Yunxiao Inn.

"FINALLY! A rest day tomorrow!" Cheng Sheng said when they reached the dining hall. They just arrived back in the inn. He untied the mage's belt from his waist and carelessly threw it on the floor before he slumped on the table. He felt sleepy after eating.

"Don't carelessly threw it!" Chen Han told Cheng Sheng as he and Li Tian immediately caught the belt. "Whew!" they exclaimed when the badges, fortunately, didn't hit the floor. The bead is made of crystal as well as the lines on the badges. They're afraid the bead and the lines might be fragile and then broke.

"Wuwuwuwuwu…" they suddenly heard a cry. They all turned and saw Chen Jing crying while his hands and feet are on the floor.

"Father…?" Chen Han called. He's puzzled by his father's behavior.

"I can't believe it…" Chen Jing said as he looked at Cheng Sheng weakly slipping down the table. "I can't believe it! My son… Sheng-er has grown up!" he cried and wiped his tears, but his tears just kept falling.

"Uh, sir… you shouldn't say that when your son in question is currently acting like a child." Zuo Zhe said when he saw Fei Yin immediately caught Cheng Sheng before he fell from the table and then carefully placed him on the bench.

"Wuwuwuwuwu…" they suddenly heard another one who was crying. They turned, only to see Xie Lan on his hands and feet by the door.

"Founder…?" the Xinfaxian Sect disicples called. They're puzzled by their sect leader's behavior.

"I can't believe it…" Xie Lan said and looked at Cheng Sheng who was sleeping on the narrow bench. "I can't believe it!" he exclaimed. "Xiao Sheng… Xiao Sheng failed to redeem his badges for golds!" he exclaimed and wiped his tears, but his tears just kept falling.

"Uh, sir… you shouldn't say that after your disciple in question just threw these badges in question like they're garbage." Zuo Zhe said and looked at the others. They ignored Chen Jing and Xie Lan and then carefully checked Cheng Sheng's badges like they are treasures. "… this group is hopeless." He muttered as he blankly stared at them. Meanwhile, Fei Yin was killing mosquitoes that tried to bite the sleeping Cheng Sheng.

"Let's go and sleep." Yu Sheng said as he pulled Zuo Zhe.

For the first time, Zuo Zhe agreed to Yu Sheng's invitation. "Yeah. We'd better." He said. Or else we'll catch their idiocy. He thought and they climbed upstairs. Xie Lan and Chen Jing's cries are echoing in the walls. Fortunately, Sun Yi's elder brother has a good vision to chase out his other customers. Or else, his customers will be affected by the idiocy of the group downstairs.

"They're so shiny!" You Rou and Lei Ling exclaimed.

"Yeah." Li Tian nodded. Aside from Cheng Sheng, the three of them are the only mages in their group.

"What badge did you get?" Chen Han asked Li Tian.

"I got a junior apprentice badge." Li Tian answered as he looked at his yellow badge.

"I have a junior apprentice badge, too!" You Rou said and took out her green badge.

"Mine, too!" Lei Ling said and took out his red badge.

"WOW!" Feng Mo and Lei Qing exclaimed while Sun Yi inspected their shining badges.

"Cheng-shidi have taught them, and he was promoted as a master." Fei Yin spoke. "Thus, they became junior apprentices." He explained.

"Amazing!" Feng Mo and Lei Qing said as they looked at Cheng Sheng sleeping. Then, seeing his dumb-looking sleeping face, their mood immediately was dampened. "He's really a master?" they asked, their face is deadpan.

"… unfortunately, he is." Chen Han answered and sighed as he looked at his amazing but also disappointing younger brother.

"Ahahaha…" Sun Yi laughed while holding his stomach.

"Good evening, sir." They heard the inn's servants said. "We apologize, but the whole inn is reserved for the Youxiwang Sect and Xinfaxian Sect disciples and their family, friends and guests." She explained.

"Huh?" they said and turned, only to be shocked when they saw Wu Xi at the entrance.

Xie Lan's eyes narrowed and Chen Jing immediately grabbed the startled servant to the side. Meanwhile, Xie Lan appeared before Wu Xi. "May I ask what is your intention for coming here?" he asked.

"Uh, sir… but you're already asking him…" Zuo Zhe, who can't sleep because of the noise downstairs, decided to go downstairs. If I can't beat them, then I'll join them! He thought.

