On the way back, Liu Ying seemed to feel that Yin Tang had been somewhat remiss in his hospitality, and privately apologized to Yan Shouyi.
However, Yan Shouyi couldn't be bothered with such trivialities. For him, being able to guide Wei Changqing back to the righteous path was already a great gain.
Liu Ying, however, did not overthink it. She was particularly bothered by Yin Tang revealing Yan Shouyi's whereabouts to Yu Jinhong, so she said to Yan Shouyi:
"Actually, my master revealing your whereabouts had other intentions."
"Oh? What intentions?" Yan Shouyi asked curiously.
"I can't quite explain it, but I vaguely know some inside information. It seems you'll need those ghost kings for your trip to Chang'an."
"Is that so?"
This truly bewildered Yan Shouyi. What use could a group of ghost kings be to him?
Perhaps Yin Tang's true intention wasn't for him to deal with the ghost kings, or to rectify the folk sects in Chang'an?
It certainly couldn't be to rectify the Ghost King families...
Yan Shouyi thought about it endlessly but couldn't come to a conclusion. When he asked Liu Ying again, she couldn't offer any further clarification.
Helplessly, Yan Shouyi could only thank her and resolve to be vigilant about this matter.
When the three returned to the crematorium, the banquet had long since ended, with only a few sober individuals tidying up the aftermath.
"I have to return to Yue Lu Academy. I'll come to see you off tomorrow. Goodbye." Liu Ying said, and then drove away.
Wei Changqing, having gotten out of the car, did something unprecedented by teasing Yan Shouyi:
"It seems she really is interested in you."
Yan Shouyi replied, "Rather than Liu Ying being interested in me, I'm more surprised that you've started teasing me."
After all, Wei Changqing had been a quiet and reserved person before, never deigning to speak to Yan Shouyi.
Wei Changqing revealed a stiff smile, "I am your second uncle now. It's normal for me to care about your marital affairs."
"Thank you, second uncle, but I am already taken," Yan Shouyi replied with a slight smile, their relationship subtly drawing closer.
It was likely that after tonight, Wei Changqing would gradually come to his senses and return to the righteous path.
It was truly a cause for celebration.
The matter in Qiantang came to a close, and Yan Shouyi decided to embark on a new journey tomorrow.
Tomorrow, he would head to the northern foothills of Mount Li, the lands of San Qin, and the ancient capital of thirteen dynasties, Chang'an!
...
Back at his lodging, Yan Shouyi sprawled on the bed.
Recalling the events in Qiantang, he suddenly felt that the road ahead was long and his journey far from over.
It was a pity that Xu Zhiping had gotten too drunk tonight, and he hadn't had a chance to ask him about the origin of the satchel.
As Yan Shouyi was reminiscing, his phone suddenly received a video call request.
Taking it out, he saw it was Lin Zitong. Yan Shouyi couldn't help but let out a foolish, happy grin.
Ever since they parted ways at Longhu Mountain, Lin Zitong had been busy with her succession as the sect leader of Lu Shan, while Yan Shouyi had been preoccupied with dealing with the Ghost King families in Qiantang. They hadn't communicated much in the past few days.
It was likely that Lin Zitong had finished her tasks tonight and finally had the time to contact him.
So he accepted the video call. The screen flickered and shook, only showing Lin Zitong's fair and sexy collarbone.
Then, the camera stabilized, and Lin Zitong shifted backward. Yan Shouyi finally saw that Lin Zitong was actually taking a bath!
The bubbles in the bathtub covered all the key areas, with only Lin Zitong's head and two small knees exposed above the water. This sight made Yan Shouyi involuntarily swallow.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's reaction, Lin Zitong couldn't help but laugh, "Why don't you go back to Rongcheng for a couple of days first? The transportation is convenient now, and it only takes a few hours by plane from Rongcheng to Chang'an."
Yan Shouyi coughed a few times, regaining his composure, and said awkwardly:
"We've already wasted a lot of time waiting for Grandma Shen's seventh-day memorial. And Ma Xingping is still in an unknown state..."
