38 Day 37: The Scum Is A NEE (1/2)

”Ugh...” Zu Zhe groaned as he massaged his temples. ”How to deal with this...” he muttered and sighed. ”How to deal with you...?” he asked as he looked at the man standing before him.

A week already passed yet Zu Zhe still hasn't thought of his next course of actions.

He just blankly stared at the dark ceiling, every day, until Yu Sheng finally came back.

”So? What happened to you?” he asked, though he already knows the answer.

”They really framed me up.” Yu Sheng answered. ”They planned to kill me.” he added.

Zu Zhe looked at him, don't know whether to feel pity to the man or what, since he's the one who wrote this to happen to the man.

He gulped, then carefully asked. ”And... what happened after that?” he asked.

”I fled.” Yu Sheng answered.

As expected. Zu Zhe thought and sighed. But, his sigh got stuck on his nostrils when Yu Sheng continued.

”They split my soul to weaken me.” Yu Sheng added.

Zu Zhe didn't breathe for a second, then sharply turned to Yu Sheng. ”WHAT?!” he asked, shocked. This is really OOC! He thought, wide – eyed.

Yu Sheng looked at him. ”I already told you earlier.” He said as he looks at Zu Zhe, his face calm but serious. ”Even though you wrote our life, but currently we are living.” he said.

Zu Zhe stared at Yu Sheng, wide-eyed and in disbelief. This guy... he thought, his face turning red because of anger. This guy knows everything that's why he's going OOC! He thought as he glared daggers at Yu Sheng who's just sitting silently. He knows, yet he's planning to change everything.

If only I knew from the start this is the villain I'm talking to, I would've never told him his ending in the story. He thought and frowned, still glaring at Yu Sheng.

True enough, after Yu Sheng's soul was split, his aura somewhat tamed. But, it's still overflowing with power.

”If this is how it's gonna be...” Zu Zhe muttered, his eyes glistened with evil as a plan formed in his head.

”You said something?” Yu Sheng asked.

Zu Zhe smiled sweetly at Yu Sheng. ”No...” he answered. ”Where are you going now?” he asked. ”They must be running after you now... this place isn't safe anymore to stay...” he told him and smiled, considerate.

”En.” Yu Sheng answered and nodded. ”We're leaving.” He told him.

”Yes, yes. That's righ – ah?” Zu Zhe said. ”'we'?” he asked and blinked. I didn't mishear it, right?

Yu Sheng looked at him. ”I'm bringing you.” He said.

Without further ado, Yu Sheng lifted him up, princess-carry style. Zu Zhe's eyes went wide and his face flushed, both in anger and embarrassment. He glared at Yu Sheng.

Just you wait! I have the most perfect plan to use against you, you villain!

Somewhere in the Upright Land.

”So there's really something in the cave?” Xi Peng asked his nephew, Xi Ling, as they all traveled to YuLing Village to catch Yu Sheng who escaped after his soul was split by Xi Peng.

”Yes.” Xi Ling answered, his face and voice blank. ”I don't know what it was, but Sheng – ge must have seen something. And that made his power skyrocket.” He explained. ”I think... he's beyond Immortal Stage now...” he added, his voice trailed off.

Silence fell on them. First, because Yu Sheng turned from their prodigal disciple, the sect's pride, to their formidable enemy, the sect's shame.

Second, Xi Ling is always a step behind Yu Sheng. Now that Yu Sheng is far from Xi Ling's reach...

Xi Peng evilly grinned as he patted his nephew's back, consoling him. ”Don't worry.” He told him. ”Once we take what's inside that cave, your power will skyrocket, too, like Yu Sheng.” He told him, yet everybody knew that Xi Peng won't ever help anyone aside from himself, and will take what's in the cave all for himself.

They all looked at each other, then glared at Xi Peng's back. This old man even went to using his own blood! They thought as they looked at Xi Ling, full of pity.

Fei Lin, flying silently behind, is also mad, gritting his teeth as he glared at Xi Peng. Ling... he thought as his heart ached when he saw Xi Ling's cold face. Just what happened to him and Yu Sheng? He thought, his mind and heart filled with doubts and worry.

Xi Ling's face is blank, yet his heart is beating wildly. Sheng – ge... I hope you're safe... he thought as he remembered how Yu Sheng's soul was split by his uncle, Xi Peng.

His face went serious as he remembered Yu Sheng's words before he entered the cave.

”By now, you should realize there's a traitor framing me.” he said.

