With Huang Qingcang's appearance, the disciples of Dianyi Sect straightened their backs, no longer fearing Yan Shouyi as they had before.
It was as if they felt, "The wind has stopped, the rain has stopped, and little brother feels capable again."
On Yan Shouyi's side, Zhu Geji, having been slapped, dared not speak out in anger. Tian Jue'er was unaccustomed to speaking with outsiders, but she frowned. Ye Tianyuan couldn't help but steal glances at Yan Shouyi.
In fact, Ye Tianyuan was the most uneasy, because Xiao Que'er had just said that Daoist Jinbi most detested puppetry heirs, and he happened to be one.
He desperately wished for Chairman Yan to be more assertive now. Otherwise, if Daoist Jinbi were to confront him later, he would likely have no choice but to endure it silently.
Xiao Que'er was the most flustered. She kept looking left and right, completely at a loss. She didn't want to call Uncle Qiu for help, as that would make her seem incompetent, and her master would certainly not let her leave.
Just as everyone thought the matter would be dropped.
Yan Shouyi suddenly let out a cold snort and said to Huang Qingcang, "Are you telling me how to do my job?"
Huang Qingcang froze.
Daoist Jinbi's eyes widened even further.
Then, Huang Qingcang, suppressing his anger, pointed at Yan Shouyi and said, "I am your elder after all. You young people lack virtue. I advise you to behave yourself!"
Yan Shouyi sneered and replied, "Please, Sect Leader Huang, understand that I am only young. In terms of status, I am the chairman of the Folk Research Association and the sect leader, on equal footing with you. Save your 'relying on seniority' tactics for someone else; they won't work on me."
"You...!" Huang Qingcang was momentarily speechless.
The appearance of Huang Qingcang and Daoist Jinbi, acting as mediators.
To the disciples of both sects, they had calmed the conflict between the two groups. However, Yan Shouyi saw it differently.
This was because Huang Qingcang was relying on his age and condescendingly "ordering" him.
Phrases like "Yan family junior" and "unyielding even when in the right"—were these the words of someone trying to make peace?
From the beginning, it was the disciples of Qingcheng Mountain and Dianyi Sect who provoked them, and they were the first to act. Yan Shouyi had retaliated, but only to the extent of deterrence.
Yet Huang Qingcang had immediately slapped Zhu Geji and commanded him, Yan Shouyi, as an elder, to not be "unyielding when in the right"?
I'm sorry, but I, Yan Shouyi, do not acknowledge you as an elder!
Ye Tianyuan was both surprised and delighted: Chairman Yan had not disappointed him after all. He was so... assertive!
Tian Jue'er's frown eased, a faint smile graced her face, and she felt immensely secure.
Long Feicheng chuckled, stepped out from behind Yan Shouyi, and pointed at Huang Qingcang, saying, "Huang, if you have any manners, you should address my brother Yan as Chairman Yan. Stop calling him junior and elder. Listen to yourself, does that sound right?"
Does that sound right???
Huang Qingcang was so angry he almost spat blood.
My age is more than enough to be your great-grandfather. What's wrong with referring to myself as an elder?
However, considering the overall situation of Emei Mountain, Huang Qingcang suppressed his anger and reluctantly said, "Fine, I will call you Chairman Yan! I request Chairman Yan not to waste any more time and to hurry up and accompany us to Emei Mountain!"
"Hold on."
Yan Shouyi pulled Zhu Geji forward, pointing at his slightly red and swollen face, and asked, "How do we settle the matter of you hitting a member of my Folk Research Association?"
Zhu Geji was very surprised. He hadn't expected Yan Shouyi to seek justice for him, even after Huang Qingcang had backed down.
In his opinion, it was normal to be hit after scolding Huang Qingcang. Moreover, Yan Shouyi had previously struck a Dianyi Sect disciple, so it should have been considered even.
Huang Qingcang gritted his teeth. "Yan Shouyi... Chairman Yan, please don't push your luck! You hit my Dianyi Sect disciple earlier as well!"
"One matter at a time. I hit the Dianyi Sect disciple. If you have any grievances, you can come to me. I don't mind sparring with you, old man," Yan Shouyi said. "But without my permission, no one is allowed to hit anyone from my Folk Research Association!"
Arrogant!
Unreasonable!
The disciples of Dianyi Sect were enraged to see Yan Shouyi dare to "trouble" their sect leader, but they could only be angry without daring to speak.
Huang Qingcang also realized that this young man was not to be trifled with; he was a formidable character who wouldn't concede an inch and was incredibly difficult to deal with.
Facing such a Yan Shouyi, Huang Qingcang could only concede and asked in a deep voice, "What do you want?"
"Very simple. An apology."
Huang Qingcang's eyes widened in anger.
To make such an elder apologize to a junior who had just insulted him?
This was more unbearable than being slapped!
Huang Qingcang's mental defenses were about to break. He couldn't stand this humiliation and was ready to fight Yan Shouyi to the death!
Xiao Que'er also saw that Huang Qingcang's patience had reached its limit, and she was so anxious she was about to cry.
If a fight broke out, she would be in big trouble, possibly confined by her master for years.
But just as both sides were on the verge of conflict, Zhu Geji suddenly waved his hand, "Chairman, forget it... I'm fine. Let's not make things difficult for Sect Leader Huang."
Yan Shouyi winked at Zhu Geji, "Are you sure?"
"Sure..." Zhu Geji said quickly.
