Chapter 85 - The Scum Is Hungry

Evening, banquet.

"That orange uniform… isn't that the Fengshen Sect's master?" Lei Ling exclaimed as he looked at the sect master of the Fengshen Sect who has a long and straight jet-black hair. "What was his name again…?" he muttered.

"Sect master Hou Ling." Li Tian answered.

"Yes, him!" Lei Ling said.

"How do you two know him?" Cheng Sheng curiously asked.

"Isn't he amazing? He built a sect on his own. He's like founder!" Lei Ling said. "Though, he only has two disciples." He said.

"Eh…" Cheng Sheng said and looked at the handsome man afar. He stood out because of his otherworldly charm. "Won't the other sect leaders appear, too?" he asked when he didn't see the sect leader of the Shanliangde Sect, Zunjingde Sect and the Youxiwang Sect.

"Ah Yuan will be coming later." Sun Yi answered.

"How about sect leader Xie?" Chen Han asked.

"He can't not go." Cheng Sheng shrugged.

"Founder sent us a letter earlier. He said he'll come to cheer us on." Fei Yin said.

"Wasn't it because shifu is too worried for us and kicked him out, telling him to look after us?" Feng Mo said.

They laughed when they can really imagine Xie Lan knocking on Fan Wen's door, crying. "The Zunjingde Sect is here." Lei Ling said when he recognized the other orange sect uniform. Jing Rui is also recognizable because of his morose expression.

They turned and looked at Jing Rui entered the hall filled with cultivators all over the continent. Following him behind are Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, Jing Hei, Jing Kang and other Zunjingde Sect disciples who will be participating in the competition.

"Ah!" Lei Ling exclaimed when he saw Jing Kang. "Hii!" he immediately hid behind Cheng Sheng when he saw Jing Kang glanced his way.

"What's wrong?" Cheng Sheng asked. However, Lei Ling didn't answer.

"The Shanliangde Sect and the Qianxu Sect, too." You Rou said as she looked at two large groups appeared.

Fei Huang led the Shanliangde Sect disciples together with Fei Lin and Xi Ling. Xi Ming, Xi Ning, Xi Xing, Xi Shi and Gong Xian are behind them. They are the largest group.

"Elder Fei1 is with sect leader Fei2. Is he going to pass the sect leader's position to his nephew?" one of the sect leaders in the hall whispered.

Fei Huang heard it, but as always, he ignored it. "The next generation really are promising." Qian Shan, leading the Qianxu Sect together with Qian Tian and Qian Lin, spoke. He also heard what the sect leader whispered.

Fei Huang nodded. "I couldn't agree more." He said, then turned when he saw Xie Lan, wearing formal clothes, walked alone at the entrance.

"Elder brother!" Xi Ling exclaimed and ran towards Xie Lan, his eyes are sparkling.

Xie Lan paused and waited for Xi Ling. "You…" he helplessly sighed and glanced at the crowd who gasped when they heard what Xi Ling spoke.

"'elder brother'?"

"Sect leader Xie is elder Xi's…?"

Xie Lan's fist itched to knock Xi Ling's head. Xi Ling also noticed his mistake and almost covered his head in reflex when he saw Xie Lan's hand jerked. "Elder brother…" he called, his voice wronged.

Xie Lan just sighed. "Let's go." he said and walked towards the Shanliangde Sect and Qianxu Sect who stopped to wait for them. "Sect leader Fei. Sect leader Qian." He planned to secretly slip inside and meet with his disciples, but now was forced to show his face to everyone.

"Junior Xie." Fei Huang smiled as he called Xie Lan the same way he called him when Xie Lan was still studying in their sect.

Xie Lan's brow twitched, and he forced a smile. "Shifu." He respectfully called.

Qian Shan laughed. "You're too stiff!" he said and patted Xie Lan's shoulder.

Xie Lan smiled and respectfully bowed. "May you excuse me. I'm going to see my disciples." He told them and glanced at his seven disciples who stood in attention on the side with the Youxiwang Sect disciples. A warm smile appeared at his face seeing them seven. But, to Cheng Sheng and the others, they felt dread. He's not mad… is he? They consciously thought.

"Hey. Won't you go wave at your founder?" Sun Yi teased the Xinfaxian Sect disciples.

"Of course, of course!" Qian Shan nodded and let Xie Lan leave their entourage.

"Founder… sect leader!" the Xinfaxian Sect disciples greeted and bowed.

Xie Lan, seeing the unusual greeting of his disciples, looked awkwardly at them. He was used to them jumping on his back when they see him, greeting him 'founder' loudly. Ah, those were the days… he thought and fondly smiled at them. Now, they have grown up.

