As the Sect Leader of the Lushan Sect, Lin Zitong's way of thinking had gradually diverged from that of ordinary people; she had learned to see the essence behind phenomena.
Combining what she had previously understood, Lin Zitong immediately saw through the mastermind behind it all and, with a startling revelation, enlightened the two women.
The tomboy Zhao Yiyao, slow to realize, agreed: "That's right! The goal of the Twelve Yuan Chen is to create conflict between the two sects. Yan Nanfei also went to Mount Emei for this very reason, which is why he chose to text the President. Now that the Twelve Yuan Chen have achieved their objective, the orthodox sects truly hate the folk sects with a burning passion..."
Lin Zitong sighed softly, "Since the Twelve Yuan Chen chose to release the news, they shouldn't be worried that the 'big idiot' can come out to clarify. Either the 'big idiot' has no evidence, or they are certain that the 'big idiot' cannot appear in a short period of time."
She didn't believe Yan Shouyi would die on Mount Emei. Judging by the current situation, Yan Shouyi being alive was better than being dead. After all, the supposed annihilation of Mount Emei was a slanderous accusation made by the Twelve Yuan Chen against Yan Shouyi. If Yan Shouyi died, the major sects would have no reason to target the folk sects. On the contrary, as long as Yan Shouyi remained alive, the major sects would have countless reasons and excuses to attack the disciples of the folk sects! It was precisely because she understood all this that Lin Zitong was not overly worried about Yan Shouyi.
Luo Ning was furious: "That damned New Xuan Shan Sect, what do they really want to do?!"
Lin Zitong thought for a moment and asked, "Do Uncle Gou and Uncle Miaoji know about this matter?"
"They should know, but they don't have any solutions for it at the moment. After all, Uncle Yan himself has many enemies among the orthodox sects," Luo Ning replied, shaking her head.
In reality, the conflict between the two sects was never a personal grievance. Therefore, even Yan Chou had no way to solve the fundamental problem; he could only eliminate some of the people who were inciting the conflict. In the final analysis, this matter still required Yan Shouyi himself to step forward. Only by exposing the conspiracy of the New Xuan Shan Sect could the conflict between the two sects be temporarily eased.
"Has Old Wang decided who will go to Mount Emei?" Lin Zitong asked. "The most pressing matter is to find a way to bring the 'big idiot' back."
"Currently, it's tentatively decided to be me and A Gong," Luo Ning replied.
Lin Zitong hesitated for a moment, then said, "Bring Zhuge Lian along as well."
"Why?"
"The 'big idiot' and his group are likely trapped on Mount Emei. Zhuge Lian is proficient in celestial observation techniques, which should be helpful."
...
While the outside world was in turmoil, Yan Shouyi was still in the Flying Palace, diligently crafting his wooden puppet dharma body. He summoned San Yuan and occasionally had it help him fetch tools. Long Feicheng and the others only heard the clanging sounds coming from behind the screen, which lasted for a day and a night, disturbing their sleep. However, no one dared to disturb him. Long Feicheng used this as an excuse to request permission from Abbess Guanyun to rest in the female disciples' rooms, only to be severely reprimanded by Abbess Guanyun, who hit him on the head with her wooden fish mallet, and was sent back.
It wasn't until the third day that everyone was confined to the Flying Palace. Yan Shouyi emerged from behind the screen, holding the Zanpakuto in his hand and with San Yuan perched on his shoulder. He looked spirited and showed no signs of fatigue from working continuously for a day and a night.
"President?"
Zhuge Ji and Ye Tianyuan, two young fellows, curiously crowded around, craning their necks to look behind the screen, eager to see what Yan Shouyi had been up to. Upon looking, they saw, behind the screen, a figure identical to their President sitting cross-legged and motionless.
Before Yan Shouyi could explain, Zhuge Ji exclaimed excitedly, "Is this the wooden puppet dharma body? President used it when dealing with those guys from the Scarlet Flower Society. Back then, the demonic monk Shi Kui fought hard for half a day, only to cut down a clone of the President. That scene was incredibly shocking!" Every otaku harbored a dream of being a hero, and Zhuge Ji certainly wished to be a great hero admired by thousands, just like Yan Shouyi. Although Ye Tianyuan was not present at the time, he had witnessed the scene through a livestream and, recalling it now, his admiration for Yan Shouyi grew immensely.
Long Feicheng approached the wooden puppet dharma body and observed it carefully. "Brother Yan, your carving skills are simply divine. This looks exactly like you, even more like you than you are!"
Yan Shouyi retorted speechlessly, "Are you playing nesting dolls?"
Zhuge Ji also curiously leaned closer and pinched the dharma body's arm, exclaiming with emotion, "President, isn't your dharma body carved from wood? Why does the skin feel so soft?"
"Really? Let me try!" Long Feicheng, disbelieving, pinched it a few times and was immediately astonished by the lifelike texture. Long Feicheng suddenly had a bold idea! He pondered for a moment, glanced around, and seeing no one else, he sheepishly said to Yan Shouyi, "Brother Yan, your craftsmanship is so superb. As the saying goes, don't let good fertilizer go to waste on other people's fields. So, uh... could you make a dharma body of Reba for me?"
"Little Brother Long???" Zhuge Ji's eyes widened. Seemingly inspired by Long Feicheng, he plopped down on his knees before Yan Shouyi and pleaded, "President, please make a dharma body of Mikasa for me!"
"You are disgracing yourselves!" Yan Nanfei couldn't help but step forward to reprimand them. "Brother Yan's wooden puppet dharma body is an exceptional skill, and it should naturally be used for proper purposes. How can it be used to satisfy your lewd desires?" Hearing Yan Nanfei's righteous scolding, the two actually felt a pang of guilt and lowered their heads.
However, at this moment, Yan Nanfei cupped his fists and declared, "Enough talk. I require a Nazha!"
"Damn it!" The two immediately gave Yan Nanfei the middle finger: "Eat shit!"
Daoist Jin Bi, lying in a corner, had also wanted to make a small request, but seeing that Yan Shouyi hadn't even agreed to Long Feicheng's request, he forcibly suppressed his urge. After all, he was of an advanced age and couldn't afford to lose face; his reputation might be ruined in his twilight years...
As the others were discussing, the dharma body sitting cross-legged on the ground suddenly opened its eyes and said helplessly, "I am the true body."
Huh? Nani?! Everyone was stunned. The first Yan Shouyi they saw was so lifelike and natural. Both in his actions and his tone of speech, he was exactly like the real person. But now, this "dharma body" sitting cross-legged was actually the true body?
Long Feicheng quickly reached out to pinch the first Yan Shouyi's arm. As expected, its arm was stiff and bone-chillingly cold. "Hiss!" Long Feicheng retracted his hand as if shocked by electricity and exclaimed in amazement, "It really is... Brother Yan, your craftsmanship can be described as indistinguishable from the real thing!"
"You flatter me." Both Yan Shouyis smiled and waved their hands simultaneously, their movements identical, making them seem more like twins, or as if a mirror had been placed next to the true body. However, Long Feicheng couldn't be happy because his Reba dream had been shattered. Similarly, Zhuge Ji and Yan Nanfei were also a bit disheartened.