Hearing Wang Zizai's words, Elder Dong and Professor Li fell silent.
Wang Zizai might not have harbored much hatred for Liu Bin, as Liu Bin hadn't had the chance to do anything to him. However, Elder Dong and Professor Li were direct victims!
Liu Bin had accused Professor Li of academic plagiarism and Elder Dong of being materialistic, causing both of them to fall into disrepute and become targets of public criticism.
If they were asked to directly kill Liu Bin, Elder Dong and Professor Li wouldn't dare, nor would they jeopardize their careers for such a petty individual.
However, if Liu Bin were left with only a single breath, they would undoubtedly choose to stand by and watch!
For such a despicable person, it was only right for heaven to take him!
To save him would be going against the will of heaven!
At this moment, Wang Zizai's sudden suggestion, even without knowing if Liu Bin was still alive, still left a lingering unease in their hearts, making them unwilling to accept it.
"I understand your feelings, and I know that one should not advise others to be benevolent without experiencing their hardships. But... this is not just a matter of good or evil; it concerns the life and death of our project!"
"If we can save Liu Bin, we won't have to bear immense public pressure, and the project can continue. Otherwise, we will surely face pressure from relevant departments tomorrow morning, demanding that we halt the excavation!"
Wang Zizai urged.
As soon as Wang Zizai finished speaking, Elder Dong's phone rang.
Elder Dong's expression changed instantly upon seeing the number.
Speak of the devil.
There was no need to wait until tomorrow morning; a leader from the relevant department had called directly!
Elder Dong took a deep breath and answered the call.
A voice tinged with anger soon came from the other end of the line: "Elder Dong, what's going on? I took on pressure to approve this project for you, thinking you would contribute to the nation and bring glory to China's history, not to create negative news!"
"Now the entire internet is abuzz with discussions about your project! Look at what netizens are saying! They say not to believe in science, because even scientists have personally confirmed the existence of feudal superstition! If this public opinion ferments and spreads widely, not only will you all be held responsible, but so will I!"
"Elder Dong, do you understand the implications? It's fine if someone dies, and it's fine if there's an archaeological accident, but negative public opinion that shakes people's values is a major issue!"
"I'm sorry, Elder Dong, but I have no choice. I can only announce the temporary suspension of the excavation work for this project. Unless you can find a way to mitigate the negative impact..."
Listening to the leader's voice on the phone, a flicker of despair flashed in Elder Dong's eyes.
Why should they bear the consequences of Liu Bin's wrongdoing?
Most crucially, to salvage the situation, they had to save the perpetrator, Liu Bin!
How could the world be so messed up, so absurd?
Elder Dong was a thousand times unwilling, but in the end, after a moment of pain, he nodded towards Wang Zizai.
His meaning was clear: Elder Dong agreed with Wang Zizai's suggestion and was prepared to save Liu Bin!
Professor Li also did not object, clearly choosing the project's survival over personal grudges.
"Leader, please let me explain. This whole thing is a misunderstanding; it's not what you think... I'll go find Liu Bin right now and have him clarify the matter. I absolutely won't..."
Elder Dong said into the phone.
Before he could finish, a hand reached out and hung up the call!
Elder Dong was stunned.
Professor Li and Wang Zizai were also taken aback.
They then looked at the person who had hung up the phone.
It was none other than Ying Chen!
"Mr. Ying, you..."
Elder Dong looked at Ying Chen, confused.
Ying Chen slowly explained, "You don't need to save Liu Bin against your will, and you can't save him anyway."
"Without the protection of the talismans I drew, Liu Bin is doomed. He has no chance of survival."
"Ah?" Elder Dong and the other two were dumbfounded.
They had finally persuaded themselves, only to find out it was all in vain?
If anyone else had said this, they might have insisted on checking the Xuan Well.
But when Ying Chen said it, they immediately believed him unconditionally.
Because in this regard, Ying Chen was an undeniable authority!
If Ying Chen said Liu Bin couldn't survive, then Liu Bin couldn't survive!
"Good and evil are rewarded; it is indeed true. However, while Liu Bin's death is cause for rejoicing, our project will be halted because of him. What should we do?"
"Some people, even in death, continue to live on in the most disgusting ways. Isn't this a description of Liu Bin? Alas, could it be that Celestial Master Zhang manifested in the underworld, deliberately preventing us from excavating his tomb in this manner?"
Wang Zizai shook his head.
He had drifted into thoughts of Zhang Daoling's divine intervention.
Ying Chen chuckled at his words, "A mere Zhang Daoling, let alone the impossibility of his manifestation, even if he truly manifested, how could he stop me from digging up his tomb? He would likely not only not stop me but would respectfully open the tomb and await my excavation!"
"..." Elder Dong and the other two were speechless at Ying Chen's words.
Who did Ying Chen think he was?
Zhang Daoling was, after all, the patriarch of Taoism; how could he possibly bow down to a descendant?
However, the three of them did not know that the descendant in their eyes was actually a senior who predated Zhang Daoling himself!
If Zhang Daoling were to meet Ying Chen, he would only be able to bow respectfully!
"Enough, there's no need for you to be so disheartened. Everything is under my control, including Liu Bin's death and the impact it brings afterward."
"Now you can all go back to sleep. When morning comes, bring your tools and retrieve Liu Bin's body."
"At that time, you can even hold a live broadcast to maximize the hype around this event and, at the same time, restore your reputation that was tarnished by Liu Bin's slander!"
Ying Chen waved his hand and said.
After speaking, he left without regard for the bewildered expressions of Elder Dong and the other two.
Elder Dong and the other two were left staring blankly at Ying Chen's retreating back, murmuring to themselves, "Sleep? We can't possibly sleep! Such a major incident has occurred; our phones will probably be ringing off the hook tonight!"
"Most importantly, I think I just hung up on the leader's call. He's probably furious right now!"
"Alas, I hope everything will be better by tomorrow morning! Otherwise, this is truly the end of my career!"
And the leader whose call had been hung up was, as Elder Dong had predicted, in a state of fury.
He angrily swept things off his desk, his eyes blazing, and roared at his secretary, "I trusted Elder Dong so much, and he caused me such a mess! Not only that, but he hung up on me!"
"Immediately arrange a press conference for tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning, I will announce the suspension of Elder Dong's project! At the same time, I will demand that he bear all responsibility! Including any legal liabilities incurred!"
"My trust in him ends here!"