The Chen Mansion is a big complex. It is almost the size of a palace. All the family branches, even to the smallest unit, lives in this complex. The Chen Clan is known for having close-knit ties. Their motto is ‘family first, other matters later’. That is why the Chen Mansion, despite being called a mansion, is as big as a palace. On the other hand, the Wu Clan has only a small size of family members. Despite that, they are as strong as the Chen Clan.

The Chen Mansion was bustling when they arrived. It was because their second young master finally came home after 10 years of being apart from them. “Yesterday, you arrived, but due to the pressing matters…” Chen Jing said as they went inside the reception hall. “You only managed to come home now. We can’t even hug you for an hour yesterday – ” he sighed in regret.

Goosebumps appeared all over Cheng Sheng’s face as he took a step back away from Chen Jing who didn’t notice his reaction. Doing so, Cheng Sheng’s back bumped Fei Yin who was standing behind him. He turned and raised his head, only to see Fei Yin’s face is so close to his, their nose almost touching each other. “Da shixiong.” Cheng Sheng called.

Fei Yin stared at Cheng Sheng’s face before he spoke. “Are you uncomfortable?” he asked. “For meeting your family again.” He added.

Cheng Sheng nodded and lowered his head. Yes. Since they are not my family, but of this body’s. He thought, but didn’t voice it out. “Mn.” He answered.

Chen Jing finally noticed that Cheng Sheng was not on his side. He saw Cheng Sheng talking to Fei Yin. He smiled. He already heard Cheng Sheng being ‘close’ to his da shixiong so he didn’t think anything wrong of their closeness. He left and made the maids tend to the guests. He went to call the other family members.

They already have heard of their second young master’s return. Some were happy while some have mixed feelings. Before their second young master left, they knew him as being low-key and doesn’t speak much. Now, they heard of him being a prodigy and saving the Xiwang by creating a new type of Cleansing Talisman. They are aware that Cheng Sheng was the creator of the Cleansing Talisman, but they still had a hard time accepting it. The second young master has always been an average person in the past. However, he now became a prodigy. It was a shock. But, despite their shock, they could only calmly accept this fact. After all, their second young master greatly contributed on the crisis of their land. Thus, a grand celebration was held on the wide courtyard of the Chen Mansion. Countless long tables filled with food occupied the courtyard. There were also musicians and an opera for entertainment.

Feng Mo’s eyes are as round as saucers as he looked at the sumptuous food before him. “What’s with you?” Fei Yin asked. He and Feng Mo are seated beside each other and Sun Yi. He can’t sit beside Cheng Sheng since Cheng Sheng were with the Chen family across them.

Cheng Sheng’s proclamation of cutting ties with the Chen family is like a paper tiger in front of the Chen family. They clearly didn’t take it seriously and treated it as a teenage rebellion. Seriously, they knew this term? Cheng Sheng thought as he ate the food fed by Chen Qing, Chen Han and this body’s mother.

“Really, that Wu Fan.” One of the Chen Clan members said. He was not far from them so the main table can hear him. “He’s such a hypocrite. He wants the sect leader seat yet feeling resentful when it was given to him. Now, the patriarch invited him to eat yet he refused.” He said.

The faces of the people on the main table darkened. Suddenly, the noisy courtyard fell into a silence when they noticed the oppressive aura around them. “Cheng-shidi.” Fei Yin spoke for Cheng Sheng to hear. “Are you alright?” he asked when he heard something broke.

Hearing this and the main family suppressed their aura. They also heard the jade talisman broke. They immediately looked at Cheng Sheng and when they saw his face looked normal, they sighed in relief. “I’m fine.” Cheng Sheng said and took out his fifth jade talisman. The other four talismans broke after the main family released their aura. “But… I only have few talismans left – ”

“We’ll give you a hundred!” the main family immediately said when they saw Cheng Sheng’s heartbroken expression. Their heart can’t help but soften.

“Really?” Cheng Sheng said. They nodded. He smiled. “Thanks.” He said.

“We’re family.” They answered.

Cheng Sheng froze, then secretly sighed. He can only look at Fei Yin who was sitting across him and mouthed a ‘thank you, da shixiong’. Fei Yin nodded, the coldness in his eyes melted when he saw Cheng Sheng was alright. Because of Cheng Sheng’s prodigy identity, they forgotten that Cheng Sheng was, still, at fifth level of Qi Condensation Stage.

Chen Jing rose from his seat and turned to face the whole Chen Clan. “I will only say this once, so you should implant this on your head – ” he said, his face has an ugly expression. “Wu Fan is the sect leader of the sect. What you’re doing is slandering him. The Youxiwang Sect does not permit an internal conflict. Who said those words, get out! The Chen family will not condone this attitude!” he said and glared at the man who spoke earlier.

