After a long wait, time finally arrived at the evening of the next day.
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong drove to Lin Fan's residence, intending to pick up the culprit and negotiate with the赊刀人 (shē dāo rén - knife-selling man).
Last night, Lin Zitong had spoken with Lin Fan, assuring him of their protection and explaining that several experts would be lurking nearby to apprehend the 赊刀人.
Lin Fan, still hesitant to take the risk, had pleaded with Lin Zitong to find another solution. However, upon learning that someone had been kidnapped by the 赊刀人 because of him, Lin Fan's last shred of conscience awakened, and he agreed to help that night.
The three of them drove to Lin Fan's villa. As soon as they got out of the car, Yan Shouyi glanced at the villa's garage, his expression becoming peculiar.
"You little brat, did Lin Fan really agree to help yesterday?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Lin Zitong nodded. "My dad also spent the entire night talking him around, telling him that if he ran away now, he would no longer be considered part of the Lin family, and all their wealth and status would be severed from him."
Long Feicheng analyzed it with a serious demeanor. "Someone like Lin Fan, who is accustomed to a life of luxury, probably wouldn't give up the Lin family's fortune."
However, Yan Shouyi sighed. "You two go knock on the door and call him."
Long Feicheng stepped forward and knocked. Lin Zitong called out Lin Fan's name a few times, but there was no response from inside the villa.
Lin Zitong's expression changed. She kicked open the villa door, preparing to go inside and find Lin Fan.
Yan Shouyi stopped her. "No need to search. He already drove away."
Seeing the empty garage below the villa, Lin Zitong suddenly understood. She gritted her teeth and said, "I can't believe someone like him is my uncle!"
The Lin family members were all intelligent, capable, diligent, brave, and most importantly, daring, resourceful, courageous, and responsible. Yet, they had produced a scoundrel like Lin Fan.
"I'm sorry, I trusted him too much. I should have tied him up yesterday!" Lin Zitong said with an apologetic tone.
Yan Shouyi shook his head. "This matter did not originate with us. No one needs to take responsibility for this, except Lin Fan and the 赊刀人."
"What do we do now? Without Lin Fan, the 赊刀人 won't let anyone go."
Long Feicheng also looked troubled. "My junior sister Ling ah... Lin Fan is truly not a man. If it were me, I would brave mountains of knives and seas of fire!"
Yan Shouyi scrutinized Long Feicheng, his gaze seeming to penetrate his clothes, making Long Feicheng feel uneasy.
"Brother Yan, don't look at me like that. I have a bad feeling about this."
Yan Shouyi smiled. "It's rare for you to show such courage. Since you're willing to sacrifice everything for Ling Xiaoxiao, then you'll have to endure it tonight."
Knowing Yan Shouyi's style well, Long Feicheng immediately understood what he intended.
He said with a grimace, "Why is it me again? Last time you tricked me into impersonating Jiang Ting, and I was almost scared to death by that damned exorcist."
"This time, I'm informing you in advance," Yan Shouyi said. "Your physique is somewhat similar to Lin Fan's. With a little disguise, the 赊刀人 shouldn't be able to recognize you immediately. With me and Zitong, along with Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan keeping watch, we'll capture him before the 赊刀人 can make a move."
"Can I trust you?" Long Feicheng asked with a wronged expression.
"You can always trust your good big brother," Yan Shouyi comforted him. "After this is done, I'll teach you some folk sorcery. Actually, our Lu Ban Sect has a spell called 'Beautiful Woman Undressing Technique.' I don't know if you're interested in learning it..."
"Hmph, I, Long, am a gentleman. How could I learn such a technique? I'm a scholar who reads the Spring and Autumn Annals!" Long Feicheng said with an air of righteousness. "But I have a friend who wants to learn."
"Alright, I knew you were a righteous person. For your friend's sake, I'll trouble you to impersonate Lin Fan tonight."
"To save Junior Sister Ling, I will not shirk my duty!"
Watching Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng banter, Lin Zitong felt quite speechless. Was this what it meant to be a man until death, still like a boy?
But at least a major problem had been solved.
Lin Zitong looked back at Lin Fan's residence, wishing she could burn the wretched house down.
From now on, Lin Fan was no longer part of the Lin family. Lin Zitong would only treat him as a stranger and would never let him cause trouble for Yan Shouyi again.
After the plan was made, Long Feicheng went to Lin Fan's house and got some of Lin Fan's clothes. Wearing them, he did indeed bear some resemblance to Lin Fan.
Lin Zitong utilized her superb makeup skills to further enhance Long Feicheng's resemblance.
Finally, at Yan Shouyi's request, Lin Zitong drew some bruises on Long Feicheng's face, making him look dishevelled and blurring his features. The 赊刀人, likely unfamiliar with Lin Fan's appearance, would be even less likely to recognize him as a fake.
