The Scum Is A

"Wrong! Your grip is too loose! You have to grip the hilt of your sword tighter as you raise your sword to not accidentally drop it, and to absolutely hit your opponent!" Cheng Sheng said as he tapped Fei Yinzi's hand with a stick. "Do it again!" he told him as he returned to his hammock and watched Fei Yinzi perform before him. 

"Yes!" Fei Yinzi seriously nodded as the sweat on his face trickled down the side of his face. Then, as per Cheng Sheng instructed, he gripped his sword tighter and swung it again. 

"Good! Continue!" Cheng Sheng spoke as his hammock, which is the Shapeshifting Blanket, rocked itself in order to amuse Cheng Sheng. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo sat on the side, drinking tea while watching Fei Yinzi perform. "Er zi's becoming better." Li Tian said with a smile. 

"Hey. Why are you two here? Don't you have your disciples to train for the upcoming Intersect Competition?" Cheng Sheng lazily asked. 

"We've already taught them the basics and have their foundations built. It's up to them whether they would slack off or not, if they want to win or not." Feng Mo righteously said. 

"No wonder the other sects say that our sect is very relaxed…" Cheng Sheng sighed. 

"We're not." Li Tian said. "Shijie's still beating her disciple for them to become men." He said. 

"I've already finished beating my disciples." Feng Mo spoke. 

Cheng Sheng can't help but turn to them. "Can't you word it better? You're too honest!" he told Feng Mo. "We're not sadists to beat our disciples!" he added. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo looked at him. "You're one to talk?" Feng Mo grinned at Cheng Sheng and then meaningfully glanced at Fei Yinzi who is training hard. 

"… when did I become one? You're slandering me!" Cheng Sheng frowned. "Go away! Go away!" he told them as he waved his hand to shoo them to leave. 

But, they just laughed at him. "Lei-shidi and shimei are also working hard to teach their disciples more techniques to replenish their qi." Li Tian continued. 

Cheng Sheng didn't speak. 

"Hey. Will you have er zi participate in alchemy tests, too?" Feng Mo curiously asked as he looked at Fei Yinzi. "The kid's already good in the sword. As for his alchemy…" they yet to see it. 

"It's up to him." Cheng Sheng answered. "If he will participate, though, in his current state, then he's seeking death by blowing himself up or cutting himself into halves if he'd cast spells or try drawing an array." He yawned. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo. "…" can you not say something horrifying with a deadpan face while talking about the life and death of your only disciple? And you have the guts to yawn about it?! They thought. Their faces are covered with dark lines. 

Cheng Sheng acted as if he didn't see their expressions. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo. "…" and you said earlier that you're not a sadist?!?! They thought. Their hearts feel tired. 

Suddenly, something swept past them and went towards Fei Yinzi. 

"Wah!" Fei Yinzi exclaimed when something hit him on the back and he fell. 

"Too unguarded!" Cheng Sheng spoke and frowned. 

"A puppet?" Li Tian muttered when he saw the faceless 'person'. 

"I had Wu Bai teach Cheng-shidi on making puppets." Feng Mo spoke. 

Li Tian heard him and didn't speak. As long as Cheng Sheng's attention is diverted, and it can help protect himself, then they are happy for Cheng Sheng. "That's great." He said and smiled. 

"A mere puppet and you can't beat it!" Cheng Sheng rose from the hammock because of anger. "Instead, you're the one being beaten!" he said as he controlled the puppet to remove itself off of Fei Yinzi's back. 

"… shizun… QAQ" Fei Yinzi cried.

"Acting cute is useless!" Cheng Sheng said. "You still want to participate in the Intersect Competition at this state?!" he asked as he placed both his hands on his waist and condescendingly glared at his disciple lying on the ground.

Fei Yinzi. "…" he has done his best. He raised his head and looked at Li Tian and Feng Mo on the side. His face couldn't be any more look pitiful. "Li-shibo… Feng-shibo… TTATT" he called, his voice sounds aggrieved. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo's hearts immediately softened at that milky voice that pulled at their heartstrings. "Cheng-shidi…" they called to the pitiful child's cold-hearted master. 

"Huh. You now know how to act, huh?" Cheng Sheng spoke as he smirked. 

Li Tian, Feng Mo and Fei Yinzi. "…" not good. He spoke 'huh' twice! 

