After watching the Qingcheng Mountain and Dianyi Sect disciples head up the mountain, Long Feicheng's smirking expression instantly froze.
"I feel great," Long Feicheng said, a look of sheer satisfaction on his face.
Yan Shouyi shot him a glare. "Little Long, I've discovered you have a unique ability that others don't possess: describing everything in a profoundly vulgar way."
"Do I?" Long Feicheng didn't think so. He shrugged and chuckled, "My specialty has just grown by another inch."
Ye Tianyuan worried, "President, you've caused such a rift with those two sects. Won't that be problematic?"
Zhuge Ji also wanted to ask the same question.
As for Tian Jue'er, with her foodie brain, she couldn't think that far ahead for the moment.
Yan Shouyi shook his head. "If I don't do this, should I just watch you all get bullied? The very purpose of establishing the Folk Research Society was to protect the inheritors of folk sects from bullying. If you get bullied under my nose as the President, then what kind of President am I?"
The two were deeply moved, and Little Sparrow's eyes sparkled with extreme admiration for Yan Shouyi.
In truth, Yan Shouyi's assertive stance was only partly due to the reasons he had stated.
The other part was the earnest advice he received from Yan Chou before departing.
The Folk Research Society had just been established and its foundations were unstable. Although Yan Shouyi's divine battle had won over many hearts, the world was vast, and there were bound to be those who disliked them.
Most of these were from the so-called prestigious sects.
As the saying goes, the higher you fly, the harder you fall. Many people were eagerly waiting to see the Folk Research Society fail.
Yan Chou's counsel to Yan Shouyi was to always be resolute when dealing with others. If someone threw a punch at you, you must retaliate tenfold, making the matter as big as possible.
It was best to beat them until they were afraid, to the point of developing a psychological complex, so that every time they saw someone from the Folk Research Society, they would recall the memory of President Yan of the Folk Research Society severely dealing with and educating them.
After all, this was the "jianghu" (martial world). While winning people over with virtue was one thing, having a strong fist was the true principle.
Yan Shouyi meticulously followed Yan Chou's teachings, which was why he had been so resolute this time. The outcome validated Yan Chou's effective guidance. Yan Shouyi, leading the inheritors of folk sects, had proudly held their heads high, while simultaneously causing proud and arrogant individuals from Qingcheng Mountain and Dianyi Sect to stumble badly.
After resting by the mountainside for a while, judging that the time was almost right, Yan Shouyi stood up and said, "Alright, it's time for us to head up the mountain."
Long Feicheng asked, "Is Little Sparrow coming too?"
Little Sparrow shook her head dejectedly. "My master doesn't allow me to go up the mountain. He says I don't have enough cultivation and would only be a nuisance to the President if I went."
The straightforward Zhuge Ji nodded in agreement. "That's true."
Little Sparrow stomped her foot in annoyance, then looked pleadingly at Yan Shouyi.
"President~ You're so powerful, it won't be a problem even if you bring me along, right~ I promise I won't mess around, and I'll follow your commands!"
Yan Shouyi smiled. "Sure!"
"Really?!"
"Yes, my command to you now is to wait for us down here." Yan Shouyi said with utmost sincerity.
Little Sparrow was taken aback, then turned around and pretended to cry. "You all look down on me, none of you want to bring me up the mountain, woo woo woo~"
While Little Sparrow was putting on a show, Yan Shouyi subtly beckoned to the others with his fingers, then nimbly dashed into the mountains.
After Little Sparrow had cried for a good while and realized no one was coming to comfort her, sensing something was amiss, she turned back to sneak a look. No one was behind her!
"Where did everyone go?!"
Little Sparrow looked around, then had to accept the fact that she had been abandoned.
Dejectedly, she shouted, "You promised not to abandon or give up! The President is the ringleader breaking his word! Hmph! I'm quitting the Folk Research Society!"
Her chirpy sparrow-like voice echoed through the mountains, but unfortunately, Yan Shouyi and the others had already gone far, making a reply impossible.
...
"Hey, Brother Yan, you're so wicked!"
Long Feicheng burst into laughter on the narrow mountain path. "But I like it!"
Yan Shouyi retorted, "Get lost!"
As soon as Long Feicheng opened his mouth, he managed to make the atmosphere rather crude.
Zhuge Ji, walking behind the two, felt like he was surrounded by mosquitoes, which greatly annoyed him.
At this moment, Tian Jue'er suddenly grabbed Zhuge Ji's hand and said, "I'll help you."
With that, a green caterpillar appeared in her palm. The caterpillar crawled onto Zhuge Ji's body, lifted its little rear, and released a puff of gas.
The annoying mosquitoes instantly moved away from Zhuge Ji and disappeared.
Ye Tianyuan's eyes widened in amazement. He quickly reached out. "What kind of bug is that? It can actually drive away other mosquitoes! I want one too!"
While handing a bug to Ye Tianyuan, Tian Jue'er explained, "It's a type of Gu worm. The scent it releases stimulates mosquitoes, making them afraid to approach."
"Oh... so it's not poisonous, right?" Ye Tianyuan asked, still concerned.
Tian Jue'er shook her head confidently. "Not poisonous! I've eaten it!"
As a gluttonous foodie, it wasn't surprising that Tian Jue'er had tasted a Gu worm.
But Ye Tianyuan was still uneasy. He pointed at Zhuge Ji. "Why did he suddenly stop moving?"
Tian Jue'er looked back and saw Zhuge Ji standing stiffly, his face flushed red, looking quite strange.
Tian Jue'er was startled and quickly asked Zhuge Ji, "Are you alright? Why is your face so red? Could you be allergic to the Gu worm?"
"I-I-I-I'm f-fine! I-I-I-I'm just a l-l-l-little nervous!"
Zhuge Ji suddenly started stuttering, unable to say a complete sentence for a long time. It looked as if steam was coming out of his ears and nostrils.
Long Feicheng glanced back at that moment and laughed. "He's fine, he's just shy. Let him have some quiet time alone!"
Shy?
Tian Jue'er couldn't understand. She had only touched Zhuge Ji's hand, so why was Zhuge Ji like this?
However, she didn't dwell on it. Hearing Ye Tianyuan mention there were wild fruits ahead, she immediately caught up with the group, leaving Zhuge Ji behind.
After the group had gone further, Zhuge Ji finally came to his senses. He lowered his head, trembling, and looked at the little green bug in his hand.
"Tian Jue'er touched my hand just now..."
"Her hand is so soft, so smooth, so..."
"Sister was right. What's so good about a paper-thin wife? Tian Jue'er is the best in the world!!"
Zhuge Ji suddenly had an epiphany, a strong desire to pursue the girl burgeoning within him.
Just then, Zhuge Ji heard rustling sounds behind him, as if someone was approaching.
"Jue'er!"
He immediately turned around, affectionately grabbed Tian Jue'er's hand, and shyly lowered his head, but he tried his best to organize his words:
"Th-thank you for just now. I actually... also like you very much... Can we try dating...?"
After speaking, Zhuge Ji gathered his courage and looked up.
He saw a brown-furred monkey scratching its backside and looking at Zhuge Ji with surprise.