As Yan Shouyi confronted Liu Jingkang, a torrential downpour began over at Liu Yiren's end.
The heavy rain seeped through the gaps in the roof tiles of the Liu family ancestral home, falling into the house.
It was in the very room where Liu Yong's coffin was placed. Liu Yong's paper effigy, which would not have been hit by rain, was now being eroded by the downpour because Yan Shouyi had moved it before jumping into the ancient well.
This was the key to Yan Shouyi's plan to break the deadlock!
He had known from the start that meeting Liu Jingkang at the Liu family ancestral home today would be a predicament, so to escape, he had been vigilant at every turn, always leaving contingencies.
In ancient times, wealthy families held Lu Ban's descendants in high esteem, knowing that they always left contingencies. If they were not paid for their services or if someone wronged them, the Lu Ban descendant's countermeasures would take effect. Sometimes, a Lu Ban descendant's curse could even affect several generations. Da Feng Novel Network.
Having followed his grandfather for many years, Yan Shouyi had also developed the habit of always leaving contingencies.
When he entered the Liu family ancestral home, he didn't just focus on playing games with the young ghosts. He also observed the various conditions of the Liu family ancestral home.
There were many ways to keep the dead in the living world. The Liu family employed the method of soul-lodging in paper effigies.
Liu Jingkang, as a ghost king, did not need to lodge his soul, but the Liu family's descendants and servants did not have his capabilities. Therefore, Liu Jingkang invited skilled paper artisans to create substitutes for every member of the Liu family.
Paper artisans, like Lu Ban's descendants, were traditional folk trades that had been passed down for many years. It was said that the paper effigies they made could not have eyes drawn on them. Once eyes were drawn, passing lone spirits would mistake them for unoccupied physical bodies and madly possess them, eventually making the paper effigies "alive."
The paper effigies of the Liu family members were closely related to their soul states. Due to Yan Shouyi's deliberate movement, Liu Yong's paper effigy was soaked by the rain, and his soul had a corresponding reaction.
However, Liu Jingkang was unaware of Yan Shouyi's move. He thought Yan Shouyi had cursed Liu Yong and intended to torment him to death.
Witnessing Yan Shouyi's prowess, Liu Jingkang quickly calmed down, put away his arrogance and temper, and began to plan a proper conversation with Yan Shouyi.
Facing Liu Jingkang's appeasement, Yan Shouyi merely snorted:
"If you wish to talk properly, I am willing to give you the chance. But you have offended me repeatedly, and someone must pay the price. You are the master, and Liu Yong is the servant. Let this servant suffer for the master. After I leave here, he will naturally be fine. As for how long he will suffer, that will depend entirely on you, old man."
Upon hearing this, Liu Jingkang had no choice but to accept defeat and ordered his men to carry away Liu Yong, who was screaming continuously.
Liu Yong was filled with regret at that moment. He hadn't encountered a living person in a hundred years and had truly thought all living people were easy to bully. To encounter one after a century, and to meet such a tough opponent.
If he had known the consequences, Liu Yong would not have dared to cross Yan Shouyi even if given ten times the courage yesterday.
With the moaning Liu Yong carried away, the hall finally quieted down.
Liu Jiaren's eyes subtly observed Yan Shouyi. Yan Shouyi's performance just now was truly astonishing.
She had initially thought he was just a young man wandering the martial world, but she hadn't expected him to possess such courage and composure, handling himself with ease even when facing Liu Jingkang, the ghost king.
The Liu family's great-grandmother also looked at Yan Shouyi with new admiration, a flicker of hope appearing in her eyes.
Perhaps this young man truly had the ability to save the Liu family!
Liu Jingkang cleared his throat and said, "Mr. Yan, I was wrong before. Please forgive me. Someone, serve Mr. Yan some tea!"
A servant rushed to pour tea. When it was brought to the hall, Liu Jiaren stepped forward, personally received the tea, and brought it to Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi took the tea, sat down, and his expression was no longer as angry as before.
