“We’ll accompany you to sect leader Wu. You can ask for his advice, together with elder Ming and elder Luo.” Li Tian said. “This also can help them. It’s better to work together.” He told him and smiled. That smile is like a spring breeze, making you feel refreshed.

They were interrupted when a voice spoke. “I heard Cheng-shidi wants to see our shifu?” it was Sun Yi the boat softly rocked for a second when he and Wu Yuan landed on the front.

They turned. “Sun-shixiong. Wu-shixiong.” They greeted.

The two newcomers nodded at them. “Chen-shixiong isn’t with you?” Li Tian asked when he saw Chen Han isn’t with them.

Sun Yi’s brows raised and a teasing smile appeared on his face. “Oh? Li-shidi, you want to see our da shixiong?” he said.

Li Tian’s face turned red. “Sun-shixiong is mistaken. I don’t want to see Chen-shixiong.” He denied.

Sun Yi hummed, didn’t speak more. He turned to Fei Yin. “Cheng-shidi, your da shixiong is right. You should discuss about this matter with our shifu and sect leader.” He said and turned to Cheng Sheng. “As Li-shidi had said, it’s for the sake of the people. There’s nothing to shy about it.” he told him.

Wu Yuan spoke. “He isn’t shy. There’s something holding him back.” He told Sun Yi.

Sun Yi’s eyes went wide and he turned to Wu Yuan. “Really?!” he asked.

Wu Yuan looked at him. “Don’t ask me. Ask him.” He said and cupped Sun Yi’s face. Feng Mo and Li Tian seemed to see pink bubbles around the two. However, what’s expected to be a kiss didn’t happen. Instead, Wu Yuan turned Sun Yi’s head for him to face Cheng Sheng.

“Cheng-shidi. What’s holding you back?” Sun Yi asked Cheng Sheng, his face serious.

They all looked at Cheng Sheng, waiting for his answer. Cheng Sheng slowly turned to them. “I – ” he said. From his clothes, he fished out a broken jade talisman. “I’ve already broken four of them.” He said and showed them the talisman that slowly turned into a powder.

“Ah – ” Feng Mo and Li Tian said when they recognized the broken jade talisman. Fei Yin’s face remained cold.

“What… is this?” Sun Yi asked and poked a piece of the jade talisman. It crumbled.

“Qi Gathering talisman.” Cheng Sheng said and took out another jade talisman from his clothes. “It gathers qi around you. As cultivators, this is a piece of cake for us. However, its use isn’t as simple as this.” He said and raised the jade talisman. “If you’re a level lower than your opponent or the people around you, you can use this to absorb their aura. That way, you will feel less pressured.” He explained. “This costs a gold coin. Sun-shixiong, Wu-shixiong. Are you interested?” he asked and smiled at them.

Sun Yi looked at Cheng Sheng, speechless. “Cheng-shidi. So your problem is…” he said.

“He can’t handle the pressure of the elders.” Wu Yuan spoke as he consciously pulled Sun Yi back with him, maintaining a distance from Cheng Sheng so that they’ll affect Cheng Sheng less with their aura. They are both at middle level of Golden Core Stage.

Cheng Sheng’s face was filled with disappointment when he saw Wu Yuan and Sun Yi stepped back. He pitifully looked at his jade talisman. “I used jade since it can store more qi and is, of course, durable than a paper. But, the cost…” he said and grieved in his heart for a failed transaction.

Feng Mo and Li Tian smiled at Sun Yi and Wu Yuan, embarrassed. Li Tian covered his face with his fan while Feng Mo coughed, his cheeks burning. Cheng-shidi… please mind the TPO1!

Fei Yin cleared his throat, breaking the ice. “Cheng-shidi.” He called Cheng Sheng who is still grieving for his lost potential clients. “Since there’s no disagreement, then let’s head to sect leader Wu.” He said. Feng Mo and Li Tian hastily nodded their head and pushed Cheng Sheng from the back, itching to throw off this shidi of theirs.

Wu Yuan and Sun Yi looked at each other, then nodded. They turned to the lively Xinfaxian sect disciples. “Sect leader Wu and our shifu is now resting. Ming shishu is still with Chen-shixiong, curing the other disciples.” Sun Yi, the eloquent man, explained. “Let’s head back together.” He said and drew their sword.

When they reached Wu Fan and Luo Shi, the two were having their afternoon tea. “A perfect time. Come, you join us for a drink.” Wu Fan told the group.

The six people joined the two people for a tea. “Yi-er. You are looking for me?” Luo Shi asked Sun Yi.

Sun Yi smiled. “Shifu.” He called. “It’s only a trivial thing I have in mind. Please hear Cheng-shidi’s words first.” He said and looked at Cheng Sheng who hid his grimace when he tasted the Xiwang tea. It is so bitter. He thought he’d lose his sense of taste.

