Do you really think you can get me with just a banana?

Guan Shanyu nodded without thinking.

After all, he told a little lie to him, and he just hoped that when he escaped down the mountain, Yan Ruchen would forgive him and not blame him.

Because there is no magical grass in Wangshuiling, there is only a big devil hiding there.

In the original story, Yan Ruchen suffers constant ostracism and teasing from his fellow disciples, even being deceived into believing that demonic beasts are rampant in Wangshui Ridge. He is forced to journey to that dangerous place during his training, intent on burying him amidst miasma, poisonous fog, and the remnants of the demon clan. However, fate twists the situation, and he stumbles upon a demon clan elder deep in the valley. After several fierce battles, Yan Ruchen escapes death and instead earns the elder's appreciation. Even more astonishingly, the elder recognizes the demon blood flowing in Yan Ruchen's veins and imparts his lifelong martial arts secrets to him.

Guan Shanyu sighed softly. Eating magical herbs or something like that would definitely be faster than directly inheriting someone else's martial arts power.

However, Yan Ruchen did not fall off Ming Wuya as in the original plot, so he still doesn’t know that he is of demon blood, and no one knows what will happen if he really goes to Wangshuiling.

Forget it, let’s treat a dead horse as a live doctor.

After thinking about it, Guan Shanyu felt that the conversation was almost over. He would have to talk to Song Ziye about the Qing Yuanzi investigation to be on the safe side. After repeatedly assuring Yan Ruchen that only the two of them knew about this matter, he began to think about how to get Yan Ruchen to leave. Unexpectedly, while he was distracted, he saw an object suddenly handed to him.

Guan Shanyu looked down and saw that it was a suona.

It's his galaxy.

Guan Shanyu immediately felt like he was facing a formidable enemy. He waved his hands and shook his head repeatedly, forgetting even that he was pretending to be weak. He stood up and jumped away, shaking his head like a rattle, and said, "Is it for me? No, no, this is stolen property. I can't just take it."

Yan Ruchen, still holding his hand, said, "You are no longer a suspect. This cannot be considered stolen property."

Guan Shanyu said: "No! Before the matter is investigated, I am still a suspect, but the suspicion is not serious. Moreover, this item was stolen inexplicably at the time of the crime. I don't know what other troubles are left behind. I can't take it."

Yan Ruchen laughed and said, "Senior Brother Song asked me to give it to you."

Guan Shanyu was stunned, even more puzzled. Yan Ruchen had just said that he hadn't found anything substantial, but now he dared to exchange the stolen goods directly with the suspect?

Damn it, when I think about it, there is only one possibility - they still suspect him and want to use this trick to lure him into the trap and reveal his true colors.

Guan Shanyu had long sensed something was amiss. They'd claimed he wasn't a suspect, yet they'd still kept him under house arrest in the bamboo hut. This was likely because word of the elder's murder had spread, and the entire sect had to get to the bottom of it. Giving the stolen goods so brazenly to the suspect—even if he didn't fall for it—might have the real culprit been tempted to reveal his true colors.

You think I'm an idiot? I'm as smart as a monkey.

After thinking about it, Guan Shanyu immediately refused righteously, saying: "I can't take it! This is stolen property. Now the matter has not been investigated and there is still suspicion. I will definitely not touch it!"

Yan Ruchen was surprised by his attitude. He used to think that Guan Shanyu was a coward and fool, but he didn't expect that Guan Shanyu could see the situation so clearly. He was really wrong about him.

He looked down at the suona in his hand. In Guan Shanyu's eyes, it was like a hot potato, so he put it away with a smile and said nothing more. Feeling that the atmosphere was just right, Yan Ruchen stood up and said to Guan Shanyu: "Shanyu, you don't have to be so nervous. I am very confident that you are not the murderer. We will find out what happened at that time."

Guan Shanyu nodded and said, "I also have great faith in you, Brother Ruchen. You are extremely talented, intelligent, virtuous, and kind. You will definitely be able to help Uncle Si to investigate this matter and give him justice. Tianjian Pavilion and even Tianxuan are blessed to have you!"

If you flatter him a little more now, it will make the journey much easier for him when he escapes down the mountain.

Yan Ruchen felt embarrassed by his straightforward words and couldn't help coughing twice. He put the suona on his waist and bowed in a hurry to say goodbye.

Yan Ruchen had originally planned to return directly to Heavenly Sword Pavilion, but then he remembered that he had stopped by Lingcaoxuan to visit Guan Shanyu, and that he still had some unfinished business at the charity hall. Although Hu Qi and the others could handle it, he decided to go to the charity hall himself, just in case.

In order to avoid attracting attention, Yan Ruchen did not choose the main road, but instead moved lightly through the woods, using his lightness skills to go straight to the charity hall. This was both quick and avoided the sight of his fellow disciples, saving him some unnecessary trouble.

