In the following days, Yan Shouyi gradually became busy.
Besides accompanying Lin Ziqing daily, he also frequently visited Old Jin.
With Old Jin's help, the Liu family members gradually regained their vitality.
With Old Jin's methods, it was entirely possible for Liu Jingkang and the others to recover without absorbing the yang energy or souls of living people.
So, when Yan Shouyi saw Liu Jingkang again, he truly witnessed the power of a Ghost King.
The original Liu Jingkang was at the end of his rope, appearing as thin as a stick before his great-grandmother.
But now, Liu Jingkang stood at five meters tall, sitting there like a small mountain.
The oppressive aura he exuded made Yan Shouyi tremble.
Yan Shouyi inwardly compared himself, realizing that even as a Heavenly Fiend Corpse Puppet, he was still no match for a Ghost King.
If they were to fight, the only outcome would be mutual destruction; it wouldn't be a one-sided victory.
Not only Liu Jingkang, but even the Liu family's great-grandmother had become very powerful.
She leaned on her cane, her small eyes emitting a spectral glow like ghost fire.
This gave Yan Shouyi even more confidence in dealing with the Bai family.
A Gong, the paper effigy maker, worked day and night crafting all sorts of paper figures to avenge Liu Jiaren's family.
Once, when Yan Shouyi brought Long Feicheng to visit everyone, they even found a paper RPG (rocket launcher) amongst A Gong's piles of paper figures!
At that moment, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng were stunned: "A Gong, is this thing really useful?"
Although A Gong wore a mask, his voice remained shy:
"It's not useful against the living, but it has some effect on the dead."
Long Feicheng immediately picked up the RPG and declared: "This thing belongs to me!"
He didn't know many moves, and his ability to learn and apply on the fly was limited. To participate in the decisive battle, he could only rely on external forces.
Thus, to increase their combat power, A Gong custom-made a set of paper effigy equipment for Long Feicheng.
Yan Shouyi also taught Long Feicheng as many moves as he could, and spent a whole day drawing many talismans.
Everyone was preparing with great urgency.
Even Old Jin, who possessed no combat ability, was refining medicinal pills day and night.
This battle was not just to protect the Li family, nor solely to avenge the Liu family.
If they won, they could destroy the煞转生大阵 (Sha Zhuan Sheng Great Formation).
And save the people of Rongcheng!
Yan Shouyi hadn't expected that less than two months after arriving in Rongcheng, he would have to face such a decisive battle.
But he had full confidence and certainty in winning this decisive battle!
However, he still had a small knot in his heart.
He still hadn't told Lin Ziqing about the decisive battle at Ping'an Building.
...
Late at night.
Yan Shouyi met with Lü Jing in a corner of Shanghang Art School.
"How is the preparation of your people going?" Lü Jing asked directly.
"No major issues, Elder Lü, and yours?" Yan Shouyi countered.
Lü Jing nodded: "I have many confidants in the Lüshan Sect. I have already given orders for all disciples to conserve their strength and prepare for a secret attack on Ping'an Building!"
"What about the Sect Leader Lü?"
"He is in seclusion and is unaware of what is happening outside."
But Yan Shouyi was still worried: "What if Sect Leader Lü also has a contingency plan?"
Lü Jing was silent for a moment, then said gravely: "There is no other way, only to fight."
"Elder Lü, have you ever considered that perhaps the mastermind behind the 炼煞转生大阵 (Lian Sha Zhuan Sheng Great Formation) is not Sect Leader Lü?"
"How could it not be him!" Lü Jing exclaimed angrily. "Ever since the senior disciple committed suicide, Lü Jing’s temperament has changed drastically. You may see him laughing all the time, but if a disciple in the sect makes a mistake, his methods are something beyond ordinary people..."
The senior disciple Lü Jing mentioned should be Tong Jingcheng, who had committed suicide.
Yan Shouyi sighed slightly, still holding onto a sliver of hope.
He hoped that Lü Jing was a good person.
"Tomorrow night is the night of the decisive battle. You should go back and rest well, and don't cause any more trouble."
As if Yan Shouyi's words had soured Lü Jing's mood, he flicked his sleeves and left.
Just as Yan Shouyi was about to return to his dormitory to rest.
His phone suddenly rang.
He took it out and saw it was Lin Ziqing.
To avoid worrying Lin Ziqing, Yan Shouyi hadn't told her about the decisive battle tomorrow. He had even fabricated a lie, saying he had personal matters to attend to tomorrow and asked Lin Ziqing not to contact him.
But now that Lin Ziqing was contacting him so suddenly, it was clearly an unavoidable urgent matter.
Yan Shouyi answered the phone and asked, "What's wrong?"
