Chapter 222: Righteous Robbers

He found Senior Brother Fan Xiao staring incredulously at Senior Brother Weilong and almost felt his own jaw drop at the sight that greeted him.

They were standing in what would usually be called a clearing. An artificial one, to be exact. Because the entire area had been flattened not by fire or cutting down the trees; rather, it looked as though a colossal, invisible weight had slammed down from above, flattening the earth completely.

As Yang got off the carpet, he felt himself slightly sink into the soft ground that seemed to now be a mixture of pulverized grass and crushed tree pulp.

Senior Brother Weilong was lounging back on the thick branch of a large tree at the edge of the recently made clearing with one of his arms tucked behind his head, his posture the very picture of idle contentment while Senior Brother Fan Xiao’s gaze was locked onto him, and Yang could understand why. 

Apart from the recent renovations, for which the credit clearly goes to his Senior Brothers, there were three mounds arranged around him. 

The smaller pile was made up of glowing beast cores of various colors, and Yang could feel the energy radiating off them even from several feet away. Knowing some of them were coming his way, Yang was happy.

The next pile was considerably less pleasing to the eye. It consisted of around two dozen naked cultivators, men and women both. Alive, just completely immobile without the rigid stiffness that came with the immobility talismans he was familiar with, making them look like dead bodies. 

The third and the largest pile was more understandable. It was a mountain of beast carcasses, stacked high enough to be twice Yang’s height.

As for the stars of the show?

A few hundred meters away, they were locked in combat with some kind of canine beast with pure fire for a mane, injuries covering their form as they struggled against its onslaught, but no one was worried about them because the beast had a leash around its neck with the other end connected to the leisurely reclining Senior Brother Song Weilong’s boot.

Seeing Senior Brother Weilong just lying down without lifting a finger, even at their arrival and Senior Brother Fan Xiao’s scorching look, it was clear who had to break the silence.

“I sent you to keep an eye on them.” Senior Brother Fan Xiao practically gritted out through clenched teeth.

Senior Brother Weilong finally got up and sat on the branch with his legs swinging. “I swear, Senior Brother, I haven’t taken my eyes off those two for a second.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao’s face turned colder. “What about you ensuring these two keep to creatures within their cultivation range?” His voice dripped with sarcasm now. “Or did these two somehow advance to the Nascent Soul Realm while in the short time we were separated?”

Senior Brother Weilong jumped down the branch and explained innocently. “I did ensure they didn't seek out creatures stronger than themselves.” He gestured to the pile of corpses. “All these are Golden Core beasts.”

They all looked down at the energy rope tied to his boot in unison, at which he looked a bit awkward and cleared his throat. “This one came to seek us out," he explained. “I just broke two of its legs and leashed it so the little ones can get some experience.”

Now, Senior Brother Qing An stepped in and began placating visibly furious Senior Brother Fan Xiao. “It wasn't their fault, Senior Brother. Also, it's good for the young ones to get a taste of danger while under supervision. It prevents them from seeking it out on their own.”

Senior Brother Fan Xiao didn’t say anything, but the deep furrow between his eyebrows eased slightly. He turned to look at the fight, followed by the rest of them. 

“How long had they been at it?” He asked.

“Around two hours.” Senior Brother Weilong answered.

Yang was still waiting for someone to address the other pile, but all three of them seemed content enough to watch Senior Brother Yuan Shen and Zhen Hao. Yang also realized where the fire was coming from when he saw the beast let out a roar that came with a wave of flames that was extinguished by a blast of water from Senior Brother Yuan Shen.

Finally, unable to bear it any longer, Yang asked, "What about the other one?"

All three turned to look at him.

Senior Brother Qing An asked, confused. “Other one?”

“The pile,” Yang explained, making a vague gesture towards it.

Senior Brother Weilong let out a gentle smile. “That Junior Brother is of course, for you. You will make the best use of the beast cores, and half the reason we came here was to get you these cores.” He looked thoughtful for a second. “I know we were initially going for the demonic beast, but these are even better.” 

Yang wanted to rip his hair out. “I meant the other pile, Senior Brother.”

He tilted his head like a confused puppy.

“The cultivators?” Senior Brother Qing An asked from behind Senior Brother Weilong, causing him to turn to look at him before he turned back to Yang. 

“Junior Brother, you are worried about the cultivators?” he asked Yang. “Don’t worry. They will not be able to do anything to you with all of us around.” Senior Brother Weilong ‘assured’ him.

“No. I mean...thank you. But why do we have a pile of naked cultivators?”

