Ch. 20 awake

"Where am I?" Ling Xi's first word upon opening his eyes. The room where he is lying at is completely new to him.

"We are at the Xianhai sect." a person speaks to his right making him look at his right side. Cheng Li is sitting on a sofa reading a jade book.

"Then, where is this?" he again inquire.

"We are at the warrior division, this house would be where we will be residing for the time being." Cheng Li explains before pouring him a glass of water which his throat really needs. He is so parched like he ran for a thousand kilometres.

"Then, I take it that you are accepted?" Ling Xi question before sitting up on the bed only to realise he doesn't have any strength at all.

Cheng Li arrange a pillow at the back of Ling Xi before answering his question.

"Yes, I'm the Grandmasters succeeding disciple." he informed before sitting beside the man.

"Then.. Then.." Ling Xi stammers looking at his surroundings, clearly traumatised at the ordeal he had gone to.

"Don't worry, Grandmaster Ran is not around, we are the only one in here." Cheng Li says soothing Ling Xi's agitated nerve.

"Cheng Li, I'm hungry." he says holding his stomach, wearing a sheepish expression.

"I get some food from the cafeteria." Cheng Li says, standing up and straightening his clothes.

"Can you get me some sweets?" Ling Xi requested in a hopeful tone.

"Yes. Anything else?"

"None."

"Okay, I'll be back shortly and don't try to stand up, you've been sleeping for almost a month, your feet could not carry your weight." He reminded him before going outside.

Many disciples greeted him when he open the cafeteria door, as much as he doesn't like to socialise he had to. When someone would ask for advice or about cultivation Cheng Li would answer in a serious and straightforward manner earning him the nickname of the ice prince. Cold, aloof and handsome.

And because it is Cheng Li's first time in going to the cafeteria all eyes is one him. All the inner disciples are looking at his every move, some have disdainful expression, some had a neutral one but the majority had a hero worshipping look.

"Can I have two food packs?" he questions the serving lady at the counter.

"My companion is sick." he quickly explains before looking at the display counter where the sweets are on display.

Cheng Li decided to order a piece of each sweets together with the food. After paying it up, he quickly excused himself before going out.

The Cafeteria became noisy, almost all the people are chatting and gossiping with each other. They all want to know who is the one who could make their idol go in the cafeteria and order food.

"Me and Elder brother Cheng Li arrived at the same time, on the selection process for the inner disciples, one alchemist is being punished and Elder Brother rescued him." a man says clearly bragging.

"Him? She is a girl." another one contradict.

"No, He is a boy, he is even wearing a man's robe." the first one insisted.

"The one she is wearing is elder brothers clothes. Did you not see her face?"

"Is she beautiful?" another one cut in in their argument.

"Yes, she is small and delicate and pale."

"No, he is just a small man."

"What are you saying, the woman is Grandmaster Ran succeeding disciple, he is just punishing her when elder brother rescued her."

"Is that true?"

"Of course it is, my brother said it to me."

"You're lying!, eldest miss Zi Yan does not have a small structure!"

"Then who is it ne?"

"He is his mate. They registered together."

"Yes, even Grandmaster Xi says something like a firebird would kill for their mate."

"No, Grandmaster Xi says Firebird would burn those who threatened their mate."

"Yes that one."

"No, that is false, Eldest Miss is the one who says that Cheng Li is her mate."

"No."

"Are you saying that my goddess is not good enough for him?" and just like that the disciples began brawling. All are defending their answers.

The two people currently eating doesn't know that they are the reason for the chaos in the cafeteria. They are in the hut at the center of the lake enjoying the view and the cold breeze.

"Master says that the best person who would teach you in alchemy would be Grandmaster Ran." Cheng Li inform Ling Xi making him pause on eating his sweet.

"Master also promised that nobody would hurt you inside the sect." Cheng Li continues before looking at him, Ling Xi nods after a minute of thinking putting his trust in Cheng Li.

"I will begin my close door cultivation tomorrow. Here, this token would be your key to opening the gate and coming here inside the pavilion." before handing Ling Xi a black colored token.

"Are you going in a close door cultivation for a week again?" Ling Xi questions hoping Cheng Li to say yes.

"No, a leylin core is inside the center of this lake and it would help me in my cultivation, I have to raise my cultivation as fast as possible, the demon and human war is brewing and I have to be ready when the time comes."

"I will raise my level as well." Ling Xi says before looking at their surroundings. The spiritual qi is a lot denser here, much more than on his jade spiritual pool.

"Don't raise your level without stabilising your foundation, I just need you to be safe."

"En." Ling Xi answers, his appetite is now all gone. He really doesn't want to part with Cheng Li but decided to not say it. He knows Cheng Li is doing it for them to survive.

"If something happens, just break this jade and i will get you." Cheng Li again reminded him before putting a simple white jade bracelet on his arms.

"And don't trust the Grandmaster."