"Jiang Qingxue."
Li Genmiao uttered the name with a wry smile. "Your mother and I have never met, yet we share an unbreakable connection. Destiny dictates I must seek her out in the Changbai Mountains."
Yan Shouyi couldn't comprehend his words.
Never met, yet an unbreakable connection? What kind of logic was that?
Li Genmiao was shrouded in too many mysteries. No matter how hard Yan Shouyi racked his brain, he couldn't unravel these questions.
So, this time, he couldn't hold back and wanted to get to the bottom of it. "What exactly is your relationship with my mother?"
"This, I can tell you, but only after meeting your mother," Li Genmiao said mysteriously, a hint of amusement in his expression.
Yan Shouyi was enraged. "What do you want?"
"Don't be agitated, let me explain slowly," Li Genmiao said, popping a red date into his mouth. "My ancestors left something with your mother, so I must see her to retrieve it."
"Then why don't you just go to Changbai Mountains and find her? Why all this elaborate planning to bring me here?"
"Because if it were just me, she would never agree to see me," Li Genmiao explained. "That's why I orchestrated bringing you here, to journey together up the mountain. Only then might I have a chance to meet her."
"Why wouldn't she see you? Aren't you the all-powerful Li Genmiao? Is there anyone in this world you cannot meet?"
"Don't forget, your mother is a descendant of Lu Ban. She is skilled in feng shui, formations, and the Nine-Chambered Gates. Changbai Mountains are her long-time residence, filled with various formations. Even I cannot break through them, naturally, I cannot meet her in person," Li Genmiao said with a bitter smile.
This time, Yan Shouyi understood.
He fell silent for a moment and asked, "So, you're not after the lower volume of the Lu Ban Book?"
"What would I do with that thing?" Li Genmiao chuckled. "Our methods are different. The lower volume of the Lu Ban Book is for you. I am seeking something else, and it does not conflict with your interests."
"Then why do you assume I'll take you up the mountain?" Yan Shouyi asked the most crucial question.
"Well, regarding that matter... look."
Li Genmiao pulled out his phone and played a video.
The video showed Liu Yiren meditating in a Taoist temple on Longhu Mountain!
Moreover, judging by the camera angle, the videographer wasn't lurking suspiciously in a corner but standing openly behind Liu Yiren.
This implied that the cameraman was someone Liu Yiren trusted relatively well, someone who could likely enter and leave Longhu Mountain freely!
Yan Shouyi's expression turned grim. "Are you threatening me?"
"It depends on how you interpret it," Li Genmiao replied, putting away his phone. "The item on the mountain is very important to me, and I must have it... Oh, right, allow me to kindly remind you, Taoyuan Village is isolated. Phone calls cannot get through here."
Unexpectedly, after the Old Heavenly Master's death, there were still Li Genmiao's people within Longhu Mountain.
If Li Genmiao could threaten Yan Shouyi with Liu Yiren today, he could dispatch people to find the soul of Yan Shouyi's son, sent to Yu Lumin, tomorrow.
This was a naked threat.
"It seems you are well-prepared," Yan Shouyi said helplessly, choosing to compromise for the time being.
Yan Shouyi once again witnessed Li Genmiao's power and his mastery of manipulating people's hearts.
But this wasn't necessarily a bad thing. Understanding Li Genmiao better would be beneficial for their eventual decisive battle.
"Then it's settled. Without further ado, we'll head into the mountains this afternoon," Li Genmiao said excitedly.
This guy is even more eager than I am?
Yan Shouyi pondered. For now, he could only take things one step at a time. He would first lead Li Genmiao up the mountain. Once he met his mother and understood what Li Genmiao truly desired, he would devise a plan to stop him.
In any case, Yan Shouyi's objective was to thwart Li Genmiao.
As the two had just reached an agreement, they suddenly heard Old Jin's anxious voice from outside.
"Old Yan! Old Yan! Something's happened!"
Old Jin burst into the courtyard, saying urgently, "Han San's condition has worsened. Although I have the ability to help him, I'm missing one ingredient. This herb only grows in the south; it's impossible to find it in the north!"
Taoyuan Village was isolated. The nearest town was a two-hour drive away. By the time they drove to buy the medicine, Han San's body would have long since cooled.
But what could Old Jin do? And what could Yan Shouyi do?
He could only console him, "Don't panic. What ingredient is missing?"
"Ghost Needle Grass!"
"I'll think of a way!"
Yan Shouyi paced back and forth, even rummaging through his bag for any alternative medicinal herbs.
As they were both in despair, Li Genmiao suddenly said kindly, "There's a pharmacy in the village that has Ghost Needle Grass. I'll take you to get it."
The two were stunned.
Li Genmiao should have wished for Han San's death. Why would he offer help at this moment?
Even if he intentionally withheld the information about the Ghost Needle Grass in the village and watched Han San's condition worsen and die, no one would blame him, right?
What was this guy thinking?
Li Genmiao shrugged. "Why are you looking at me like that? Aren't you going to save Han San's life?"
Old Jin snapped back to reality, not overthinking it, and hurriedly said, "Hurry and take me to get the medicine!"
"Follow me."
Li Genmiao strode out of the courtyard, leading them to the pharmacy, where they indeed found the Ghost Needle Grass.
Old Jin, holding the Ghost Needle Grass, ran directly towards Han San's courtyard, leaving Yan Shouyi and Li Genmiao behind.
Yan Shouyi's expression was conflicted. He confessed, "I'm starting to understand you less and less."
"What's there to not understand?" Li Genmiao replied. "I wanted to kill Han San, even if he wasn't injured, I would have killed him. But there's no need for him to die here. Secondly, this counts as you owing me a favor. When we go up the mountain this afternoon, if you want to kill me, spare me a little chance of survival, how about that?"
Yan Shouyi gave Li Genmiao a deep look and did not reply.
If he had the chance to kill Li Genmiao, Yan Shouyi believed he would probably do so without hesitation. This guy was the source of all evil.
If he died sooner, it would bring peace to the Xuanmen.
...
Han San's condition was stabilized. After Old Jin confirmed it, he declared that Han San was out of danger and only needed a few days of rest to fully recover his spirits. As for the physical injuries, they would require time to heal.
In the meantime, Hu Chai also woke up. Upon learning that Xu Shengnan had backstabbed him and that Yan Shouyi and the others had kidnapped him, Hu Chai was furious.
He incessantly cursed Yan Shouyi as a traitor to the folk sects and a lackey of the renowned orthodox schools, never mentioning his own perverted deeds.
Li Genmiao ordered Hu Chai to be locked up in the cellar of Taoyuan Village, which finally calmed things down a bit.
But soon, new conflicts arose. Just as everyone had dealt with Hu Chai's matter, the Dog Taoist began fighting with "Moon Pillar" Old Thousand, one of the Four Officials!