Not long after Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng entered the "Dan" private room, two Taoist priests wearing yellow robes and black hats strode into the West Lake Pavilion.
Leading them was a well-known broker in Rongcheng, someone who specialized in acting as an intermediary and making money through connections.
This broker had a certain influence in Rongcheng, was acquainted with many top figures in various industries, and was also a regular at the West Lake Pavilion.
Manager Wu had just finished arranging tea for Yan Shouyi and met the broker when he came out, greeting him enthusiastically:
"Yo, old friend, are you here again to enjoy the tea and the beautiful West Lake scenery?"
The broker leaned back slightly, seemingly trying to highlight the status of the two yellow-robed Taoist priests. He smiled and said:
"Today, we are not here to admire the scenery, but only to wait for guests. These two masters are the main ones. This afternoon, they will rest here at your West Lake Pavilion and entertain some guests. Just clear out the Dan private room for them."
Manager Wu exclaimed, "That's not very convenient. The Dan private room has just been used by the owner of West Lake. How about I arrange the Ya private room for you? The Ya private room also offers a view of the West Lake scenery, and it faces Wushan with an excellent view."
The broker, who often frequented the Dan private room, was a bit displeased to find it occupied today. However, upon hearing that the occupant was the owner of West Lake, he had nothing more to say.
But to demonstrate his connections to the two Taoist priests, the broker said:
"Is Mr. Li Peizong of the Li family also here? I wonder if it would be convenient for me to visit later for some tea."
Unexpectedly, Manager Wu replied with a smile, "You might not know, but West Lake has changed ownership a few days ago. West Lake no longer belongs to the Li family; it now belongs to the Yan family."
"Ah?"
The broker was stunned, then his face turned awkward.
He made his living by selling information, yet he was unaware of such a major event as the change of ownership of West Lake. He had lost face in front of the two Taoist priests.
It was like going to war with a gun only to discover the war had already ended.
The unwilling broker pressed on, "Which Yan family? I've never heard of such a powerful family in Rongcheng?"
"You don't need to inquire about that. A family that can snatch West Lake from the Li family cannot be ordinary!" Manager Wu said proudly. "But I can privately share a piece of information with you. Do you remember the incident of West Lake drying up not long ago? That was done by the young master of our Yan family!"
The broker was shocked. "How did he do it? Did he block the upstream water or dig up the downstream dike? That's not right! The water in West Lake dried up in the blink of an eye. Even if he dug through an underground river, it shouldn't have disappeared so quickly?"
"Stop, stop!" Manager Wu laughed. "That's all I can say."
Manager Wu was also somewhat showing off. The Li family was already formidable, but the current Yan family was even more arrogant. Even if he was just a dog of the Yan family, he would prosper and suffer with them. Of course, he would be proud now.
The broker couldn't help but click his tongue, growing more curious about this suddenly emerged Yan family. He was determined to learn more about them.
The two Taoist priests, who had been silent until now, seemed unable to hold back any longer. One of them spoke up:
"The Yan family you mentioned... they are not locals, are they?"
Manager Wu finally remembered to look at his visitors.
The two Taoist priests, one tall and one short, both appeared to be at least forty years old. They had stubble on their chins and messy hair. Judging by their travel-worn appearance, they seemed to have arrived in Rongcheng not long ago and were on the road.
The taller Taoist priest had a scar running across his face, which looked rather shocking. It was hard to imagine how severe the injury must have been to leave such a terrifying scar.
The shorter Taoist priest was plain-looking with no distinctive features, except for a sword case on his back.
Manager Wu immediately understood why they looked travel-worn. It was likely because they were carrying regulated weapons and couldn't pass through the security checks at high-speed rail stations and airports...
Analyzing the identities of the two Taoist priests in an instant, Manager Wu replied flawlessly:
"The Yan family is very mysterious. Even I have only met the young master twice and have never met the head of the Yan family, so I don't know if they are locals."
The Taoist priests wanted to inquire further, but the broker interrupted them:
"Masters, let's go upstairs quickly. The big bosses will be arriving soon, and we should start our business."
The Taoist priests frowned, nodded, and were led upstairs by the assistant manager.
As they passed the Dan private room on the third floor, both Taoist priests couldn't help but stare at the door, as if trying to see through it to the scene inside.
After being seated in the private room, the two Taoist priests couldn't help but sigh as they looked at the beautiful West Lake scenery of Rongcheng:
"The West Lake of Hangzhou is the best in the world, and the West Lake of Rongcheng is not bad either. I wonder what background the Yan family has to be able to own West Lake. It is truly enviable."
The broker flattered them: "Your words are too modest. The Yan family only has a small lake, while you two have Kunxu Mountain! How can a lake compare to a mountain?"
The two Taoist priests smiled and shook their heads. The broker was just a mortal, unaware of the power of Rongcheng's West Lake.
It was not just a lake located within the city, but the convergence of Rongcheng's feng shui. Whoever owned West Lake was equivalent to owning the fortune of Rongcheng!
All the people of Rongcheng were connected to the fortune of West Lake. As long as the people remained, the fortune of West Lake would not be broken, and the owner of West Lake would prosper indefinitely.
