The overturned Refining Fiend Cauldron had lost its power. Liu Jingkang and the other ancestors of the Liu family lay on the ground like stranded fish.
Liu Jiaren and Liu Yiren helped Liu Jingkang and their great-grandmother to a spot by the corridor, a position that offered them some relief.
In truth, Liu Yiren was still quite bewildered.
Due to Liu Mingzhi's deliberate protection, Liu Yiren had never been exposed to matters of ghosts and spirits.
Yet, in the past few days, she had encountered ghostly occurrences one after another, and now she had even seen her deceased sister.
At present, Liu Yiren only felt that Liu Jingkang had some connection to her, but she had no idea who Liu Jingkang was. She was merely following Liu Jiaren's lead.
Liu Jiaren quickly introduced, "Yiyi, these two are our great-grandfather and great-grandmother."
Liu Yiren hurried to introduce herself, but Liu Jingkang waved his hand, "Child, you don't recognize us, but we all recognize you. You don't need to introduce yourself."
Liu Yiren breathed a sigh of relief and asked with a hint of nervousness, "How are you two feeling? Is there anything uncomfortable? Yan Shouyi! Come over here quickly and check on them!"
Upon hearing Liu Yiren speak to Yan Shouyi in such a tone, Liu Jingkang became somewhat flustered.
Yan Shouyi was now their Liu family's only lifeline!
Even Liu Jingkang dared not shout at Yan Shouyi or act arrogantly as he had before.
Fortunately, Yan Shouyi seemed not to hold it against Liu Yiren. He strode over to Liu Jingkang and said apologetically,
"Great Patriarch Liu, this is all my fault. If I had returned sooner, you wouldn't have had to suffer like this."
Liu Jingkang shook his head, "You are too kind. This was all the doing of those scoundrels from the Bai family. It has nothing to do with you."
After apologizing, Yan Shouyi examined Liu Jingkang and their great-grandmother.
Fortunately, these two were old ghosts. Although they were already quite weak, they were still stronger than ordinary lone spirits.
They had been in the Refining Fiend Cauldron for over ten days but had not been fully refined.
Moreover, Liu Jingkang not only endured it himself but also distracted himself to protect the other Liu family members.
Although some Liu family members had still been annihilated, it was already remarkable that so many had survived.
This also indicated that the Ghost King was not as weak as one might think.
Upon learning that Liu Jingkang and the others were alright, Liu Jiaren finally felt at ease and repeatedly thanked Yan Shouyi and A Gong.
A Gong was rather introverted and did not dare to speak much to Liu Jiaren, let alone elders like Liu Jingkang.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi had to do the talking.
Yan Shouyi first took out a few sticks of incense from his satchel and lit them in the courtyard.
The smoke emitted from these incense sticks was beneficial to spirits.
With the help of this smoke, the Liu family members gradually emerged from their pain, and their souls became more stable.
However, they still resembled patients recovering from a serious illness, all extremely weak. They had merely escaped the danger of soul annihilation.
Liu Jingkang thanked Yan Shouyi and then sighed, saying,
"Not long after you left that day, the Bai family came to our door. I thought they were here to discuss matters concerning you, so I let them into our ancestral residence… Who would have thought that the Bai family was well-prepared? As soon as they entered, they began a massacre, brought out the Refining Fiend Cauldron, and captured all of us… If it weren't for you this time, the Liu family would likely have been truly annihilated!"
Yan Shouyi frowned and asked, "Who were the people from the Bai family? Were there any particularly formidable figures?"
Liu Jingkang replied, "Of those who came that day, I only recognized one, who is the current Bai family patriarch's brother-in-law, named Fang Qiu."
Fang Qiu?
Had Bai Yusheng not come?
And had the Lushan Sect not sent anyone?
Yan Shouyi was filled with questions.
"What kind of person is Fang Qiu, and what are his abilities?"
"The reason the Bai family is so powerful is not unrelated to the wife the Bai family patriarch married. Their patriarch is named Bai Aoguang, and his wife is named Fang Qiong. This Fang Qiong has an extraordinary background. In the Luocheng area, there is a folk sect called Four Symbols Mountain, and Fang Qiong is the daughter of the sect leader of Four Symbols Mountain. Fang Qiu is her younger brother. Ever since the Bai family formed a marriage alliance with Four Symbols Mountain, the Bai family's influence has grown, far surpassing that of our Liu family and the Li family of West Lake."
The name Four Symbols Mountain sounded completely unfamiliar to Yan Shouyi.
When he had traveled with his grandfather throughout Jianzhou Province, he had never heard of it.
This meant that this sect had likely developed within the last decade.
But this made it even stranger.
After the founding of the nation, monsters were not even allowed to become spirits. Aside from traditional sects and those like them who practiced short-term transmissions among the populace, where else could a folk sect have sprung up in just a decade?
