Chapter 109 - The Scum Is Sweet

"But, you just – " Fei Yin said as he stared at Cheng Sheng whose face is laden with guilt and regret. - wanted to help someone. He continued in his mind.

Cheng Sheng just wanted to help Lei Ling. However, it came out wrong and made both sides suffer. Xie Lan and Fan Wen felt guilty and Ruo She lost his friends, who are also his family, and his home. Meanwhile, Cheng Sheng had been carrying this guilt and hiding his burdens with his smiles and laughter. 

"I know." Cheng Sheng said. "Lei-shidi also thanked me after." He said. "'I also understand Cheng-shixiong wanted to help me. I don't hate you. I actually admire you.'" He smiled. "'That's why, Cheng-shixiong, just stay how you are since you're the way you are.' I really don't know how can he utter those sweet words someone like him who lacks self-esteem." He chuckled. Lei Ling didn't know he gave him light and comforted him. 

"Shidi…" Fei Yin called.

"Hm - ?" Cheng Sheng was surprised when Fei Yin suddenly hugged him. "Da shixiong – " he called. 

"It's fine." Fei Yin said. "I know what I say will change nothing of what already happened, but – " he said. " – I really should've noticed you sooner." He whispered in his ear.

Cheng Sheng's eyes widened and his face burned in embarrassment... and happiness. He wanted to raise his head and look at Fei Yin, but Fei Yin just hugged him tighter to prevent him from seeing his face. "Da shixiong – " he called and tried to push him. However, Fei Yin didn't budge. Cheng Sheng sighed in defeat. "Da shixiong." He called again. "You stink." He told him.

"… pft – " Fei Yin's body shook in laughter and he accidentally, and finally, let go of Cheng Sheng.

Cheng Sheng immediately looked at Fei Yin's face, only to see Fei Yin's expression had gone back to the usual. But, there's a hint of laughter in his usually cold eyes.

Cheng Sheng sighed in disappointment. "I'm serious. You really should go back to your room and take a bath." He told him and covered his nose with his sleeve to match his words. He thought he'd see Fei Yin laugh, but Fei Yin's eyes just became brighter and nothing else. "Da shixiong really wouldn't let me see him even just smile?" he asked and frowned in dissatisfaction.

"Cheng-shidi also stinks. He should go back to his room and take a bath, then sleep." Fei Yin told him, returning to him his words and just added some after. 

Cheng Sheng's eyes widened and he immediately smelled himself. "You're right. I do stink." He said and nodded at Fei Yin. "Then, I'll go back to my room, take a bath, and sleep. Da shixiong should do the same." He told him. 

"I will." Fei Yin nodded. "I will go back to my room, take a bath and then sleep." he said. "Good night, Cheng-shidi." He told Cheng Sheng. 

"Good night, da shixiong." Cheng Sheng said and waved at him before he yawned and left. He raised his hand to cover his mouth with his sleeve, and also to wipe his face. When he lowered his hand, his sleeve is wet. 

Fei Yin watched him leave and waved back, but Cheng Sheng already disappeared. He then heard a chuckle behind him, but he didn't turn. "Sun-shixiong." he said. 

"You Xinfaxian Sect disciples are really interesting." Sun Yi said as he jumped inside through the open window. "I had my fill for tonight. Cheng-shidi's da shixiong should go back to his room, take a bath, then sleep." He said, teasing him.

Fei Yin turned and frowned at him. "Then, this shidi will go back to his room now to have a bath and then go to sleep." he said. "Good night, Sun-shixiong." He told him and immediately left. His ears are red since earlier after Cheng Sheng left. 

Sun Yi's roar of laughter followed Fei Yin's back. "So, are you still worried of your Cheng-shixiong?" he asked and turned to look at Lei Ling who were hiding behind the wall.

"No." Lei Ling answered and sniffed, his nose and eyes are red. He then wiped his tears. "Not anymore." He said and laughed. His face is radiating happiness. 

"That's right!" Chen Han, who suddenly appeared from the bushes, said. "Only one person has to worry for Ah Sheng in our behalf." He said, but his tears can't stop falling.

