Yanyu Shouyi’s heart settled as he received Lin Zitong’s text message confirming her safety.
He couldn’t help but find himself a bit amusing, recalling how tense he had been moments ago.
Lin Zitong was no delicate flower needing his protection. Regardless of her own strength, she now had Luo Ning and Zhao Yiyao by her side, and a formidable general in Taohua Ying under her command.
The Lu Yun Sect should be the ones worried.
Yan Shouyi wholeheartedly agreed with Lin Zitong’s final decision regarding the Lu Yun Sect.
There were three reasons for his support.
First, Lin Zitong had not yet officially become the Sect Master of Lu Shan Sect. Forcing the dissolution of a sect would only make her a target of everyone’s hatred.
Second, with the Lu Yun Sect as an example, other sects would likely view sect annihilation as Lin Zitong’s modus operandi. When Lin Zitong visited other sects in the future, she would receive unwelcoming looks and be met with extreme caution.
Third, Lin Zitong’s approach needed to be distinct from Lu Xin’s. Otherwise, it wouldn’t matter which of them became the Sect Master of Lu Shan Sect; the smaller sects would see no difference.
From the moment he learned that Lu Xin was behind the Lu Yun Sect’s sale of Dao talismans, Yan Shouyi held no illusions about her.
She was a woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals, and even being Lu Jingsheng’s granddaughter couldn’t change that fact.
Putting down his phone, Yan Shouyi addressed Cui Juncai before him.
“The Lu Yun Sect has been disbanded. Once you finish your sentence in prison, you can go your own way.”
Cui Juncai’s body trembled upon hearing this, and he then lowered his head in utter remorse.
Yan Shouyi couldn’t be bothered to comfort the man. If he dared to commit such acts, he should have considered the consequences.
Fortunately, it was only the dissolution of the Lu Yun Sect this time. If Cui Juncai had committed more serious offenses, he might have met a fate of utter destruction.
“Officer Xia Zhi, the matter is mostly resolved. These individuals are in your hands now,” Yan Shouyi said to Xia Zhi.
Xia Zhi nodded and ordered her men to take Cui Juncai and the others back and hold them securely.
She then inquired further from Yan Shouyi about the backgrounds and inner workings of Cui Juncai and the others.
Yan Shouyi did not conceal anything, informing Xia Zhi about Lu Xin’s usurpation of the Lu Shan Sect.
As Xia Zhi was responsible for the safety of the citizens of Rongcheng, Lu Xin’s actions directly affected them, so she naturally couldn’t remain indifferent.
However, upon learning the details of the situation, Xia Zhi deeply felt the limitations of her own abilities and believed she couldn’t manage Lu Xin.
She sighed, “Regarding Lu Xin, my abilities are limited, and I’m afraid I can’t be of much help. We can only place our hopes on you. Please, do not let Tong Jingcheng’s evil plan unfold again.”
Tong Jingcheng had once intended to sacrifice all the citizens of Rongcheng to revive his beloved.
Although Yan Shouyi did not yet know Lu Xin’s specific objective, the threat she posed was no less significant than that of Tong Jingcheng.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi nodded seriously.
After bidding farewell to Xia Zhi, Yan Shouyi and Long Feicheng walked out of the police station.
Coincidentally, Ah Gong had also finished dealing with the disturbance at the bar and arrived in his Maybach to pick them up.
Once inside the car, Yan Shouyi recounted the situation at the Lu Yun Sect again, and Lu Xin’s role in the affair.
Long Feicheng asked after listening, “Brother Yan, how do you plan to deal with Lu Xin?”
“We certainly can’t kill her,” Yan Shouyi sighed. “If Sect Master Lu Jingsheng were to return, we wouldn’t even need to act.”
Ah Gong inquired, “Any news about Sect Master Lu Jingsheng yet?”
Yan Shouyi shook his head.
He suddenly thought of Yin Tang, the storyteller from Qiantang, and Huang Ying.
Yin Tang knew a terrifying amount of secrets. He should have asked about Lu Jingsheng’s whereabouts back then; perhaps it would have yielded unexpected results.
Yan Shouyi yawned, “Let’s head back to our Folk Study Society first. The news of the brat dissolving the Lu Yun Sect will reach Lu Xin’s ears tonight. We’ll have to see what moves Lu Xin makes next.”
…
The next morning.
Sanfang Qixiang, Wenrufang.
In the courtyard belonging to the Lu Shan Sect, a woman of plump build sat alone on a meditation cushion, cultivating.
Her appearance bore some resemblance to Lu Jingsheng, but compared to the ethereal old man Lu Jingsheng, Lu Xin displayed no trace of otherworldly charm.
On the contrary, in her eyes, which were different from Lu Jingsheng’s, a flicker of cunning occasionally flashed.
She was a middle-aged woman with considerable scheming and depth.
Her cultivation was interrupted by the sound of hurried footsteps.
A trusted subordinate rushed in, kneeling outside the threshold, and spoke in a low, anxious voice.
“Sect Master, something terrible has happened!”
“What is it?” Lu Xin opened her eyes, grabbed the whisk by her side, flicked it once, and rested it on her arm.
The subordinate said solemnly, “Lin Zitong and Yan Shouyi’s group returned to Rongcheng the night before last. Yesterday, Lin Zitong went to the Lu Yun Sect, killed Shang Xuyi, and forcibly disbanded the Lu Yun Sect, crippling all the disciples’ cultivation. Furthermore, Elder Cui Juncai, who helped us sell Dao talismans, and his group were arrested by Yan Shouyi last night. Elder Shang Guangyi is currently resting in the front hall, and his cultivation… has also been crippled.”
“Shang Guangyi also said that Lin Zitong asked him to deliver a message to you – she wants you to wait at Lu Shan Sect, she will visit soon. What is hers, she will not lose, and if you want to fight, fight to the end!”
Listening to her subordinate’s report, Lu Xin remained calm, seemingly unfazed.
She had anticipated these events, having investigated Lin Zitong and Yan Shouyi, knowing that neither of them were insignificant individuals.
Seeing that Lu Xin remained silent, the subordinate asked worriedly, “Sect Master, should we take corresponding actions?”
Lu Xin did not answer directly but instead asked, “Where are Huang Dahai and Zhou Yuquan? Have they not been found yet?”
“They went to Chang’an. They returned with Lin Zitong the day before yesterday, and have been hiding since then,” the subordinate replied.
During this period, Lu Xin had completely taken control of the Lu Shan Sect.
If Huang Dahai and Zhou Yuquan had not left the Lu Shan Sect earlier, they would have faced imprisonment.
Lu Xin pondered for a moment and slowly said, “I had intended to persuade Lin Zitong to voluntarily relinquish her position as Sect Master, but it seems Lin Zitong, though young, has quite a temper… With such a fiery disposition, she should be doused with cold water to calm her down.”
The subordinate asked in a low voice, “Sect Master, what do you plan to do?”
“Go to the dungeon and cut off one of Lu Jing’s fingers. Send it to Lin Zitong,” Lu Xin said nonchalantly, then closed her eyes, preparing to continue her cultivation.
The subordinate swallowed hard and withdrew with a nod.
He harbored an ominous premonition. It was likely that the moment this finger was delivered to Lin Zitong, their animosity would escalate to an irreconcilable point.
He could only pray that the Sect Master’s strength was formidable enough to overpower Lin Zitong, otherwise…