It turned out that the mysterious Tong Jingcheng had not appeared for so long because he was already dead.
Long Feicheng, also drawn into Tong Jingcheng's story, couldn't help but ask, "What did he commit suicide for?"
"Speaking of which, it all boils down to love!"
As he recalled the past, Huang Hai sighed repeatedly, seeming to already mourn the fall of this genius from the Lushanshan Sect.
"Back then, Senior Uncle Tong traveled down the mountain for seven years. Upon his return, although he became an elder of the sect, he was perpetually melancholic. The Sect Leader and Lü Jingbo inquired, but Senior Uncle Tong remained tight-lipped, never mentioning a word. This led to his emotional turmoil, causing him to repeatedly suffer from qi deviation during his cultivation, nearly killing himself."
"The Sect Leader and Senior Uncle Lü, unable to bear watching Senior Uncle Tong decline, descended the mountain together to investigate the places Senior Uncle Tong had visited. They later discovered that the year before Senior Uncle Tong's return, he had met a remarkable woman and fallen irrevocably in love with her."
"That woman was named Su Yirou, a successor of the Corpse Dresser. She traveled the mortal world, helping those who died far from home to have their bodies prepared and then handed over to corpse-drivers to be sent back to their hometowns for their spirits to rest. Su Yirou was gentle and kind, and she and Senior Uncle Tong first met through a ghost-exorcism incident. Their feelings quickly deepened, and they fell in love beyond their control."
"But in that era, love was a difficult word to express. Thus, for the following year, Senior Uncle Tong and Su Yirou traveled together, but they treated each other as friends, never truly speaking their hearts aloud."
"Later, Senior Uncle Tong's period of training was over, and he had to return to the mountain to report. He had to bid farewell to Su Yirou, but on the very night he finally mustered the courage to speak his mind, Su Yirou's body suddenly began to fester, her intestines and bowels rupturing, and she died in Senior Uncle Tong's arms!"
At this point, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng's hearts clenched.
Why did Su Yirou die so suddenly?
Could she have been poisoned?
Zhou Yuquan sighed, "Su Yirou died as retribution for her short-life technique. She was not murdered; she simply could not escape the curse that afflicted the third generation of Corpse Dressers."
Upon hearing this, Yan Shouyi’s mind went blank.
He too practiced a short-life technique.
He also bore the curse of the third generation’s inevitable death.
Su Yirou, like him...
"Su Yirou was a benevolent person throughout her life, accumulating countless merits. Yet, she ultimately could not escape her fate. It was precisely because she knew her time was near that she never confessed her love for Senior Uncle Tong before her death. She believed that if the words were unspoken, their love would never begin, and after her death, Senior Uncle Tong could continue the rest of his life alone."
"But alas, love does not appear at a specific moment. Even though Su Yirou never spoke her feelings, Senior Uncle Tong had already fallen deeply in love with her. To watch the woman he loved die in his arms, utterly helpless, filled Senior Uncle Tong with despair."
"He buried Su Yirou’s body, and returned to the Lushanshan Sect alone. He then took up the position of elder, and the rest is as we’ve told you."
"After investigating the matter, the Sect Leader and Senior Uncle Lü rushed back to the Lushanshan Sect, but it was too late. Senior Uncle Tong could not bear the pain and chose to commit suicide by jumping off a cliff. His remains were devoured by wolves, and his soul roamed between heaven and earth. Even the Sect Leader could not find any trace of him."
"This incident later became an unspeakable pain in the hearts of the Sect Leader and Senior Uncle Lü, and it was from then on that the relationship between the two senior uncles gradually became strained."
Huang Hai sipped his tea and shook his head, sighing, "What is love in the world? It drives men to life and death for it..."
"That is truly a tragic story."
After Long Feicheng expressed his sentiment, he couldn't help but look at Yan Shouyi, "Brother Yan, do you also have a three-generation curse?"
Yan Shouyi shot Long Feicheng a glare. This guy really knew how to touch a sore spot.
Regarding the three-generation curse, he knew it clearly. Not only did he have it, but it was also much more severe than Su Yirou's.
This was not only due to the karmic debts he incurred in his previous life but also because his grandfather had forcefully altered his father's fate.
Therefore, the death tribulation he was destined to face was the accumulated result of his father's death tribulation.
A double death tribulation!
If he could not find a way to break it, his fate would be far worse than Su Yirou's.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's expression and reaction, Long Feicheng couldn't help but shiver.
"No, no way, Brother Yan? You have a death tribulation too?"
Yan Shouyi nodded silently.
Long Feicheng suddenly understood, "No wonder you were so reluctant to be with Sister-in-law before. Was your thought back then the same as Su Yirou's?"