In fact, Yan Shouyi sent text messages to Lin Zitong every day, detailing his experiences, also to reassure her and let her stay in Rongcheng.
Therefore, Lin Zitong was aware of what had been happening around Yan Shouyi.
She sighed and said, "It's fortunate that Ma Jinxuan has Ma Xingping's 'Tongxin Lock' with her. It allows her to know if Ma Xingping is alive or dead."
The Tongxin Lock was a magical treasure. A drop of vital blood could make it share the life and death of its owner. If the Tongxin Lock broke, it meant the owner had met with misfortune.
In the past, when grave robbers descended into tombs, it was a perilous undertaking with a nine out of ten chance of death. Their companions, unaware of the situation below and unable to contact them, could only use the Tongxin Lock to check on their companions' conditions.
If the Tongxin Lock broke, it indicated that the owner had met with misfortune, and the area below was likely very dangerous.
Ma Jinxuan's Tongxin Lock had shown no signs of breaking so far, indicating that Ma Xingping was still alive.
Yan Shouyi asked, "How have you been in Rongcheng these past few days?"
"I never thought becoming the sect leader would require so much learning!"
Mentioning this, Lin Zitong couldn't help but get a headache. Submerged in the bathtub, she frowned and said,
"How did Yu Luming become the Heavenly Master so easily?"
Yan Shouyi comforted her, "After all, Yu Luming has been diligently studying for over a decade."
"But it's really boring staying in Rongcheng!" Lin Zitong thought for a moment and said, "Why don't I come to Chang'an to find you!"
"Ah? This..."
Yan Shouyi was certainly happy about this, but he felt Lin Zitong shouldn't abandon the Lu Shan Sect, so he hesitated.
Seeing Yan Shouyi's hesitation, Lin Zitong pouted, "Do you have another woman outside, and you're afraid I'll ruin your good times?"
"That's a terrible misunderstanding!" Yan Shouyi quickly raised his hands. "I've always been a self-disciplined person. If you don't believe me, ask Xiao Long!"
As soon as he finished speaking, there was a knock on the door, and a woman's voice called out, "Yan Shouyi, are you asleep?"
Yan Shouyi: "..."
Lin Zitong became furious and shoved the phone directly in front of her face, "Who?!"
Yan Shouyi, torn between laughter and tears, held the phone and said, "I don't know, but I'm upright and honorable, so you don't need to suspect me. I'll open the door right now and let you see!"
To dispel any misunderstanding, Yan Shouyi directly took his phone and went to open the door.
Upon opening it, he breathed a sigh of relief. Ma Jinxuan was standing outside.
Moreover, Ma Jinxuan was dressed modestly, not like someone trying to seduce him...
Seeing Yan Shouyi holding his phone, Ma Jinxuan suddenly realized and said awkwardly,
"Are you video calling Miss Lin? I'm sorry for interrupting you."
Lin Zitong, seeing it was an acquaintance, no longer doubted him but asked curiously, "Is there something important at this late hour?"
Ma Jinxuan said softly, "We're setting off for Chang'an tomorrow. That Ancestral Dragon Sword..."
"Oh! The Ancestral Dragon Sword!"
Yan Shouyi took out the sword case from his satchel and asked, "Are you planning to take it back?"
"No," Ma Jinxuan shook her head, "I just wanted to ask if you still don't plan to open it and take a look?"
"Me?"
Both Yan Shouyi and Lin Zitong were surprised. The Ancestral Dragon Sword was something the Ma siblings had risked their lives to retrieve from Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum. Why were they insisting that Yan Shouyi take a look?
Seeing their astonishment, Ma Jinxuan had no choice but to confess:
"Alas, I won't hide it from you anymore. This Ancestral Dragon Sword was found in Qin Shi Huang's Mausoleum at the behest of someone else, and brought out to be given to you."
"To me?!" Yan Shouyi was greatly astonished.