Telephone Conference

"Boss Yang, you're finally back!"

Back in the neighborhood, as soon as I parked the car and stepped into the villa, I saw that the living room was full of people.

There were Zhang Han, Zhang Wei, Jiang Yan, Zhang Xiangui, Wang Xiaoming, and some unfamiliar people, mostly family members and relatives of some individuals. On either side of Wang Xiaoming sat two burly, serious-looking bodyguards, indicating that the previous arrangements had quickly taken effect.

Liu Xiaoyu's team is quite efficient.

The person speaking at this moment is Zhang Wei's uncle, a man in his early thirties wearing a suit.

"What's wrong?" Yang Jian sensed that something was off about the atmosphere here.

At this moment, Zhang Xiangui covered his bleeding head and said, "What else could it be? The workers caused a disturbance and didn't want to stay and work here anymore. Just now, the foreman took them all and ran away. I couldn't stop them."

"Uncle Zhang, are you alright?" Yang Jian asked.

"It's nothing, just a scrape," Zhang Xiangui said; "but at this rate, I'm afraid the safe houses will never be finished."

"How much has been completed so far?" Yang Jian.

"The main structure is complete, but the supporting facilities are not yet finished. If we want to use it, the safe roof can only keep people alive for about ten days. After ten days, it will be unsuitable for living due to water shortages, power shortages, and other reasons. At that time, we will have to open the safe house again for maintenance and resupply," Zhang Xiangui said.

Building a safe house is not easy; it's not just about building a room. There are many factors to consider.

"The longest I can stay is ten days?" Yang Jian frowned slightly.

It was much shorter than expected.

In his calculations, he would need to stay in the safe house for at least two or three months, not as long as a year or six months.

Yang Jian then looked at these people and said, "Don't look so grim. It's their loss that those workers ran away. In my opinion, Guangjiang Residential Area is the safest residential area in the entire Dachang City. It would be more dangerous for them to go elsewhere."

"They wouldn't even work for us for 10,000 yuan a day, and we even promised to provide them with accommodation and let them stay here. They really don't know what's good for them," Zhang Wei's uncle couldn't help but curse.

"When disaster strikes, everyone is in danger, and it's not surprising that they do anything," Yang Jian.

At this moment, Wang Xiaoming suddenly said, "You went to the city center? And you even saved someone. This is so unlike you. Never mind, can you tell me how the situation has changed there?"

Yang Jian glanced at the haggard and weak Zhang Liqin behind him and said, "Jiang Yan, take her to take a bath and get her something to eat."

"Oh~!" Jiang Yan gave Zhang Liqin a strange look and led her out of the living room.

"Just like you said before, it's almost completely overrun. The vengeful spirit is spreading outwards from the city center. I estimate that we'll see it here within three days," Yang Jian.

Upon hearing this, the expressions of the others in the living room immediately changed, with some even showing signs of fear.

The safe house isn't fully completed yet, and that monstrous thing could appear in Guangjiang Residential Area within three days. Even the most timid people are trembling with fear.

"About what I expected."

Wang Xiaoming reached out and touched his chin.

"The safe house can't protect so many people; many will die."

Zhang Han fell silent, then said while smoking, "We have enough food and water, but that doesn't solve the crucial problem. The remaining people can't live with the vengeful ghosts for long. Even if we know the patterns and how to avoid being killed, it's only temporary."

"The fourth stage of the Ghost Infant is definitely not just Ye Feng who died. That thing will kill all the cursed people. Everyone here breathes in this gloom."

A quick calculation reveals that everyone actually knows the truth.

The safe house can only accommodate a maximum of twenty people; the rest will have to stay in the community.

Although the neighborhood is safe for now, it will soon become like Dachang City.

"So what do we do now?" Zhang Xiangui asked.

However, no one replied to him; everyone else remained silent.

What to do?

This is a very heavy topic.

Yang Jian had already made his decision. He looked at the silent crowd and said, "Since none of you know what to do, then listen to my opinion."

Everyone immediately turned their attention to Yang Jian.

"Uncle Zhang, what's the maximum capacity of the safe house?" Yang Jian asked.

"Nineteen," Zhang Xiangui said; "No more than that."

"Okay, then nineteen will do."

Yang Jian, "Start preparations tomorrow. Have nineteen people move into the safe house for refuge. We'll discuss the quotas now. My requirements aren't high; I only need five essential slots. Besides the three slots I promised to send to the Ghost Tamer Headquarters, I'll give one to Wang Xiaoming and one to Jiang Yan. You can decide the rest."

"And what about you?" Wang Xiaoming asked, looking at him.

The others were also somewhat surprised.

Yang Jian, the initiator of this safe house, didn't even consider himself.

"Even if I'm Ghost Tamer, it's no use going into the safe house. If the vengeful ghost revives inside, you'll all die. Besides, I have other things to do," Yang Jian.

"I'm tired, I'm going to rest. Uncle Zhang, you can take care of the rest."

Zhang Xiangui gave a wry smile, suddenly feeling immense pressure. The remaining fourteen spots were all given to him; if he didn't arrange them properly, things could go wrong.

