65 Day 64: The Scum Is Forgetful (1/2)
Demonic Land.
”You sure you're fine?” Wen Yan asked Chen Shen who's walking, stiff. ”This is just the first time you coordinated your soul in that body – ” he told him, referring to the modified body Mu Xin created for Chen Shen's soul who Wen Yan found and caught as an experimental subject for Mu Xin's creation.
Chen Shen nodded, though his head barely moved. ”En.” He answered and continued walking, his limbs are all stiff.
Wen Yan sighed as he looked around the Demonic Land that's covered in dense malevolent energy. They just witnessed how Mu Jie, Mu Xin's father, lost control of his power due to extreme Qi Deviation. Mu Jie almost lost his life, had not his aide that's been always by his side even before Mu Xin was born, saved him by taking away his consciousness, saving the last shred of sanity of Mu Jie.
Now Mu Jie is bedridden, and Wen Yan sneaked Chen Shen out to escape taking care of Mu Jie. Though Wen Yan knew Mu Jie's aide doesn't need his help.
The two then continued walking to look for Mu Xin, who went to negotiate with the Righteous cultivators all by himself.
Newfound Land border.
”... ah?” the Righteous cultivators said, dumbfounded, as they looked at Mu Xin.
Mu Xin frowned. ”Are all Righteous cultivators actually deaf?” he asked, his forehead knotted.
A vein popped in the Righteous cultivators' head.
Mu Xin smiled. ”So you're all not.” He said and chuckled.
They glared at him.
Mu Xin raised his hands. ”Hey. I already said to you, I want to talk peace with you.” He told them.
”Why?” Fei Yin asked. ”Don't you see what your previous leader did?” he asked and motioned the dense malevolent energy floating around them.
Mu Xin nodded. ”But what my father did isn't what I did.” He said.
Dark lines covered everybody's face. So he's Mu Jie's son... they thought.
Mu Xin continued. ”That's why I want to make a peace treaty with you.” He said again.
”Why?” this time, it was Fei Lin who asked. ”You're a demonic cultivator. Why would you want peace?” he asked.
”Because I'm a demonic cultivator.” Mu Xin answered. ”I long for peace.” He said.
”Ha?”
Mu Xin pressed his lips tight. ”Hey. Aren't you all judgmental?” he asked, frowning. ”Even though we're demonic cultivators, controlling the malevolent (demonic) energy, that doesn't mean we're also malevolent.” He explained. ”Actually, most of us were born already like this – has a talent to control the malevolent energy. But we're actually even more righteous than you – ” he said and looked at them all blankly.
Their eyes narrowed, but they knew Mu Xin has a point. They all personally saw how a Righteous cultivator can be even more demonic than the demonic cultivators.
”Then, what do you want in exchange for the peace you're proposing to us?” Xie Lan asked.
Mu Xi turned to him. ”I want you all to take your paws off my sect.” he answered.
”What - ?!”
Mu Xin immediately explained. ”If you won't find any of my fellows doing misdeeds.” He said.
They looked at him, suspicious.
”Which I can assure you.” Mu Xin added.
They fell silent.
Mu Xin continued. ”In exchange, my demonic sect will help you collect the malevolent energy off your land.” He told them.
Their face went serious. Seeing the dense malevolent energy around and continue spreading every second pass as they talk, they knew it'll take years before they purify half of the malevolent energy that spread after Mu Jie lost control of his power.
”Deal.” The silent Promising Sect leader said.
Wu Yuan looked at his father, want to object but Sun Yi stopped him.
Mu Xin nodded, his face serious. ”Shall we sign now?” he asked and raised a blank scroll and quill.
Their face was covered in dark lines. He can't be more prepared... they thought.
The leaders of the Upright Sect, Promising Sect, Newfound Land Sect and Demonic Sect who are leading the four corners (North, West, East and South) of the HuiLong Continent started making the peace treaty between the Righteous and Demonic Cultivators.
