Guanyun Shitai spoke, and even Zhang Yin, the Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain, would have shown her respect.
Coupled with her powerful aura as the sect leader, the two young Taoist priests were utterly intimidated, unable to look up. They were trapped between advancing and retreating, their faces flushed as they remained silent.
"Sect Leader Guanyun speaks wisely. This time, it is our Longhu Mountain's failing in discipline that has offended our friends from the folk sects. On behalf of the Longhu Mountain Disciplinary Hall, I offer my apologies!"
Just then, a hearty voice called out, and a stern, middle-aged Taoist in a robe emerged from behind.
He glanced at the two young priests and said coldly, "How have I always educated you? As disciples of Longhu Mountain, your conduct and demeanor must reflect the grace of a major sect. If everyone in the mountain were like you, Longhu Mountain would never achieve greatness!"
The two young priests seemed terrified of this person and quickly knelt to apologize. However, the middle-aged Taoist berated them:
"Why apologize to me? Go apologize to those you have offended!"
The two immediately understood and, shuffling on their knees, turned towards Yan Shouyi and his companions. Realizing their mistake, they quickly stood up, bowed their heads, and said to Yan Shouyi, "It is we who were foolish and have offended you!"
With someone backing him and another reprimanding them, Yan Shouyi's anger subsided. He saw no need to dwell on the matter.
He said calmly, "We are merely here to participate in the Luotian Grand Ceremony, not to cause trouble."
Seeing that Yan Shouyi had forgiven them, the two priests breathed a sigh of relief and cautiously looked at the middle-aged Taoist.
The middle-aged Taoist waved his sleeve impatiently and said, "Go back and face the wall for seven days. Do not let me see you again before the Luotian Grand Ceremony concludes!"
Upon hearing this, the two priests turned ashen, utterly dejected.
The Luotian Grand Ceremony was a grand event for the Xuanmen. In the eyes of disciples like them, it was even more festive than the New Year. They had eagerly awaited the Luotian Grand Ceremony, only to be confined to meditation before it even began, and to emerge only after it concluded.
How disheartening this was!
If they had to blame anyone, it was themselves for relying on their status as Longhu Mountain disciples, for their lack of discernment, and their petty arrogance, which led them to stir up trouble. It was entirely their own doing.
Yan Shouyi felt the punishment was within reasonable bounds and saw no need to intercede on their behalf.
After the middle-aged Taoist sent the two priests away, he smiled and bowed to Guanyun Shitai, "Zhang Shanli, Hall Master of the Longhu Mountain Disciplinary Hall, greets Sect Leader Guanyun!"
Zhang Shanli, the Hall Master of the Longhu Mountain Disciplinary Hall, held a position equivalent to that of a police chief within Longhu Mountain. He had no authority over the sect leader or elders but had the right to punish everyone else, even the sect leader's personal disciples.
Legend had it that the Longhu Mountain Disciplinary Hall possessed a "Heaven Measuring Ruler," and that thing was a painful weapon.
Zhang Shanli's name was well-known both inside and outside Longhu Mountain. Yan Shouyi had heard that he was the fiercest tiger within Longhu Mountain, known for his cold-blooded and ruthless punishment of disciples.
However, upon meeting him today, Yan Shouyi felt that Zhang Shanli was not as terrifying as the rumors suggested. His punishments for disciples seemed to be within the normal range. The only possibility was that this man was impartial and unyielding, punishing and beating as he saw fit.
Sometimes, excessive uprightness could be perceived as terrifying by some.
Guanyun Shitai put away her horsetail whisk, rested it on her arm, and said calmly, "It has been a few years, but Hall Master Zhang, you are still as decisive as ever."
"I have made Sect Leader Guanyun witness a spectacle. After this Luotian Grand Ceremony, I will thoroughly reorganize the sect. These new disciples must suffer a bit before they learn their lesson," Zhang Shanli said with a smile.
Guanyun Shitai nodded. As the sect leader, she did not need to treat Zhang Shanli as an equal. She directly looked at Yan Shouyi and then revealed a smile, "Shouyi."
Yan Shouyi quickly approached Guanyun Shitai, revealing a bright smile, "Great-Aunt."
The moment he uttered this address, Guanyun Shitai was momentarily taken aback. The Emei Mountain disciples behind her covered their mouths, their shoulders trembling, clearly struggling to suppress their laughter.
However, Guanyun Shitai did not blame Yan Shouyi. Instead, she said kindly, "You are a clever boy, recognizing your kin. Your grandmother is my senior sister, so it is not wrong for you to call me Great-Aunt."
Yan Shouyi replied, "To Grandma, Emei Mountain is her home. Naturally, I consider Emei Mountain my ancestral home as well. So, as soon as I saw you, I felt a sense of closeness, as if I were seeing Grandma!"
His words were so sweet that they made Guanyun Shitai beam with joy.
She had no children or grandchildren of her own and had poured all her love into her disciple Ling Xiaoxiao. Now, with the sudden appearance of Yan Shouyi, a descendant, Guanyun Shitai was overjoyed and incredibly fond of him.
It was fortunate that Yan Chou and Wen Yuxian had gone to Emei Mountain in advance and smoothed things over.
Otherwise, Guanyun Shitai's encounter with Yan Shouyi would not have been so pleasant; she might have even drawn her sword and attacked him.
"Thank you for your help earlier, Great-Aunt. Otherwise, we wouldn't know how to participate in the Luotian Grand Ceremony," Yan Shouyi said gratefully.
