Chapter 41 - The Scum Is Kidnapped
One's qi is related to their soul. Their body is the medium for storing and extract qi when they use it. For every soul, there is a corresponding qi. Even if they are not a cultivator, but there is a qi already stored in the body. Whether to use this or not, they decide. If they use it, they start as a cultivator.
They are puzzled. Why did they not see Cheng Sheng's qi? They can see the cyan qi of Fei Yin, and the emerald qi of Fan Wen connected to their body. Xie Lan's qi is dark cyan. Chen Jing is scarlet red. Ming Ye is mild red. There are 6 people around, but they only saw five qi. So, where is Cheng Sheng's qi?
"Could this be an effect of the Spiritual Awakening Method?" Ming Ye asked. "However, even if so, we should really see Sheng-er's qi. This Spiritual Awakening Method is really strange." He frowned.
Xie Lan and Chen Jing didn't speak. They had the same thoughts as Ming Ye. "Maybe it's that blanket." Xie Lan finally said.
"The blanket?"
"It blocks the qi around Xiao Sheng." Xie Lan said. However, his voice lack convincing.
"I noticed – " Chen Jing spoke. " – as Sheng-er's father, my son has greatly changed." He said.
Ming Ye's eyes widened. Xie Lan's face became serious. "Chen-xiong, are you saying, Sheng-er – " Ming Ye said in horror.
Chen Jing closed his eyes. "Ming-xiong. You must also have noticed." He said and looked at Ming Ye. "Sheng-er has always been introvert since he was young. He only has average talent." He said.
Ming Ye's kind face became serious. "Chen-xiong…" he said.
"You can't say." Xie Lan spoke. They turned to him. "Xiao Sheng became free from restraints when he left Xiwang. He said he broke his ties in your family after Chen Han came here 10 years ago." He looked at them, his face serious. "Maybe Xiao Sheng have discovered himself." He said. "After all, this is Xinfaxian." He told them. Xinfaxian, newfound. Indeed, this land is recently discovered. The child must have also recently discovered his true self.
Chen Jing and Ming Ye didn't speak. They are afraid that they might discover something. And it will break something inside them. Chen Jing closed his eyes, calming himself. "Sheng-er." He called and looked at Cheng Sheng. "We've found the qi." He told him, referring to Wu Fan's qi.
Cheng Sheng, Fan Wen and Fei Yin walked towards them. Fan Wen helped Xie Lan up. Cheng Sheng helped Chen Jing and Fei Yin helped Luo Shi. "Then, we can now follow sect leader Wu's trace." Cheng Sheng said.
Chen Jing nodded and stared at his 'son's face. I hope I'm just overthinking things. He thought. "Luo-xiong also will instruct the Youxiwang sect elders. We need to hasten our pace." He said.
Xie Lan nodded and turned to Fan Wen. "We'll be leaving now." He kissed Fan Wen's forehead. "Xiao Yin." He called.
"Yes, founder." Fei Yin answered as they all took out their sword. Fei Yin increased the size of his sword for Cheng Sheng to board with him. There's no need for explanation between them. The Spiritual Awakening Method has unknown effects. Cheng Sheng is also aware of it, that's why he doesn't dare to be careless. Which they are grateful about.
"Be careful." Fan Wen said.
Xie Lan nodded and turned to Chen Jing and Ming Ye. They didn't dare forget that Fan Wen was taken away. Naturally, they wouldn't underestimate their enemy. Then, they set off to the direction where they saw Wu Fan's qi is heading to. "This is – " they said as they looked in front of them, opening their spiritual sight to follow Wu Fan's qi after their spiritual consciousness recognize and established a connection earlier for them to follow.