The seven disciples, especially the four direct disciples, were inwardly sweating when they saw Xie Lan's warm smile. He's really pissed! They thought. Shifu, what did you do?! They thought, panicking.

In Xinfaxian, the innocent Fan Wen sneezed after he was unjustly blamed. "Ah… did Lan finally meet them?" he worriedly asked as he wiped his nose.

"Shifu! Don't stay outside! It's cold!" one of the disciples called him. If you'll catch a cold, founder will hit us! They thought as they carried a thick blanket.

Back to the banquet hall, Xie Lan patted his disciples' head affectionately, earning envy from the disciples of the other sects who have indifferent and grumpy masters. However, the seven Xinfaxian Sect disciples were almost collapsing. Founder! This isn't your character setting! You're a sadist! Don't stay out of character! They thought, now their back was bathed in cold sweat. "I'm glad you're safe." They heard Xie Lan said that frightened them more. Shifu… they cried in their heart. We wish it was shifu who was here instead of founder!

"The Righteous Alliance elders have arrived!"

Zheng Fu Gong, Pai Lie, Qi Ling, Su Yuan and Jing Xuan appeared in the entrance. "They've arrived." Chen Jing, who appeared beside Xie Lan and stood in front of the Youxiwang Sect disciples, spoke in a low voice. They immediately respectfully bowed when the five elders passed by them.

"They're really something." Xie Lan said as they watched the five elders sat on their seat.

Zheng Fu Gong, the head of the Righteous Alliance, spoke. "Let the banquet begin!" he said.

Everyone cheered and started to pick up foods on the table. "He didn't make a speech. Is he that hungry?" Cheng Sheng spoke as he bit the drumstick.

"Cheng-shidi… you're one to speak." Feng Mo said as he looked at Cheng Sheng's full plate.

"Well, I'm really hungry." Cheng Sheng said as he forked the steak on his plate.

Fei Yin looked at the steamed buns inside his qiankun pouch with a complicated look. "Don't eat too fast. There is more food." Xie Lan told Cheng Sheng.

"Founder… you're one to talk." You Rou said as she looked at Xie Lan filled his plate for the second time.

"The Alliance is very rich!" Cheng Sheng exclaimed. "Founder, I won't lose to you!" he said and filled his plate for the second time.

"You're one hundred years younger to beat me!" Xie Lan said.

Chen Jing covered his face in embarrassment while Chen Han's eyes looked blankly at Cheng Sheng. Sun Yi was holding his stomach in laughter when Wu Yuan appeared behind him and hugged him. The people were looking at their group with wide eyes.

"Pft – " Qian Lin smiled as he covered his lips with his fan. "Really… they're so amusing and interesting." He said, his gaze on Cheng Sheng's group.

Jing Hei laughed with him while Jing Bai smiled on the side. He looked for Zheng Yi and saw him standing behind Zheng Fu Gong. Jing Kang, standing beside Jing Bai, saw Lei Ling being chastised by Lei Qing. Jing Cheng was serving Jing Rui his food and drink.

Xi Ling looked at Cheng Sheng's group enviously. He wanted to bond with his elder brother, too. "Don't worry. You'll have more chances to be with your brother in the future." Fei Lin comforted him. Then, Fei Lin looked at Fei Yin who was silently watching Cheng Sheng eat. Every time Cheng Sheng's plate was empty, he will fill it, not minding his own plate. That brother of mine… when will he confess? He thought and helplessly shook his head.

Fei Huang, who was drinking, glanced at Cheng Sheng. He still hasn't forgotten that Cheng Sheng possessed Chen Sheng's body. What is he? He thought.

"I want to see shifu…" Gong Xian spoke, looking listless.

Xi Ming helplessly looked at Gong Xian as he filled Xi Xing's plate. "Elder brother, give me some, too!" Xi Ning told him.

"Yes, yes." Xi Ming sighed. He already felt tired even if the competition still hasn't started. Meanwhile, Xi Shi was staring at Chen Han. His eyes are red when he saw Chen Han filled Li Tian's plate. So that's 'Ah Tian', his wife? His hands holding his plate were shaking.

Dong Cheng saw Lei Qing with the rest of the Xinfaxian Sect disciples. "Ah! Sorry!" he apologized when he bumped to someone. He raised his head, only to see the person seemed to not notice he bumped him.

Shu Mu was preoccupied glaring at Qian Lin. He immediately withdrew his gaze since Qian Shan and Qian Tian are present. He immediately left the venue, together with his fellow disciples. There're too many people, no one would notice if they left.

When he returned to their inn, he opened his father's letter. "Father…" he muttered. His father was ill. "Heh." He grinned as he burned the letter. "Die, old man. You'll make it easy for me to take over the sect!" he said, his eyes flashed a vicious glint.