Long Feicheng, usually known for his timidity, stood firm this time, surprising everyone. Even the Dog Daoist couldn't help but look at him with new respect.
Chang Shan tugged at Long Feicheng's arm and whispered, "Brother Long, don't get worked up."
Arguing was one thing, but overturning a table was something Chang Shan would never do.
This was the difference between Long Feicheng and Chang Shan. Chang Shan was also loyal, but Long Feicheng was more direct.
Long Feicheng brushed Chang Shan's hand away and said resentfully, "Li Genmiao, stop glaring at me. I'm not afraid of you, no matter how much you glare. I'm putting my words out there now, so you handle it as you see fit!"
With that, Long Feicheng stormed out of Lan Qihuan's courtyard.
The others exchanged bewildered glances. Yan Shouyi sighed, "Auntie Lan, I'm sorry."
"It's fine," Lan Qihuan replied with a melancholic, forced smile. She didn't quite understand why Long Feicheng had suddenly flipped the table.
Yan Shouyi glanced at Li Genmiao, then walked out of the courtyard. He saw Long Feicheng squatting not far away, smoking in the snow.
As Yan Shouyi approached, he noticed Long Feicheng was covered in cold sweat. It seemed his inner turmoil wasn't as calm as he'd presented earlier.
Sensing Yan Shouyi's arrival, Long Feicheng said with lingering fear, "Damn, I'm glad I left quickly, or I really wouldn't have been able to hold it in."
"Why did you have to pick a fight with that actor?" Yan Shouyi chuckled.
Long Feicheng said seriously, "Brother Yan, you surely know that where we're going is a dragon's den and a tiger's lair. I was just trying to bolster your spirit and give you more confidence."
"But that doesn't mean you had to flip the table. Auntie Lan is innocent."
"I don't know why, it was just an impulse..."
Long Feicheng offered Yan Shouyi a cigarette and sighed, "Maybe Auntie Lan's past touched me. My early life was lonely. Ever since I met you, Brother Yan, I've had so many friends and felt a sense of home. If you die, the Folklore Research Society will fall apart... and I'll have no home."
Although Yan Shouyi had already known Long Feicheng's feelings, hearing them spoken aloud still moved him.
"Li Genmiao and I have reached some private agreements, and this trip is to find my mother. At least until we reach Tianchi, nothing will happen," Yan Shouyi reassured him.
"What about on the way down?"
"I'm prepared. I plan to leave Li Genmiao at Tianchi forever."
"This..."
Long Feicheng's eyes widened. He had thought Li Genmiao was plotting against Yan Shouyi, but he never imagined Yan Shouyi was plotting against Li Genmiao too.
With that, Long Feicheng felt much more at ease.
He happily patted Yan Shouyi's shoulder, "Then we'll wait for you in the village. We'll wait for your safe return."
"Okay. Later, find an opportunity to apologize to Auntie Lan. No need to bother with Li Genmiao."
"Naturally!"
Long Feicheng would never bow his head to Li Genmiao.
"But speaking of which, if I really died in the Changbai Mountains, would you really intend to slaughter Taoyuan Village?" Yan Shouyi suddenly asked.
Long Feicheng seemed a little guilty and blustered, "Who can't boast?"
Although boasting had become a habit for Long Feicheng, Yan Shouyi had a feeling that this time, he wasn't just boasting.
But what capabilities did Long Feicheng possess to deal with the formidable experts of Taoyuan Village?
...
In the afternoon, Li Genmiao packed his belongings, ready to set off for the climb with Yan Shouyi.
Both had changed into thick hiking gear, carried hiking poles, and wore woolen hats and goggles.
Yan Shouyi stuffed camping and survival items into his backpack. Li Genmiao, however, was empty-handed, seemingly possessing a storage artifact similar to a backpack.
With all preparations complete, and under the watchful eyes of their respective groups, the two figures merged with the vast snowscape and disappeared at the end of the mountain path.
After waiting a few seconds, ensuring Yan Shouyi and Li Genmiao were long gone, Zheng Youqian suddenly asked Long Feicheng,
"Kid, you've got guts. You appeal to me. Interested in learning a few tricks from me?"
Long Feicheng looked at Zheng Youqian warily and replied, "You only have one hand, how can you teach me two tricks?"
Zheng Youqian was stunned, almost losing his temper and wanting to beat Long Feicheng down with his remaining hand.
But Long Feicheng had the Dog Daoist backing him. Seeing Zheng Youqian flustered, the Dog Daoist grinned uncontrollably, slapping Long Feicheng's shoulder and praising him, "Good kid! You're so devious!"
Zheng Youqian angrily asked, "Are you going to learn or not?"
"Learn magic tricks from you? I'm not interested in face-changing or fire-breathing," Long Feicheng replied.
"Are you going to learn Flying Dragon's Grasp? Are you going to learn Three Immortals Return to Cave?"
Flying Dragon's Grasp was a skill for theft; Zheng Youqian had used it earlier that morning to sneakily steal the Dog Daoist's belt without anyone noticing. Three Immortals Return to Cave was a skill for cheating at cards. In the past, Zheng Youqian had relied on these to make a living across the land.
Long Feicheng, who had initially been uninterested in Zheng Youqian, suddenly's eyes lit up.
But he had refused so decisively earlier. If he agreed now, it would be a bit of a backtrack – I, Long Aotian, cannot lose face like this!
So, Long Feicheng feigned reluctance, "If you insist on teaching, then this young master will reluctantly learn."
"You son of a..."
Zheng Youqian was infuriated, and the Dog Daoist laughed heartily.
Pan Shiyi, standing nearby, smiled without a word.
...
Meanwhile, in Xidu, Songshui Province, at the headquarters of the Witch God Mountain.
Over twenty human heads were placed before Ji Bing, the Grand Commander of Witch God Mountain. Some of Witch God Mountain's strongmen lined up on both sides, and in the center sat a man severely beaten and tortured.
Ji Bing sat at the head of the table, exuding an imposing aura.
He narrowed his eyes. From behind the screen behind him, a giant weasel suddenly emerged.
This weasel was slightly larger than a black bear, with black fur all over and a tuft of gold on its head. Even though they were different species, ordinary people could tell at a glance that this weasel was extraordinary.
The weasel walked up to the man, bit off his head, and swallowed it without chewing.
Immediately after, it closed its eyes, its body trembled slightly, and its tail curled up.
"Li Genmiao and others... are hiding in a small mountain village on the northern side of the Changbai Mountains... The village has many inheritors of folk sects..." the weasel said in a human voice, slowly.
This was called spirit swallowing, a method of obtaining the memories of others by consuming their flesh and blood.
Upon hearing this, Ji Bing sneered, "Well done, Li Genmiao, for reaching into my Witch God Mountain! If Yan Shouyi hadn't notified me secretly, I wouldn't have known there were so many traitors among us!"
A confidant beside him asked, "Grand Commander, Li Genmiao is detestable, but Yan Shouyi also abducted the Vice Commander. This debt..."
"Hu Chai acted too cleverly, provoking Yan Shouyi without my permission. It was his own fault! But no matter what, he is still my son-in-law, Ji Bing. This time, we will attack the Xin Xuan School, rescue Ji Bing first, then kill Li Genmiao. As for retaliating against Yan Shouyi, we will put that aside for now!"