2 Day 1: The Scum Is Irresponsible (1/2)
Newfound Land.
”Hey, brother!” a voice called, waving his hands non – stop. ”Would you like to try this wine - ?” he asked.
Obviously, he's a liquor vendor.
”Handsome~” a teasing voice of a woman called. ”Isn't the night cold - ?” she asked, then smiled seductively.
Any normal person would choose either of the two. However, I'm not that normal person.
I just walked past the two people, treating them like a wind. My eyes are dead set on that figure standing at the other end of the road, its head hung low.
When the other people saw what I'm looking at, they went pale and immediately ran to where I came from, leaving their goods.
When the figure heard the commotion, it raised its head and faced on my direction.
Of course, it's in my direction since I'm where the commotion is.
”Grr...?” the figure groaned, tilting its head to further hear the frantic voices of the running people.
If you still hadn't found out that this 'figure' is not a normal person – like me, but different from me, since... I stared at it blankly as I let it continue listen to the noise. ... clearly, this isn't even a person.
Just a dead person.
”Run! It's a zombie!” one of them yelled as he ran away.
”No!” the women cried as they hurriedly ran out of the brothel, some are even half – naked.
I ignored them. Instead, my eyes darted to the other side – the liquor stand.
”Grr...?” I heard the figure groaned, puzzled, when he can't hear anything anymore. Everyone already left – except me.
I ignored the figure and quietly walked towards the jars of liquor. I opened the lid and sniffed. I smiled, then raised it.
Just when I was about to tilt the jar to pour some on my dry mouth, a gust of wind swept past on my back.
A clash of metals broke the dead – still silence of the night.
I turned. ”Ah.” Was the one word come out of my mouth when I saw a tall man standing behind me. He didn't spare a glance on me and just focused on blocking the cuffed hand of the figure with his sword. ”Brother.” I called, my face blank. The jar of liquor still in my hands.
Although I called him 'brother', but he's not really my brother.
He didn't answer. I turned when I heard soft thuds not far from where I stood. Two individuals, their sleeves fluttering, descended on the ground.
”Aia. Brother – ” the taller one of the newcomers said, then looked at the jar in my hands. He sighed, shaking his head.
”Hmph.” The younger one of the two said, frowning.
I ignored them, then looked at the figure, growling, as he parries with the tall man that's blocking with the sword effortlessly.
”A fierce corpse.” The taller one said, his face serious as he glares at the figure.
Yes. It's a corpse. And a fierce corpse at that.
A fierce corpse, from the name itself, is a corpse that becomes fierce when provoked. Earlier, it was just simply a walking corpse when it suddenly heard the panicked voices of the people that're here earlier. As a corpse, sucked out of life energy ever since it died, is hungry of the lively life energy in the shopping street.
Yep. I'm in the shopping street, if you still haven't noticed.
The fierce corpse, after did a staring contest with the tall man, leaped back when it finally realized it can't win with strength. Yes. 'with strength'.
We all looked at the fierce corpse as it stood not far away and its body emitted a black gas.
”Shit!” the younger one cursed, glaring at the fierce corpse.
I know why he cursed. It's because the black gas is poisonous, obviously. Us, living ones, the life energy inside our body is of pure energy – qi. If it'll made contact with the black energy, our body will tremendously be affected – and it's not good.
”Stand back.” The tall man said, looking at the corpse. ”You, too.” He added and glanced at me on his side, then quickly looked back at the corpse who's now covered with black gas.
”Yes.” I answered, then jumped to the two at the back. ”I really envy Brother – ” I said, looking at the man's back as he masterfully made gestures in his hand and his body, together with his sword, was covered in qi.
He started attacking the fierce corpse.
”That clearly doesn't show on your face.” The younger one said, frowning, but seriously watching the fight.
”Brother – ” the other said and looked at me, then glanced at the jar in my hand. ” – why are you holding that?” he asked, pointed the jar.
Even though he already knows the answer, he still asked me, out of consideration.
I didn't answer. Their mouth fell open, shocked, when I gulped down the liquor. Black lines appeared on their face.
”Ah!” I exclaimed, then wiped my lips with my sleeve. ”More – ” I said, eyeing the other jars of liquor.
”No - !” the two said. They raised their hand to pull me back when they saw my eager face.
