To make up for Zhang Yingying’s misdeeds, Zhang Guodong found a young and honest caregiver for Yan Shouyi to specially look after Chen Dawei, allowing Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng to do what they wanted with peace of mind.
This greatly reduced Yan Shouyi’s resentment towards the Zhang family. As for Zhang Yingying, he had no interest in interacting with her again.
With Chen Dawei’s situation resolved, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng saw the three of them out of the hospital.
Zhang Guodong was very adept at social interactions. As soon as they were out of the hospital, he said goodbye to Yan Shouyi without any lingering, likely eager to return and discipline Zhang Yingying.
Huang Hai and Zhou Yuquan, however, chatted with Yan Shouyi for a bit at the hospital entrance.
Huang Hai mentioned that if Yan Shouyi planned to stay in Rongcheng recently, they could help him with anything.
While the Lushan Sect wasn’t well-known elsewhere, it held a certain standing in Rongcheng.
Yan Shouyi didn't show much resistance to Huang Hai’s overtures, saying, "I will stay in Rongcheng until December. After December, I’ll make plans to stay or leave."
Huang Hai counted on his fingers and calculated that there was still a month and a half left, so there was no rush.
Zhou Yuquan rubbed his palms together and asked Yan Shouyi with a grin, "Little Brother Yan, rumors say your Luban School draws on the strengths of all schools, and the "Luban Book" records the unique skills of various sects. I wonder if we two have the honor of glimpsing the true appearance of the Luban Book?"
Upon hearing this, Huang Hai secretly thought Zhou Yuquan was too hasty.
Although Yan Shouyi appeared honest on the surface, Huang Hai, having interacted with him, knew Yan Shouyi was extremely shrewd.
Yan Shouyi would surely understand the principle of "innocent people are condemned for their possessions."
The reason Yan Shouyi was still willing to converse with them was precisely because he intended to foster good relations with the Lushan Sect. When the time was right, Yan Shouyi would naturally share what he intended to.
However, what he didn't want to give, no one could take!
On their first meeting, Zhou Yuquan immediately asked to see the Luban Book, which was akin to asking to sleep with someone’s wife right after meeting them.
As expected, Yan Shouyi’s smile gradually faded.
He said to Zhou Yuquan, "Old Zhou, my grandfather always said, a near neighbor is better than a distant relative."
Unaware of Yan Shouyi’s change in attitude, Zhou Yuquan cheerfully agreed, "Your grandfather is right."
"It's a shame I never listened to my grandfather when I was young," Yan Shouyi changed his tone and said coldly, "Don't always covet the Luban Book. You all surely know that the Luban School is passed down through a single lineage, so how can you not understand that such a thing as the 'Luban Book' doesn't exist in this world? If it truly exists, it's only in the minds of us Luban inheritors. If I don't want to give it, no one can snatch it away."
Yan Shouyi pointed to his head, his eyes conveying a clear warning.
Zhou Yuquan’s smile froze on his face. Zhou Yuquan, who was not very involved in worldly affairs, couldn't understand why Yan Shouyi would suddenly get angry.
In his opinion, he was merely eager to reclaim the lost unique skills of their Lushan Sect.
Fortunately, Huang Hai was more understanding of social graces and quickly intervened, "Little Brother Yan, my junior brother here might have been addled by the pills he blindly concocted a few days ago. You don't need to take his words to heart. Rest assured, our Lushan Sect is also a reputable major sect and would not engage in such petty thievery!"
Yan Shouyi's expression improved somewhat. He turned around and said,
"I can only tell you that the Luban Book records only two unique skills of your Lushan Sect: one is called 'Five Ghosts Ascending the Cloud Tower,' and the other is called 'Fetal Separation Soul Seizing Art.' Neither are particularly good techniques by today's standards. Your Lushan Sect can choose not to accept them, but if you wish to perfect the ancient texts left by your ancestors, I can promise you that after my matters are resolved in December, I will specifically visit your Lushan Sect to return what belongs to your Lushan Sect. But before that, if you have any ulterior motives, don't blame me for turning hostile."
The two men, hearing Yan Shouyi's threatening words, were not angry at all. Instead, they smiled broadly and thanked Yan Shouyi profusely.
At least they had received assurance from Yan Shouyi.
