27 Day 26: The Scum Is A Prodigy (2/2)

”So?” Chen Sheng said.

Xi Ling started. ”Sheng – ge is from a small village just at the border of the Upright Sect. It's called YuLing Village.” He started. ”Sheng – ge is an orphan and my family, who found you after wandering about, kept you so that I could have a friend the same of my age.” He smiled, remembering those times. ”Sheng – ge is really talented. Your soul has a high aptitude for cultivation and so my family enrolled you with me to the Upright Sect.” he said.

Chen Sheng nodded. ”So that's what it is.” He said. ”So... why am I like this now?” he asked as he looked at Fei Lin. He knows this pattern. This is where the time he's being bullied starts.

Seeing Xi Ling lowered his head, Fei Lin continued for him. ”You two were always compared when you started here.” He said.

Chen Sheng's brows rose.

”Ling, since he's inferior to you, he's the object of ridicule.” He said and glanced at Xi Ling. He then continued. ”But Ling didn't hold it against you. He already knows this is bound to happen.” He said. ”Ling isn't so much inferior to you. You're just a step ahead of him. When you two reached the Nascent Soul Stage 15 years ago... the current grandmaster at that time, Ling's uncle, gave you two a task.” He said.

”And that is the cause of what I am today?” Chen Sheng asked.

Fei Lin nodded. ”Yes.” He answered. ”A disturbance happened at the border of the sect, specifically in your village.” He looked at Chen Sheng. ”The cause of the disturbance is unknown. But, since you are a prodigy, the grandmaster isn't afraid to give this task to the two of you. If ever something happens to his nephew, he trusts that you'll protect him since they kept you when you were young.” He said.

So much drama. Chen Sheng thought, feeling a headache is about to come.

Fei Lin continued. ”You two then went to the village. Then...” he paused.

”Then what?” Chen Sheng asked.

”A plague.” It was Fei Yin. He couldn't help but speak at this time. ”An unknown plague. And it's more mysterious since it wasn't caused by malevolent energy.” He said.

How Fei Yin knew of this, it must be because he heard of this from his family.

”Then... what is this plague about?” Chen Sheng asked.

”The life force of the people was sucked dry.” Fei Yin answered. ”To the point their skin and insides were dried, too.” He said.

Chen Sheng fell silent. Fei Yin didn't speak again.

”Sheng – ge and I searched and searched for many days.” Xi Ling continued.

Chen Sheng looked at him.

”Until we found an isolated cave deep in the forest beside the lake.” He said.

”And that cave is...” Chen Sheng said.

Xi Ling looked at him, then shook his head. ”I've looked it up but even after 15 years I still don't know what that cave is.” He answered. ”That cave is mysterious. Sensing danger, you told me to wait outside. But... even after a week and you still haven't come out.” He said and lowered his head.

Tears fell from his eyes, like it all happened just yesterday.

Silence fell. Even Chen Sheng doesn't know what to feel.

This... can't be... what really happened to me? He thought, suspicious. ”That... what happened after that?” he asked after a while. ”Why is my soul is in this body? What happened to my body?” he asked, remembered the issue of his soul.

”That – ” Fei Lin said. ” – when a week passed and you haven't come out... Ling went back to the sect and immediately reported, requesting for help.” He said. ”Of course, since it's the request of the nephew of the grandmaster, and that we don't want to lose a prodigy... we sent many forces to enter the cave.” He explained. ”But... what happened next shocked us.” He said.

”And that is?” Chen Sheng asked.

Fei Lin looked at him in the eye. ”You suddenly came out safe and unharmed.” He told him.

Chen Sheng's brows rose to the ceiling. ”What do you mean?” he asked.

”Sheng – ge is fine, like the way you always looked like.” Xi Ling answered. ”You didn't look like someone who haven't eaten or bathed for a week. You're... so fine.” He said and lowered his head. ”I asked you what happened and you told me it was just a beast.” He said. ”But – ” he looked at Chen Sheng. ” – of course we didn't believe you. Starting that day... you changed.” He said, his face filled with sadness and pain.

Chen Sheng pursed his lips. That still doesn't answer my question. He thought, impatient. He turned at Fei Lin when he saw Xi Ling didn't speak.

Are you deliberately making me in suspense here? He thought as he accusingly glared at Fei Lin.

