I looked at the black light filling the sky and said, "That badger's cries sounded so tragic. I hope she wasn't beaten too badly?"

Butcher Wang didn't think so. "It's fine. Badgers are tougher than you think. At worst, we'll just put extra padding in the car for her on the way back. No big deal!"

Alright! No big deal!

I sat on the ground and smoked three cigarettes before Wang Xiaohuan was released.

I tried my best not to look at her, afraid that laughing wouldn't be appropriate.

By the time I finished my fourth cigarette, Lin Zhao and Butcher Wang had returned with Xia Mengying.

Although Xia Mengying didn't say anything, I could tell that Xia Chuan's death was a heavy blow to her.

If Xia Mengying hadn't shot down the stone tablet, the five of us wouldn't have been able to launch a counterattack and kill the five great Confucian scholars.

Perhaps Xia Mengying hadn't expected us to be so ruthless. Or perhaps she had foreseen the outcome but had no choice.

If Xia Chuan's plan had succeeded, Banxianzhuang would have been pushed onto the path of martial world domination.

How many disciples of Banxianzhuang would have become wronged souls on that road paved with blood and bones?

Not acting was for the sake of the Xia family.

Acting was also for the sake of the Xia family.

Right or wrong? It was up to her to judge, up to others to comment.

I straightened my clothes. "Let's go! We'll leave through the main gate. Since the Liangjie Tang (Two Worlds Hall) came in openly, they should leave openly. Be prepared; there might be another fierce battle soon."

When I led the way out of the Stele Forest gate, the entire Banxianzhuang was already waiting at the entrance.

The first thing I saw was Old Liu, who had returned to his original appearance. But the person beside him made my eyes narrow slightly – Repentance Master!

That person should be the real Repentance Master!

When I looked at Old Liu, the latter strode forward. "Hall Master, everything that happened in the Stele Forest has been projected onto Banxianzhuang by Repentance Master, who invoked ghosts and deities."

"Repentance Master has also made a judgment on this matter."

Cheng Yuankai, the Zhuang Master of Banxianzhuang, stepped forward and said, "Xia Chuan, for his own selfish desires, brought chaos to Confucianism and is judged a traitor to Confucianism."

"Xia Mengying, for reversing the chaos and assisting Liangjie Tang in killing the traitorous Confucian, is not only without fault but has merit. She should lead the Xia lineage of Banxianzhuang."

Cheng Yuankai turned to me and said, "Liangjie Tang turned the tide and saved Banxianzhuang from danger. Please accept my bow."

I sidestepped to avoid it. "I came here for personal matters. I can't be considered to have saved Banxianzhuang, let alone broken through the sect's celestial gate. We have no grudges or debts between us. It's best if we owe each other nothing."

"Farewell!"

I clasped my fist at Cheng Yuankai and walked out. Seeing that I didn't dwell on the issue of the sect's celestial gate, he was clearly very satisfied with the outcome. After exchanging a few polite words with me, he sent me away from Banxianzhuang.

When I reached the entrance of Banxianzhuang, Xia Mengying said, "Zhuang Master, this junior does not wish to take over as the head of the Xia family for the time being. Please allow me to go out and train for a period of time."

"This..." Cheng Yuankai hesitated. Repentance Master said, "As the saying goes, 'Read ten thousand books and travel ten thousand miles.' It's good for young people to go out and gain experience."

Cheng Yuankai nodded. "That's fine too. Come back soon."

Xia Mengying left Banxianzhuang without looking back at the Confucian scholars of the Xia family, silently following me into the car.

Xia Mengying's decision was the right one.

Although Repentance Master made a judgment, no judgment can convince everyone.

Moreover, Xia Chuan was indirectly killed by Xia Mengying. With her personality, she couldn't take over the Xia family with peace of mind.

Old Liu took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Xia Mengying. After Xia Mengying nodded, the old fox was as happy as if he had eaten honey, and he couldn't close his mouth for a long time.

I turned my head and said, "Old Liu, what's the deal with that Repentance Master?"

Old Liu said, "We both entered the Xia family together. It's just that one was in the open and one was in the dark."

"After you guys started fighting in the Stele Forest, he took the opportunity to come out and switch places with me, creating the illusion that I had sneaked into Banxianzhuang. That's about it!"

I said in a deep voice, "Is Repentance Master really the Grave Keeper of Confucianism?"

"Yes!" Old Liu said, "I've already confirmed this. He's here to take the Soul Gathering Coffin with him. He said that one day, we'll meet again."

"As for other things, he just said, 'It involves sect secrets, so I can't say more.'"

The Coffin Gate still doesn't consider the Yin Yang lineage as their own. I won't ask about their secrets!

As for the ghost and deity projection, I can guess with my feet that it was Shang Xingyan who did it.

However, what I didn't know at the time was that there were twenty retired Embroidered Uniform Guards in the trunk of my car.

When Old Liu didn't want to talk, his mouth was like it had been welded shut, and not a single word would come out.

In order not to arouse my suspicion, Old Liu changed the subject in a timely manner. "Boss, has your background been investigated?"

"It's about eighty percent clear," I said. "Now, the only thing I don't understand is why my dad wanted to change my fate?"

At this time, Wang Xiaohuan said weakly, "I know something about this."