"Congratulations, xiao Wen! Xiao Xiang! Xiao Xiao!" the Xinfaxian Sect congratulated their disciples who won. "Xiao Ri, too!" they added as they beamed at Sun Ri.
A day has already passed. The afternoon that Ho Yue arrived, after everyone finished their discussion, they hurriedly left to go to the venue of the competition. Zheng Yi picked Wen Wen's team with Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri, leaving the Youxiwang Sect's team of three consisted of Chen Wu, Chen Su and Chen Yu be the last match of the group battles, as well as of the second stage of the competition.
Wen Wen, Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri didn't disappoint their sects' expectations on them. They performed brilliantly on stage! Now, it was noon of the next day and they returned with victory!
"Thank you sect leader Xie, elder Fan, elder Li, elder Feng, elder Lei and elder You." Sun Ri answered and respectfully bowed.
"Xiao Ling will greet you later. He still has some things to talk with Jing Kang." Fan Wen explained with a smile.
Wen Wen is Lei Ling's disciple and is expecting to be praised by his master. But, Lei Ling isn't here. But, Xie Lan, Li Tian and the others know that Lei Ling is comforting Jing Kang after the truth about his father's death was revealed by Ho Yue.
"Ehem. Do you have anything you want for a reward?" Xie Lan asked, changing the topic. "Xiao Ri, too." He added and winked at Sun Ri who giggled.
"Well…" Wen Wen is an optimist and he didn't think much about Lei Ling's disappearance. He turned to look at Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri who grinned at him before they looked at Fei Yinzi's direction. "The prize we want is for Cheng-shibo to feel well." He spoke and Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri nodded in agreement.
They heard from Fei Yinzi that Cheng Sheng fell ill.
"Oh?" Xie Lan, Fan Wen and the others felt warm in their hearts.
"Well, wouldn't it be shameless of me to disappoint you guys by not fulfilling your wish?" a very familiar voice spoke.
Everyone's eyes widened in shock and they turned to see Cheng Sheng standing not far from them. He suddenly appeared!
"It would be very disappointing if this Cheng-shibo of yours won't grant your wish, right?" Cheng Sheng said and smiled at Wen Wen, Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri.
"Cheng Sheng!" everyone exclaimed in both surprise and joy.
"Xiao Sheng?!" Xie Lan and Fan Wen exclaimed.
"Cheng-shidi?!" Li Tian, Feng Mo and Lei Qing were shocked.
"Cheng-shixiong!" You Rou cried and smiled.
"Ah Sheng!" Chen Han called as he ran towards Cheng Sheng.
"Cheng-shibo/elder Cheng!" Wen Wen, Cui Xiang, Cui Xiao and Sun Ri cried in joy and excitement when they saw Cheng Sheng.
"Shifu?!" Fei Yinzi exclaimed in shock and stared with widened eyes at Cheng Sheng. He also ran towards Cheng Sheng.
Cheng Sheng smiled as Chen Han and Fei Yinzi assisted Cheng Sheng as they walked towards the Xinfaxian Sect's and Youxiwang Sect's area.
"Wen-er, Xiang-er, Xiao-er, Ri-er, don't be shy. Here are my gifts. Congratulations for winning." Cheng Sheng told them with a smile as he placed qiankun pouches on Wen Wen's, Cui Xiang's, Cui Xiao's and Sun Ri's hands. "Can you also take it, too, as an apology for my absence during your match?" he asked.
"C – Cheng-shibo, please don't say it like that! It is fine, it is fine! Your recovery is more important!" they told him.
"Yes. Elder Cheng should recuperate as much as he can, if he will!" Sun Ri said and cupped her hands before she bowed.
Cheng Sheng sighed in pity. "Then, just take these as my gifts for you then." He told them.
"Thank you, Cheng-shibo/elder Cheng!" they answered in joy.
Cheng Sheng smiled. "And I will definitely recuperate – " he added when suddenly his eyes widened. He immediately raised his hand to cover his mouth.
Before any of them could react, they saw him suddenly lowered his head.
"Keh!" Cheng Sheng coughed.
They were about to ask him what is wrong when they saw that red liquid flowed through the space between Cheng Sheng's fingers. Then, it slowly trickled down the back of his hand before it dropped down the floor.
