Zhou Yan sighed, pointing to a coffin bearer beside him and said, "Guan Xiangling, he has a younger brother who got married only last year. Last month, he went to visit his wife's family, only to be ambushed and assassinated by disciples from several prestigious sects."
The coffin bearer's wound was exposed, revealing pain on his face. Simultaneously, his hatred for the prestigious sects was ignited. He clenched his fists tightly, gritting his teeth.
Zhou Yan then pointed to a bald man opposite him. "Old Zhang, you're a corpse herder, aren't you? I heard a sect dug up your son's body, refined him into a zombie, and sent him to bite you. In the end, you had no choice but to personally burn your son's corpse."
Old Zhang's gaze flickered. Although he didn't answer Zhou Yan, his eyes were filled with hatred.
Finally, Zhou Yan patted his chest, his face filled with sorrow. "I also have a few juniors under me, young and with limitless futures, who also died at the hands of the prestigious sects."
As he spoke, the leaders at the round table who had lost loved ones and friends all wore expressions of sadness, and the atmosphere became somewhat somber.
Zhou Yan said in a low voice, "Chairman Yan, it's not that we don't yearn for peace. It's just that if we reconcile with the prestigious sects like this, what face will we have to face our sacrificed loved ones and friends in the future?"
Hearing this, the others also felt uneasy, and they all quietly agreed with Zhou Yan's view.
Li Chongxi remained silent, Yan Chou and Jiang Qingxue had no intention of speaking, and all eyes were on Yan Shouyi.
Among them, Hou Jingchen's gaze was the most piercing, as if he wanted to engrave every word, every action, and every move of Yan Shouyi into his memory.
Yan Shouyi sighed inwardly, thinking that Zhou Yan was indeed difficult to deal with. He first brought up other people's scars before finally mentioning himself, making it seem as though he was considering others rather than trying to trouble me. However, Yan Shouyi couldn't say that Zhou Yan was wrong. After all, if he, as the chairman of the Folk Association, couldn't even pass this test, how could everyone trust him in the future, and how could they rest assured in handing over the reins to him?
"I know... I know, I know it all."
Under everyone's gaze, Yan Shouyi slowly began to speak.
"I know that in the conflict between the two factions, many people paid the price of their lives. But if everyone present thinks carefully, for what purpose were the sacrifices of those loved ones and friends made? Was it for a greater struggle? No, they wanted peace."
"If the meaning of sacrifice is to exchange for more sacrifices, then the former sacrifices become sins. Only by letting go of past grievances and creating a peaceful and stable era for the younger generation can those sacrifices have value."
"Imagine a day when the descendants of the folk sects and the descendants of the prestigious sects stand together to pay respects to the ancestors who sacrificed themselves for peace. Would you rather see the descendants making blood oaths at the graves of their ancestors, vowing to carry on hatred for countless generations to come?"
"It is precisely because we do not want our descendants to experience the suffering of our generation that we need to make choices and not let their sacrifices be in vain!"
After speaking, Yan Shouyi silently looked at the people around the round table.
Li Chongxi breathed a sigh of relief, Yan Chou and Jiang Qingxue exchanged glances, and light flickered in Hou Jingchen's eyes.
The coffin bearer Guan Xiangling released his clenched fist, leaned back in his chair, tilted his head up, and said softly, "Chairman Yan is right. My sister-in-law is still alive, and they have a daughter. If the conflict between the two factions cannot end in our generation, our descendants will continue to experience this suffering in the future."
The corpse herder Old Zhang's eyes welled up with tears. "My son's greatest wish in life was to see the splendor of the Dragon Tiger Mountain, the holy land of Taoism, with his own eyes. He often asked when the folk sects would have the glory of the prestigious sects. I think he wouldn't want the two factions to fight; he would also hope that we could coexist peacefully."
The atmosphere, which had been leaning towards revenge, was gradually pulled back by Yan Shouyi.
Seeing that he had lost his advantage, Zhou Yan immediately changed tack and applauded Yan Shouyi. "Well said, Chairman Yan. I am also willing to sacrifice our generation for a peaceful era for our future descendants!"
Hou Jingchen nodded slightly. "Me too."
A smile returned to Yan Shouyi's face. It seemed that everyone had emerged from the gloom.
The two factions had taken another step towards peace.
However, at this moment, Zhou Yan changed the subject and said in a low voice, "Chairman Yan, although we are willing to sacrifice, are those prestigious sects willing to let bygones be bygones?"
At these words, everyone was stunned.
Yes, we are willing to yield, but are the prestigious sects willing?
After all, we have also killed many of their disciples. What if they refuse to let things go and continue to retaliate?
Under Zhou Yan's deliberate or unintentional guidance, the taciturn Hou Jingchen raised a further question to Yan Shouyi. "Chairman Yan, currently the prestigious sects only have a favorable impression of your Folk Sect, but they are not lenient with us other folk sect organizations at all. How can you guarantee that the prestigious sects are not using you to weaken us folk sects?"
This question was very sharp, and it was a point that everyone cared deeply about. To put it bluntly, if Yan Shouyi was a running dog of the prestigious sects, and we followed him in the future, wouldn't we be in trouble?
Facing Hou Jingchen's sharp questioning, Yan Shouyi was not flustered.
He said lightly, "Do you know why I can be on good terms with the prestigious sects?"
Everyone shook their heads.
"During the Luotian Grand Ceremony at the Heavenly Master's Mansion on Longhu Mountain, the Xin Xuan Sect attacked. I led my friends to defend Longhu Mountain, and many were injured in the process."
"When the Emei Sect was annihilated, it was I who led my brothers to the mountain to protect Abbess Guan Yun, sacrificing one eye to ensure the continuation of the Emei Sect."
"At Hanshan Temple, Abbot Yan Song sealed the evil thoughts within Monk Miaohua, causing Miaohua to betray and ambush Abbot Yan Song. It was I who entered Miaohua's consciousness without regard for my own safety and killed the evil thoughts."
"At the Maoshan Sect, their sect leader's personal disciple Han San was kidnapped and tortured beyond recognition by Hu Chai, the deputy helmsman of Wu Shen Mountain. It was I and my brothers who desperately rescued him and safely returned him to Maoshan."
Yan Shouyi took a deep breath and shouted, "The goodwill and respect the prestigious sects show me were earned with my life!"
A silence fell upon everyone.
Yan Shouyi's tone softened. "Everyone, don't worry about the opinions of the prestigious sects. As long as we show our sincerity, the prestigious sects will also let go of past grievances. I assure you all that you will not suffer any harm again."
Zhou Yan looked at Yan Shouyi. He suddenly didn't want to make things difficult for this young man anymore. Outsiders only saw the halo around Yan Shouyi and the goodwill the prestigious sects showed him. But until now, everyone realized that the goodwill the prestigious sects showed Yan Shouyi was all earned by this young man with his life. This young man had already paid too much for the relationship between the two factions. To make things difficult for him further seemed too inhumane.
Thus, Zhou Yan slowly raised his hand. "I, Zhou Yan, on behalf of Hongya Cave, support Chairman Yan and support the peaceful and stable relations between the two factions, and pledge that the members of Hongya Cave will no longer take action against the prestigious sects!"