The Scum Is A

Jing Hei watched as everyone looked for a place to rest while Jing Bai, Zheng Yi, Feng Mo, Li Tian and Lei Qing will keep watch of their surroundings tonight. Then, he turned and looked at Qian Lin, only to find Qian Lin has already fell asleep in his elder brother's arms. 

He saw Qian Tian is silently observing him. "Senior Qian." He called. 

Qian Tian stared at him for a while before a smile appeared on his lips. "Do you know why I let you, whose skills and intelligence inferior to that of your elder brothers, continue being friends with Qian Lin?" he asked. 

Jing Hei didn't take offense of what Qian Tian said, since he knows what he is saying is true. "Why?" he asked. 

But, Qian Tian didn't immediately answer him. "Jing Cheng is the eldest, and he is laden with great responsibility for your clan and sect." he said. "Jing Bai is the second eldest, and is expected to become like Jing Cheng." He patted Qian Lin's head when Qian Lin stirred in his sleep. "Meanwhile, you, the youngest, aren't expected to do anything, since you have your two elder brothers working for your clan and sect for you." He told him. 

Jing Hei remained silent and waited for Qian Tian to continue speaking. 

Qian Tian noticed his reaction, and his smile became wider, and warmer. "Before, you were impulsive. Now, you've reigned your temper." He said. 

"Thanking senior Qian for his praise." Jing Hei said and bowed. 

Qian Tian heaved a sigh. "You're not as straightforward as your eldest brother." He said. "You're not a kiss-ass like your second eldest brother, either. You're wise." He looked at Jing Hei. "Although you have your two elder brothers taking the responsibility of your sect and clan for you, but actually, it is also to your disadvantage. They act as a foil for you." He said. "Thus, you've made your own character. Neither bound by your sect's rules, nor your family's rules. But, you have your own rules." He smiled. "It's not that you disrespect them, but actually, they are part of your own rules." He explained. 

Listening until here, a smile broke in Jing Hei's face. 

"Creating your own character, you didn't follow individuality. Instead, you've followed conformity. Such a wise action, indeed." Qian Tian complimented. "Pretending to be following the masses, but still ends up looking like above the masses." He shook his head. "My younger brother is a stubborn person. Jiang Cheng won't become a good friend of him, since they will just clash because Jing Cheng is also a stubborn one, but unlike my younger brother, he is stubborn because he has his own convictions." He explained. "Jing Bai wouldn't be good for my younger brother, too. Qian Lin, as you already know, is secretly sly. Both he and Jing Bai will just become insincere to each other. But, you – " he pointed at Jing Hei. " – you have your own convictions, and you also can become sly when the situation needs it. But, what I like the most in you, is that you value friendship over your own convictions, and also over your own interests." He told him. 

"… senior Qian." Jing Hei spoke with a sigh in his voice. 

"I know." Qian Tian said. "How can I not know?" he shook his head. "You've approached my younger brother with ulterior motives. You want to use him to have your own set of people. Qian Lin is like that, too, so no need for you to feel guilty." He said and looked at Qian Lin when he felt Qian Lin pinched him. A smile formed in his lips. "Who knows, both of you who approached each other with intentions, your intentions became romantic in the end?" he chuckled before he winced in pain when Qian Lin pinched him hard. 

"Brother, you - !" Qian Lin said, only to be shocked when Qian Tian pushed him into Jing Hei's arms. 

"Ah Lin!" Jing Hei was startled and immediately caught Qian Lin in his embrace. "Senior Qian, you mean…" he said as he looked at Qian Tian.

"I entrust my brother to you." Qian Tian said as he closed his eyes. 

Qian Lin's eyes widened. "Brother!" he cried and grabbed Qian Tian's clothes. "Brother, are you – " he said, his eyes reddened as he watched his elder brother's face. 

"Idiot." Qian Tian mumbled. "I'm just resting. I'm not going to die." He told him. 

