章 62: The Scum Is Naughty

On the eighth day, departure.

"Everyone worked hard." Xie Lan said as he looked at the seven disciples before him, brimming with strength and fully prepared. "You might encounter difficulties on your way, but don't be hasty. Listen to your da shixiong." He said.

"Yes, founder!" they answered.

"Xiao Yin." Xie Lan called.

"Yes, founder." Fei Yin stepped forward.

"You look after your fellow disciples. Your safety is first!" he said. "If you encounter something difficult, don't hesitate to run. It doesn't matter if you look cowardly, but more importantly, you are alive." He smiled. "That way, you can make yourself stronger and have your revenge, then beat that person until his mother can't recognize him." He told them.

Black lines covered their face and they looked at Xie Lan, their gaze complicated. Fan Wen coughed to gather their attention. "Xiao Yin, Xiao Sheng, Xiao Tian, Xiao Mo, Xiao Ling, Xiao Rou and Xiao Qing." He called tears in his eyes. "Please always be careful and take care of yourself and your fellow disciples. Look after each other. Don't cause trouble – especially you, Xiao Sheng!" he called out to Cheng Sheng.

Cheng Sheng sheepishly smiled. "Yes, Shifu…" he answered.

Fan Wen sighed. "Remain calm at everything. Don't act out on impulse. Many fall into trouble because they aren't calm at all!" he told them. "Alright. Be on your way…" he told them.

Xie Lan nodded as he wrapped his arm around Fan Wen. "Always remember our words. Understand?" he asked, his gaze threatening.

"Yes, founder! Yes, shifu!" they answered and saluted.

"Then, go." Xie Lan told them. He and Fan Wen watched as seven colors appeared in the sky like a rainbow. "Xiao Yin didn't have a chance to see Xiao Sheng's power." He sighed.

"Time is short." Fan Wen told him and they looked at the distance. "Xiao Sheng sure is thoughtful." He smiled when they felt the barrier surrounding Xinfaxian was stronger.

"He's been filial since he'll play around!" Xie Lan frowned. "Let's go." He said and pulled Fan Wen back.

They still have other disciples to look after.

Shanliangde Sect, Shanliang Province, North.

North Peak.

Fei Huang turned when he felt the wind agitated. The clouds thundered and turned gray to black. "This is..." his eyes narrowed.

Mu Jun turned to Fei Huang. "What's wrong?" He asked.

Fei Huang didn't answer. "Tell Ho Yue and Xi Ling to prepare the disciples." He said. "They'll depart tomorrow."

East Peak.

Ho Yue turned to his only disciple – Gong Xian, who was a head taller than him. "Xian-er, have you prepared?" he asked.

Gong Xian frowned as he suddenly hugged Ho Yue's waist. "Shifu, I don't want to leave. I don't want to be away from you!" he said and hugged Ho Yue's waist tighter.

Ho Yue's face reddened as he tried to push Gong Xian off of him. "You – " he said and sighed. "Sect leader Fei has chosen you as one of the disciples who will participate in the Intersect Competition. It means that you are talented." He told him. "Shifu is proud of you. So, show them what this teacher taught you, okay?" he said, coaxing his childish disciple.

"Yes, shifu." Gong Xian answered. "I can feel your love – " he said and smiled as he smelled Ho Yue.

Ho Yue blushed and hit Gong Xian's head. "Why did I take you as a disciple, anyway?" he helplessly sighed.

Gong Xian laughed despite being hit. "Don't worry, shifu. I'll take the competition seriously." He assured him.

Ho Yue smiled and patted Gong Xian's head. "If you win, you will succeed me as the East Peak's master." He told Gong Xian.

Gong Xian's expression changed. His eyes narrowed. "Yes, shifu." He said and bowed. Shifu... he thought. You can't escape from me!

Xi Residence.

"Are you ready?" Xi Ming asked Xi Ning.

"Yes." Xi Shi answered.

"Are we leaving now~?" Xi Ning asked.

