After the meeting concluded, Yan Shouyi visited both Lü Jing and Lin Zitong, informing them of what he had witnessed and the plans everyone had made.
Lü Jing’s current state was a far cry from before. He used to be a hot-tempered old man, but after the recent turmoil, he seemed to have aged considerably.
Even after what the Skin-Changing Master had done to him, he no longer flushed red and declared his intention to eliminate the demon. Instead, he said that everything would be handled by Lin Zitong herself once she officially took over as sect leader.
It seemed Lü Jing was tired. Even a Daoist could not completely detach from worldly affairs and remain unaffected.
The position of sect leader, which he once craved, had not brought him true happiness. Now, as Lü Jing was about to relinquish his responsibilities, his demeanor became much more serene, and he finally possessed a hint of the original Lü Jingsheng’s state of mind.
Lin Zitong, after a night’s rest, had recovered significantly from her injuries. Color was gradually returning to her face, though thick bandages still wrapped her body. The blood seeping through the bandages made Yan Shouyi’s heart ache.
After Yan Shouyi explained the situation to her, Lin Zitong also expressed her concern for the future of the Xuanmen. However, to reassure her and allow her to focus on recuperating, Yan Shouyi told her not to worry too much about these matters for the next few days, as he would handle everything.
The Lü Shan Sect was not without its people. Previously, to protect Huang Hai and Zhou Yuquan, Yan Shouyi had temporarily hidden them. Now that the disturbance had subsided, the two could return to the Lü Shan Sect, help manage affairs, and await Lin Zitong’s recovery.
After visiting the two, Yan Shouyi sent another text message to Yan Chou, reporting the Twelve Yuan Chen’s attempt to sow discord among the renowned righteous sects and create conflict between them and the folk cults.
Yan Chou quickly replied, praising Yan Shouyi for his significant contribution. He remarked that if everyone hadn’t discovered this matter earlier, the tragedy of the Luotian Grand Ceremony might have repeated itself several more times.
Having done all this, Yan Shouyi stayed by Lin Zitong’s bedside. After seeing that she had fallen asleep, he closed his eyes and sat in meditation to conserve his energy.
…
The next morning, while Lin Zitong was still asleep, Yan Shouyi suddenly felt his phone vibrate.
To avoid waking Lin Zitong, he hung up the phone 0.01 seconds after it vibrated and then quietly but quickly left the room.
Once downstairs, he felt safe enough to call the person back.
The caller was Xia Zhi. After learning about the events on Jiazi Island last night, she had immediately led her team to the island for arrests. It was likely she had results now and was eager to inform Yan Shouyi.
When Yan Shouyi called back, he heard Xia Zhi’s slightly apologetic voice: "Is it inconvenient for you to take calls right now?"
"It’s fine, I was in the room earlier, and Zitong was still asleep. I’m downstairs now," Yan Shouyi replied.
Xia Zhi felt a touch of envy. Good men like Yan Shouyi were increasingly rare, especially in her line of work. She typically arrested domestic abusers who beat their wives while drunk, or perverted old men who peeked and filmed in restrooms. If it weren’t for her righteous male colleagues, Xia Zhi would almost start doubting if good men existed in the world.
It was a pity that Yan Shouyi was much younger than her, and he already had the exceptional Lin Zitong by his side. Otherwise, Xia Zhi might not have minded starting a romance…
Shaking off the chaotic thoughts from her mind, Xia Zhi said,
"I arrested quite a few people on Jiazi Island last night. You’ve made a great contribution."
"Was anyone injured?"
"No, we landed on the island quietly. The other side intended to escape, but all their boats were broken, so they had no choice but to be arrested. I suppose that was your doing."
Yan Shouyi chuckled, neither confirming nor denying.
"There were indeed many girls forced into servitude on Jiazi Island, and the youngest was… sigh, I’m too embarrassed to even say it. I can’t imagine how those beasts dared to commit such inhumane acts!"
Xia Zhi had intended to describe the atrocities on Jiazi Island but stopped herself. As an unmarried woman, certain things were too awkward for her to say.
Yan Shouyi grunted. Having been to Jiazi Island himself, he had a general idea of what transpired there.
It was essentially about cultivating or forcing boys and girls to serve the wealthy patrons of Jianzhou, in exchange for power and convenience for the fox demon island master.
Fortunately, the fox demon island master had now been captured, and the wealthy patrons who frequented the island had been dealt with by Xia Zhi. Jiazi Island would cease to exist.
Yan Shouyi initially thought the matter was concluded and was about to say goodbye to Xia Zhi and return to his room to check on Lin Zitong.
Then, Xia Zhi suddenly changed the subject: "Um… if you have time, could you come down to the Guxi Police Station?"
"Hmm?" Yan Shouyi blinked in surprise. "What’s wrong? Has something else come up that can’t be resolved? I’ll send Agong over."
Xia Zhi sighed. "No, it’s just that my colleagues were conducting a vice raid last night and arrested Xiao Long again. Apparently, several others were arrested too, including Lao Jin, and even a monk."
Yan Shouyi: "..."
His current expression was one of narrowed eyes, filled with disdain and helplessness.
"I understand. I’ll be right there."
Yan Shouyi hung up the phone, changed his clothes with a sigh, and then called for a driver to take him in a business van towards the Guxi Police Station.
On the way, he encountered Yuan Jianxin, who was out for his morning exercises. Yuan Jianxin curiously asked, "Brother Yan, where are you off to so early in the morning?"
"To bail someone out," Yan Shouyi sighed.
Yuan Jianxin’s expression changed. "Bail someone out? What happened? Has someone kidnapped our people?"
"Uh… you don’t need to worry about that. It’s just a five-thousand-yuan fine per person."
After Yan Shouyi left, Yuan Jianxin was full of bewilderment.
What kind of kidnapper was so kind as to release someone for only five thousand yuan?
…
"Moon, oh moon, shining on my heart,
I, in this cell, miss my mother.
Regretting not heeding my mother's words,
Now I am a prisoner within these bars."
In the detention room of the Guxi Police Station, Long Feichen leaned against the iron bars, humming "Tears of Iron Bars" with a miserable air.
Passing police officers looked at him with surprise and couldn't help but ask their colleagues, "How did those few get in? They look so wronged."
"Prostitution."
"Oh, you stinking men, go to hell!"
Long Feichen stopped singing and turned back dejectedly, grumbling resentfully to his brothers who shared the same predicament:
"It's all your fault for that little sister yesterday. After we finished, I did my usual thing and played a couple of hands of cards. I only won five hundred yuan from her, and she had to report me! Now look, we're all in here!"
Han San covered his face and cried, "You still have the nerve to say that? If it weren’t for you, would we be in such a miserable state? How am I supposed to live my life now? What face do I have to return to Maoshan, or to face our ancestors!"
Weng Qianxiang patted Han San’s shoulder and comforted him, "Don't worry, that thing called 'face,' it ceased to exist for you long ago. You don’t need to worry too much."