Thus, with Long Feicheng impersonating Lin Fan, Yan Shouyi and the others set off to meet Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan at the Shanghang pier.
On the way, Yan Shouyi slipped Long Feicheng a few more talismans as a fallback, which was standard practice.
The Shanghang pier was located near the Shanghang Arts School. When Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong were dating, they occasionally went for walks by the pier.
In the past, the Shanghang pier was a hub for water transportation. However, the actual transportation hub had since moved elsewhere. The Shanghang pier had been transformed into a popular tourist attraction, offering night tours of the Minjiang River. Tourists could buy tickets and board cruise ships to enjoy the bustling scenery of both banks of the river in Rongcheng.
This time, however, Yan Shouyi had no time to sightsee. Ensuring the safety of Long Feicheng and Ling Xiaoxiao that night was the primary objective.
Upon arriving at the Shanghang pier, it was completely dark. There were many tourists coming and going, with a majority of them being young people.
Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan stood amidst the crowd, looking somewhat lost.
It had to be said that Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan had rather striking appearances. Yan Nanfei exuded the typical air of a scholarly young man, the kind who would have been a perfect Ning Caichen in the past. Chang Shan, fair-skinned and delicate-looking, was the type that young succubi liked to entice.
Although the two were dressed in mundane attire, they still attracted the attention of many young women. As they passed by, some couldn't help but stare at them, and a few even dared to approach and ask for their WeChat contacts.
Yan Nanfei, inexperienced in matters of the heart, was somewhat resistant, while Chang Shan, being a monk, couldn't possibly be in a relationship. Thus, for as long as they stood there, they rejected numerous young women.
Eventually, the young women understood.
These two were a couple!
No wonder they weren't responding to us!
The young women couldn't help but lament, why did all the handsome men like each other? Could they leave some "meat" for them, these "old ladies"!
Finally, when Yan Shouyi and the others arrived, Yan Nanfei quickly grabbed Yan Shouyi and the others and led them to a secluded spot, not wanting to linger there any longer.
"Senior Brother Yan, why are you in such a hurry?" Yan Shouyi asked, confused.
Yan Nanfei sighed. "No wonder they say descending the mountain is a trial. Physical suffering is bearable, but spiritual suffering is true tempering... Never mind that, where is that Lin Fan?"
Yan Shouyi stepped aside and pointed to Long Feicheng, who was disguised as Lin Fan.
Yan Nanfei took one look and cursed, "This is the guy who caused Junior Sister Ling to be captured by Yan Shouyi? Looking at his bruised and swollen face, you must have taught him a lesson, but I can't let this go. Let me punch him a few times too!"
Long Feicheng's expression changed, and he quickly stopped Yan Nanfei.
"Senior Brother Yan, calm down! It's me! Xiao Long!"
Yan Nanfei scrutinized Long Feicheng. "Why is it you?"
"The real Lin Fan ran away, so I had to fill in!" Long Feicheng said aggrievedly. "But judging by your reaction just now, my disguise must have been very successful."
Yan Nanfei retracted his fist. "Not bad, I really didn't recognize you at first."
Chang Shan clasped his hands together. "Amitabha, Xiao Long's sacrifice for righteousness is truly admirable."
Long Feicheng spat. "Do you think I wanted to do this..."
"Alright, stop arguing. It's almost time, let's review the plan," Yan Shouyi said. "The plan is quite simple. Later, Chi Qing and I will take Xiao Long to exchange with Yan Shouyi. You guys hide nearby and wait for an opportunity. Once Junior Sister Ling is safe, we'll all strike together, catching him completely off guard!"
"Okay!" Yan Nanfei gritted his teeth. "I must catch that bastard Yan Shouyi!"
"But remember, we must keep him alive!" Yan Shouyi reminded them. "You don't want him to die so easily, do you?"
"Of course!"
After the plan was set, Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan found a place nearby to hide. Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong began searching for the so-called red dilapidated boat.
Under the cloak of night, two figures appeared in the bustling crowd at the Shanghang pier.
The woman's appearance was plain, but her every move and smile was enchantingly seductive.
The man's expression was solemn, and he exuded a strange aura.
"Interesting, who are they trying to catch tonight?" Yi Hehuan stared at Yan Shouyi and the others from afar.
Shen Tian Ichiro said in a deep voice, "There's an old Chinese saying: 'The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.' They are the mantises, and we are the orioles."
"Perhaps we'll have a pleasant surprise tonight."
Yi Hehuan reached out and squeezed Shen Tian Ichiro's chest. She whispered, "Quickly deploy your 'big baby'."
Shen Tian Ichiro's lips twitched. He quietly removed Yi Hehuan's hand and then shook his coat.
To his surprise, his coat was hiding more than a dozen weasels!
The weasels were shaken loose and immediately scattered in all directions, disappearing into the darkness.
