Lu Jing's body was sent back to the Lu Shan Sect, and the entire sect was plunged into sorrow.
Fortunately, Lin Zihong had already taken over as sect leader, and before Lu Jing's death, she had already gained the respect of the disciples, so there were no internal disturbances within the Lu Shan Sect.
The funeral proceeded in an orderly manner under Lin Zihong's preparations.
According to the customs of the Lu Shan Sect, the deceased sect leader was to be sunk into the depths of the Min River. For disciples who originated from the Min River, this signified "dust to dust, earth to earth."
Yan Shouyi chose a propitious day for Lu Jing and held a grand funeral.
At the funeral, people sang praises of Lu Jing's virtues and mourned his past, finally sending Lu Jing's body into the Min River, bidding farewell to the mortal world forever amidst the rolling waters.
His incomplete soul also embarked on the path of reincarnation, carried by the swift currents of the Min River.
The only regret was that everyone had not had a proper chance to say goodbye to the hot-tempered, red-faced old man.
After Lu Jing's burial, Rongcheng gradually returned to peace.
Lin Zihong shouldered the responsibility of the Lu Shan Sect, and the disciples, perhaps spurred by Lu Jing's passing, cultivated even more diligently.
Meanwhile, Yan Shouyi and the Folk Research Association were also not idle.
After Yan Shouyi's breathtaking display of skill in the battle against the Scarlet Flower Society, continuous streams of inheritors from folk sects came to join the Folk Research Association, drawn by his fame.
In just two months, the Folk Research Association grew from a mere handful of members to over five hundred!
To put it in perspective, the Scarlet Flower Society, despite developing for two hundred years, only had over two hundred members.
Qiantang's crematorium had only forty to fifty people, and Chang'an's Li Chongxi, being highly respected, could only command the allegiance of fewer than three hundred individuals.
This illustrated the formidable rise of the Folk Research Association.
However, this also reflected the predicament faced by inheritors of folk sects in the current era.
With the development of the times, many folk skills were no longer valued, either being phased out by progress or disappearing on their own. The surviving folk sects, affected by the "three deficiencies and five harms," could only seek a niche to survive.
They also yearned for an organization that could take them in.
Therefore, when the Folk Research Association and Yan Shouyi appeared, they flocked to them as if seeing a glimmer of hope.
The Folk Research Association was established, and its membership grew; the question now was how to properly arrange them.
Wang Ji proposed that the elders take the lead in cooperating with the police officer Xia Zhi to guide the members in "dispensing justice" within Jianzhou Province.
This approach offered several advantages: Firstly, it kept the members occupied, preventing idleness that could lead to various troubles.
Secondly, performing good deeds could accumulate merit and offset some of the effects of the "three deficiencies and five harms," which would be welcomed by the inheritors of folk sects.
Thirdly, with their involvement, the public security in Jianzhou Province would undoubtedly improve, and malevolent entities would not dare to act with impunity.
Thus, the members of the Folk Research Association began to sweep through Jianzhou. Out of five hundred members, three hundred were constantly out in the field, leaving only two hundred members to stay at the association.
It is worth noting that He Xiping proposed the establishment of the Folk Research Association's own intelligence organization, which was approved by Yan Chou.
Under Yan Chou's guidance, He Xiping, along with Weng Qianxiang, began to organize an intelligence network in various locations. In just two months, it had already begun to take shape.
Their intelligence points were distributed across different regions, and dispersed inheritors of folk sects could seek assistance at these points.
Of course, the intelligence points of the Folk Research Association had to be discreet.
To achieve this, Weng Qianxiang proposed the idea of "the greatest hiddenness is in the marketplace."
All intelligence points were established as "Shaxian Snacks" restaurants, invested in and opened by the Lin family of Licheng.
And all intelligence personnel were disguised as delivery drivers, wearing yellow uniforms and riding electric scooters, weaving through the streets!
When Yan Shouyi learned of this, he was dumbfounded and praised Weng Qianxiang as a true talent.
...
Two months passed in the blink of an eye.
Beside the lotus pond of the Folk Research Association, Yan Shouyi meditated and practiced the breathing and circulation techniques recorded in the Luban Scroll.
This technique did not belong to any current sect. According to Yan Shouyi's estimation, it was either a technique self-created by the Luban Sect or originated from a sect even older than the Spring and Autumn Period, so ancient that no trace of it could be found.
Breathing and circulation were crucial for disciples of righteous sects, and the same applied to inheritors of folk sects.
After finishing his meditation, with the sky just beginning to dawn, Yan Shouyi stretched and smiled gently as he saw the unique twin lotus blooming in the pond.
He cautiously approached the twin lotus, gently parted the petals, and peered inside.
Within the center of the flower, the souls of two little babies were visible.
They were about the size of large apples, with all their organs fully developed. The two little ones nestled together, sucking on their fingers, and occasionally squirming.
"These are my children..."
Yan Shouyi chuckled foolishly.
As he was engrossed in watching them, Lin Zihong entered the lotus pond. Seeing Yan Shouyi with a silly expression, she covered her mouth and chuckled,
"You just stare at the babies and smile foolishly all day. Their intelligence will definitely follow me, not you, you simpleton~"
Yan Shouyi was startled and recoiled as if he had been shocked.
He then looked at Lin Zihong's slightly bulging belly and quickly went to support her: "Your pregnancy reactions have been quite severe lately. Rest well when you have the chance, and don't always come to the lotus pond."
The twin lotuses contained only the souls of the children; the physical bodies of the children in Lin Zihong's womb were still developing.
At five months, pregnant women often experience severe reactions, feeling dizzy and nauseous. Even with Lin Zihong's exceptional constitution, she could not escape the discomfort.
Furthermore, her management of the Lu Shan Sect during this period had taken a significant toll on her energy, causing her to catch a cold a couple of days ago, which made Yan Shouyi feel very worried.
Lin Zihong ignored Yan Shouyi and sat down by the lotus pond, saying, "Rub my back."
"You got it!"
Yan Shouyi rubbed his palms, warming them, before starting to massage Lin Zihong.
"Your two little ancestors are restless. They kicked me awake before dawn," Lin Zihong said reproachfully to Yan Shouyi, who immediately looked guilty.
Lin Zihong then sighed, "I couldn't sleep, so I went to the ancestral hall to visit Grandma."
Hearing that Lin Zihong had visited Grandma Wen Yuxian, Yan Shouyi also couldn't help but sigh, "Has Grandma improved?"
"It's still the same as before. Last night, she stayed up all night chanting scriptures again," Lin Zihong said with great concern.
"Grandma is old and easily gets anxious. She can't forgive herself, so she can only rely on chanting scriptures to relieve her stress," Yan Shouyi said helplessly. "Actually, I was thinking, if we have the chance, maybe taking Grandma back to Mount Emei, perhaps seeing Aunt Guanyun, might ease her heart a little."