Chapter 43 - The Scum Is Regarded

"So there are these strange corpses in the north, too." Ming Ye said as he killed off the last walking corpse that pounced on them. The Dongfang Town is the border between the east and north. When they entered the forest, they also entered the north. Right now, they have reached Shanbei Province.

"It seems like it's not only us who are attacked." Xie Lan said as he burned the corpses. Chen Jing is with Cheng Sheng. Fei Yin is guarding them.

The bell rang once again. They resumed walking. The reason why they chose to walk is because they don't want to miss the specific places. If they would fly, they would still need to land in order to check the area. So, they walked. It's also saving them energy. They have been walking for two days and a half now, yet this is perfunctory for them, cultivators. They walk actually walk faster and also practice inedia. Only, from time to time, their stomach is upset because of the smell of Cheng Sheng's food. They couldn't make a stop since they are losing more time finding Wu Fan. Also, there're only trees around them. The north is rich in sparse forests but lofty mountains. The west is rich in lakes and rivers. The south is rich in thick and vast forests and prairies and the central land of the continent is mainly plains and hills. The east where the Xinfaxian is located is varied. There are valleys, plateaus, mountains, forests, etc. However, the east land is the smallest area in the continent while the central area is the largest.

"Ah. I can see Shanliang." Ming Ye said after two hours of walking. He saw the familiar barrier of the Shaliangde Sect in the space between the canopies of the towering trees above their heads. "Wait – " he said, his brows knit. " – Wu-xiong is in Shanliang, then?" he said, frowning. Then, he paused. "Wait. Why can we see their barrier?" he asked and looked at the glowering transparent barrier mid-air. The barrier had a gigantic logo of lofty mountains hidden by the clouds. "This brings back memories, though." He said and smiled.

"Elder Ming. I never knew you are this carefree." Cheng Sheng commented when they saw a horde of corpses in the distance where the foot of the Shanliangde Sect's barrier is located. They are surrounding the barrier, pounding it simultaneously, making the barrier appear over time.

"There are too many of them." Xie Lan said. There's only him, Ming Ye and Fei Yin as the fighters.

"How do we go through them?" Ming Ye asked.

Cheng Sheng stared at the horse of corpses, then looked at the barrier. "Will they let us in?" he asked.

"Huh?" they said and looked at him. "What do you mean?" they asked.

"Since we're now here, maybe we can rest for a while." Cheng Sheng said. "We can also ask them if they have seen sect leader Wu." He added.

Ming Ye and Xie Lan stared at him. "Xiao Sheng. Shanliangde Sect isn't an inn." Xie Lan told him.

Cheng Sheng pursed his lips. "We can go in." Fei Yin spoke from behind them. They turned. Ah. They thought. Fei Yin had been silent the whole time they travel. They almost forgot him and made him a part of the background. Also, they forgot the fact that Fei Yin is the second young master of the Fei Clan. The Fei Clan's stronghold is the Shaliangde Sect. But, Fei Yin had been away from the Shanliang for 10 years. He left for some reason. "The Chen patriarch also needs to rest. Travelling also consumes his energy and tired him. We can't make him physically tired, too." Fei Yin added.

They looked at Chen Jing whose eyes are glassy. Their heart can't help but clench. The longer he is under the spell of the Recollection Bell, the more dangerous it is. Chen Jing would immerse in his fantasies of Wu Fan more and more. Even though they want to, but they can't interrupt the process. An interruption is fatal. The interruption could make them end Chen Jing's life instead of his fantasies.

They turned when they heard the Recollection Bell rang. They saw the bell is pointing towards the Shanliangde Sect which is inside the barrier. Their eyes widened in shock. Wu Fan is inside the Shanliangde Sect! What is he doing there? Why did they take Wu Fan?! Countless thoughts formed in their head, but their heart is beating wildly in fear and anxiety. What is the Shanliangde Sect planning?

Ming Ye and Xie Lan looked at the familiar barrier. This is their alma mater. However, right now, they can't help but doubt this most prominent sect where they had received its education when they were young, molding them to become outstanding cultivators. Ming Ye joined the Youxiwang Sect – the second most prominent sect. Xie Lan created his own sect at a young age, and raised a genius called Cheng Sheng.

"How do we get through the corpses?" Ming Ye asked. Now that they had a reason to enter the Shanliangde Sect, they are more determined.

"Leave it to me." Cheng Sheng said and took off the blanket off his shoulder. The blanket floated in the air and became wider enough for them to fit in. They immediately let Chen Jing in first, then followed. Cheng Sheng turned to Fei Yin. "Da shixiong. I'll leave the next part to you." He told Fei Yin. The wide blanket flew higher but steady. Cheng Sheng immediately took the Recollection Bell and hid it in his qiankun pouch.

