"What is this you speak of?!"
Yan Shouyi's eyes widened. He couldn't help but rub his ears, disbelieving what he was hearing.
Yan Chou calmly flipped through the ancient book, checking if its contents were damaged. He replied, "The lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll. Is there a problem?"
Yan Shouyi was silent for a moment, then laughed.
"Ah, so it's just that lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll that outsiders are so envious of, constantly trying to kill us to get their hands on it! I thought it was something else!"
Yan Chou finally looked up, gazing at Yan Shouyi in confusion. "Aren't you surprised?"
"Dad, it's mainly because your reaction was too calm. If I acted too surprised, wouldn't I seem uncultured?" Yan Shouyi retorted.
Wen Yuxian and the others nearby couldn't help but laugh. The dog Taoist said, "Shouyi has learned to be sarcastic. But for some reason, Uncle Dog really likes your sarcastic demeanor today!"
Yan Chou rolled his eyes. It was clear these people just wanted to see him embarrassed.
But as Yan Shouyi's father, how could he be at a disadvantage?
Yan Chou calmly explained, "Your grandfather thought that the greatest concealment is in plain sight. If he went to great lengths to hide the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll, there would inevitably be traces, and someone determined would eventually find it. It was better to simply entrust it to someone insignificant and illiterate. That way, even if the King of Heaven himself sought it, he would never guess that the Lu Ban Scroll, fought over fiercely by everyone, would be in the possession of an ordinary village elder... used to prop up a table leg."
It was evident that Yan Chou had not expected the old village elder to use the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll as a table leg. Fortunately, this unconventional use had not damaged the scroll's contents.
Wen Yuxian laughed, "Your grandfather always had a lot of odd ideas."
As she spoke, there was a hint of nostalgia in her voice. Yan Shouyi also recalled his time with his grandfather. His grandfather indeed had many peculiar ideas, otherwise, he wouldn't have managed to marry such a beautiful woman as his grandmother.
Looking at the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll in Yan Chou's hand, Yan Shouyi couldn't help but feel a spark of curiosity.
"Dad, what does the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll record?"
"Have you forgotten what I told you last time?" Yan Chou said, "The more you know, the more dangerous it becomes."
Yan Shouyi fell silent, not asking further. He already had enough trouble in his life and didn't want to get involved with the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll.
Wen Yuxian comforted him, "Shouyi, sometimes it's better not to know certain things. Your grandmother and I have been married into the Yan family for so many years, and she has never seen the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll. Not knowing this secret doesn't affect our lives."
"Grandma is right," Lin Zhitong agreed wholeheartedly. She had never even paid attention to the book in Yan Chou's hand.
Yan Shouyi nodded, indicating he wouldn't ask any more questions. Yan Chou then put the lower volume of the Lu Ban Scroll away for the time being.
Everyone finally returned to their courtyard. Jiang Ting had been waiting for them. As soon as they returned, she rushed out to greet them.
"It's so good to see you all safe and sound! You must all be hungry. I'll go cook some noodles for everyone!"
The dog Taoist was indeed hungry and praised Jiang Ting wholeheartedly, "This young lady is so well-behaved!"
Jiang Ting smiled shyly and went to the kitchen to busy herself.
"Godfather! My two uncles! And Brother Yan and sister-in-law, you're back?!"
Long Feicheng, still injured, couldn't get out of bed. He could only prop himself up on the bed, stretching his neck to look out the window and greet Yan Shouyi and the others.
Yan Shouyi was speechless. He said a few words to Yan Chou and the others before heading to Long Feicheng's room.
At this moment, Long Feicheng's backside was wrapped in several layers of gauze, making him look like a pervert wearing a diaper.
"We defeated Jiang Wusheng and cured Zhitong's poison," Yan Shouyi asked, "How is your injury?"
Long Feicheng patted his backside and said, "It doesn't hurt anymore! I should be fine soon, maybe I'll be able to walk tomorrow!"
Yan Shouyi coughed dryly, "I don't think it's getting better, but rather that you've lost feeling."
Long Feicheng: "Ah? This... no way?"
"You took a kick from King Jian, which shattered your pelvis. It was only thanks to Old Jin's medicine that you survived. Later, everyone fed you the spirit mushroom," Yan Shouyi said. "With so much medicinal help, your backside should recover completely, but definitely not by tomorrow. You should prepare to be bedridden for half a month."
Hearing this, Long Feicheng's expression turned despairing.
He had never been idle in his life. The thought of being bedridden for half a month made him miserable.
"Oh, right, Ma Xingping and Ma Jinxuan have already left," Yan Shouyi added.
Long Feicheng regretted, "Why did they leave so suddenly? I didn't even get to ask Xuanxuan for her number."
"Come on, 'Xuanxuan'? Ma Jinxuan is not someone to be trifled with. I advise you not to provoke her, or you'll end up even more miserable than the female ghost you encountered in the closet at Ping'an Building."
