Few people, apart from storytellers, truly knew the origins of the five great Ghost King families.
Liu Ying, in particular, was a storyteller whose tales were captivating. Long Fei Cheng and Weng Qian Xiang initially took it as just a story, only to snap back to reality and remember they were discussing serious matters.
Xu Qian, after digesting the information, voiced his doubt: "The origins of the five great Ghost King families are indeed little-known, but they aren't exactly a secret, are they? How does this help with what we need to do?"
"Think carefully about what I just said," Liu Ying chuckled. "If you can't figure it out, Yan Shou Yi certainly will."
Helpless, Xu Qian turned to Yan Shou Yi for help.
Yan Shou Yi slowly said, "The key is whether the Shen family knows what the Yu family, in league with the Zhou family, did back then."
"You've hit the nail on the head!" Liu Ying instinctively reached to bang her gavel, only to find a teacup on the table, which made her feel extremely uncomfortable.
Finally, Liu Ying gently tapped the cup and said,
"Back then, the Yu family ordered the Zhou family to strike, slaughtering over thirty members of the Shen family and framing the Liu family. Yet, for all these years, the Shen family has been unaware that the Yu family was the mastermind behind it. Instead, they were manipulated and served their enemy for decades!"
Yan Shou Yi stated, "And once the Shen family learns the truth of what happened back then, the Shen family patriarch will absolutely not let this go. A break with the Yu family is inevitable!"
"You truly live up to your reputation, Yan Shou Yi," Liu Ying praised him without reservation.
Xu Qian also had a sudden realization, but a final doubt remained: "We have no proof of what we're saying. How can we prove that the Yu family ordered the Zhou family to do it back then?"
"This is the secret I was going to tell you."
Liu Ying smiled and said, "Zhou Yu Hu, that man, was eccentric by nature and fond of beautiful women. Among the thirty Shen family members he killed back then, twenty were young maidens. So, after killing them, Zhou Yu Hu did not let their souls go. Instead, he kept them by his side to serve him as ghost slaves!"
"As long as you can find the souls of these Shen family maidens and bring them before the Shen family patriarch, the patriarch will naturally believe everything."
Yan Shou Yi nodded. "And where is Zhou Yu Hu hiding them?"
Liu Ying extended her finger again, rubbing it against her thumb.
Yan Shou Yi's scalp tingled. "I can give you the Lu Ban sacred wood, but can you please speak without pausing so dramatically?"
"A favor for a favor, news for information. Storytellers do business and never owe debts," Liu Ying smiled.
Helpless, Yan Shou Yi produced another piece of Lu Ban sacred wood and gave it to Liu Ying.
Liu Ying brought the two pieces of Lu Ban sacred wood together, placing them on the table before her, as if merely looking at them brought her joy.
She said, "Zhou Yu Hu has a private yin residence on Mount Xiao, north of Qiantang. He hides all the ghostesses he has plundered there over the years. However, Zhou Yu Hu guards them very closely. The yin residence is not only heavily guarded by numerous servants, but Zhou Yu Hu himself rarely stays at the Zhou family's residence. Instead, he hides away in the Mount Xiao yin residence to enjoy family bliss."
Yan Shou Yi had already obtained all the information he needed.
By the time Liu Ying finished speaking, Yan Shou Yi had already formulated a meticulous plan.
A look of seriousness appeared in his eyes. He raised his teacup to Liu Ying and said, "Miss Liu, I offer you this tea in place of wine."
"All right."
Liu Ying displayed the generosity of a storyteller and drank with Yan Shou Yi.
Setting down his teacup, Yan Shou Yi stood up to leave. "Since we have a lead, I must act quickly. I will not disturb you further today, Miss Liu. After this matter is resolved, I will come to visit."
"Wait."
Liu Ying called out to stop Yan Shou Yi, chiding him, "What's the rush?"
Upon seeing Liu Ying's demeanor, Long Fei Cheng couldn't help but nudge Yan Shou Yi and said sarcastically, "Brother Yan, she doesn't want you to leave!"
"Get lost!"
Yan Shou Yi glared at Long Fei Cheng, then asked, "Does Miss Liu have something else?"
Liu Ying pushed the two pieces of Lu Ban sacred wood on the table towards him.
Yan Shou Yi was startled.
Were the two favors he had just given about to be called in so soon?
Could Miss Liu have some special request?
Yan Shou Yi took the Lu Ban sacred wood, puzzled, "What is this for, Miss Liu?"
At this moment, Liu Ying's expression gradually turned grim.
She abandoned her previous carefree demeanor, clenching her fists as if a deep-seated hatred lay within her.
Seeing Liu Ying's change, everyone became somewhat at a loss.
Liu Ying said in a deep voice:
"Two favors. I want you to do them for me now."
Yan Shou Yi also became serious. "What is it?"
"My name is Liu Ying, but my original surname was Liu," Liu Ying said through gritted teeth.
In an instant, Yan Shou Yi understood everything.
A few seconds later, Xu Qian's expression revealed a sudden understanding, and he couldn't help but console, "Miss Liu, please accept my condolences."
Weng Qian Xiang sighed softly and shook his head without a word.
Only Long Fei Cheng looked bewildered. "What? What does Miss Liu mean by that? Is she asking Brother Yan to help her find her birth father? Watchman, don't stay silent, explain it to me!"
Yan Shou Yi said helplessly, "Miss Liu is a descendant of the Liu family, the head of the Qiantang Ghost King families back then."
Long Fei Cheng let out a long "Oh."
Liu Ying said in a deep voice, "The hatred for the extermination of my clan is irreconcilable. But I am just a woman, a mere storyteller, powerless to shake Qiantang. So I have been waiting, waiting for someone who wants to change the landscape of Qiantang to appear. Finally, I have found you, Yan Shou Yi!"
"My two favors are: first, I want you to kill Zhou Yu Hu, and second, I want you to rescue the countless wronged souls imprisoned by Zhou Yu Hu! If possible, I have a third request—"
"Avenge me and destroy the Yu family!!"
Liu Ying's words were sonorous, and the elegant room seemed to echo with the sounds of heavy rain and thunder. Although no raindrops or lightning appeared, Yan Shou Yi and the others were profoundly shaken, as if they were witnessing the tragic events of the Liu family from years ago.
This was the skill of a storyteller.
Every word, every sentence, brought the scene to life.
Yan Shou Yi took a deep breath, put away his Lu Ban sacred wood, and said to Liu Ying,
"Miss Liu, please rest assured. I will fulfill all three of your requests. I will bring the truth to light and make the Yu family pay the price they deserve!"
Liu Ying finally regained her composure. She lowered her head, silently took a sip of the now cold tea, and without looking up, said,
"I have been at Yuelu Academy these past few days. If you need anything, you can come to find me anytime."
Yan Shou Yi clasped his hands in a bow and then turned to leave.
This Qiantang, neither large nor small, held so many stories.
Among the twelve million people, who knew how many had suffered persecution by the Yu family, just like Liu Ying.
They thought that with money and status, they could stand above all beings and act with impunity.
But they forgot that the hatred and grudges of family vendettas were something that generations could not forget.
Someone would always resist!
The current situation truly needed to change!
[Author's Note]
There will be another update after midnight, a chapter combining two parts~