At those words, the hall immediately fell silent.
Everyone turned their gaze toward Xu Baichuan, their eyes full of scrutiny.
Xu Baichuan paled slightly. He stepped forward and cupped his hands toward Gu Jianchun.
"Martial Uncle Gu, please judge this fairly! It is true that this disciple comes from the Xu Household of Sea Prosperity Island, but ever since joining the Condensed Jade Sect, I have devoted myself wholeheartedly to the Dao and have had little contact with the collateral branches of my Lineage.
"Even if this jade pendant belongs to the Xu Household, there are several hundred collateral descendants. It would hardly be unusual for one to end up elsewhere. How can that alone prove this has anything to do with me?"
Gu Jianchun's gaze blazed like a torch as he stared fixedly at Xu Baichuan. "Martial Nephew Xu, the identification emblems of the Xu Household's collateral branches are crafted using a unique method. Could outsiders easily counterfeit them? Are you certain you have nothing to do with this?"
Under Gu Jianchun's spiritual pressure and piercing gaze, beads of sweat appeared on Xu Baichuan's forehead. His eyes darted away, and his words became hesitant.
"Well... Martial Uncle Gu, a single jade pendant really... really isn't enough to convince everyone. Perhaps someone deliberately planted it..."
"Enough."
Gu Jianchun cut him off. "The jade pendant is here, and you happen to be a direct descendant of the Xu Household. By any reasonable standard, you must remain here for now and cooperate with the investigation. Until the waters recede and the rocks emerge, revealing the truth, you may not leave without permission."
He swept his hand, allowing Xu Baichuan no further argument.
Several Law Enforcement Hall disciples stepped forward. Though reasonably polite, they firmly "invited" Xu Baichuan out of the hall and