“Sheng-er. What is it?” Wu Fan said. It was only them so it is fine to call Cheng Sheng intimately since the Chen and Wu families are close to each other. Also, Wu Fan is a godfather of Chen Han and the Chen Sheng. This should have no relation to Cheng Sheng if only he’s not currently occupying Chen Sheng’s body.

“This disciple wants to deeply understand the demonic qi.” Cheng Sheng answered and respectfully bowed.

There was a long silence that fell upon them. Wu Fan’s smile became stiff while Luo Shi’s stern face stoned. Feng Mo and Li Tian felt like they cannot lose more face than now. Fei Yin’s face remained cold as usual. Sun Yi’s smile turned brighter. Wu Yuan’s face is forever emotionless. If they only do not know Cheng Sheng, they would think he wanted to be a demonic cultivator.

“Cheng-shidi…” Li Tian silently called, his face is burning from the embarrassment. He had never been so thankful than now that the Youxiwang sect leader and elder are as understanding as their shifu and founder. Or else, they would have long been kicked Cheng Sheng out of the Xiwang. Worse, he, Feng Mo and Fei Yin would also be kicked out because of Cheng Sheng.

Feng Mo has turned into a statue beside Li Tian. Feng Mo now had lost hope of Cheng Sheng. It now dawned on him. He and Cheng Sheng will forever be as immiscible as oil and water.

Cheng Sheng is really not that hopeless. Really. Not. He noticed the strange atmosphere and realized the words he had just said. “I – ” he said and cleared his throat. “This disciple phrased my intentions wrong. This disciple apologizes.” He said and bowed. “This disciple’s intention isn’t to become a demonic cultivator.” He said and looked at Wu Fan and Luo Shi. “This disciple only wanted to completely cure the demonic. Asking for sect leader Wu and elder Luo to enlighten this disciple.” He said and bowed to Wu Fan and Luo Shi.

Wu Fan and Luo Shi were shocked. This prodigy wanted to cure the demonic qi! They looked at each other, their eyes shining. “Disciple Chen.” Luo Shi called. “It isn’t impossible to understand the demonic qi.” He said. “Fan-shidi and Xie-shidi arriving to a conclusion of the demonic qi feeding from a person’s life is already shining a light to our muddled brain.” He looked at Cheng Sheng. “What do you wish to know about the demonic qi?” he asked. “This elder will impart you the knowledge he has about the demonic qi.” He told Cheng Sheng.

“Then – ” Cheng Sheng said and sat up straight. “What is the origin of the demonic qi? Where did it appear? Who created it? Why are there demonic cultivators? How can they control the demonic qi?” he asked. “We only knew of the demonic qi as another type of qi. Its other aspects, we have not learned.” He explained.

Luo Shi nodded. “It is only natural for you not to have learned about the demonic qi.” He said. “None of the righteous sects teach it. it is forbidden. A taboo.” He told them. “Or else, many of the cultivators would turn to demonic cultivators.” He said.

“Elder Luo.” Li Tian called and bowed. “Why would they turn to demonic cultivators?” he asked, curious.

Luo Shi looked at Li Tian. “It’s as you are now.” He said and smiled. “Curiosity.” He said. Their eyes went wide. “We may fear of the unknown. However, the more we fear it, the more we wanted to learn of it.” he said.

“Why?” Feng Mo asked.

Luo Shi turned to him and just smiled. Wu Fan spoke. “To conquer the fear.” He answered.

“Then, shouldn’t we learn of the demonic qi to overcome our fear of it?” Feng Mo asked, confused.

“We can’t.” Fei Yin said. They turned to him. Fei Yin looked at Feng Mo. “Because once we’ve overcome our fear, we lose our wariness of it. We will treat our previous fear as nothing and then find another thing to fear.” He said. “It will become a cycle. The previous fear that was forgotten becomes a hidden danger now. Once the person won’t realize that hidden danger, he will later be overcome by it.” he explained. “The previous fear will eat him again.” He finished.

Sun Yi smiled while Wu Yuan just nodded. Wu Fan and Luo Shi smiled, approving Fei Yin’s words. “Then…” Feng Mo said.

“We are just being cautious.” Wu Fan said. “An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” He looked at them. “However, this problem still has no cure.” He said and looked at Cheng Sheng.

“How will we cure it, then, if we are not permitted to learn it?” Li Tian asked. His brows knit.

Wu Fan and Luo Shi looked at each other and meaningfully smiled. “It’s not that we aren’t permitted.” Cheng Sheng said. “We can learn the demonic qi.” He said. They all looked at him. “What’s not permitted – ” he raised his head and looked back at them. ” – is for us to become demonic cultivators.” He said.

time, place, occasion.