The joy of finally learning about the child was instantly washed away by the devastating news.
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong stood frozen, as if struck by lightning, their emotions in turmoil.
The Folk Research Association had triumphed over the Red Flower Society, and the audience, along with some unaware elders, were still reveling in the victory. However, Yan Shouyi and his companions were plunged into endless sorrow, a stark contrast to the jubilant atmosphere.
"Xiao Long."
Yan Shouyi called out to Long Feicheng. Long Feicheng snapped back to reality and quickly responded.
"I'll leave this to you and Old Wang. Remember to take care of everyone. I... Zi Tong and I will go to the Lotus Pond to see." Yan Shouyi said in a low voice.
Thinking of the fiery-tempered, red-faced old man’s death, Long Feicheng, who often bore the brunt of his scoldings, felt a void in his heart too. He opened his mouth to offer comfort but found no words. In the end, he nodded silently and turned to rush towards Wang Ji.
Yan Shouyi took a deep breath, trying to calm himself, and took Lin Zitong's hand. "Let's go."
"Mm."
Lin Zitong agreed expressionlessly, but her inner turmoil was evident.
The group quietly left the scene and headed towards the Lotus Pond.
...
At the Lotus Pond, Wen Yuxian gently placed the lotus protecting the child back. She then looked at Lü Jing's corpse, withered like a dried corpse, and tears welled up in her eyes again.
"Mom, Shouyi is here," Yan Chou reminded her.
As soon as he spoke, Yan Shouyi and the others hurried into the Lotus Pond. Their footsteps were somewhat disordered at first, but as they approached, their pace calmed and slowed.
Lin Zitong’s eyes immediately fell upon Lü Jing’s body. She covered her mouth, her eyes reddening.
Yan Shouyi felt a lump in his throat, and his cheeks ached.
"Dad, Grandma... what happened?"
Yan Chou retrieved the corpses of the vampires from the Lotus Pond and said in a low voice:
"Twenty years ago, while traveling the martial world, I encountered a fiend who called himself the Black Bat Village Chief, preying on the populace. I captured him and crippled his cultivation. Later, he managed to escape. Unexpectedly, after twenty years of meticulous planning, he infiltrated the Lotus Pond, intending to sever our Yan family line..."
"I was in seclusion at the time and suddenly felt a pang of distress, so I came to check on the child's soul. I happened to run into the Black Bat Village Chief and struck him down. But... I was still a step too late. Sect Leader Lü Jing was already dead."
Yan Chou's words were also filled with unspoken self-reproach. If he had arrived even a moment earlier, perhaps Lü Jing would not have died.
However, what had happened could not be undone.
"It's all my fault... all my fault..."
Wen Yuxian blamed herself profusely, tears streaming down her face, completely devoid of her elder demeanor.
Lü Jing's death was solely the fault of the Black Bat Village Chief. Wen Yuxian's self-recrimination stemmed from the fact that Lü Jing had died protecting Yan Shouyi's child.
As a grandmother, she owed Lü Jing a debt she could no longer repay.
Lin Zitong pursed her lips and gazed at Lü Jing’s body for a long time.
Although Lü Jing was not her master, he was more than a master. During the period when Lü Jingsheng was missing, it was Lü Jing who had diligently guided Lin Zitong.
He had designated Lin Zitong as the successor to the Sect Leader of the Lü Mountain Sect; he had taken Lin Zitong to Penglai to seek an expert to prevent the child's development; he had taught Lin Zitong how to be a proper Sect Leader.
Yet, this ill-tempered old man, just as he was preparing to retire from the martial world and enjoy his twilight years, had passed away so unexpectedly...
Suddenly, Lin Zitong walked towards the Lotus Pond.
Everyone assumed Lin Zitong was going to pay respects to Lü Jing, but she ended up by Wen Yuxian's side, hugging her gently and comforting her:
"Grandma, it's not your fault, it's not your fault..."
Seeing this, everyone felt a pang of heartache.
Lin Zitong must have been in immense pain, yet she forced herself to endure it to comfort the other person and alleviate Wen Yuxian's guilt.
Wen Yuxian understood this sentiment and hugged Lin Zitong back, "He said the child is also a descendant of the Lü Mountain Sect and asked me to protect the child no matter what... It's my fault, it's my fault..."
Lin Zitong, with reddened eyes, tried her best to hold back her tears, her hand tightly gripping the hem of her clothes.
"Dad, Sect Leader Lü Jing's soul..." Yan Shouyi hesitated.
Yan Chou sighed and shook his head. "After killing Sect Leader Lü Jing, the Black Bat Village Chief attempted to destroy his soul, but your grandmother intervened. Although his soul still exists, it is not complete and cannot remain in the mortal realm."
An incomplete soul remaining in the mortal realm would lead to a slow dissipation, the same fate as General Qing Jiang and Princess Yu Shu.
Even if forcibly kept in the mortal world, given the extent of damage to Lü Jing's soul, he would likely become a wandering spirit, unlike Wen Yuxian or Zhang Shantong, who seemed indistinguishable from the living.
The only hopeful outcome was to send Lü Jing's soul into reincarnation, allowing the power of the cycle of rebirth to mend his soul. However, this would mean Lü Jing would be reborn and leave everyone forever.
Upon hearing this, Lin Zitong’s body trembled again.
Yan Shouyi also remained silent for a long time.
Yan Chou beckoned to the dog-like Taoist and the others, signaling them to leave the Lotus Pond first. He then followed them out.
Lin Zitong released Wen Yuxian, and Wen Yuxian also left silently.
In the Lotus Pond, only Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong remained, along with the souls of the unborn children and Lü Jing’s corpse.
Lin Zitong slowly walked towards Lü Jing. Passing the central lotus, she saw that the souls within were unharmed, and her expression slightly improved.
She came to Lü Jing’s side and quietly began to prepare his body.
Yan Shouyi quickly stepped forward to help.
"Uncle Lü Jing was different from my master. My master considered too many things and worried too much, while Uncle Lü Jing’s heart was solely for the Lü Mountain Sect. That’s why Uncle Lü Jing often disagreed with him when my master was the Sect Leader."
"When Tong Jingcheng was causing trouble in Rongcheng, we even suspected Uncle Lü Jing was the mastermind. Thinking back now, I feel so ashamed and guilty."
"During the period before you went to Longhu Mountain, Uncle Lü Jing took care of me. He taught me a lot, helping me understand how to be a good Sect Leader of the Lü Mountain Sect."
"Now that I've finally become the Sect Leader of the Lü Mountain Sect, and the children are about to be born, Uncle Lü Jing, who had no descendants, has suddenly passed away at this time..."
As Lin Zitong spoke, her tears finally fell uncontrollably.
"His life was so bitter," Lin Zitong collapsed into Lü Jing's embrace, sobbing uncontrollably.
If Lü Jing were still alive, the short-tempered old man would surely have pointed at Lin Zitong’s nose and scolded her, asking how the Sect Leader could shed tears, and what would the disciples think if they saw this.
But he no longer had the chance to scold her.
Lin Zitong also no longer had the chance to be scolded.
The former Sect Leader of the Lü Mountain Sect, that red-faced old man who loved to curse, was gone.