44 Day 43: The Scum Is Mysterious (1/2)

After a few hours, the group – Chen Han, Fei Lin, Xi Ling, Li Shan, Li Tian, Feng and Fei Yin finally reached the YuLing Village. As expected, it is covered in fog.

They slowly descended on the ground and looked around. Rundown houses... empty street and not even a soul can be seen around.

Surely, YuLing Village deserves to be called 'ghost town'.

”I don't see Ah Sheng.” Chen Han said, his face serious, as they all looked around, looking for Chen Sheng.

”Elder Xi isn't here, either...” Feng Mo said, referring to Xi Peng. He, together with Li Tian, still doesn't know Xi Peng's nature.

Fei Yin already has suspicions from the start and so he didn't answer.

”We can start to look for clues as to what happened here 15 years ago, if there still remains, while we wait for your Brother Chen Sheng.” Li Shan told him, his voice business-like.

”Yes!” Li Tian and Feng Mo answered and respectfully bowed.

Chen Han just frowned while Fei Yin's face turned to blank. Xi Ling is just silent.

”Alright.” Fei Lin said.

”Uhm... Elder Fei.” Feng Mo called.

Fei Lin looked at him.

”Didn't you already inspected this village?” he asked.

Fei Lin nodded. ”Yes.” He answered. ”And up till now, even after 15 years, the Upright Sect can't find any clues of what happened to this village.” He explained. He saw hesitation in Feng Mo's face and so he continued. ”We're going to inspect again, now that we have a lead to the one that caused the tragedy that befell this village...” he said, didn't continue.

He's referring to Chen Sheng as the lead to Yu Sheng – the one who caused the YuLing Village's tragedy. The ones who knew the truth to this farce – Chen Han, Fei Yin and Xi Ling, just frowned.

Feng Mo nodded, now understood the farce – (err, I mean the situation. xD).

”Where do we start to look, anyway?” Li Tian asked.

”Let's split in groups.” Fei Lin said. ”Disciple Li. Disciple Feng.” He called the two disciples of the Newfound Sect. ”You stay here and wait for your Brother Chen to go back.” He told them.

”Yes!” they answered and bowed.

”I'll stay, too – ” Chen Han said.

Fei Lin cut him off. ”Of course.” He turned to Chen Han. ”You'll be guarding them.” He told Chen Han.

Chen Han nodded, now his mood is happy. He grouped with Li Tian and Feng Mo.

”Elder Li.” Fei Lin called and turned to Li Shan. ”You can go with Ling.” he told him, then looked at Xi Ling.

Xi Ling nodded and bowed. He then went to Li Shan.

”Be careful.” Fei Lin told his lover and smiled.

Xi Ling smiled, shy, as he glanced at Li Shan. Li Shan's face remained unchanged. He already knew the two are lovers.

He turned to his nephew. ”You be careful here, too.” He told Li Tian.

”Yes, uncle.” Li Tian answered and bowed.

”Yin-er.” Fei Lin called to his younger brother. ”You'll be going with me.” he told him.

Fei Yin just shrugged and walked away.

Fei Lin turned to Li Shan and Xi Ling. ”We'll be taking this side.” He said and pointed east. ”Let's meet back here after an hour. If Chen Sheng and Elder Xi Peng still haven't arrived, then we'll proceed to the cave.” He said and looked at Xi Ling.

Only Xi Ling knows where the cave is.

They nodded. ”Yes.” They answered.

Fei Lin nodded and walked after Fei Yin. Li Shan and Xi Ling nodded at Chen Han and his group, then took the opposite side.

The truth of what happened to the YuLing Village 15 years ago... it will be revealed an hour from now.

Misty Forest, an hour away from YuLing Village.

Chen Shen jumped back after he cut the throat of a demonic beast. Wen Yan effortlessly crushed the heart of the demonic beast using the malevolent energy inside the body of the beast.

”Don't you think the demonic beasts are appearing one after another?” Chen Shen asked as he stood back to back with Wen Yan, they're surrounded by ten demonic beasts.

Adding the two they just killed, they're surrounded by twelve demonic beasts before.

”... you don't need to ask. The answer is obvious.” Wen Yan told Chen Shen as he looked at the figure sitting on top of a beast – the Thousand Six-Winged Eagle.

Chen Shen sharply turned and his eyes narrowed. ”Oh. I forgot. His presence is so low I never noticed him.” he said, frowning, as he threw his sword towards the demonic beast that ran towards him and manipulated his sword as he made gestures on his hand.

The sword flew from one beast to another. Wen Yan's hand emitted a dense black energy and waved it towards the demonic beasts on his side.

In just a second, all the demonic beasts were annihilated. The two looked at Chen Sheng, who's silently sitting on Xia Di's back.

”You're not a demonic cultivator, yet you can control the demonic beasts.” Wen Yan said, his face blank as he looked at Chen Sheng.

”He's not a demonic cultivator, yet he can stay in the demonic sect.” Chen Sheng said and looked at Chen Shen who's glaring at him.