“Ohh,” Senior Brother Weilong said as if the question had just occurred to him. “They attacked us, so as a punishment, we relieved them of everything they had on them.”

“They sure must have some guts of steel to dare to attack two Golden Cores and a mid-stage Nascent Soul Cultivator,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao said without taking his eyes off the fight.

Senior Brother Weilong didn’t so much as blink, just nodding thoughtfully. “It likely had something to do with the three of us restricting our aura to that of a Second-stage Qi Condensation cultivator, so as to not scare off all the beasts and the young cultivators running around the place.” He gave a pleasant smile. “After all, these young ones are from another world and wouldn’t know about White Cloud Sect and its righteousness.”

“Ah yes.” Senior Brother Qing An nodded seriously as if Senior Brother Weilong was spouting gospel. “These wouldn’t recognize the Sect robes and may have done something regrettable if frightened.”

“Alas, your good intentions were taken as a weakness, and all these cultivators attacked you instead, thinking you were easy prey,” Senior Brother Fan Xiao continued for them in a completely flat, deadpan tone. "And you three, in your infinite benevolence, decided to teach them a lesson on their elders' behalf, taking only their worldly possessions while sparing their lives so they might reflect on their character." 

Senior Brother Weilong nodded, looking righteous.

Yang could only watch in disbelief as he realized that his Senior Brothers wanted to play bandit while keeping a white hat on their heads. He got the impression it was because they were interested in the other world's things.

This is certainly one way of robbing.

Senior Brother Qing An turned to him with a pious expression. “Junior Brother, we at White Cloud Sect are the champions of righteousness. Trying to rob and kill others is evil, and such bad karmic debt accumulation will call down the heavens' retribution,” he said self-righteously. “We are helping these Juniors become good cultivators and it—”

“It is good karma?” Yang finished dryly.

Senior Brother Qing An beamed as he placed a hand on Yang’s shoulder. “Indeed! You are a disciple of my White Cloud Sect, understanding that making the world a better place is just as important as cultivating oneself.”

Yang just nodded along with a just as smarmy smile, even as he internally rolled his eyes.

What righteousness? What karma? Isn’t this just playing bandit while putting on the mask of a saint.

At least they didn’t take their blood. Apparently that courtesy is reserved for evil cultivators.

“That reminds me," Senior Brother Qing An said, pulling two rings from his sleeve and tossing them to Yang. "Here. These belong to the remaining two who dared kidnap you."

Catching the rings, Yang looked up in surprise. “When did you get the time to get these?”

“I needed to follow you, but I couldn’t allow them to live after what they did to you, so I took their rings.”

“They died?” Yang asked, not that he was surprised. They were already in bad shape when he left.

“Yes. I left a spell on them that would have killed them in a few hours anyway, but they died immediately after I took their rings.” Senior Brother Qing An stated.

Yang looked confused. “Taking their storage ring killed them?”

“Well, yes, they couldn't exactly fight off the beast once I cut off their hands,” he said simply.

“You cut off their hand?” Yang exclaimed, shocked.

“Of course. That is the most efficient way to take a storage ring. Though the higher-grade rings require one to completely kill the owner.” Senior Brother Qing An explained patiently.

“Thank you.” Yang looked down at the rings. “But shouldn’t they belong to you?”

“No, Junior Brother.” He shook his head slightly. “You did most of the work. They would have died even without my intervention. I just felt it was a waste to leave these behind. I only request that you share with us if there are any interesting techniques inside.”

Yang agreed and pocketed the rings.

“You must have gotten quite a collection as well.” Senior Brother turned to Senior Brother Weilong.

“Indeed.” Senior Brother Weilong nodded with a grin. “Let's look into the spoils once we are outside.”

“Right,” Senior Brother Qing An said to Senior Brother Weilong. “Did we inform you that we may have a way out?”

“We do?”

“Yes. Chen Yang found favor with the remnants of some Senior.”

“Is it safe? Reliable?” Senior Brother Weilong questioned.

“Senior Brother Fan Xiao thinks so,” Senior Brother Qing An said. “Once Zhen Hao and Yuan Shen are done playing, we will make our way there.” 

"I am giving them one more hour," Senior Brother Fan Xiao interjected coldly, without turning his head. "Then playtime is over."

Senior Brother Weilong turned back to Yang, with a teasing smile. "Junior Brother, did you perhaps secure an ancient inheritance in there?"

Yang looked thoughtful. “I am not sure if it could be called an inheritance.”

Both Senior Brothers Fan Xiao and Qing An whipped their heads around, looking shocked.

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