"Luban's successor? What Luban's successor?"
Fu Que Zhenren's first reaction was to stare blankly, as did most of the Li family members.
Only Gao Zizhen reacted, his expression instantly turning a little grim.
Li Peizong asked doubtfully, "Daoist, you are also from the Xuanmen sect. How can you not know about Luban's successor?"
Fu Que Zhenren quietly glanced at Gao Zizhen. Seeing Gao Zizhen's grim expression, he realized he was about to expose himself.
So Fu Que Zhenren dug at his ear and said, "This old Daoist is getting old and often hard of hearing. I didn't hear clearly just now. Please, Mr. Li, say it again, what successor?"
Li Peizong repeated, "Luban's successor."
"Oh! Luban's successor... Yes... Yes, indeed, it is a lineage within our Xuanmen sect. Thus... things are indeed not simple."
In fact, Fu Que Zhenren was still in a daze. He had never heard of any Luban's successor.
But Gao Zizhen's expression and reaction made Fu Que Zhenren guess that Luban's successor was not someone to be trifled with.
A Li family member asked, "Patriarch, what is a Luban's successor? How does that kid's status compare to Daoist Gao's?"
Li Peizong replied, "Daoist certainly knows more about this than I do. Let Daoist answer."
Fu Que Zhenren was once again bewildered. How would he know about Luban's successor!
So he immediately passed the question to Gao Zizhen, "Disciple, you explain it to everyone."
It must be said that Fu Que Zhenren's travels were not based on strength, but more on his ability to adapt so powerfully at over seventy years old...
Gao Zizhen sighed and said,
"Strictly speaking, Luban's successors are not considered part of the Xuanmen Taoist sect. They originated in the Warring States period, with Luban as their founding ancestor. Aside from some rare magical arts, they often secretly learned the unique skills of other sects, and were disdained by all Taoist sects. However, Luban's successors are all incredibly cunning and prone to revenge, so those in the Xuanmen sect dare not speak out against them. Qing'er has fallen in with a Luban's successor; this is truly misfortune for the family..."
In Gao Zizhen's description, Luban's successor became a sinister and cunning villain, a bringer of disaster to the family.
The Li family members, who already disapproved of Li Qing'er's engagement, became even more opposed to the marriage, clamoring to annul it quickly so as not to delay Li Qing'er.
Of course, their greater objective was still to have Li Qing'er marry Gao Zizhen.
Li Qing'er herself could not accept that her fiancé was such an evil existence.
With red eyes, she said to Li Peizong, "Dad, I don't want to marry that kind of man!"
"Dad knows. This engagement will definitely be broken off, but haven't we found that Luban's successor yet?" Li Peizong deliberately showed a troubled expression. "If we rashly let you marry Daoist Gao, and then Luban's successor comes looking for us, he will not only seek revenge on us but may also vent his anger on Daoist Gao. That is not what Dad wants to see."
Li Peizong's words were spoken very tactfully, shifting all blame onto Luban's successor and making himself appear to be on Gao Zizhen's side.
But in reality, he just wanted to delay the marriage.
Fu Que Zhenren was also undecided, frequently looking at Gao Zizhen. Gao Zizhen's expression was truly grim because he knew the power of Luban's successors and that he couldn't afford to provoke them.
But he had finally found a suitable Li Qing'er for the Yang Revival Art. If he gave up now, he didn't know when he would find another woman.
It was even possible that he might run out of his lifespan before finding another woman.
Therefore, Gao Zizhen had to take a gamble, he was determined to have Li Qing'er!
So Gao Zizhen said, "Mr. Li, regardless, Qing'er and I are in love. No matter how unfeeling that Luban's successor is, he should yield somewhat. You can trust us. Miaoyu Temple originates from Kunlun Mountain, and we are not afraid of his Luban's successor. If he truly comes looking for trouble, we can handle him with my master and me!"
With words spoken to this extent, Li Peizong seemed to have no reason to refuse.
He frowned, thinking about how to respond.
At this moment, a Li family member suddenly thought of something and said loudly, "Just now, that young man standing outside the door, he seemed to be Qing'er's fiancé!"
The crowd immediately erupted, quickly pulling the Li family member aside to ask for details.
This Li family member said, "Just now, two strange young men were lingering at our door. I asked them who they were, and one of the short-haired young men said he was Qing'er's fiancé. I thought he was crazy and tried to chase him away. Before he left, he told me that he was Luban's successor, named Yan Shouyi, and that he was now the security captain at Shanghang Arts School. He said that whenever we needed him, we could find him at Shanghang Arts School..."
Upon hearing this, everyone was shocked. They never expected Luban's successor to actually show up.
The other party had not forgotten the engagement, and coincidentally appeared in the last two months of the year.
This sudden turn of events caught even Li Peizong off guard.
How could it be such a coincidence? Why now of all times?
If the other party really showed up and the engagement was successfully annulled, wouldn't Qing'er have to marry Gao Zizhen?
Li Peizong's mind was filled with profanities.
