They all stared at him. “You’re the son of the Dongfang Sect’s leader?” Chen Han said, surprised. “I thought he’s in seclusion…”

Dongfang Xiaoyun fell silent. “I just got out recently. However, I didn’t expect…” he said, his voice faded.

They looked at him in sympathy. “Why are you here now?” Feng Mo asked. “Shouldn’t you still be in your sect?”

Dongfang Xiaoyun looked at him. “The sect…” he said. “They all became crazy.” He answered and lowered his head. “I am afraid that they might also suspect me and kill me. So, I ran away from the sect.” he explained.

“Why did they suddenly become crazy?” Li Tian asked, puzzled.

Dongfang Xiaoyun shook his head. “I don’t know.” He answered. “Maybe this is their retribution.”

They fell silent, don’t know what to say. Indeed, unjust killing based on a presumption is needed to be punished. “Have you seen the negative qi around them?” Cheng Sheng asked after being silent.

They all turned to him. Dongfang Xiaoyun nodded. “Yes.” He answered. “There’s a dense black fog surrounding them.” He said. “It was denser when they killed the people.”

Cheng Sheng fell in a deep thought. “Ah Sheng. Have you found something?” Chen Han asked.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. “Yes.” He answered.

Their eyes went wide. “Really?!” Feng Mo said, surprised. “What is it?” he asked.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. “I ate too much. I need to use the toilet.” He answered.

Their face was covered in black lines. “You may go.” Chen Han said, his voice quiet as he immediately covered his nose after they smelled the air.

“Thanks.” Cheng Sheng said and immediately rushed to the back of the inn where the bathroom is.

Li Tian sighed while Feng Mo looked like he had eaten shit. Fei Yin’s face is, as usual, expressionless, while Chen Han’s face is red. He’s embarrassed for his younger brother. Dongfang Xiaoyun doesn’t know what to react. It’s his first time meeting someone like Cheng Sheng. “Will he be alright?” he asked, worried.

“Don’t mind him.” Feng Mo said, frowning. “He just overate. It won’t kill him.” He said and was about to pick up food when he stopped. He clicked his tongue and sat on the seat beside Fei Yin, sulking. Li Tian helplessly smiled as he opened his fan and covered the lower half of his face. Cheng-shidi ah… you just chose this perfect time to do your private business… he thought and sighed as he fanned himself.

It was after an hour before Cheng Sheng came back, feeling refreshed. They don’t know what to say and just continued chatting. Chen Han then sent Ming Ye and Luo Shi a message detailing about the Dongfang Sect and that they will wait for the Dongfang Sect to arrive and protect the people from them. Then, they waited for the time the Dongfang Sect to arrive to kill the residents of the Dongxin Town. They also didn’t hide that they are cultivators. They assured the residents that they won’t kill them unlike the Dongfang Sect.

However, a day passed by and there was no trace of the Dongfang Sect arriving. They didn’t even see their shadow. “What’s going on?” Chen Han asked when it was sundown and they still didn’t see the Dongfang Sect.

“I thought they will arrive.” Feng Mo said. “I am itching to change blows with them!” he said as he punched his palm with his fist, pumped up.

Li Tian helplessly smiled at Feng Mo. “Safety first, Feng-shidi. Safety.” He said as he waved his closed fan to him. “Peace is much better than war, ne?” he told him.

Fneg Mo shut up and silently sat down. “Where is the Dongfang Sect?” Fei Yin asked and looked at Dongfang Xiaoyun.

Dongfang Xiaoyun’s eyes went wide and he immediately waved his hands at them. “I don’t know!” he said. “I’m telling the truth. They killed a whole village just because they suspected them transforming into strange corpses.” He explained.

“This is demonic cultivation.” Chen Han said, his face serious. “To transform a living person like the dead one… however, we do not know the process of transformation.” He frowned.

“To understand sometimes is dangerous.” Li Tian said, his gentle face stern as he looked at Chen Han. “When you understand the whole, it can change your view on the matter and acquaint yourself with it.” He told him, frowning.

Chen Han, however, smiled. “Are you worried about me, Li-shidi?” he asked and grinned as he leaned towards Li Tian. “But, I only want to know because I want to save. Not to add more destruction.” He explained himself.

Li Tian pushed Chen Han’s face with the tip of his fan. “‘worry’ is not in my vocabulary for you!” he told him.

Chen Han just shrugged. He’s smiling from ear to ear. With this and the gloomy atmosphere was lifted. “Since the Dongfang Sect didn’t show up, then we can only wait. As we wait, though, let’s guard the residents. We can’t say that the Dongfang Sect won’t appear tonight.” He told them, his face now serious.