Yan Shouyi looked at A Gong, "A Gong, have you ever heard of this sect?"
A Gong shook his head, "I have been cultivating in the north all these years and only recently arrived in Rongcheng. I am not familiar with this place."
That was true; A Gong was even more of an outsider than himself.
Yan Shouyi rubbed his nose, noting down Four Symbols Mountain, planning to ask Lin Zitong about it later.
Lin Zitong was from Licheng, which was even closer to Luocheng. Perhaps she would know.
At this moment, the great-grandmother, who had been silent all this time, suddenly grabbed Yan Shouyi's hand.
Her voice raspy, she asked, "Mr. Yan, do you know what the Bai family's intentions are? The three great families have been coexisting peacefully for so many years. Why did they suddenly attack us?"
Suddenly, some of the previously dying Liu family members glared at Yan Shouyi.
"What else could it be? It must be the trouble this fellow named Yan brought!"
"In the past, we and the Bai family never interfered with each other, but after this kid arrived, the Bai family suddenly attacked us. Isn't there a connection?"
"Old ancestor, we absolutely cannot associate with this kid anymore, or we will face utter destruction!"
Yan Shouyi listened calmly to everyone's words. He was not angry.
He couldn't blame these people; after all, they didn't know the truth.
Just as Liu Yiren was about to explain for Yan Shouyi, Liu Yong, who was lying on the ground, suddenly shouted,
"I think all of you are used to good days and don't know how to write the word 'death'! Don't you remember who saved you just now!"
Unexpectedly, it was Liu Yong who spoke up for him at this moment.
Yan Shouyi felt a sense of emotion. Sometimes, one had to look at people comprehensively.
The Liu family members, reprimanded by Liu Yong, a mere slave, felt both angry and afraid.
For a moment, they all dared not speak their minds, though they were filled with resentment.
Yan Shouyi said thank you to Liu Yong and then explained,
"The Bai family wanted to refine your souls to forge fiendish energy. They set up an evil formation in Rongcheng. Their attack on you has nothing to do with me."
Liu Yiren also said, "Even without Yan Shouyi, the Bai family would have attacked us. On the contrary, if it weren't for Yan Shouyi, we would have died long ago!"
The Liu family members who had previously insulted Yan Shouyi fell silent upon learning the truth.
In the courtyard, only Liu Yong's disdainful laughter could be heard.
Although Liu Yong was just a slave, he was loyal to the Liu family.
Even though he did not share the Liu family's blood, his feelings for the Liu family ran deeper than those of some people named Liu!
Otherwise, how could he have worked tirelessly for so many years by Liu Jingkang's side?
Over the years, Liu Yong had watched the Liu family become weaker with each generation, and even Liu Jingkang only thought of enjoying his retirement.
Therefore, he harbored a great deal of pent-up anger. When Yan Shouyi first arrived, he was very wary of this outsider.
"Sigh."
Liu Jingkang sighed deeply and said, "This is my fault. I thought that since people were dead, they would be far from all the troubles. I only wanted to live a good life with everyone, but I didn't expect that even though the tree desired stillness, the wind would not cease. We were ultimately drawn into it. In the future, our Liu family should also develop well and strive for self-reliance!"
Although the Liu family suffered heavy losses in this surprise attack by the Bai family,
it had also reignited Liu Jingkang's fighting spirit.
The Liu Jingkang of that year had served as the Minister of Revenue!
If he hadn't possessed some skills and ambition, how could he have reached that position?
The Liu family could not continue to live in obscurity!
"Old Patriarch, how about this," Yan Shouyi suggested, "I'll take you to a safe place first so you can recuperate properly. When the final decisive battle with the Bai family comes, you can lend me a hand?"
Liu Jingkang narrowed his eyes, "Do you have a good place?"
"With the vastness of Rongcheng, why worry about finding a place for you to stay?"
"Good!" Liu Jingkang said, "If I, Liu Jingkang, do not avenge the annihilation of the Bai family, I swear I am no man! Mr. Yan, I entrust the matter of settling you to you. When the time comes to confront the Bai family, we will definitely provide our utmost assistance! I—will personally chop down that dog ancestor of the Bai family!!!"
Liu Jingkang must have known the Bai family's ancestor, so his target was very clear.
His goal was to kill the Bai family ancestor!
In this way, Yan Shouyi gained the assistance of a Ghost King.
His confidence in confronting the Bai family and the Lushan Sect grew.
Currently, Liu Jingkang was not a match for Fang Qiu due to his weakness.
When he recovered, Fang Qiu would be nothing!
Liu Jiaren asked, "But how can so many of us be transferred?"
Everyone was still very weak. If they encountered the bright sun outdoors, they might be directly annihilated.
A Gong said at this moment, "Everyone can reside in my paper figures, and I will lead everyone in the transfer."
