The call was answered less than three seconds after it was dialed.
Yan Chou said "Hello" upon receiving the call, his tone devoid of surprise, while Yan Shouyi faltered for a moment.
His nose suddenly stung.
Ever since the last time Yan Chou missed Yan Shouyi's call when Zou the Blind died, Yan Shouyi's father would answer his calls immediately every time.
Da Feng Novel Network.
His father had always placed great importance on relationships; he must have felt immense guilt towards Uncle Zou.
This detail was known only to Yan Shouyi. Even Wang Jiwang didn't understand why Yan Shouyi suddenly paused and fell silent, assuming he was afraid to tell Yan Chou the truth.
So, Wang Jiwang nudged Yan Shouyi's arm. Yan Shouyi snapped back to attention and stated directly,
"Dad, I plan to establish my own faction, just like you did when you founded the Xuan Shan Sect back then."
After saying this, countless possibilities flashed through Yan Shouyi's mind.
Perhaps he would be rejected, perhaps he would be scolded, perhaps…
But to Yan Shouyi's surprise, Yan Chou was not surprised at all, merely saying "Oh" indifferently.
Then, Yan Chou continued, "Go ahead and establish it. I am old, and you will have to take this step sooner or later. Rongcheng West Lake is the gift I prepared for you. It should be nearly completed by now. When you find suitable people, you can directly have them reside at Rongcheng West Lake, and Old Lin will make all the arrangements."
Hearing his father's words, Yan Shouyi was stunned.
Rongcheng West Lake was prepared for his future faction?
No father knows his son better than he himself. It turned out his father had foreseen this step and had already made plans long ago!
The Old Lin mentioned by Yan Chou was Lin Zhitong's father, Lin Ruofu.
So, his father had already arranged for his future father-in-law…
Yan Shouyi held the phone, speechless, while Wang Jiwang dared not utter a sound, thinking Yan Chou was lecturing Yan Shouyi.
Finally, Yan Shouyi regained his senses and couldn't help but ask, "Dad, is there anything you haven't foreseen?"
Yan Shouyi believed that Yan Chou had foreseen all of this.
But Yan Chou replied, "This isn't something calculated; it's what a father should do, and it's the path that must be left for a successor of Lu Ban."
"I… understand."
Yan Shouyi grasped much from this phone call.
Combined with everything he had witnessed from the time after Zou the Blind's death, to Longhu Mountain, and then to Qiantang.
Yan Shouyi couldn't help but feel a sense of awe.
The older generation had accepted their fate, they were growing old, or even dying, and hope now rested entirely in the hands of them, the young.
It was precisely for this reason that Yan Shouyi absolutely could not let down the trust of the older generation!
"And Senior Xu Zhiping, Senior Yin Tang, they should have similar expectations for me."
After hanging up, Yan Shouyi patted Wang Jiwang on the shoulder.
"Old Wang, everything is ready; we just need the east wind."
Wang Jiwang came back to his senses and couldn't help but smile.
"Let's pack up and head to Xiaodongmen to visit Ma Xingping."
…
As dusk fell, Yan Shouyi and Wang Jiwang arrived at Qin Liuye's place in Xiaodongmen and first checked on Ma Xingping.
With Old Jin's care, Ma Xingping had recovered well and showed no signs of after-effects.
Notably, Zhu Ling and Zhu Huansi had just left before Yan Shouyi and his group arrived.
It seemed there was something urgent at the Fengyi Xuan in Yanjing, preventing them from staying longer.
Before they departed, they left a small gift for Yan Shouyi.
It was a brocade pouch, no larger than a palm, embroidered with a phoenix pattern. It was said that Zhu Ling had guided Zhu Huansi in making it, using materials purchased from the ghost market the previous night.
This pouch, like Yan Shouyi's shoulder bag, had an internal space, though it was much smaller, capable of holding only an item the size of a suitcase.
In fact, this gift was from Zhu Huansi to Lin Zhitong.
Yan Shouyi gladly accepted it, as Lin Zhitong could certainly use such a convenient pouch.
The two chatted with Qin Liuye for a while longer. Qin Liuye suggested that a guide could be arranged the next day to take Yan Shouyi and his group to visit attractions such as the Terracotta Army and the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
Yan Shouyi naturally did not refuse. Even if Qin Liuye hadn't offered, according to his plan, they were supposed to scout these locations tomorrow.
Thus, after making arrangements, another night passed.
On the morning of the third day, Yan Shouyi and his group, well-rested, took the car arranged by Qin Liuye to the Terracotta Army.
After alighting from the car, their host guide was a female university student named Chen Qian. She was reportedly from Chang'an Jiaotong University. Being a local of Chang'an, she worked as a part-time tour guide on weekends.
Chen Qian was cheerful, wearing a bucket hat and ice silk sleeves. Holding a small loudspeaker, she animatedly explained the history of the Terracotta Army and the mysterious folk legends surrounding it.
The Terracotta Army was, of course, magnificent, but Yan Shouyi had seen it as a child, let alone Lin Zhitong.
However, Long Feicheng, Weng Qianxiang, and Wang Jiwang were very interested, frequently posing questions to the young guide.
"Qianqian, what's your major at Chang'an Jiaoda?"
"Wow, you even get a scholarship! Impressive!"
"Are you dating anyone? Would you like us brothers to introduce someone to you?"
Yan Shouyi later realized that these three rascals were not interested in the Terracotta Army at all; they were simply interested in the young guide.
After touring the Terracotta Army, everyone boarded the car again and headed to the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor.
On the bus, Long Feicheng solicitously took out a bottle of water, unscrewed it, and offered it to Chen Qian, "Qianqian, you must be thirsty. Here, drink this."
Chen Qian thanked him, took the water, and said, "Little Long brother, can you give me another bottle of water?"
"Why?" Long Feicheng asked, puzzled.
"My boyfriend works as a guide at the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor. I want to give him a bottle too."
"Oh."
Long Feicheng nodded and said, "Give me the bottle you just took back first."
The naive Chen Qian returned the bottle in her hand to Long Feicheng. To her surprise, Long Feicheng tightly screwed it shut, handed it back to Chen Qian, and then quietly moved to the back of the bus.
Chen Qian was bewildered.
Yan Shouyi and Lin Zhitong exchanged glances, nearly bursting into laughter.
Wang Jiwang was even more blunt, "Little Long, you're too much of a scumbag!"
Only Long Feicheng was unhappy.
All the happiness belongs to you all; only sorrow belongs to me.
Damn it, after all that fawning, she has a boyfriend and even wanted to get water from me for another man!
Not a chance!
It was Lin Zhitong who gave Chen Qian two bottles of water, and only then did the naive Chen Qian not overthink it. After getting off the bus, she continued to enthusiastically guide everyone.
However, upon reaching the Mausoleum of the First Qin Emperor, Yan Shouyi's demeanor was no longer as relaxed as it had been at the Terracotta Army.
He kept looking around, as if searching for something.
Lin Zhitong knew that Yan Shouyi was looking for Li Zhongxi, the legendary tomb keeper, who was also Li Genmiao's biological father.