บท 32: The Scum Is Misunderstood

Fan Wen nodded. He and Xie Lan went in and sat on the seat. Fei Yin finally arrived, bringing tea. Cheng Sheng hid the discomfort in his face. "You should also thank the Youxiwang Sect." Xie Lan said. "Sect leader Wu dropped by despite his busy schedule just to check on your condition. Your mother was also here, and so is your father. Your brother, as well as your Sun-shixiong and Wu-shixiong also stayed. Elder Ming and elder Luo should also be thanked since they helped save the Xinfaxian." He told Cheng Sheng.

"This disciple understands, founder." Cheng Sheng said as he cupped his hands and bowed. "This disciple will express his thanks by giving this disciple one of his treasures – " he said.

Xie Lan cut him off by raising his hand. "No need to give them a gift. They wouldn't accept it, since they are also your family." He told Cheng Sheng. "Also, what treasures do you have? I don't remember you have one?" he asked, puzzled.

Cheng Sheng stood straight and nodded. "This disciple really doesn't have a treasure." He answered. Their face was covered in black lines upon hearing his answer. "But, this disciple can create one using this disciple's skills in alchemy – " he explained.

Their face couldn't be any darker than the bottom of the pot. "Enough." Xie Lan said and sighed. He rubbed his temple. He turned to Fan Wen, asking for help.

Fan Wen chuckled and walked towards Cheng Sheng. He made him sit. "Xiao Sheng. You should rest, really." He said, his kind face became serious. "Do you remember what has happened to you?" he asked.

Suddenly, the atmosphere became tense. "This disciple doesn't remember much." Cheng Sheng answered.

"What do you remember?" Fan Wen calmly asked.

"I remembered that I encountered the demonic qi when we were resting in one of the houses in the Dongxin Town." Cheng Sheng started. "I realized I'm starting to become muddle-headed. And so, I gave the powdered jade talisman that's absorbing qi to Li-shixiong to save them. Then, when I went out, I recognized I was in Xinfaxian." He looked at Fan Wen. "I realized that it was the teleportation array. Then, the strange corpses appeared in the Xinfaxian." He explained.

"When did you meet the man?" Xie Lan asked.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. "After I defeated the strange corpses using the Dissonance I played with my panpipe, the man appeared." He answered. "Then, we fought. I was overpowered. He is too strong." He explained.

"Then, what happened to your body?" Xie Lan asked. "You have a golden core now." He told him.

Unexpectedly, they were all calm after hearing those words. Fei Yin, Li Tian, and Feng Mo already knew of Cheng Sheng obtaining a golden core. However, they didn't despise him. Instead, they were overjoyed. Their beloved shidi doesn't have to be weak now. Cheng Sheng, as Xie Lan and Fan Wen expected, figured out the change in his body. Now, they are waiting for the explanation behind this golden core.

Cheng Sheng didn't disappoint them as he answered. "The man and I exchanged a few words. Then, I saw the qi gathering around my body." He said. "I asked the man what was happening and he told me I awakened my spiritual consciousness." He looked at Xie Lan and Fan Wen. "I figured… this must also be another cultivation method aside from the usual cultivation and dual-cultivation." He said, thinking. "But, this is dangerous since I almost died…" his voice faded and he looked at his shixiongs. Their expression is ugly while Xie Lan and Fan Wen's faces are gloomy. He figured he had said something he shouldn't have said.

Xie Lan broke the heavy atmosphere. "I initially thought that the man is an enemy." He said. "However, he unexpectedly helped you." He looked at Cheng Sheng. "His objective is you. He wanted to take you with him. To where I don't know." He honestly told Cheng Sheng.

Li Tian and Feng Mo were shocked. Fei Yin balled his fists. He already knew since he met the man. He looked at Cheng Sheng, waiting for his reaction. He is afraid that, after the man helps him with his cultivation and obtains a golden core, Cheng Sheng will go with the man. However, he believes in Cheng Sheng. Cheng Sheng wouldn't –

"Oh." Cheng Sheng said. "Then, I also should repay him." He said and looked at his hands. "This disciple could only repay him with my body – "

Fan Wen hit his head to stop him from talking. "You!" he said, glaring at Cheng Sheng. His bad temper flared up again because of Cheng Sheng's words. "What were you thinking?!" he asked.

