Chapter 180: The Treasure Map Bewitches the Heart

"The Treasure Map is fake!?"

Zhang Jing had just sat down on the stool, but she "slapped" it and stood back up, an expression of astonishment on her pretty face.

She noticed the gazes of everyone in the inn turning toward her, so she hurriedly sat down and said in a suspicious tone, "You wouldn't be trying to ditch me and keep it all for yourself, would you? I'm telling you, I'm sticking with you."

Yu Liancheng said, "Do you know who the owner of the Treasure Map is?"

"It's the great hero Yan Nantian."

When mentioning the three words "Yan Nantian," Zhang Jing's tone could not help but carry an air of infinite respect.

"According to rumors, over a dozen years ago, the great hero Yannantian broke into the Villain's Valley for some unknown reason and never came out again. This Treasure Map was left behind before he entered the valley. He seemed to know that entering the valley meant certain death, so he hid all the antiques and treasures he had collected during his life, as well as his invincible Sword Technique, in a secret place. Without this Treasure Map, no one could ever find it."

Yu Liancheng nodded: "Treasures are enough to tempt people, and that Sword Technique is even more likely to make people green with envy. Whoever obtains the Sword Technique can be invincible under heaven."

Xiaoxiannv's expression dimmed: "Don't worry, I don't want the Sword Technique, nor do I want the treasures. I am only looking for a few items related to the great hero Yannantian, regardless of their value..."

Her mother, Sanniang, seemed to have an unspeakable relationship with Yan Nantian, and it was to comfort her mother that she pursued Yan Nantian's treasure.

"But this treasure of Yan Nantian's is fake." Yu Liancheng shook his head: "Yan Nantian is the 'World's Number One Swordsman,' with peerless Sword Technique and profound internal energy. Even if the Villain's Valley is extremely dangerous, it might not be something he would take to heart, so why would entering the valley mean certain death? If it truly meant certain death, Yan Nantian, though heroic, is not a fool; why would he need to go to the Villain's Valley?"

Xiaoxiannv said: "But... but it is true that after he entered the valley, there was no more news of him. I fear he has already fallen victim to the villains' poisonous schemes."

"That is true. Although Yan Nantian's martial arts are high, the Five Great Villains have many poisonous schemes, and he was not careful enough, but that does not mean entering the valley meant certain death."

Yu Liancheng continued: "Furthermore, you should also know that great heroes are always penniless, and Yan Nantian is a peerless hero, but also a peerless pauper. The weapon he used was a rusted sword that would snap at a single bend, and he often didn't even have money for wine. How could a person like him have antiques and treasures?"

"But..."

"Even if Yan Nantian knew he was going to die, why would he create a Treasure Map? Could he not have entrusted it to his close friends, instead of inciting slaughter and strife? As for the invincible Sword Technique, that is even more of a fallacy. There are only invincible people in the world, not invincible martial arts."

Yu Liancheng spoke eloquently: "I know there was once an expert named Liu Ruosong. His own martial arts were already quite good, and he even learned a shocking, world-defying martial art and obtained a shocking, world-defying Demon blade. A person like that should have been invincible under heaven. Yet, in the end, he was easily killed by a young man named Ding Peng using a Wooden Blade."

Xiaoxiannv said: "The news of this Treasure Map has already spread through half the martial arts world; it shouldn't be fake."

"This is precisely because someone is fanning the flames, wanting the martial arts heroes to kill each other so they can reap the benefits," Yu Liancheng said leisurely. "If someone truly believes in the Treasure Map and rushes about for it, or even loses their life, that person is just stupid and foolish."

Xiaoxiannv snorted.

Apparently, she was just such a person.

Just as she was about to ask Yu Liancheng why he had taken the Treasure Map, the waiter had already brought the dishes over: "The dishes are all here, please enjoy your meal, dear guests."

