The crowd returned to the Folk Research Institute in a grand procession.
Although there was a mess to clean up at the Lushang Sect, those issues could be dealt with slowly. The immediate priority was to send Lu Xin to the institute and ensure Lin Zitong received effective treatment.
As the vehicles carrying everyone arrived outside the institute, they were all captivated by the scenery of West Lake.
Whether it was Longhu Mountain, Laoshan, or Wudang Mountain, their sacred grounds were situated deep in the mountains far from cities. The mountains were sparsely populated, rich in spiritual energy, and more conducive to their dedicated cultivation.
The Folk Research Institute, however, was different. It was established in the most prosperous area of Rongcheng, harnessing the Feng Shui of West Lake, and rooted among the people. It could be considered an excellent stronghold for folk sects.
Even Yu Luming couldn't help but sigh, remarking that Longhu Mountain lacked a certain worldly charm.
"If you like it here, you're always welcome to visit," Yan Shouyi said warmly. "The institute has plenty of guest rooms; you can even pick your own rooms to stay in whenever you visit."
When Yan Chou designed the Folk Research Institute, he had considered every aspect. The current institute was a melting pot of sects.
It had everything a sect should have, and also everything a sect shouldn't.
For instance, the institute even boasted a luxuriously decorated KTV, an entertainment facility that a righteous sect would barely dare to imagine…
But that was a story for another time.
While everyone marveled at the institute's opulence, the vehicles had already driven inside. Yan Shouyi accompanied Lin Zitong to Old Jin's courtyard for further treatment, staying by her side.
Her father, Lin Ruofu, also looked at her with great concern. However, he didn't blame Yan Shouyi or Lin Zitong. He merely instructed Old Jin to do his utmost, offering any medicinal herbs they might need.
The Lin family had no shortage of anything except money!
Yan Shouyi stayed by Lin Zitong's side for over half an hour, his gaze never leaving her. Finally, Lin Zitong urged Yan Shouyi to leave:
"I'm fine now. You have many matters to attend to; don't waste your time on me."
"How can accompanying you be considered a waste of time?" Yan Shouyi sternly corrected Lin Zitong's statement.
Lin Zitong rolled her eyes at him and said seriously, "Where is Lu Xin confined? Consider it a favor to me; help me ask her where Sect Leader Lu Jing is, and also the whereabouts of my master…"
Lin Zitong was skilled in her speech. She knew that even if she got out of bed to push Yan Shouyi away, he wouldn't leave her side. By using "helping" as an excuse, she could persuade Yan Shouyi to attend to important matters.
As expected, Yan Shouyi was persuaded.
He hesitated for a moment, then called Old Jin, asking him to take good care of Lin Zitong.
Old Jin responded with impatience, "Lin is our group's darling; do you need to be so fussy? Alright, alright, you two go and attend to your business. My ears are about to fall off from all your nagging!"
Ever since Lin Zitong was injured, Yan Shouyi, Lin Ruofu, and Ye Chengfu had been bombarding Old Jin with requests.
Old Jin was certainly doing his best, but he was feeling rather exasperated by everyone's excessive concern.
When would any of you show such concern for me?!
Lin Zitong has money and a husband; I, Old Jin, have nothing!
Being chided by Old Jin, Yan Shouyi smiled sheepishly.
Stepping out of the ward, he saw everyone gathered outside and breathed a sigh of relief. He smiled and said,
"Zitong is fine; no need to worry, everyone. Since it's your first time at the institute, why don't you look around?"
The others understood that Yan Shouyi needed to interrogate Lu Xin and tactfully expressed their desire to go boating on West Lake.
After bidding farewell to everyone, Yan Shouyi took Wei Changqing alone and headed directly to where Lu Xin was being held.
The institute had a dungeon, but it was unlike ordinary dungeons. Yan Chou had designed it to be at the bottom of West Lake.
The dungeon was suppressed by the waters of West Lake, utilizing formations and the principles of Qimen Dunjia. This made the dungeon completely isolated from the outside world. Forget about living beings; not even a wisp of a soul could escape.
If Longhu Mountain's dungeon had possessed the same level of security as the institute's, even ten more of the Twenty-Eight Constellations would not have been able to break in.
Passing through layers of barriers, they entered the pitch-black dungeon and proceeded directly to the deepest part.
As the first "guest" of the dungeon, Lu Xin was confined in a cell with the highest security level. The cell had all-around, no-dead-angle surveillance, as well as various restrictive formations. Should Lu Xin make any attempt to leave, she would face dire consequences.
About ten meters away from the cell, Wei Changqing suddenly stopped.
Yan Shouyi looked at Wei Changqing in surprise.
Wei Changqing said calmly, "After all, we were former colleagues."
Yan Shouyi coughed dryly, surprised that his uncle still held onto old sentiments.
However, the interrogation probably wouldn't require his uncle's involvement. Yan Shouyi nodded and walked further into the depths alone.
Standing outside the cell, Yan Shouyi saw Lu Xin still lying in the same position as when she was first brought in, on her back.
Her tendons and ligaments had been severed, her meridians sealed by Zhao Chenxiang, and all her magical artifacts and weapons confiscated. In essence, Lu Xin was now a cripple.
After observing quietly outside the cell for a while, Yan Shouyi opened the cell door and strode in.
Even in her prime, Lu Xin might not have been Yan Shouyi's match, let alone now.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi wasn't worried about any trouble; this confidence stemmed entirely from his strength.
Lu Xin seemed to be asleep, her breathing heavy and pained, her brows furrowed. She looked decades older.
"Wake up!"
Yan Shouyi certainly wouldn't show Lu Xin any kindness. He kicked her in the back, and Lu Xin immediately opened her eyes.
Seeing that it was Yan Shouyi, Lu Xin's eyes showed no emotion as she calmly said, "Kill me."
"Don't be in a hurry; killing you is only a matter of time," Yan Shouyi replied. "I don't like killing, but that doesn't mean I won't. Countless souls perished by my sword in my past life; you are but one more."
It was Yan Shouyi who was interrogating Lu Xin now, so he absolutely could not be suppressed by her aura.
Even though Lu Xin was bent on seeking death, Yan Shouyi had to find a way to prevent her from dying easily, so he would have enough leverage to extract information from her.
The only parts of Lu Xin's body that could move were her head and above. The greatest movement she could manage was turning her neck, followed by moving her lips and blinking her eyes.
Lu Xin realized that Yan Shouyi not only possessed formidable strength but was also mature and steady in demeanor, a flicker of fear crossing her eyes.
She wasn't afraid of death; she was afraid of not being able to die, as death was the best outcome given the circumstances.
Yan Shouyi squatted down, examining Lu Xin.
After a moment, he said, "I have many questions for you, but before that, there is something more important to do: remove your disguise and see your true face."
Saying this, he reached out to tear off Lu Xin's mask, but failed after several attempts.
He noticed Lu Xin's complexion had turned ashen, then suddenly remembered that Weng Qianxiang had once said that beginner skin-grafting artists could only use makeup-like disguises. Intermediate artists could peel off a person's skin and wear it to impersonate the original owner. Truly skilled artists, after peeling off a person's skin, could directly fuse the skin with their own face.
In this way, the fake face would also become a real face, and even the closest people would not be able to distinguish the truth by appearance alone.
Lu Xin was clearly no ordinary person; the skin-grafting technique she used was undoubtedly the highest level.