While Yan Shouyi was still marveling at Li Chongxi's abilities, Liu Ying pulled him back to reality:
"This Li Chongxi has a seniority among the inheritors of folk sects as high as your grandfather's. He's also a highly respected figure. If you have the chance, you should go meet him."
"I was already planning to go to Lishan on this trip. Of course, I'll go see him when I get there."
Yan Shouyi paused, then asked curiously, "What else do you know about Li Genmiao?"
After the events at Longhu Mountain, the previously unknown Li Genmiao would likely soon become known to the Xuanmen.
This was not a good thing.
For every good person, there would be more bad ones. If news spread that Li Genmiao had attacked Longhu Mountain and killed the Old Heavenly Master, who knew how many ill-intentioned individuals would join his ranks.
At that point, the world would be in peril.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi hoped to learn more about Li Genmiao to eliminate him as soon as possible.
Liu Ying sighed and said, "Li Genmiao has hidden himself very well. Not even our informants noticed him. He only rose to prominence in the last two years. However, based on the information I have, this person is a complete lunatic."
"Lunatic?" Yan Shouyi gave a wry smile. "He is indeed quite mad."
He wouldn't act, but when he did, he attacked Longhu Mountain. Moreover, Li Genmiao acted entirely based on his own whims, with no discernible pattern. This was why both Yan Shouyi and Yan Chou found him so troublesome.
Liu Ying said, "The ideology of acting in accordance with heaven that Li Genmiao promotes is actually quite obvious to anyone who thinks about it – it's a lie to trick three-year-olds. But do you know why he still has so many followers?"
"Why?" Yan Shouyi frowned. He truly hadn't considered this question.
"Firstly, it's naturally because being bad is more carefree and enjoyable than being good, so they join him without caring that Li Genmiao is a fraud. Secondly, and this is the most important point, people are selfish. Most people want to be the only one in the world, the irreplaceable unique one. Do you know what that means?"
As Liu Ying finished speaking, she left Yan Shouyi time to ponder. Yan Shouyi's expression quickly turned grim.
"Are you saying that those people deliberately joined Xuantian Mountain with the sole purpose of killing all the other inheritors of folk sects who share the same origins?"
"Exactly."
Yan Shouyi let out a long sigh.
He had always refrained from assuming the worst of other folk sect inheritors, but reality was cruelly indifferent.
Not all inheritors of folk sects were good people.
Once they killed off all the other folk sect inheritors, they would become the sole ones, living far more comfortably in the future, no matter how they chose to live.
"Storytellers are meant to be neutral and have always stayed out of worldly disputes. Because of this, for many years my master in Qiantang has not helped any faction. But this time is different, Yan Shouyi," Liu Ying said coldly. "Li Genmiao's appearance concerns the inheritance of folk sects. If you do not eliminate Li Genmiao, Li Genmiao will sever thousands of years of heritage of folk sects in the future, including ours, the storytellers."
"Why do you believe that the person who can eliminate Li Genmiao is me, and not my father, or other inheritors of folk sects?"
"Because it can only be you!"
Liu Ying said earnestly, "Inheritors of folk sects have always been arrogant and scattered across the land. Before your father, no one had ever united the inheritors of folk sects. He founded Xuantian Mountain, and Li Genmiao took over Xuantian Mountain. You are Yan Chou's son, and Xuantian Mountain should pass to you. You killing Li Genmiao and taking Xuantian Mountain is the right thing to do. No one is more suitable than you."
"Furthermore, look at the current crematorium. Before you arrived, everyone was just gathered together seeking self-protection. But after you came, everyone truly united."
"Yan Shouyi, you have this kind of cohesion, everyone respects you. My master and I hope you can bear this heavy responsibility, eliminate Li Genmiao, and protect the heritage of our folk sects."
Yan Shouyi took a deep breath and said with a crooked smile, "You saying this makes me feel a lot of pressure."
"Don't tell me you don't have this plan or thought in your heart," Liu Ying said, glancing at Yan Shouyi as she drove.
Yan Shouyi cleared his throat twice, not answering directly.
Because the topic they had just discussed was too heavy, Yan Shouyi decided to change the subject.
"Kang Jinlong met you alone that day. Did you answer his question?"
"You mean Wei Changqing, right? No, my master must answer his question."
"How is your master? I'd like to meet him if I get the chance."
"You will, after you've dealt with the Yu family."
They chatted idly about this and that, and soon returned to the crematorium.
But as they were about to get out of the car, they were shocked to see Long Feicheng emerge from Liu Zhiqiao's room, putting on his clothes!
And both of them looked somewhat tired!
"My heavens, what did I just see?!"
Liu Ying rubbed her eyes in disbelief.
Yan Shouyi's eyes widened, and he mumbled, "I never imagined Little Long was so brave..."
He had thought the offer of marriage by deed was just a joke, but Long Feicheng was serious about it!
"I..."
Liu Ying covered her face and said, "I came today to see Granny Zhiqiao, but now I don't know how to face her."
"I need to recover too..." Yan Shouyi leaned on the car door, marveling at Long Feicheng's resilience.
Long Feicheng, unaware that Yan Shouyi and the others had misunderstood, smiled and waved back at Liu Zhiqiao, saying gratefully, "That did hurt a bit just now."
"It's your first time, it's bound to happen," Liu Zhiqiao comforted him. "Perhaps next time you won't feel it."
Long Feicheng stretched his muscles, twisted his waist, and said, "I was feeling quite weak just now, but now I feel full of energy. I think I can go again right away!"
"No, if you don't rest, I need to rest too!" Liu Ying waved her hand. "Besides, it's not something you can do just because you want to. You've also consumed some vital energy. Go back and rest for a few days."
Yan Shouyi and Liu Ying in the car were on the verge of collapse.
What were they hearing...?
As Long Feicheng was about to leave, Liu Zhiqiao called him back and whispered in his ear:
"The Zhensha tattoo I left on Yan Shouyi will loosen sooner or later. By then, you might need to step in."
Long Feicheng smiled confidently, raised his hand, spread it open, and then clenched it into a fist: "I suddenly feel a sense of mission, don't worry, Grandma Liu! I will definitely use the strength you've given me to its fullest to protect Brother Yan's safety!"
Liu Ying in the car couldn't help but ask, "What are they whispering about?"
Yan Shouyi emulated Long Feicheng's gesture, raising his hand, spreading it open, and clenching it into a fist again, translating Long Feicheng's lip movements with a trembling voice: Da Feng Novel Network
"Knowing Little Long as I do, he seems to be telling Grandma Liu: Hah, woman, you can't escape my grasp!"