Chapter 1 The Conclusion

From that woman's words, I could draw a conclusion.

That was that the Xia family had already set up a trap in the Demon Suppressing Stele Forest about an hour ago.

As long as we went out from here, we would face the Xia family's elite.

A fierce battle was inevitable.

The Xia family's patriarch, Xia Chuan, was indeed plotting to harm Xia Mengying. But what about the other disciples of the Xia family?

Perhaps they were unaware of the truth, or perhaps they stood against us for other reasons!

Among those people were Xia Mengying's teachers and friends. Could she bear to watch them die by our swords?

My meaning was simple: to let Xia Mengying leave, so she wouldn't be caught in such a difficult situation!

Xia Mengying shook her head after thinking for a long time. "I understand the patriarch. He won't bet the entire Xia family. There won't be more than ten people by his side. I want to go with you."

I hesitated for a moment before nodding in agreement.

Although Xia Mengying wasn't one of us from Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall), she was, after all, our friend.

Friends need to be protected!

I could feel Xia Mengying's panic, especially as we got closer to the tunnel exit, her panic became more intense.

It wasn't until Wang Butcher gently held Xia Mengying's hand that she calmed down a little.

When Ye Yang and I walked out of the secret passage side by side, the first thing I saw was Xia Chuan, the head of the Xia family, sitting in the academy.

He didn't seem to be facing a great enemy at all. Instead, he looked like a Confucian scholar studying hard at night, concentrating on the book in his hand, reaching a state of complete absorption, as if he had merged with everything around him.

It wasn't until all of us had walked out of the secret passage that Xia Chuan gently put down the book and said, "Hall Master Li, how about coming in for a chat?"

As I stepped into the academy, Wang Butcher and the others, according to the customs of the martial world, had already occupied the most advantageous positions.

Xia Chuan smiled calmly and said, "Everyone, don't be nervous! I, Xia, can guarantee that this battle will be a gentleman's battle."

Wang Butcher sneered, "The premise of a gentleman's battle is full of conspiracies?"

Xia Chuan said helplessly, "It is precisely because my previous actions lacked grace that I want to preserve the last dignity of a Confucian disciple in this battle."

I retorted, "Patriarch Xia, don't tell me that the previous arrangements weren't all your doing!"

"That's exactly the case!" Xia Chuan waved his hand and said, "It's not the way to treat guests to let them sit empty-handed. I've specially prepared some refreshments. How about we eat and talk?"

With a wave of Xia Chuan's hand, four great Confucian scholars personally brought us refreshments and then stood behind Xia Chuan with their hands tied.

Not counting Xia Mengying, the number of people from Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall) and the Xia family was exactly five versus five.

Xia Chuan said, "This time, a total of five members of the Xia family have come here. It will be a one-on-one showdown. I think this should also be in line with your Jianghu (Martial World) rules, right?"

"It's fair enough!" I was subtly mocking Xia Chuan, but the latter said without taking it to heart, "Previously, I didn't think much of Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall), but I didn't expect Hall Master Li to have so many talented people under his command."

"With just a few moves, you were able to make the Invisible Military Advisor unable to fight back and directly approached the Demon Suppressing Stele Forest."

"If I'm not mistaken, the Repentant Soul Gentleman outside should be Liu Bao, the Divine Ghost Advisor under the Hall Master, right?"

I smiled and said, "Why don't you think he's the real Repentant Soul Gentleman?"

Xia Chuan said, "Hall Master Li has a bit of Li Chunfeng's character."

Xia Chuan said seriously, "I, Xia, have said that the battle between you and me is a gentleman's battle. Therefore, I will not use any form of coercion against Hall Master Li. You can ask anything you want, and I, Xia, will know everything and say everything until Hall Master feels that there is no need for us to talk anymore, and then we can start the battle."

I smiled and said, "Since Mr. Xia keeps emphasizing that this is a gentleman's battle, then I would like to ask, what is the result of the victory or defeat?"

Xia Chuan said, "If my side is lucky enough to win, then the Demon Suppressing Stele Forest will be the final resting place of Liangjie Tang (Two Realms Hall)."

"If we are no match for the Hall Master, please leave some face for the Confucian school, and I, Xia, also have a small gift to offer."

I nodded and said, "The request is reasonable enough. I believe you are already very clear about my intentions. Tell me what you want to say!"

Xia Chuan said, "This matter has to start from when your father, Li Chunfeng, came to Banxian Zhuang (Half-Sage Village)."

"Although I have no evidence, based on my subsequent speculation, the instigator of the demon and ghost riots in the Banxian Zhuang (Half-Sage Village) stele forest back then was your father, Li Chunfeng?"

I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow and said, "What makes you say that? What's your basis?"

Xia Chuan said, "When Li Chunfeng came to Banxian Zhuang (Half-Sage Village) back then, he brought a coffin with him. He claimed that it was an empty coffin used to seal demons."

"I later speculated that the coffin contained a body, which was his adopted sister, Yan Pianxian."

"At that time, Li Chunfeng should have preserved Yan Pianxian's body with a special coffin. Taking advantage of the chaos in Banxian Zhuang (Half-Sage Village), he quietly sneaked into the stele forest and put Yan Pianxian into the Soul Gathering Coffin to reunite her soul."

"This should be his only way to revive Yan Pianxian!"

Hearing this, my heart couldn't help but tremble slightly.

My father had always been concerned about Yan Pianxian's death. It was possible that he had used the Soul Gathering Coffin to revive Yan Pianxian.