Cheng Sheng looked at the fast changing sight beneath his feet. The plains, the forest, the river, the mountains. Xie Lan is in early-level Immortalization Stage. Chen Jing and Ming Ye are in mid-level Immortalization Stage. Fei Yin is in the early level of Golden Core Stage, but his strength is comparable to mid-level Golden Stage. He is maintaining a constant distance behind the three elders, and also ensuring Cheng Sheng's comfort who's sitting on his sword behind him. "Maybe I can use that blanket." Cheng Sheng said when he looked at the distance between them and the three elders. Without waiting for Fei Yin's response, Cheng Sheng took out the blanket and threw it in the air. The blanket floated beside Fei Yin's sword and Cheng Sheng jumped on the blanket. "Like a magic carpet ride~" Cheng Sheng giggled as he flew towards the three elders. Fei Yin picked up his pace and followed Cheng Sheng.
The three elders who didn't know the two disciples behind them are playing tag are talking. "Why is Wu-xiong's qi is disorderly?" Ming Ye asked, puzzled, as they looked at the thinning qi of Wu Fan.
Xie Lan spoke. "Wu-shixiong should be crossing through the Dongxin Town." He said. "However, this direction – " he said and they turned, following the direction of the qi.
" –the Dongfang Town." Ming Ye said, his face serious. His wide sleeves fluttering in the wind looked like a dancing fire above the trees of the vast forest beneath their feet.
"Dongfang…" Chen Jing said. He looked behind them and saw Fei Yin silently flying on his sword while Cheng Sheng was riding on the strange blanket while eating food. The food's scent wafted in the air and reached their nostrils. Suddenly, they felt hungry. However, they knew that the food is made by Fei Yin and gave to Cheng Sheng. How lucky this kid is… Chen Jing thought and shook his head, smiling. No matter what, Cheng Sheng will still be his son. Truth will come out later, and there's no harm waiting for it.
"Hm?" Cheng Sheng said when he saw Chen Jing looking at him. "We're heading to the Dongfang Town?" he said, surprised.
Chen Jing nodded. "You met Dongfang Xiaoyun who killed the Dongfang Sect." he said, remembered the report sent to their sect before about the Dongfang Sect.
"The Dongfang Sect was affected by the demonic qi. Dongfang Xiaoyun who was kicked out developed a heart demon and killed them all, including the residents of the Dongfang Town." Fei Yin said.
"So the Dongfang Town will be ghost town now?" Ming Ye said. "Why would Wu-xiong go there, though?" he asked.
"Maybe he was lured by the demonic cultivators?" Xie Lan asked.
"But, the demonic cultivator said Fan was taken away by someone." Chen Jing frowned, displeased of the idea someone touching his sweetheart.
"Then – " Ming Ye said. " – the demonic cultivators attacked the Xinfaxian to lure Wu-xiong there, then waited for Wu-xiong to leave the Xinfaxian?" he said.
"The demonic cultivators were already defeated. The question is, where is Fan now?" Chen Jing said. "Who took him?" he added.
Silence fell between them as they neared the Dongfang Town. They saw the run down and empty houses and streets in the distance. Then, they landed in the open space. "Wu-shixiong's qi is scattered." Xie Lan said, his face serious. "Did he engage in a fight?" he asked.
"We can't tell where to go now." Ming Ye said as they looked around, their eyes flowing from activating their spiritual sight.
"Fan…" Chen Jing said and took a deep breath to calm the fear in his heart. "Let's split up." He said. "Sheng-er. Yin-er." He called to the just arrived Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin. "You two stay here and oversee the surroundings. We'll go back here after an hour." He said.
"Yes!" they answered as Fei Yin landed on the ground while Cheng Sheng was afloat in the blanket. Chen Jing, Ming Ye and Xie Lan left in different directions.
"The negative qi is strong here." Cheng Sheng said as he set up a barrier of Cleansing Talismans around them to keep the negative qi from going towards them.
"No demonic qi?" Fei Yin asked.
"No." Cheng Sheng answered when he didn't see the Cleansing Talismans burned.
Fei Yin didn't speak. He looked around the area. He's only at the Golden Core Stage. To awaken the spiritual sight, one needed to reach the Nascent Soul Stage. "Then, I'll bother Cheng-shidi to guard us against the demonic qi." Fei Yin said.