My Disciples Are All Villains

Yu Shangrong's gaze fell on the mysterious box. He appraised it for a moment before he looked away.

Si Wuya said, "This is master's box. It needs your weapon as a key to unlock it."

"Master is an interesting person. Even when he's cooped up in the mountain, he never fails to find something for us to do," Yu Shangrong said with a smile.

"Perhaps, he's trying to test us with this."

"Seventh Junior Brother, you know the human heart very well, and yet, you can't see through master's thoughts?"

Si Wuya shook his head and heaved a long sigh. He walked to Yu Shangrong's side with his hands on his back. He looked down at the bustling street of Anyang as he said, "If this were in the past, I would confidently say that I'm privy to his thoughts. However, lately, I find myself becoming uncertain."

Yu Shangrong said lightly, "I don't really care. In fact, I don't think much about him. So long as he stays put, I'll feel at ease."

"Clearly, things aren't going the way that you like it to," Si Wuya said with a smile, "Master is doing the exact opposite. First, he kills the Fiend Temple's Second Seat, Zuo Xinchan. Then, he captured the leader of the Black Knights, Fan Xiuwen. He has a senior Buddhist monk helping him, and he recruited the Clarity Sect's disciple, Pan Zhong, and the Heavenly Sword Sect's disciple, Zhou Jifeng… Even Yun Sect's Hua Wudao is never heard from again after he went up the mountain."

"It seems like your confidence has dwindled, Seventh Junior Brother… You sound hesitant," Yu Shangrong said.

Si Wuya nodded. He did not deny it. He said, "I obtained this information from the Darknet. However, there are several conflicting reports. The part about the senior Buddhist monk cannot be trusted. It's true that the Buddhist Sect played a part on the holy altar… However, there's a possibility that the senior Buddhist monk is master himself…"

Yu Shangrong was slightly surprised. He said, "Master is skilled in many cultivation methods. Your speculation is not without merits."

"If this is true, then, there's a possibility that master has found a way to master cultivation methods from other sects. Yes, that's possible," Si Wuya mused.

Yu Shangrong did not reply. He stayed silent as he looked at a distant spot in Anyang City.

The crowd on the streets slowly began to thin. The sun was setting in the west.

Si Wuya finally turned to look at the box before he said, "Second Senior Brother, it's up to you to unlock the box or not."

"You've made your choice?"

"Master's time is almost up. If he found a new method, I'll wipe my eyes and wait," Si Wuya said.

"I don't like to use my brains…" Yu Shangrong said calmly, "Although there are times that I don't agree with your methods, I think you're right, in this case." He did not reach for his sword, but the long sword on his back that gleamed with a faint red sheen moved of its own accord. It lodged itself into the groove on the mysterious box.

Click!

A crisp sound rang in the air.

An opening appeared on the side of the box.

The Longevity Sword was ejected and returned to the scabbard on Yu Shangrong's back. He asked, "How come the box didn't open?"

Si Wuya replied, "We still need Eldest Senior Brother's Jasper Saber."

"Seventh Junior Brother, you're smarter than the others. What do you think is contained in this box?"

"It's not heavy so it can't be gold, silver, or gemstones. I don't think it's any heavy weapon as well. To be contained in such a box, I do hope that it's a treasure map," Si Wuya said jokingly.

"A treasure map? Something that'll lead us to something valuable like the bones of the Bai people?" Yu Shangrong sounded puzzled, but his expression was indifferent.

"The bones of the Bai people are not actual treasures, but I'm sure there's some sort of treasure. It just hasn't been found yet. The palace has been fishing bodies out of the river for a decade and has found nothing. We can basically eliminate the possibility of it being the bones of the Bai people," Si Wuya said.

Yu Shangrong sighed softly. "I hope Sixth Junior Sister will be able to move on from this."

"Put aside that matter, I'm afraid she's in dire straits now. Knowing master, things bode ill for her."

