The fact that Han San was taken away by the Yao family caused quite a headache for Yan Shouyi.
However, this was not something he could rush. If he were to storm into the Yao family’s residence to demand Han San’s release, it would only escalate the situation, potentially even affecting Granny Shen’s plans.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi quickly calmed himself down. After a moment of thought, he said, “Brother Xu, could you please inform Granny Shen about this matter? Ask her to keep an eye on the Yao family’s movements as well.”
Xu Qian readily agreed. However, Long Feicheng couldn't help but ask, “Brother Yan, are we just going to do nothing?”
“Of course not.”
Yan Shouyi took out his phone and dialed Xue Kai’s number. He briefly explained the situation to Xue Kai and asked him to try and investigate the Yao family.
Xue Kai was Yan Shouyi’s shadow; his specialty was stealth. While he couldn’t hide from Wei Changqing, infiltrating the Yao family was not a difficult task for him.
With Xue Kai investigating, Yan Shouyi only needed to wait for news. The reason he wasn't anxious was his belief that the Yao family would not harm Han San.
Xu Qian asked, “It’s late. I doubt there are any cars going back to the city now. Where do you plan to stay?”
“We have a place to stay in a nearby village. Do you want to join us?” Yan Shouyi smiled. “Kong Xuan is there too.”
Xu Qian was taken aback. “Why would she be there?”
“What else? Of course, it’s for you,” Long Feicheng said wistfully.
The goddess I admired was actually doting on someone else. It was no wonder Long Feicheng sounded so melancholic.
Xu Qian said awkwardly, “Brother Yan, you know my stance. Please don’t let Kong Xuan contact me anymore in the future.”
“I understand that, but sometimes, when you want to be still, the wind will not cease. My intervention is useless; you must resolve it yourself.”
“N-next time, perhaps.”
Xu Qian was clearly not prepared and lacked experience in handling such matters. After descending the mountain, he quickly found an excuse and left, promising to meet Yan Shouyi at his hotel the next day.
Yan Shouyi felt helpless and returned to Xie Guilan’s home with Long Feicheng.
Xie Guilan was unaware of what had happened. Yan Shouyi simply told her that the matter was resolved, and he didn’t need to explain Han San’s whereabouts. Xie Guilan didn't pry further. She asked Yan Shouyi to accompany her for a walk outside, and indeed, they encountered no danger. Xie Guilan, delighted, warmly arranged for Yan Shouyi and the others to stay the night, and the next morning, she even killed a chicken to stew for soup.
That night, Yan Shouyi meticulously reflected on the various events he had encountered since arriving in Qiantang.
Xie Guilan mentioned that she had consulted several mystics before, but they were either charlatans or genuinely skilled but claimed they couldn't help.
It was estimated that those mystics, after understanding the complex stakes involved, chose to withdraw, unwilling to provoke Shen Shuzhen or the Ghost King families. They then advised Xie Guilan to seek help from major sects.
The current situation in Qiantang could not be changed by a few individuals alone. Only by mobilizing the major sects could the ghost kings be suppressed and the matter resolved.
Unfortunately, the Ghost King families were not to be trifled with. Even if the Maoshan sect intervened, some ordinary people would inevitably be caught in the crossfire.
After thinking all night, Yan Shouyi finally reached a conclusion.
To bring down the five great Ghost King families, there was only one path forward: sow discord among them!
Shen Shuzhen’s approach was also correct, but its implementation was far from easy.
First and foremost, Yan Shouyi needed information, a great deal of information, about the grievances and enmities between the five Ghost King families!
Know yourself and your enemy, and you will win a hundred battles. As long as he understood the five Ghost King families well enough, he could exploit their relationships to create conflict.
And to obtain this information, he had no choice but to meet the storyteller, Yin Tang.
Therefore, today’s plan was to seek out the storyteller!
…
The next day, Yan Shouyi and his companions returned to Qiantang.
After dropping Kong Xuan home, Meng Te, still unwilling to give up, wanted to continue following Yan Shouyi. However, Yan Shouyi had learned his lesson from the previous day and was determined not to let Meng Te become his weakness again. He unceremoniously refused.
After sending Meng Te away, Yan Shouyi and the others met Xu Qian at the hotel.
As soon as they met, Xu Qian asked, “Brother Yan, how is our friend Han?”
“Oh, him…”
Yan Shouyi smiled. “Rest assured, according to the latest information, Han San is being well-fed and housed by the Yao family. Apart from not being able to leave, he is perfectly fine.”
“Why is that?” Xu Qian was puzzled.
“It means the Yao family has their own plans.”
Yan Shouyi hadn't yet figured out what the Yao family’s plans were, but based on the current situation, any plan that benefited Han San must be detrimental to the Yu family. Therefore, Yan Shouyi wasn't in a hurry and let Han San stay with the Yao family for a while longer. After all, Han San, despite his infatuation, was quite intelligent.
Yan Shouyi and his party of four, along with the taciturn Wei Changqing, got into a car at the hotel entrance.
Their destination: Yuelu Academy.
The very place where the storyteller resided!
Wei Changqing had initially intended not to go out, but upon hearing that Yan Shouyi planned to meet the storyteller, he suddenly became interested.
The storyteller was well-informed and might know something he wanted to find out.
Wei Changqing's purpose in accompanying Yan Shouyi on this trip was to uncover the truth of the past. Now that there was an opportunity, he certainly wouldn’t let it slip by.
Half an hour later, the group arrived at Yuelu Academy, located on the northern shore of West Lake.
Yuelu, geographically, should be in Changsha, Hunan. However, its reputation was so renowned that an establishment was opened on the shores of West Lake in Qiantang.
According to Yan Shouyi's understanding, most Yuelu Academies were established by storytellers.
As the group arrived at the academy’s entrance, they saw a continuous stream of guests queuing to enter. Upon inquiry, they learned that Yuelu Academy had recently welcomed a female storyteller who was not only young and sweet-looking but also possessed a beautiful voice.
Most importantly, this female storyteller had exceptional eloquence. Within three sentences, listeners were drawn into her narratives, losing all sense of self.
The content of her stories was captivating and immensely exciting.
Only after the performance ended with a clap of the table would people suddenly awaken, feeling as though they had lived another person’s life, deeply immersed in the story and unable to extricate themselves, finding it even more engaging than watching a movie!
“Is it really that magical?” Long Feicheng was skeptical.
Storytelling was merely relying on one's voice. No matter how skilled, it couldn't possibly be more powerful than a movie with visuals!
Yan Shouyi smiled. “If you don’t believe it, why don’t we buy a ticket and go listen?”