Gao Zizhen, whose mind was also filled with profanities and who was in a panic, felt the same.
Gao Zizhen never expected that this Luban's successor would appear so coincidentally at this very moment!
If things continued this way, the Li family would inevitably bring that Luban's successor to confront them.
He had just made a bold statement that if Luban's successor sought revenge, he, Gao Zizhen, would bear it.
But how could Gao Zizhen bear it?
He was just a minor Taoist priest. Although he truly hailed from Kunlun Mountain, he knew very few of the true skills from Kunlun Mountain!
However, Fu Que Zhenren did not know that Gao Zizhen was genuinely flustered. After hearing Gao Zizhen's words, he thought that Gao Zizhen really didn't take Luban's successor seriously.
So Fu Que Zhenren confidently said, "That's perfect! Mr. Li, why don't you invite him over now, so we can have a word with him!"
Gao Zizhen: "..."
Li Qing'er also said anxiously, "Dad, find that Yan Shouyi. I'll explain things to him clearly too!"
Li Peizong now had no way out and could only reluctantly agree, "Alright, then send someone to Shanghang Arts School to pick him up."
Thus, the Li family convoy, carrying mixed emotions, departed from West Lake and headed straight for Shanghang Arts School.
As for Li Peizong and Gao Zizhen, who were still at the Li residence, their feelings were indescribably complex.
They had no idea things would escalate to this point.
It seemed that neither side could back down gracefully.
...
Outside Shanghang Arts School.
A few nonchalant students were squatting at the school entrance, smoking with a group of street thugs.
One of the students said mysteriously, "Brother Dafei, you have no idea. Our school's security captain, Yan Shouyi, is a real big shot in the underworld!"
The leader of the thugs sneered, "What Yan Shouyi, Yan Shou'er? I'm in the underworld, and I've never heard this name!"
"You really don't believe it? We saw it with our own eyes. A motorcade of Land Rovers came to pick him up, and everyone who got out of the cars was wearing suits and sunglasses. They looked like trouble!" the student said with conviction.
The leader of the thugs laughed, "You guys are just fools, believing rumors. This area around Shanghang Arts School is under my protection, and are there people I don't know? Where is this Yan Shouyi you're talking about? I'll get someone to beat him up right now!"
As soon as he finished speaking, a bus stopped at the school entrance. Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng happened to get off the bus.
The student exclaimed excitedly, "It's him! He's Yan Shouyi!"
The thug sized up Yan Shouyi, finding nothing special about him, and certainly not looking like someone from the underworld. He sneered, "You were just scaring yourselves. He's not important at all. Wait here, I'll go beat him up and see if he dares to say anything!"
Saying that, the thug led a few people and surrounded Yan Shouyi.
Blocked unreasonably and with the other party looking hostile, Yan Shouyi frowned, "What do you want?"
"You're the one called Yan Shouyi?" the leader of the thugs pushed Yan Shouyi.
Long Feicheng was about to react when a rapid braking sound was heard.
Then, a full ten Rolls-Royces surrounded Yan Shouyi and his companion.
The leader of the thugs was dumbfounded.
A group of people got out of the cars, all tall and burly, clearly not to be trifled with.
One of them said to Yan Shouyi, "Excuse me, are you Mr. Yan?"
Yan Shouyi nodded, "And you are?"
"We are from the Li family. The patriarch has specifically sent us to Shanghang Arts School to pick you up!"
"Oh, just a moment."
Yan Shouyi knew that the Li family had belatedly realized and wanted him to return to discuss the engagement.
But there were a few thugs in front of him who seemed to have something important to discuss with him.
So Yan Shouyi left the Li family members waiting and asked the leader of the thugs, "I am Yan Shouyi. What do you need me for?"
The thugs were all stunned.
This Yan Shouyi was truly from the underworld!
And his status was many levels higher than theirs!
Their Rolls-Royces were all brand new, while theirs were old Alto cars...
Fortunately, the leader of the thugs reacted quickly, smiling and saying, "I heard you're the security captain at Shanghang Arts School. Actually, we also want to join the security team. I wonder if there's an opportunity..."
"Oh, you guys look fit enough. Come to the security department for an interview after I'm done with my business. We're short-handed recently," Yan Shouyi nodded.
The thugs quickly nodded and bowed, watching Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng get into the car and leave.
The leader of the thugs broke into a cold sweat, "Damn, it's a good thing I reacted quickly, or I might have died a horrible death!"
"Boss, Yan Shouyi is really a prominent figure. How come we never heard of him before?" asked a subordinate.
"We are on the first floor, and Yan Shouyi is already in the stratosphere. Naturally, we can't reach him!" the leader of the thugs said with a tone of disappointment.
The subordinate then asked, "Then, boss, it seems we're going to become security guards... Is this considered conscription?"
"Conscription my ass, this is seeking refuge! Yan Ge has such great influence. If we can stay by his side, will we still worry about not having enough status in the future? Hahahaha!"
The thugs felt that their boss made sense and couldn't help but show expressions of longing.
Yan Ge, we are determined to follow you!