“Stop fighting! Don't fight anymore!”
When Yan Shouyi and the others arrived, the Dog Daoist and Zheng Youqian were already wrestling on the ground. Except for Lan Qihuan, who was trying to break them up, everyone else was just standing by watching.
Let alone Miaoji, even Old Huang was watching the fun, its tongue lolling to one side, looking as if it wished they would pound each other’s brains out.
Yan Shouyi was initially anxious, but upon seeing the scene, he relaxed. They were only fighting with ordinary strength.
Yan Shouyi didn't know Zheng Youqian's true strength, but if the Dog Daoist got serious, he could probably destroy half the village.
Now, they were just rolling around in the snow. Zheng Youqian was pulling the Dog Daoist’s hair, and the Dog Daoist was stuffing muddy snow into Zheng Youqian’s mouth. This wasn’t a real fight; it was just horseplay!
Li Genmiao was no longer worried and watched with great interest.
“Uncle Miaoji, why aren’t you stopping Uncle Dog?” Yan Shouyi asked Miaoji.
Before Miaoji could answer, Nian Zhu Pan Zhengyi, Old Pan, explained, “These two get along well. They won’t seriously hurt each other. It’s better to let them have a spat to release their pent-up frustrations.”
Yan Shouyi looked at Pan Zhengyi. He noticed that Old Pan was not only a bit older than the other uncles but also seemed to command more respect. After his explanation, Miaoji didn’t add anything further.
Seeing Yan Shouyi observing him, Pan Zhengyi proactively introduced himself, “I am Pan Zhengyi, a retired storyteller.”
A storyteller? Normally, storytellers wouldn't be very strong. Why did Old Pan command such respect, even winning over Uncle Miaoji?
Yan Shouyi was even more puzzled.
At this moment, Li Genmiao chimed in, “Old Pan served as an official for half his life, reaching a position that is unimaginable for ordinary people. Most of the Thirteen Taibao of Xuanshan received his protection or kindness in the past.”
Yan Shouyi finally understood. No wonder Old Pan looked portly and carried an air of leadership just by standing there. Although he wasn’t handsome, he always stood out in a crowd.
Unlike me, who can only rely on my looks to make a name.
After a moment of quiet self-admiration, Yan Shouyi nervously pursed his lips.
“Unfortunately, Old Pan later couldn’t stand the political infighting and heard that I had established the New Xuanshan Sect, so he chose to retire and live in my Taoyuan Village,” Li Genmiao added the latter part.
Based on Yan Shouyi’s current understanding of the New Xuanshan Sect’s structure, Li Genmiao’s most trusted subordinate wasn’t the Five Ghosts, but the Four Officers, which were the four people present.
Among them, Old Pan, mature, steady, and responsible, was likely Li Genmiao’s second-in-command.
The second-in-command?
This made Yan Shouyi pay more attention to Old Pan. If they were to clash in the future, Pan Zhengyi would be a crucial piece on the board.
The brawl between the Dog Daoist and Zheng Youqian wasn't over, but to Yan Shouyi’s surprise, the Dog Daoist was still only using one hand.
Was he deliberately going easy on Old Qian?
“Xiao Lan, you know their tempers. There’s no need to persuade them. Come back,” Old Pan called out to Lan Qihuan.
Lan Qihuan walked back helplessly. Seeing Yan Shouyi, she forced a slightly melancholic smile. “I’m so sorry that the first time I meet Shouyi, such a big joke has happened.”
Yan Shouyi didn’t mind, but he was more curious about the relationship between the Dog Daoist and Old Qian.
“Uncle Dog and… Old Qian, what was their relationship like before?” he asked.
Lan Qihuan smiled reluctantly and explained, “They’ve known each other for a very long time, much longer than you’ve known your parents. It’s said that the Dog Daoist went to Mount Mao to apprentice, but for three years he remained an outer disciple and learned nothing. Impatient for success, he secretly took a Taoist from the Wild Dog Temple at the foot of the mountain as his master…”
Lan Qihuan casually brought up the Dog Daoist’s past, inadvertently solving a mystery that had always surrounded Yan Shouyi!
The Dog Daoist studied for another two years, only learning a smattering of Taoist techniques. Later, he accidentally discovered that his master at the Wild Dog Temple was refining elixirs for immortality, and he, the disciple, was merely an ingredient in the elixir. Enraged, the Dog Daoist secretly learned demonic arts. One night, while his master at the Wild Dog Temple was asleep, he secretly extracted his soul and placed it inside a small yellow dog – that yellow dog being the current Old Huang.
In other words, Old Huang was not the Dog Daoist’s companion, but the master who had tried to kill him!
When the Dog Daoist successfully tricked his master back then, he didn't kill him immediately. Instead, he made his master, who had been transformed into a yellow dog, teach him the real skills. They made an agreement: Old Huang would stay by the Dog Daoist’s side for forty years, and then the Dog Daoist would grant him freedom. Old Huang, eager for immortality and unwilling to waste this life’s cultivation, agreed. He not only taught the Dog Daoist many Taoist techniques but also remained loyal to him.
Yan Shouyi, having learned the truth, stared at Old Huang, dumbfounded.
Old Huang, being very human-like, nodded at Yan Shouyi.
Even more surprised and dismayed was Long Feicheng, standing nearby.
“Damn it, Old Huang was Uncle Dog’s master! When Uncle Dog asked me to take Old Huang as my master, I actually refused!?” Long Feicheng clutched his head, full of regret.
Li Genmiao spoke in a tone of nonchalance, with a hint of mockery. “Everyone in the Old Xuanshan Sect has a story. The Dog Daoist’s is not the most bizarre.”
Hmm?
From the storyteller’s tone, it seemed he knew a lot about the members of the Old Xuanshan Sect?
Was it because he had investigated them specifically, or for some other reason?
Yan Shouyi felt surprised.
Lan Qihuan continued to recount the story of the Dog Daoist and Zheng Youqian.
After the Dog Daoist mastered his skills at the Wild Dog Temple, he began his journey down the mountain. Initially, he didn’t meet Yan Shouyi’s father, Yan Chou, but rather the illusionist Zheng Youqian.
Illusionists themselves had limited combat strength, but they were masters of illusion and deception. Zheng Youqian, however, had taken a wrong turn. He was naturally prone to gambling and used his deceptive skills to wreak havoc in casinos.
As the Dog Daoist also enjoyed drinking, womanizing, and gambling, the two met and traveled the world together, frequenting casinos everywhere.
One time, the Dog Daoist was caught cheating in a casino and encountered people he shouldn’t have provoked.
Zheng Youqian, in order to save the Dog Daoist, had an arm severed by the opponent.
The Dog Daoist felt immensely guilty about this and vowed to never gamble again. Afterward, the two retired from their illicit activities and joined the Thirteen Taibao of Xuanshan. Concurrently, Zheng Youqian, relying on his cunning, successfully became a wealthy merchant. However, their priorities diverged later, making it seem as though the Dog Daoist had a closer relationship with Yan Chou.
In reality, the Dog Daoist’s loyalty to Yan Chou stemmed more from obligation than brotherhood, whereas with Zheng Youqian, it was precisely the opposite.