Wu Xi slightly moved to raise his head and look at Xie Lan. "…" he raised his arm and his left hand took something from his sleeve. Everyone inside the inn is alert, only to see him took out a piece of paper.

"…" Xie Lan looked at the paper, his gaze wary. "This is…?" he asked.

"…" no answer from Wu Xi.

"He's mute." Cheng Sheng suddenly said.

"Ha!" they gasped when he suddenly spoke. He's awake?! They thought and looked at Cheng Sheng.

"'mute'?" Xie Lan looked at Wu Xi who's still raising the paper.

"It's someone who is unable to speak, founder." Cheng Sheng told him as he walked towards the entrance.

A vein appeared on Xie Lan's forehead. "Don't take me for an idiot." He told him. Then, he turned to Wu Xi and finally took the paper.

Wu Xi's shoulder raised before it fell. … he sighed, didn't he? They thought and looked at the silent cultivator.

"It's from Shu Mu." Xie Lan said when he saw the name on the paper.

Cheng Sheng turned to Wu Xi. "Shu Mu sent you?" he asked. He saw Wu Xi nodded. "Then, come in." he told him and stepped aside to make him pass.

"… eh?" the others said as they looked at Cheng Sheng. "EH?!" they exclaimed. Is it okay to invite him here?! They thought and looked at Wu Xi slowly walked towards the chair and silently sat. … he's so well-behaved. They thought and immediately moved to the other side.

"It's really rude to keep a guest outside." Chen Jing said as he and Xie Lan followed Cheng Sheng inside. The servant who was left immediately closed the door and left.

"How did you know he's mute?" Xie Lan asked Cheng Sheng but his gaze is on Wu Xi.

"He's been waiting for half an hour outside." Cheng Sheng answered.

"Oh… huh?" Xie Lan sai and sharply turned to Cheng Sheng. "He's been there that long?!" he said and looked at Wu Xi in shock.

Cheng Sheng just nodded. "Yeah." He answered.

They stared at him. … so you knew he's there but you acted dumb? They thought and looked at Wu Xi. They suddenly felt pity towards him.

Cheng Sheng ignored their judging gaze and turned to Xie Lan. "Where's the letter?" he asked. Xie Lan immediately gave it to him. Cheng Sheng took it and then read it. It was indeed from Shu Mu.

Second young master Chen. Congratulations for passing the second stage and for your promotion. So, I have someone here. He needs your help. It's his friend, exactly. His friend was poisoned by demonic qi. His mind is confused and he can't discern a friend from a foe. That's all I can say, since I'm not a doctor like you. I'm hoping you can help him.

P.S.: I think you can discern what exactly Wu Xi is. – Shu Mu

Cheng Sheng's face immediately became blank. "Xiao Sheng. You've become friends with Shu Mu? When?" Xie Lan asked. "And, what does he meant by his P.S.?" he added.

Cheng Sheng didn't answer him since he was staring at Wu Xi after he read Shu Mu's letter. The Xinfaxian Sect disciples saw their founder's pitiful appearance after being ignored, thus they pulled him to the side and explained to him Shu Mu's condition. Chen Jing was puzzled, so he decided to join the others.

In the end, it was only Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin, Yu Sheng, Zuo Zhe and Wu Xi that remained on the table. "… should we be here?" Zuo Zhe consciously asked Yu Sheng.

"Then, let's join the others." Yu Sheng decisively said when he saw Cheng Sheng threw him a glance.

"Yeah… huh?" Zuo Zhe was puzzled by Yu Sheng's sudden change in the behavior.

"… what?" Fei Yin asked when he saw Cheng Sheng was looking at him.

"… nothing." Cheng Sheng answered and looked away. I thought he would be leaving, too. He thought and sighed. He turned to Wu Xi. "So… you need my help." He said.

Wu Xi nodded.

"Because your friend is sick." Cheng Sheng said.

Wu Xi nodded again.

"…" Cheng Sheng stared at him. He had just guessed earlier, but he didn't think Wu Xi is really a mute. Furthermore… he thought of Shu Mu's P.S. Even if his Spiritual Sense is open, but he doesn't always use it. It's rude to pry on others. He, even a scum, has integrity, too. Thus, he didn't expect for Wu Xi to be a ...