[Secret Chat Group]
[Han San: @Yan Shouyi, just got the latest news. My master has decided to send disciples to support, but he is targeting the Spark Gang for now and it won't affect you.]
[Yan Shouyi: Okay, I got it.]
[Yuan Jianxin: Sigh, Laoshan entered the fray long ago. In the past three months, I haven't had a peaceful day at Laoshan. Yesterday, another team of disciples was ambushed on the mountain, and a 14-year-old outer disciple died.]
[Ling Xiaoxiao: @Yuan Jianxin, our Emei Sect is siding with the folk sects. Yesterday, one of our disciples went missing, but we currently have no leads and are investigating.]
[Yan Nanfei: Two sects warring, who is truly benefiting...]
[Yuan Jianxin: Everyone knows this war benefits no one, but it still happened unavoidably.]
[Yan Shouyi: I acted impulsively, I apologize to everyone.]
[Zhao Chengxiang: @Yan Shouyi, don't say that. Regardless of the choice you made three months ago, the conflict between the two sects was bound to happen sooner or later. Besides, they wanted your child. If it were me, I wouldn't agree either!]
[Ling Xiaoxiao: That's right, Senior Brother Yan, don't blame yourself too much. There's always a way to solve things.]
[Liu Yiren: Ultimately, it's the New Xuan Mountain Sect stirring up trouble. Without their instigation, things wouldn't have escalated to this point.]
[Han San: If you really feel sorry for us, just send some lewd pictures.]
[Liu Yiren: Who is the group administrator? Can you kick Han San out of the group?]
Panting dog emoji spams...
[Han San: Enough! I'll repeat this one last time: I, Han San, am not a panting dog!]
[Yan Nanfei: Speaking of which, Changshan hasn't appeared for a week. The latest news I heard is that he was confined by the abbot of Hanshan Temple for opposing their actions against the folk sects.]
[Zhao Chengxiang: Poor Brother Changshan...]
After a while.
[Yu Lumen: @Yan Shouyi, the child's condition is currently stable, rest assured. Although some sects on Longhu Mountain have entered the fray, the Celestial Master's Mansion is still observing.]
[Yan Shouyi: Thank you... On the side of the folk sects, apart from Wushen Mountain in the northeast, other forces have remained conservative and will not attack you easily.]
[Yu Lumen: Okay, everyone be careful and share any news promptly.]
Ending the chat, Yan Shouyi put down his phone and turned to look out the window.
The willow leaves planted along the shore of West Lake in Rongcheng were still verdant, swaying gently in the autumn breeze. The less harsh sunlight filtered through the room's blinds, casting a natural artistic painting on the bedside.
A full three months had passed since Yan Shouyi went on his killing spree.
Ever since he made his move that day, the relationship between the two factions rapidly deteriorated. The hatred of the renowned sects towards the folk sects reached its peak, and the folk sects, no longer willing to endure humiliation, decided to fight back.
Initially, it was just small conflicts between fringe sects and rogue cultivators. Injuries and bloodshed were commonplace, but inevitably, lives were lost, and the conflict escalated.
Then, second and third-tier sects joined the fray, and disciples of folk sects united to resist.
After countless skirmishes of varying scales, first-tier sects such as Maoshan Sect, Laoshan Sect, and Wudang Mountain could no longer suppress the anger of their disciples and entered the conflict.
It was also due to the involvement of the first-tier sects that rogue cultivators from folk sects could no longer travel the martial world alone. Those accustomed to freedom began to form or join forces.
As of today, the chaotic landscape has gradually become clearer.
In the central region, folk sect organizations from Qiantang and Chang'an merged and, led by Li Chongxi, established a force called the Spark Gang.
In the southwest region, the former Crimson Flower Society had completely disappeared. The remaining forces gradually expanded and annexed, eventually forming Hongya Cave, led by a suona player named Zhou Yan.
In the northwest region, a new force called the Changlin Army suddenly rose, led by a man named Hou Jingchen, a night watchman. It is said that his ancestors produced three generals.
In the northeast region, descendants of shamanic mediums formed Wushen Mountain, led by Ji Bing, who was also a shamanic medium.
Finally, in the southeast region, it was naturally the Folk Customs Research Association, organized by Yan Shouyi. The number of members in the association now exceeds seven hundred, with strong figures like Yan Qiu acting as guardians.
The five major forces, each with its leader, collaborated to restrain the renowned sects.
Among them, the Folk Customs Research Association was the primary target of the renowned sects, as the direct trigger for the conflict was Yan Shouyi's mass killing.
Renowned sects continuously sought them out, so the members of the Folk Customs Research Association never left the vicinity of Rongcheng and did not proactively attack disciples of renowned sects, remaining relatively conservative.
The most radical force was undoubtedly the short-tempered Wushen Mountain from the northeast.
It is said that Ji Bing's daughter was tragically murdered by a disciple of a renowned sect, which is why Ji Bing harbored deep hatred for them. Their force was the largest, and they always killed renowned sect disciples on sight within the northeastern region. As a result, the renowned sects in the northeast could only retreat to their mountain gates and dared not confront Ji Bing head-on.
As the target of public criticism, Yan Shouyi privately maintained contact with Yu Lumen and others. They had created a secret chat group to share information with each other – the purpose, of course, was to minimize casualties.
The conflict between the two factions was a powerful trend. Even though Yan Shouyi, Yu Lumen, and others held special identities, they could not alter the course of events.
They could only unite and do their part to de-escalate the conflict.
"Big idiot, Dad wants you to go see him. He says it's important."
As Yan Shouyi was contemplating, Lin Zitong entered the room, interrupting his thoughts.
Yan Shouyi turned his head. Lin Zitong, eight months pregnant, had a belly as round as if she had stuffed a basketball in it. Even with her special constitution, she often felt back pain and required Yan Shouyi's massage to alleviate it.
Besides that, loss of appetite, nausea, and headaches were commonplace.
However, none of this diminished Lin Zitong's enthusiasm for the children.
Yan Shouyi got up and carefully helped Lin Zitong to sit down, asking with concern, "Did you take your medicine today?"
"I... I don't want to take it..." Lin Zitong said weakly. "Grandpa Jin's pregnancy-preserving medicine is too bitter."
Despite her strength, Lin Zitong was still a woman, and disliking medicine was her nature. However, she only revealed her true self in front of Yan Shouyi.
Even in front of Lin Yulin Yin, she would drink the bowl of medicine in one gulp without even frowning.
Yan Shouyi chuckled, "You can't skip it. Our children are too restless; they've been causing trouble in your belly every day for eight months."
Although the souls of the children were not in their bodies, the physical bodies of the little ones occasionally moved restlessly, which was a natural physiological reaction.
Mentioning this made Lin Zitong angry. She glared at Yan Shouyi:
"My sister is very well-behaved. It's the brother causing trouble, just like you."
Yan Shouyi exclaimed innocence, "My personality is so honest, how could it be related to me?"
"Hmph... Alright, let's not talk about this. Dad is looking for you. From his tone, it seems to be a big matter. Go see him quickly."