The sudden explosion of the plane threw the scene into chaos.
Fortunately, the airport's response was swift. The area was immediately sealed off, and fire trucks and ambulances rushed to the scene.
Everyone scrambled to their feet, not yet having time to ask questions, when they saw Daoist Jin Bi trembling and muttering in disbelief:
"Did, did I do something wrong just now?"
Long Feicheng couldn't bear to deceive the pure-hearted Daoist. He quickly pulled Daoist Jin Bi aside to explain that the plane explosion had absolutely nothing to do with Demacia.
The others gathered around Yan Shouyi, asking, "How did you know the plane was going to explode?"
Yan Shouyi sighed.
"I didn't know the plane was going to explode. I just felt that with Li Genmiao's intelligence network, he would definitely know we had left Mount Emei, and he wouldn't let us return to Rongcheng so easily!"
If Yan Shouyi were to return to Rongcheng, Li Genmiao's previous plan could be jeopardized.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi was certain that Li Genmiao had a follow-up plan.
As expected, the plane they were supposed to board exploded.
Everyone felt a chill of fear. If they had all been on the plane, and it had exploded mid-air...
Even if they weren't ordinary people, it would have been difficult to survive such a situation.
The pilot and flight attendants were nowhere to be seen. Clearly, they were all people arranged by Li Genmiao. Once they confirmed Yan Shouyi wouldn't fall into their trap, they dropped all pretense and detonated the plane.
This way, although the plan was exposed, it served as a clear warning to Yan Shouyi: don't expect to return to Rongcheng easily!
At this moment, an open scheme carried more weight than a hidden one.
"That damned actor!" Luo Ning couldn't help but curse, "I curse him to have a son with a-hole!"
Given the current situation, there was no question of taking the plane. Taking another plane would carry the same risks.
Moreover, if anything were to happen to a plane mid-flight, none of them could handle it.
Therefore, Yan Shouyi made a decisive choice:
"We're not taking the plane anymore. We'll travel entirely by land!"
While traveling by land was slower, any unexpected accidents would at least be within controllable limits.
After the recent explosion, everyone was still shaken. No one doubted Yan Shouyi now, and everyone supported his decision.
However, land travel was inconvenient, and their return to Rongcheng would inevitably be postponed.
...
Meanwhile, at the Rongcheng Folklore Research Association.
Wang Jiwang had summoned all the elder members to the assembly hall.
The highest seat in the assembly hall was empty. It belonged to the man who had not yet returned to Rongcheng. As soon as everyone entered the hall, their eyes were drawn to that seat.
Seeing the empty seat, a flicker of disappointment crossed everyone's eyes.
The Folklore Research Association was under siege and condemnation, and those who remained had to bear immense pressure. If their spiritual pillar didn't return soon, it was unlikely their morale would ever recover.
Wang Jiwang sat in the seat beside the main seat, scanning everyone present. Old Jin, He Xiping, Zhao Yiyao, Weng Qianxiang, the Ma siblings...
"Old Yan has successfully broken through and left Mount Emei. He is currently on his way back."
Wang Jiwang's announcement was met with good news.
Everyone present couldn't help but their eyes brighten, a glimmer of hope appearing in them, and their fighting spirit reignited!
Old Jin said with a laugh, "When that kid comes back, everything will be clear, and we won't have anything to worry about!"
Wang Jiwang nodded. "Old Yan is bringing witnesses and plans to expose the truth to the joint forces of the major sects. What we need to do now is to stall them as much as possible until Old Yan returns."
He paused and then asked He Xiping:
"Old He, what's the situation with that so-called joint force?"
He Xiping and Weng Qianxiang were the heads of the Folklore Research Association's intelligence organization.
He Xiping said with a frown:
"According to intelligence, over four hundred disciples from the major sects have been quietly entering the Rongcheng area these past few days. Our people are monitoring them, but I estimate they will make their move in the next few days."
The conflict between the two factions was escalating, and the situation was spiraling out of everyone's control.
Wang Jiwang sighed. "Strengthen our defenses. Old Yan's plane was tampered with, and he can only travel by land. He won't arrive in Rongcheng until tomorrow afternoon at the earliest."
After some discussion, Zhao Yiyao raised another thorny issue.
"Old Wang, many inheritors of folk sects from other regions want to join our Folklore Research Association for safety. Should we accept them or not?"
Currently, the number of official members of the Folklore Research Association had grown to three hundred. Each member who joined had undergone a strict background check to confirm they had no connection to the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect before being admitted.
But the situation had changed. If inheritors of folk sects wandered outside, they could become targets for the major sects. Such malicious attacks had occurred several times.
If the Folklore Research Association refused to accept them, it would be tantamount to watching them die outside.
But if they accepted them, there was a risk of infiltration by people from the Xin Xuan Mountain Sect and the major sects, potentially leading to the Folklore Research Association being attacked from within and without.
Zhao Yiyao, usually easygoing, couldn't make a decision in such a situation and could only seek Wang Jiwang's opinion.
Wang Jiwang frowned and pondered for a long time, finishing his tea before making a difficult decision:
"If Old Yan were here, he would definitely accept everyone... How about this: we'll designate a section within our association for our new companions to stay temporarily. At the same time, we'll assign more personnel to keep a close eye on them."
Wang Jiwang didn't want to treat them specially, but the current situation was dire, and he had no choice but to do so.
Zhao Yiyao agreed and turned to leave the assembly hall to start handling the matter.
In the past few days, Rongcheng had seen a sudden influx of "vagrants."
Their targets were clear: they were all heading to Rongcheng's West Lake Park, resulting in all the park benches being occupied. Even the urban management officers couldn't do anything about it.
Zhao Yiyao walked out of the Folklore Research Association building, bringing a few subordinates, and said to the vagrants:
"All of you, come in. But once you enter the Folklore Research Association, you must abide by the rules. Until the crisis is resolved, you cannot leave or enter freely, nor can you go to other areas. Stay in your rooms!"
To put it bluntly, these inheritors of folk sects were no different from refugees seeking shelter. Having a safe place to sleep was already good enough, so they wouldn't overthink it.
Everyone surged forward, creating a chaotic scene. In a fit of anger, Zhao Yiyao summoned the giant Huang Si Pi to appear and maintain order, which finally calmed everyone down into lining up.
The queue was long, and every person entering the Folklore Research Association underwent a strict interrogation. Zhao Yiyao watched from the side, her eyes like a scanner, not missing a single detail.