"I think we should just barge in and grab Yu Tongbao. Let's see what he has to say then!" Huo Qiyang chimed in.
It was evident that Huo Qiyang was the more impulsive one.
The remaining disciple from the Myriad Treasures Pavilion stood a short distance away, listening to their words with a look of fear, his body trembling slightly.
Seeing this, Li Changsheng said, "Don't be impatient. We're here today for courtesy before force. Let's first see what Yu Tongbao has to say!"
Although Huo Qiyang and even Xue Qiao'er didn't entirely agree with Li Changsheng, they didn't dare to object since he was the Vice Hall Master.
They stood behind Li Changsheng, waiting for the Myriad Treasures Pavilion disciple who had gone to announce their arrival to return.
Before long, the disciple returned and said to Li Changsheng, "Our Pavilion Master says you can come in. He's waiting for you inside!"
Thus, Li Changsheng and his group followed the disciple into the Myriad Treasures Pavilion.
Qin Yi naturally followed along.
Led by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion disciple, Qin Yi and his companions entered the pavilion and arrived in a spacious hall.
Upon entering the hall, Li Changsheng and the others saw that besides Yu Tongbao sitting there, three other figures were present: Jin Xiuxian, Abbot Huiguang, and Mao Xiang. Their expressions darkened.
Yu Tongbao, who had been seated, immediately stood up upon seeing Li Changsheng and his group enter. He stepped forward to greet them, "Vice Hall Master Li, your esteemed presence today truly graces our Myriad Treasures Pavilion!"
"You should have informed me beforehand of your visit, so I could have made proper preparations to welcome you!"
He wore an overly enthusiastic smile.
Anyone unaware would have thought he and Li Changsheng were close friends.
Li Changsheng did not immediately respond to Yu Tongbao's warm greeting. Instead, he turned to Jin Xiuxian and the other two and asked, "King Miao, Abbot Huiguang, Sect Leader Mao, what brings you to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion today?"
Faced with Li Changsheng's questioning, a flicker of unease crossed the faces of Jin Xiuxian and the other two.
However, recalling what Yu Tongbao had told them earlier, Abbot Huiguang spoke after a moment, "Amitabha, Vice Hall Master Li. This old monk has some words that have been brewing for several years, and I wish to share them with you today!"
Li Changsheng: "Oh?"
"Since the establishment of the Order Hall, numerous regulations have been imposed upon our martial arts world, restricting us like prisoners!"
Abbot Huiguang raised his right palm in front of him and said sincerely, "I hope Vice Hall Master Li will withdraw these restrictions and restore freedom to our martial arts world!"
As soon as he finished speaking, before Li Changsheng could respond, Jin Xiuxian immediately added, "Abbot Huiguang speaks the truth. We martial arts factions are not criminals. On what grounds does your Order Hall enact so many rules to govern us?"
"Our Miao village has committed no great offense. Merely because we know how to raise蛊虫 (gu worms), your Order Hall has imposed a lockdown, forbidding us from easily leaving our village! This has been going on for over a decade. The number of times I have left the village can be counted on two hands. It's the same for other members of our Miao village. Many of our children haven't even left the northwestern region since birth!"
"Our Miao village does not wish to continue this way. We hope Vice Hall Master Li will relay our plea to your superiors to abolish these restrictions!"
"Even if you cannot lift all restrictions on the martial arts world, we hope you can at least remove the restrictions on our northwestern martial arts community!" Mao Xiang chimed in. "Our Golden Saber Sect has truly had enough!"
Hearing the words of the three, Li Changsheng, Xue Qiao'er, and Fang Zheng'ao, who stood there, were all stunned.
Their faces showed utter shock and disbelief.
Qin Yi listened, his hands unconsciously crossed in front of his chest, a look of keen interest on his face.
As soon as they had entered, Xue Qiao'er had quietly introduced him to the three of them, informing him that they were the leaders of several forces in the northwestern region.
Now, listening to Jin Xiuxian and the other two, their intent was clear: they were dissatisfied with the rules set by the Order Hall and wanted Li Changsheng to remove their supervision.
Furthermore, their presence in the Myriad Treasures Pavilion at this time was highly significant.
Li Changsheng had brought his people to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to confront Yu Tongbao, but before he could even utter a word of accusation, Jin Xiuxian and the others had already put them on the defensive.
At this moment, Qin Yi couldn't help but wonder if Lan Baizhi's request for him to come to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion to watch the show referred to this.
Fang Zheng'ao also sensed the unusual situation and said, "Abbot Huiguang, King Miao, Sect Leader Mao, we came to the Myriad Treasures Pavilion today because, just last night, the Myriad Treasures Pavilion, without any reason, attacked our Order Hall members, resulting in two deaths and three injuries!"
"We want to question Pavilion Master Yu clearly and demand an explanation. Why did the Myriad Treasures Pavilion do this?"
"If you three families have any grievances or opinions regarding the Order Hall, we can arrange a specific time to sit down and discuss them at length another day! For now, we hope you will step aside so we can first address the matter of our Order Hall being attacked last night!"
Mao Xiang said, "Why another day? We are all here today, and we've run into each other. Let's resolve it now!"
"Precisely!" Abbot Huiguang agreed.
"Vice Hall Master Li, as the Vice Hall Master of the Order Hall, is fully capable of deciding whether to lift our restrictions or not!" Jin Xiuxian stated.
"Presumptuous!"
Huo Qiyang couldn't hold back and roared angrily, "Do you think our Order Hall *wants* to govern you? We do this for the peace and stability of the martial arts world and the mortal realm!"
"If we lift our restrictions on you, wouldn't you turn the world upside down? What would happen then if you started killing and burning in the mortal realm?"
"We are not murderers. How would we go around killing and burning in the mortal realm?" Mao Xiang retorted directly.
"You..."
Huo Qiyang was about to say more, but Li Changsheng stopped him with a hand after he uttered just one word.
Then, Li Changsheng took a step closer to the three of them, his face cold, and spat, "I see now. The three of you are here to assist Pavilion Master Yu today, aren't you?"
"..."
Mao Xiang, Jin Xiuxian, and Abbot Huiguang all fell silent, not speaking immediately.
After about ten seconds, Abbot Huiguang spoke again, "Amitabha! As the saying goes, when will the cycle of vengeance end? Although Pavilion Master Yu's men attacked your Order Hall members last night, to this old monk's knowledge, your Order Hall has also killed members of the Myriad Treasures Pavilion!"
"Therefore, last night's attack by the Myriad Treasures Pavilion was not without cause!"
"Why doesn't Vice Hall Master Li be more magnanimous and turn enmity into friendship?"
"Abbot Huiguang's words are reasonable!" Mao Xiang immediately seconded.