Guanyun Shitai chuckled, " I merely spoke the truth, so there's no need for thanks. If you wish to express gratitude, thank Hall Master Zhang."
Yan Shouyi quickly turned to Zhang Shanli and bowed his thanks.
Unexpectedly, Zhang Shanli also took a liking to Yan Shouyi and even stepped forward to support him with both hands.
He narrowed his eyes and asked, "Do you know who I am?"
Zhang Shanli was indeed Zhang Shanli, his name and identity already revealed. But he still asked this, clearly intending to disclose his other identity.
Yan Shouyi thought for a moment, and then his eyes lit up. He asked, "Senior, are you related to my maternal grandfather, Zhang Shantong?"
"Zhang Shantong is my senior brother," Zhang Shanli replied with a smile.
Yan Shouyi suddenly understood and repeatedly called out "Little Uncle-Grandfather," which amused Zhang Shanli.
Yan Shouyi had learned this skill of "claiming distant relatives" from Long Feicheng. He hadn't understood it well before, but he had to admit that this tactic was very effective.
Because Zhang Shanli knew of Yan Shouyi's connection to Zhang Shantong, he deliberately sided with Yan Shouyi. If it weren't for considerations of appearances, Zhang Shanli might have even punished those two young Taoist priests more severely.
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but sigh inwardly, "Who says coming to Longhu Mountain is like entering a dragon's lair? This is clearly a large family reunion!"
Now that the Hall Master of the Longhu Mountain Disciplinary Hall was his Little Uncle-Grandfather, and the Sect Leader of Emei Mountain was his Great-Aunt, if he could claim a few more relatives upon reaching the back mountain of Longhu Mountain, wouldn't he be able to walk sideways during the Luotian Grand Ceremony?
He mused that it would be even better if he could somehow establish a connection with the Old Heavenly Master.
However, unfortunately, the Old Heavenly Master was the leader of the Anti-Yan Chou Alliance group, and it would likely not be easy to sway him.
Zhang Shanli personally took the registration forms, guided Yan Shouyi and his group in filling them out, and then arranged for Yan Shouyi's party and Guanyun Shitai's group to board a bus.
"I still need to be here to receive guests, so I won't personally escort you into the mountain. This bus will take you to the back mountain, where someone will arrange your accommodation. When I return to the mountain, I will find you for a gathering."
Zhang Shanli instructed from below the bus. Yan Shouyi was very grateful, calling him a benefactor.
Both groups filled the bus to capacity. Yan Shouyi sat in the front row alongside Guanyun Shitai. As the bus started moving, Guanyun Shitai began asking Yan Shouyi many questions.
For instance, how Yan Shouyi had fared over the years, what the situation was with Wen Yuxian and the Jianwang Tomb, and why he wished to participate in the Luotian Grand Ceremony this time.
Yan Shouyi could only answer the string of questions one by one, slowly.
It was evident that Guanyun Shitai was very concerned about Yan Shouyi, and her expression changed with each of his answers.
Finally, Guanyun Shitai asked, "I heard you married the personal disciple of the former sect leader of the Lushan Sect. Where is that little girl? Bring her over for me to see! Xiaoxiao has praised your wife highly, saying she is the most beautiful woman in the world, and also gentle and virtuous. Most importantly, her strength is considerable!"
Yan Shouyi, half-amused, half-exasperated, replied, "She has gone on an errand with the current sect leader of the Lushan Sect. However, I have arranged to meet her at the Luotian Grand Ceremony, and she might already be at Longhu Mountain by now."
"So that's how it is. When you meet her at Longhu Mountain, you must bring her for me to see!" Guanyun Shitai said with a smile. "As your Great-Aunt, I should give her some suitable gifts."
Yan Shouyi felt a bit embarrassed and repeatedly thanked her.
The bus left the city and entered the winding mountain roads. As everyone was heading to the back mountain of Longhu Mountain, they did not take the usual tourist route but a winding and rugged mountain path.
The mountain road was difficult to navigate, and several disciples prone to motion sickness turned pale, including Long Feicheng.
Just as Long Feicheng was complaining about when they would reach their destination, the bus suddenly stopped.
"Have we arrived?" Long Feicheng quickly rushed off the bus and, leaning against a tree by the roadside, vomited for a while.
When he recovered and looked up, he realized something was wrong.
This was not the back mountain of Longhu Mountain, but halfway up the mountain, in a place devoid of any settlement.
But more importantly, a large tree had fallen across the mountain path ahead, completely blocking the bus's way. Behind the fallen tree stood a group of individuals who looked rather formidable.
"Who are they?"
Everyone got off the bus, sensing that something was amiss.
These people clearly had hostile intentions.
Yan Shouyi also saw the group. He knew that in this era, highway robbery was practically non-existent.
Therefore, these people could not be mountain bandits or robbers.
This left only one explanation for their identity.
These guys were here to cause trouble for him.
Yan Shouyi said with a grim expression, "Great-Aunt, these people are probably here for me."
Guanyun Shitai chuckled lightly, "They are all mere riffraff. You don't need my help; I'm sure you can handle them."
"But they are just pawns. Since even these riffraff dare to block the road so brazenly at the foot of Longhu Mountain, it means there must be powerful individuals nearby, secretly backing them," Yan Shouyi analyzed.
Guanyun Shitai was slightly surprised and re-examined Yan Shouyi, unable to help but praise him:
"Indeed, you are Yan Chou's son. At such a young age, you possess such insight. You truly impress me."