Chapter 43: Xu Family's Crisis i

“Disciple, the urgency at hand requires you to return home and take care of this matter.” Li Xuan reminded him. “Yes, I need to rush home immediately!” Returning to his senses, Xu Yan promptly said, “Master, I will return home to deal with this matter. Once it is resolved, I will return to your side!” “Go!” Li Xuan nodded. “But them…” Xu Yan glanced at the old man in sackcloth and the county magistrate, his expression darkening. “Ignore them.” Li Xuan shook his head. “Yes, Master!” After bowing respectfully to Li Xuan, Xu Yan moved and disappeared into the black night. He did not ride a horse to travel, but directly used his Light Crane movement technique. With his current strength, his speed was much faster than horseback. Desperate to return home, he naturally used the Light Crane movement technique. The old man in sackcloth and the others were frightened. How was Xu Junhe’s silly son so powerful? Could it be that he had truly found a hidden master? Do such unbelievably powerful masters and Martial Arts truly exist in this world, just like the legends say? Who the hell is playing tricks on us? For a while, all the masters of the Heavenly Mother Religion were questioning their lives. After Xu Yan left, Li Xuan immediately laughed heartily, pulling the old man in sackcloth to his side and suggesting, “Don’t just stand there dumbfounded, come in and let’s chat.” “No, thank you. We have some urgent matters to attend to, we need to rescue… yes, rescue the suffering common people!” The old man in sackcloth replied, breaking out in cold sweat. The young man in front of him may look young, but he could very well be an old monster. Since Xu Yan, the foolish lad, was incredibly strong and his abilities were beyond comprehension, his master could not be simply dismissed as an ordinary man either. “Are you truly going to save the suffering people?” Li Xuan chuckled. “Yes, yes, we are!” The old man in sackcloth stammered, his body trembling with fear. The county magistrate got up from the ground, scurrying back in fear, attempting to escape. “The Cloud Mountain County Magistrate, come here.” Li Xuan waved his Jade Ruyi and beckoned to the magistrate. “Senior, if you have any orders, this small one will do his best to fulfill them!” The Cloud Mountain County Magistrate bowed and fawned over him. “Don’t panic, come in and let’s have a chat about this Heavenly Mother Religion…” As Li Xuan stirred his internal energy, an invisible pressure blanketed everyone present. “Yes, yes!” The followers of the Heavenly Mother Religion dared not disobey, entering the courtyard with ingratiating smiles plastered on their faces. Just as he entered the courtyard, a light bulb went off in the old man in sackcloth, and he dropped to his knees immediately. “Your omnipotent power is unrivaled in the world like the lofty sky. There is no one like you in the world. From today onwards, our Heavenly Mother Religion worships you as the Heavenly Grand Master!” “The Heavenly Grand Master is invincible! There is no one like him in the world!” The old man in sackcloth began to knock his head vigorously on the ground, his expression solemn, like a true believer. The Cloud Mountain County Magistrate and the others saw this and frantically dropped to their knees. With solemn expressions, they acted like devout believers, knocking their heads against the ground without sparing any effort. The sounds of kowtowing could be heard. “Greeting the Heavenly Grand Master! “The Heavenly Grand Master is invincible and unparalleled in the world!” Li Xuan:… What strange bunch is this Heavenly Mother Religion? What the heck is a Heavenly Grand Master? Is this supposed to be a balance with the Heavenly Mother? “The name will no longer be changed to ‘Heaven’s Religion’?” “Two choices, either sit down and have a proper talk, or… die.” Li Xuan said in an indifferent tone. The sound of kowtowing stopped. The old man in hemp clothing and others wiped off the blood oozing from their foreheads and quietly stood up. Whether to have a chat or to die, they still knew how to choose. Li Xuan sat on the chair and let the old man in hemp clothing and others introduce him to Tianmu Religion, the royal court, and the martial world, thereby further understanding this world. Xu Family, in Donghe Prefecture. At this moment, the Xu household was brightly lit. Protectors holding weapons patrolled the Xu estate, were on high alert. On