Chen Shen frowned. ”Who are you?” he asked. ”You're not the same as before. You're not Chen Sheng.” He told him, remembered the carefree scum guy he met and gave him the sword that's rightfully his.

This cold-blooded guy before them clearly isn't the scum yet kind guy they knew – Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng didn't answer and patted Xia Di's back. The beast shivered, but immediately yet carefully lowered his body for Chen Sheng to go down.

”Hmph. I also remember, you're good towards your contracted beast. But now...” Chen Shen said and looked at Chen Sheng. His eyes went wide and he gasped when he saw the same coldness he saw back then on Chen Sheng's eyes when they first met personally at the Newfound Land when the Newfound Land was attacked.

Chen Shen unconsciously stepped back and stood on Wen Yan's side, his body stiff.

Wen Yan glanced at him, obviously knew Chen Shen finally noticed that the guy before them is not to be trifled with.

He looked at Chen Sheng. ”How can you control the demonic beasts without using the demonic energy?” he asked him, referring to the malevolent energy inside the demonic beasts' body.

”Malevolent or not, demonic or not, they're still a form of energy.” Chen Sheng said. ”Energy that has qi.” He added.

Wen Yan's brow twitched. ”You can control qi?” he asked, finally realized it.

Chen Sheng didn't answer. ”If you're going to the YuLing Village, you're free to go.” He told them and started to walk.

Xia Di followed.

”Wait!” Chen Shen called, finally regained his composure. ”What did you do to Chen Sheng?” he asked.

The mysterious man's feet stopped.

”Brother Shen.” Wen Yan called, can't hold back anymore to not warn Chen Sheng.

But, Chen Shen's gaze already fixed to the mysterious man. His fear towards the man is less than his desire to know what happened to the soul that stole his body.

Whether hate or concern for the body thief (Chen Sheng) ... he doesn't know.

The mysterious man slowly turned to them, bidding his time. A chill ran down on their spine when they saw the man's cold smile.

”Right.” He said, his voice supposed to be filled with amusement yet it came out emotionless. ”The Chen Sheng you're talking about...” he said, then paused.

”What?” Chen Shen asked. Did this new soul force out Chen Sheng from his body? He thought. Another body thief! He thought, mad.

But, little did Chen Shen know that this soul is just the same, only the awareness changed.

Chen Sheng just meaningfully smiled and didn't answer. ”Why don't you follow me to the YuLing?” he asked. ”This forest is filled with demonic beasts. You'll be safe with me.” he told them and smiled – the same smile as Chen Sheng did back then before his awareness changed.

Chen Shen's eyes went wide and he gritted his teeth, mad. ”Don't you dare use Chen Sheng's smile – mmph!” he said and Wen Yan covered his mouth and pulled him back.

Chen Shen glared at Wen Yan, but Wen Yan ignored him and just blankly looked at Chen Sheng.

”We'll take up your offer, then.” Wen Yan told Chen Sheng.

Chen Sheng nodded and smiled, then continued to walk. Xia Di followed him.

”Brother Wen!” Chen Shen called, mad, after Wen Yan let him go. ”Why did you – ”

”I promised Young Master Xin I'd keep you alive.” Wen Yan said. ”And keeping you away from that guy is keeping you alive.” He explained.

Chen Shen didn't answer and just balled his fists, mad.

”That guy is still Chen Sheng.” He told him.

Chen Shen's eyes went wide, shocked. He looked at Wen Yan.

Wen Yan nodded. ”I don't know what happened to him, but you already saw he changed.” He said.

Chen Shen didn't answer.

”Let's follow him. Not only we can preserve our energy, but we may know something from him regarding Chen Sheng.” He told Chen Shen.

Chen Shen sighed, then nodded. ”Yes.” He answered.

The two then immediately followed the mysterious man as they walk towards the YuLing Village – where everything started, 15 years ago.

YuLing Village, East Side.

”So you suggested to the old man to investigate this case again now that Xi Peng died.” Fei Yin told Fei Lin as they checked the ground inside the ran down shack. ”Clever, thinking that Xi Peng's got something to prevent the secret to this case of this village in himself that is tied to his life.” he said. ”So. What do you think that something that's tied to his life, keeping the secret of this village?” he asked and looked at Fei Lin who stood up after checking the ground.

”That's what Ling and I are puzzled about.” Fei Lin answered. ”Ever since 15 years ago, up to this day, we still can't find dirt on that obviously dirty fox.” He said, frowning. He's referring to the late Xi Peng. ”That old man of ours sure takes care of his pets.” He added, now referring to their late father – Fei Xin.

Fei Yin shrugged. ”So? Have you found something?” he asked as they went outside.

Fei Lin nodded. ”Sure enough, the soul of the villagers that were sucked out of them now lingers on their land.” He answered, looking at the golden dust forming a figure of a human.

It is really a soul, and obviously the soul of one of the villagers.

”Aia... dunno to feel happy or scared... this just turned from fantasy to horror.” Fei Yin said, forced a smile to the soul.