The four returned to the Research Association from the financial building, their moods heavy.
Despite storming the Research Association this time, heavily damaging the Scarlet Flower Society and killing one of their powerful figures, they hadn't captured the most crucial person.
In other words, they had no leverage to negotiate with the Scarlet Flower Society.
Wang Jizao felt somewhat guilty about this, believing that if he had apprehended the girl in time, everyone wouldn't be in such a predicament.
"Old Wang, you don't need to blame yourself. The Scarlet Flower Society are outsiders, after all. It's not a problem for us to defend our territory. What happens next depends on how things develop," Yan Shouyi comforted him.
The group drove back to the Research Association. Upon arriving at the entrance, they noticed an unfamiliar black van parked there.
The van had no license plate, and Long Feicheng was standing by the car, talking to the driver.
The presence of strangers at this time made Yan Shouyi and the others wary. Thus, the four immediately alighted from the car and surrounded the black van.
"Little Long, who's in the car?" Yan Shouyi asked with a frown, his hand already reaching into his satchel. If he confirmed the occupants were from the Scarlet Flower Society, he wouldn't hesitate to act, at least to subdue them.
Long Feicheng chuckled, pulling Yan Shouyi aside, and whispered, "There's a beauty in the car."
Yan Shouyi: "...Lust is a knife above one's head. You'll eventually stumble over this kind of thing!"
"Ahem, I've asked. They're not from the Scarlet Flower Society," Long Feicheng quickly explained. "There's a brother and sister in the car, surnamed Zhuge. They are Sky-Gazers."
"Sky-Gazers, surnamed Zhuge?"
Yan Shouyi furrowed his brow in thought. Indeed, a pair of siblings had contacted the Research Association before, and the person responsible for the handover was A Gong.
So, Yan Shouyi looked towards A Gong, who exclaimed in surprise, "Weren't they supposed to arrive in Rongcheng three days from now? They haven't contacted me recently!"
With suspicion, the group approached the black van. Zhuge Ji alighted from the car and, seeing so many people, became a bit nervous and stammered.
At this moment, Zhuge Lian, who was sitting in the back seat, opened the car door and jumped out, stating openly, "My name is Zhuge Lian. This socially awkward shut-in is my useless brother, Zhuge Ji. We are Sky-Gazers. We heard the Folklore Research Association is recruiting and decided to come and take a look."
"Decided to come and take a look" implied they hadn't decided whether to join yet.
After clarifying their identities, Yan Shouyi smiled and extended his hand to Zhuge Lian, "Welcome."
Luo Ning asked with concern, "Did you encounter any trouble on your way here?"
"Trouble?"
Zhuge Lian smiled, "You could say we did."
Yan Shouyi immediately became serious, "Are you injured? We have an ancient physician in our Research Association. If you are injured, you should go see him right away."
"It's not what you imagine, but this matter is indeed related to the Scarlet Flower Society."
Zhuge Lian took two steps back, opened the car door, and then patted the shoulders of the person inside, saying, "Come out."
Under everyone's gaze, Tian Jueer, covered in blood, got out of the car, looking fearfully at Yan Shouyi and the others.
The moment Yan Shouyi and the others saw Tian Jueer, their pupils constricted, and they showed surprise.
Wasn't this the leader of the Scarlet Flower Society they had lost track of in the financial building?
They hadn't expected Zhuge Lian and her brother to find her; this was a great gift!
Zhuge Lian leaned against the van, saying, "I've brought her. Consider her a welcoming gift for your Research Association. You can deal with her as you see fit."
Tian Jueer bit her lower lip, sighing inwardly. She hadn't expected to fall into the hands of the Folklore Research Association in the end.
Yan Shouyi examined Tian Jueer for a moment. Seeing her appear downtrodden and timid, he suddenly felt something was odd.
If Tian Jueer was the leader of the Scarlet Flower Society, shouldn't she at least say something in her defense, if not express anger or unwillingness?
Her demeanor didn't suggest someone who would resort to schemes against the Research Association.
Therefore, he didn't act against Tian Jueer immediately but instead asked, "Who are you?"
"Who else could she be!" Wang Jizao frowned. "Someone from the Scarlet Flower Society!"
Tian Jueer took two steps back fearfully, but Zhuge Lian forcibly stopped her.
With no way out, she could only lower her head and say, "I am from the Scarlet Flower Society."
"Then that's settled!"
Wang Jizao smiled. They had killed a Scarlet Flower Society expert and captured their leader tonight; it could be considered a complete victory.
Zhuge Lian and her brother had also made a great contribution.
"No."
At this moment, Yan Shouyi shook his head and said, "She's from the Scarlet Flower Society, but she's not the person we're looking for."
A Gong also noticed the fear in Tian Jueer's eyes and whispered, "I think so too."
Zhuge Lian smiled playfully and nudged Tian Jueer, saying, "Explain yourself. If you don't, I can't help you anymore."
Upon hearing this, Tian Jueer quickly said:
"The person you're looking for should be the young master of the Scarlet Flower Society, Wu Tianfeng. I am not Wu Tianfeng; my name is Tian Jueer."
As soon as she said this, Wang Jizao was puzzled, "Wu Tianfeng... you're not Wu Tianfeng, so why did you jump off the building just now?"
Tian Jueer lowered her head fearfully, "I was afraid of you."
At this point, Yan Shouyi roughly understood.
The person leading the Scarlet Flower Society's disturbance in Rongcheng was the young master of the Scarlet Flower Society, Wu Tianfeng.
And this Tian Jueer was possibly Wu Tianfeng's woman. Seeing them kill a Scarlet Flower Society expert, she feared they would kill her too, so she chose to jump off the building to save her life.
However, even so, this Tian Jueer was still a member of the Scarlet Flower Society.
Seeing that Yan Shouyi's gaze was not friendly, Tian Jueer quickly spoke up:
"Please, I beg you, don't hand me over. Wu Tianfeng and I are not on the same path. If he catches me again, he... he will torture me to death!"
"Oh? What is your relationship with Wu Tianfeng?" This time it was Zhuge Lian who asked.
She had been paying close attention to Yan Shouyi and the others' actions. Today, she had deliberately waited at the bottom of the financial building. When she found Tian Jueer, she felt the situation had become interesting, which is why she appeared at the entrance of the Research Association and presented Tian Jueer.
Tian Jueer seemed to make a great resolution, gritting her teeth and saying:
"I am from the Nanjiang Gu tribe. I was born with the source Gu that can make people young again within my body. Three years ago, my family gave me to the young master of the Scarlet Flower Society, Wu Tianfeng, and he kept me as his personal plaything, always taking me with him. As long as he was the slightest bit displeased, he would abuse me. For three years, I wished I were dead. I tried to escape several times but was caught by him and subjected to torture day after day... There is no one in this world who hates Wu Tianfeng more than I do. I want Wu Tianfeng to die, and I want the entire Scarlet Flower Society to disappear!"