The Scum Is A

Yunxiao Inn, night.

Sun Rong doesn't know whether to laugh or cry after they asked him if Cheng Sheng is already awake. "It's just one day that passed… do you think that his condition is that simple?" he asked back at them. "Or, do you think I am a doctor or a cultivator to know his today's condition? I am just a simple merchant who owns an inn!" he added.

"… being an inn owner already makes you not just any ordinary person." They spoke as they looked at him. "Not to mention an inn as big as this, and the most popular inn that happens to have an array that is covering the entire inn, preventing any foul air from entering." They added.

Sun Rong. "…" fine, you win! I can't talk back with this! He thought with black lines covering his face.

Qie Shi. "…" see where your mouth got you now? He thought.

Sun Rong. "…" my dear Qie, can I ask you where I took you with just my mouth? He thought and winked at Qie Shi.

Qie Shi. "…" fck. I also have to behave my mouth (though I am not speaking and is just currently thinking). He thought with black lines covering his face.

Everyone. "…" the hell is with this dirty talk that is not really a literal 'talk' since we are all reading each other's thoughts! How did it turn like this?! The sect leaders and elders' faces were covered with dark lines. We are talking about Cheng Sheng yet how did it end up with us being fed dog food (plus 'listening' to dirty talk)?! They added and left Sun Rong and Qie Shi. They don't want their eyes to turn blind with their display of affection.

Sung Rong and Qie Shi laughed while they returned to work. The sect leaders and elders got no choice but to look for Shu Mu, Xiao Le, Xi Ming and Xi Xing. They found them in the infirmary and saw that they are watching Ling Yun interrogating Xi Ming and now the conscious Ho Ting about their current condition.

"What is he doing?" the sect leaders and elders asked.

Ling Xi's eyes turned hot while Yu Wen smiled when they saw Ling Xi. They are both proud of him.

"This is what Cheng Sheng left to Ling Yun to do in case he falls in a coma." Shu Mu answered. "Ling Yun is recording Xi Ming's and Ho Ting's condition daily – physically, mentally and spiritually. He is also recording the medicine they are taking, making them faithfully follow the prescription left by Cheng Sheng." He explained to them. "He is also checking their qi to train his eyes and also records the result down." He added.

Everyone exclaimed in surprise. They looked at Ling Yun in awe. Fei Yinzi happened to pass by and heard it. He clenched his fists on his side, but then immediately loosened them. What can he do? He doesn't have a talent in alchemy. He also doesn't have special eyes like Ling Yun.

"Er Zi." A voice called. "This is what they call you, right?" the owner of the voice asked.

Fei Yinzi sharply raised his head and his eyes widened. The voice is familiar. As expected, it was Fei Yin. Fei Yinzi didn't notice that he had wandered around and reached the garden absent-mindedly.

"I pulled you in here." Fei Yin saw the confusion in his face. "Thinking about something? Your mental state isn't good." He told him.

Fei Yinzi gaped at him. His lips moved but no sound came out of his mouth. "… where is master?" he asked.

"There." Fei Yin turned.

Fei Yinzi followed his gaze and saw Cheng Sheng was lying on the jade table. His clothes are neat and his skin is fair and clean. He looked like he is just sleeping. "Shizun…" he muttered.

Fei Yin's eyes sharpened. "Call him 'shifu'!" he told him.

"Shifu!" Fei Yinzi reacted in reflex, started by Fei Yin raising his voice.

"Good." Fei Yin nodded, looking pleased.

Fei Yinzi. "…" damn it! He inwardly cursed.

Fei Yin ignored the youth's expression. "Are you thinking about Ling Yun?" he asked.

Fei Yinzi was taken aback. "… yes." he answered and lowered his head in shame.

"Do you feel wronged because Sheng didn't tell you about him taking Ling Yun as a disciple?" Fei Yin asked.

Fei Yinzi was hit in his sore point. "I… I'm not – " he refuted, but it was weak.

"You are." Fei Yin spoke. "Are you afraid of your master, that's why you aren't asking him on his decisions? Or he would think that you are willful?" he asked.

Fei Yinzi was about to answer when he heard what Fei Yin said net.

