Chapter 117 Crisis

　　Wang Butcher's words stunned me.

　　I thought for a while before shaking my head and saying, "My judgment should be correct. At least, I can't think of any other purpose for setting up the layout."

　　I got up and said, "No matter what, we have to go back to Banxianzhuang first."

　　I looked at Xia Mengying and said, "Xia Xia, can you still go back with us?"

　　What I was worried about was Xia Mengying's state. In the martial world, cultivation was only half of the factors that determined victory or defeat. The other half was mentality.

　　If Xia Mengying's mentality was unstable, it would be better not to go back.

　　Xia Mengying slowly shook her head and said, "I must go back."

　　"I can take care of myself, don't worry."

　　I nodded when I saw that Xia Mengying's condition was okay, and said, "Okay then! When you enter Banxianzhuang, be careful. If anything happens, hide behind us and don't rush up to fight. Let's go!"

　　On the way back to Banxianzhuang, I kept thinking about the question Wang Butcher asked me.

　　There is someone in Banxianzhuang who is good at planning layouts. Is this person Xia Chuan? Or someone else?

　　Old Qiao, Qiao Gongliang!

　　Back then, Qiao Gongliang clearly told me that his ancestors were suppressed in the Stele Forest.

　　But Old Qiao gave me another explanation.

　　It might be too early to make a judgment before seeing the Stele Forest with my own eyes.

　　I was still constantly analyzing the situation in Banxianzhuang, but I didn't know that it had already fallen into panic over there.

　　At that time, although Banxianzhuang had not yet experienced a crisis, the entire village was trapped in one corner of Banxianzhuang and could not get out.

　　Although Yan Xing was standing respectfully beside Old Liu, he couldn't hide the worry on his face.

　　Old Liu slowly sipped his tea and said, "Yan Xing, you still need to work on your composure!"

　　"Teacher is right." Yan Xing hesitated before saying, "Teacher, Banxianzhuang has been trapped for five days now, and disciples have been killed one after another."

　　"The whole village is panicking. If this continues, I'm afraid I won't be able to control the situation..."

　　Old Liu took out his folding fan and shook it gently twice: "Who do you think is the most trustworthy person in Banxianzhuang?"

　　Yan Xing was puzzled and said, "Student doesn't understand what teacher means?"

　　Old Liu explained, "I mean, who is the person who least wants Banxianzhuang to have an accident? Who is the person who will never betray Banxianzhuang no matter what?"

　　Yan Xing said without hesitation, "It's Zhuang Master Cheng Yuankai."

　　"Although the Lixue (Neo-Confucianism) school is stubborn, they regard Confucianism as their life. No, it should be said that it is more important than life. If Banxianzhuang is in danger, they will not hesitate to give up their lives for righteousness."

　　Old Liu closed his fan and said, "Find a way to contact Cheng Yuankai and arrange to meet him at the third watch tonight. Remember, no one can know about this."

　　"Only you, me, and Cheng Yuankai. Understand?"

　　Yan Xing's expression changed slightly: "Teacher means?"

　　"Do as I say and don't ask anything. If you can secretly bring Cheng Yuankai, I can save Banxianzhuang. Otherwise, the disaster of Banxianzhuang cannot be saved even by the gods." After Old Liu finished speaking, he lay on the chair and closed his eyes to rest, never looking at the other party again.

　　Yan Xing gritted his teeth, quietly exited the room, secretly found Cheng Yuankai, and took advantage of the silence of the night to bring him to Old Liu's courtyard.

　　Cheng Yuankai was obviously a little unhappy. After meeting, he said with a sullen face: "Mr. summons me late at night, what are your instructions?"

　　Old Liu stood up indifferently, slowly walked to an ancient painting, and gently lifted the scroll with his fan: "Look here!"

　　Yan Xing's face suddenly changed: "How dare they monitor contemporary Confucian scholars, who did this?"

　　Old Liu smiled lightly: "It doesn't matter, I can find the other party's hidden tricks, and I won't let them see what they want to see."

　　Cheng Yuankai frowned and said, "Mr. brought me here just to let me see these things?"

　　Old Liu smiled and said, "Come with me, I'll let you see something else. Be careful, don't let anyone discover you."

　　The two great scholars had no choice but to act like thieves, following Old Liu on tiptoes out of the room, and quietly sneaked into the empty room where the bodies of the Banxianzhuang disciples were placed.

　　Old Liu said, "Yan Xing, have you checked whether there is any connection between these murdered disciples?"

　　Yan Xing shook his head and said, "This disciple does not know!"

　　Cheng Yuankai also shook his head.

　　Old Liu asked again, "Have you carefully investigated the scene of these disciples' deaths?"

　　Yan Xing replied, "Although we haven't personally investigated the scene, we have heard the disciples..."

　　"Okay, you don't need to say anymore!" Old Liu said with a sullen face: "As great scholars and teachers of Banxianzhuang disciples, all you can do is sit in the hall and wait for people to report?"

　　"Have you been living in peace for too long and forgotten what it means to be prepared for danger in times of peace, or do you think that you have become great scholars and can be aloof?"

　　"Banxianzhuang has suffered such a catastrophe, and disciples have been killed one after another, but you don't even take a look. As teachers, is this how you set an example for your students?"

　　"What kind of example have you set for your disciples?"

　　Yan Xing was scolded by Old Liu and couldn't lift his head, but Cheng Yuankai retorted: "This student believes in the ability of the disciples, what difference does it make whether we go or not?"

　　Old Liu said in a deep voice: "Then I will let you see the difference here."