The Scum Is A

This pair of uncle and nephew have just recently met but the first time they met, Fei Yin saved Cheng Sheng who saved Fei Yinzi that got hurt not from the enemy, but under Cheng Sheng's hands after he was hit by Cheng Sheng's fan. Fei Yin deemed him as weak, thus he disliked him, more so when he learned he was his nephew and also is Cheng Sheng's disciple, yet still weak like this.

The next time was Fei Yinzi waiting for his match. Now, they can peacefully have a talk. Fei Yin saw that the child is also troubled and needed help but he is obviously shy to ask anyone, and Fei Yin is Cheng Sheng's lover. Not to mention this is a separate space, thus Fei Yin pulled him in. He also need to talk with his nephew. He is still his nephew, after all, and definitely will change to be his 'adopted son' with Cheng Sheng.

"How can Fei-shibo say that I don't believe in shiz… shifu?" Fei Yinzi asked.

"Did you never question him before?" Fei Yin asked back.

Fei Yinzi didn't answer.

Fei Yin knows (the answer), since it's obvious. "As soon as you doubt, your faith is never absolute." He spoke then paused. "Of course, I don't ask you to have an absolute faith to your master. You have your own life, too." He told him.

"But you have." Fei Yinzi softly spoke.

"Can you compare to me?" Fei Yin asked as his eyes narrowed.

Fei Yinzi froze and he stammered. "I can't." he honestly answered.

Fei Yin smiled. Silence fell upon them for a while.

"Why did shifu decide to take Ling Yun as a disciple?" Fei Yinzi asked, can't hide his grievance and resentment in his voice. The rim of his eyes turned red.

He's really still a child. Fei Yin thought. "Because your master already seen this coming." He answered. "He knows he'll be falling into a coma." He added.

Fei Yinzi's eyes widened in shock. "'coma'?!" he exclaimed and looked at Cheng Sheng lying on the jade table underneath the tree. "I thought… thought…" he muttered.

"Thought that he's just sleeping?" Fei Yin asked. Seeing the youth nodded, Fei Yin wryly smiled. "It is what your master told everyone to tell you, disciples." He told him.

Fei Yinzi's face wrinkled in grievance. Another grievance has been added on his list! He thought.

"Look at how you reacted just now. If the news of Cheng Sheng falling into a coma, what do you think will happen?" Fei Yin asked him.

"… panic." Fei Yinzi answered.

Fei Yin nodded. "Thus, this matter can't be leaked." He told him.

"But you are telling me…" Fei Yinzi muttered.

"Wasn't it because you are his disciple?" Fei Yin spoke. "This is the answer you wanted to hear, right?" he asked when he saw the youth smiled.

Fei Yinzi's smile froze. Damn it. He has seen through me again! He thought and frowned. "What's the real reason?" he asked.

"Well, you as his disciple is one reason." Fei Yin answered.

Fei Yinzi finally can't contain his smile. He grinned and even chuckled, feeling giddy.

Fei Yin looked at him, wanting to roll his eyes but also feeling pity at Fei Yinzi. This child is so unloved by his master. He thought despite the said master is his lover Cheng Sheng. Cheng Sheng must have neglected Fei Yinzi much than he had imagined.

Thus, Fei Yinzi appointed himself as Fei Yinzi's second master, though, for him, this fact should already be a given as he and Cheng Sheng are lovers. "The other reason I told you this is so you shouldn't seek Sheng too much." He told him.

Again, Fei Yinzi's smile froze on his lips.

"Also, you can divert your fellow disciple's attention from Sheng so they won't found out about Sheng's current condition and then worry." Fei Yin added.

"… I understand." Fei Yinzi answered as he lowered his head.

Fei Yin nodded at him, giving him a look of encouragement. "You should go back and accompany your fellow disciples. That Wen Wen… and the two female twin mages… they still have a match, right?" he asked.

"Yes." Fei Yinzi nodded.

"Then, go and give this to them." Fei Yin spoke as he took out a book from his sleeve.

"This is?" Fei Yinzi was surprised as he received the book.

