This village is comprised of followers of folk sects.
Yan Shouyi not only discovered their identities but also noticed that most villagers were either physically impaired or from blended families. Though many had faced hardships in their early lives, they seemed to have found a sense of purpose in this village.
Long Feicheng observed the surroundings silently as they walked. Later, he couldn't help but whisper into Yan Shouyi's ear,
"Brother Yan, doesn't this village feel a bit like our Folklore Research Society?"
The difference was that the society was mostly composed of young people, while this village was filled with elderly folks.
"It does feel similar, but something still strikes me as odd," Yan Shouyi replied in a low voice.
As they walked, villagers greeted Li Genmiao enthusiastically, addressing him as village chief. They seemed unaware of Li Genmiao's ill reputation outside.
Li Genmiao treated these villagers as if they were his own kin, greeting them with a smile and appearing to know them intimately.
This was even stranger!
Everyone proceeded with a sense of apprehension, wary of assassins who might leap out from any corner. However, by the time they reached the place where Han San and the others were settled, the imagined danger never materialized.
The courtyard where Han San and the others were housed already had a warm kang bed. An old grandmother was kneading dough in the yard, preparing to steam a batch of hot buns for their guests.
Old Jin helped Han San onto the kang, secretly relieved. Han San truly needed a quiet place to recover.
The Maoshan disciples also lowered their guard, rubbing their hands and huffing in the warm firelight, curiously observing their surroundings.
The sudden arrival of guests in the village also piqued the villagers' curiosity.
As if isolated from the world, they were unaware of outside news. One by one, they gathered at the courtyard entrance, peering in curiously.
At this moment, four figures entered the courtyard. Li Genmiao glanced back and smiled,
"Your old friends have arrived!"
The Dog Daoist turned to look, his expression one of recognition, "As expected, it's you." His eyes then held a deeper sense of melancholy.
Miao Ji lowered his head and sighed, murmuring "Amitabha," but then immediately followed it with a curse.
Yan Shouyi observed the four individuals.
Among them were three men and one woman.
The first was a man in a suit, appearing to be in his late fifties, with a noticeable beer belly, exuding an air of amiability.
The second was around the same age as the Dog Daoist and the others, but with only one arm. He was a middle-aged man adorned with gold and silver.
The third was a beautiful woman who retained her charm. She was dressed simply, like a village woman, but her red cotton jacket couldn't conceal her allure. Especially the hint of melancholy in her brows, making her resemble a modern married woman, a 'tofu beauty'.
The fourth was quite peculiar – a disheveled and hunched beggar. Unaccustomed to so many people, he walked at the very end, his gaze evasive.
The man with the beer belly, leading the group, greeted them cheerfully, "Dog Daoist, Miao Ji the bald donkey, why no greeting when you see us? You haven't forgotten us, have you?"
The Dog Daoist snorted and rolled his eyes back at him, "Sorry, this Daoist doesn't know you."
"Right, you're doing so well following Big Brother now, it's natural to forget old comrades!" the one-armed middle-aged man said sarcastically.
Miao Ji couldn't hold back and explained, "It was you who abandoned Big Brother."
"Big Brother was consumed by his emotions, and after imprisonment, he spent ten years without ever looking after us," the 'wife-like beauty' said wistfully.
Only the beggar remained silent.
From their conversation, Yan Shouyi pieced together a rough understanding.
These people before him were likely members of the "Xuan Shan Thirteen Protectors" founded by his father!
And possibly core members!
Their familiarity with the Dog Uncle, yet their apparent 'strangeness', suggested that his father's imprisonment had split the Xuan Shan sect into two distinct factions.
One faction had patiently waited for his father's return, while the other had departed.
Seeing these people, Yan Shouyi suddenly understood why Li Genmiao's faction was named the New Xuan Shan Sect – because the foundation of the New Xuan Shan Sect was built upon these members of the old Xuan Shan Sect!
"Allow me to introduce them formally!"
Li Genmiao said enthusiastically, "These four are the 'Four Valuables' among our New Xuan Shan Sect's 'Four Values and Five Ghosts'! They are: Year Pillar Pan Zhengyi, whom we all call Old Pan; Month Pillar Zheng Youqian, Old Qian; Hour Pillar Lan Qihuan, Little Lan; and Hour Pillar... Nameless. Nameless is not from the old Xuan Shan Sect."
Yan Shouyi paid particular attention to Nameless, the Hour Pillar. Nameless’s gaze was evasive, and he dared not meet Yan Shouyi's eyes.
"Haha, this kid must be Big Brother's son, Shouyi, right? It's been so many years. When this kid was a month old, Zheng Zhaodi and I vied to hold him. But he only let Zhaodi hold him and cried when I did! Old Pan looked at Yan Shouyi kindly.
Old Qian sneered, "It wasn't that he didn't want you to hold him, but he didn't want men to hold him. When Little Lan held him, he was very happy."
Little Lan’s face showed a hint of nostalgia. "Those days seem like yesterday... Sadly, we can never go back..."
So, these uncles and aunts had all seen me before, Yan Shouyi thought.
But strangely, Yan Shouyi had no recollection of Old Pan and the others, yet Nameless seemed somewhat familiar.
Old Pan tried to move closer to speak with Yan Shouyi, but the Dog Daoist suddenly stepped between them, blocking him.
"Our positions are different now, so it's best to maintain some distance. Shouyi is no longer a child; he is the president of the Folklore Research Society."
Old Qian snorted, "So what? Do you truly not value the brotherhood you once shared?"
The martial monk Miao Ji's temper flared. He raised his fist, as large as a sandpot, "Damn it, Old Qian, if you don't change that foul mouth of yours, you'll lose your other arm sooner or later!"
"Don't fight... don't fight..." Little Lan intervened, separating them gently. "It's rare for us to meet, and now we're in this paradise. Why not let go of past grudges and reminisce properly?"
"This Daoist has nothing to reminisce about with you. We'll leave immediately after things are settled," the Dog Daoist remained unyielding.
Old Pan was not angry. Instead, he crouched down and stroked Old Huang's head, sighing,
"After more than ten years apart, Old Huang has truly become old Huang. People's hearts constantly change, only dogs remain the most loyal."
Strangely, Old Huang did not resist Old Pan’s touch and allowed him to stroke his head.
For a moment, the Dog Daoist, Miao Ji, Old Qian, and Little Lan all fell silent.
Time had changed so much. They had once been brothers who shared hardships and joys, but now they had come to this.
Li Genmiao appropriately patted Yan Shouyi's shoulder and said, "Why don't we leave this to them and have a private chat next door?"
Yan Shouyi had the same thought. He patted the shoulder Li Genmiao had touched.
"Let's go."