Yan Shouyi, Lin Zitong, and their group stood outside the gates of the Lushun Sect.
Their backs were straight, their expressions stern, not like troublemakers here to cause a scene, but more like masters returning to demand accountability.
Lin Zitong swept her gaze across the scene within the Lushun Sect, finding the sight vastly different from the Lushun Sect she had known her entire life.
In her memory, the Lushun Sect was surrounded by wisps of ethereal smoke, with few people coming and going. Only the disciples of the Lushun Sect would cultivate and discuss the Dao there, their voices of discourse even softer than the chirping of birds and the buzzing of insects in the trees.
But at this moment, countless large tables were set up within the Lushun Sect, with people from all walks of life sitting in the formerly tranquil grounds, conversing loudly in worldly tongues, their mouths full of profit.
The wisps of ethereal smoke had turned into the smog of cigarette smoke.
The current Lushun Sect didn't resemble a Daoist temple, but rather a den of iniquity, and the succession ceremony was not a ceremony but a commercial cocktail party.
"The Lushun Sect shouldn't be like this," Lin Zitong whispered.
"That's why we've come," Yan Shouyi replied in a low voice.
They had returned, and it was time for the Lushun Sect to return to its original state!
Many people present were in a daze at the sudden arrival of Yan Shouyi and his entourage.
Who were these people? Were they here to disrupt the proceedings?
Did they not know the capabilities of the Lushun Sect?
Some influential figures with vested interests in Lü Xin, eager to curry favor with Lü Xin, disregarded their status and slammed the tables, shouting angrily:
"Who are you people, daring to cause trouble at the Lushun Sect!"
"Don't you know what this place is? Don't you know the abilities of Sect Leader Lü Xin? I advise you, don't be so reckless!"
"Heh, a bunch of young lads who don't know the immensity of heaven and earth. You'll have a show to watch later!"
Most of those speaking were dignitaries and nobles, ordinary people who couldn't discern the unusual aura of Yan Shouyi and his group.
Therefore, their bluster was all the more fierce, as if they wished they could act on behalf of Lü Xin to drive Yan Shouyi and his group away.
As for those with a bit of cultivation, they observed Yan Shouyi and his companions seriously and cautiously.
Anyone with even a modicum of cultivation could tell that Yan Shouyi and his group were extraordinary.
The most striking among them were three individuals.
Luo Ning, whose short hair was cute but who exuded a dense corpse energy.
Zhao Yiyao, whose movements were "rough," with a Northeastern accent, and who emanated a faint demonic aura.
The last person was the silent, gloomily-faced Second Uncle, Wei Changqing—Wei Changqing's presence was the most restrained, but the aura he exuded was undeniably extraordinary to anyone.
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong's auras were subtle, making their cultivation level difficult to ascertain, but it was clear that this group was led by Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong.
Thus, these two were definitely not simple!
What was the background of this group of young people?
They seemed to be here to demand an explanation... What right did they have to act so high and mighty before Sect Leader Lü Xin?
Among the guests, a small portion of people had particularly revealing expressions.
This group consisted of the minor sects that Lin Zitong had contacted a few days prior.
After Lin Zitong contacted them, they had not come to their senses and stubbornly chose to side with Lü Xin.
Although the dissolution of the Lüyun Sect was unexpected, Lü Xin's displayed strength and the conditions offered were more appealing to them.
Recognizing Lin Zitong at this moment, their faces were a mix of emotions, inwardly thinking that today's succession ceremony would be quite dramatic.
However, in their hearts, they naturally hoped that Lü Xin would overpower Lin Zitong and expel her, making them beneficiaries.
Conversely, if Lin Zitong won, when the reckoning came, there would be no place for these minor sects to stand in Jianzhou Province.
"Senior Sister Lin, you're back!"
As everyone confronted each other, a few young Daoist boys standing in the courtyard as greeters excitedly dropped what they were holding and rushed towards Lin Zitong!
Lin Zitong was sweet-faced and very gentle with her junior brothers and sisters, often bringing them delicious food, so the young Daoist boys were very fond of her.
The young Daoist boys swarmed forward, hugging Lin Zitong with wronged expressions: "Where did Senior Sister go? We've suffered so much these past days!"
Lin Zitong stroked the young Daoist boys' heads and pinched their cheeks, saying with concern:
"How did you suffer?"
A round-faced young Daoist boy, with a bitter expression, rolled up his sleeve to reveal bruises on his arm: "We have to work every day, often going hungry, and sometimes we get beaten..."
Seeing this, Lin Zitong was heartbroken and said in a low voice, "Doesn't your master care?"
"Master doesn't care, and many uncles have been locked up," the young Daoist boy quickly replied.
Yan Shouyi, on the side, understood. The masters of these young Daoist boys had most likely pledged allegiance to Lü Xin, and those who hadn't were either driven out of the Lushun Sect or locked up by Lü Xin.
It's just that children's minds are pure; they wouldn't consider so much, only thinking that the Lushun Sect changed after Lü Xin arrived. They wouldn't understand why it had become this way.
"Who hit you?" Yan Shouyi asked in a low voice.
The young Daoist boy knew Yan Shouyi was Lin Zitong's husband. Seeing Yan Shouyi's stance of supporting him, he felt emboldened and pointed to a middle-aged Lushun Sect disciple standing to the side.
Lin Zitong glanced at the man and said softly, "An unfamiliar face."
An unfamiliar face meant that this person was not a disciple of the Lushun Sect but had been brought back from outside by Lü Xin later.
This eliminated any hesitation for Yan Shouyi.
He strode towards the outsider disciple, his eyes seeming to want to devour him.
Sensing the threat emanating from Yan Shouyi, the outsider disciple shouted feebly, "What, what do you want to do! This is Lushun Sect territory, how dare you be presumptuous!"
The dignitaries and nobles who wanted to curry favor with Lü Xin also began to denounce him, attempting to use insults to make Yan Shouyi leave the Lushun Sect.
But Yan Shouyi paid no heed to their words.
He walked directly in front of the outsider disciple, raised his hand, and delivered a resounding slap!
*Slap!*
The sound of the slap was incredibly loud, silencing the bustling Lushun Sect courtyard.
Lü Xin's eyes narrowed, as if he himself had been slapped.
"You, you dare to hit me?!" the disciple roared, clutching his face.
"Don't worry, this is just the beginning," Yan Shouyi said, raising his hand for another slap. "If adults fight, it's one thing, but you bully children. What right do you have to wear Lushun Sect robes?"
*Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap! Slap!*
Yan Shouyi's several slaps had stunned the other man. The disciple, regaining his senses, tried to escape, but Yan Shouyi grabbed him by the collar and continued to slap him!
He tried to resist but found his strength utterly insignificant against Yan Shouyi!
At this moment, the outsider disciple finally understood the plight of the young Daoist boys, for when he had bullied the young Daoist boys, they had been just as defenseless, at his mercy.
He just never expected retribution to come so quickly, and now he too had to endure such suffering!