"Big idiot… where are you?" Lin Ziqing's voice sounded a little weak.
This was not her usual tone of speaking.
Sensing that something was about to happen, Yan Shouyi immediately replied, "I'm at school."
"Can you… go and see my dad?"
"So suddenly?"
Yan Shouyi was startled. Why would Lin Ruofu want to see him now?
When he had fewer things to worry about, Yan Shouyi had wanted to visit Lin Ruofu to propose, but Lin Ruofu was abroad and hadn't returned.
Now, with the great battle imminent, Lin Ruofu suddenly wanted to see him?
Yan Shouyi felt a sudden pang of anxiety, but he still said, "Yes, where are you now?"
"Wait for me at the school gate. Grandpa Ye will come to pick you up."
"Okay."
After hanging up the phone, Yan Shouyi took a deep breath.
If he had to go, he had to go. Even meeting Lin Ruofu would only take one evening, and it shouldn't affect the decisive battle tomorrow.
Moreover, it would be good to fulfill a wish before the great battle.
So Yan Shouyi rushed back to his dormitory, tidied himself up, and packed some gifts he had prepared in advance.
These gifts had been prepared by Yan Shouyi's grandfather long ago.
The "Three Letters and Six Rites" were all there, not missing a single item.
Gold, silver, and jewels were all accounted for.
There was even a precious treasure meticulously carved by Yan Shouyi's grandfather.
These betrothal gifts were originally intended for Li Qing'er of the Li family, but when Yan Shouyi visited the Li family, he hadn't even brought these items with him.
Because he knew that Li Qing'er was not his fated person, but Lin Ziqing was.
Long Feicheng was still fiddling with his equipment. Seeing Yan Shouyi in a hurry to pack his things, he also became flustered:
"Yan, Brother Yan, what are you doing? Did you get advance notice that they're not fighting tomorrow, and you're packing to run away?"
Yan Shouyi found it both amusing and exasperating: "Run away, your head. I'm rushing to Lin Ziqing's house to propose."
"Propose? At this time?" Long Feicheng was stunned. "Are we still fighting tomorrow then?"
"Of course, we are!"
Yan Shouyi said, "I will definitely arrive at Ping'an Building tomorrow. While I'm away, you need to make sure everyone is prepared."
"You mean, while you're gone, I'm the boss?" Long Feicheng asked excitedly.
"You can understand it that way!"
After speaking, Yan Shouyi slung his backpack over his shoulder and hurried out of the dormitory.
Long Feicheng was secretly delighted. He had always aspired to be a general commanding thousands of troops.
Just by looking at his name, he knew he was destined to have this opportunity!
...
At the school gate, Lin family's old butler, Ye Chengfu, had been waiting in his car for some time.
Yan Shouyi got into the car and greeted Ye Chengfu with a smile: "Grandpa Ye, long time no see."
"Yes, it has been a long time. You seem to have adapted well to Rongcheng in the past two months," Ye Chengfu said kindly.
Yan Shouyi smiled sheepishly.
Ye Chengfu drove the car, his eyes fixed ahead, chatting casually with Yan Shouyi:
"Shouyi, it seems you have finally made a choice that follows your heart. Miss's wait has not been in vain."
Yan Shouyi said happily, "Yes, I lacked the courage before. Now I've thought it through. Life is too short, and who knows when we'll meet again in the next life? I want to seize the present."
"It's good that you've come to your senses. Then, this old man congratulates you and Miss on your upcoming wedding!" Ye Chengfu laughed heartily.
"Cough, cough, cough!"
In front of Ye Chengfu, Yan Shouyi was still that shy child.
He looked out the window, the city scenery flashing by.
It's so good!
Today, he would finally be betrothed to that brat.
It's a pity Grandpa didn't live a few more months to witness my wedding with that brat.
But Dad will make it in time. He'll be so happy, won't he!
Mom, Grandma, if you were here too, how wonderful it would be.
At this moment,
Yan Shouyi's eyes gleamed.
For the first time, he felt such a strong excitement and anticipation.
Brat, wait for me.
Your wait is about to end, and from now on, it will be my turn to accompany you.
...
...
...
A dimly lit room.
Lin Ziqing trembled, her fists clenched, biting her lower lip.
She looked at her father, dressed in a suit, who was both a stranger and familiar.
Her father turned around and spoke with a tone that was like a judgment:
"Lin Ziqing, you cannot marry Yan Shouyi!"
"Why? Wh-why? Why can't it be him?" Lin Ziqing questioned, her voice bordering on hysterical.
"There is no 'why.' If you still have me as your father in your eyes, then you cannot marry Yan Shouyi!!!"