"Quiet, everyone!"
The room had been a chaotic mess, with Weng Qianxiang already attempting to argue without even opening his eyes.
But Yan Shouyi's reminder silenced everyone.
Silence fell for a few seconds, then Wei Changqing spoke calmly, "Don't expect me to intervene in your affairs, unless it's a matter of life and death for you."
Yan Shouyi replied, "I understand."
In fact, the biggest reason Yan Chou had tacitly agreed to Yan Shouyi keeping Wei Changqing by his side was to have Wei Changqing protect Yan Shouyi.
Wei Changqing was experienced and clear about debts and favors. Yan Shouyi had, in a way, saved his life, and Yan Chou believed Wei Changqing would repay this kindness.
As for the grudges of the previous generation, they were for that generation to handle; they had nothing to do with Yan Shouyi.
"Where is that strange person? Let me see!"
Long Feicheng leaned towards the window, only to be pushed back by Yan Shouyi. "Don't crowd. If the other party is highly alert, we'll be exposed."
Despite Yan Shouyi's words, Long Feicheng's curiosity was piqued.
Han San and Weng Qianxiang also crouched behind Yan Shouyi.
Han San sniffed the air and said with a solemn expression, "Such heavy Yin energy."
"Could it be another 'Ghost King's Parade, Hundred Ghosts Walking at Night'?" Long Feicheng asked timidly.
"It's hard to say," Yan Shouyi replied. "Last time at Shanghang Art School, facing Bai Muyu, the Ghost King of the Bai family, the aura was only slightly less intense, but..."
Han San picked up the conversation, "But why would a dignified Ghost King come to a place like this?"
Any Ghost King still able to remain in the mortal realm must be backed by a powerful family. Qiantang should have quite a few Ghost King families, certainly more than Rongcheng, but it shouldn't be to the extent that Ghost Kings were commonplace.
"If we encounter another Ghost King, do we have the ability to contend with them now?" Long Feicheng asked.
Yan Shouyi answered, "I can barely manage. If we join forces, we might have a chance to fight."
After all, Yan Shouyi was a man who had faced a Ghost King and had some understanding of their power.
As they were discussing in hushed tones, Yan Shouyi finally caught sight of the approaching figure!
At the end of the alley, a strange figure clad in a straw cape, wearing a bamboo hat, and boots suitable for water, holding a lantern and a gong, was slowly approaching.
The figure's build was nothing special, but the face hidden beneath the bamboo hat was peculiar. Illuminated by the light from the lantern the figure carried, Yan Shouyi vaguely noticed that this person actually had six eyes!
"How is it, how is it? Did you see anything?" Long Feicheng asked.
Yan Shouyi said gravely, "It really is a strange person, and that dense Yin energy is indeed emanating from him."
Behind the strange figure, Yin energy swirled, forming a black hole that seemed to devour the surrounding Yang energy, causing the temperature of the entire alley to drop considerably!
Long Feicheng turned and retrieved his Caiwei Sword, gripping it tightly. Han San also produced his Maoshan sect's signature coin sword.
Wei Changqing, with an expression of watching a play, sat far from the windowsill.
Weng Qianxiang whispered, "You are all military officials, I am a civil official, so I won't be joining the fray!"
Weng Qianxiang's abilities were of no use at this moment; he was, at best, a mascot.
*Clang!*
Suddenly, the strange figure struck the gong in his hand with great force.
The sound of the gong wasn't very loud, but it made Yan Shouyi and the others' eardrums ache!
Long Feicheng and Han San involuntarily covered their ears, and even Wei Changqing furrowed his brow.
"What's wrong with you?" Weng Qianxiang asked, confused.
"Are you alright?" Han San inquired.
Weng Qianxiang shook his head, completely bewildered.
Yan Shouyi explained, "That fellow's gong probably doesn't affect ordinary people."
"They know we're here?" Long Feicheng exclaimed in alarm.
"They shouldn't," Yan Shouyi replied. "He's not targeting us."
The next second, the words spoken by the figure made Yan Shouyi greatly astonished.
As the sound of the gong faded, the figure shouted at the top of his lungs:
"The weather is dry and hot, beware of fire!"
*Clang!*
He struck the gong again and then shouted, "The dead reflect on themselves, the living retreat!"
Yan Shouyi's mouth fell open in surprise.
"Brother Yan, what's wrong?" Long Feicheng couldn't help but ask.
Yan Shouyi's expression was truly peculiar.
He turned back and said, "This is not some strange person; this is the person we are looking for!"
"Ah? Who?" Han San asked, confused.
Han San, being a disciple of a traditional sect, could be excused for not knowing about folk sects. Moreover, Yan Shouyi had never revealed the objective of their trip to Qiantang.
Yan Shouyi then explained, "We came to Qiantang to find two inheritors of folk sects. One of them is the person before us – the night watchman!"
The role of the night watchman had a long history, dating back to the Spring and Autumn and Warring States periods. Ordinary people believed that the night watchman was merely a human clock that announced the time, but in reality, the night watchman was a very mysterious profession.
In the past, unlike today, nights in ancient times, even in the most prosperous capitals, enforced curfews. Once the time arrived, all households would close their doors, and darkness would envelop the land. Only the lanterns outside the city gates would remain lit.
This was not because people in ancient times were unable to move at night, but because ancient times were plagued by demons and monsters. If people ventured out at night, they were very likely to encounter unclean entities!
Therefore, after the curfew, those walking on the streets were no longer the living.
During that time, besides some high-ranking individuals, those who could move at night were city guards or soldiers with swords. They possessed strong killing intent and potent malevolent energy, and they carried weapons, so ordinary ghosts dared not trouble them.
And besides them, the only other people who could travel at night were a specific group – the night watchmen!
Night watchmen were destined to have strong lives, robust Yang energy, good health, and loud voices!
After undergoing a series of assessments and training, they were allowed to take up their posts. Upon starting, they had to receive a set of special attire. When going out at night, they had to be fully equipped, carrying a lantern and a gong, with a saber at their waist, and patrol every street and alley.
If they encountered hoodlums, a night watchman's shout could drive them away. But if the hoodlums were foolish enough to resist, the night watchman was not to be trifled with. Their sabers were incredibly sharp, capable of easily decapitating a horse, let alone mere hoodlums!
And if they encountered demons and ghosts, the night watchman feared them even less. A gong strike that shook the heavens would startle spirits and ghosts.
The night watchman, with a voice that pierced the sky, dispelled evil spirits, and all ghosts avoided them!
This was the true night watchman; their duty was to intimidate gods and demons and protect the peace of the realm!
Yan Shouyi had never expected that the night watchman he was looking for would be the strange person Kong Xuan had mentioned.
According to the register compiled by Weng Qianxiang, the night watchman hidden in Qiantang should have been over fifty years old. However, looking at the strange figure now, Yan Shouyi couldn't discern his age.
After all, this fellow had six eyes, and it was unclear if he was even alive, let alone his age!