Yi Hehuan gently bit her finger, sucking on it with her scarlet lips. "The show is about to begin."
...
"I found the red dilapidated boat."
Suddenly, Lin Zitong stopped and pointed in a direction.
In a corner of the pier, a small red boat was tied, swaying with the river current, appearing as if it could sink at any moment.
Yan Shouyi frowned. "Why did the 赊刀人 choose this location? Could it be that he plans to escape by boat afterward?"
While he was pondering, the time arrived.
Strange music emanated from within the dilapidated boat.
Yan Shouyi told Lin Zitong and Long Feicheng to wait on the shore. With a running start, he leaped onto the boat.
As he landed, the boat swayed violently, and Yan Shouyi almost fell.
He looked down and saw an old mobile phone placed on the boat, displaying an unknown number.
Yan Shouyi smiled. This 赊刀人 was quite experienced in the kidnapping business.
He answered the phone and said calmly, "Hello."
"Leave Lin Fan on the dilapidated boat, and you retreat a hundred meters away," a cold voice came from the other end of the phone.
Yan Shouyi snorted. "Where is Junior Sister Ling? I won't give you Lin Fan until I see her."
The 赊刀人 said, "Look up, face northwest, and you'll see a lighthouse."
Yan Shouyi did indeed spot the lighthouse. He also noticed that a person was tied to the top of the lighthouse.
It was Ling Xiaoxiao!
Yan Shouyi was greatly surprised. He hadn't expected the 赊刀人 to be so audacious as to tie Ling Xiaoxiao to a lighthouse!
"Well done, hiding in plain sight," Yan Shouyi sneered. "I'll send my people to check. As long as Junior Sister Ling is unharmed, I'll give you Lin Fan."
However, in the next second, a second person appeared beside Ling Xiaoxiao on the lighthouse.
That person was holding a mobile phone. Although Yan Shouyi had never seen the 赊刀人, he was certain that this was the person he was talking to.
The 赊刀人 waved the dagger in his hand and said coldly, "This woman is fine for now, but if you don't put Lin Fan on the boat, I can't guarantee her safety."
Interesting.
Yan Shouyi realized that this 赊刀人 was not foolish at all, and his plan was meticulously crafted.
Yan Shouyi then hung up the phone and asked Lin Zitong to bring Long Feicheng over.
As Long Feicheng boarded the boat, he felt extremely nervous. "Brother Yan, are you sure I'll be alright?"
"Don't worry, Zitong and I are going to pick up Ling Xiaoxiao. You stay on the boat. Yan Nanfei and Chang Shan will protect you."
Yan Shouyi patted Long Feicheng on the shoulder, then disembarked with Lin Zitong. The two quietly signaled to Yan Nanfei and the others, then quickly ran towards the lighthouse.
They had not yet figured out the depth of the 赊刀人's capabilities and had to prioritize Ling Xiaoxiao's safety.
As they approached the lighthouse, Yan Shouyi also noticed that the 赊刀人 beside Ling Xiaoxiao had disappeared.
"Be careful when we go up later," Yan Shouyi reminded her.
"Mm."
Lin Zitong threw the wrapped Zhanpo Dao she carried on her back to Yan Shouyi, while she herself still carried the Red God Umbrella.
As the two began to climb up the lighthouse, Yan Shouyi glanced back in surprise and saw a dark shadow beneath the dilapidated boat, untying the ropes that secured it and starting to drift towards the river's center with Long Feicheng!
"Xiao Long is in danger." Yan Shouyi gritted his teeth. He hadn't expected the 赊刀人 to have accomplices and was unsure if the dark shadow in the water was human or ghost.
The two climbed to the top of the lighthouse at the fastest speed possible. Seeing Ling Xiaoxiao tied up there, Yan Shouyi stepped forward to untie her, comforting her as he did so.
"Junior Sister Ling, it's alright, we're here to rescue you."
Lin Zitong also crouched down to check Ling Xiaoxiao's body. "Did that scoundrel harm you?"
Ling Xiaoxiao's eyes were filled with helplessness, and there were still tear tracks on her cheeks, making her look pitiful.
Yan Shouyi quickly untied the ropes and said, "Quick, let's get down!"
"Senior Brother Wunian, Senior Sister Chi Qing, thank you!" Ling Xiaoxiao said gratefully.
"Stop wasting time, let's go!"
*Pfft!*
Yan Shouyi frowned and turned his head in surprise.
He saw that Ling Xiaoxiao now held two sharp Emei thorns in her hands.
And one of the Emei thorns had already pierced Yan Shouyi's side abdomen.
"You..."
Ling Xiaoxiao said coldly, "Yan Shouyi, descendant of Lu Ban, how long do you intend to play this charade? Is deceiving people fun? And here I was, trusting you so much!"