The Scum Is A

"That's what he said?" Qie Shi spoke after they all listened to what Ling Yun told them about Ho Ting's explanation.

"Do you think he was lying?" Ling Yun nervously asked. He has done his best earlier to act calm and not reveal that he was actually nervous because he is fishing for information.

This is what Cheng Sheng told him to do. He hopes he didn't fail his master.

"Not necessarily." Jing Rui answered. "Although he might not have lied, he could have hidden some information. This isn't called lying." He explained.

Ling Yun nodded in understanding. He patted his chest as he sighed in relief. But, who would have expected for his breath to get caught in his chest when he heard a familiar voice spoke.

"Yes. I didn't lie." The voice that he heard this noon spoke. "Who could have expected for someone to use a child to do a dirty work?" it said.

Ling Yun choked and he coughed. Then, he sharply turned for his eyes to widen in shock when he saw Ho Ting appeared! How long was he there?

"Ai. I didn't expect for a child to deceive me. My heart aches." Ho Ting said as he clutched his chest, acting as if he is having an attack.

Ling Yun. "!!!" what the fck! He looked like a different person right now except for his appearance! He thought, ignoring Ho Ting's act.

Everyone. "…" never seen a shameless act for a long time… suddenly missed Cheng Sheng. They thought, didn't care whether Ho Ting lives or dies. It's better the latter.

Ho Ting who didn't expect that no one cared about his act. "…" what to do… my heart now really aches… he thought and fixed his expression.

"You!" Ling Yun pointed at him. "You… you were just acting earlier?!" he asked.

"Weren't you, too?" Ho Ting asked back with a devious smile.

Ling Yun shut up.

Everyone. "…" now why did the atmosphere turned into something strange? They thought as they looked at Ling Yun and Ho Ting who are acting like a couple that just deceived each other.

"But, I didn't lie earlier." Ho Ting spoke, breaking the silence after he saw Ling Yun's expression is about to collapse. This guy's expressions are really cute. He thought as the corners of his mouth lifted more.

"Yeah, yeah." The others muttered as they all sipped their tea.

Ho Ting. "…" why do you all looked so calm?! Shouldn't you be shocked like this cutie?! He thought as his face started to crack, too, like Ling Yun's.

"Ai… I never expect for you to follow me here." A voice familiar to Ho Ting spoke. "Well, who told you to be like me, never wanted to be stuck on that land." It said.

Ho Ting sharply turned and his eyes widened when he saw a familiar person. "Uncle?!" he exclaimed when he saw his uncle whom he never met for many years.

Ho Yue smiled, that same gentle smile. "You've grown up." He spoke as he sat with the Shanliangde Sect.

Ho Ting's mouth fell open. "You… you've joined a sect?!" he exclaimed.

"Yes. It was elder Fei who helped me." Ho Yue answered and smiled after Gong Xian handed him a cup of tea.

Ho Ting's gaze fell on Gong Xian. "He is?" he asked.

"My sole disciple." Ho Yue answered.

Ho Ting became even more speechless. "You… how did you find me here?" he asked.

"The 'Ho' surname in this land is rare. Since you've joined the Intersect Competition, sect leader Sun thought of me so he decided to call me here." Ho Yue explained. "It just happened that I visited the Xinfaxian Sect and so I used the teleportation array." He said and pointed the array that is still glowing in the garden. "So convenient!" he explained as he sipped his drink.

Ho Ting became even more speechless. His uncle… is really as carefree as he remembered, if not became even more carefree.

"So... so he – " Ling Yun muttered after he finally recovered from his shock.

Ling Xi can't bear to look at his nephew like this so he pulled him to their sect's seats.

"Elder Ho, it's been a long time." The sect leaders and elders greeted.

"Hello." Ho Yue greeted back with a smile.

"It's actually Cheng Sheng who reminded me." Sun Yu spoke. "I never made the connection, but then I trust Cheng Sheng's instinct. Who could have known it was really like this?" he asked.