But, just when I was about to take a step, I saw in the corner of my eye a black figure flying my way. Instead, I jumped back, pulling the two with me, a second earlier before the black figure flew past us.
”Wha – ” the two said and blinked, shocked of what just happened.
I dropped them two on the ground. They turned and saw that it was the fierce corpse. The fierce corpse is now lying on the ground, lifeless.
Well, lifeless 'again'. I thought, since it's now the second time it died. As to why 'second time', the corpse 'lives' again after it sucked in its body the impure energy, or malevolent energy.
The corpses live, or feed, on it just to continue living.
The malevolent energy is the accumulated negative emotions of the people – both the living and the dead. The malevolent energy is just floating in the air. Whether it can be seen or not... it depends how dense it is. The denser it is, the bigger the negative emotions of the people living in the area. And since living people is afraid to be tainted by the malevolent energy, of course they'd leave their area once they see their place tainted by the malevolent energy.
As for tonight, how did the fierce corpse got in here... since the corpses feed on malevolent energy, the more malevolent energy they feed themselves, the 'livelier' they become. It's just like a living person eats food to sustain its life. The more food they eat, the stronger and livelier they become.
”As always, Brother is amazing.” The taller youth said and looked to the tall man, smiling.
As always, the tall man's expression is just blank.
”Many thanks to Brother.” The younger one said and clasped his hands, then bowed to the tall man.
”Where's the Evil Accumulating Orb?” he asked, looking at me.
”Even if I'm the first one to arrive, thus the first one to see the fierce corpse – ” I said. ” – that doesn't mean I have the equipment in me and thus, be the first one to take him down.” I said and pointed the corpse, but still facing the tall man.
”... Brother...” the tall youth said, did a face palm while shaking his head. The younger one just sighed, obviously dissatisfied.
The tall man stared at me blankly, no anger or disappointment on his face. As usual, his expression can't be read.
We all turned when we heard a hiss. The malevolent energy flew in the sky and dissipated.
”What?” I asked when the two stared at me, their eyes full of accusation. But I ignored them and walked towards the liquor stand.
”Brother - !” the two youths called and was about to stop me when I felt my body was lifted in the air. ”Ah.” They said and look at the tall man lifting me by my collar on the back. ”Many thanks – ” they said and bowed their head to the tall man. ” – Brother Fei – ” they told him and looked at him. ” – for stopping this scum brother of ours.” They said, then sighed, as they looked at me.
”Brother Chen...” the tall youth called, then sighed, as he looks at Chen Sheng.
”Let's go.” Fei Yin, the tall man, told them.
”Yes!” the two answered.
Without further ado, we all left the now deserted shopping street – with me still being carried by the collar.
Newfound Sect.
Morning.
”Not only did you neglect your duty, but also – ” Fang Wen, the master of the Newfound sect, said. His face is red with anger. ” – you even drank in the middle of your mission - !” he yelled and pointed at Chen Sheng.
”Shifu...” Chen Sheng called, then hiccupped. ”But I'm not drunk.” He told Fang Wen.
Fang Wen's eyes narrowed. ”You - !” he said, then gritted his teeth.
What Chen Sheng said is right. He has high alcohol tolerance. So even if he drank a couple more jars, you can't tell he's drunk.
But, what gives him away is when he hiccups. It's the side effect of when he hasn't had enough drink. That's why he badly wanted to drink one more jar last night so that their Master can't tell if he really had drink. But unfortunately, last night, there was a watcher in their group, in the form of Fei Yin – the most outstanding disciple of their sect.
Just when I rushed with all my might last night just so I could drink to my heart's content... Chen Sheng thought. Unfortunately, the fierce corpse appeared earlier than expected.
Their mission last night is to exterminate a rumored fierce corpse that's roaming around the area in the dead of the night.
”Shifu.” The tall youth called. He clasped his hands, then bowed his head.
”Li Tian... speak.” Feng Wan said, then sighed. He sat back on his head, rubbing his temple.
Li Tian bowed and looked at Fang Wen. Li Tian, even though he's youthful –looking, he and Chen Sheng, as well as Fei Yin, are of the same age. He's just really baby – faced. Chen Sheng thought.
”Shifu. Last night, it wasn't Brother Chen's fault.” Li Tian said.