"The Folk Research Association truly lives up to its reputation as the hope of our folk sects! I sought refuge with several organizations and influential figures up north, and none of them were willing to take me in!"
"Alas, the current situation is grim. Everyone is looking out for themselves. It's already a great feat to simply remain unharmed, who would willingly bring more trouble upon themselves?"
"Only the Folk Research Association possesses such courage. I've heard that President Yan and his wife have a good relationship with the Heavenly Master's Mansion. I wonder if they can resolve this crisis."
"Heh, have you all forgotten that this whole affair began because of Yan Shouyi? If he hadn't annihilated the entire Emei Sect, would the prestigious sects bear such deep resentment towards us?"
"Hmph, you narrow-minded fool. The prestigious sects have wanted to deal with us for a long time. Can't you see that Yan Shouyi's predicament is merely an excuse for them to act against us?"
"Since you're badmouthing President Yan behind his back, why are you seeking refuge with the Folk Research Association? Get out!"
"Get out!"
A commotion erupted within the line, and a corpse handler was subsequently kicked out by the crowd.
Sensing the situation, Zhao Yiyao rode Huang Si Pi over to inquire about what had happened.
Everyone pointed at the corpse handler, scolding him for being an ungrateful wretch.
The corpse handler, however, retorted indignantly:
"I merely spoke a few truths. Why are you all getting so worked up? Is Yan Shouyi your father that you're protecting him so fiercely!"
His words instantly ignited the fury of everyone present, with many rolling up their sleeves, ready to fight.
Zhao Yiyao, the tough woman she was, should have been the most impulsive one.
But she restrained her impulse this time, stating coldly to the corpse handler:
"If you are displeased with our president, the world is vast enough for you to go elsewhere. However, if you wish to receive our protection, you must learn to bow your head when it's time to bow."
The corpse handler sneered, "I don't care for it. The inheritors of our folk sects have always considered the sky their blanket and the earth their bed, living a life of freedom. When did we ever have to bow to others just to survive? You lack backbone, but I have it! I'll leave, won't that suffice!"
With that, the corpse handler turned and left, truly exuding an air of nonchalance.
Those lining up in the queue suddenly exchanged glances.
The instinct to seek advantage and avoid harm is human nature, but after this corpse handler's outburst, the people in the queue suddenly felt as if they had lost something.
Did they truly have to bow to Yan Shouyi to ensure their peace?
If they bowed their heads this time, would their spines be permanently bent, with no possibility of straightening them in the future?
Perhaps the prestigious sects were only targeting Yan Shouyi. If we join the Folk Research Association now, aren't we like the Nationalist Army joining the country in '49?
Everyone began to hesitate.
Zhao Yiyao sensed the spreading sentiment among the crowd and suddenly realized something was amiss.
"Don't go!" she shouted at the corpse handler.
The corpse handler paused and turned back to ask, "Is there anything else?"
"You're a corpse handler, aren't you? Can you demonstrate your skills? I suddenly wish to witness the abilities of a corpse handler," Zhao Yiyao said coldly.
The corpse handler's breathing hitched, his expression clearly uneasy.
He stammered, "The art of corpse handling is not something to be witnessed on a whim... there are no corpses around... moreover, what kind of unreasonable request is this..."
"Si Pi."
Zhao Yiyao softly called out Huang Si Pi's name. The colossal creature then carried Zhao Yiyao, approaching the corpse handler step by step.
Its immense shadow engulfed the corpse handler, and Zhao Yiyao, looking down from above, said:
"Translate for me, what is an unreasonable request?"
"An unreasonable request is..."
"Translate for me, damn it, what is a damn unreasonable damn request?" Zhao Yiyao bared her mouth, her four front teeth slowly elongating. Da Feng Novel Network
The corpse handler, under immense psychological pressure, suddenly turned and fled.
But Huang Si Pi was prepared and slapped the corpse handler to the ground with one paw!
Zhao Yiyao jumped off, crouching before the corpse handler and demanding, "You are not an inheritor of the folk sects. Who are you?"
The corpse handler confessed without much struggle: "I... I am a disciple of the Heshan Sect... an elder instructed me to come and spread negative sentiments..."
The people lining up were instantly jolted back to reality.
There are villains among the masses!
We were almost influenced by this fellow who misled with his deceitful words!
"Damn it, beat him!"
At that moment, a few hotheads couldn't hold back, grabbing the Heshan Sect disciple and giving him a sound thrashing.
Zhao Yiyao deliberately waited for a while, and only after seeing the fellow beaten into a pulp did she intervene.
After ordering her subordinates to take the culprit to the dungeon, Zhao Yiyao addressed the crowd again:
"The outside world is currently turbulent. There are malicious individuals deliberately instigating discord between sects. As an organization of folk sects, the Folk Research Association will protect everyone's safety."
"Good!" The crowd couldn't help but applaud.
We were united as one, yet that fellow earlier twisted the narrative, portraying our unity as dependency, truly malicious intent!
Order was restored at the scene, and everyone queued up to enter the Folk Research Association.
Just as Zhao Yiyao thought no more surprises would occur, a subordinate rushed over, reporting that another group had arrived from outside, also seeking to join the Folk Research Association.
Upon inquiring about their numbers, it turned out to be nearly a hundred people!
Considering that the Folk Research Association currently had only over three hundred members, a hundred people was already the scale of a medium-sized organization.
Was this not an act of challenging their authority?
However, when Zhao Yiyao followed her subordinate outside and saw the newcomers, she was even more shocked.
"Dad?!"
The person who had arrived was none other than the head of the Zhao family in the Northeast, Zhao Yiyao's father, Zhao Zhenghao.
It was through their initial encounters that the Zhao family and Yan Shouyi became acquainted, with Zhao Zhenghao eventually becoming sworn brothers with Yan Shouyi and entrusting his daughter to him.
After half a year, this was the first time Zhao Yiyao had reunited with her father and family.
"Why have you all come?" Zhao Yiyao asked in surprise.
The Zhao family members were all disheveled, travel-worn, with some even carrying huge luggage, appearing as though they had traveled a long distance in haste. Fatigue was etched on everyone's faces.
Zhao Zhenghao, his face ashen, stepped forward and gently took Zhao Yiyao's hand, patting her back a few times.
"Daughter, the Zhao family is gone," he said, his entire demeanor aging several years.
His hunched back seemed incapable of straightening.
Zhao Yiyao stood there, stunned as if struck by lightning:
"How could this happen... what happened..."
Zhao Zhenghao sighed and said, "The prestigious sects of the Northeast joined forces and suddenly attacked our Zhao family. We were no match for them, so we could only flee with our families. After much consideration, the only one in this world who could protect our Zhao family was Yan Shouyi, which is why I brought everyone here to seek refuge."