The "Five Ghosts Ascending the Cloud Tower" and "Fetal Separation Soul Seizing Art" were indeed not particularly good techniques; one summoned ghosts, and the other seized souls. However, they were still ancestral legacies, and it was good to have them back.
After bidding farewell to the two, Yan Shouyi walked back.
Outside the hospital building, he lit a cigarette by himself and pondered for a while.
In the past, with his grandfather by his side, he had few opportunities to display his skills. Now, walking the world alone, he had indeed become a bit overconfident.
Zhou Yuquan's incident made Yan Shouyi understand the principle of "possessing treasures invites trouble" even more. Fortunately, these two were not truly bad people; otherwise, they might have already acted against him, forcing him to reveal the contents of the Luban Book.
From now on, he had to be more careful.
After finishing his cigarette, Yan Shouyi stubbed out the butt, threw it into the trash can, and returned to Chen Dawei's ward. He and Long Feicheng took care of Chen Dawei for a while before packing up and leaving.
As they exited the hospital, Long Feicheng trotted alongside Yan Shouyi, exclaiming excitedly,
"I said it last night, I consulted the almanac, and it said I’d meet a benefactor when I go out. Big Brother, you are my benefactor! As soon as Big Brother appeared, Master’s medical fees were settled, and you could even take me to the sacred place of education I’ve always dreamed of! How does that saying go? 'Things are looking up!'"
Seeing Long Feicheng's delighted demeanor, anyone would think his mother was giving birth to a second child.
Yan Shouyi stopped and questioned Long Feicheng, "Uncle Chen's medical fees have been overdue for three days. Last night, you still had the leisure to go to a cheap motel to eat fast food?"
His grandfather often taught Yan Shouyi to keep up with the times and to use firearms instead of swords if he had them, lest he die in the currents of history. Therefore, Yan Shouyi had a strong learning ability, including the use of such colloquialisms.
Long Feicheng's expression stiffened, and he coughed twice, saying, "Big Brother, I was really there to feel the bones of the young ladies."
"Do you speak a single truthful word?" Yan Shouyi glared at Long Feicheng.
Having his thoughts exposed, Long Feicheng quickly confessed, "Alright, I did have some illicit thoughts, but it was also for money! I asked the young ladies for a roll in the hay, and after we were done, I suggested playing cards to pass the time. Relying on my superb card skills and incredible luck, under normal circumstances, not only could I break even, but I could also win quite a bit from the young ladies."
Long Feicheng's sincere reply was met with a long silence from Yan Shouyi.
How could there be such a detestable person in this world as Long Feicheng?
He would sleep with them, and then he would win their money.
Shameless!
"Are your card skills good?" Yan Shouyi asked.
Long Feicheng nodded proudly, "Naturally. I'm not bragging. When I was one year old, during the grab-the-object ceremony, I grabbed playing cards with my left hand and dice with my right. I am a born gambler. Coupled with some of the tricks Master taught me, and by consulting the almanac for good luck before going out, I am practically invincible!"
Now Yan Shouyi understood. Long Feicheng could win money, partly by picking auspicious days to act, but more importantly, by cheating.
After this conversation, Yan Shouyi had a general understanding of Long Feicheng. Although this fellow had many schemes and often entertained wicked thoughts, his nature was not bad. It was just that he was accustomed to the rough-and-tumble of the marketplace, which had cultivated his dissolute demeanor.
"You want to stay by my side? You can, but let's be clear upfront. At any time, you are not allowed to lie to me," Yan Shouyi warned.
"What are you saying? How could I lie to my own brother!" Long Feicheng said with a smile, thumping his chest twice. "I, Long Feicheng, swear to the heavens that I will never lie to a good brother, or may thunder strike me!"
Yan Shouyi changed the subject, "Good, how much money do you have on you?"
"Huh? What are you asking that for…"
"It's mealtime, we need to eat!"
"I have no money in my pockets…"
"I don't believe you."
Long Feicheng spread his hands, "I really have no money!"
"Have you forgotten what you just swore?" Yan Shouyi pulled out a Taoist talisman from his satchel and introduced it, "Just a reminder, I know the Maoshan Palm Thunder technique. If I discover you're lying to me, I will act on behalf of heaven!"
Long Feicheng: "..."
Finally, Long Feicheng tearfully pulled out twenty yuan from his sock. The two of them each ate a bowl of rice noodle at a roadside stall, with two yuan left over.
