Chen Family Village was far from peaceful.
Thanks to Yan Shouyi's help last night, the villagers of Chen Family Village who had been captured by Boss Zhou and his group had all fled back to the village overnight.
Their eagerly awaiting relatives were overjoyed to see their loved ones return. Upon hearing of their encounters in the mountains, the villagers became enraged, clamoring to grab their weapons and ascend the mountain to settle the score with Boss Zhou.
However, the villagers, having barely escaped and witnessed such terrifying and unbelievable things, were hardly willing to return.
After a night of turmoil, they finally fell asleep at dawn, so Chen Family Village was much quieter than usual today.
The village, usually bustling with activity, was eerily silent. The grandmothers and aunties who habitually gathered at the village entrance to chat had all vanished.
When Yan Shouyi and his companions returned to the village, they thought they had gone to the wrong place.
"Is this Chen Family Village?" the dog Taoist asked doubtfully.
"It should... be," Yan Shouyi replied, his confidence noticeably lacking.
As their group returned to Chen Family Village, Ma Xingping suddenly proposed they not enter. Yan Shouyi considered it for a moment and understood his thoughts.
Because Ma Xingping had previously been with Boss Zhou, and although they hadn't persecuted the villagers, they were considered accomplices. Thus, the Ma siblings dared not enter the village, as they would undoubtedly become the target of everyone's anger.
Yan Shouyi knew their hearts were not bad; in fact, when Boss Zhou was oppressing the villagers, the siblings had secretly helped and protected them.
Therefore, he agreed to Ma Xingping's request and did not let them enter the village. The Ma siblings found lodging for themselves near the village, intending to emerge and help when Jiang Wusheng came looking for them.
Later, as they entered the village, they saw no one along the way. Only a few stray dogs, catching the scent of Old Huang, followed them, wagging their tails and fawning over Old Huang. In response, Old Huang kicked them one by one, making them yelp and flee far away, not daring to approach again.
Upon arriving at their doorstep, Yan Chou pushed open the courtyard gate and was taken aback to see a girl sitting in their yard.
This girl was none other than Jiang Ting, who had been worried about Yan Shouyi and the others' safety.
Jiang Ting was initially a little confused, but upon seeing Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong standing behind her, she was overjoyed and rushed over:
"Brother Yan, Sister Zhitong, you've finally returned! I'm so relieved to see you're alright!"
Lin Zhitong took Jiang Ting's hand, embracing her role as the mistress of the house, and quickly welcomed everyone inside.
Yan Shouyi asked curiously, "Has your second uncle returned?"
Jiang Ting nodded repeatedly, "He's returned. He said the mountain god intervened and saved them!"
"He told you that?" Yan Shouyi coughed a couple of times.
Recalling the events, he and Lin Zhitong had only intervened to disrupt Boss Zhou's plans, largely remaining unseen. It was no wonder they thought the mountain god had helped them.
And the real mountain god...
Yan Shouyi glanced back at Yan Ze, this little brat who had been slacking off the entire time. Ordinary people couldn't see him at all, yet they attributed all the good deeds to him.
Yan Shouyi then asked, "How many villagers have returned? Have you tallied how many are still missing?"
Mentioning this, Jiang Ting became distressed again. "Roughly twenty or so are still missing. Those who returned alive told us not to look for them, saying they had all died in the mountains."
Hearing this, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong exchanged glances and sighed silently.
In truth, the villagers were right; most of those still missing were likely beyond help.
After all, they were all locals, born and raised in the vicinity; it was impossible for them to be lost on their way home.
Because of Boss Zhou and the tomb of King Jian, over twenty lives were lost. What a sin!
Lin Zhitong glanced at Yan Chou and the others, then took Jiang Ting's hand, saying she wanted to take her for a walk.
In reality, she wanted to take Jiang Ting away, leaving the courtyard for Yan Shouyi and the others, as they still had many matters to discuss.
After Lin Zhitong left, the dog Taoist said enviously,
"Brother, I don't envy anything about your family except for having such an understanding and virtuous daughter-in-law!"