Yan Shouyi nodded again.
Huang Hai and Zhou Yuquan also looked a little awkward. "Mr. Yan, this matter is not trivial. If there's anything we can do to help, please don't hesitate to ask!"
They both genuinely wished for Yan Shouyi to overcome this tribulation.
"No need. I have a way to deal with it. You don't need to be too nervous," Yan Shouyi said with a casual smile, changing the subject.
Huang Hai noticed Long Feicheng mentioning that Yan Shouyi had a girl he liked. To change the topic, he smiled and asked, "I wonder which family's daughter it is that has captured Mr. Yan's attention."
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but find it amusing in his heart: This girl is the saintess of your Lushanshan Sect.
It seemed that not many people in the Lushanshan Sect knew about his and Lin Zitong's situation.
Including the Sect Leader of Lushanshan, Lin Zitong's master, Lü Jingsheng.
Having been out all day, the sun was now gradually setting.
After chatting with Huang Hai and the others for a while longer, Yan Shouyi got up to take his leave.
As he walked out of Sanfang Qixiang with Long Feicheng and waited for the bus at the bus stop, Yan Shouyi's peripheral vision suddenly caught sight of the opposite side of the street.
Xue Kai, still wearing that hoodie, stood amidst the surging crowd, staring at Yan Shouyi with a half-smile.
After learning Xue Kai's identity and intentions, Yan Shouyi no longer held any animosity towards him.
Instead, he smiled and nodded at Xue Kai, acknowledging him.
Since Xue Kai had been following him, he must also know that he had visited his father in prison today.
"Brother Yan, who are you exchanging glances with?" Long Feicheng playfully nudged Yan Shouyi with his elbow.
Yan Shouyi said with a wry smile, "I saw a friend."
"Where? Let me see. Is it a boy or a girl? Is she pretty?"
"A guy," Yan Shouyi replied simply.
"Oh, then I'm not interested." Long Feicheng immediately lost interest.
Just then.
A Rolls-Royce suddenly stopped in front of the bus stop.
This was a no-stopping zone, but the Rolls-Royce completely ignored traffic regulations and parked there diagonally.
Yan Shouyi frowned.
He sensed a very unpleasant aura emanating from the car.
"Damn it, being rich makes you special!" Long Feicheng muttered, "Hurry up and get out of the way, don't block me from waiting for the bus!"
Unexpectedly, the window of the Rolls-Royce rolled down.
Long Feicheng immediately shut his mouth, fully embodying the essence of a keyboard warrior.
And when Yan Shouyi saw the person in the car, his expression immediately turned grim.
"Yan Shouyi, I've heard of your great name."
The person seated in the car was the young master of the Bai family from Feifeng Mountain.
Bai Yusheng!
Bai Yusheng was still wearing that white suit, with a vibrant rose pinned to his lapel.
He turned his head, not even looking at Yan Shouyi directly.
Yan Shouyi said coldly, "Bai Yusheng, your name is also quite resonant."
"Is that so? Should I feel honored then?"
Bai Yusheng snorted dismissively and said, "Yan Shouyi, you are very capable, and you have disrupted our Bai family's affairs several times. However, I can let bygones be bygones regarding past matters, as long as you are willing to join our Bai family now."
Join the Bai family?
Ridiculous!
Yan Shouyi detested the actions of the Bai family and knew he would eventually make them face the consequences. How could he possibly join them?
Before Yan Shouyi could reply, Long Feicheng jumped up, "Get lost! Take a look at yourself in a mirror, what kind of garbage are you to want to recruit Brother Yan? Brother Yan disdains to associate with scum like you! Don't say I didn't warn you, a Rolls-Royce is nothing special. We have a courtyard in Sanfang Qixiang. Believe it or not, I'll break your little golden statue right now?!"
Bai Yusheng was thoroughly berated by Long Feicheng, but he didn't seem angry.
He didn't care at all what a commoner like Long Feicheng had to say.
However, Yan Shouyi smiled and said, "What Little Long says is what I want to say."
Only then did Bai Yusheng's face truly darken.
"Remember your choice today. Our Bai family has never suffered a loss in Rongcheng."
"Go to hell and get lost already!" Long Feicheng cursed.
Bai Yusheng was so enraged that his mouth was twisted. He closed the car window, patted the driver's seat, and the Rolls-Royce slowly drove away.
Even after Bai Yusheng left, Long Feicheng still felt indignant.
"Brother Yan, that scoundrel even dared to try to buy us off!"
"There's no need to be angry, Little Long. Think about it, why would the arrogant Bai Yusheng come to try and recruit us?"
"Why?"
Yan Shouyi smiled faintly, "It shows that they are afraid of us."