Discernment

"Professor Shen Pei is skilled in the witchcraft described in the Book of Songs; he can summon spirits and demons to kill enemies!"

By observing and listening with the help of Yangpo, Zhang Xuezhou heard a lot of things in the Confucius Temple.

After confirming that Kong Zhong and the others were safe, Zhang Xuezhou withdrew his Yang Soul.

He jumped down from the old tree and couldn't help but ask Kong Anguo a few questions.

Although Kong Anguo was not yet accomplished as Shen Peigong's student, he was well aware of Shen Peigong's abilities.

"Brother Dongfang, do you mean that Professor Shen Pei needs my father to dig a tunnel, and then he might have to fight someone?" Kong Anguo asked.

"I'm not sure if he's planning a sneak attack or if he's got his eye on something and needs your father's help to get it," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head and said, "They didn't elaborate in their conversation, making it difficult to determine their true target."

The matter is somewhat related to Zhang Xuezhou, but it's also because Kong Zhong and others couldn't hold back and jumped in too quickly.

Kong Zhong and the others are currently safe, but they have undoubtedly been coerced, and it is difficult to determine whether they are ultimately safe.

"This requires tracking and assessment," Kong Anguo said gravely.

"To be honest, there's no point in you chasing after him," Zhang Xuezhou shook his head and said, "Once you're discovered and imprisoned, it will only hinder your father's escape!"

"Brother Dongfang is right!"

What Zhang Xuezhou said was unpleasant to hear, but it was the truth.

Compared to the help Kong Anguo provided, it is more likely to have negative effects.

Knowing full well what was going on, but lacking the ability to change it, Kong Anguo felt waves of powerlessness coursing through his body.

The current situation was clearly beyond the capabilities of a young man, and Kong Anguo felt that his extensive reading of classical Chinese texts could not bring him even the slightest benefit.

His personal protective items, such as calligraphy copybooks, books, and paintings, proved utterly useless.

Only if Shen Peigong's plan succeeds can Kong Zhong and the others get out of trouble.

But Kong Anguo knew without thinking that Shen Peigong's actions were definitely not simple, and success would not be easy, which could also lead to unpredictable risks.

What are you two doing squatting under the tree?

Zhang Xuezhou and Kong Anguo discussed for a while, and only when Du Wencai happily showed off his money pouch containing a string of cash did the two of them come to their senses.

"Old Kong is definitely not here," Du Wencai said. "It's rare to run into such a sucker. We might as well go and examine the treasure chest, try to collect as much money as possible, and when Old Kong and the others come back, we can line up and collect the money one by one. We'll take three or five strings from the east, three or five strings from the west, three or five strings from the south, and three or five strings from the north. We won't be short of money for the next year!"

Du Wencai was in high spirits.

He couldn't see the secret of the treasure chest, but Kong Anguo could.

Anyone who cracks the Mohists's mechanical techniques will be able to make a fortune.

They spend most of their time sending things out, and it's rare for anyone to return them. Du Wencai felt this was a worthwhile endeavor.

However, the King of Huainan couldn't keep giving out money forever. If they wanted to receive more half-ounce coins, Kong Anguo would need to be quicker at identifying the treasure chests.

Having clearly assessed Kong Anguo's discernment abilities, Du Wencai continued to urge Kong Anguo on.

"Uncle Du, you must know where my father is, right?" Kong Anguo asked.

Kong Anguo couldn't track down Kong Zhong, and even if he did, he couldn't offer any help, but Du Wencai was entirely capable of assisting him.

While Du Wencai was rambling on about his money-making plans, Kong Anguo quickly recounted the current predicament of Kong Zhong and the others.

"What? Another tunnel being dug? And for Shen Peigong? Old Kong hid so well, yet Shen Peigong still caught him?"

Du Wencai felt a chill run down his spine, realizing that Kong Zhong and his team couldn't function without him, and that even their most skilled and trusted tactics had been broken.

However, since Kong Zhong and his group were acting in secret, someone always had to stay behind to take care of Kong Anguo.

He scratched his head, realizing that there was no hope of making money next; he still had to go and bail people out.

"The masters of the Lu School of Confucian School are all gathered at the Confucius Temple, and they're not acting alone. It's too difficult to get Confucius back under their noses. It's better to hope they can create a safe haven for themselves to escape to," Du Wencai thought for a while before saying, "Uncle Du doesn't have the ability to get people out of trouble; he can only cooperate with them to create a safe haven!"

"Then hurry up and dig!" Kong Anguo urged.

"Then I need to know where they're digging the tunnels," Du Wencai said helplessly. "I can only cooperate if I figure out where they're building the tunnels."

"Brother Dongfang, you overheard their conversation. Where do you think my father might have gone?" Kong Anguo asked in a low voice.

"You know Shen Peigong's strength. Who in Chang'an City needs Shen Peigong to dig tunnels to ambush?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Shen Peigong couldn't defeat many people, such as Li Guang, Cheng Bushi, Dou Ying, Old Lady Dou, Granny Dou, Empress Wang, Guan Fu..."

Before Kong Anguo could even mention it, Du Wencai rattled off a whole bunch of names.

Some were inferior in literary skills, others were outmatched in terms of Law Treasure, some had their skills overturned by force, and still others were killed in a few swift strikes upon first meeting.

As a powerful cultivator specializing in Technique Method, Shen Peigong's weaknesses are obvious, making him a target for many.

"What benefits would Shen Peigong bring to these people?" Zhang Xuezhou asked. "For example, would Shen Peigong launch a sneak attack and kill Li Guang?"

"Killing Li Guang would only fulfill the wishes of the Xiong State and wouldn't bring any benefits," Du Wencai said, shaking his head. "Shen Pei is unlikely to kill Li Guang."

"What about the others?" Zhang Xuezhou asked.

"Is Shen Pei planning to assassinate His Majesty and replace the ruler of the court?" Kong Anguo pondered for a moment before saying in a deep voice, "Or does he intend to secretly kill the King of Huainan to achieve some ulterior motive, or perhaps..."

When Kong Anguo shifted his focus to another possibility, he felt that Shen Peigong was simply throwing an egg against a rock.

If Shen Peigong's target was Anle Palace, not only would Shen Peigong be beaten to death, but his father and all those involved would also be killed.

Regardless of which side Shen Peigong offends, failure will inevitably lead to endless troubles.

Kong Anguo hadn't been in Chang'an City for long, but he knew exactly who he could mess with and who he couldn't.

He kept eliminating possibilities in his mind, yet he was getting closer and closer to the most realistic situation.

Once you determine Shen Peigong's motives, it's not difficult to figure out where he wants Kong Zhong and the others to dig the tunnel.

"Uncle Du, we..."

"You don't think Shen Pei has gone mad and wants to go to Anle Palace to fight with Old Madam Dou, do you? He wants to pick on the strongest opponent?"

Zhang Xuezhou had some guesses, Kong Anguo made a rough deduction after analysis, while Du Wencai found it hard to believe.

Confucian School's Technique Method are numerous and complex, but their power is generally inferior. Although Shen Peigong has a high reputation, his strength is only at the level of a middle-class leader of a hundred schools of thought.

In the past, top-tier martial arts masters who attacked Chang'an City were either killed or seriously injured. They fought back and forth for nearly a hundred years, and there were many instances of assassination attempts. Du Wencai did not believe that Shen Peigong could do better.

Shen Peigong's actions were bound to fail, and would inevitably implicate Kong Zhong and others.