Folk sects rely on their abilities and rules for their standing among the populace.
These rules are numerous, encompassing loyalty, righteousness, filial piety, reverence for deities, and keeping one's word. It is precisely because of these rules that folk sects do not descend into chaos.
Yan Shouyi had seized Cui Yu merely to intimidate the others. Now, having met Shen Shuzhen, there was no need to hold onto the boy’s very life. If the martial world were to perceive Yan Shouyi as a despicable villain, his future path would be fraught with difficulty, and no one would readily trust him again.
After releasing Cui Yu, the boy was initially stunned before quickly scrambling towards Shen Shuzhen, hiding behind two middle-aged men.
Seeing this, Long Feicheng felt disdain, dismissing Cui Yu as nothing more than a brat.
Yan Shouyi cupped his fists and greeted Shen Shuzhen. However, Shen Shuzhen remained silent, still holding Cui Yu’s hand and asking if he was injured.
Upon hearing this, Cui Yu’s anger flared, and he immediately lodged a complaint:
“That person called Yan Shouyi, he pressed my head to the ground, sat on me, choked me, and slapped me!”
Before Shen Shuzhen could respond, the two middle-aged men beside her became agitated. Their faces darkened as they questioned Yan Shouyi:
“He is merely a child. Was it necessary for you to be so ruthless?”
Yan Shouyi stated calmly, “At fifteen or sixteen, he is no longer a child. Moreover, he attempted to use my friend to threaten me.”
Children themselves are not frightening; it is children wielding the power to harm others that is frightening. Thus, when Cui Yu began to threaten Yan Shouyi, he no longer viewed Cui Yu as a child.
The bearded man in work clothes, known for his hot temper, glared directly at Yan Shouyi, “You grabbed Xiao Yu and came here brazenly just to say this?”
“Certainly not,” Yan Shouyi replied. “But I am here to see Senior Shen, not the two of you. Therefore, I request Senior Shen to speak with me directly.”
“Presumptuous!” Another man, heavily made up, was about to curse when he saw Shen Shuzhen frown. He immediately changed his tone, “Considering we are all from folk sects, you may descend the mountain yourself. We can overlook this matter this time!”
Yan Shouyi’s face darkened completely.
He glanced around, picked up an ashtray from the table, and smashed it hard on the ground!
*Clang!*
This impact startled Cui Yu like a frightened bird, causing him to jump. The other two middle-aged men were also jolted.
Although Shen Shuzhen was not startled, she finally raised her head to look at Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi, with a dark expression, said, “You need to understand something. Although I am a junior, I have come today to seek an explanation. Do I need your forgiveness? Do I need you to let me off? If you do not give me a reasonable explanation today, not only will I not be able to leave, but none of you will be able to either!”
As fellow inheritors of folk sects, Yan Shouyi had seen Luo Ning struggling against fate, Wang Jijiang grieving the loss of his father, and He Xiping sacrificing for love. Therefore, he found Shen Shuzhen’s approach of enduring such indignities even more unbearable!
Seeing the demeanor of Shen Shuzhen’s two subordinates further pained him.
If he didn’t stir things up today, Qiantang would be lost to them!
The two middle-aged men recovered their senses, both enraged.
The bearded man even picked up a large pair of pliers from the side, preparing to attack Yan Shouyi.
Long Feicheng swallowed, sensing another confrontation, yet he stood firmly by Yan Shouyi’s side, not backing down an inch.
Just then, Shen Shuzhen finally spoke, “Stop arguing!”
Shen Shuzhen’s words were like a decree. Even the two middle-aged men dared not disobey in the slightest, and they immediately fell silent.
Only Cui Yu, unwilling to accept it, said, “Great-Grandmother, they hit me…”
*Slap!*
To everyone’s surprise, Shen Shuzhen actually slapped Cui Yu too!
Cui Yu, covering his face, looked at his great-grandmother in disbelief. This was the first time he had ever been hit by her since he was a child!
Cui Yu couldn’t comprehend: What was happening today? Why was everyone hitting him!
Shen Shuzhen said coldly, “I have been too lenient with you in the past. Now, when you encounter outsiders and suffer a loss, you must accept it. Otherwise, you will be beaten again next time.”
Cui Yu gritted his teeth, endured the grievance, and stood dejectedly to the side without speaking.
Then, Shen Shuzhen turned her gaze to Yan Shouyi and the others, “I am in charge of matters concerning Qiantang. It is not for you two juniors from outside to point fingers. Do you understand this?”
As the leader in charge of Qiantang’s folk sects, when Shen Shuzhen spoke, her presence was formidable.
Yan Shouyi, bracing himself, replied, “I am concerned with the reputation of the folk sects, not your Qiantang’s affairs.”
“If it weren’t for that, I would have driven you down the mountain long ago,” Shen Shuzhen sighed. “It’s really unlucky. Every time I see someone from your Yan family, I can’t help but get upset.”
“You, and your father, and your grandfather, all of you Yan family members understand reason, but you just don’t understand respecting the old and cherishing the young!”
Yan Shouyi was taken aback. From Shen Shuzhen’s words, it seemed she actually knew his grandfather and father.
Moreover, from her words, he could infer that his grandfather and father had also provoked her…
Long Feicheng weakly said, “Brother Yan, Senior Shen seems to be right about you not respecting the old and cherishing the young. Today, we beat their junior and insulted their elder…”
“Are you trying to curry favor with me by saying that?” Yan Shouyi shot Long Feicheng a look.
He turned back to Shen Shuzhen, his tone much softer than before, “It seems Senior Shen knows my father and grandfather.”
“Of course, I know them. They are my juniors,” Shen Shuzhen said. “And they have also, just like you today, cursed me to my face.”
Cui Yu’s eyes widened, unable to believe what he was hearing.
His great-grandmother had suffered such grievances?
The two middle-aged men were even more indignant, “Grandmother Shen, how dare they curse you?”
Shen Shuzhen glared at the two men, slowly stood up, placed her hands behind her back, and with a stoop, said, “Because they are descendants of Lu Ban. Even I owe them a favor.”
What was going on?
Yan Shouyi became increasingly bewildered. He just wanted to call his father immediately and ask him about his relationship with Shen Shuzhen.
“That is all in the past, and it is no longer important,” Shen Shuzhen did not seem inclined to dwell on past events.
She sized up Yan Shouyi, then glanced at Long Feicheng, and said, “You have come today to seek an explanation, and I have a general understanding of what this is about. Speak your minds, whatever you want to say. Don’t worry about offending me.”
Shen Shuzhen was someone whom even Yan Shouyi’s grandfather, Yan Baixiang, would address as Senior. Judging by her age, she was at least ninety years old. As the saying goes, age brings wisdom; she immediately perceived Yan Shouyi’s intentions.
Yan Shouyi looked at Shen Shuzhen. From her eyes, Yan Shouyi guessed that his father and grandfather had likely done the same thing.
He sighed. Since Shen Shuzhen was an old acquaintance of his father and grandfather, he shouldn’t have been so rude earlier.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi first apologized, and then in a more conciliatory tone, he asked:
“Senior Shen, you are a Corpse Handler and a respected elder among folk sects. Why do you still supply corpses and souls to the Ghost King family and endure humiliation under them?”