each house, one person sat, watching vigilantly around. And in the inner courtyard, Chief Chen and Master Wang, holding their weapons, sat in the pavilion. Apart from these two, there were three others, all on guard in the inner courtyard. Five top-notch martial arts experts from the martial world. “Husband, why did the evildoers of the Tianmu Religion set their sights on our Xu Family? What does the government say?” Madam Xu asked with a worried expression. Xu Junhe sighed and said, “The Tianmu Religion demanded more than half of the wealth of our Xu family in the name of helping the people in distress. They are forcing us to join the Tianmu Religion. “This is a generally recognized rebellious cult. Once involved, the outcome is like rebellion, one can imagine the consequences.” Madam Xu frowned and asked, “I understand this, but why doesn’t the government arrest them while the Tianmu Religion is causing chaos in the locale? Why does Jiang Pingshan, the general of Donghe, just sit and watch?” “Because it’s not time to act yet.” Xu Junhe paced the room full of worries, frowning. “Husband, do we have to wait for the Tianmu Religion to break into our Xu household before we act? Do we sit by and watch our Xu family be destroyed by this rebellious cult? Doesn’t the magistrate of Donghe fear being charged with accusations?” Madam Xu looked puzzled. “They are waiting for some news.” At this point, Xu Junhe felt that it was time to let his wife know. “Those mountain bandits suddenly disappeared without a trace, and the goods were successfully delivered to the capital. I thought we had survived a disaster, but I didn’t expect a greater one to come. This difficulty is hard to pass through!” Madam Xu hesitated, “What kind of disaster?” Xu Junhe sighed and said, “The battle for the heir to the throne!” Hearing this, Madam Xu’s face turned pale instantly. Trembling, she said, “Husband, are you implying that my father …” “Your father’s mentor is Pavilion Elder Chen, and Pavilion Elder Chen supports the Third Prince; therefore, your father has long been seen as a trusted person, belonging to the faction of the Third Prince. “Ever since last year, when the Third Prince lost the jade offered to the emperor during his disaster relief in the three prefectures, he has been in a disadvantaged position in the battle for heir to the throne. Now, the dust is about to settle over this matter.” Xu Junhe sighed. If it were a normal jade, it would have been alright; the Third Prince’s merits in providing disaster relief would have spared him from punishment. However, that piece of jade was known as the Evergreen Longevity Gem, a rarity in this world. Carrying it could ward off diseases and extend one’s lifespan. It was an invaluable treasure. This lost treasure soon led to rumors that the Third Prince did not want the emperor to live a long life and had intentionally lost the gem. Regardless of the gem’s authenticity, as soon as this matter got out, the Third Prince fell out of Emperor Qi’s favor and was out of the game for the crown prince. The faction of the Third Prince was naturally targeted for settlement. Madam Xu turned pale and trembled, “Is…is there no way out? What about turning to the First Prince?” Xu Junhe gave a bitter smile, “Your father was a student of Pavilion Elder Chen and a confidant of the Third Prince. There’s no chance.” He held his wife’s hand and after a moment of silence, Xu Junhe said, “Our Xu family is so wealthy, so naturally we have become the target for settlement. It’s fate. I Xu Junhe, with my insignificant being, have come to this. It’s not too unfair a life.” He glanced at her helplessly and said, “As for Yan’er, sigh!” Madam Xu leaned on him, with red eyes, “It’s perhaps a blessing that Yan’er is not a home. I hope he can survive this disaster. This child just foolishly believed in those books’ tales and went to find some expert.” “As long as Yan’er can be found before the officials, he can be kept safe. I have already made arrangements.” Xu Junhe softly embraced his wife. Pharmacist Pan walked in and said, “Master, everything is ready. As soon as the young master is found, he will be immediately escorted to Wu country.” Xu Junhe nodded and said, “In Wu country, we have some assets that can ensure Yan’er’s wealth. Elder Pan, please take care of him a little more.” “Sigh!” Pharmacist Pan sighed, “I will take care of him. After this incident, he should no longer be such a fool.”