"Alright then, you said it yourself. Don't say I, your chairman, didn't protect you!" Yan Shouyi smiled and looked at Huang Qingcang. "Sect Leader Huang, you heard him. My subordinate has forgiven you, so you don't need to apologize."
The anger that had just ignited in Huang Qingcang's heart was instantly extinguished.
He took a deep breath, nodded, and didn't want to look at Yan Shouyi and the others any longer.
Annoying!
Yan Shouyi patted Zhu Geji's shoulder and let him return to his place.
Zhu Geji chuckled, feeling much closer to Yan Shouyi.
He had realized earlier that if they insisted on making Huang Qingcang apologize, both sides might have resorted to serious measures.
That's why he had spoken up in time, offering Huang Qingcang a way out.
In this way, Yan Shouyi's goal of standing up for Zhu Geji was achieved, and Huang Qingcang had no opportunity to act.
Yan Shouyi's smile to Zhu Geji was also due to Zhu Geji's "sensibleness."
Back in the group, Zhu Geji's smile never faded.
He had never been protected like this before. If his sister, Zhu Ge Lian, were present, she would not only not seek justice for him but would probably clap her hands and egg Huang Qingcang on to hit him a few more times...
Indeed, his sister was a fake sister; the Chairman was his real brother!
Zhu Geji suddenly felt full of anticipation for the rest of the journey, because following the Chairman in acting cool and slapping faces felt... damn awesome!!
It was a pity that Ye Tianyuan couldn't hear Zhu Geji's thoughts, otherwise, he would have strongly agreed and given it a thousand likes.
Long Feicheng, however, was much calmer, as he was already accustomed to following Yan Shouyi in acting cool and had even begun to learn the skill and act cool independently.
Huang Qingcang, having gained no advantage from Yan Shouyi, was extremely annoyed at this point. He impatiently said, "Let's go up the mountain quickly!"
"Hold on."
"What is it now!" Huang Qingcang said angrily.
Then he realized that the one speaking was not Yan Shouyi, but one of his own people, Daoist Jinbi.
Daoist Jinbi's gaze was sharp, fixed intently on Ye Tianyuan.
Ye Tianyuan immediately felt uneasy and thought, this is bad.
It's over, Daoist Jinbi must have found out about my identity as a puppetry heir!
Xiao Que'er's expression also changed, worried that Daoist Jinbi would make a move against Ye Tianyuan.
Yan Shouyi silently took a step forward, blocking Ye Tianyuan behind him, and asked faintly, "Daoist Jinbi, what is your instruction?"
Daoist Jinbi took a deep breath and said, "Others may go up the mountain, but this puppetry heir behind you cannot. Chairman Yan, I am not discussing this with you. If you do not agree, we shall settle it here at the foot of the mountain."
Damn it!
You're a cultivator, yet your temper is more volatile than these Dianyi Sect martial artists?
Yan Shouyi complained in his heart, then put on a smile, "There's no need for that."
Daoist Jinbi's expression softened, and he nodded, thinking: this kid seems to respond to toughness rather than softness. Huang Qingcang also made a mistake earlier, which led to that kid deflating his prestige. Now it seems Yan Shouyi is nothing special!
Ye Tianyuan lowered his head somewhat dejectedly.
It seemed the Chairman was going to leave him behind at the foot of the mountain.
Was it because Daoist Jinbi was too formidable, or was it because I mattered less to the Chairman than Zhu Geji?
But it made sense. After all, Zhu Geji had joined the association earlier than me and was more familiar with the Chairman. Before this trip, I hadn't even spoken a few words to the Chairman.
Although he had accepted the reality, Ye Tianyuan still felt a bit disheartened.
However, as Daoist Jinbi smugly thought he had won and Ye Tianyuan felt lost, Yan Shouyi said with a smile:
"I have already made my decision. I will not be traveling up the mountain with you two. Therefore, whether Ye Tianyuan comes with me or not has nothing to do with Daoist Jinbi."
Daoist Jinbi was stunned.
Ye Tianyuan was also stunned, then overjoyed.
The Chairman doesn't intend to leave me behind?!
The Chairman is choosing not to travel with Daoist Jinbi and Huang Qingcang just so he can bring me up the mountain?
For a moment, Ye Tianyuan was deeply moved. He felt he was being valued like never before!
Daoist Jinbi said angrily, "Since you don't intend to travel together, why meet at the foot of the mountain?"
Yan Shouyi held up three fingers and replied clearly: "First, it's inappropriate for us, the folk sects, to investigate Emei Mountain ourselves, which is why we asked Yu Lumin to notify you to come; second, your two families looked down on us folk sect inheritors from the start. We have different paths and cannot conspire together. I don't want to be an eyesore to you; third, I, Yan Shouyi, will never abandon any companion. Not traveling together is not my decision, but yours and your two families' decision."
As always, he was firm!
He even rendered Daoist Jinbi speechless!
Daoist Jinbi remained silent for a long time, and in the end, he also chose to yield.
He waved his hand and commanded, "Qingcheng Mountain disciples, follow me up the mountain!"
Huang Qingcang glared fiercely at Yan Shouyi and also shouted, "Dianyi Sect, follow me!"
The disciples of the two families marched up the mountain in a vast procession, forming a long line on the winding path. However, their arrogance was far less than before, their mood somber, like a funeral procession.
Daoist Jinbi and Huang Qingcang walked in the middle of the group, occasionally looking back at Yan Shouyi, as if warning this ignorant junior.
As for Yan Shouyi, he stood tall and waved at the two of them, completely unfazed.