Fei Lin cleared his throat. ”Days... weeks... and even months passed. Your usual cold attitude turned even colder. Even Ling, you're not talking to him anymore.” He continued.

Chen Sheng tightened his lips. What's with this set up? He thought, pissed. Even if I'd live a hundred lives, I will never be that haughty. He thought, feeling wronged.

”The arrogant prodigal disciple Yu Sheng.” Fei Yin said, contempt in his voice.

Chen Sheng turned to him.

Fei Yin is frowning. ”I don't personally know him, but I've heard of him.” He said in an indifferent voice.

Chen Sheng ignored him and turned to Fei Lin, urging him to continue.

”Then... after half a year... it finally showed.” Fei Lin said.

”Showed what?” Chen Sheng asked, suddenly excited.

Fei Lin looked at him. ”The aura you've been suppressing for so long that's why we didn't notice your cultivation level.” He answered.

”And that is?” Chen Sheng asked, his heart beating fast.

Fei Lin paused. ”... you've reached beyond the level of Immortalization Stage.” He answered, his face serious.

”... ah?” Chen Sheng said, dumbfounded.

Xi Ling sighed. Fei Yin coldly scoffed.

Chen Sheng blinked multiple times before he blew his top. He stood up. ”Hey! What do you mean?! I've reached – ” he said, then paused in disbelief. ”That can't be! No matter how gifted or talented you are, but to reach Immortalization Stage from Core Formation Stage in just a week... furthermore, beyond Immortalization Stage?!” he said, disbelief. Even if he's an idiot in this stuff, cultivation, (just like the author XD), he still knows the impossibility of this case.

”But that's what really happened, Sheng – ge.” Xi Ling said. ”I personally saw it. When you lost control of your power...” he said, then looked at Chen Sheng. ”... your soul split up.” He told him.

Chen Sheng's eyes went wide. He blinked.

”What?” Fei Yin said, shocked. The two looked at him. ”His soul spli...” he said, disbelief.

Chen Sheng ignored Fei Yin. ”My... my soul – ” he said and held his head that's now aching.

Xi Ling nodded. ”Yes.” He answered. ”When your body almost looked like it's going to tear apart, Uncle applied the Soul Evicting Technique on your body.” He said, referring to the move he did to Chen Sheng earlier. It was a technique specialized by the Xi family. ”The moment your soul went out of your body, your soul split in two. One went back to your body and the other one flew away.” He explained.

Chen Sheng is dumbfounded. So that soul that flew away is him?! He thought, shocked.

”We've searched for you for 15 years but we can't detect your soul.” Fei Lin said. ”It flew leaving no trace.” He said.

”But... but – ” Chen Sheng said. ”I've been in the Newfound Sect...” he said, still digesting what they said.

”Yes. That's true.” Xi Ling said. ”But we only found out about this just now. That's why we're able to move just now.” He explained.

Chen Sheng turned to him sharply. ”'able to move'?” he said. ”Why? What's wrong?” he asked. ”And... what happened to my body where half of my soul came back to?” he asked, his heart beating fast for unknown reason.

Like danger is coming...? He thought.

Xi Ling froze. Fei Lin's face is serious.

”Hey... it can't be – ” Fei Yin said, his face indescribable. He's just listening to them in silence since earlier. Now he can't hold back. ”You don't mean – ”

”That mysterious person...” Chen Sheng said, suddenly felt he's having hard time to breathe. ”You don't mean... that was me?!” he said, shocked, wide – eyed.

Fei Lin and Xi Ling didn't answer, indicating it's a 'yes'.

”The one after his life...” Fei Yin said, as shocked as Chen Sheng. Even though he hates Chen Sheng for being as Chen Shen's impostor, but they've been brothers together for 15 years and that cannot be changed. ”... is himself...?” he said, wide – eyed.

Little Dragon's G(r)ay Theater:

Yu Sheng: ah – ah... I'm found out. *grins

Chen Sheng: ... you know that you're me. Give me back my name.

Yu Sheng: you sure that I'm you? Or... you are me? *evil grin

Chen Sheng: ...

Gray Dragon: *to Fei Yin. Now you have no rival for the ML title.

Fei Yin: ...

Others: the question is... who will he be ML to?

Gray Dragon: ...

Chen Sheng: ... damn. I'm so out of here - *walks out.

Gray Dragon: ... I think I'm walking out of here, too –

Others: No - ! *stops autho