They all nodded. "Cheng Sheng…" Ho Ting muttered when he remembered the name of Ling Yun's master who is the doctor that saved him.

"Ting-er, where did you pick up that strange sword?" Ho Yue asked, starting the serious discussion. "What exactly happened?" he added.

Ho Ting coughed when he saw Ling Yun's accusing glare. "I really didn't lie to him… I really picked up that sword." He started. "But, this sword, I clearly recognize. It's from our land." He looked at them. "I found the sword in this land." He told them.

A heavy silence fell.

"Where?" Wu Yuan asked. "Which direction?" he added.

"Naturally, east." Ho Ting answered and paused. "Well, to be exact, southeast." He added.

"If it was the east, xiao Sheng should have noticed." Xie Lan spoke. "But, he hasn't, thus he must really have come from further direction." He said.

Everyone nodded in agreement. The east has become the Xinfaxian Sect's territory. If even they, especially Cheng Sheng, couldn't found out about the strange sword, then no one definitely can. Thus, this matter was discovered until 'Ho Ting' attacked Fei Yinzi who is related to Cheng Sheng.

"How did you pick it up?" Ho Yue asked.

"This… I remember that I saw it was lying in the middle of the road. I have no weapon with me so I picked it up. It's convenient since it was a sword from our land, which I am already used to." Ho Ting said. "But… that was the last thing I can remember. Me picking up the sword." He frowned as he held his head. After he picked up the sword, he felt a chilling and numbing feeling. By the time he regained his senses, he felt light.

That time must be when the sword spirit has taken over his body. It was definitely an extremely unpleasant feeling since you can't feel or touch anything. You just continue to float. You can't even make a noise. Everything around him is darkness…

"Ugh…" he grunted in pain.

Ling Yun started. "Ho Ting!" he called and abruptly rose from his seat before he ran towards Ho Ting when he saw the other fell on his knees with his face twisted in pain as he clutched his head.

"Ting-er!" Ho Yue cried when he saw Ho Ting is about to fall on the ground.

Gong Xian's figure flashed and he caught the falling Ho Ting before he pushed him to Ling Yun's arms. "Medicine." He told him.

"Huh? Ah, yes, yes!" Ling Yun nodded and immediately took out a bottle filled with magic pills from his sleeve before he fed it to Ho Ting for him to take.

Ho Ting who felt his head mind is being cruelly twisted and is bathing in his sweat. "…" you want me to eat this magic pill drily?! He thought. But, he saw Ling Yun didn't notice his gaze because his eyes are filled with worry as he shakily placed the magic pill on his lips that are slightly parted as he gasped for air, trying to alleviate the pain he feels.

Ho Ting felt his heart was soothed by Ling Yun's expression so he forcefully gulped the magic pill down. Then, he suddenly felt his whole body cooled down which eased the burning pain in his head that started to spread all over his body. This magic pill is really magical.

"How are you feeling?" Ling Yun asked when he saw that Ho Ting has calmed down.

"It's so cool…" Ho Ting answered.

"What else?" Ling Yun asked.

"The pain disappeared… then… I feel… numb." Ho Ting's expression turned blank when he felt that he has lost his body's senses.

"Oh. Then, the medicine is working." Ling Yun spoke before he dropped him on the floor.

Everyone could hear a thump and lit candles for Ho Ting's head. Ho Ting also saw it. Fortunately, he can't feel anything right now. But, he is sure that the back of his head definitely will have an extra bump later.

"Oh. Sorry." Ling Yun insincerely said with an indifferent gaze before he walked to the side, took out a brush, paper and ink and started writing.

Ho Ting. "…" what to do… I start to feel regret for deceiving him earlier… he thought. Then, he saw everyone ignored him and started another discussion.. "…" can anyone please care even a bit about me?! He thought and saw that even his uncle Ho Yue is joining the discussion. I regret it… I truly regret it! The only one who sincerely cared for me now is indifferent towards me… is there a pill for regret?