The Scum Is Accepted

Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng bowed to the three elders. "Shifu." Sun Yi called. "Cheng-shidi suggested this method to find sect leader Wu." He explained.

They turned to Cheng Sheng. "What is this tracing qi?" Ming Ye asked. "How do we find our sect leader through it?"

"An example of this is when you let a dog find the handkerchief's owner by making the dog smell the handkerchief." Cheng Sheng answered. "The dog will use its keen sense of smell to find the smell matching the smell of the handkerchief." He explained.

They nodded, now understood. "But, you said it will be the qi to be traced?" Luo Shi said.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "We can't use a dog since we don't know where sect leader Wu for it to recognize him." He said. "We can only use the qi." He paused, then looked at them for a long time. "Since you already know I had a Spiritual Awakening, then I will tell you something." He said.

Their eyes went wide, surprised. Then, their face became serious. "Sheng-er. You remembered what happened that night?" Chen Jing asked.

Cheng Sheng looked at him, then he lowered his gaze. Obviously, he did. "The man said that, in the beginning, there was only one qi." He started. "The nature's qi. The other types of qi were modified." He said. "I will skip the other parts and jump to the cultivator's qi – " he said.

"No, you're cutting a big chunk of information here – "

He ignored them. "The cultivator's qi was also a modified qi of the nature." He continued. "Each of us is different from the other, and so will be our qi. This is one of the reasons why our sword has a different glare." He said and looked at his sword. "We only have a common shade because we share a sect." he explained.

"Then, how does this method work?" Luo Shi asked.

Cheng Sheng turned to him. "Even if after a long time, but there would be a trace of sect leader Wu's qi to the places he went to." He said. "We have to take the people that is most familiar with sect leader Wu." He answered. Wu Yuan is a given since he is the son. Ming Ye, Luo Shi, and Xie Lan should be going with them. This leaves –

"I'm going." Chen Jing said. "This time, I must." He said, his voice and eyes firm.

Ming Ye and Luo Shi didn't answer. Obviously, it is Chen Jing who is the closest to Wu Fan. Despite the two being enemies on the surface, this is only on Wu Fan's side. Chen Jing never treated him as an enemy. Instead… and there was that last time they saw each other. "Who will act as the sect leader, then?" Fei Yin asked.

"I'll stay." Wu Yuan said. They turned to him, shocked. Wu Yuan raised his head and took a deep breath. "I can't rely on my father, nor anyone forever." He said and looked at Chen Jing. "Uncle." He called. Ming Ye, Luo Shi, and Chen Han choked. Sun Yi smiled while Xie Lan chuckled. Fei Yin's brows just raised. "Please, find my father." He said and bowed to Chen Jing.

Chen Jing's eyes were filled with gratitude as he patted Wu Yuan's shoulder. This counts as Wu Yuan accepting him as his second father. "I will." Chen Jing said.

Sun Yi clapped his hand. "Then, I'll stay behind. Da shixiong, you too!" he told Chen Han.

"I'll stay." Luo Shi said. "My two disciples are staying. Ming-xiong. You be careful." He told Ming Ye.

Ming Ye nodded and smiled. He turned to Chen Han. "Han-er. Even if you will not be the sect leader, but you better fulfill your responsibility as their da shixiong." He told Chen Han. "You will always be their da shixiong." He added.

Chen Han nodded before he cupped his hands and bowed. "I will, shifu!" he said. "Father." He called Chen Jing. "Please be careful, and find u-uncle – " he said, his cheeks reddened. He immediately looked away.

Chen Jing chuckled. He turned to Cheng Sheng who was silent. "Sheng-er." He called. "Your mother filed a divorce since I cheated on her. Won't you be on father's side?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng's face was covered in dark lines. "Mother's best decision in life is to divorce you." He said. His words are meaningful. Either he approves of their divorce and Chen Jing wants to be with Wu Fan…

Xie Lan patted Cheng Sheng's head as if comforting him. "Shall we go?" he asked and stepped on the array first.

"Eh?" the elders said when they saw Xie Lan, Fei Yin, Cheng Sheng, Chen Jing, and Ming Ye walk towards the array. "Chen patriarch, where are you going?!" they asked and ran towards the array. However, Luo Shi, Wu Yuan, Sun Yi, and Chen Han already activated it. "You – Luo Shi! What are you doing?!" they asked.