Xi Xing just silently stood outside, waiting for them.

Qianxu Sect, Nanxu Province, South.

"Da ge! I don't want to compete! I don't want to!" Qian Lin cried as he held his brother's leg.

A vein appeared on Qian Tian's forehead. He picked up Qian Lin. "You will, whether you like it or not!" he said and threw Qian Lin to their disciples who were waiting for their young master. "You are spoiled! Now you should know how to be serious!" he thundered.

"I don't want to!" Qian Lin struggled from their disciples' grasp. "I will die!" he said.

"You'll die at this rate, anyway." Qian Tian said. "Playing and fooling around all day... death only matters if it's early or late!" he yelled. "Take him away!"

"Yes, da shixiong!" they answered and pushed Qian Lin inside the waiting litter.

"Ah Tian..." Qian Su called, her voice gentle. "Don't be like that to your younger brother." She told him.

"Mother." Qian Tian bowed.

"Mother? Mother!" Qian Di called from inside the litter. He popped his head out, only to be pushed in by their father, Qian Shan. He's also the sect master.

"Don't be a fool." Qian Shan said. "Delay in the travel will make you late for the competition." He said. "If you'll be late, then don't come back in the sect," he told Qian Lin.

Qian Lin's eyes teared up. "Wuwuwuwu! You meanie!" he cried inside the litter, his voice ear-shattering.

Qian Shan, Qiang Su, and Qian Tian felt their head aching. "Just go!" they said and pushed the litter forward, making Qian Lin – this useless child, almost fell!

Youxiwang Sect, Xiwang, West.

Chen Jing, Ming Ye and Luo Shi's faces are serious. Wu Yuan is in a closed-door cultivation. He just reached Nascent Soul Stage and is advancing. Chen Jing is acting as the sect leader.

"Sheng-er..." Chen Jing muttered and sighed. Ming Ye and Luo Shi already told him everything when he woke up. Chen Qing just died. His second son's body was possessed. They still didn't know where Chen Sheng's soul went, so they couldn't consider him dead. They had just finished dealing with the sect's problems when the Intersect Competition approached. "Are Han-er and Yi-er ready? How about the other disciples participating?" he asked.

"They're ready to depart." Ming Ye and Luo Shi answered.

Chen Jing's hand held tightly the cup. "I hope... everything will be alright this time..." he said, referring to the Intersect Competition.

"This is the first time the Xinfaxian Sect will be participating..." Luo Shi said.

Ming Ye sighed. "Let's hope they will be okay..." he said.

Zunjingde Sect, Zhongyang Capital.

Jing Rui looked at his nephews. "Your advantage to the other participants is that you can train more while they are still on their travel. Don't disappoint me when the time comes." He told them.

"Yes, uncle." Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, and Jing Hei answered and saluted. Then, they watched their uncle leave.

"Aia, aia~ uncle is grumpy as always." Jing Hei said, grinning.

"I know what you're going to say." Jing Bai, his elder twin, said. "Uncle needs to get married." He said.

Jing Cheng grimaced. "Everybody knows that." He said. He's the eldest. "But, no woman has ever caught his attention." He sighed.

"Maybe a man will do?" Jing Bai said.

"Eh?" Jing Cheng said. His forehead furrowed and he shrugged. He left them to train, even if it was already late in the night.

"Hm~" Jing Hei hummed and whistled. He glanced at Jing Cheng leaving. "There's only black and white." He said and looked at Jing Bai.

Jing Bai sighed and looked at Jing Cheng training afar. Jing Cheng was adopted by their late parents. Their mother had a hard time giving birth, so they adopted a child. Later, they were blessed with twins. However, they got into an accident and died. Their uncle took over the sect as well as raising them. Their uncle, then later, developed an unspeakable feeling toward the eldest child. He was still young. He never noticed that the eldest child was adopted. However, no one was talking about it so he didn't know. It's only a matter of time so they will leave it to fate.