Chapter 42 - The Scum Is Self-Centered

Cheng Sheng nodded as he chewed on the lotus seed. They didn't speak to each other and maintained the silence between them. It wasn't awkward nor tense. Instead, it is comforting even if no words were spoken. After an hour and the three elders came back. Their expression tense and anxious. Obviously, they didn't find Wu Fan. "If I'd find that bastard who took Fan, I'll kill him!" Chen Jing said, seething in anger.

The blanket wrapped around Cheng Sheng when Chen Jing emitted his oppressive aura. Cheng Sheng fell from the air and Fei Yin caught him in his arms. Chen Jing blinked and saw the blanket wrapping Cheng Sheng like a zongzi. He immediately withdrew his aura. "Sorry, Sheng-er – " Chen Jing said and walked towards Cheng Sheng. His eyes full of guilt.

The blanket exposed Cheng Sheng's face. He looked like an infant and Fei Yin carrying him is his mother. "I'm fine." Cheng Sheng answered. "Anyway, we have to find sect leader Wu now." He said. "Let me go." It was directed to the blanket. The blanket immediately unwrapped itself around Cheng Sheng's body, making Cheng Sheng directly wrapped around Fei Yin's strong and steady arms.

The atmosphere suddenly changed as they looked at Fei Yin carrying Cheng Sheng in his arms. They could see the pink bubbles in the air. They blinked, feeling like their eyes are failing them. "What should we do now?" Ming Ye asked as he looked at Chen Jing. Earlier, they saw that Wu Fan's qi ended here.

"Wu-shixiong must have disappeared here." Xie Lan said. "The man who took his must know how to hide the qi." He said, then paused. He looked at the blanket on Cheng Sheng's shoulder.

"Hm?" Cheng Sheng said and tilted his head. A bun on his mouth and his cheeks puffed.

Xie Lan sighed. Nothing really changed in Cheng Sheng aside from being a glutton. And Fei Yin made Cheng Sheng a glutton by feeding him. Luckily, they are cultivators and they can burn their fats faster than the normal person. Or else, Cheng Sheng would be as big as a cow now. "Either we stay here to continue to search, or leave to blindly search." Xie Lan said.

Ming Ye sighed. "We had no other method to find Wu-xiong – " he said, his face downcast.

"There is." Cheng Sheng spoke. They turned to him. "One more left – " he said and raised his index finger. He patted Fei Yin's shoulder, signaling the other to put him down. Fei Yin obediently put him down.

The three elders were once again blinded by the two youngster's PDA. "Sheng-er. What is it?" Chen Jing asked.

"You still have another method, Sheng-er?" Ming Ye said, surprised. Xie Lan just calmly looked at his disciple.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "I don't want to use this unless this is the last resort." He said as he took out his qiankun pouch. He opened his qiankun pouch and they saw a silver bell float out of the pouch. It rang, and they heard a crisp and beautiful tone sounded.

Their eyes became hooded. Fan Wen's face appeared on Xie Lan's mind. Chen Jing undoubtedly saw Wu Fan. Ming Ye… "What happened to them?" he asked Cheng Sheng and looked at Xie Lan and Chen Jing in a daze.

Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin turned to Ming Ye. "Elder Ming, you were unaffected?" Cheng Sheng said, surprised.

"Hm?" Ming Ye said and looked at the floating bell in the air. "That looked familiar." He said, his brows knit.

Cheng Sheng grabbed the bell. Then, Xie Lan and Chen Jing snapped out of their daze. They blinked multiple times to clear their mind. "Xiao Sheng." Xie Lan called. "When did you get hold of the Recollection Bell?" he asked, frowning.

"Founder…" Cheng Sheng called, his voice small. "I traded – " he said, then cleared his throat when he saw Xie Lan just stared at him. "I found a beggar – " he said, then coughed when he saw Xie Lan's eyes narrowed. He looked away. "But, I really traded this with a beggar…" he muttered and pouted. Now that he thought about it, he also found the blanket from a beggar. Are beggars so powerful now? He thought, considering to become a beggar if he got tired of being a cultivator.

Xie Lan stopped forcing him to answer. "This world really loves him so much." He muttered and sighed in admiration.

Chen Jing looked at the silver bell floating in Cheng Sheng's hand. "Recollection Bell shows the one who hears it the person that's in their mind and heart the most, together with the memories they had with them, and the memories they want to create with them." Ming Ye said.

Cheng Sheng turned to Ming Ye. "Elder Ming, you were unaffected." He said. "You… don't have someone you value the most?" he asked, curious.

Hearing this, Ming Ye smiled. "I have." He answered.

Cheng Sheng's eyes widened. "Who?!" he asked, shocked. "How were you unaffected, then?" he said.

"Because my thoughts towards him is pure." Ming Ye said. "Our current relationship is enough for me." He explained.

Cheng Sheng stared at Ming Ye in admiration. It's rare to find a pure person these days! He thought, then looked at Xie Lan and Chen Jing who bears impure thoughts towards their lover. His eyes became blank, he looked at them like he's looking at a scum. "What's with that look?" Chen Jing asked and coughed.

"Mother really made the best decision divorcing you." Cheng Sheng said. "I already pity sect leader Wu." He added.

Chen Jing didn't answer and just shrugged. "What should I do?" he asked and looked at the silver bell.

Cheng Sheng raised his hand holding the silver bell. "Just think of sect leader Wu, and follow this bell to where it leads you." He answered.

"It's this simple?" Xie Lan asked.

Cheng Sheng shook his head. "The beggar told me – " he said and looked at the bell. " – the next step is the dangerous part." He looked at Chen Jing. "Since the bell will put you in a trance, you will be left unguarded." He said. "Also, to make the bell more effective, you have to fully concentrate on thinking of sect leader Wu. This is the most dangerous part – " he took a deep breath and looked at Chen Jing's eyes. " – you may never wake up." He told him.

Their eyes went wide. They all looked at Chen Jing. "Chen-xiong…" Ming Ye called, worried.

"Also, we have to be on guard against the enemy." Xie Lan reminded. "Chen-shixiong." He called. "You should make a decision now. Take risk and bet your life." he told him.

Chen Jing took a deep breath as he stared at the silver bell that looked enticing. This is one of the bell's effect. It hooks you to use it, then lose yourself in it as you drown in your fantasies. The only benefit it brings is finding the person you are searching for. In exchange of your life. But – "As long as Fan comes back, it is worth it." Chen Jing said and touched the silver bell.

Cheng Sheng nodded and gave the bell to Chen Jing. Chen Jing closed his eyes. Then, the bell glowed and floated in the air, ringing.

"Head north." Xie Lan said as they looked at the direction of the bell. He and Ming Ye grabbed Chen Jing to not lose the man. "Oh, right." He said as they started to walk inside the forest, following the bell. He turned to Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin. "Why are you two unaffected?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng looked at Xie Lan. "I only have myself to long for." He answered and grinned, hugging himself.

Xie Lan's eyes narrowed and clicked his tongue. He had always known his disciple is shameless and self-centered. He turned to Fei Yin. "And you, ah?" he asked. He knew that Fei Yin is in love with Cheng Sheng.

Fei Yin looked at him. "Like elder Ming - " he said and looked at Ming Ye who smiled. " – I am contented of my relationship with him." He said and looked at Cheng Sheng who is watching the silver bell floating and ringing in the air.

Xie Lan looked at Fei Yin, his eyes full of sympathy. As he said, he hopes Fei Yin could bear loving Cheng Sheng – this self-centered person.