"So, what should we do next?" Long Feicheng asked, a little lost.
The same bewildered look appeared on the faces of the others.
Truth be told, everyone had prepared for a tough fight when they descended into the dungeon. But before anything could even begin, they encountered a max-level boss in a beginner's village and immediately latched onto a powerful ally.
For a moment, no one knew what to do.
Instinctively, they all looked to Yan Chou, as he was the eldest and most influential among them, and they waited for him to make a decision.
However, Yan Chou turned to Yan Shouyi and said, "They are your companions. I don't know them well, so the arrangements from here on out are yours to decide."
Suddenly entrusted with such responsibility, Yan Shouyi felt a touch of surprise. But upon regaining his composure, he was filled with gratitude for his father's thoughtfulness.
Although meeting his father had certainly eased his burden, if he were to listen to his father for everything that followed, everyone might gradually develop a sense of dependence and perhaps wouldn't accept Yan Shouyi's arrangements in the future.
His dad truly thought of everything.
Yan Shouyi pondered for a moment and then asked, "Dad, can you and the uncles handle Kang Jinlong and his group?"
Yan Chou replied confidently, "It shouldn't be a problem."
"I'm worried that Grandma alone protecting the inheritors of the Nuo Ghost Opera might lead to complications, so..."
Yan Shouyi looked at the other four. "Yiren, Xiaolong, Lao Wang, Luo Ning, go and rendezvous with my grandmother. Protect the inheritors of the Nuo Ghost Opera together."
Liu Yiren frowned, "What about you?"
"I'll go with Dad to deal with those people," Yan Shouyi stated coldly.
The others had no objections, as protecting the inheritors of the Nuo Ghost Opera was not entirely without risk.
Weng Qianxiang asked weakly, "What about me? Perhaps I should stay with everyone..."
Yan Shouyi glanced at Weng Qianxiang and then said to Wang Jibang and Luo Ning, "Keep an eye on Weng Qianxiang for me. If he shows any disloyalty, don't be lenient!"
"You can rest assured about that!" Luo Ning chuckled. "I'm not very good at protecting people, but I'm excellent at killing them."
Weng Qianxiang felt like crying. How could he feel that these people were even more terrifying than the vengeful spirits they had encountered earlier?
And so, the plan was set. Yan Chou pointed them in the direction, and the group of five set off to meet Wen Yuxian.
As they parted ways, Liu Yiren gave Yan Shouyi a deep look, her concern evident in her eyes.
After everyone had walked a good distance away, Yan Chou clapped Yan Shouyi on the shoulder and joked, "Son, you're quite the charmer."
Yan Shouyi replied with a wry smile, "Dad, you know my situation. In this life, I will ultimately owe Yiren."
"It seems you have some understanding of your past life," Yan Chou said thoughtfully. "Have you conversed with the one within you?"
Yan Shouyi truthfully admitted, "I've spoken with him a few times, and he has saved me several times, but his appearances are unpredictable."
"Having another consciousness within you, I've always been uneasy," Yan Chou sighed, without completely ruling anything out.
It seemed Yan Chou had some thoughts regarding the general within Yan Shouyi's body, which Yan Shouyi could sense but dared not ask about, fearing the general might overhear something.
Father and son tacitly ceased discussing the matter.
Yan Shouyi said, "Dad, I have a few more companions at the dungeon entrance. To prevent them from encountering Kang Jinlong, let's go and meet them first."
"No problem, lead the way," Yan Chou replied casually.
With Yan Chou by his side, the previous sense of tension completely vanished. As the saying goes, skill breeds boldness. Yan Chou walked through the dungeon as if strolling through his own backyard.
Yan Shouyi also relaxed and even started chatting with his father about everyday matters.
"Dad, about the position of Celestial Master..."
Yan Chou chuckled, "My boy, you haven't disgraced me at all. I heard you've already made it to the finals?"
Yan Shouyi scratched the back of his head sheepishly, giving a wry smile. "There was a fair bit of luck involved."
"Luck is also a form of strength," Yan Chou said. "It was the Old Celestial Master who asked me to have you participate in this Luo Tian Da Jiao."
"Speaking of which, it's quite strange, Dad. Do you know that the group owner of the Anti-Yan Chou Alliance chat group is the Old Celestial Master?" Yan Shouyi couldn't help but ask.
"Of course, I do!"
"Then what grudge do you have with the Old Celestial Master?"
"There's no particularly big feud. I visited Longhu Mountain back then and borrowed a few rather valuable books from their library. As a result, I was blacklisted by the Old Celestial Master. That so-called revenge group was merely created casually by the Old Celestial Master. It somehow evolved into what it is today. However, having this group is beneficial; it has allowed me to understand how many people want my life. It's better than being in the dark about who is targeting me."
Seeing his father's nonchalant and unbothered demeanor, Yan Shouyi suddenly realized something and couldn't help but ask, "Dad, by any chance, are you also in the group?"
Yan Chou glanced sideways at Yan Shouyi.
Yan Shouyi immediately knew the answer.
He was torn between laughter and tears. If those group members knew that the target of their daily curses and threats was actually in the group, and perhaps even the one most actively stirring things up, they would likely be utterly dejected.
There are bad people among the masses!
Yan Shouyi summarized, "In other words, you and the Old Celestial Master are not adversaries?"
"Of course not!" Yan Chou laughed. "When I was 'stealing'... no, 'borrowing' books from the library, I also took the opportunity to give pointers to one of the Old Celestial Master's disciples. That disciple was a mere bookworm. With a little guidance from me, he gained at least ten years of cultivation in enlightenment. The Old Celestial Master was grateful to me! Oh, right, you should know that bookworm too; I heard he also inherited the Dragon Tiger Secret Script."
Yan Shouyi was dumbfounded.
So, his father had met Yu Luming long ago, and there was such a connection!
Yan Shouyi said, "You must be referring to Yu Luming. He is my final opponent in the finals."
"Yes, I know that. In fact, the reason the Old Celestial Master wanted you to participate in this Luo Tian Da Jiao was because of that bookworm," Yan Chou said with a smile.
"What's the connection between that?"
"Yu Luming is so engrossed in his studies that he's oblivious to worldly affairs. You, on the other hand, have wandered the martial world since childhood, making you two extremes. Having you come here is precisely to help this bookworm Yu Luming open up! After all, the position of Celestial Master is to be passed down to Yu Luming!"
"If the position of Celestial Master is already decided, why should I participate? If it's just to befriend Yu Luming, I'd be happy to!"
"The world has been at peace for too long. Traditional sects have failed to anticipate danger and are only clinging to their old ways. The Old Celestial Master invited you to slap their faces and wake them up!"
Yan Shouyi suddenly understood.
He hadn't realized he had done so much inadvertently during his visit to Longhu Mountain.
He finally asked, "According to you, my mission is complete. Does that mean the battle with Yu Luming tomorrow can be skipped?"
"Fight it! Of course, you must fight! More importantly, you must fight fiercely! As it stands, that bookworm Yu Luming is definitely no match for you!" Yan Chou glared at Yan Shouyi. "The Old Celestial Master himself said that the champion will inherit the position of Celestial Master. Although he had already decided on Yu Luming, I simply want to see the Old Celestial Master's enraged and helpless look when my son snatches the position of Celestial Master! Hahaha! Just thinking about it is amusing!"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
Dad, you are so arrogant!
No wonder you've attracted so many enemies!
Have you ever considered that the Old Celestial Master might have genuinely created that Anti-Yan Chou Alliance group?