“Yes!” they answered and was about to split up when Dongfang Xiaoyun spoke.

“Err… who will I be going with?” Dongfang Xiaoyun asked as he looked at them all.

“What level are you now?” Chen Han asked.

“Early level of Golden Core Stage after my seclusion.” Dongfang Xiaoyun answered.

Chen Han nodded, then looked at Fei Yin. Fei Yin is also the same level with Dongfang Xiaoyun. “Who would you like to go with?” he asked Dongfang Xiaoyun.

Dongfang Xiaoyun’s eyes immediately fell on Cheng Sheng. “I’ll go with Cheng-shidi.” He said. “I want to repay him for saving my life.” he explained.

They nodded. “That goes without saying.” Feng Mo nodded, pleased. Li Tian also smiled. He’ll be going with Feng Mo.

“I can go alone.” Chen Han said and looked at Fei Yin. “Fei-shidi. You go with them.” He said and pointed Cheng Sheng and Dongfang Xiaoyun. “Ah Sheng’s only at fifth level of Qi Condensation Stage. Two Early level of Golden Core Stage can protect him.” He said and looked at Cheng Sheng who was chatting with Dongfang Xiaoyun. He suddenly felt envious. My younger brother’s closer to other people than me. My heart is wounded. He heavily patted Fei Yin’s shoulder before he walked away. Feng Mo and Li Tian went the other way.

“Cheng-shidi. Where do you think should we guard?” Dongfang Xiaoyun asked as they walked. Fei Yin is silently walking behind them.

“Why are you asking me?” Cheng Sheng asked.

“Because you’re smart.” Dongfang Xiaoyun answered.

“They’re your sect. You should know more than me.” Cheng Sheng said.

Dongfang Xiaoyun only helplessly laughed as he scratched his head. “Cheng-shidi.” Fei Yin called.

Cheng Sheng turned and looked at Fei Yin. “Da shixiong.” He said. “Right. I’m feeling hungry again.” He frowned. “Could it be I’m pregnant?” he asked and looked at his flat stomach.

Fei Yin’s face remained blank as he gave Cheng Sheng the meat buns he cooked last night before he gone to rescue Cheng Sheng, Feng Mo and Li Tian from the attack of the strange corpses. The meat buns he cooked at the Xinfaxian Sect has long been eaten by Cheng Sheng during their first day of travel.

Cheng Sheng’s eyes went wide and he drooled when he looked at the steaming meat buns inside the pack. Fei Yin watched Cheng Sheng’s expression before he spoke. “I’ll buy you a drink.” He said and looked at the sky that’s now darkening. They won’t have time to eat and drink later when the corpses appear. He glanced at Dongfang Xiaoyun who’s also watching Cheng Sheng ate.

Dongfang Xiaoyun noticed his stare. He immediately raised his hands. “I won’t eat his share!” he told Fei Yin.

Fei Yin nodded, satisfied with his answer. Then, he left to buy Cheng Sheng a drink. When he returned, the pack of the meat buns had fallen to the ground and Cheng Sheng and Dongfang Xiaoyun were nowhere to be seen.

“What do you think made my sect members crazy?” Dongfang Xiaoyun asked as they walked around. After Cheng Sheng overate earlier again from the eating the meat buns made by Fei Yin, he suggested to Cheng Sheng that they’d walk around.

“The negative qi.” Cheng Sheng answered.

“Why?” Dongfang Xiaoyun asked. “Doesn’t it only affects the dead, that’s why there are walking corpses?”

“But, I think that the negative qi can also affect the living.”

“How can you say that?”

Cheng Sheng stopped and looked at Dongfang Xiaoyun who’s waiting for his answer. “Since people can feel greed – ” he said. ” – hate, and also envy.” He looked at Dongfang Xiaoyun’s eyes that glinted.

Dongfang Xiaoyun smiled as he tilted his head, looking at him. “You’re really smart, Cheng-shidi.” He said.

“Thank you for the praise.” Cheng Sheng said. However, he hadn’t completed his sentence since Dongfang Xiaoyun already kicked him in the stomach.

Cheng Sheng spat out the acid juices in his stomach as his body flew towards the wall and hit it. The wall collapsed and Cheng Sheng’s body passed through it, then fell on the ground. Dust flew and fell on Cheng Sheng who violently coughed as he bent his body, holding his stomach that’s hurting from pain… and overeating.