These words truly pleased Yan Chou. He even said proudly, "What's the use of envying? You don't even have a son, so what are you hoping for in a daughter-in-law?"
The dog Taoist: "..."
Hitting the soul, hitting the soul!
You Yan family is truly too arrogant!
Among everyone praising Lin Zhitong, Yan Shouyi was naturally the happiest.
However, this was no time for idle joy; a large stone still weighed heavily on his mind.
At this moment, the monk Miaoji emerged from the house. He had just put the unconscious Long Feicheng to bed to rest and had even examined him briefly.
"Amitabha, Long Feicheng's pelvis is shattered, and his injuries are quite severe. But with the medicine Yan Shouyi fed him earlier and the Ganoderma lucidum, he is out of danger and will recover soon."
Relieved to know Long Feicheng was fine, Yan Shouyi pulled up chairs and motioned for the elders to sit.
Once everyone was seated, Yan Shouyi began to speak solemnly about the day's events.
From encountering the sorcerer upon their return, to disrupting Boss Zhou, then meeting Yan Ze, and later cooperating with Boss Zhou and others to enter the tomb...
Boss Zhou, King Jian, Jiang Wusheng...
Even the fact that Yan Shouyi's past life was a general of the Qingjiang Kingdom, Yan Shouyi revealed everything.
These were matters of life and death. Yan Shouyi saw no need to hide them, and everyone present were his most trusted elders and seniors. Speaking out and letting them help analyze might even lead to more solutions.
The dog Taoist and the monk Miaoji were also experienced individuals, but after listening to Yan Shouyi's words, they were filled with amazement.
The dog Taoist said, "Brother, Shouyi's background is so bizarre. Did you already know about his past life as a general of the ancient Shu?"
Miaoji clasped his hands together, "Amitabha, no wonder Shouyi always carries a faint, elusive aura of malevolence."
Yan Chou sighed faintly, "We calculated Shouyi's fate long ago. But fortune-telling is just that, only giving a general idea; it's impossible to understand the entire chain of events, the cause and effect... It seems Shouyi entering King Jian's tomb was also destined. Heaven wants him to personally understand what happened in his past life."
He paused and then asked the two,
"What are your thoughts on Jiang Wusheng?"
Miaoji sneered,
"There's nothing to fear. If he dares to come tomorrow, we will all strike together and capture him. Aren't we afraid we won't be able to interrogate him about the whereabouts of the original Gu worm?"
However, the dog Taoist repeatedly shook his head, "This fellow endured a thousand years of pain and loneliness waiting for Shouyi. Our interrogation methods are unlikely to subdue him. This matter concerns Zhitong's life, so we cannot be careless!"
Yan Shouyi then asked Yan Shouyi, "What about you? What are your own thoughts?"
The question was thrown back to Yan Shouyi, but Yan Shouyi did not refuse to state his opinion:
"Jiang Wusheng is very powerful, but he needs to possess a body to leave King Jian's tomb. In just one day, he shouldn't have recovered much strength. Perhaps I should honor our agreement and engage him in a fair duel."
"What if he loses and refuses to honor the agreement?" the dog Taoist asked.
"He won't. He endured a thousand years of suffering. I believe his motives are more than just revenge," Yan Shouyi said softly. "He wants to try one more time."
The three elders looked at Yan Shouyi, seeing his certainty in Jiang Wusheng's intentions, they could only support his decision.
Since they had agreed to a fight, they would fight it well!
If he won, it would be naturally good.
If he lost, they, as fathers and uncles, would help him fight back, wouldn't they?
After all, the current Yan Shouyi was a "second generation" with powerful backing and support!
Yan Chou took out his cigarette case from his pocket, tossed two cigarettes to the dog Taoist and Miaoji, and then lit one for himself.
After taking a deep puff of smoke, he said meaningfully, "Since you've decided to fight, you must bring out twelve points of spirit and energy, and don't shame us, the descendants of Lu Ban! I think... it's also time to take you to retrieve the true form of the Soul Slaying Saber. How can you face Jiang Wusheng without a real weapon in hand?"