When Liu Yiren offered to be the godmother to their child, Yan Shouyi nearly lost his composure.
The others in the car couldn't pretend to be deaf and mute any longer. Yuan Jianxin, who was drinking water, choked.
"If you're not willing, then forget it..."
Liu Yiren blushed slightly and turned her head towards the car window.
"Of course, I'm willing!" Yan Shouyi quickly replied. "Zi Tong will surely be very happy when she finds out. We naturally hope more people will love the children."
"So, it's settled then?"
"Yes, when the children are born, you must come for the full moon celebration. They can get to know their godmother properly then."
Liu Yiren hesitated for a moment, pouting slightly. "I only want to be your son's godmother?"
"Hm?"
Yan Shouyi was once again at a loss. What was the meaning behind Liu Yiren's series of confusing actions?
Why only be the godmother to the older brother and not the sister?
Luo Ning couldn't stand it anymore. She lowered her voice and said a few words to the Zanpakuto, and then Long Feicheng's voice echoed in Yan Shouyi's mind.
"Brother Yan, Luo Ning asked me to tell you something: 'A daughter is a lover from a past life.' Hmm... I don't quite understand it myself. Do you get what that means?"
Yan Shouyi pondered this, and then he didn't mention having their daughter recognize Liu Yiren as a godmother for the rest of the journey.
Nothing particularly noteworthy happened until they arrived outside the Tianshi Mansion.
Yu Lumen personally came out to greet them.
Many Daoist priests and elite disciples from Longhu Mountain also came out with him. Yan Shouyi knew most of them, as they were comrades who had fought side-by-side when Li Genmiao attacked the mountain.
However, Zhang Shantong was not present because he was guarding Yan Shouyi's son's soul.
Yu Lumen, dressed in a purple Daoist robe, looked considerably more mature after a few months. The shadow of Old Celestial Master Zhang Yin could be seen in his demeanor.
If this fellow continued to be the Celestial Master for a few more decades, by the time his hair turned white, he might look exactly like Zhang Yin.
After exchanging greetings, Yan Shouyi first went to see the child's soul and say hello to Zhang Shantong.
Afterwards, Yu Lumen arranged a banquet to welcome Yan Shouyi.
Once they had eaten and drunk their fill, Yan Shouyi went to Yu Lumen's usual place for meditation and cultivation. Liu Yiren brewed them a pot of tea and then left. The two finally began to discuss important matters.
"This time, I'm greatly indebted to Sect Leader Mao of the Maoshan Sect for speaking up for me. Top sects have a tiered approach to voicing their opinions. With the support of a top sect, smaller sects are also gradually realizing that the tide has turned and are slowly beginning to accept civilian sects. This is a good sign, but it will still take some time to completely eliminate the conflict between the two factions."
Yu Lumen picked up the teapot on the charcoal fire, poured a cup for Yan Shouyi, and gestured for him to proceed.
Yan Shouyi picked up his teacup, gently blew away the tea foam, and took a shallow sip.
"There are only three ways to achieve complete reconciliation between the two factions. The first is time, and the second is through personal connections."
Yu Lumen looked puzzled. "Let me interrupt. I can guess what the third point you're about to mention is, but I don't understand the second one."
"I came to the Tianshi Mansion this time to discuss something with you privately," Yan Shouyi said with a smile. "After my son is successfully born, I hope he can become your disciple and enter the Longhu Mountain sect."
Yu Lumen was stunned for a moment, then chuckled softly. "You scoundrel!"
"Scoundrel" was Yu Lumen's assessment of Yan Shouyi's plan, but judging by his reaction, he certainly wouldn't refuse.
To maintain peace between the two factions, a long-lasting bond was needed. Currently, that bond was Yan Shouyi, but Yan Shouyi had not risen to prominence for long, and his prestige among the renowned sects was insufficient.
Yan Shouyi believed it would be difficult for him to completely win over the renowned sects in his lifetime, so he placed his hopes on the next generation.
He wanted his son to become Yu Lumen's disciple, ensuring that even in the worst-case scenario, he would become a core figure within Longhu Mountain.
His daughter, on the other hand, would inherit the Civilian Sect.
With the relationship between these siblings, the ties between the two factions could remain long and stable, regardless of whether Yan Shouyi was still in this world.
Yu Lumen smiled. "The future core figures of both factions will be your descendants. Have you considered me at all?"
"Let's talk about it when you have kids. You don't even have a girlfriend yet!" Yan Shouyi teased. "Besides, I'm Long Feicheng. Whether you have a son or a daughter, there's always a chance."
"That's true." Yu Lumen nodded, thinking to himself: If I have a son in the future, I'll let him marry Yan Shouyi's daughter. If I have a daughter, marrying Yan Shouyi's son would also be good. After all, Yan Shouyi's son is already destined to be Yu Lumen's disciple, so it would be marrying into the family.
Yan Shouyi, meanwhile, thought: It's best if it's a boy and a girl. If Yu Lumen has a boy and they become gay, or a girl and they become lesbians, then it's all over...
"Seriously," Yu Lumen took a sip of tea and said with a serious expression, "the third method should be to establish a common enemy for the two factions, right?"
"You know me so well, Yu Lumen!" Yan Shouyi nodded. "You know who that enemy is."
Li Genmiao, also known as the State Preceptor.
Before Yan Shouyi arrived, he had spoken with Yu Lumen several times, informing him about everything concerning the State Preceptor.
As the leader of the Daoist Path, Yu Lumen naturally had the responsibility to eliminate the menace of the State Preceptor, and he fully recognized the State Preceptor's power and potential for destruction.
However, just as Yan Shouyi was about to elaborate on the next step of his plan, he stared at Yu Lumen in shock.
Through the Black Sarira, Yan Shouyi suddenly realized that a trace of malice had appeared in Yu Lumen's originally pure and unblemished heart.
"What is going on?"
"Yu Lumen has studied diligently for over a decade. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him a sage. I've never detected any negative emotions in him..."
"But the Black Sarira doesn't lie to me. It can reflect the deepest and truest emotions in a person's heart. I've verified this countless times on the way."
"Yu Lumen harbors malice? And it only appeared when I mentioned the State Preceptor? Is his malice related to the State Preceptor?"
Yan Shouyi sensed something was wrong, but he managed to conceal his shock well.
He pretended nothing was amiss and continued to discuss the State Preceptor with Yu Lumen.
"I plan to expose all the wrongdoings of the State Preceptor, then mobilize all the forces of both factions, find the State Preceptor's whereabouts, and eliminate him."
After Yan Shouyi briefly explained his plan, he indeed noticed that the malice in Yu Lumen's heart had intensified slightly.
However, the malice in Yu Lumen's heart was still very slight, insignificant compared to the villains he had encountered along the way. It was even less than the malice emanating from Luo Ning.
This meant that Yu Lumen was still a thorough good person.
He still supported killing the State Preceptor, but deep within his heart, a small part of his emotions resisted, unwilling to kill the State Preceptor.
What exactly was going on...