He took a sip of tea and said, "After drinking this cup of tea, our previous grievances will be settled. My request remains the same. I hope the old patriarch will come forward and ask the Bai family to stop bothering me. It's not that I fear them, I just wish to stay peacefully in Rongcheng until December. However, if the Bai family is unwilling to let things rest, after December, I will certainly have the means to make the Bai family restless!"
Liu Jingkang then said:
"Negotiating with the Bai family is no problem, but I have one condition."
"There is no free lunch in this world. As long as your condition is within a reasonable range, old man, feel free to state it," Yan Shouyi replied.
The old ghosts of the Liu family, seeing Yan Shouyi speaking to their ancestor in such a manner, couldn't help but marvel at the impressiveness of the younger generation.
Liu Jingkang said, "Since you are a Lu Ban descendant, you should be well-versed in the art of house Feng Shui. I wish to ask you to take action to renovate my Liu family's ancestral home, so that my Liu family ancestors may be eternally immortal and my Liu family descendants may prosper endlessly!"
Eternal immortality and endless prosperity – this was truly a grand ambition.
Yan Shouyi shook his head with a wry smile.
Liu Jingkang's face fell, "You refuse?"
"No, it's impossible to accomplish," Yan Shouyi said. "Without exaggeration, your request is on par with that of past emperors. Who doesn't wish for eternal immortality and endless prosperity, but how many can actually achieve it? Even we Lu Ban descendants cannot accomplish such a feat, otherwise, the imperial families of all dynasties would have prospered endlessly, and would there have been dynastic changes?"
"Then tell us, how can it be accomplished?" It was the Liu family's great-grandmother who spoke this time.
The Liu family's great-grandmother was also a wise person, knowing when to speak and when to remain silent.
She understood that this question should not be pressed by Liu Jingkang, as it would put him in a passive position, so she took the initiative to ask.
Yan Shouyi replied, "Timing, geographical advantage, human harmony, and destiny – none can be lacking! Please do not take offense, old patriarch and old madam, but your Liu family truly does not possess such a destiny."
Facing Yan Shouyi's frankness, the Liu family members whispered amongst themselves, while Liu Jingkang sighed.
He knew these things in his heart, but he still couldn't help but try to contend for it. Since Yan Shouyi had made things clear, there was no need for him to dwell on it.
Therefore, Liu Jingkang said sincerely:
"Mr. Yan, how about this: as long as you renovate our Liu family's ancestral home, allowing it to gather spiritual energy and imbue it with vitality, and allowing us to find peace, I will negotiate with the Bai family."
"That is not a problem," Yan Shouyi agreed immediately.
He understood the problem Liu Jingkang was facing. If the Liu family members did not absorb positive energy and souls for an extended period, they would eventually perish. Liu Jingkang dared not reveal the true problem but indirectly asked Yan Shouyi to make the Liu residence gather spiritual energy and imbue it with vitality. He feared that if the other members of the Liu family knew their future, they would become fearful, leading to a collapse of morale.
And to solve the problem Liu Jingkang was facing, it was actually very simple. It only required the use of techniques from the Lu Ban Book to modify the Feng Shui of the Liu residence, turning it into a thoroughly Yin dwelling!
As long as the Liu residence had abundant Yin energy, ghosts could live there comfortably. Even Liu Jingkang could barely maintain the status quo and find other methods to extend his life.
Yan Shouyi could fully accomplish all of this!
Upon hearing Yan Shouyi's agreement, the Liu family's great-grandmother and Liu Jiaren showed expressions of joy.
Liu Jingkang's expression also softened considerably.
But at this moment, Yan Shouyi's tone suddenly shifted:
"However, modifying the Feng Shui layout is not a simple matter. Besides helping me negotiate with the Bai family, Old Patriarch, you will also owe me a favor. When I need your help, you must assist me unconditionally!"
"If you do not agree, we will remain in this stalemate. I will not leave, and you should not expect me to do any work!"