Yang Jian didn't have the mind to think about these things right now; he'd rather leave such troublesome matters to experienced people.

Let those who need a headache have their headaches.

Of course, I wasn't idle either.

A person went up to the fifth floor.

Zhang Xiangui was quite clever; he had anticipated the power outage, so he prepared generators several days in advance and even had diesel fuel in reserve, which is why the villa is still able to maintain its electrical operation.

Yang Jian didn't turn on the lights. Instead, he took a chair and sat down in front of the row of floor-to-ceiling windows. Looking at the gloomy sky outside, he took out his GPS-enabled phone and prepared to make a call.

"This is Yang Jian. I'm safe right now. I'd like to speak with the Ghost Tamer Headquarters."

Liu Xiaoyu was taking a nap on the table in the communications room. She had been staying up late for the past few days and hadn't slept much. When she heard Yang Jian's voice coming from her earpiece, she immediately woke up.

"Yang Jian, this is operator Liu Xiaoyu. How's the situation on your end?"

"This is not good. I don't have time to talk to you about this right now. I need to speak with someone at Headquarters and get things arranged."

Are you looking for the captain, or...?

Liu Xiaoyu asked, "Our Deputy Minister Cao Yanhua wanted to connect with you earlier, but it was postponed because you were in the city center."

"Deputy Minister Cao Yanhua? That's even better. Have everyone with Ghost Tamer Headquarters participate in this voice conference. Tell them it's a matter of life and death for Dachang City. How you arrange things is your business. I'll give you twenty minutes. Don't keep me waiting too long," Yang Jian.

"Have Wang Xiaoming participate too. Tell him to come to my fifth floor alone. Remember, just one person."

"Okay, I'll get right on it. Fifteen minutes will be enough for me." Liu Xiaoyu jumped up in surprise.

She was trembling all over, unsure whether it was from nervousness or fear, but she could sense that the problems facing this meeting would be extremely serious.

Yang Jian put down his satellite-guided phone and waited quietly.

A few minutes later, hurried footsteps could be heard in the hallway.

Jiang Yan came running up, panting. She pushed open the door and rushed in without even turning on the light.

"Why did you come up here? I remember you shouldn't dare to come to the fifth floor." Yang Jian glanced back, but then turned away again.

"Why?" Jiang Yan asked, her voice trembling with emotion.

"What do you mean, why?" Yang Jian sat in the chair, his back to her.

Jiang Yan said, "Why are you so good to me? You gave me the spot but didn't want it yourself."

"You mean what happened downstairs just now? It's nothing. You're my employee, and I promised to protect your safety."

Yang Jian, "Since I said it, I'll keep my word. I still have that much integrity."

"Will you be alright?" Jiang Yan asked with concern as she walked over.

Yang Jian thought for a moment and said, "I'll probably die."

"Please don't die, okay? What will I do if you die? You can't abandon me!"

Jiang Yan said through tears, squatting beside Yang Jian, clinging to his arm, looking utterly helpless.

"Sister Jiang, nobody wants this to happen, but it's the best outcome right now. If I die and you survive, find a new boss. The world has changed, and everyone has to face life and death sooner or later," Yang Jian.

Jiang Yan quickly shook her head, crying, "No, I won't work for anyone else. Come with me to the safe house, just like when we lived in the apartment. I can squeeze in and give you my spot."

"It's not that I don't have a spot in the safe house, it's that I don't want to go. Never mind, you wouldn't understand anyway. I have things to do, you can go now. You know the fifth floor is very dangerous, Sister Jiang. What are you doing? Why are you touching me? Stop it! If you keep doing that, I'll call for help."

"Even if I get into the safe house, I might not survive. I don't want to regret it. I'm going to get you today."

Jiang Yan blushed; normally she wouldn't believe she would do such a thing.

"Feel sorry."

Suddenly, a voice rang out from behind them. Wang Xiaoming was standing there, seemingly out of nowhere. "If you're going to continue, I can wait three minutes."

"Three minutes? Who are you looking down on?" Yang Jian raised an eyebrow.

Wang Xiaoming calmly replied, "This is just my personal research and average level; three minutes is the ideal value."

"I... I'll go out first."

Jiang Yan blushed deeply and left with her head down as if fleeing.

"Why did you call me up here alone this time? I remember you weren't very welcoming of me coming to your fifth-floor apartment."

After Jiang Yan left, Wang Xiaoming looked around and asked, "You locked all the doors to these rooms. What's inside?"

Yang Jian said, "Danger."

"I value my privacy quite a bit, so you don't need to be so wary of me," Wang Xiaoming said.

"Then why did you open every single door just now?" Yang Jian.

Wang Xiaoming said, "It's just a professional habit; it doesn't mean anything."

Yang Jian, "I'm requesting Headquarters to hold a conference call this time, and you're one of the participants. After this meeting, you're done. Go to the safe house and stay put."

"Oh, what do you want to talk to those people at Headquarters about?"

"You'll find out soon enough," Yang Jian.