After lunch, they received news from Zhang Guodong: the Shanghang Art School had smoothed things over, and they could report in the afternoon. The school provided food and accommodation, offered five social insurances and one housing fund, and a monthly salary of 4500 yuan!
Hearing about a salary, Yan Shouyi felt a bit happy, while Long Feicheng looked down on it. While handing Yan Shouyi a cigarette, he said,
"Big Brother, with your abilities, I can introduce you to several paths, and making money will be a breeze. Why would you go to work? Working is impossible, it’s impossible to work in this lifetime!"
Yan Shouyi took the cigarette and smiled, "Didn't Uncle Chen tell you? Those in our profession are destined to have five lacks and three defects. It's only because you've learned superficially that you haven't experienced retribution. Otherwise, look at Uncle Chen?"
Chen Dawei lost his wife early, his son in middle age, and later broke his leg. Now, at his age, he was all alone.
Long Feicheng fell silent for a moment and said, "Actually, I have nothing left to lose. I'm an orphan. I've never even seen my parents' faces. If Master hadn't raised me and taught me skills, I would have starved to death long ago."
Yan Shouyi hadn't expected Long Feicheng's background to be so tragic.
Yan Shouyi took a drag from his cigarette and said, "Didn't you just say that when you were one year old, during the grab-the-object ceremony, you grabbed playing cards with your left hand and dice with your right?"
Long Feicheng's eyes twitched, and he said weakly, "The orphanage director arranged the grab-the-object ceremony for me. Otherwise, Big Brother, think about it, would normal parents place playing cards and dice in front of their child during the ceremony?"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
He thought for a moment and said, "Let's not dwell on the past. Our priority now is to rescue your master. If your master agrees, I can teach you some skills that will be enough to make a living and support yourself in the world."
"Really?!" Long Feicheng's eyes suddenly lit up, and he grabbed Yan Shouyi, running towards the road. "Then what are we waiting for? Let's hurry! I suddenly feel full of strength!"
Yan Shouyi was helpless and followed Long Feicheng onto the bus heading to Shanghang Art School.
For so many years, the only person by his side had been his grandfather. Now that Long Feicheng had appeared, while Yan Shouyi felt unaccustomed, he also felt a bit happy.
After all, his grandfather was an elder, and being with an elder had its restraints, whereas Long Feicheng was of the same age, and they seemed to have more common topics.
...
Shanghang Art School.
In the vast Rongcheng, there were many ancient architectural complexes, but only two were the most famous: Sanfang Qixiang was one, and Shangxiahang was the other.
Actually, Shangxiahang was two ancient streets. Separately, they were Shanghang and Xiahang. In ancient times, the Minjiang River flowed through this area, and locals built wharves here. Later, the Minjiang River changed its course, and the prosperous Shangxiahang was preserved until now.
As a super private academy with an investment of tens of billions, Shanghang Art School naturally had to choose a location in the most prosperous area of Rongcheng. Sanfang Qixiang was out of the question, so they could only choose Shangxiahang, hence Shanghang Art School.
Those admitted to Shanghang Art School were either truly top students or children of the powerful and wealthy.
After all, art was something that ordinary people could not afford to dabble in.
Therefore, the young people entering and exiting Shanghang Art School were either rich or noble, driving cars that were at least Mercedes-Benz or BMW. Luxury cars like Bentley and Rolls-Royce appeared frequently.
At one o'clock in the afternoon, a Bentley Continental GT worth nearly four million yuan slowly drove onto campus. The security guard at the gate straightened his back and saluted to let it pass.
A teacher wearing a white shirt stepped forward and reminded, "Zi Tong, are you planning to go home tonight or stay in the dormitory?"
Lin Zi Tong sighed and said, "I'll stay in the dormitory."
The teacher wrote it down with a pen and reminded, "This afternoon you have a piano class, a business English class, and in the evening, swimming and yoga classes. Don't forget them!"
"Okay, I know."
Lin Zi Tong closed the car window and continued driving forward.
Judging from her distressed expression, it was evident that this young lady was not in a good mood and wasn't paying attention to today's classes.
After all, she had finally found that scoundrel last night, only for him to escape.
Her father, Lin Ruofu, knew she had gone to find Yan Shouyi privately and had reprimanded her a few times, which made Lin Zi Tong even more unhappy.
