Normally, if a prominent righteous sect encountered trouble, they should notify other righteous sects to handle it themselves.
If descendants of folk sects went to investigate, they might even be blamed for meddling.
However, Mount Emei was a bit different. Yan Shouyi's grandmother, Wen Yuxian, hailed from Mount Emei, and Master Guanyun was Yan Shouyi's grand-aunt, while Ling Xiaoxiao was also Yan Shouyi's friend.
Furthermore, Yan Shouyi was aware of the Twelve Zodiacs' conspiracy.
Therefore, for both personal and public reasons, he absolutely would not stand idly by.
Yan Shouyi posed the question, and everyone began a heated discussion.
But because they lacked direction, no conclusion could be reached for a while.
Thus, Yan Shouyi cleared his throat and said:
"Perhaps you should hear my thoughts."
The crowd quickly quieted down, all turning their attention to their leader.
"As everyone knows, ever since Sect Leader Lu Jing sacrificed himself, my grandmother has been burdened by guilt and unable to overcome her psychological trauma. So, I had already planned to take her back to Mount Emei to relax."
Everyone understood. Their President Yan intended to go personally.
Wang Jowang smiled and said, "You go ahead. The Research Association has already taken initial shape, and with me in charge, it won't fall into disarray."
This was the truth. Yan Shouyi's role in the Folk Custom Research Association was more of a figurehead, a soul. As long as he was present, people's hearts would remain, and the association would not disintegrate.
However, the daily operations and management of the association were all handled by Wang Jowang.
This was the agreement they had made initially; otherwise, Wang Jowang would not have been able to sit comfortably in the position of Vice President.
Long Feicheng chuckled, "I can smell the scent of a hero saving a beauty. I heard Mount Emei is full of nuns... Brother Yan, I'll go with you on this trip. Whether it's dangerous or not is unimportant; what matters is helping your grandmother overcome her psychological trauma!"
Everyone kept giving Long Feicheng the side-eye.
Is that really for the purpose of helping his grandmother overcome her psychological trauma?
We're too embarrassed to point it out!
Yan Shouyi deliberated for a moment and said, "You are all indispensable pillars of the Research Association. Therefore, besides taking Little Long with me to Mount Emei, I do not intend to bring anyone else."
"Not bringing us?" Ma Xingping asked in confusion. "Then who do you plan to bring?"
"I want to bring some of our new members."
Upon hearing this, everyone felt a pang of disappointment.
Brother Yan wasn't even taking them with him when he went out anymore. They were no longer his precious ones.
What a scumbag!
But they quickly adjusted. After all, they were all exceptional individuals who had gathered because of Yan Shouyi, but they didn't live solely for him.
Each of them had their own goals and values to realize, and they couldn't follow Yan Shouyi on adventures all the time.
Moreover, the new members of the Folk Custom Research Association needed opportunities to prove their abilities. Going out with Yan Shouyi would help them develop their unity.
"Do you have anyone in mind?" Luo Ning asked.
Yan Shouyi shook his head, "Precisely because I don't have anyone in mind, I need everyone to make recommendations."
The veterans, who had been feeling a bit dejected about not being able to accompany Yan Shouyi to Mount Emei, suddenly regained their interest.
After two months of interaction, the veterans had gotten to know quite a few newcomers, and they were particularly satisfied with some of them.
Yan Shouyi possessed the True Dragon Purple Qi, meaning he was a child of destiny. By his side, although it might be fraught with danger, there was also a high probability of encountering fortuitous encounters.
Yan Shouyi said, "Besides myself and Little Long, please recommend three more people to me. Time is pressing, and we will depart tomorrow. I need your replies tonight."
After the morning meeting, Yan Shouyi returned to the Lotus Pond. He needed to inform Lin Zhitong of his intention to go to Mount Emei.
Meanwhile, those who remained began discussing potential candidates.
...
On the top floor of a villa in the Folk Custom Research Association, Zhuge Lian, wearing only a fiery swimsuit, was lying on a lounge chair, enjoying the sun with sunglasses on.
Her socially anxious younger brother, however, was hiding in his room, binge-watching anime, holding a paper-cutout character and drinking a happy soda, utterly content.
When the sun set, Long Feicheng and Wang Jowang arrived to knock on the villa's door. Upon hearing the sound, the socially anxious brother reluctantly paused his anime and came downstairs in slippers to open the door.
Seeing that the visitors were Long Feicheng and Wang Jowang, Zhuge Ji put on a serious demeanor, "President Wang, Brother Long, do you need me for something?"
Long Feicheng was so moved by Zhuge Ji's address that he was almost in tears, "Finally, no one is calling me Brother Long (Long Xiong/Long Xiong - pronounced similarly to breast augmentation)."
Wang Jowang, on the other hand, smiled, "We aren't here for you, but for your sister."
After a day of discussion, everyone had decided to have Zhuge Lian join the trip to Mount Emei.
Zhuge Lian, as a Sky Seer, could handle many unpredictable situations and even possessed a certain degree of precognition. Coupled with her own exceptional intelligence, she stood out from among the many members.
When Long Feicheng learned that the team would soon have a buxom elder sister, he became extremely excited and insisted on accompanying Wang Jowang to deliver the message.
Zhuge Ji was relieved to hear that the two were looking for his sister.
"Thank goodness they aren't looking for me. Thank goodness they aren't looking for me..."
With that, Zhuge Ji welcomed the two inside and pointed to the top floor, "My sister is sunbathing up there."
"Sunbathing?"
Wang Jowang asked in surprise, "Sunbathing in Rongcheng??"
Zhuge Ji saw nothing wrong with it. "Can't I?"
One must understand that Rongcheng was one of the four major "furnace cities" in the country, with summer temperatures reaching over forty degrees Celsius. It was currently the peak of the heatwave, and even construction workers had stopped working...
Was Zhuge Lian trying to peel her skin by sunbathing at this time?
Zhuge Ji suddenly came to his senses, "Speaking of which, my sister hasn't moved all day, nor did she call me for dinner. I thought she had finally gotten sensible and was going to leave me a peaceful world..."
Wang Jowang's expression changed, "That's not good, quickly go upstairs and check!"
The three of them rushed upstairs and found Zhuge Lian collapsed on the lounge chair, her entire body flushed red, her lips dry and pale.
This woman was actually sunbathing in forty-degree heat and had fainted from heatstroke on the rooftop!
"Sis~~~~"
Zhuge Ji frantically dragged Zhuge Lian under the eaves and then turned on the faucet, pouring water over her.
Zhuge Lian's condition showed slight improvement, but she still didn't wake up.
Long Feicheng said with a grave expression, "Brother, I think your sister needs artificial respiration!"
"I... I'm fine..."
As if she had heard Long Feicheng's words, Zhuge Lian jolted and woke up.
"Sis!"
Zhuge Ji quickly poured water for Zhuge Lian.
This socially adept sister picked up the water cup and drank two large gulps, her throat still feeling like it was burning, hoarse.
"Why is the sun in Rongcheng so scorching... I feel like I just took a trip to the gates of hell."
Seeing her in that state, Wang Jowang was speechless. It seemed this woman wasn't as reliable as she appeared...