Siheyuan: Tathagata's Palm suppresses the entire courtyard!

That night, Xu Mingjie was sorting out materials in his study room, preparing for the next day's classes. Suddenly, the phone rang. He picked up the phone and heard a familiar but long-lost voice - Ran Qiuye. Ran Qiuye was his high school classmate. They had prepared for the college entrance examination together and participated in various competitions together. They were very good friends. However, since graduating from college, the two gradually lost contact.

"Mingjie, I need to see you. There are some things that I must explain to you in person." Ran Qiuye's voice sounded a little hurried.

"Qiuye, it's very late now. Is there anything that can't be discussed over the phone?" Xu Mingjie was a little confused, but still tried to ask calmly.

"No, this matter is very important and cannot be explained over the phone. Can you come to my house right away?" There was a hint of uneasiness in Ran Qiuye's tone, which made Xu Mingjie realize the seriousness of the matter.

"Okay, I'll be there right away." Xu Mingjie hung up the phone, quickly picked up his coat, and said to Li Xiaonan who was reading in the living room, "Xiaonan, I have something to go out for a while, and I may be back late."

"It's so late, what's the matter that needs to be dealt with now?" Li Xiaonan put down the book and looked at him with concern.

"It's an old friend who called. She seemed to have encountered some urgent matters. I'll go over to take a look and will be back soon." Xu Mingjie kissed Li Xiaonan's forehead and comforted her.

Li Xiaonan nodded and said, "Be careful on the road and come back early."

Xu Mingjie drove to Ran Qiuye's home. The streets at night were particularly quiet, and the street lights stretched his shadow very long. He was full of questions and worries. What happened to Ran Qiuye? Why was she so anxious to see him?

Half an hour later, Xu Mingjie arrived at Ran Qiuye's home. She lived in an old apartment building, the lights in the corridor were dim, and the walls were full of traces of time. Ran Qiuye was already waiting for her downstairs, and when she saw Xu Mingjie, she hurried over to meet him.

"Mingjie, thank you for coming. Let's go upstairs and talk." Ran Qiuye's face looked a little haggard, with a hint of tears in her eyes.

The two walked into Ran Qiuye's apartment one after the other. Ran Qiuye poured him a cup of tea and sat down on the sofa with her hands clasped tightly together.

"Qiu Ye, what happened? Why are you looking for me so urgently? Is there something important?" Xu Mingjie sat opposite her and asked with concern.

Ran Qiuye took a deep breath, as if to organize his thoughts, and then slowly said: "Mingjie, do you still remember the history competition we participated in in high school?"

Xu Mingjie nodded, "Of course I remember, that was an important turning point in my life."

"Actually, I made an important discovery in that competition..." Ran Qiuye's voice trembled a little. She paused, as if recalling the past.

"Discovery? What discovery?" Xu Mingjie was even more confused.

"In the final round of that competition, I discovered some important information about the history of our hometown, but I didn't tell anyone at the time. Because... it involved some unknown secrets." Ran Qiuye lowered his head, as if trying to control his emotions.

"Secret? What secret?" Xu Mingjie became more and more curious.

Ran Qiuye raised his head with a complicated look in his eyes. "Mingjie, I discovered a historical truth that has been hidden for many years, about some major events in our hometown. However, I was worried that if I said it out loud, it would cause a lot of trouble, so I chose to remain silent."

"What about now? Why are you telling me this now?" Xu Mingjie frowned, trying to understand Ran Qiuye's decision.

"Because I recently found out that someone has started investigating these things. I'm worried that if we don't deal with it soon, it will have a great impact on us. So, I need your help." There was a plea in Ran Qiuye's tone.

Xu Mingjie thought for a while and nodded, "Okay, Qiuye, I will help you. Let's see what's going on."

Ran Qiuye looked at Xu Mingjie gratefully, "Thank you, Mingjie. Your help is very important to me."

Over the next few days, Xu Mingjie and Ran Qiuye studied the materials she had found. The ancient documents and records revealed some unknown historical events in his hometown, involving many complicated people and relationships. As the research deepened, Xu Mingjie gradually understood Ran Qiuye's concerns and began to realize the importance of this matter.

One night, Xu Mingjie was sorting out documents in his study when the phone rang again. This time it was an unfamiliar number. He picked up the phone and heard a deep male voice: "Mr. Xu Mingjie? I'm Li Zhongliang. I want to talk to you about something."

"Li Zhongliang? Do we know each other?" Xu Mingjie frowned.

"I don't know you, but I know you. I know you are researching some historical events, and I have some information that may be helpful to you." Li Zhongliang's voice sounded very confident.

"How do you know I'm researching these? Who are you?" Xu Mingjie asked vigilantly.

"Let's meet and talk. It's safer this way." Li Zhongliang said directly, and then told him a meeting place.

Xu Mingjie hung up the phone, his heart full of doubts and uneasiness. He told Ran Qiuye about this, and the two decided to go together to meet this mysterious Li Zhongliang.

The next night, they came to the place designated by Li Zhongliang - a remote cafe. The cafe was dimly lit, with only a few guests sitting in the corner. Xu Mingjie and Ran Qiuye sat by the window, waiting for Li Zhongliang to appear.

Not long after, a middle-aged man came in, wearing a black windbreaker and looking stern. He walked straight towards them, sat down and got straight to the point: "Xu Mingjie, Ran Qiuye, hello. I know you are investigating some historical events in your hometown, and I have some important information."

"Who are you? Why do you want to help us?" Xu Mingjie asked vigilantly.

"I am a historian who specializes in the history of my hometown. Over the years, I have been investigating some forgotten truths. Now I need your help because I cannot complete this task alone." There was a hint of determination in Li Zhongliang's eyes.

"Then what is your information? Can you show it to us?" Ran Qiuye asked.

Li Zhongliang took out some old documents and photos from his bag and handed them to them. Xu Mingjie and Ran Qiuye looked through them carefully and found that the information was more detailed and in-depth than what they had previously known.

"Where did this information come from?" Xu Mingjie asked.

"It took me many years and visits to many places to collect this information. Now, I hope we can work together to uncover the historical truth." Li Zhongliang's tone was full of sincerity.