This treaty will overshadow the heroism of a low level disciple of the Newfound Sect.
Meanwhile, the said heroic low level disciple that is actually a scum silently walked away and lie down a tree. He put his useless sword away and laid the Heaven's Touch on the ground for him to lie on.
He watched everyone crowding the four leaders of the sects, then closed his eyes.
It was only a second later before Chen Sheng opened his eyes, then frowned. He sat up, then looked around. He sighed and stood up, then picked up the Heaven's Touch before he walked away. He remembered he still has a business to do, and that business is about a certain beast – his contracted beast.
He left, not minding everybody, nor his useless sword that's lying on the ground which he completely forgotten, and will be picked up by its rightful owner.
The two young men looked up when they heard a swoosh of the wind, followed by a colorful parade in the air.
It was the Righteous cultivators leaving. That means Mu Xin was successful in making a peace treaty with the Righteous cultivators.
”Young Master Xin!” Wen Yan called and ran towards Mu Xin who's still smiling as he waved at the leaving Righteous cultivators.
”How's him?” Mu Xin asked, his smile disappeared and his face turned cold as he turned to Wen Yan. He's referring to his father, Mu Jie.
Wen Yan respectfully bowed and answered. ”His aide is looking after him.” he said and immediately explained Mu Jie's situation.
Chen Shen, who's walking stiffly, almost tripped over something. He looked down and saw a sheathed sword lying on the ground. He was about to pick it up when he froze.
”Ah! Where's Brother Chen?” a voice said.
”Here.” One answered.
”Wha – ”
”When did you get a ride with Senior Brother Sun?”
”Ah. He offered me a ride when he saw me earlier...”
”Sun Yi, you - !” a voice Chen Shen so familiar with his already stiff body froze.
His eyes went wide. ”Han – gege (elder brother)...” he muttered, his voice hoarse that's it's almost inaudible. He didn't notice tears are falling from his eyes.
He looked down and his tears fell on the ground. He saw the words on the sword's scabbard, indicating the name of the sword.
No Envies, was what's written. More tears fell on Chen Shen's eyes.
Mu Xin and Wen Yan, noticed Chen Shen's too silent, turned. Their eyes went wide when they saw him crying.
”Shen?” Mu Xin called, surprised, as he immediately walked towards Chen Shen. ”Shen. What's wrong?” he asked, worried, as he wiped the tears off Chen Shen's cheeks.
”Brother Shen...” Wen Yan called, his usually blank face was covered in worry.
Chen Shen sniffed and slowly picked up the sword, his hands shaking. ”Nothing...” he answered. ”Life is really just so ironic.” He told them. They looked at him. He smiled, bitter, as he raised the sword. ”See? My soul sword just tells me the reason why I'm where I am now.” he said and showed them the sword's name. ”... this sword will forever remind me of my greatest regret, as well as my life's irony.” He said and lowered his head as a sob escaped from his mouth.
Mu Xin hugged him as Wen Yan sighed, pitying the already pitiful man who brought upon himself his irony in life.
The sword's name will be his constant reminder of the sin he made in his life.
Chen Shen slowly opened his eyes and saw the sleeping face of Mu Xin. He smiled as he caressed his smooth and soft face.
He's gentle when he's sleeping. He thought and giggled before he went down the bed.
”So you're going to fight together with us?” Lei Ling said.
Chen Shen turned and saw outside Lei Ling and Wen Yan walking around the Newfound Sect.
Wen Yan nodded. ”Yes.” He answered, his face serious.
”Pft – ” Chen Shen said and covered his mouth to prevent himself from laughing. Brother Wen... you're too pretentious! He thought and laughed, looking at Wen Yan's serious face as he walks away with Lei Ling.
”Early in the morning and you're looking at another man.”
”Hm – ” Chen Shen said. Before he could turn, he was already pulled back to the bed. ”Wah - !” he exclaimed as he fell on top of Mu Xin who's now awake. ”X – Xin...” he called, his face red when he saw how close their face to each other.