Just then, a figure appeared in front of the car. Lin Zi Tong, preoccupied, didn't notice this living person at all. Seeing the car approaching, the person also sensed danger and quickly shouted, "Zi Tong!"
Lin Zi Tong instantly came to her senses, slammed on the brakes, breaking out in a cold sweat. She rolled down the window and said angrily,
"Lu Caiwei, are you tired of living!"
Lu Caiwei retorted, "Zi Tong, aren't *you* tired of living? I was standing on the road from thirty meters away, and you didn't see me while driving? Wait... are you deliberately teasing me about my height!!"
This girl named Lu Caiwei, even on tiptoe, was only about 1.6 meters tall, making her considered short among girls. She had a doll-like face, very cute, and paired with her beige long dress, she was the perfect loli image in the hearts of otaku.
Lu Caiwei was Lin Zi Tong's best friend. They had known each other since junior high school and had been friends until now, to the point of being like sisters.
Hearing Lu Caiwei's words, Lin Zi Tong was stunned, "Is... is it that exaggerated? I might have been daydreaming..."
Lu Caiwei snorted, directly opened the car door, and sat in the passenger seat. She found a newspaper on the passenger seat and exclaimed, "Miss Lin encountered a murderer late at night and helped the police flower apprehend the culprit! Wow, what were you doing last night!"
Lin Zi Tong snatched the newspaper and said angrily, "What's it to you!"
"Tsk tsk tsk, we are best, best, best best friends, but you're hiding things from me now... Could it be a man?!"
"How did you know..."
"N-no way, I was right?!" Lu Caiwei's mouth widened exaggeratedly, and she asked rapidly, "Isn't our Miss Lin famous for being an ice queen? Many young talents don't even get a chance to speak to you, and yet you found a man? Quickly share with your sister, what kind of man is so radiant that even you can't resist his allure! Is this man related to what happened yesterday?"
The Shanghang Art School was not short of two types of people: handsome men and beautiful women, and most people satisfied both conditions.
But even so, no man in the entire academy had caught Lin Zi Tong's eye.
That was why Lu Caiwei was so surprised.
Lin Zi Tong rolled her eyes at Lu Caiwei and said dejectedly, "I found that big idiot yesterday."
"Big idiot? Which big idiot?" Lu Caiwei was stunned for a moment, then exclaimed, "Could it be *that* big idiot!! Oh my god, is this for real? I've already imagined a thirty-episode idol drama! How many years has it been since you two met? Does he still recognize you? Is he handsome? Where is he now?"
Lu Caiwei's biggest flaw was her talkativeness. Once she started, her small mouth would chatter like a machine gun.
Lin Zi Tong simply replied dejectedly, "He ran away."
"Ran, ran away?!"
Lu Caiwei covered her stomach and burst into laughter, "Our Miss Lin actually scared the man away, hahahahaha!"
"Oh, stop laughing! I'm already upset!" Lin Zi Tong said angrily, "He's deliberately avoiding me, you know that."
"Speaking of which, it's really strange. You're so beautiful and rich, what kind of man would avoid you? Could he also like men? Hiss... even more exciting!" Lu Caiwei immediately revealed her fujoshi side.
Lin Zi Tong shook her head, "Let's not talk about it! I'm so annoyed!"
"Alright, alright, when you're willing to talk about this topic, I'll always be by your side!" Lu Caiwei said with a "lewd" smile, and then said, "By the way, are you free tonight?"
"What's wrong?"
"Did you forget that you founded a Metaphysics Research Society?"
Seeing Lin Zi Tong's silence, Lu Caiwei sighed. This strong-willed young lady had indeed forgotten.
When she first enrolled, the school required everyone to join at least one club to enrich their extracurricular activities. Lin Zi Tong was not interested in the existing clubs, so she founded a Metaphysics Research Society herself.
She was the president, and Lu Caiwei was the vice president.
After founding it, Lin Zi Tong became a hands-off manager, entrusting all matters to Lu Caiwei.
If Lu Caiwei hadn't reminded her, Lin Zi Tong would probably have deleted this memory.
Lu Caiwei said mysteriously, "Our club has been around for so long, and we haven't had any club activities yet. I don't know if you've heard, but some very strange incidents have occurred in the school recently. Why don't we take this opportunity to organize a club activity?"
Lin Zi Tong frowned upon hearing this and asked,
"Are you referring to the 'Ghost Infant Incident' in the girls' dormitory that happened last week?"