51 Day 50: The Scum Is Ironic (1/2)

”Second young master Sheng.” The maid greeted and respectfully bowed. She just finished checking the rooms of the guests. ”Only half the rooms we gave are occupied.” She told him.

Chen Sheng grimaced and scratched his head.

The maid smiled and chuckled, understood the gentlemen cultivators' situation. ”Only Young Master Feng is asleep.” She added.

Black lines covered Chen Sheng's face. Xie Lan and Fang Wen must be... Fei Lin and Xi Ling should be... he thought, more black lines appearing on his face.

Chen Han and Li Tian, he just finished checking, is with the Chen family since Chen Sheng could hear them celebrating from the supposed to be silent study room. Sun Yi and Wu Yuan, needless to say...

Only Feng Mo is the most innocent among them all.

Chen Sheng coughed and nodded at the maid. ”Thank you.” He told her and bowed.

She smiled and respectfully bowed, then silently left. Chen Sheng sighed and stared at the moon.

”Disappointed she left?” a voice said.

Chen Sheng turned and saw the one he forgot to count on their group earlier. ”What?” he said to Fei Yin.

He's sitting on the floor, watching the koi fishes swim under the still pond.

The night wind blew and some cherry blossoms petals fell on the still pond, making ripples on the surface of the water. Yet the koi fishes are unfazed and continued to gleefully swim on the warm water.

The water in the pond has a spring beneath it, so the water is warm from the ground's heat.

Fei Yin didn't answer and just looked at the bright moon. Chen Sheng walked towards him and silently sat beside him after he excused.

Now there's two that're gazing at the bright moon.

Fei Yin broke the silence. ”What are you thinking?” he asked, not looking at Chen Sheng.

”My life...” Chen Sheng answered. ”This is really not a bad life.” He said.

Fei Yin looked at him. ”Somebody is after your life.” He told him, his face serious.

Chen Sheng smiled. ”There's always an end to everything the moment it started.” He said. ”Like life... there's death. One's death differs to another only by time, earlier or later.” He said and shrugged.

Fei Yin didn't answer.

Chen Sheng laughed. ”That is why I enjoy life. Life is precious because there's an end of it, which is death. Everything becomes precious if it's limited. If not, then it'll just become boring.” He said.

”We, cultivators, seeks for immortality.” Fei Yin can't help but say it.

”... even for immortals, there'll be an end for them.” Chen Sheng said, his face serious.

”... that is?” Fei Yin asked.

”The longevity of their life.” Chen Sheng answered. ”One seeks immortality yet when it's already given to you, or when you finally obtained it... you'll regret it later, anyway. Which is an irony.” He said and looked at Fei Yin. ”This is what I find ironic for us cultivators.” He told him. ”We want time to be extended and yet when it extended... we want it to stop, much less shorten.” He said. ”When one founds what's precious to them... they'll ask for time to be longer, so that they could spend an eternity for their love one. Yet...” he said. ”When their loved one dies before them... the longevity they wished for they regret.” He said and lowered his head. ”That's why I wish I won't find my love one yet.” He said and smiled. ”Since I'd wish for all the time in the world just so I could be with them longer... yet – ” he looked at Fei Yin. ” – when they'll be gone before me... I'd curse everything.” He said and smiled bitterly. ”All these ironies... yet it points to only one.” He said and looked at the moon. ”... our loved one.” He muttered.

Fei Yin stared at Chen Sheng's smiling yet melancholic face. ”Have Brother Chen found his love one yet?” he asked.

”... yes.” Chen Sheng answered. ”Brother Fei, how about you?” he asked.

”... I'm staring at him right now.” Fei Yin answered as he looks at Chen Sheng. He is sure this is Sheng he's been looking for.

Chen Sheng just smiled and didn't turn to him, which made Fei Yin disappointed.

He sighed and withdrew his gaze. He looked at the moon. ”If it's me...” he said. ”I'd never wish for time to extend.”

This time, Chen Sheng looked at him. ”Why?” he asked.

Fei Yin smiled and turned to Chen Sheng. ”I'd wish for time to stop, so I could spend that one moment with the one I love.” He said.

”Just one moment?” Chen Sheng said. ”That's too short.” He said, frowning.

Fei Yin chuckled as he looked at the moon. ”That's what makes it precious... right?” he asked and looked at Chen Sheng and winked.