Wu Yuan sighed as he watched the man ran away and out of the complex. “You’re not mad?” Sun Yi asked.

Wu Yuan shook his head. “No.” he answered. It was obvious that he was used to this. However, he doesn’t resent Chen Jing nor the Chen family. He looked at Chen Jing, admiration in his eyes. I hope I can be like him in the future. Able to protect the one that he loves… willing to fight everything, even against the whole world, just to defend someone important to him. He thought and looked at Sun Yi who was laughing with Feng Mo. He is glad his father has such a man protecting him in the shadow.

The celebration lasted until midnight. Luo Shi and Ming Ye already left after dinner and went back to the Youxiwang Sect. Wu Yuan chose to stay in the Chen Mansion together with Sun Yi. Feng Mo, Fei Yin and Li Tian were given rooms near Cheng Sheng’s room. However, when they went to Cheng Sheng’s room, they saw he isn’t there. They thought Cheng Sheng went to his friends’ room to chat.

Cheng Sheng gazed at the bright and round moon in the night sky. He’s on the tiled roof of the Chen Mansion. He reached his hand, trying to touch the moon. However, of course, it was impossible. “What you wanted to reach, you cannot reach. What you don’t reach, you can reach. Don’t you think this is ironic – ” he said and turned. ” – da shixiong?” he smiled at Fei Yin.

Fei Yin who was standing nor far behind Cheng Sheng felt his breath momentarily stopped when he saw him smiled. Bathed in the moonlight, the dark night sky on his back. Cheng Sheng looked like an angel descended from the heaven, here to take his soul away. And Fei Yin willingly want to give it to the other. However, the other isn’t even interested. He took a deep breath to calm his emotions and slowly walked towards Cheng Sheng. His footsteps light as he treads the tiled roof, afraid he’d wake the people sleeping under the room.

“The world has been nothing but unfair.” Fei Yin answered as he stood beside Cheng Sheng while Cheng Sheng sat beside him. When Cheng Sheng pulled him by his hand and made him sit beside him, he complied. The cold jade fingers wrapped around his wrist sent shivers on his body. He wanted for him to hold him more, yet the other already let go of him. He felt regret. “Have you found an answer to the demonic qi?” he asked.

“Not yet.” Cheng Sheng honestly answered.

“Why didn’t you ask the Chen patriarch?” Fei Yin asked. He didn’t address Chen Jing as Cheng Sheng’s father, nor Chen Han as Cheng Sheng’s brother. He respected Cheng Sheng’s words of cutting ties with the Chen family.

Cheng Sheng smiled and turned to Fei Yin. He stared at Fei Yin. “Da shixiong.” He called. “You’re talkative today.” He told him. Fei Yin didn’t answer. Cheng Sheng shrugged. He’s already used to Fei Yin’s attitude. “It’s not that I am acting strong.” Cheng Sheng said.

“Then, why?” Fei Yin quietly asked.

Cheng Sheng looked up at the moon. “I think they don’t even know the answer.” He said. “If they did, they would have already solved this case. You also have heard Wu Fan’s words.” He turned to Fei Yin. He’s referring to before Wu Fan left.

Fei Yin fell silent. Cheng Sheng smiled and enjoyed the moment of silence between them. They heard the voices below them. The sounds of the footsteps, the fluttering of the draperies, and the gurgling of the water as the servants washed the dishes. Cheng Sheng looked at the pond in the middle of the garden. Then, after a while, he laid his back on the roof. The cold tiles touched his skin, making him shiver from the cold. However, this is okay for him. At least, he can feel he is connected to this world. That he is living in this world. Everything seemed surreal for him. His soul transferring in every other world. He can’t count how many worlds he had been to, where is he from and which world does he really belong to. He doesn’t know why is his soul transmigrating. He doesn’t even know what really is he.

“Sit up.” Fei Yin’s voice woke him from his thoughts.

“Hm?” Cheng Sheng said.

However, Fei Yin already grabbed him and pulled him up. His touch gentle and careful. Then, Fei Yin took off his outer robe and laid it down on the tiles roof. After he finished, he turned to Cheng Sheng. “You can now lie down.” He told him.

Cheng Sheng stared at him for a long time before he laughed. “Da shixiong – ” he said and covered his mouth. His shoulders are shaking. “Shouldn’t we go back to our rooms instead?” he asked. “That way, we can rest comfortably and the atmosphere is warm. You don’t need to do this. See, your robe was dirtied – ” he said as he took Fei Yin’s robe.

Fei Yin paused. “I thought you want to stay here for a while.” He quietly said.