Qian Lin stared at his elder brother for a long time, as if discerning whether he is stating the truth or not. After a while, he sighed in relief. "You scared me." He said as his tensed shoulders finally relaxed. 

"How can I die? If I will, the sect will be left on you and you have to marry a woman to continue our family." Qian Tian said as he opened his eyes and looked at Qian Lin, then Jing Hei whose face obviously soured. He laughed. 

"Then, brother will find a woman for him?" Qian Lin said. 

Qian Tian nodded. "Excuse me." A gentle female voice spoke. 

They turned. 

You Rou slightly felt conscious by their stare and she forced a smile. "I… came to deliver medicine." She explained and took out some bottles containing magic pills. 

Even if her skill isn't on par with Cheng Sheng, but she is Cheng Sheng's apprentice. And so, after a bottle was opened, rich, fragrant and medicinal scent wafted in the air. 

You Rou took out a magic pill from each bottle and gave it to Qian Tian. "One for internal injuries, one for external injuries, and one for regaining energy." She said.

"Thanks." Qian Tian said before he carefully took the three magic pills from You Rou's palm. 

You Rou nodded. "I still haven't thanked you from saving me during the second stage of the Intersect Competition." She said and cupped her hands before she lowered her head. "You can ask me for more magic pills from here on." She told him before she turned to Qian Lin and Jing Hei, then left. 

"… brother…" Qian Lin called. 

"No need to speak." Qian Tian sighed, his voice in relief after he took the three magic pills. As expected of Cheng Sheng's apprentice. He could bring out the best of the skills of his apprentices. You Rou's magic pills are high-level. 

Qian Lin looked at Qian Tian. "Before, I find her clumsy and naïve. But, now, she looked like she's matured. Her temper turned milder, and her actions became more reserved." He said. 

Qian Tian nodded. "Who wouldn't become matured at this time?" he asked and glanced at Lei Ling chatting with Jing Kang, before he looked at Lei Qing sitting alone on the side. His gaze turned to Qian Lin. 

Qian Lin was taken aback before he smiled. Qian Tian didn't speak and just patted his younger brother's head before he fell asleep. 

"We should rest, too." Jing Hei said.

"En." Qian Lin nodded. He looked at everyone around before closing his eyes to sleep. 

Who could sleep at this hour? But, they have to, so they could store their energy to fight later. 

Xie Lan watched You Rou gave Qian Tian medicine before she went back to Lei Qing's side to accompany her. "Wen." He called. 

Fan Wen who was making their bed hummed a response. "Hm?" 

"Our children finally grew up." Xie Lan said. 

Fan Wen blushed. He was about to say 'which children' when he stopped. "En." He said and looked at Li Tian and Feng Mo seriously looking around, watching if monsters would come back. "I can't help but feel proud of them." He said, a wide smile on his lips. 

Xie Lan turned and saw Fan Wen's smile and he can't help but lean down to kiss him. Fan Wen's eyes widened in shock and his face became beet red. He felt shy, but his shyness was gone because of Xie Lan's kiss. His heart beating loudly inside his chest, he closed his eyes and responded to Xie Lan's kiss. 

Meanwhile, Jing Cheng who happened to turn and saw the lovers, his face reddened. He turned to look at Jing Rui, only to meet Jing Rui's cold gaze. "What?" Jing Rui asked. 

Jing Cheng felt like a wilted eggplant and his heart turned to ash. "… nothing." He said and lowered his head. It's so hard to have an older lover, and a strict one at that! He cried in his heart. 

Jing Bai who saw Jing Cheng and Jing Rui unkindly laughed. However, when he turned and saw Zheng Yi looking dumb while standing beside him, his smile froze and he felt bitter. It's hard to have an amnesiac lover, and a clueless one at that! He cried without tears. 

Fei Lin saw the antics of the people around them and he chuckled. "What's wrong?" Xi Ling who was wiping his sword clean asked. 

"Nothing." Fei Lin answered, but a smile is on his lips. "Just found something funny."