Chen Sheng frowned, remembered what he said earlier.

Fei Yin chuckled and watched the fishes swim. ”All it needs is a moment, since all it took is just but a moment.” He said.

Chen Sheng looked at him. ”You're saying...?” he asked, puzzled.

Fei Yin smiled and looked at Chen Sheng. ”When one falls in love.” He answered as he looked in his eyes. ”Since it took a moment, and happens for a moment.” He explained.

Chen Sheng's brows raised but didn't answer.

”Love at first sight, or whatever form or type of love it is. It all takes a moment, and will only happen for a moment, to realize you love him or her.” Fei Yin explained.

Chen Sheng stared at him. ”Brother Fei... you sure is knowledgeable on this matter.” He said, referring to romance.

Fei Yin chuckled. ”Well... since I fell in love countless times.” He told him.

Chen Sheng's eyes went wide. ”Really?” he asked.

Fei Yin nodded. ”Really.” He answered. ”But all those times... I only fell for one person.” he said and smiled.

”... you can fall for a person many times?” Chen Sheng asked as he waves his feet.

Fei Yin nodded. ”Yes.” He answered.

Chen Sheng looked at him.

”You can fall for them again and again...” he said. ”By their speech, by their eyes, by their touch, by their smell, by their actions...” he said. ”You could fall for them over and over again.” he told him and smiled.

Chen Sheng frowned, disappointed. ”Yeah, yeah.” He said and waved his hand, forced himself to agree.

Fei Yin laughed. ”What? You're expecting something?” he asked, testing the waters.

Chen Sheng sharply turned to him. ”Yes!” he answered, nodding his head vigorously.

Fei Yin's brows raised. ”Oh? What are you expecting?” he asked and smiled, amused.

”Hmm... like – ” Chen Sheng said and think. ” – falling for that person in your past life?” he asked and grinned as he looked at Fei Yin.

Fei Yin's smile froze and he stared at Chen Sheng. He's definitely Sheng that I've been looking for. He thought.

The Sheng he met in his past lives, in the past worlds he's been in.

”What do you think of Chen Sheng?” Fei Lin asked Xi Ling as they sat on the roof, gazing at the moon.

Xi Ling's face went serious. ”He's Sheng – ge's master.” He answered, remembered what Yu Sheng told him before Yu Sheng went inside the cave.

”I came from BaiLong.” Yu Sheng said.

Xi Ling's eyes went wide. ”BaiLong... it exists?!” he asked, shocked.

”The proof that I exist is the proof it exists.” Yu Sheng said, frowning.

Xi Ling shut up.

Yu Sheng sighed. ”Anyway – ” he said and looked at the cave. ” – one day, when I leave... it's because I went back to my country.” He said and looked at Xi Ling.

Xi Ling's eyes went wide.

Yu Sheng sighed and patted his head. ”Ling – ling. Nothing stays forever, except time. That's why time is the oldest in this world.” He told him. ”I am alive because of my master. I live for my master.” He said.

”Your master...” Xi Ling said.

”He's inside me.” Yu Sheng said. Xi Ling looked at him. ”Figuratively and literally.” He said.

Xi Ling frowned.

Yu Sheng laughed. ”I'm serious. His soul is inside me.” he said and explained. ”So... I'm waiting for the time when his soul will be released from me.” he said. ”And that's through the thief who stole that soul technique. Ah, wait.” He said and think. ”Mm. My parents purposefully left it here so that somebody could master that technique and help me untie my soul from master's...” he muttered, too much for Xi Ling to digest.

But, Xi Ling understood the gist of it. ”Sheng – ge.” He called.

Yu Sheng turned to him, then smiled. ”Me leaving for BaiLong will still be a long time. I still had to prepare master.” He told him, then messed his hair. ”So don't be too serious. We'll still be meeting again, and it'll be in the near future. So – ” he said and grinned as he patted Xi Ling's head. ” – don't make things too difficult for Fei Lin and just tell him you love him and let him touch you and do you – woah!” he exclaimed when Xi Ling is about to punch him and he dodged. He raised his hands, making Xi Ling think he's going to surrender. But, he added. ”I'm not joking about that - !” he said and laughed when Xi Ling's face just got redder.

Xi Ling blushed as he remembered. He glanced at Fei Lin.