Under the moonlight, within the horticultural landscape area of Shanghang Art School, two figures slowly strolled.
As it was early morning, the students were confined to their dormitories, leaving only the two of them in the vast landscape area.
Yan Shouyi pulled out a pack of cheap cigarettes he got from Long Feicheng and offered one to Ye Chengfu, "Grandpa Ye, have a smoke? Please don't mind that my cigarettes are so cheap."
"Look at you, talking as if I've never experienced hardship!"
Ye Chengfu accepted the cigarette, and the old and young man began to smoke them quietly.
After half a cigarette, Ye Chengfu asked, "Is your grandfather in good health?"
Yan Shouyi fell silent for a moment, then replied with a hint of helplessness, "My grandfather has already passed away."
Ye Chengfu stopped in his tracks, his face displaying astonishment, which then turned to sadness as he sighed deeply.
"If it weren't for your grandfather's guidance back then, the Lin family would not have the prosperity they enjoy today. Our master has always remembered this. It's a pity that you, as inheritors of the Lu Ban tradition, roam the world, like dragons appearing and disappearing without a trace. The Lin family wanted to repay your grandfather but never had the opportunity. Now that we've finally met you, we hear the news of your grandfather's death. If our master were to know, he would undoubtedly be saddened for quite some time."
Yan Shouyi smiled faintly, "My grandfather knew his time was near. I was by his side when he passed. He left holding a photo of my grandmother and had eaten a large bowl of his favorite old Yanjing wontons and taken a deep puff of his beloved hand-rolled tobacco. His only regret was that he didn't live to see my father released from prison."
Although Yan Shouyi felt a pang of sorrow at his grandfather's death, he had no lingering regrets.
Despite his grandfather's lifelong poverty, he had traveled across the vast land, witnessed the magnificent landscapes of the country, and lived a life truly worth living.
In the past, Yan Shouyi had asked his grandfather why, with the abilities of a Lu Ban inheritor, he didn't choose other paths when selecting the five perfect and three imperfect constructions, thus amassing wealth and prosperity.
His grandfather had told Yan Shouyi that money was the most useless thing in a person's life.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi had also chosen to forgo wealth.
Yan Shouyi had also asked his grandfather why the Lu Ban inheritors had such a fate. His grandfather replied that the suffering in this life was the consequence of past sins, and everything was predetermined.
Hearing Yan Shouyi mention his father, Yan Chou, Ye Chengfu couldn't help but ask, "When is your father getting out of prison?"
"December," Yan Shouyi replied with a smile. "That's also one of the reasons I came to Rongcheng, to pick up my dad."
"Ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. Your grandfather had connections everywhere. Why didn't he use them to get your father out? Actually, our Lin family could have helped with that," Ye Chengfu asked with confusion.
Yan Shouyi shook his head, "Grandfather said that these ten years of imprisonment were necessary suffering for my father. If he were forcefully released, my father would face more severe heavenly retribution, resulting in death."
"..."
Ye Chengfu sighed, unable to help but lament the difficult fate of the Lu Ban inheritors.
Everyone wished to peer into the secrets of heaven, but it seemed that being an ignorant and content ordinary person was quite good after all.
Ye Chengfu took a puff of his cigarette, hesitated for a while, then made up his mind and said, "Shouyi, I actually came to find you for another matter."
"Please speak freely, Grandpa Ye."
When his grandfather built the ancestral home for the Lin family back then, Yan Shouyi lived with them and had been well cared for by Ye Chengfu. Even though Ye Chengfu was just a steward of the Lin family, Yan Shouyi still respected him as an elder.
"You've already met Zhitong since you arrived in Rongcheng, haven't you? Ah, that little girl who used to run around with a runny nose and a lollipop in her mouth has now grown into a graceful young lady. Not only has she taken over many of the Lin family's businesses, but she has also become a disciple of the sect leader of the Lu Mountain Sect. Looking at the entire Rongcheng, you probably can't find a girl who can match Zhitong!" Ye Chengfu said, squinting at Yan Shouyi, making Yan Shouyi feel rather uncomfortable.
Yan Shouyi coughed awkwardly, "Zhitong has grown up, but Grandpa Ye, what exactly do you want to say?"
"What I mean is, Zhitong is also of marriageable age. Since you're back in Rongcheng, why don't you consider it?" Ye Chengfu said with a smile. "Your family has a great debt to the Lin family. If our master knew it was you, he would absolutely not object to this marriage."
Yan Shouyi's jaw dropped, somewhat surprised that Ye Chengfu had sought him out for this matter.
But he quickly composed himself and shook his head, "No, I am already betrothed."
