Chapter 188: People of Yihua Palace

"I have finished saying what you all should remember; now, it is time to reconcile the conflicts between you." Yu Liancheng stood tall with his hands behind his back, his gaze sweeping across the forbidden ground: "You are all veterans of the Edo; do you not find this whole affair rather bizarre?"

Huangji Dashi said: "May I ask... Excellency, how is it bizarre?"

Yu Liancheng said: "It is a simple logic. Even if the Treasure Map were real, there should only be one copy, yet now almost everyone has one in their hands. Could it be that Yannantian was deathly afraid others wouldn't find his treasure? Or was he afraid that too few people would come to find the treasure, and thus wouldn't kill each other?"

"True, that is indeed the case."

"It is said that Yannantian was destitute and penniless; how could he possibly possess ancient treasures?"

"Heh, then why did you run here from thousands of miles away?"

"I... I just felt there was a conspiracy, so I came to advise you all."

Yu Liancheng coughed lightly, and the scene immediately fell silent: "As for this so-called treasure matter, I believe you have all realized it must be a fabrication. You must not fall for the villain's sinister scheme; you should turn hostility into friendship."

Huangji Dashi pressed his palms together and said: "Amitabha Buddha, what you say is correct."

Wang Yizhua said loudly: "Whoever still wants to fight and kill, only to let others watch the show from the sidelines, would be a fool."

This place was originally a site of life-and-death slaughter, yet with these few words, Yu Liancheng had transformed the hostility into harmony, though Shenxi Daozhang and the other Emei Disciples still looked somewhat sullen.

"But regardless, you all trespassing into the Emei Jin-di is also highly inappropriate," Yu Liancheng added.

Huangji Dashi said: "We were blinded by greed; we offer our apologies to Shenxi Daozhang."

The crowd of heroes offered their apologies one after another, and Shenxi Daozhang and the Emei Disciples, having regained their face, felt much more at ease.

"This matter of the Treasure Map was clearly planned by someone on purpose, with the goal of making you all kill each other so that they could profit from it."

Yu Liancheng turned his gaze toward Shenxi Daozhang and said: "This incident happened suddenly, yet you and the others were already prepared here; clearly, someone tipped you off."

Shenxi Daozhang pondered and nodded: "That is correct."

Yu Liancheng said: "You should state the person's name; even if they are not the mastermind, they are deeply involved."

"But..." Shenxi Daozhang frowned slightly, as if he had other considerations. Or perhaps, that person's status was extraordinary and could not be spoken of plainly.

Just at this moment, two figures suddenly broke in.

"Is this where Yannantian's treasure is?"

"Why don't I see where the treasure is?"

The voice was cold and delicate. Under the lamplight, two more people appeared. Their clothes were as white as snow, their hair as black as lacquer, their skin even whiter than their clothes, and their eyes even blacker than their hair. They appeared to be nothing more than two delicate, fragile, and beautiful young girls.

Everyone present was a top-tier figure in the Edo, but the two girls in white seemed as if they hadn't looked at anyone at all, their two pairs of bright, autumn-like eyes slightly upturned. This innate, unforced arrogance carried a naturally captivating power.

Shenxi Daozhang also saw that these two girls were by no means ordinary, and he dared not underestimate them, only saying: "Yannantian has never had any connection with our sect, and there is no treasure of Yannantian here; you two have come for nothing. Furthermore, this is the Emei Jin-di, so I hope you two will leave soon."

The girl on the right was smaller in stature, with a round face, large eyes, and a few light freckles on the tip of her nose, which added a touch of charm and naivety to her coldness. At this moment, she sneered: "Sister Helu, do you not believe what she says?"

The girl on the left had a slimmer figure, a long, oval face, and sharp, willow-leaf eyebrows. Her coldness carried an indescribable charm as she said faintly: "I was born not believing what others say; no matter who says it, I don't believe it."

Shenxi Daozhang snorted coldly: "If you don't believe it, then there is nothing to be done."

The round-faced girl sneered: "Who says there is nothing to be done? We are going to search!"

Helu said: "Correct, search! I think these few coffins look like the place where the treasure is hidden; you open the coffins first and let us take a look."

When these words were spoken, everyone's expression changed.

If one were to say Yu Liancheng was arrogant enough, compared to these two girls, he was practically gentle and polite.

"Presumptuous!" Shenxi Daozhang's expression changed in a fit of rage, and several of his disciples were even more furious, their hair standing on end. Unable to hold back any longer, two sword lights struck toward the two girls respectively.

But the two girls didn't even look, waiting until the sword lights were right in front of them before their slender hands suddenly and lightly guided and deflected them.

This technique appeared simple, but for some reason, the two long swords that had struck like lightning were somehow deflected back. The sword on the left stabbed toward the hair bun of the person on the right, and the one on the right stabbed into the shoulder of the person on the left. Both men were terrified out of their wits, frozen there, unable to lift their hands.

The crowd of martial arts heroes could not help but be horrified.

Shenxi Daozhang's expression changed: "This... could this be the 'Transferring Flowers and Grafting Jade'?"

Helu said faintly: "At least you have some discernment."

The round-faced girl sneered: "Now you should open the coffins and let us take a look."

Shenxi Daozhang barely suppressed his anger, walked toward Yu Liancheng, and cupped his hands: "Yihua Palace is being too overbearing. Shenxi lacks the strength to deal with this and is deeply ashamed. I hope you, Young Master, will uphold justice; the Emei Sect will never forget your great kindness."

"Very well, since I intend to reconcile this matter, I naturally cannot stand idly by."

Having said this, Yu Liancheng glanced at Xiaoyuer with a smile before turning to the two girls from Yihua Palace.

Xiaoyuer was clever and eccentric; he naturally understood his meaning.

If Xiaoyuer had begged Yu Liancheng like Shenxi Daozhang did a few days ago, Yu Liancheng would naturally have dealt with Bishe Shenjun for him, but if one tried to use him as a shield, they were just asking for trouble.

"Inside the coffins are the remains of the past sect leaders of the Emei Sect; you two young ladies must not fall for the villain's scheme."

The round-faced girl sneered: "So what if they are remains? It's not like we haven't seen dead people before."

Helu said faintly: "Just open the coffins. If it really isn't the treasure, we wouldn't bother staying in such a place."

Shenxi Daozhang was so angry his face turned red, his teeth gnashing together.

This Yihua Palace was truly too overbearing. If not for the presence of the "Heavenly Soldier Master," the Emei group would likely have had to fight these two maids to the death.

But if they really killed these two girls and angered Yihua Palace, then the Emei Sect would have no other outcome than total annihilation.

"Fine, as long as you can make me move a single step from where I stand, not only will I not stop you, but I will even help you persuade Shenxi Daozhang." Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back and smiled: "However, it would be best to have your young master come out; otherwise, you are still far from enough."

"Presumptuous!"

"Audacious!"

The two maids were furious. Yihua Palace had dominated the Edo for who knows how many years, and they had long since developed their arrogant temperaments. So-called martial arts experts and heroes were nothing but spineless cowards; when had anyone ever dared to be so disrespectful to people from Yihua Palace?

In the blink of an eye, the two women drifted forward and attacked Yu Liancheng.