As for Kunxu Mountain, where their Shengxian Temple was located, there was nothing for miles around. Where was the fortune?
It was merely a mountain lump that other sects disdained.
Therefore, the two Taoist priests were truly envious of the Yan family, the owners of West Lake.
Just after the broker finished his flattery, he received a phone call. After bowing and nodding for a while, he hung up and said:
"Masters, please wait a moment. The bosses who are coming to divine your fortunes are already outside. I will go and welcome them in."
The taller Taoist priest nodded and said, "We are new to Rongcheng and are unfamiliar with the place. It is thanks to you acting as an intermediary. We will give you thirty percent of our earnings from fortune-telling."
The broker was overjoyed. "Then I thank you masters in advance!"
With that, the broker, holding his bag, went downstairs to greet the bosses.
After the broker left, the two Taoist priests exchanged glances and couldn't help but look in the direction of the Dan private room.
"Senior Brother, you sensed it too, right?" the shorter Taoist priest said solemnly.
The taller Taoist priest nodded slightly. "A faint scent of corpse energy, a faint malevolent energy, a faint sandalwood incense, and... a strong foot odor."
The shorter Taoist priest frowned and said:
"The Yan family that owns West Lake does not seem like ordinary people. Could they be folk corpse handlers? But what about the sandalwood incense? Don't these folk short-practice sects have five flaws and three shortages? How dare they occupy the feng shui of West Lake? Are they tired of living?"
The shorter Taoist priest was full of doubt. The taller Taoist priest blew his nose and said:
"Let's not sniff anymore. The foot odor from next door is too overpowering! If we want to know the true face of the young master of the Yan family, won't we find out when we meet him later?"
The shorter Taoist priest rubbed his eyes and hesitated. "Senior Brother, do you think the Yan family might be..."
"You mean the Lu Ban descendant of the Yan Baixiang lineage?"
"After all, Yan is not a common surname. Perhaps we have encountered an enemy?" the shorter Taoist priest said.
The taller Taoist priest stroked his chin. "That knife from Yan Chou back then nearly killed me. After I recovered, he went into seclusion and disappeared. I searched for him for over ten years, just to avenge that blood feud. If I truly meet him in Rongcheng... I will definitely take his life!"
The shorter Taoist priest nodded. "Then let's go and meet the young master of the Yan family next door later!"
...
Yan Shouyi was completely unaware that two Taoist priests from Shengxian Temple on Kunxu Mountain were in the private room next to him.
And these two Taoist priests were the mortal enemies of his father.
They traveled the world helping the rich divine fortunes to accumulate wealth, while also searching for news of Yan Chou, all for the sake of revenge.
Meanwhile, Yan Shouyi was still holding Li Qing'er's Shouxin Jade, carefully examining it.
"No matter how I look at it, this thing is just an ordinary piece of jade!" Yan Shouyi was perplexed.
Long Feicheng glanced at it and his expression suddenly changed:
"Brother Yan, this... could this be..."
Yan Shouyi asked in surprise, "You recognize this jade?"
"Of course, I recognize it!" Long Feicheng nodded excitedly.
Yan Shouyi was very surprised and quickly asked, "Then tell me, what's different about this jade?"
Long Feicheng said solemnly, "What's different about this jade is... it's especially expensive!"
"..."
"Based on my many years of experience in the Jianghu, this jade has a full and lustrous color, a natural shape, and is very translucent. It must be fine mutton-fat jade. In short, it's - expensive! Valuable!"
Long Feicheng laughed, "Why don't you give me this jade? I'll sell it on the black market, and then we'll have the capital to start our fortunes!"
"Get lost!"
It was fortunate that Yan Shouyi was sitting down. If he were standing, he would have definitely given Long Feicheng a kick.
He thought Long Feicheng knew the magical properties of this Shouxin Jade!
Yan Shouyi said, "This Shouxin Jade was given to me by Li Qing'er. My father took advantage of your master back then, and your master, through great sacrifice, showed me a way to survive. It seems the clue to that way of survival is contained within this Shouxin Jade."
The clue within this Shouxin Jade was ultimately connected to Long Feicheng as well, and Long Feicheng immediately became serious.
He looked at the jade, and now it seemed to have no special features. But when he thought that it was this ordinary Shouxin Jade that caused his master's later years to be miserable, Long Feicheng felt it was completely worthless.
If it weren't for the fact that this jade could save Yan Shouyi's life, Long Feicheng would have smashed it for him right now!
Yan Shouyi couldn't find any clues, so he released Sanyuan: "Sanyuan, take a look, is there anything different about this jade?"
Sanyuan hopped to the Shouxin Jade on the table, then lowered its head, pressing its tiny, pitch-black eyes against the center of the Shouxin Jade.
Seeing this, Yan Shouyi suddenly realized something. He quickly picked up the Shouxin Jade and brought it closer to his eyes.
He closed one eye and looked through the Shouxin Jade with the other...
The next second, Yan Shouyi's eyes widened:
"So that's how it is!!! It's like this!!"