"The Chen patriarch will rescue our former sect leader." Luo Shi answered.

"What… wait, 'former'?!" they reacted.

Luo Shi smiled as he proudly looked at his disciple Wu Yuan whose face was still calm despite activating the array. "Our new sect leader is right there." He coolly said as he poured more spiritual power, sending the group to the Xinfaxian Sect.

The elders couldn't react. First, Wu Fan disappeared. Then, Chen Jing finally outed his feelings, making Chen Qing file a divorce on him. Third, their sect was attacked. Now, they will have a new sect leader?! Wu Fan is just missing. He didn't die!

However, the big change is about to start in their sect.

Xinfaxian Sect.

"Lan!" Fan Wen exclaimed when he saw Xie Lan and the others came back. He ran towards Xie Lan and welcomed him with a tight hug.

"Wen." Xie Lan smiled and kissed Fan Wen, which shocked Fan Wen. Fan Wen's face immediately became red and he pushed Xie Lan away. Xie Lan just smirked and licked his lips.

Chen Jing's eyes are filled with bitterness, thinking of Wu Fan. Ming Ye wore a stiff smile, already blind to this other couple. He already expects to be blinded again when Chen Jing and Wu Fan meet. Now, he begins to regret coming with them. He should've stayed in Youxiwang Sect with Luo Shi. He sighed.

Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng had the nerves of steel. They expressionlessly walked towards their parents and greeted them. "Shifu." They called Fan Wen.

Fan Wen smiled and hugged Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng, who both froze and turned to statues. Fan Wen didn't mind and he turned, surprised, to Chen Jing and Ming Ye. "Chen-shixiong. Ming-shixiong. You… where are your disciples?" he asked, referring to the trio Wu Yuan, Sun Yi, and Chen Han. "And Luo-shixiong…" he added.

"Luo-xiong stayed in Xiwang to inform the other elders of the new plan, using the Wu family." he answered and explained their plan to him.

Fan Wen was shocked. "So Wu Yuan will be the new sect leader?! And, you… and Wu-shixiong…" he blushed, embarrassed.

Chen Jing chuckled while Ming Ye helplessly smiled. "Wen." Xie Lan called. "How's the sect?" he asked.

"It's fine." Fan Wen smiled. "Xiao Tian and Xiao Mo are working hard. Yesterday, Xiao Mo's tutor, Wu Bai, came to visit. He said he's Xiao Mo's husband!" he exclaimed, then paused. "Now, since the plan has changed, we can let all the disciples rest, then." He said. This is the second day of the Xinfaxian Sect's day off.

Xie Lan nodded. Then, he turned to Cheng Sheng. "Xiao Sheng. How do we start?" he asked, referring to the Qi Tracing Method.

Cheng Sheng nodded, then turned to Chen Jing and Ming Ye. "First, we open our spiritual consciousness." He said. "This is to sense the surrounding qi. Now, please meditate and slowly open your spiritual consciousness. Then, look for sect leader Wu's qi in the surroundings." He said. This is the reason why he said to pick the people most familiar with Wu Fan. Others can confuse another's qi. So, the more intimate the person, the better the chance they could find Wu Fan. "Then, look for the direction of his qi. Later, if we can't find sect leader Wu's qi, we can change the location." He explained.

They nodded. Xie Lan, Chen Jing, and Ming Ye sat on the ground in a lotus position. Then, they started to meditate. Chen Jing is no doubt the most intimate person of Wu Fan. Ming Ye and Luo Shi are Wu Fan's best friends, acting like elder brothers to him and Chen Jing. Aside from Luo Shi staying with his disciples to guide Wu Yuan in taking over the Youxiwang Sect, Luo Shi also has a fiery temper. This is why Ming Ye was chosen since his temperament is mild and calm. As for Xie Lan, he has a keen perception. This is also the reason why he has visions. His vision will be a great help in for searching Wu Fan.

Xie Lan, Chen Jing, and Ming Ye finally opened their eyes. They found Wu Fan's qi and he really headed to the west direction. However, their expression changed when they opened their eyes. They all looked at Cheng Sheng who was talking with Fei Yin and Fan Wen. Then, the three of them looked at each other. "Sheng-er…" Chen Jing said, his brows knit.

"Why is his qi – " Ming Ye said.

Xie Lan's expression is serious. He looked at Cheng Sheng. Cheng Sheng's qi – they didn't see it.