Li Tian and Feng Mo abruptly rose from their seats and Fei Yinzi felt his heart sank. Oh no! He thought as he raised his head and saw Li Tian and Feng Mo threw him an apologetic smile before they looked at Cheng Sheng. 

"C-Cheng-shidi…" they called with their trembling voices and shivered when they saw Cheng Sheng's smile. "We – we forgot to conduct supplementary classes with our disciples… we're going now!" they said and grabbed each other before they left in a flash. 

Do they want to stay with Cheng Sheng who is twisted to his core?! You must be joking! They thought and covered their mouths. Li Tian remembered the Illusion Spells that Cheng Sheng taught him and felt that the other actually just wants to torture him after he suffered one week of nightmares. Feng Mo remembered the new martial techniques that Cheng Sheng taught him and felt that the other just want to torment him after he lied on his bed for a week and can't even wink. Wu Bai was really distressed for him and even regretted he taught Cheng Sheng puppetry. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo suffered after they stole Cheng Sheng a chicken drumstick during their lunch. Anyone who wants to cross this petty Cheng Sheng is definitely gonna suffer! 

Fei Yinzi who was left to the devil Cheng Sheng. "…" crap. I should've known… he thought as he raised his head and met Cheng Sheng's twinkling eyes that are looking at him. Goodbye, world. See you never. 

…

Li Tian and Feng Mo landed to the nearest peak, Chengshi1 Peak where Lei Ling is. Lei Ling chose this peak since he doesn't want to be far from Cheng Sheng and that he could learn more from him if he's closer to Cheng Sheng. 

"Huh? Li-shibo. Feng-shibo." Wen Wen, Lei Ling's direct disciple, called when he saw Li Tian and Feng Mo. "What's wrong? You look so pale. Did a monster chase you?" he asked. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo looked at each other and forced a laugh. "It's worse than a monster…" they said. 

"Huh?" Wen Wen muttered, puzzled. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo smiled and then pulled the puzzled disciple with them to go to Lei Ling. They didn't say anything since they don't want to scare the timid disciple, who is just like his master. 

"Shijie! Shimei!" Li Tian and Feng Mo exclaimed when they saw Lei Qing and You Rou. "You're also here." they said. 

"My disciples are too fired up for the Intersect Competition. If I'd push them further, they might suffer a backlash." Lei Qing explained. 

"I had my disciples cultivate for today. They have exhausted their qi yesterday after refining magic pills." You Rou spoke. "Li-shixiong. Feng-shixiong. Why are you two here?" she asked. 

Lei Ling noticed that the two fell silent. "Wen Wen." He called. "Please bring us more snacks and tea." He said. 

"Yes, shifu!" Wen Wen answered and immediately left. 

"Ai. You treatment to your disciple is better than Cheng-shidi's treatment towards Er Zi. Poor Er Zi." Lei Qing sighed and shook her head. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo became more silent. 

"Li-shixiong… Feng-shixiong…?" You Rou called when she noticed them not speaking. 

"Actually… we're here because we ran away from Cheng-shidi." Li Tian and Feng Mo answered. 

Lei Ling, Lei Qing and You Rou. "…" 

"How did you offend him, this time?" Lei Qing, the oldest, asked, emphasizing the words 'this time'.

It was always Li Tian and Feng Mo who are teasing Cheng Sheng. Lei Ling is too timid and even worship Cheng Sheng, so he wouldn't dare tease the other. 

"We didn't…! Or we did?" Li Tian and Feng Mo looked at each other. 

Li Tian coughed. "It's actually Er Zi…" he started, only to stop when he saw the three's gazes on him, as if saying, 'now you're throwing the blame on a child? Poor Er Zi'. "It's really him!" he said as his face flushed. "He acted pitiful so Feng-shidi and I wanted to save him, but then Cheng-shidi…" he didn't continue anymore. 

"I knew it must be you two again." A voice spoke. 

They turned and saw a man. 

"No wonder I heard Er Zi's pitiful screams and cries when I went to Jixu Peak." He said. 

Li Tian's eyes widened and his eyes misted. "Chen Han!" he cried and jumped on Chen Han who just arrived. 

"Ah Tian. I'm back." Chen Han spoke as he hugged him tight.