"Xiao Sheng, what are you doing?" Xie Lan asked when he saw Cheng Sheng hid the Recollection Bell.

Cheng Sheng turned to Xie Lan. "Shifu, I think the Shanliangde Sect is shameless." He said.

Their eyes went wide. Xie Lan immediately covered Cheng Sheng's mouth. "Xiao Sheng!" Xie Lan said, alarmed.

Ming Ye sitting on the side coughed, awkward. The sight of the sparse forests and lofty mountains behind them as the blanket rose in the air. "Sheng-er, why do you say so?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng turned to Ming Ye. "Elder Ming. Sect leader Wu is missing for more than three days." He said. "He is in the Shanliangde Sect, yet the Shanliangde Sect didn't inform you, the Youxiwang Sect, that they have your sect leader." He explained.

"You made it sound like they intentionally kidnapped Wu-shixiong." Xie Lan said.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. "Founder. A dead man can't tell a lie." He said, referring to the demonic sect member he tortured before he killed. "When faced with death, their mind will go blank and will tell everything that they know. The demonic cultivators really intended to kidnap sect leader Wu, but someone beat them to it." he explained. "Sect leader Wu disappeared in the Dongfang. What are the Shanliangde Sect doing in the Dongfang?" he asked.

Fei Yin took out a vial from his pocket. It is filled with mist that looked like a cloud moving inside the glass. When they reached the barrier, he opened the lid of the vial. The small cloud inside the glass came out then surrounded them. Their eyesight was obscured. However, after a few seconds and a magnificent view was before their eyes.

Eight peaks stood before them. They were interconnected by the bridges, a deep ravine beneath with a wild coursing river on the foot of the mountains. The river looked like a dragon coiling around them. In the middle of the peaks is a mountain plateau with a giant pagoda comparable to the Youxiwang Sect's. The difference is the Youxiwang Sect's pagoda is on a giant boat while the Shanliangde Sect's is on a mountain plateau.

Cheng Sheng turned and saw a tall gate stood behind them. This is where they exited after they passed through the barrier. Fei Yin put the cloud inside the vial and it shrank, coiling inside the glass. "That's interesting, da shixiong." Cheng Sheng said, eyeing the vial where the small cloud coiled inside.

"You want this?" Fei Yin asked and showed the vial to Cheng Sheng.

Cheng Sheng's eyes sparkled. "I can have it?!" he asked, excited.

"I am surprised you can give the Fei Clan's token to someone – " a voice said with a hint of teasing in it. " – Yin-er." They all turned and saw a handsome man with a bright smile. "I've expected you to come." He said, his deep gray eyes stared at them. The man is wearing robes as blue as the sea. On the hem of his robes at this feet, the lofty mountains covered by the clouds was sewn.

Fei Yin jumped down the blanket and landed on his feet in the ground, his posture as upright as the peaks around them. "Elder brother." He greeted and bowed.

Cheng Sheng's face cracked when he heard what Fei Yin said. He was already in shock earlier when he saw the handsome man that looked like Fei Yin's twin. Wait – he looked at Fei Yin. "Da shixiong. It can't be he's your older twin brother?!" he asked and looked at the tall and handsome man again. However, the man has a carefree aura around him while Fei Yin has a cold aura.

"I forgot to introduce myself. I apologize." The man said and bowed. "My name is Fei Lin. I am an elder of the sect and the peak master of the Northeast Peak." he said, then turned to Xie Lan, Ming Ye and Chen Jin. "Sect leader Xie. Elder Ming. May I ask what happened to the Chen patriarch?" he asked, worry in his voice and eyes.

Xie Lan and Ming Ye looked at each other. "Junior Fei." Xie Lan said as they all went down the blanket, leaving Chen Jin who's still in a trance. "I will be direct. Is sect leader Wu here?" he asked.

Fei Lin paused before he nodded. His expression became solemn. "Yes." He answered.

Ming Ye's eyes widened and he hastily walked towards Fei Lin. "How was our sect leader here?" he asked. "What happened to him? Why didn't you tell us?" he paused. "It looks like even the north can't escape from the strange corpses." He added.

Fei Lin nodded. "I will answer all your questions." He said. "Let's talk in my peak." his face is serious.

Xie Lan's expression changed. "I understand." He said. It really is inconvenient to talk outside.

Fei Lin nodded at Xie Lan, then to Ming Ye. Finally, his eyes landed on Cheng Sheng. He smiled. "I have long wanted to meet Disciple Chen." He said.

"Hm?" Cheng Sheng said and looked at Fei Yin. "Oh." he said and immediately bowed. "Greetings, elder Fei." He said. "My name is Cheng Sheng, Xinfaxian Sect's fourth senior disciple." He introduced himself.