Yan Shouyi sought the Drunken Dream Incense from Taoist Gao with the aim of re-entering the depths of his dreams one last time to hear the general of the Qing Jiang Kingdom finish his story.
Only by understanding the full context of the story could he ascertain Lin Ziqing's true identity, or whether the consciousness within Lin Ziqing was indeed Lian He.
Taoist Gao was now willing to agree to any condition Yan Shouyi proposed. Since his junior brother had plotted against him, Taoist Gao's greatest enemy in this life was no longer Yan Chou.
It was his idiot junior brother.
Therefore, after handing over the mobile phone and the Drunken Dream Incense, Taoist Gao stared at the short Taoist with the eyes of a hunter.
The short Taoist, knowing he could not escape death, remained silent, though he was constantly calculating how to beg for mercy or escape when the time came.
The remaining conflict was between Taoist Gao and the short Taoist, with no connection to Yan Shouyi, so he didn't need to concern himself too much.
"Release."
Yan Shouyi shouted softly, and the arcane arts of Qimen Dunjia were instantly dispelled. The wooden floor that had turned into mud rapidly restored itself.
Taoist Gao quickly climbed out of the mud, then, as if picking up a chick, he hauled out the short Taoist.
"Junior brother, karma comes around. Next, senior brother will settle accounts with you properly!"
Xue Kai said coldly, "Leave the West Lake Elegant Residence, find a deserted place, and I'll watch the two of you settle your scores."
"Alright!"
Taoist Gao agreed without hesitation, dragging the short Taoist outside.
Before leaving, Taoist Gao did not forget to say to Yan Shouyi, "This time I've fallen into your hands, I admit it. Twenty years have passed, and I can't even deal with Yan Chou's son, so there's no hope of revenge. Therefore, I won't bother you anymore. But just because I don't bother you doesn't mean others won't. There are many masters in that chat group, so be careful yourselves!"
What Taoist Gao was referring to was the "Anti-Yan Chou Alliance." In fact, Yan Shouyi could guess that some big shots were members of that group even without him saying it.
Judging by their avatars and usernames, there was probably no one under forty.
But Yan Shouyi was not particularly worried. His father, back then, was able to provoke these people and retreat safely, which meant his father was not afraid of them at all.
Twenty years later, the situation remained the same.
Xue Kai watched as the tall and short Taoist walked out together. He said softly to Yan Shouyi:
"Don't worry about that third junior brother. I'll take care of him tonight as well."
Regarding Xue Kai's act of killing, Yan Shouyi's attitude of not opposing it was, in fact, a tacit support.
Although one should be kind, if kindness could not protect those important to you, then kindness was a form of evil and cruelty.
After experiencing Lin Ziqing's death, Yan Shouyi saw this more clearly.
Therefore, he also accepted the existence of Xue Kai, his shadow.
He said, "You take care of yourself too. Keep in touch at all times."
"Mm."
Xue Kai pulled the hood of his hoodie over his head, pushed Taoist Gao, and Taoist Gao, with a cold smile, took the short Taoist and left the West Lake Elegant Residence.
The short Taoist and Taoist Gao would both die tonight. Having turned against each other, they were no longer a threat, so Yan Shouyi didn't care who lived or died.
More importantly, the secret of the ancient texts and the news of his father's reappearance in the martial world had already spread.
There was no point in guarding against it anymore.
What he should consider now was how to deal with these people who wanted to avenge themselves on his father.
"Stinky girl?"
Yan Shouyi came to Lin Ziqing's side. Seeing that she was still a bit dazed, he nudged her shoulder.
Only then did Lin Ziqing finally come to her senses, yawning and asking, "What happened just now?"
"You're really carefree!" Yan Shouyi said helplessly. "Two Taoist priests who had a grudge against my father used Drunken Dream Incense to knock everyone out. Fortunately, Xiao Long and I woke up in time, and with Xue Kai's help, we subdued them."
"With you here, I didn't need to make a move." Lin Ziqing's expression was very relaxed.
Yan Shouyi was both amused and exasperated. Lin Ziqing's trust in him was a good thing, but his encounter with Taoist Gao earlier was also a victory achieved through a clever stratagem.
If he hadn't known Qimen Dunjia, it would have been difficult to defeat Taoist Gao.
A moment later, Zhang Shantong also woke up.
The old man was groggy and even chided Yan Shouyi, "Your foster grandfather hasn't slept properly in years. That nap just now was too comfortable; it would have been better not to wake up!"
Yan Shouyi was speechless. He took out a piece of Drunken Dream Incense and said, "I still have Drunken Dream Incense here. Why don't you light it yourself when you have time, and sleep as long as you want?"
"That's not necessary!"
Zhang Shantong chuckled, as if he had sobered up. He said, "So, you're leaving now?"
Yan Shouyi nodded. "I need to inform my father about this as soon as possible."
"Alright, you go ahead then!"
"Aren't you coming with us?" Yan Shouyi was taken aback.
Zhang Shantong shook his head. "Don't you remember? I told you before that after coming out, I also have people to see and matters to attend to."
Zhang Shantong had lived for decades. Although he was dead, he still had many ties in this world.
Judging by his demeanor, it seemed he intended to set off tonight to fulfill those wishes.
Lin Ziqing said reluctantly, "Grandpa, we will miss you."
"Only the granddaughter-in-law is sensible!" Zhang Shantong grinned from ear to ear, then gave Yan Shouyi a sidelong glance. "You, boy, aren't you going to show some appreciation?"
Yan Shouyi quickly said, "Of course I'll miss you too!"
Long Feicheng, seeing this, said reluctantly, "Dear grandpa, please don't go!"
"Get lost! What's it to you!"
Zhang Shantong glanced at Long Feicheng, then smiled at Lin Ziqing, "Don't worry, you all just wait for grandpa here in Rongcheng. Once grandpa is done with his business, he'll come back to find you. Keep my old house for me. I lived there for more than a decade and developed some feelings for it. When I return, I'll still live there."
"Don't worry, Grandpa, we'll clean it often," Lin Ziqing promised.
"Well, if there's nothing else, I'll be leaving now."
As Zhang Shantong spoke, he floated up, and finally, with great earnestness, said to Yan Shouyi:
"Foster grandson, your fate is strong, and your luck is good, but you must take the matter of your destined calamity seriously. Your foster grandfather doesn't want to see you become a box of ashes when he returns. Live well, understand?"
"Foster grandpa, don't worry."
Yan Shouyi had a premonition that Zhang Shantong would not be back for at least a year or two after leaving.
That's why he specifically reminded him about the matter of his destined calamity.
After finishing all his instructions, Zhang Shantong said no more and, with a carefree air, transformed into a wisp of ghost energy and floated out of the tea room window.
Seeing Zhang Shantong's unburdened departure, Yan Shouyi felt that the old man lived too transparently.
Indeed, the greatest matter in this world was death, and Zhang Shantong had already died once. Those so-called attachments were no longer important.
After seeing Zhang Shantong off, Yan Shouyi still had to worry about the "Anti-Yan Chou Alliance group."
At this moment, Long Feicheng was holding his phone and chuckling wickedly.
Yan Shouyi, worried that Long Feicheng was up to something again, quickly asked, "What are you laughing at?"
"I'm laughing at these people in the group; they're all such characters. If you don't believe me, Yan Ge, look!" Long Feicheng said, handing over his phone.