Yu Lumin's appearance was unexpected by everyone present.
Although he was young, his status as Heavenly Master meant his standing was far beyond that of those before him, and his attitude could even influence the course of events.
Most crucially, once Yu Lumin entered the fray, it would give the elders secretly pulling strings a legitimate reason to step in.
This was what Yan Shouyi truly worried about.
What exactly was Yu Lumin here to do?
"Greetings, Heavenly Master!"
Hong Sifang and Tang Zhongxue bowed in greeting, while Master Heng Hua simply clasped his hands together and gave a slight bow.
Yu Lumin cast a cold glance at the three of them.
He knew clearly in his heart that once these three were nominated as spokespersons, it solidified their being bought off by the New Xuan Mountain Sect.
After this incident, regardless of the outcome, Yu Lumin would deal with them to cleanse the sect.
Hong Sifang, knowing no better, chuckled and asked, "May I ask if the Heavenly Master has come to join us in eliminating demons and upholding righteousness?"
He was asking a question to which he already knew the answer.
Yu Lumin did not reply. He withdrew his gaze, sighed, and looked at Yan Shouyi.
As their eyes met, Yu Lumin saw helplessness and indignation in Yan Shouyi's gaze, while Yan Shouyi saw determination and guilt in Yu Lumin's eyes.
"I am here in a private capacity. Today, I am not the Heavenly Master of Longhu Mountain."
Yu Lumin waved his sleeves, showing his empty hands.
In the past, when the Heavenly Master went on tour, he would always bring along several Daoist boys from the Heavenly Master's Mansion, and Liu Yiren would likely accompany him.
But this time, Yu Lumin had not informed anyone and appeared alone. What did he intend to do?
Even Yan Shouyi couldn't fathom Yu Lumin's thoughts at the moment.
Tang Zhongxue gave a drawn-out "Oh," and asked with a sarcastic tone, "Is the Heavenly Master not here to eliminate demons and uphold righteousness?"
Master Heng Hua clasped his hands again. "Amitabha, the Heavenly Master would naturally not associate with folk cults."
The moment this monk spoke, he had blocked Yu Lumin's retreat.
Facing everyone's gazes and questions, Yu Lumin took a deep breath and said to Yan Shouyi:
"Yan Shouyi, hand your child over to me, and I will personally escort them back to the Heavenly Master's Mansion. From this day forward, the two factions will cease their conflict."
Upon hearing this, the entire assembly erupted in an uproar.
Yu Lumin, representing a major orthodox sect, wanted to take Yan Shouyi's child?
The dignified Heavenly Master personally intervening to take a hostage?
Immediately, people began to discuss, forming three distinct viewpoints.
The disciples of the major orthodox sects, unaware of the full truth, thought that with the Heavenly Master personally taking the hostage, Yan Shouyi would henceforth worry about the child's safety and comply with the major orthodox sects' wishes. This was a good thing!
The people from the Folklore Research Society felt that rather than handing the child over to Hong Sifang and the others, it was better to entrust them to the more trustworthy Heavenly Master Yu Lumin. At least, given the relationship between the Heavenly Master and their president, the child would absolutely not be harmed. The Heavenly Master's appearance at this moment was actually providing their president with a stepping stone to a peaceful resolution – a brilliant move!
The third viewpoint came from Hong Sifang and his group. Their expressions turned grim, feeling that Yu Lumin's appearance had completely ruined their plan and implicitly resolved the conflict between the two factions.
Allowing Yan Shouyi to hand the child over to Yu Lumin was no different from letting the child's godfather take him away!
Damn Yu Lumin!
Hong Sifang and the others were inwardly furious, but for a moment, they couldn't think of a countermeasure. With the Heavenly Master personally involved, there was no place for their insignificant efforts to speak.
Yu Lumin looked at Yan Shouyi sincerely, hoping Yan Shouyi would understand his good intentions.
At the very least, your child would be absolutely safe in the Heavenly Master's Mansion, and it would provide a buffer period for the relationship between the two factions.
However, Yan Shouyi showed no reaction.
This made Lin Zitong a bit anxious. "Big Fool?"
Yan Shouyi turned his head to look at Lin Zitong.
Lin Zitong whispered, "Yu Lumin is helping us. This is probably the best outcome we can hope for right now."
Even Lin Zitong, who cared most about the child, believed this was the best way to resolve the situation.
"Do you truly believe that?" Yan Shouyi asked in a deep voice.
"Look at them..."
Lin Zitong pointed at the members of the Folklore Research Society who had been injured or even lost their lives during the earlier conflict.
Although Lin Zitong was extremely reluctant to part with the child and felt immense pain, if they didn't hand the child over, more people would be harmed.
The Folklore Research Society had finally reached this point, and everyone couldn't afford such damage.
Yan Shouyi's gaze slowly swept over the injured, passing the young coffin bearer, seeing his anger, unwillingness, and... fear.
"Alright... I'll hand them over!"
Yan Shouyi turned and walked into the Folklore Research Society.
Yu Lumin's expression remained unchanged, but inwardly he let out a long sigh of relief.
Hong Sifang exchanged glances with the other two. They already believed their plan had been ruined by Yu Lumin's appearance.
If they wanted to instigate conflict between the two factions, they would have to find another way.
...
Yan Shouyi walked into the Folklore Research Society and headed straight for the lotus pond.
Lin Zitong and a group of elders followed behind him.
Long Feicheng trailed behind, cursing, "Damn Hong Sifang! To hell with Tang Zhongxue! And that bald donkey Heng Hua, may he be born without a backside... I've written down all their names in my little notebook. Once this is over, I'll find them one by one and twist their heads off to use as toilets!"
The others were equally indignant and cursed all the way.
However, Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong, walking at the front, remained silent throughout.
Their friends, lacking parental experience, could not truly comprehend the immense weight in Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong's hearts right now.
The children hadn't even been born yet, and they had already experienced so much danger.
As parents, to personally hand over their unborn children was no different from cutting flesh from their own bodies.
This pain was something only they could bear in silence; no one could share it.
Arriving outside the lotus pond, the others silently stopped, tacitly choosing not to follow.
The remaining time should be left for the couple.
In the lotus pond, the conjoined lotus grew in the very center. The water was clear, reflecting the setting sun.
The two lotuses were close together, their pink petals enveloping lotus seedpods the size of fists. On each seedpod were two small pink clusters of light.
The children's souls had already taken shape. Through the gaps between the petals, the couple could even see the children sucking their own fingers.
The two little ones slept soundly, appearing so beautiful that no one could bear to disturb them.
Yan Shouyi stood on the arched bridge, craning his neck to gaze at the conjoined lotus, his eyes filled with infinite tenderness.
Lin Zitong watched him, her heart aching beyond words.
She had once dreamed of giving him a home, but before the children were even born, this home was already destined to be split in half, no longer whole.
Big Fool must be feeling incredibly sad.