"A book given by Sheng when we were still young. He hopes I can understand the alchemy better after seeing my performance and hearing founder's and shifu's remark." Fei Yin answered, unabashed. He doesn't think this is a black history. In fact, he felt it's sweet since his lover cared for him even if they weren't together yet at that time.

And Fei Yinzi was fed dog food again. "Oh." He muttered, didn't take the similarity between him and Fei Yin seriously. Since Fei Yin can do this, maybe be can ask Wen Wen some notes in alchemy. He shouldn't be that really hopeless in alchemy, right? He still can be saved? He thought, feeling hopeful.

Fei Yin saw Fei Yinzi's expression and silently lit a candle for him. No. You can't be saved. He thought and heaved a sigh. "Go." He told him as he waved his hand, shooing him to leave.

Fei Yinzi learned from this conversation between him and his uncle to not take Fei Yin's action seriously, and only his words. "Thank you, Fei-shibo." He rose from his seat and deeply bowed.

Fei Yin nodded and watched the youth leave. "Although your jealousy towards Ling Yun has disappeared, it doesn't change the fact that you have no talent in alchemy." He muttered and then sipped his drink. "Sheng ah. Fate really wronged you to meet Er Zi first than Ling Yun." He spoke as he looked at his sleeping lover. "But, this is attributed to Er Zi's luck. It shows that fate is good to Er Zi, so you shouldn't feel too worried anymore towards him. He'll live longer than you imagined." He told him.

As if reassured, Cheng Sheng's knitted brows relaxed, and a sweet smile formed on his lips as if Fei Yin uttered sweet nothings to him.

…

The next day, noon.

"Fortunately, the three of them are strong as individuals." The sect leaders and elders heard the people said when they passed by them while going out of the exit.

Wu Lian's, Fei Luo's and Sun Yan's match has ended.

"And won." Someone added when they all remembered the host stiffly announced the three's victory earlier.

The sect leaders and elders fell silent and looked at Wu Yuan and Sun Yu. Wu Yuan's expression has already been indifferent, so none of them saw any reaction from him.

Sun Yu, instead. "…" damn geezers. He thought s his brow twitched in annoyance. He called Fei Luo and Sun Yan and returned to the Yunxiao Inn with his disciples and elders in tow, avoiding everyone's gazes.

Fei Luo and Sun Yan have an explanation owed him. Sun Ri following behind her elder brother giggled and she turned to wave at Wen Wen, Cui Xiang and Cui Xiao before their sect left first due to Sun Yu. There are only two matches left for the group battles, and the second stage of the competition will end. The participants who won will advance to the next, the third, stage and will be given a day of rest before the third stage will commence.

The remaining teams for the group battles are the four-person team of Wen Wen, Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri. Their team already appeared during the elimination stage. They have a good defense and their offense also can't be underestimated. They are expected to win. The three-person team composed of the Chen trio siblings Chen Wu, Chen Su and Chen Yu are also expected to win since they are the seedlings of the Chen Clan which never failed to produce promising cultivators. Take Chen Han and Cheng Sheng for example.

There are also two other teams, another four-person and another three-person teams which will be their opponents.

"That's right!" Wen Wen exclaimed when he remembered something. "Er Zi, thank you for the book that you gave to me last night!" he spoke. "I, Xiang-jie and Xiao-jie studied it this morning and it is really effective. Please give Cheng-shibo and Fei-shibo out thanks!" he told Fei Yinzi while beaming.

Everyone's ears immediately perked up when Cheng Sheng was mentioned. Cheng Sheng gave a book to their sect's disciples? Through Fei Yin and passed to Fei Yinzi? They thought as they all stared at Fei Yinzi with a burning gaze. They are itching to ask Fei Yinzi how was Cheng Sheng now. But, they didn't do so since Fei Yinzi doesn't know anything.

Fei Yinzi who doesn't know anything. "…" these old geezers… he thought and coughed, pretending that he really doesn't know anything. "Yes. Fei-shibo called me last night when he remembered that my shifu gave him a book about alchemy when they were young." He explained.

So, it was like that! The sect leaders and elders of the other sects thought. But, the Xinfaxian Sect caught another matter.

Wait… did Er Zi just address Cheng Sheng as 'shifu'?!