Dongxin Town.
Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin, Li Tian, Feng Mo, Lei Ling, Lei Qing and You Rou looked at the bustling streets and the energetic people buying, selling and trading their goods. They saw a man running towards them while being chased by a yelling middle-aged woman. The man also saw them blocking his way and recognized them as cultivators. He picked the weakest persimmon – You Rou, to break his way through.
Who would've guessed You Rou's temper as a young miss acted up and she stretched out her leg, planning to trip the man. However, the man expected her move and jumped over You Rou's leg. But, the man would never expect for You Rou to hit his back, just in between his shoulders, and he fell down the ground.
Cheng Sheng clapped while her other shixiongs and shijie looked at her with a proud look on their face. "Wonderful, shimei." Cheng Sheng said while Lei Qing – who was standing beside You Rou, pressed down the man with her foot.
The middle-aged woman finally reached them. She immediately kicked the man down mercilessly until she was satisfied. She turned to Cheng Sheng's group and gave them a smile. "Kind cultivators. Thank you for catching this man." She told them. "May I invite you to a cup of tea and snacks in my bakeshop?" she asked them.
"Okay!" Cheng Sheng immediately answered before the others could speak. "How about this man?" he asked.
The middle-aged woman's smile disappeared and was replaced by a frown. "He stole three loaves of bread from my bakeshop!" she said.
"Ah. That really isn't nice." Cheng Sheng, the eloquent speaker of their group, said. "Brother, why did you steal from her?" he asked.
"Should I steal somewhere else?" the man asked back.
Cheng Sheng showed a surprised expression. "Indeed, you could." He said as he placed his finger on his chin while he contemplated.
"Cheng-shidi/Cheng-shixiong!" his fellow disciples called.
Cheng Sheng naturally continued. "But, brother." He said and looked at the man. "The issue here is stealing. You know that is a crime!" he told him. "One cannot solve their problem by committing a crime. Instead, it will just add to their problem and will eat their conscience!" he lectured him.
"You speak like you know my problems." The man said and pushed Lei Qing's leg off of him, causing Lei Qing to almost fall. Lei Ling immediately caught her. Before they could react, the man already ran away.
The middle-aged woman looked panicked. "W-what are you doing?! Why aren't you chasing him?!" she shrieked.
"Madame." Cheng Sheng called. "We came from a faraway place and are tired after a month of travel. We cannot spend more energy just chasing a thief." He explained.
What 'faraway place'? What 'a month of travel'? His fellow disciples thought, their face darkened after hearing Cheng Sheng's words. They travelled only one day! But, they didn't speak to not expose Cheng Sheng's lie.
The middle-aged woman had an ugly expression on her face as expected. "You're all too young to be cultivators! You're just lousy and lazy! You daren't chase the thief because you're afraid to lose your life! What a bunch of fakes!" she said.
They didn't show any sign of anger. Instead, Cheng Sheng smiled brightly. "Madame. You guessed it right. We are really afraid to lose our life, since we are still young." He said. "We still have a long life ahead of us, unlike the old ones who may not have enough time left for them. So why don't they use their remaining time to do meaningful things instead of frowning all day in front of her shop, chasing the poor customers away while smiling brightly for wealthy customers?" he asked. "For example… chasing a thief – " he said.
The middle-aged woman cut him off by raising her hand. "Impudent!" she said as her hand descended to slap Cheng Sheng.
Fei Yin caught her wrist, stopping her from hurting Cheng Sheng. "Madame." Fei Yin called, his voice cold and his face emotionless. "What my shidi said is right." He said. "We are still young and we have yet to find our path while old people like you doesn't have enough time left. My shidi only suggested for you to do meaningful things like chasing a thief instead of currying up to the wealthy people?" he asked and let go of the middle-aged woman.
The middle-aged woman almost fell on her back had she not steadied herself. "You…! You!" she said as she pointed at them. "From which sect are you?! Does your shifu and sect leader knows what are you doing?!" she shrieked.
The people finally have gathered before them. Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin, Li Tian and Feng Mo saw the new residents of the Dongxin Town. They have been here before when they passed through here while on their way to the Xiwang. When they came back, everyone is already dead. Now, new people replaced the old and occupied the Dongxin Town. People are resilient to overcome the storms coming in their life. They made the Dongxin Town alive again.
Cheng Sheng smiled as he cupped his hands at the crowd. "Hello, everyone!" he said. Fei Yin and the others, after seeing his smile, they felt a headache coming. "My name is Cheng Sheng. I am the Xinfaxian Sect's fourth disciple!" he introduced himself.
Hearing his name, everyone sharply inhaled. Hearing the name of his sect, they almost fainted. Isn't this the second young master of the Chen family in Xiwang who saved the Youxiwang Sect and created the new Cleansing Talisman in just one day?! The seven of them are from the Xinfaxian Sect?! The Xinfaxian Sect which the disciples saved the former residents of the Dongxin Town from the attack of the walking corpses?! Everyone stared at them in awe.
Fei Yin and the other disciples knew that Cheng Sheng is enough to deal with the middle-aged woman. Ah, that's wrong. Cheng Sheng's mouth is enough to deal with a middle-aged woman. Thus, they remained silent while watching Cheng Sheng be surrounded by the people and the middle-aged woman retreated and ran back from where she came from. "It's second young master Chen!" the people exclaimed as those who are at the back craned their neck to catch a glimpse of Cheng Sheng.
"We've heard the upcoming Intersect Competition. Are they here to rest for a night?"
"Second young master Chen, my inn is open for all of you!" someone spoke.
"Earlier, this brother said that second young master Chen is his shidi. Could it be he is their da shixiong?" Fei Yin and the others heard some people whispered.
"Look! They are all handsome young men! Full of vitality!"
"A female cultivator's skin is smoother than an ordinary woman's. I'm so envious!" Lei Qing and You Rou said. The two of them had an awkward look in their face.
A child suddenly tugged at Lei Ling's sleeve. "Gege. Gege. Do you want some candy?" she asked and raised the snack on her hand.
Lei Ling's face lit up. "Meimei, don't just suddenly talk to strangers, okay?" he said but he patted her head.
"Mama said cultivators are kind." The child smartly said.
Lei Ling chuckled, obviously very happy. Feng Mo saw her snack is about to be finished and he took out a candy he brought with him. The child was obviously happy. Meanwhile, Li Tian was approached by a teenager. "Daozhang!" the youth called. "I heard that cultivators are smart. Can I be a cultivator like you?" he asked, his eyes brimming with excitement.
Li Tian smiled. "Everyone has their own path to take. If one perseveres, then they can fulfill their dreams." He answered.