"What?" Ye Chengfu's tone was a mix of surprise and unwillingness. "Who is it? What is their family background? Are they from Rongcheng?"
Yan Shouyi replied honestly, "They are from Rongcheng, the Li family of West Lake."
"The Li family of West Lake..."
Ye Chengfu repeated the words, his eyes filled with complex emotions. After a long pause, he sighed, "If it's the Li family, then it's understandable. They are a decent match for you... Ah! Fate plays tricks on people! Fate plays tricks on people!"
"And it was my grandfather who personally arranged it, so I cannot easily change it, unless the other party wishes to break off the engagement," Yan Shouyi said, lowering his head. "Moreover, we inheritors of the Lu Ban tradition are rootless nomads, and my destiny lacks wealth. Zhitong would only suffer with me, and she might not be able to endure it."
Ye Chengfu smiled wryly and shook his head, patting Yan Shouyi's shoulder meaningfully, "Shouyi, you underestimate love."
"I'm stating facts..."
"Alright, since you are already betrothed, I won't say anything more. I will inform our master about this matter and have him abandon this idea. However, Grandpa Ye still wants to advise you: If life were only like the first meeting, why would the autumn wind grieve for the painted fan? Don't wait until you realize it later and regret it too late."
Yan Shouyi did not reply, silently taking another puff of his cigarette.
Ye Chengfu looked at Yan Shouyi kindly, his cigarette slowly burning out.
...
Later, Yan Shouyi saw Ye Chengfu off and returned to his dormitory with a complicated mood.
Long Feicheng had somehow procured a bucket of instant noodles and was eating them while watching a beautiful streamer dance on his phone.
Seeing Yan Shouyi return, Long Feicheng quickly closed the livestream and brought the noodles to Yan Shouyi, "Brother Yan, are you hungry? Shall I cook for you?"
"Get lost!"
"Cough, cough." Long Feicheng noticed Yan Shouyi's displeased expression and dared not provoke him.
Long Feicheng, being astute in human affairs, knew with a little thought that something had gone wrong during Yan Shouyi's conversation with Old Master Ye, but he was sure it wouldn't affect their positions as security team captains.
So, Long Feicheng deliberately avoided asking about Old Master Ye and instead posed another question:
"Brother Yan, did you find my master's soul tonight?"
When it came to important matters, Yan Shouyi cast aside his worries and explained the entire story of the night to Long Feicheng.
Upon hearing this, Long Feicheng stomped his foot on the chair and slammed the table in anger, "That fellow named Dong Ye is truly scum! Ten executions wouldn't suffice to vent my anger! And that so-called Taoist priest, who used a female ghost to help him snatch souls, must be a demon! Brother Yan, in three days, we two brothers will go together and bring justice!"
"Don't underestimate those demonic Taoists. If I encounter a tricky one, I might not be able to handle it," Yan Shouyi said in a low voice.
"No, you can't be serious?"
Long Feicheng seemed a little intimidated and quietly brought his leg, which was propped on the chair, back down. He sat and asked, "Brother Yan, you're so powerful, and you're afraid of those demonic Taoists?"
"If it's about martial arts or combat spells, I'm not afraid," Yan Shouyi replied. "But times have changed. What if the other party is a villain and has a gun?"
Long Feicheng: "..."
Sir, times have changed!
Long Feicheng asked unyieldingly, "Don't movies say that outside of seven steps, a gun is faster, and within seven steps, a knife or sword is even faster?"
"The truth is, outside of seven steps, a gun is faster, and within seven steps, a gun is not only fast but also accurate."
Long Feicheng: "..."
He asked with a pained expression, "Then what should we do? Shall we just call the police?"
"You can call the police to catch Dong Ye, and you can call the police for that Taoist priest. What would you tell the police? Is soul snatching considered assault or robbery? And what about the evidence? Would you hand over a person's soul to the police?" Yan Shouyi asked helplessly.
Long Feicheng became even more speechless, "So, we have no way to deal with that Taoist priest?"
"It's not that there's no way," Yan Shouyi said. "Since the demonic Taoist wants to collect souls, he must be setting up an altar to do something wicked. As long as we figure out his purpose, smash his altar, ruin his good deeds, and damage his cultivation, we can surely infuriate him more than killing him."
"That makes sense!" Long Feicheng slapped his thigh.
"To catch the demonic Taoist, we have to wait three days. For these three days, let's first investigate that fellow named Dong Ye."
"But there are many students at Shanghang Art School, and Dong Ye was involved five years ago. How do we investigate?"
Yan Shouyi smiled mysteriously, "I know someone who can help."