Cheng Sheng rubbed his head and felt a lump on it. "I can only offer my service – " he answered. Fan Wen was about to flare up again when he continued. " – my knowledge." He said. "This disciple only has a more advanced way of thinking than the others. Other than that I am behind them." He explained.

They suddenly felt their teeth itch. He's behind others? Who was it that's called a prodigy? Who was it that created an array? Who was it that modified his unique talisman in just a short amount of time and saved many people? Who was it that fought against the corpses single-handedly with only a sliver of spiritual power and his martial arts to rely on? Their face is dark as they look at Cheng Sheng. Now that he has a golden core, his future will only be brighter. However, they won't feel envious of him. He almost lost his life, and he was forced into this situation. Watching Cheng Sheng grow up for 10 years, they know that Cheng Sheng was already satisfied with his life before he gained a golden core. Now, they don't know how will he live with this new kind of life since he has a golden core.

Cheng Sheng felt a chill run down his spine when he saw their dark faces. "Ehem." He cleared his throat. "Shifu, founder… don't we have classes today?" he asked.

Xie Lan decided to break this atmosphere. "Everyone is tired. No classes for today. You can go train if you want. Just remember not to push yourself hard." He said and patted Fan Wen's shoulder. "Classes will resume the day after tomorrow. During that time, you can do as you like. Two days is enough to reward everybody for their hard work." He explained.

Their eyes shone as they watched Xie Lan and Fan Wen leave. "Cheng-shidi!" Feng Mo and Li Tian excitedly asked. "Let's go see the Xinfaxian. Everybody must have already set up their stall! Let's go eat!" they said.

Cheng Sheng nodded as he reached for his clothes. "Wait for me to wash up and prepare." He said.

The two nodded. "We can also go to Feng-shidi's house after that!" Li Tian said and looked at Feng Mo who hastily nodded.

"Yes!" Feng Mo answered. "I'll introduce you to my parents. Also, to my tutor!" he said, his smile became wider when he mentioned his tutor. Then, the two of them turned to Fei Yin who was silent, standing on the side. "Da shixiong. Are you coming with us?" they asked.

Fei Yin nodded. "I'll watch over you, three's activities." He answered.

Feng Mo and Li Tian froze, then they grimaced. They looked at Cheng Sheng, the culprit of them being branded 'troublemakers' in Fei Yin's eyes since they were hanging out with Cheng Sheng. "O-okay." The two answered and hurriedly left Fei Yin's sight.

Cheng Sheng secretly frowned and looked at Fei Yin. "Da shixiong, won't you be leaving, too?" he asked.

Fei Yin stared at him, which made Cheng Sheng's scalp go numb. After a while, Fei Yin finally spoke. "You don't remember anything aside from what you have said to shifu and founder?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng's forehead furrowed. "What does da shixiong mean?" he asked.

Fei Yin stared at him for a long time before he shook his head. "I'll be taking my leave." He said and left.

Cheng Sheng was left speechless. "What was that?" he said, puzzled by Fei Yin's behavior. "Did I misunderstand da shixiong?" he muttered, then shrugged.

Fei Yin went straight to the Bamboo Pavilion where he knew Fan Wen and Xie Lan always stay. "Shifu. Founder." He silently called when he saw them. He bowed when they turned to him.

"Xiao Yin." Fan Wen called. "Come, sit with us." He said and motioned the seat between him and Xie Lan.

Fei Yin secretly grimaced when he saw Xie Lan's glare at him. Founder, it was not my choice. It's shifu's! He thought and sighed in his heart. He sat on the seat, feeling his butt being prickled by needles. He knew it was Xie Lan's doing. He endured the discomfort of not making Fan Wen suspicious. "Shifu. Founder. I won't stay long since I'm going with my shidis." He said. "I have something to ask you." He told them.

Fan Wen nodded. "Speak." He said. Xie Lan was still resentfully looking at him.

Fei Yin endured that murderous glare of Xie Lan. He turned to Fan Wen. "Shifu. Does the Spiritual Awakening Method include absorbing qi, too?" he asked.

Fan Wen's eyes went wide in shock and he choked. He spat out the tea he was drinking. Xie Lan's face received all of it.