After comforting Lin Zhitong, Yan Shouyi dialed Yan Chou's number.
Yan Chou seemed to have a premonition of what would happen that night, answering immediately.
Before Yan Shouyi could speak, Yan Chou let out a long sigh of relief.
"Dad, I've seen Mom. We're heading home tonight and should arrive by noon tomorrow," Yan Shouyi said.
Yan Chou was silent for a moment before asking, "Are you all right?"
Yan Shouyi then recounted the events.
Upon hearing the story, Yan Chou felt a mix of emotions.
The same events, viewed from different perspectives, yielded different outcomes.
What Yan Chou saw were the deaths of Pan Shiyi and others, the serious injuries of Daoist Dog and his companions, the reappearance of Tong Jingcheng in the Jianghu, and the true form of Li Genmiao revealed...
Of course, he also grieved for the death of Long Feicheng.
After comforting Yan Shouyi, Yan Chou said apologetically, "I intentionally kept it from you that Li Genmiao was my shadow. I was worried you'd pity him and be unable to deliver a fatal blow. As for Tong Jingcheng, I initially wanted to send the Three Dragons to retrieve Tong Jingcheng's soul, but the traitorous Li Genmiao took it first. Tong Jiuhua was likely also killed by him. I've only just figured this out."
Yan Shouyi reflected on the past, and by this point, all his doubts had been resolved.
He didn't blame his father for withholding information, nor was he curious if his father had more secrets.
Because none of that mattered anymore; all he wanted now was to kill the Grand Tutor and end this entanglement of grievances.
"Since the second volume of the Luban Shu has been completed, let's release it as you intended," Yan Chou said, his voice tinged with fatigue. "Ancestors above, the mission of the Luban descendants, passed down through thousands of years, is finally about to be fulfilled."
Once the second volume of the Luban Shu was released, the issues that had troubled folk sects for millennia would be resolved with ease.
No one would have to suffer anymore.
Yan Shouyi hung up the phone and used his mobile to log into the Folk Sect Forum.
The forum was as active as ever, with a rich variety of discussions.
There were those seeking protection, those looking to exchange experiences with peers, and those denouncing the unscrupulous methods of renowned sects.
However, what Yan Shouyi was about to post was destined to be a depth charge, stirring up a storm in the forum and the entire Xuanmen world.
He silently uploaded all the content of the Luban Shu's second volume and then edited the title.
[The first folk sect Daoist scripture in history, meticulously compiled by countless Luban descendants. Studying this book will protect you from the Five Curses and Three Defects, and from predestined calamities!]
To ensure the authenticity of the post, Yan Shouyi directly revealed his identity and provided a general overview of the second volume of the Luban Shu.
In the concluding section, Yan Shouyi specifically wrote several paragraphs:
To all fellow disciples, I am Yan Shouyi, the president of the Rongcheng Folklore Research Association.
For the past thousands of years, we, the folk sects, have been rooted among the people, moving through the secular world, protecting all living beings. Each of us strives to live, only to repay the karmic debts of past lives. Rather than being born sinners, it is more accurate to say we are born to suffer, repaying debts from past lives in this one, which is unjust.
Therefore, the Luban descendants have passed down through generations, working to complete the second volume of the Luban Shu. Now that the Daoist scripture is complete, I hope everyone will honor the sacrifices of their ancestors, study the scripture diligently, and return to the righteous path.
After much consideration, I have decided to name this scripture the "Minjiao Daoist Scripture" in memory of our elders.
From today onwards, the Folklore Research Association will be officially renamed Minjiao!
Fellow disciples, our true enemies are not the renowned sects, but those wicked individuals who try to sow discord between our factions for their own selfish gain.
I call upon everyone to let go of past grievances, to set aside previous disputes, and to no longer distinguish between folk sects and renowned sects. Instead, let us unite and become upholders of justice, eradicating the wicked!
The doors of Minjiao are always open to all righteous individuals.
Finally, I dedicate this text to my dearest brother, Long Feicheng.
Yan Shouyi looked at the edited text, hesitated for a long time, and finally deleted the last paragraph.
People's joys and sorrows are not shared. Although Yan Shouyi wished for Long Feicheng's name to be remembered, he ultimately felt that those who did not know Long Feicheng would not hold his name in their hearts.
What Long Feicheng truly cared about were only his brothers and sisters.
After finalizing everything, Yan Shouyi read it over a few more times before clicking publish.
In the minute before the post went live, it was like a stone sinking into the sea, with no comments at all.
But five minutes later, all the comments arrived as if by appointment, sprouting up like bamboo shoots after a spring rain.
[Dusty Daoist: This, is this real? It's actually our folk sect's Daoist scripture?! Studying this book can truly help us avoid the Five Curses and Three Defects and predestined calamities?!]
[Corner Nook: It should be correct. The one posting is our president! If the president admits it, it must be useful!]
[Love Zhong Only: I've carefully read the content. This Daoist scripture is of extremely high caliber, integrating the essence of Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism, yet it doesn't deviate from the core of our Minjiao!]
[Beautiful Woman at Naihe Bridge: My heavens, our folk sect finally has its own Daoist scripture! We can finally stop being affected by the Five Curses and Three Defects!!]
[Faith Brings Destiny: Heaven has eyes! If this Daoist scripture had appeared years ago, my master and ancestors wouldn't have died...]
[Zhaozhao's Pet Owner: Did the president also participate in compiling this scripture? The president is too amazing, he saved all of us!!!]
[Emperor One: From now on, our folk sect will no longer be looked down upon. This feeling of holding our heads high is truly f***ing great!!!]
Countless comments instantly pushed the post to the top, each one filled with excitement. Yan Shouyi could even imagine the expressions of those people weeping with joy while holding their phones.
Indeed, this Daoist scripture, upon its release, would save countless lives.
Yan Shouyi himself was one of those saved.
He would no longer be affected by the death calamity, no longer worry about not seeing his child grow up.
The wishes of the Luban descendant ancestors had finally been fulfilled...
Ten minutes after the post was published, Yan Shouyi's phone began to ring incessantly.
Wang Jiwang, Luo Ning, and Agong were frantically contacting Yan Shouyi, wanting to know what had happened.
Yu Luming, Yuan Jianxin, and Zhao Chengxiang were also very curious. When they couldn't get through by phone, they sent text messages, and when their messages went unanswered, they contacted Lin Zhitong and others.
Yan Shouyi, however, simply set his phone aside and let it ring.
He sat alone in the snow, smoking a cigarette, quietly watching the dawn break in the east.
Watching the first rays of morning sunlight break through the layers of clouds and illuminate the earth.