"Or, are you afraid to show your ugly side, thus you don't complain?" Fei Yin looked at him.

Fei Yinzi's pupils shrank and his eyes widened in shock. He felt something hit him straight in his chest.

Fei Yin smiled seeing the stunned expression on the child's face. "Don't ask how I know. I also don't want to show him my ugly side." He told him.

Fei Yinzi stared at him, dumbfounded. What?! He, too?! He thought, shocked.

"After all, we care about them." Fei Yin said. "So, we care about what they thought of us. And the more we care about them, the more we subconsciously follow their likes and avoid their dislikes. Thus, we don't want them to see our ugly sides, too." He explained.

Fei Yinzi's pupils shook. He finally was enlightened. "Shiz… shifu… shifu knows?" he asked in a hoarse voice. He felt his eyes became warm.

"Of course. Who do you think Sheng is?" Fei Yin looked at him with a disdainful gaze. "Also, he knows since he is watching you, too. He also cares about you." He told him with a frown. He doesn't want to tell the child this, but he has to. Because he knows this is the truth, and that the child needs encouragement right now. "He has been watching you all these years. You think he wants a disciple just in name only?" he added and glared at Fei Yinzi whose tears fell.

Fei Yinzi immediately wiped his tears. "No…" he answered. "Shiz… shifu taught me everything he knows. I'm just the one who is too stupid." He said and sniffled. When he saw Fei Yin threw him a 'so, you are actually aware' gaze, Fei Yinzi felt coughing out a mouthful of blood. That gaze really hurts!

Well, truth always hurts.

"Ling Yun really suits Sheng the best, as a disciple!" Fei Yin told him. "Not only is he a sword cultivator, he is also a mage like Sheng. He also has special eyes like Sheng." He said. "Sheng should have accepted Ling Yun as a disciple earlier." He added.

Fei Yinzi flinched, feeling his heart aching more with every word of Fei Yin.

"But, it's not like you don't have any merits." Fei Yin spoke as he looked at Fei Yinzi.

"R – really?" Fei Yinzi asked, feeling his hope was rekindled.

Fei Yin nodded. "Yes. For one, you are…" he spoke.

Fei Yinzi's eyes brightened, waiting for Fei Yin to continue.

"Malleable." Fei Yin spoke.

"… 'malleable'?" Fei Yinzi muttered and tilted his head. He doesn't understand what Fei Yin said.

"That means you can be taught and trained, although not immediately learned and familiarized, you don't complain and don't give up." Fei Yin explained. "In short, you are indomitable…" he looked at Fei Yinzi whose eyes and mouth turned into circles. "You have an indomitable spirit." He told him.

Fei Yinzi immediately closed his mouth and fixed his expression. He suddenly felt he was deceived.

"Of course, you have to undergo through many things to perfect your indomitable spirit." Fei Yin told him. "You are still childish and, although doesn't say it, would still complain." He frowned.

Fei Yinzi's face burned in shame for having been seen through.

"Though, this can still be fixed." Fei Yin added.

Fei Yinzi started. He knows that Fei Yin is referring to him acting matured lately. "Uncle… Fei-shibo, thank you." He told him and bowed.

Fei Yin didn't speak and just waved his hand, and drinks appeared with snacks. "Sit." He spoke and pointed the chair across him.

Fei Yinzi immediately did as he told so.

"I have said earlier that Sheng should have took Ling Yun as a disciple earlier." Fei Yin spoke.

Fei Yinzi flinched and he held back his tears.

Fei Yin acted like he didn't see it. "But Sheng didn't." he continued. "Do you know why Sheng took Ling Yun as a disciple now?" he asked.

Fei Yinzi shook his head. He really didn't know.

It's as Fei Yin expected. "Do you believe in your master?" he asked.

"I do!" Fei Yinzi immediately answered.

Fei Yin smiled. "You don't." he told him.

Fei Yinzi's eyes widened.

"Our faith isn't determined how fast we answer, but how sincere." Fei Yin spoke as he looked at Fei Yinzi. "And to show our sincerity, how faithful we are to them, it took a long time… maybe even a lifetime, before we can say that we really believe in them no matter what." He explained. "Er Zi. You are still too young.." He told him.