Chapter 17 Crisis in Banxianzhuang

Yan Xing and Cheng Yuankai did not separate after leaving Old Liu's room, but returned together to Cheng Yuankai's residence.

Cheng Yuankai finally spoke after a long while, "Senior Brother Yan, you once studied under Mister Chan Hun. What do you think of Mister's deduction…"

Yan Xing interrupted Cheng Yuankai before he could finish, "Mister's knowledge is as vast as the heavens, and his eyes are like torches. I can vouch for this with my life. Village Master, do not doubt Mister's talent, and even more so, do not doubt his character."

Cheng Yuankai shook his head, "That's not what I meant."

"I just… I'm just still clinging to a sliver of hope."

"Although the four families of Banxianzhuang have many academic differences, their private relationships are as close as family."

"I really… really don't want to see such a result."

Yan Xing sighed deeply, "Village Master, from a selfish point of view, I also don't want to see such a result."

"I also hope that Mister's judgment is wrong, but…"

Before Yan Xing could finish speaking, an alarm suddenly blared in Banxianzhuang, and someone shouted, "The Stele Forest is giving a warning… The Stele Forest is giving a warning…"

Yan Xing and Cheng Yuankai exchanged a glance, then rushed out the door at the same time, heading straight for the Stele Forest.

By the time they arrived at the Stele Forest, someone had already returned from there, "Village Master, the great scholars of the Stele Forest report that an evil spirit has escaped from the Stele Forest, and several disciples have already gone to track the evil creature."

Yan Xing and Cheng Yuankai's hearts sank at the same time.

Although they didn't speak, they received a message in each other's eyes: Mister's judgment had come true.

Before long, Xia Chuan came up with several great scholars, "Village Master, some disciples saw a black shadow sneak into Mister Chan Hun's private courtyard. I dare not search Mister's residence without permission, so please give instructions, Village Master."

Cheng Yuankai said, "Let's go take a look."

The seven great scholars of Banxianzhuang arrived at the private courtyard at the same time. After some negotiation, they also found the Confucian treasure, "Spring and Autumn Annals," in Old Liu's room.

Xia Chuan handed the Spring and Autumn Annals to Cheng Yuankai with both hands before turning around and saying, "I would like to ask Mister, how did the Spring and Autumn Annals lost from the Water Mirror Academy end up in your hands?"

Before Old Liu could speak, a Xia family disciple stood up and said, "I suspect that he is not Mister Chan Hun. I once saw him release ghosts from his fan. How could a Confucian Mister control ghosts?"

Xia Chuan roared, "Silence! Don't speak carelessly without evidence!"

The Xia family disciple immediately said, "This disciple is willing to vouch with his life that what I said is absolutely true. Just search…"

"Silence!" Xia Chuan roared again, "Senior Brother Yan has already confirmed Mister's identity, how can it be false? If you dare to speak recklessly again, be careful of family law!"

Cheng Yuankai spoke at this moment, "Silence, everyone. Let's hear Mister's explanation."

Old Liu said calmly, "I have nothing to say."

"This…" Cheng Yuankai pondered for a moment before saying, "Since Mister is unwilling to defend himself, then I must ask Mister to stay in the other courtyard for a while. When the crisis in Banxianzhuang is resolved, I will investigate the truth and restore Mister's innocence."

"Fine!" Old Liu simply nodded slightly and turned to walk towards the private courtyard.

"Teacher, please wait!" Yan Xing walked forward a few steps, "This student believes in Teacher and is willing to enter the courtyard with Teacher to serve you."

After pondering again, Cheng Yuankai nodded, "That's good too! Someone, send Mister and Senior Brother Yan into the courtyard, seal this door, and no one is allowed to approach."

Someone reminded, "Village Master, now is a critical period, should we add Forbidden Confucian Piles outside the door?"

Forbidden Confucian Piles were a unique magical artifact of the Confucian school, specifically used to deal with rebellious Confucians.

As long as four Forbidden Confucian Piles were driven into the ground near a rebellious Confucian, they would have the effect of "drawing the ground as a prison," suppressing the rebellious Confucian firmly within, preventing them from using Righteous Qi.

Cheng Yuankai pondered for a long while, then said, "Place the Forbidden Confucian Piles!"

"No one is to object. Banxianzhuang is at a critical juncture of life and death, and we can only resort to this strategy."

"If I have truly wronged Mister Chan Hun, then afterwards, we will personally apologize with thorns on our backs. Do it!"

Soon, someone brought out sixteen Forbidden Confucian Piles, each three meters tall, and drove them into the ground along the outer wall of the private courtyard.

Old Liu stood in the room, gently waving his folding fan, and said, "Banxianzhuang is in danger!"

Yan Xing was so frightened that his face turned ashen. He knelt on the ground, "Teacher, please help us save Banxianzhuang. This disciple… this disciple…"

Old Liu turned around and said, "Right now, we can't save Banxianzhuang. The only one who can help is Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall)!"

"Unfortunately, Liangjie Tang cannot enter this Banxianzhuang."

Yan Xing struggled for a long while before saying, "This disciple does know a secret passage that can sneak into Banxianzhuang. However, I have no way to notify the people of Liangjie Tang."

Old Liu said, "Give me the method, and I will contact Liangjie Tang."

Yan Xing couldn't help but ask, "How did Teacher come to know Li Po?"

Old Liu said unhurriedly, "You ask why I suddenly came to Banxianzhuang. And why the Spring and Autumn Annals appeared in my hands?"

"It was Li Po's close friend, Jun Jixue, who sent the Spring and Autumn Annals and begged me to help Li Po enter Banxianzhuang to find his relatives."

"I didn't tell the truth to either side in order to be impartial."

"In fact, I have the secret communication talisman of Liangjie Tang in my hand."