After arriving, he brushed off the fallen leaves on his body and quietly walked in through the back door. When passing by the windowsill, he unexpectedly heard the conversation of the disciples in the hall.

There were no more disciples in the charity hall. Only Hu Qi and a few others were busy cleaning, tidying up the tables, chairs, jade slips, and screens, chatting to relieve boredom. Someone said, "Yan Ruchen saw Nengfan passing by the door just now, so he went out to look for him. He hasn't come back yet. What did he do?"

"How should I know? You should worry about yourself first. The news of Master's accident has spread everywhere these past two days. Many disciples from other sects have come to inquire about our situation. Our mountain gate is full of people. My father even wrote to me yesterday, asking me what's going on."

"Hu Qi also received a letter. It was sent from Yuchen Palace, asking Hu Qi if he wanted to go to Yuchen Palace."

"Someone is poaching me so soon? Is this true, Hu Qi?"

Hu Qi yawned, glanced at him while moving the table, and said, "Really?"

The disciple continued, "Yes, my father also asked me if I wanted to switch sects to study. After all, our master is gone, so who will teach us?"

"Oh, please speak softly, it's not good if someone hears you."

"What are you afraid of? Who would care about us now? Have you heard? The Elders' Council has decided to elect a capable disciple to be the acting elder, and they have nominated Senior Brother Xu."

"Xu Fengyu? That's impossible." A disciple said angrily, "Don't you know? I heard that he has been recuperating at the foot of the mountain these days and has been getting together with the daughter of the Palace Master of Yuchen Palace. Yesterday, Uncle Yue went down the mountain to pick him up, but he was crying and refusing to leave, which really pissed Uncle Yue off."

"Is this true? Could it be that Yan Ruchen is to be the acting elder?"

Upon hearing this, Yan Ruchen's heart moved slightly. He glanced sideways into the hall and saw that the group of disciples were staring at the disciple who asked the question in disbelief, but it was Hu Qi who spoke first.

"Difficult. Ruchen's martial arts training is good, but in some areas, he is not qualified."

"Why not? Even Miss Si likes him, isn't that the biggest qualification?"

Hu Qi said expressionlessly, "Do you think martial arts alone are enough to elect an elder? This background is also very important. Senior Brother Xu's martial arts are indeed not as good as Yan Ruchen's, but his family background, reputation and qualifications are better than his. He is a well-known figure in all major sects. But what about Yan Ruchen's background? ... Never mind. Anyway, with such a background, if you were the elders, who would you choose?"

The disciples were stunned for a moment after hearing this. They felt that Hu Qi's words made sense, but one disciple asked doubtfully, "Hu Qi, aren't you and Yan Ruchen very close? You always go out together."

Hu Qi rolled his eyes at him and said, "Is this how you go out in pairs? I do admire Ruchen's martial arts and character, but do you think being an acting elder is that easy? Is it enough to just be able to fight?"

"Yeah, with his background, who can accept it? But then again, he's really lucky to have won the favor of Miss Si. It's hard to say what his future holds." Another disciple interrupted.

Yan Ruchen stopped listening and silently turned away. He gave a wry smile. He had just seen that they had almost finished cleaning up, and he figured they didn't need much help. If he showed up now, he was afraid it would embarrass them.

They are right.

Although he had made great contributions in the previous battle to eliminate the monsters, he was only rewarded with some magical herbs and elixirs. Logically, he should have a more practical title. But now he is just an assistant manager in name only. His future is uncertain. Everyone may still be more optimistic about Xu Fengyu, who is out recuperating.

Looking up at the sky, the sun had not yet set. Yan Ruchen thought for a moment and decided to walk towards Ziwei Society.

Using the same light leaf-stepping technique, Yan Ruchen soon found himself at the entrance of the Ziwei Society. Due to his close relationship with Si Hongyin, he skipped the formalities and waited only a moment before a female disciple hurried out to greet him. She looked exhausted, a stark contrast to the usual radiant demeanor of the Ziwei Society disciples. She asked with concern, "Are you still not done with the spiritual inquiry?"

The female disciple shook her head helplessly, and with a somewhat despairing expression, she said, "Looking for Senior Sister? Follow me."

Yan Ruchen politely bowed and thanked him: "Thank you for your trouble."

The female disciple said "Oh" and quickly entered Ziwei Society with Yan Ruchen, passing through the first hall for receiving guests.

Normally, visitors could only enter the First Hall, but Yan Ruchen, a frequent visitor and familiar with the disciples, was allowed to enter the Second and Third Halls. However, today, the First Hall was unusually different. A chilling wind blew, and ghosts howled and howled. Yan Ruchen was puzzled and asked, "Are these the sounds of spirits who have come here? How could there be so many of them that they could reach this far?"

The female disciple looked back at him wearily and explained, "There are probably at least 10,000, if not 8,000, spirits within a 50-mile radius. We disciples and the master have been busy day and night. It's not the spirits crying, it's us."