"… I don't need to name who you're talking about, right?" Li Tian helplessly smiled as he picked the leaves off of Chen Han's hair. He knows Chen Han is referring to Fei Yin. 

"Only da shixiong is needed to worry for Cheng-shidi." Feng Mo said while grinning. However, there were stains of tears in his eyes and cheeks. "Since only he can make Cheng-shidi return to normal." He said.

"I totally agree!" Lei Qing said and appeared. She was hiding behind the tree.

"I also agree!" You Rou nodded. She's hiding behind another tree. 

"You guys…" Sun Yi said as he stared at them with wide eyes. He was shocked to see them come out of their hiding place. "… since when were you eavesdropping?" he asked them, but he can't help but also laugh.

Intersect Competition, sixth day.

"Welcome to the third day of the second stage of the Intersect Competition!" the emcee said as the two disciples of the Righteous Alliance shook the boxes containing 27 names of the contestants for each box. "Elder Jing will be picking the names of the contestants for the matches for today." He said as he let Jing Xuan pass by him and picked a name from one of the boxes.

"The first match – " Jing Xian said as he looked at the green nameplate with the crest of a leaning flower. " – Xinfaxian Sect – " he said.

"Xinfaxian Sect again… they're always the opening act of the matches, ne?" someone from the audience can't help but comment.

"You're right. Three out of seven of them have already fought. Who would it be this time?" the person beside him asked. 

"Could it, finally, be Cheng Sheng?" someone asked with expectation. Pai Lie who was sitting with the other Alliance's elders is also expecting for Cheng Sheng to be called. 

" – Feng Mo." Jing Xuan said, making Pai Lie's shoulders fell in disappointment. Jing Xian glanced at him from the corner of his eyes and gloated at Pai Lie's crestfallen face for a second before he continued his task. "Opponent – " he said as he picked another name in the box.

"I guessed wrong." Someone from the audience said and scratched his head. Then, he looked at Feng Mo. "The first one from the Xinfaxian is Li Tian, both a sword cultivator and spell caster mage." he said as he recalled the beginning of the Matching Stage. "The second one is Fei Yin – a pure sword cultivator. Then, there's Lei Ling – a pure mage." He said then placed his fingers on his chin as he contemplates. His eyes are observing Feng Mo. "This Feng Mo looked like he's also a pure sword cultivator like Fei Yin. I wonder what can he show to us – " he said as the match started.

Feng Mo's answer to them: an explosive attack! Fierce winds suddenly erupted on the stage when Feng Mo and his opponent's attack collided! "WOAH!" the audience can't help but retreat from the stage to avoid being hit by the contestants' attacks.

"Now this is what I'm talking about!" Xie Lan can't help but hit the armrest of his chair in excitement as he saw Feng Mo fiercely attacked his opponent. "Xiao Mo, you really don't disappoint me unlike your da shixiong!" he exclaimed.

The other sect leaders can't help but awkwardly smile as they looked at each other. Does he have to add those last words that leave a bad taste in one's mouth? They thought as they glanced at Fei Huang who chose to sit away from Xie Lan since yesterday. Not because he hates Xie Lan. It's just that he dislikes Xie Lan's loud mouth. Fei Huang really was right to sit away from Xie Lan. The other sect leaders are now regretting sitting beside the noisy Xinfaxian Sect leader. 

"HAAAAH!" Feng Mo swung his sword down and his opponent was forced on his knees.

"UGH!" His opponent groaned and gritted his teeth as he bears the impact of Feng Mo's strike. This guy is crazily strong! He thought as he looked at Feng Mo's wild eyes. 

"HAH! HAH!" Feng Mo yelled as he kicked his opponent followed by a roundhouse kick. 

"ACK!" His opponent cried when he jumped back to avoid Feng Mo's foot, only to be hit in his shin and felt his bone cracked. He fell on his knee and used his sword to support his body to not fall on the ground. 

"This decides it." Xi Ming said when they saw Feng Mo made a beautiful turn in mid-air, then stretched his legs and kicked his opponent in the face. His opponent rolled on the stage until he fell off the stage with a loud thud.