Xinfaxian Sect.

In the darkness, countless specks of lights are floating above the large pond in the middle of the groups of houses. The vines hanging on the trees surrounding the houses looked like glowing from bathing in the moonlight.

Not far from the houses where the disciples are living, a palace made of bamboos stood near the cliff. The paper lamps inside cast an orange shade inside, like the sun trapped inside a big box. Inside, a slender and fair man wearing white robes that adorned with green lines on the edges, a leaning flower crest on his chest, is walking inside, a book on his hand and a closed fan on the other hand, and enjoying the silence in the mountain.

Enjoying the silence in the mountain… that is bound to be broken when a sword came flying towards the place and a loud voice shouted. The echo rang in the four mountains that’s surrounding the Xinfaxian, acting as its borders. The voice woke the animals living in the mountain from their early sleep and disturbed the concentration of the studying and training disciples.

“Shifu! I’m back!” Cheng Sheng yelled towards the bamboo palace where Fei Yin is taking him to.

His shout, however, was returned with loud curses. “Shidi! You bastard! Come here and I’ll kill you!” Feng Mo, the hot-tempered third disciple, yelled back. His voice is coming from the east mountain. His voice, although travelled far, yet only Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng can hear it.

In the south mountain, a man with a gentle face and kind aura helplessly smiled as he held his forehead with his hand. “Cheng-shidi…” he sighed as he looked at the mountain of books that fell when he was startled by Cheng Sheng’s voice and his back hit the tall shelf hard, making it tumble and hit the next shelf, which tumbled and also hit the next shelf, that tumbled when it was hit and hit the next shelf… This happened until the last shelf fell. “Just as I am about to finish…” he said and looked at the last book in the Library Hall. “… I’m going to do it again.” Li Tian muttered as he burned another paper lamp. He started his work by picking up the first book in the Book of Talisman Arts section.

Cheng Sheng giggled as he turned, only to be greeted by Fei Yin’s cold face. “… da shixiong… I didn’t do it on purpose.” Cheng Sheng said, like a thief who stole the bell.

Fei Yin didn’t answer as they reached the entrance of the Punishment Hall, which is in the north mountain, and is a part of their shifu’s residence. The east mountain is where their Training Hall is located, and Feng Mo is there to practice his sword. The west mountain which is always silent is where the Meditation Hall is. It is also where they do their closed-door cultivation.

In the heart of the Xinfaxian is a tall tower where the Xinfaxian sect disciples are staying during their night watch. Cheng Sheng, who isn’t in charge of night watch tonight, sneaked out of the sect when he is writing talismans.

“Receive your punishment.” Fei Yin answered as he pulled Cheng Sheng by the back of his collar and dragged him inside the punishment hall.

Fei Yin, as the eldest disciple, is in charge of disciplining them if they had done something wrong. This role perfectly fits his aloof and cold aura. Li Tian, who is in the Library Hall and is the second disciple, is in charge of their studies by monitoring their learning progress. This role perfectly fits him since he has a long patience reserved to everybody – especially Cheng Sheng, the troublemaker. Feng Mo, who is in the Training Hall, is in charge of their martial arts by sparring with them. This really fits him well since he is hot-tempered and has a lot of energy to spare – especially towards Cheng Sheng, the troublemaker.

The last but not the least is the troublemaker Cheng Sheng. He is the fourth disciple and is in charge of making talismans. Among the four, and the other disciples, he has the lowest cultivation. He became the fourth disciple since he is one of the first four people who became disciples of the sect when the sect was created. He is the support of his three elder disciples.

Cheng Sheng guiltily rubbed his nose as he looked around the Punishment Hall. He started to feel cold by looking at the wide and open space, overlooking the three mountains behind, and the bright and round moon surrounded by the sparkling countless stars can be seen. The only solid cover of the Punishment Hall is the roof.

The Punishment Hall is just beside the cliff. You can directly jump down if you feel like dying from the punishment. Around it are thin and fluttering drapes adorned by moving lines forming different figures every time the drape fluttered. Needless to say, those lines are the barriers of the Punishment Hall to keep one from escaping. Since the figures on the drapes changes, the effect of the barrier also changes.

Cheng Sheng loves his life and so he doesn’t want to be the brave one to test what could be the current effect of the changing barriers. “Da shixiong… I feel cold.” Cheng Sheng said as he rubbed his arms with his palm when they reached the middle of the empty Punishment Hall. The Punishment Hall doesn’t display weapons or talismans or even a thread inside since the disciples who will be entering the hall to receive their punishment may go against each other and kill each other. Thus, Fei Yin took Chen Sheng’s pendant and even locked his spiritual energy, even though he didn’t need to. This made Cheng Sheng frown.

“Cheng-shidi. Rules are rules.” Fei Yin told him as he glanced at the wall where the rule of locking one’s spiritual energy is written. He didn’t add, “You’re known for having a trick up your sleeve, so I need to lock even your little spiritual energy.” It would break his cold character by saying a sarcastic remark. “You can leave by dawn.” He told Cheng Sheng as he walked outside and sent his spiritual energy inside, which in the direction of Cheng Sheng, making it look like he’s sending his spiritual energy to Cheng Sheng. Fei Yin sent his spiritual energy to the ‘door’ – which is an empty space, setting a new rule that “Cheng Sheng can leave by dawn.”, like a lock.

Then, he left, only to meet the slender man with a book on his hand and a closed fan with the other. The man is wearing a green and white robe, and has a kind face but now wearing an ugly expression. “Shifu.” Fei Yin called.

Fan Wen, the sole elder of the Xinfaxian Sect, didn’t answer and hatefully glared at the ‘entrance’ of the Punishment Hall. “Cheng Sheng!” his voice thundered inside the Punishment Hall, startling the meditating Cheng Sheng and the handsome young man fell on his back, the back of his head hitting the bamboo floor, creating a crisp sound of ‘tuk’.

“OW – !” Cheng Sheng’s cry can be heard from the outside, making Fan Wen feel satisfied.

His face returning to its usual kind expression, Fan Wen turned to Fei Yin and nodded. “Immediately return and cultivate in your house.” He told Fei Yin and left, a big smile on his face.

“Yes!” Fei Yin answered and bowed. Then, watching their shifu’s back disappearing, he heard a loud laughter coming from the Punishment Hall.

On the west mountain in the Meditation Hall, a man with a perfectly chiseled face is sitting on the cold floor. A gentle smile broke on his usually emotionless face. Beside him, a silver mask lay. “What an easy fool.” Xie Lan muttered, a chuckle coming from his mouth.

After the debacle, the usual silence in this small land named Xinfaxian returned.