Their eyes widened in shock.
"Oops…" Cheng Sheng spoke with a muffled voice as he immediately took out a handkerchief using his other hand and wiped off the blood on his mouth, cheeks and lips. Then, his hand and its back.
"Cheng…" they stared at him.
"Xiao Sheng…" Xie Lan and Fan Weng called.
"Ah Sheng…?" Chen Han looked at Cheng Sheng's face.
But, Cheng Sheng just smiled. "Ah. Elder Ho, I know it was your voice yesterday that I heard when I woke up for a second." He said and smiled at Ho Yue who was also looking at him in shock.
How can Cheng Sheng be this ill? Ho Yue thought as he looked at the bloodstain on Cheng Sheng's sleeve that the blood reached earlier when he coughed. The last time he saw him, he was still healthy and looked very lively.
Now, Cheng Sheng looked like he is on his last legs with his pale face and frail expression that looked like he is about to break, would croak (die) anytime.
"Xiao Sheng!" Xie Lan roared in anger while Fan Wen cried in alarm.
"Ah Sheng!" Chen Han called in distress and his eyes turned red. He also felt helpless since Cheng Sheng is supposed to recuperate actually came out willfully.
"Cheng-shidi!" the Xinfaxian Sect elders exploded as they all looked at Cheng Sheng with a reproachful gaze.
That vivid red color on his bamboo-colored uniform looked glaring, and they felt their hearts ache as they continued to look at it.
Everyone who finally recovered from their shock. "…" what the fck! He is actually still ill?!?! They thought as they looked at him, stunned. Because Cheng Sheng was smiling earlier and they were taken aback, they didn't notice anything was wrong since they were used to seeing him smiling.
That irritating smile. But, now that they look closely, they could see he looked paler than usual and his cheeks slightly looked sunken. His condition is this bad? They thought as they felt their chests constricted.
Cheng Sheng took out a Cleaning Talisman and his sleeve turned clean again. "This… I am really, already fine." He spoke. "Just there are still some adjustments left…" he tried to explain.
Someone cut him off. "Sheng." A cold voice spoke from behind him.
Cheng Sheng's figure stiffened. "Da shixiong…" he muttered and slowly turned. The smile on his lips froze.
Everyone looked at Fei Yin and grimaced when they saw Fei Yin's dark face. His clothes are disheveled, as well as his hair. The crown on his head is also skewed. Cheng Sheng must have done something on Fei Yin, most probably tricked him, just to sneak out and appear before them.
Although they wanted to see Cheng Sheng again, they also want him to fully recover! They thought as they inwardly cried. But, outside, their expressions looked stiff. They could see that Fei Yin is about to explode, too, just look at his dark face.
"D – da shixiong…" Cheng Sheng called, panicking. He subconsciously took a step back when he saw that Fei Yin's expression didn't change. "Y – Yin…" he called in a soft voice.
Hearing his name, Fei Yin paused. He raised his head and met Cheng Sheng's gaze filled with distress. He felt the fire in his heart was doused with cold water and his heart softened. But, his lover really need to be taught a lesson.
Thinking this, he grabbed Cheng Sheng's nape. Cheng Sheng's eyes widened in shock, thinking that Fei Yin is going to immobilize him. He was about to struggle when he suddenly felt something warm and soft pressed against his lips.
This… a magic pill? He thought before he inwardly rolled his eyes at himself. Fck! Fei Yin really kissed him, and in public! He thought when he felt everyone's gazes on them.
Especially Chen Han's scorching gaze because he wanted to kill Fei Yin who 'molested' his dearly beloved younger brother, and in public! This is blatantly challenging him for claiming Cheng Sheng as his! He thought as his face darkened in anger.
But, the ones who are the most shocked was naturally the juniors, especially Fei Yinzi who is Cheng Sheng's disciple. Fei Yinzi's mouth was wide open like his eyes that are about to popped out of their sockets. He has been with his master for a long time and never seen anyone close to his master aside from the Xinfaxian Sect members and the Chen family Chen Han and Chen Jing, as well as his friends. No one has been this close to Cheng Sheng.
This.. Very. Close! Where their skin is touching each other, especially their lips! Kissing! His master has been kissed!