Yu Shangrongâs gaze fell on the mysterious box. He appraised it for a moment before he looked away.
Si Wuya said, âThis is masterâs box. It needs your weapon as a key to unlock it.â
âMaster is an interesting person. Even when heâs cooped up in the mountain, he never fails to find something for us to do,â Yu Shangrong said with a smile.
âPerhaps, heâs trying to test us with this.â
âSeventh Junior Brother, you know the human heart very well, and yet, you canât see through masterâs thoughts?â
Si Wuya shook his head and heaved a long sigh. He walked to Yu Shangrongâs side with his hands on his back. He looked down at the bustling street of Anyang as he said, âIf this were in the past, I would confidently say that Iâm privy to his thoughts. However, lately, I find myself becoming uncertain.â
Yu Shangrong said lightly, âI donât really care. In fact, I donât think much about him. So long as he stays put, Iâll feel at ease.â
âClearly, things arenât going the way that you like it to,â Si Wuya said with a smile, âMaster is doing the exact opposite. First, he kills the Fiend Templeâs 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 Sectâs disciple, Pan Zhong, and the Heavenly Sword Sectâs disciple, Zhou Jifeng⊠Even Yun Sectâs Hua Wudao is never heard from again after he went up the mountain.â
âIt seems like your confidence has dwindled, Seventh Junior Brother⊠You sound hesitant,â Yu Shangrong said.
Si Wuya nodded. He did not deny it. He said, âI obtained this information from the Darknet. However, there are several conflicting reports. The part about the senior Buddhist monk cannot be trusted. Itâs true that the Buddhist Sect played a part on the holy altar⊠However, thereâs a possibility that the senior Buddhist monk is master himselfâŠâ
Yu Shangrong was slightly surprised. He said, âMaster is skilled in many cultivation methods. Your speculation is not without merits.â
âIf this is true, then, thereâs a possibility that master has found a way to master cultivation methods from other sects. Yes, thatâs possible,â 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, âSecond Senior Brother, itâs up to you to unlock the box or not.â
âYouâve made your choice?â
âMasterâs time is almost up. If he found a new method, Iâll wipe my eyes and wait,â Si Wuya said.
âI donât like to use my brainsâŠâ Yu Shangrong said calmly, âAlthough there are times that I donât agree with your methods, I think youâre right, in this case.â 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.
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 Shangrongâs back. He asked, âHow come the box didnât open?â
Si Wuya replied, âWe still need Eldest Senior Brotherâs Jasper Saber.â
âSeventh Junior Brother, youâre smarter than the others. What do you think is contained in this box?â
âItâs not heavy so it canât be gold, silver, or gemstones. I donât think itâs any heavy weapon as well. To be contained in such a box, I do hope that itâs a treasure map,â Si Wuya said jokingly.
âA treasure map? Something thatâll lead us to something valuable like the bones of the Bai people?â Yu Shangrong sounded puzzled, but his expression was indifferent.
âThe bones of the Bai people are not actual treasures, but Iâm sure thereâs some sort of treasure. It just hasnât 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,â Si Wuya said.
Yu Shangrong sighed softly. âI hope Sixth Junior Sister will be able to move on from this.â
âPut aside that matter, Iâm afraid sheâs in dire straits now. Knowing master, things bode ill for her.â
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, âEldest Senior Brother seldom shows himself. I donât think youâll be able to find him.â
âIâll try⊠Perhaps, Eldest Senior Brother will share the same opinion as us,â Si Wuya said.
Yu Shangrong pointed in the Divine Capitalâs direction and said, âEldest Senior Brother isnât on Pingdu Mountain. He should be in the Divine Capital.â
When Si Wuya heard this, he was slightly taken aback. âEldest 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 tigerâs lair and the dragonâs den?â
Yu Shangrong only said, âI donât like the way Eldest Senior Brother does things.â
âThatâs why I killed Chen Wenjie.â
âI 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,â Yu Shangrong said slowly.
Si Wuya was at a loss for words. He finally sighed and said, âYou and Eldest Senior Brother have your own standpoints. Thereâs no right or wrong.
âSeventh Junior Brother, youâve always been one who can see the bigger picture. Do you think Eldest Senior Brother is doing the right thing?â Yu Shangrong asked.
âWellâŠâ Si Wuya paused before continuing with a smile, âEldest Senior Brother is wrong.â
Yu Shangrong flashed a satisfied smile. âYou do have a unique take on things, Seventh Junior Brother.â
At this moment, troops of mounted soldiers appeared on Anyang Cityâs 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, âYouâre right. Wei Zhuoyan has sent someone.â
Si Wuya placed his hands on his back and said with a smile, âAlthough Wei Zhuoyan doesnât agree with a certain someone on matters of governance, theyâre grasshoppers tied on the same string, after all. Besides, Wei Zhuoyan is too uglyâŠâ
âIt doesnât matter. In any case, Wei Zhuoyanâs current move is low,â Si Wuya said with a smile.
âWill you make a move, Seventh Junior Brother?â Yu Shangrong asked.
Si Wuya shook his head and said, âJust like before, Iâll observe the situation for now and make my decision when I have to. Second Senior Brother, donât you prefer to do things this way as well?â
âYou know me well, Junior Brother Wuya,â 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, âSecond Senior Brother, Iâll take my leave now and head to the Divine Capital.â
âAlright,â Yu Shangrong waved his hand and said, âTell him something for me. Tell him that I donât want to meddle in his matters, and he shouldnât meddle in mine as well.â
âIâll convey the message faithfullyâŠâ 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, âIâm sorry, I didnât mean to kill you⊠For every grievance, someone is responsible; for every debt, thereâs a debtor. Farewell.â 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.
âSect Master, we saw Senior Sword Devil heading in the Golden Court Mountainâs direction.â
âThereâs no need to worry. Second Senior Brother knows what heâs doing. By the way, is there any news about the Yun, Tian, and Luo Sectâs Sword Saint, Luo Shisan?â
âIn reply to your question, Sect Master, Sword Saint Luo Shisan hasnât made any moves yet.â
âReport to me right away if he does. I believe Second Senior Brother will like an opponent like him very much.â