"Third Master Guan, I'm asking you a question."
Yan Shouyi's conversation with Third Master Guan was not going smoothly. Third Master Guan would sometimes answer and sometimes fall silent.
Third Master Guan looked up and asked, "What did you ask me just now?"
"It's not easy for you to be alive, why would you join the New Xuan Mountain Sect? With your abilities, you should be able to live a very comfortable life," Yan Shouyi repeated his question.
"Comfortable? Hahaha!"
Third Master Guan suddenly burst into laughter, but his laughter was hoarse and sorrowful.
Humans are strange creatures. They laugh, but their laughter sounds heartbreaking.
Yan Shouyi frowned and waited. When Third Master Guan finished laughing, he would answer the question himself.
Soon, Third Master Guan's eyes were moist from laughing, and when he ran out of strength, he slowly said:
"Back then, I met your father and voluntarily joined the Xuan Mountain Sect. During those days, we were indeed upholding justice and doing good deeds, and we were very happy. I thought we would continue like this forever. Who knew your father would suddenly disappear."
"After he disappeared, the Xuan Mountain Sect lost its backbone and disbanded not long after. Everyone went back home and resumed their uninteresting and dull lives. I also returned to my hometown, got married, had children, and continued my old trade, carrying coffins."
"But the tree wants to be still, yet the wind does not cease. My two elder brothers did not survive. Only I managed to survive, but I caused the death of my wife and daughter. In the end, I was the one who personally carried their coffins..."
"Our lives are like this, always wandering, always lonely, always ending badly!"
"If I had never gained anything, it would have been fine. But to gain it and then lose it, what kind of logic is that? When I met my wife and gave birth to my daughter, was it a reward from heaven, or a punishment for me?!"
"Just when I was dispirited and dejected, I heard news of the Xuan Mountain Sect's reorganization. Although the people of the Xuan Mountain Sect are not the same as they were in the past, I always believed that this was the life I should have, so I packed my bags, left my hometown, and rejoined the Xuan Mountain Sect."
At this point, Yan Shouyi couldn't help but interrupt:
"The Xuan Mountain Sect has nothing to do with my father anymore, and things have changed there. Why must you still wade into these murky waters?"
"Besides this, what else can I do?" Third Master Guan smiled sadly. "My relatives are dead, my wife and children are dead. The world is vast, but only the Xuan Mountain Sect can accommodate me."
"But even if you joined the Xuan Mountain Sect, you don't need to work for the actor. The people you killed for him also have families, wives and children. If you killed them, can that make up for the pain in your heart?" Yan Shouyi questioned.
Yi Hehuan was not a good person, but she shouldn't have died in such a manner. Yan Shouyi said this not because he regretted Yi Hehuan's death, but because he did not want to see Third Master Guan kill indiscriminately and go down the wrong path.
Third Master Guan fell silent again.
Yan Shouyi sighed and said, "You forcibly entered Longhu Mountain to kill people. Was it because the actor wanted to kill the Heavenly Master?"
Although Third Master Guan's expression was blank, there was a subtle change in his eyes. Yan Shouyi sensitively caught this detail and said coldly:
"Are you surprised why I know about your plan to kill the Heavenly Master? It's simple. Not long ago, I killed the paper-making descendant, Chu Liang, and got the information from him."
Third Master Guan said faintly, "Since you know everything, why ask me?"
"Because you were friends with my father, I want to give you a chance," Yan Shouyi said. "As long as you reveal the actor's plan, I can plead for you, and perhaps Longhu Mountain will let you off."
Third Master Guan looked at Yan Shouyi and shook his head, saying, "No need."
Yan Shouyi said nothing, just stared at Third Master Guan.
Third Master Guan didn't expect that he, a man in his seventies, would be made so uncomfortable by this young man, Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi's gaze was sharp. Although he said nothing, it felt as if he were interrogating Third Master Guan. Although Third Master Guan also said nothing, he felt like he had let something slip.
"Since you are so stubborn, then stay here and behave yourself."
Yan Shouyi dropped the sentence, stood up, and left.
Third Master Guan finally breathed a sigh of relief.
As expected of Yan Chou's son... At such a young age, he already possesses such an aura. His gaze just now was so much like Yan Chou's...
Yan Shouyi walked out of the prison with his hands behind his back.
Zhang Shanli and the others who had been waiting outside hurried forward: "How was it? Did you find out anything?"
Yan Shouyi shook his head: "Nothing conclusive."
Regarding Third Master Guan's past and his father's, it seemed unrelated to today's events, so Yan Shouyi felt there was no need to waste his breath.
The elders of Longhu Mountain were immediately dissatisfied with Yan Shouyi: "We told you long ago that this kid is useless! Shanli, you should use torture."
Zhang Shanli frowned: "Shouyi, you really didn't find out anything?"
Yan Shouyi spread his hands: "Really not."
"Then I'll have to step in," Zhang Shanli sighed and silently rolled up his sleeves.
Seeing this, the others made excuses to leave, and even Zhang Wuma retreated far away.
Yan Shouyi asked confusedly, "What are you guys doing?"
Zhang Wuma stepped forward, pulled Yan Shouyi aside, and whispered, "Hall Master Shanli's methods are cruel. Once he acts, this dungeon will become a living hell. A gentleman stays away from the kitchen, and we really can't bear to hear Third Master Guan's screams."
From the reactions of the crowd, it was clear that if Zhang Shanli took action, the interrogatee would not fare well.
However, Yan Shouyi was curious to see Zhang Shanli's methods, so he asked, "Great-Uncle, can I observe?"
Zhang Shanli smiled: "Yes, but it's best if you change your clothes. It wouldn't be good if you get covered in blood."
"It doesn't matter, I brought a change of clothes."
With that, Yan Shouyi followed Zhang Shanli into the prison.
The others hid far away, looking at each other.
The two entered the prison and closed the door. Zhang Shanli sneered, "Third Master Guan, I'll give you one last chance. If you don't confess now, you won't have a chance to regret it later."
Third Master Guan seemed to have prepared himself for the pain and closed his eyes, remaining silent.
Yan Shouyi walked behind Third Master Guan and suddenly struck his neck with his palm. Caught off guard, Third Master Guan immediately fainted.
Zhang Shanli was not surprised by Yan Shouyi's action. Instead, he checked if the dungeon door was locked, turned around, and said:
"Speak, what did you find out."
It was clear that Zhang Shanli already knew Yan Shouyi's intention. Yan Shouyi didn't come to witness his torture methods but to talk to him privately.
Yan Shouyi smiled and said, "Great-Uncle is indeed smart... But before I tell you, I want to ask you something. Did Zhang Wuma tell you about the missing coffin pole?"
Zhang Shanli was stunned: "No, why?"
"Then my guess is almost certainly correct."
Yan Shouyi smiled coldly: "There is a spy in Longhu Mountain, and that spy is Zhang Wuma!"