"Cough cough... Brother Yan, don't overthink it. Don't you know what kind of person I am? I'm just an ambitious young man with broad interests and a love for making friends!"
"Ambitious young man, stay quiet for a while," Yan Shouyi said. "I still have some things to deal with. You rest well."
"You got it." Long Feicheng patted his backside again, as if saying goodbye to Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi shook his head and chuckled as he walked out of the room.
A moment later, Jiang Ting and Lin Zhitong brought a large basin of noodles to the courtyard.
Everyone was starving and facing the cold wind. They quickly slurped up the noodles, exhaling warm air and showing expressions of contentment.
With the threats gone, everyone relaxed. After eating their fill, they simply sat in the courtyard.
No one spoke, everyone enjoying this moment of tranquility.
After a long while, Yan Shouyi broke the silence, "Dad, how long are we staying in Chenjia Village?"
"What, you're already not used to our hometown and want to return to Rongcheng?" Yan Chou asked with a smile.
Yan Shouyi shook his head, "No, I actually want to stay here longer, to settle down."
Yan Chou showed his appreciation, "It's good that you know how to be patient."
So many young talents were overly ambitious and arrogant once they gained a little strength. His son, however, had a steady temperament. Despite being powerful, he knew when to stop and reflect.
He said, "We'll leave after New Year's Day in Chenjia Village."
Yan Shouyi nodded, "There's still half a month... Where shall we go then?"
Yan Chou thought for a moment, then looked at Wen Yuxian and asked, "Mom, do you want to go back and visit?"
Wen Yuxian naturally did.
She had died too early, and there were still many old acquaintances in this world, without even a chance to say goodbye.
"Wait," Yan Shouyi couldn't help but ask, "Dad, you and Grandpa never mentioned Grandma's identity to me..."
"Oh, we didn't like to talk about it before, but it's not really a secret," Yan Chou said calmly. "Your grandmother is the sect leader of the Tian Tai Sect of Mount Emei, essentially the head of the Emei sect."
Yan Shouyi: "..."
So Grandma had such a distinguished background!
The head of the Emei sect!
Did Grandpa save the Milky Way to be able to marry Grandma back then?
Yan Shouyi now understood why Grandpa had rejected all the marriage proposals from daughters of wealthy families, and even said they were not good enough for him.
Back then, Yan Shouyi didn't understand. Those young ladies were beautiful and rich, and some were genuinely kind. Why did Grandpa dislike them all?
Of course! Grandpa married the head of the Emei sect; it wouldn't be an exaggeration to call her a fairy sister!
No wonder he didn't approve!
Yan Shouyi sighed, "How many more things are there that I don't know?"
"If you don't ask, we don't know what you know," Yan Chou said with a smile.
"But if you don't say anything, I don't even know what to ask..." Yan Shouyi took a deep breath and asked, "So, Dad, I'm asking you, what is Mom's identity?"
When Yan Shouyi mentioned his mother, Yan Chou's expression suddenly froze.
Yan Shouyi's mother seemed to be a wound Yan Chou didn't wish to revisit. The dog Taoist and the Monk Miaoji also changed their expressions, and the atmosphere suddenly turned cold.
Yan Shouyi seemed to realize he had said something wrong and was about to change the subject when he heard Yan Chou say,
"Your mother was just an ordinary woman, with no special identity, and had no connection to our circle."
Yan Shouyi lowered his head. He had secretly hoped that perhaps his mother, like his grandmother, possessed extraordinary abilities, or perhaps she was still alive, just in a place no one knew.
But with the atmosphere as it was, he dared not ask further.
To break the awkwardness, Wen Yuxian said with a smile, "Everyone will rest here in our hometown for a while. After New Year's Day, Chou'er will take me to Mount Emei. Shouyi, what are your plans?"
"Plans?"
Yan Shouyi pondered for a moment and asked Yan Chou, "Dad, when should I handle matters concerning the Divine Tiger Secret Texts and the Heavenly Master's succession?"
"After the Qingming Festival next year, Longhu Mountain will host the Taoist Grand Ceremony, also known as the Luotian Grand Sacrifice. You can go there yourself then," Yan Chou said. "We'll meet at Longhu Mountain."
This meant that Yan Chou would likely not return to Rongcheng after leaving, and they would only meet again during the Luotian Grand Sacrifice.
Yan Shouyi guessed that his father, having been imprisoned for over a decade, must have a lot of unfinished business to deal with, so he didn't ask Yan Chou what he was going to do.
At this moment, he had a clear idea of his future arrangements.
First, recuperate and reflect in Chenjia Village.
Then, return to Rongcheng with Lin Zhitong and meet up with old friends like Agong and Old Jin.
After the Qingming Festival, head to Longhu Mountain to participate in the Luotian Grand Sacrifice.
However, he had no idea how many stories would unfold in between.
The only thing that comforted him was that his family and friends, and the woman he loved the most, were all by his side.