"Sigh, it's hard to persuade a ghost that's hell-bent on dying with good words." Yu Liancheng glanced at the waiter and sighed lightly.

Xiaoxiannv looked at the dishes, her eyebrows furrowed, and she stood up, slapping the table, and scolded sharply: "With such poisoning tactics, you dare to act presumptuously in front of this young lady?"

"The guest is joking, we... how would we dare to use poison..."

The waiter seemed to have been stunned, but soon he wore a fawning smile, bowing and apologizing repeatedly, making people let down their guard. But the next moment, a cold light flew from his sleeve, suddenly shooting toward Xiaoxiannv.

At the same time, the guests at the nearby tables also moved, attacking together.

They had naturally come for the Treasure Map as well.

The words Yu Liancheng had spoken earlier were clearly meant for them to hear.

It was just a pity that they clearly hadn't listened.

In an instant, blade light flashed, Sword Qi struck, and they enveloped the two from all directions.

Xiaoxiannv waved her jade palm, taking the initiative to strike first, and injured the waiter.

Immediately following, the Soft Whip in her hand uncoiled like a venomous snake, and in just a moment, several burly men had already been whipped away by her.

This Xiaoxiannv was young, yet she could intimidate the underworld; her hand-to-hand skills were naturally not bad.

"Everyone, shoulder to shoulder, let's go together! It's just a woman!" This group had been shocked by Xiaoxiannv's martial arts, but immediately someone shouted to incite them.

That person was in the crowd. Xiaoxiannv gave a delicate snort, and with a "slap," she flicked her long whip, the tip of which struck the man's chest, sending him flying horizontally.

Xiaoxiannv turned her beautiful eyes, saw the crowd was already timid, and then looked at Yu Liancheng, who was drinking wine and watching the excitement with a smile. Her heart stirred: "The Treasure Map is on that person. If you have the ability to search it from him, this young lady will absolutely not interfere."

The crowd hesitated for a moment, but ultimately abandoned Xiaoxiannv and charged toward Yu Liancheng.

"Guests are guests, I'll treat you to a drink."

Yu Liancheng slapped the table with his palm; the wine cups on the table didn't move, but the wine inside jumped up.

He slapped the air again, and the wine shot out, its speed extremely fast, carrying immense power. Its force was in no way inferior to a powerful bow or heavy crossbow, and in the blink of an eye, it struck the incoming martial arts practitioners.

Some were hit in vital points by the wine arrows and died on the spot. Some had their shoulders, hands, or feet pierced, wailing incessantly. The few who remained intact were so frightened that their limbs went weak, unable to even speak—when had they ever seen such brilliant martial arts?

Xiaoxiannv's cherry lips parted slightly, and she seemed somewhat surprised: "Only now do I believe that the Treasure Map is definitely not the great hero Yannantian's treasure."

"Oh?"

"Since you are not a great hero, yet possess such high martial arts, and can gather or scatter thousands of gold in the blink of an eye, taking whatever wealth you want from the world, why would you need to look for so-called treasure?" Xiaoxiannv said: "But since it's fake, why did you still get your hands on it?"

"You'll know when the time comes." Yu Liancheng stood up and walked out of the inn.

"You already promised to let me follow you, so no matter the ends of the earth, I will follow you." Xiaoxiannv chased after him.

Yu Liancheng's laughter came: "Then are we going to make vows of eternal love, to be together until death?"

"Pah!" Xiaoxiannv's pretty face flushed, and she spat, hurriedly chasing after him: "Where do you plan to go first? Can you tell me?"

"Why should I tell you?"

"I'm begging you, just tell me, okay?" Xiaoxiannv's eyes rolled, and pleading words spilled from her mouth.

"Hiss, you woman..."

"Tell me, please." Xiaoxiannv bit her lip, her face flushed red, but in her heart, there was suddenly an indescribable sense of excitement, more exciting than the first time she had killed someone.

"First to Jiuxiu Villa, then to Emei."