Chapter 45 - The Scum Is Acrophobic

Cheng Sheng heard the door of the room beside theirs opened. It was where Xie Lan, Ming Ye and Fei Lin went to after they settled down Chen Jing in this room. The other room is where Wu Fan was, as Fei Lin said. Wu Fan was looked after by Xi Ling, an elder and peak master of the West Peak. He and Fei Yin were left to watch over Chen Jing who was still in a trance, while the elders went to check on Wu Fan.

Cheng Sheng thought it were the Shanliangde sect disciples delivering food and refreshments. He turned to Fei Yin. "Da shixiong. I'll trouble you to watch over father. I'll ask for the disciples to also send us foods." He said and stood up. Earlier, he noticed Fei Yin was indifferent towards his elder brother. Then, he realized. Fei Yin must not like the Shanliangde Sect. Otherwise, why would Fei Yin go to the Xinfaxian to study in Xinfaxian Sect when he has the Shanliangde Sect to study in?

Cheng Sheng immediately went out of the room. Then, he saw Xie Lan standing outside the house on looking at the entirety of the Shanliangde Sect. However, there was neither admiration nor reverence in his eyes. Instead, they were filled with resentment and loathing. Cheng Sheng already heard from earlier in the forest that Xie Lan's alma mater is Shanliangde Sect. So, why does Xie Lan feels hate towards it? "Founder." he called as he walked towards Xie Lan.

Xie Lan didn't need to turn to know it was Cheng Sheng. "Xiao Sheng." He said and looked at Cheng Sheng who stood beside him. Only to see Cheng Sheng immediately stepped a couple of step backs from the cliff. "… you're afraid of heights?" he asked, his brows knit. He felt it ridiculous.

Cheng Sheng whose face gone pale from fright leaned on the wall for security. He looked at Xie Lan, his face broke in sweat. "Not really…" he answered, his voice mosquito-like. His body is trembling and his knees weak.

"But, you were fine flying in swords…" Xie Lan said.

Cheng Sheng grimaced as he stuck the back of his body in the house. "I have da shixiong with me – " he said, then stopped. He raised his head and saw Xie Lan's brows are raised, but his eyes are filled with amusement. His lips are raised in a teasing smile. Cheng Sheng pursed his lips.

Xie Lan didn't push him. He turned to the deep cliff before him. "Wu-shixiong has a heart demon and is in a coma." He said. "The Shanliangde Sect might not know how to cure Chen-shixiong." He added.

Cheng Sheng fell silent. He doesn't know what to say. The Youxiwang Sect will collapse at this rate. Wu Yuan would face all the problems of the sect alone. He will lose his father, Wu Fan, if Wu Fan won't wake up from his heart demon. And Chen Jing… "What does founder plan to do?" he asked.

Xie Lan raised his head and looked at Cheng Sheng. "You know how to save your father." He said. "Otherwise, you won't suggest using the Recollection Bell." He explained.

Cheng Sheng calmly nodded. "Yes." He answered. "But, the beggar said father's life will be on his hands, not mine." He said.

"What does that mean?" Xie Lan asked.

Cheng Sheng raised his head and gazed at the beautiful peaks around them. "The beggar told me of two ways to save the person affected by the Recollection Bell." He said. "One, that is to destroy the Recollection Bell. It is a sinister device, so it is really needed to be destroyed. However, it has 100% success rate. Also – " he sighed, marveling the sunset afar. " – I also had to cut father's fantasies. And – " he looked at Xie Lan. " – it might kill father." He told Xie Lan. The Recollection Bell is like a life-support for a patient. It prolongs your life, but it makes you be dependent on it. However, the life-support is a direct kill. The Recollection Bell, after destroying it, there's still a hope. That is –

"The depth of Chen-shixiong's fantasies?" Xie Lan said.

Cheng Sheng nodded. This is the reason why Chen Jing's life is on his hands, not Cheng Sheng's. After Cheng Sheng destroys the Recollection Bell, everything after will depend on Chen Jing. "Yes." He answered.

"What about the second method?" Xie Lan asked.

Cheng Sheng froze. He raised his head and looked at Xie Lan. "More dangerous." He answered. "It is to directly go inside father's spiritual consciousness." He said. This sounds easy, but –

Xie Lan's brows knit. "Chen-shixiong is immersed in his fantasies." He said. "Infiltrating his consciousness is – "

Cheng Sheng closed his eyes. "Dual suicide." He muttered. To use the Recollection Bell, Chen Jing has to fully concentrate in his memories of Fan Wen. However, the more he immersed, the more he will confuse reality and fantasy. His spiritual consciousness will gradually become stronger, but he will lose his senses and his power will weaken as his spiritual consciousness consumes it. If his spiritual consciousness will be infiltrated, he will become confused and his thoughts disrupted. Who knows the horror of what will Chen Jing become to? Insane, mad, damage his cultivation from a backlash… worse, he'll die. And the person who will infiltrate his spiritual consciousness, that person will risk his cultivation – and life. That person needed to fully concentrate on Chen Jing. Find Chen Jing in his spiritual consciousness and wake him up. However, if Chen Jing will violently react, Chen Jing might kill that person. That person will suffer a backlash and his cultivation will be damaged. His injuries sustained in Chen Jing's spiritual consciousness will also be received by his body. And, the difference between their cultivation will worsen the injuries. The farther the difference of his and Chen Jing's cultivation, the greater his injuries will be multiplied. This person should be wholeheartedly willing to die for Chen Jing.

Willing to die… Xie Lan thought as he gazed at the Shanliangde Sect. "Wen…" he muttered as his eyelids lowered.

Cheng Sheng looked at Xie Lan. "Founder, are you going to start a flashback?" he asked.

"Umn." Xie Lan nodded. He remembered that day when he entered the Shanliangde Sect. The beggar who raised him and Fan Wen told them about a sect that nurtures young cultivators. He suggested that they should try cultivation. The sect will provide them of food, clothing and place to stay to. Xie Lan and Fan Wen took the test. They were laughed at because they wore shabby and dirty clothing. However, when they tested the spirit stone, everyone shut up when they saw their high potential. They immediately were admitted to the sect. Xie Lan and Fan Wen peacefully lived in the sect and the only thing they should do is study and do menial chores. However, they are satisfied. This life of theirs was short-lived. If Xie Lan would have only known, he would've definitely choose to live a beggar life with Fan Wen.

One day, an elder approached him and told him he's his uncle. He didn't believe him at first. But, using a freak method, he proved to him they are uncle and nephew. He knew, he had to leave Fan Wen at some point in time. And so, he didn't tell Fan Wen about his identity. Every day, he lies to Fan Wen as Xi Peng took him to the Xi Residence and told him everything he need to know about the Xi family. Then, he finally met his parents. It was supposed to be a tear-jerking and long-awaited reunion. However, Xi Peng already brainwashed him. That was his biggest mistake in life – meeting Xi Peng, his evil uncle.

That day when his parents left to travel, he voiced out all his pain and hatred to them. His parents were disappointed and filled with guilt. They met an accident, which Xie Lan now realized Xi Peng orchestrated. He indirectly killed his parents. He was used by Xi Peng. But, that was not the worst of all. He didn't know, during the times he wasn't by Fan Wen's side, Fan wen was being bullied because Fan Wen was hanging out with him – the heir of the Xi family.