Xi Ling nodded. ”Why would they frame you?” he asked, though he already knows the answer.

Yu Sheng is powerful and it'll only take a short time for Yu Sheng to take over the sect, which is out of the question since only the Fei family could be the leader of the Upright Sect.

”Is it Sect Leader Fei who wants to frame you?” he asked, referring to Fei Xin, who's the current leader of the sect.

”Although he wants to, but you know that old fox. He'll never dirty his hands.” Yu Sheng answered.

”Then... who?” Xi Ling asked and lowered his head, now everything finally sinking in his naïve mind.

”Yes. It's Xi Peng.” Yu Sheng confirmed his thoughts. Xi Ling fell silent. ”He wants to frame me... kill me. He's afraid of me, since I'll be by your side once you'll take over the Xi family.” He explained. ”But, that's not all...” he said.

Xi Ling looked at him. ”What do you mean?” he asked.

Yu Sheng looked at him. ”I'm... not from this continent.” He answered, his face solemn.

Xi Ling's eyes went wide.Everyone knew that there's a land beyond the Endless Sea. But, none actually seen it and so it remained a myth up till now.

But, now... Yu Sheng is telling him that he came from the said mythical land.

”Sheng – ge...” he called, don't know what to say.

Yu Sheng patted his head. ”Ling – ling.” he called. ”When I go out the cave... can I ask you to do something for me?” he asked.

”What is it?” he asked, his face serious. If this'll help Sheng – ge, then I'll gladly do anything. He thought.

Yu Sheng smiled. ”Like I always do...” he said, then grinned. ”... act.”

Xi Ling's face flushed, but he immediately fixed his face.

Right now, Sheng – ge's relying on me. He thought as the hill where the cave is finally came into view. ”There.” He said, his face serious.

”Everyone, faster!” Xi Peng called as he grinned like a madman and flew first towards the cave.

Xi Ling's face went serious. Sheng – ge... he thought when he saw a black figure, too small and is hidden in the clouds, flew away. Please be safe. He thought and did his part.

To act.

In the end, they found nothing inside the cave, since the cave's a giant maze inside. It's as if the cave is alive and is preventing them from uncovering its secret.

Xi Peng, driven by greed and is crazed, almost fell into the cave's trap and met his demise, but lived, much to everybody's chagrin. When they all went back to the sect, empty-handed, Fei Xin dismissed the matter by telling that the unknown thing inside the cave and is living there is the one who sucked the life out of the YuLing villagers.

- An excerpt from Good and Evil: The Cultivation World

”Argh! This isn't right! This isn't right!” Zu Zhe yelled, finally snapped out of anger.

Yu Sheng looked at him stomping his foot on the ground. So he finally snapped. He thought as amusement flashed in his eyes before it vanished when Zu Zhe, like always, glared at him.

”What?” he asked.

Zu Zhe gritted his pearly white teeth and looked away, frowning. ”Where were we?” he asked. The surrounding is covered in mist.

”The Mist Lake Peak.” Yu Sheng answered and looked at the towering mountain afar. Only the head of the mountain can be seen.

If Yu Sheng didn't tell him the name, Zu Zhe might've missed the serene lake not far.

The lake is concealed by the mist that's hovering above it.

Zu Zhe looked around. ”There's... no one here.” He said when he only saw bamboos around them. ”There's not even a house. Where will we stay?” he asked and looked at Yu Sheng.

Yu Sheng looked at him, an indescribable expression on his face. ”... you sound like a newlywed wife that's worrying of her love nest.” He said and grinned.

Zu Zhe's face immediately flushed, both in anger and embarrassment. ”Who's your wife?!” he yelled.

”... did I say 'my' wife?” Yu Sheng asked and looked at Zu Zhe, mirth and amusement in his eyes. ”So you have a plan to be my wife?” he asked and smiled.

Zu Zhe blinked, momentarily blinded by the dazzling handsome face of the man before the man's words sunk in his mind. His face went red like a boiling kettle on the cartoons and he glared at Yu Sheng. ”Never!” he yelled and marched away.

Yu Sheng's laugh echoed throughout the silent forest lake. Zu Zhe glared at him.

I'll definitely get back with this sinful man! Zu Zhe thought, determined.

He coughed and watched the bubbles float in the water.

I'm still alive...? He thought and blinked as he stared blankly on the light on the surface of the water. Blasted blanket... he thought, referring to the Heaven's Touch. If it's just not for it, he'd never drown in this stupid unknown spring and bid his time to die.