Yu Shangrong nodded. He did not continue the conversation about Ye Tianxin. Instead, he glanced at the mysterious box next to him and said calmly, "Eldest Senior Brother seldom shows himself. I don't think you'll be able to find him."

"I'll try… Perhaps, Eldest Senior Brother will share the same opinion as us," Si Wuya said.

Yu Shangrong pointed in the Divine Capital's direction and said, "Eldest Senior Brother isn't on Pingdu Mountain. He should be in the Divine Capital."

When Si Wuya heard this, he was slightly taken aback. "Eldest Senior Brother has been cultivating in seclusion all this time. Many of his missions were carried out by his subordinates. Why did he go to the Divine Capital, the tiger's lair and the dragon's den?"

Yu Shangrong only said, "I don't like the way Eldest Senior Brother does things."

"Uh…"

"That's why I killed Chen Wenjie."

"…"

"I gave Eldest Senior Brother and Chen Wenjie a notice in advance. I told them I would raise my sword. If they came over with their necks extended, their heads would certainly be lopped off, and their blood would spill," Yu Shangrong said slowly.

Si Wuya was at a loss for words. He finally sighed and said, "You and Eldest Senior Brother have your own standpoints. There's no right or wrong.

"Seventh Junior Brother, you've always been one who can see the bigger picture. Do you think Eldest Senior Brother is doing the right thing?" Yu Shangrong asked.

"Well…" Si Wuya paused before continuing with a smile, "Eldest Senior Brother is wrong."

Yu Shangrong flashed a satisfied smile. "You do have a unique take on things, Seventh Junior Brother."

At this moment, troops of mounted soldiers appeared on Anyang City's streets. There were three to five red-robed cultivators among the troops of 30 to 50 men.

Yu Shangrong pointed at the troops and said, "You're right. Wei Zhuoyan has sent someone."

Si Wuya placed his hands on his back and said with a smile, "Although Wei Zhuoyan doesn't agree with a certain someone on matters of governance, they're grasshoppers tied on the same string, after all. Besides, Wei Zhuoyan is too ugly…"

"Ugly?"

"It doesn't matter. In any case, Wei Zhuoyan's current move is low," Si Wuya said with a smile.

"Will you make a move, Seventh Junior Brother?" Yu Shangrong asked.

Si Wuya shook his head and said, "Just like before, I'll observe the situation for now and make my decision when I have to. Second Senior Brother, don't you prefer to do things this way as well?"

"You know me well, Junior Brother Wuya," Yu Shangrong said.

The organized troops proceeded along the streets below. The red-robed cultivators left Anyang City with the mounted soldiers.

Finally, Si Wuya cupped his fists together and said, "Second Senior Brother, I'll take my leave now and head to the Divine Capital."

"Alright," Yu Shangrong waved his hand and said, "Tell him something for me. Tell him that I don't want to meddle in his matters, and he shouldn't meddle in mine as well."

"I'll convey the message faithfully…" Si Wuya said as he waved his hand. The box hovering in the air vanished instantly.

Yu Shangrong glanced at the bodies strewn haphazardly on the floor. He frowned slightly and said, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to kill you… For every grievance, someone is responsible; for every debt, there's a debtor. Farewell." He leaped nimbly into the air and walked on air as though he was strolling in a park. He followed the mounted soldiers and the red-robed cultivators.

…

Meanwhile, Si Wuya returned to his flying chariot.

"Sect Master, we saw Senior Sword Devil heading in the Golden Court Mountain's direction."

"There's no need to worry. Second Senior Brother knows what he's doing. By the way, is there any news about the Yun, Tian, and Luo Sect's Sword Saint, Luo Shisan?"

"In reply to your question, Sect Master, Sword Saint Luo Shisan hasn't made any moves yet."

"Report to me right away if he does. I believe Second Senior Brother will like an opponent like him very much."

"Yes, Sect Master."