I returned to the hotel and called home.

Feng Ruoxing told me she was about to take a knife to someone. That off-the-rails matchmaker had her eyes on Hei Yexiao and Yun Shang, scheming day and night about how to pair them up.

Hei Yexiao retaliated helplessly, cursing Su Su every night. The entire third floor was filled with either someone chanting witchcraft or someone performing counter-curses.

Liaojie Hall hadn't slept well in days. If it weren't for rescuing those two unlucky kids, Ling and Lin Xian, they would have plotted to jointly slaughter a god.

Feng Ruoxing asked me with utmost seriousness: "You little brat, did you bring back a calamity to Liaojie Hall?"

This, perhaps, maybe, possibly?

I also asked, "After Wang Xiaohuan left, how did Jiang Junci react?"

Feng Ruoxing said, "Eating when he should eat, drinking when he should drink, and even flirting with girls online!"

I was dumbfounded. Jiang Junci really had a big heart!

Was he thinking that now that Wang Xiaohuan had fallen into his pool, he could just keep her there, because she couldn't swim out anyway?

No!

There must be something wrong here!

But, come to think of it, did I get infected by that off-the-rails matchmaker?

Lin Zhao sat beside me and said, "Why don't you seem anxious at all? Under normal circumstances, shouldn't you be extremely worried, wishing you could see your mother immediately?"

I shook my head and said, "I don't know why I can't bring myself to be anxious."

I said in a deep voice, "Speaking emotionally, perhaps my resentment towards my biological mother outweighs my love? I don't want to talk about it; it would only add to the sadness."

"Just like my dad said, aren't we two doing pretty well?"

I paused for a moment and said, "And then there's the bloodline connection!"

"Ordinary people also have bloodline connections, let alone warlocks."

"That feeling is very mysterious, even impossible to explain with secret arts. Can you and Lin Xian also sense each other's presence?"

Lin Zhao nodded and said, "As long as we're in the same city. Beyond that range, it doesn't work."

I shook my head slightly and said, "But I can't sense Xia Yuting."

I continued, "I know you can't believe in feelings for everything."

"But this time, I'm wavering."

"I'm even starting to doubt whether coming to Ru Sect is the right thing to do."

Wang Butcher also came over and said, "I think you're right to come."

"If you didn't come, you might have a thorn in your heart for the rest of your life. If you don't pull this thorn out, you might not be able to get past this obstacle in your life."

"Even if you didn't come for Xia Yuting, you should also investigate the secret of why your father, Li Chunfeng, suddenly came to Banxian Village after the battle at Tiewa Temple."

"Li Chunfeng stayed in Banxian Village for a year; isn't there any special reason for that?"

Wang Butcher changed the subject and said, "However, I don't recommend that you overthink things. Just wait and see the truth."

"That's right!" As I vaguely responded to Wang Butcher, Xia Mengying suddenly brought news: Banxian Village had closed its mountain gate.

I suddenly stood up from my chair: "What does closing the mountain gate mean?"

Xia Mengying said, "It means that Banxian Village is under full martial law, abandoning the outer courtyard of Banxian Village, and everyone is withdrawing into the inner courtyard. The outer courtyard mechanisms are activated, leaving only death warriors."

"No one is allowed to enter or leave until the mountain gate reopens!"

I was shocked and said, "What trouble has Banxian Village encountered?"

Xia Mengying whispered, "There must be a problem with the Zhenmo Stele (Demon Suppression Stele)!"

"The Zhenmo Stele is Banxian Village's sect's heavenly barrier. The fierce demons suppressed under the stele forest will come out to harm people if they are not careful. The reason why Beilin Academy selects a large number of elite disciples to enter the academy to cultivate is to bless the Zhenmo Stele."

"This time, the news of your arrival in Banxian Village was leaked, probably because the Zhenmo Stele cracked, allowing the fierce demons to escape."

Lin Zhao also said, "Didn't you say that there are great Confucian scholars guarding Beilin Academy?"

Xia Mengying said, "Maybe something has already happened to Beilin Academy."

I couldn't help but gasp: "This is terrible. That old coot Lao Liu is still inside Banxian Village!"

The identity he's playing isn't low either. Isn't he just waiting to be exposed?

Once Lao Liu's identity is exposed, it is very likely that he will be regarded as a spy by Banxian Village and an opponent by the fierce demons of Beilin. He will be attacked from both sides.

That old coot just doesn't know how to be less worrying!

I got up and wanted to save Lao Liu, but Xia Mengying misunderstood my intention and quickly stopped me, saying, "You can't get in like this."

"In order to prevent the fierce demons from being born, Banxian Village has set up a great Confucian formation in the village. If you break in rashly, even a Xūqióng realm (Peeking at Emptiness Realm) expert above the Tiāngāng (Heavenly Dipper) realm will be annihilated."

My heart tightened again: In that case, Lao Liu doesn't even have a chance to slip out.

Ye Yang suddenly said to Xia Mengying, "What does the Xia family head mean by letting you come out?"

"The family head is…" Xia Mengying was also stunned when she said this.

When the great calamity of Banxian Village arrives, as a high-level member of Banxian Village, there are only two options: either disband the low-level disciples and fight the fierce demons to the death, or completely close Banxian Village and coexist with the sect.

Banxian Village obviously chose the latter. Xia Chuan probably also judged Cheng Yuankai's intention. He specially instructed Xia Mengying to come out with us, which must have a deep meaning.