"A Gong, you've truly rendered a great service!" Yan Shouyi gave A Gong a thumbs-up. "As expected of a paper figure maker!"
Although A Gong wore a mask, everyone could sense that he was blushing.
It was hard to imagine that such a formidable individual was so shy.
Without delay, A Gong began crafting paper figures on the spot, allowing the Liu family members to reside in them one by one.
Meanwhile, Yan Shouyi went to the Refining Fiend Cauldron.
He discovered that there was still some residual fiendish energy within the cauldron.
Those were the Liu family members who had already been refined.
Liu Yiren asked by his side, "What should we do with this cauldron?"
"Of course, we can't leave it here, or the Bai family will reclaim it."
Yan Shouyi tried to lift the Refining Fiend Cauldron, but even with his immense strength, he could not budge the colossal object.
How to relocate it had now become a problem.
He wondered what method Fang Qiu had used to bring such a large cauldron to the Liu family's ancestral residence.
"I can't carry it..." Yan Shouyi frowned.
Liu Yiren thought for a moment and suddenly had an idea, "Since we can't carry it, let's make use of it. Can you set up traps around this cauldron? When the Bai family comes to retrieve the cauldron, we can catch them off guard?"
"Hmm? That's a good idea!" Yan Shouyi's frown eased. "Your mind is quite sharp. I misjudged you before."
"Of course not... Wait! What do you mean 'misjudged'? Did you think I was an idiot before?!"
Liu Yiren was not stupid and caught the hint of teasing in Yan Shouyi's words, immediately becoming displeased.
She brandished the unfinished talisman she held and threatened, "Believe it or not, I'll strike you with my palm thunder!"
Yan Shouyi replied, "The power of the talisman comes from the person who drew it. Do you think you can strike me dead using a talisman I drew?"
"Then I..."
Liu Yiren had a flash of inspiration, grabbed Yan Shouyi's arm, and bit down.
"Ouch!"
She had intended to teach Yan Shouyi a small lesson but didn't expect Yan Shouyi's skin to be as hard as iron.
The bite not only failed to leave a tooth mark on Yan Shouyi's arm but almost chipped Liu Yiren's teeth.
Liu Yiren covered her mouth and glared at Yan Shouyi resentfully, "Is your flesh dead? Why is it so hard?"
"I have a place on me that's even harder than this!" Yan Shouyi replied casually.
"You..."
Liu Yiren's face turned bright red. She hadn't expected Yan Shouyi to suddenly make a suggestive remark.
Yan Shouyi looked at Liu Yiren innocently, "Why are you blushing? I was talking about my fist."
"You're annoying, I'm not talking to you anymore!"
"Huh?"
Yan Shouyi looked completely bewildered. He hadn't intentionally made an inappropriate remark just now, and he hadn't even realized there was anything problematic with what he had said.
After driving Liu Yiren away, Yan Shouyi alone managed to lift the Refining Fiend Cauldron.
Then, he buried numerous talismans around the Refining Fiend Cauldron, along with some small hidden traps from the Lu Ban sect.
As soon as anyone approached the Refining Fiend Cauldron, these traps would all be triggered.
At that time, not only would the approaching individuals be injured, but the Refining Fiend Cauldron would also be destroyed.
The Bai family would surely lose both their troops and their treasure, their lungs would be so angry they'd explode!
Having settled everything, Yan Shouyi was very satisfied with his work.
If the conditions allowed, he would have loved to witness firsthand the scene when these talismans and traps were triggered.
After finishing these tasks, A Gong was also nearing completion.
He didn't know where he got the materials, but in just two hours, he had crafted over a hundred paper figures.
Even more astonishing to Yan Shouyi was that these paper figures were not identical; A Gong had custom-made them based on the appearance of each Liu family member.
One could recognize which Liu family member it was just by looking at the paper figures.
This further impressed Yan Shouyi with A Gong's skill.
Although the Lu Ban book recorded the ultimate techniques of various schools, these techniques were ultimately just techniques. The foundation of each school's power lay not in these techniques but in their fundamental cultivation methods.
For example, while the Golden Cicada's Shedding of its Shell technique among paper figure makers was formidable, what truly established their standing was still their papercrafting skills.
Similarly, if a descendant of Lu Ban couldn't do carpentry, what kind of Lu Ban descendant would they be?
With everything ready, the Liu family members had all entered their respective paper figures.
They curiously examined their paper-crafted bodies, their expressions somewhat comical.
A Gong said, "It's midnight now, and there's no sunlight. Once we return to the mortal realm, stay close to each other and don't get lost."
Then A Gong looked at Yan Shouyi, seemingly awaiting Yan Shouyi's command.
After all, A Gong truly respected Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi nodded, "Let's go, we're going back."
Liu Mingzhi and the others must have been waiting anxiously. It was time to return Liu Yiren to their hands.