forcibly demolishing it could cause trouble.”

On the way, Liu Yan chuckled, “I thought it was a tough issue. It’s just an eighty-year-old man—this is manageable. As before, inform his children to take the old man away, then hand out some condolence money.”

“We’ve tried that. Grandpa Zhang’s grandson took the money but couldn’t persuade him.” The assistant replied.

“Let’s go and see.” Liu Yan said.

At the moment, in front of a slightly worn-out temple, an elderly man was leaning on a cane, sitting on a chair, and gazed somewhat desolately at the bustling construction site nearby.

“It’s over, it’s over, a lifetime’s effort gone like this. If they keep digging recklessly, something bad is bound to happen. Isn’t there anyone who can stand up to stop these people? Although Grandpa Wai is known for handling things well, I can’t handle everything forever. If I were twenty years younger, I wouldn’t let these people mess around.”

“Those old pals of mine are all worthless; they took some money and ran away—no loyalty at all.”

The old man muttered to himself and then angrily tapped his cane, wishing he could stand up and fight the demolition team.

But he was too old, unable to act despite his desire.

“Hey, Wang Shanshan, where did you bury those coffins in the yard over the years? They better not be unearthed by these damn things—they’re something extraordinary. If accidentally dug up, lives could be lost. Nowadays, no one knows how to counter fierce ghosts.” The old man yelled out.

“Creak.”

The temple door opened, and a mature woman, around thirty, dressed in white with long black hair, walked out slowly. Her expression was indifferent, her gaze icy, devoid of emotion.

“Ah Wei, our era is over, and the demolition of Guanjiang Residential Complex is inevitable. We can’t stop it, let them proceed. If ghosts arise and people die, at least it’ll be quiet here.” Wang Shanshan calmly said.

“Nonsense, Wang Shanshan. Today they dare demolish the complex, tomorrow they’ll dare demolish the temple, and the day after they’ll dare remove that statue. You wouldn’t want anything to happen to Brother Tui, right?” Grandpa Zhang said furiously.

Wang Shanshan replied, “The time is almost up, it’s irrelevant.”

“You keep saying the time is almost up, but when exactly is that? Can you give a precise number? Grandpa Wai isn’t well, can’t wait much longer. I’m worried that if I die one day, Brother Tui will be upset not to see me when he returns. I’d love to play a game with him one more time.” Grandpa Zhang said.

“The demolition people are coming.” Wang Shanshan looked into the distance and saw a team heading toward them.

“They really dare to come? You go back, I’ll handle this.” Grandpa Zhang insisted, sending Wang Shanshan away and facing it alone.

Wang Shanshan didn’t hesitate, simply saying, “If you can’t manage, I’ll deal with it.”

“Can’t you have some faith in your Grandpa Wai?” Grandpa Zhang glared at her.

Wang Shanshan said nothing, glanced at him, then turned back inside the temple.

Grandpa Zhang nodded with satisfaction, “That’s more like it.”

At this moment, Liu Yan led a team and quickly arrived at this small temple. They looked at this temple; it had no name, no incense burners, very desolate, and its footprint wasn’t large. Demolishing it wouldn’t require much effort; it could be done in a day.

“Excuse me, are you Grandpa Zhang?” a demolition worker walked up and asked loudly.

“Why are you shouting so loudly, grandson? Your grandpa can hear you.” Grandpa Zhang grunted heavily.

“Old man, can you move to another place? Our company is planning to demolish this small temple today, and if you stay here, it will obstruct our work.” Someone persuaded.

Grandpa Zhang said, “Oh? Alright, no problem, I’ll move. That guy with the white hat, yes I’m talking to you, come over quickly and give grandpa a hand.”

He pointed at Liu Yan.

Seeing how straightforward this old man was and not causing trouble, Liu Yan immediately smiled and walked over to help him up, “Be careful, grandpa. Do you want me to arrange a car to take you home?”

But before he had finished speaking, Grandpa Zhang suddenly screamed and fell to the ground, “Help, help, murder!”

“…”

Liu Yan’s smile froze instantly. What is this situation? Is this a scam?

“Grandpa, this is not right, I was kindly helping you and didn’t do anything to you,” he quickly explained.

But Grandpa Zhang continued lying on the ground, moaning in pain, “It’s you, kid, you tried to kill me, someone’s going to die, there will be a murder.”

Looking at the difficult Grandpa Zhang, Liu Yan couldn’t help but look at the others nearby, wondering if they had any solution to this problem.

But the others all looked helpless and didn’t say anything.

Grandpa Zhang is eighty years old, and with one foot on the ground, no one would dare touch him. If you use a little too much force, it could lead to a real catastrophe.

If a death occurs on the construction site, the entire site would have to stop work, resulting in even greater trouble.

So when dealing with elderly people in the residential complex, they always focused on soothing and persuading, never using force.

“Grandpa, we’ll leave, we’ll leave, alright? We won’t demolish today.” Liu Yan, seeing Grandpa lying on the ground, was also very distressed and had no choice but to quickly lead the team away, fearing being blackmailed.

Just after this group left, Grandpa Zhang stopped making a fuss and slowly climbed up.

“These young people really don’t know the heights of heaven and the depths of earth, trying to challenge your Grandpa Wai? Let me show you how treacherous people’s hearts were sixty years ago.” Grandpa Zhang snorted and then called out, “Wang Shanshan, the issue is settled.”

“Shameful.” Wang Shanshan’s cold voice came from inside.

Grandpa Zhang instantly became a bit agitated, “This was a battle of wits, how can it be shameful? Using your brain is not shameful, or should I reveal my identity as the Dual-wielding Gunslinger to deal with them?”

In the temple, Wang Shanshan’s voice no longer responded.

Grandpa Zhang kept nagging outside, talking about how heroic he used to be, how glorious, and lamented how heroes are aging, and his treasured guns have been sealed away for a long time.

“This Grandpa Zhang is indeed troublesome, but there are times he won’t be around—if we wait until he goes home to sleep and then demolish the courtyard walls first, things will be easier.” On the way back, Liu Yan couldn’t help cursing.

At this moment, a worker came running hurriedly, “Something’s happened. Several red coffins have been unearthed at the site.”

“Just a few coffins? Are they relics? If not, report it immediately and have someone deal with it quickly,” Liu Yan said.

“It’s already been reported, but those coffins are spooky, nobody dares to touch them. Manager, you should take a look,” the worker said.

“There’s such a thing? I’ll go take a look,” Liu Yan said.

When he arrived, he found all the workers on the site had fled, leaving behind a large pit on the ground, and in that pit, several bright red coffins lay quietly.

The coffins were arranged in a circle, seven in total, neatly placed.

What’s unnerving is that one of the coffins seemed to have been opened by someone, but inside, it was empty, with nothing in it.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by novlove.com

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