"FCK! Each of them is very strong!" the audience exclaimed when they saw Wu Tie, Jin Yu, and now Xi He who appeared out of nowhere, fight against xiao Bao and the irritated xiao Ling.
Everyone can see that xiao Ling, who was roused from his sleep, is very angry thus his strength doubled. But, Wu Tie, Jin Yu and Xi He are still holding on.
"Wu Tie knows that xiao Ling's strength would be doubled because of his anger for his sleep being disrupted." Jing Bai spoke. "He and Jin Yu definitely will be defeated by xiao Ling and xiao Bao, especially that xiao Ling's strength has doubled. So, he included Xi He, who is stalking him, in his plans." he explained.
Xi Ming covered his face with his both hands, feeling ashamed because Xi He was used. Sun Yu's face doesn't look good, either, while Wu Tong repeatedly apologized to Sun Yu after his son Wu Tie used Xi He, who, obviously, is an unwilling helper.
"Not only that." Cheng Sheng spoke.
They looked at him.
"Is there something else, Cheng-shidi?" Li Tian asked.
"Not only is Xi He a competitor, but also is Wu Tie's nemesis, although he doesn't take him seriously." Cheng Sheng said.
They all grimaced when they remembered how Xi He is hell-bent on fighting Wu Tie. "You are right…" they nodded.
"This way, not only Wu Tie can get back at Xi He for pestering him by making troubles for him, he also can eliminate Xi He in case Xi He would get heavily injured by xiao Ling and xiao Bao." Cheng Sheng continued. Then, he made a pause. "Of course, xiao Ling and xiao Bao are very careful thus they won't be heavy with their hands towards the participants. Wu Tie also is a smart person to not plot a malicious plan against Xi He." He looked at them.
They nodded in agreement. Wu Tie already plotted against Xi He by using Xi He as a 'helper'. In case Xi He would be heavily injured in this, he will be the one to blame, since everyone knows and has seen that xiao Ling and xiao Bao aren't malicious towards the participants and just are tempering them to become stronger. Thus, Wu Tie won't let Xi He be crippled after their fight against xiao Ling and xiao Bao.
"They will face the Shanliangde Sect if that happens." Sun Yi said.
"En." Xi Xing nodded.
"So, aside from using Xi He as a helper, Wu Tie also plans to tire out Xi He out from this." Cheng Sheng spoke. "This way, not only will Xi He be unable to run after Wu Tie again, he also won't be able to fight against demons soon and thus won't be able to increase his points." He explained.
"OH! So that's it!" they exclaimed, feeling enlightened.
"A nice plan, indeed." Jing He clapped.
"Each and every one of the participants this year are very promising!" the audience exclaimed as they watched the participants running here and there.
The sect leaders, elders, and the Righteous Alliance smiled in satisfaction when they heard he compliments. The sect leaders feel proud of their disciples when they heard the audience praised their disciples. Their disciples' efforts weren't in vain.
"Cheng-shidi." Fei Yin called.
"Hm?" Cheng Sheng smiled.
"The next one… who do you think will go against xiao Bao and xiao Ling?" Fei Yin asked.
Upon hearing this question, the elders started. They all looked at Fei Yin before they looked at Cheng Sheng.
"Hm? Wouldn't it be the Shanliangde Sect's turn?" Qian Lin asked.
Xiao Le nodded in agreement. "That's right. Chen Wu has withdrawn and Wu Tie seized his chance… then, wouldn't it be Fei Luo and Sun Yan's turn?" he asked.
"It depends." Cheng Sheng finally answered.
"'it depends'?" Fan Wen looked at him. "What does it mean, xiao Sheng?" he asked in surprise.
"Answering to shifu, it depends on who will be voted next." Cheng Sheng answered. Before any of them could speak, he continued. "And on Fei Luo's state." He added.
"Fei Luo's state?" Xi Ming muttered.
"En. In fact, he had made a mistake since the beginning." Cheng Sheng said.
"What mistake?" they asked.
"Fei Luo is a very good seedling. Not only because of his potential, but also self-awareness and awareness to his surroundings. In short – " Cheng Sheng looked at them. " – he is a guarded individual. He is constantly looking at everyone at everything to not make any mistakes. So – " he looked back to the ongoing competition. " – no matter how fast Wu Lian was earlier, he who has been secretly observing his surroundings, could have seen it. But, he didn't." he said.
"Indeed…" they agreed. In their eyes, Fei Luo is a perfect disciple.
"Then, why did he commit a mistake?" Lei Ling asked.
"Wu Tie's reaction was slower than Wu Lian's so he missed to see what stick did Chen Wu and Fei Luo picked. Chen Wu decided to choose the remaining one to be fair. Fei Luo should have the advantage with his fast reaction, yet he failed to use it." Cheng Sheng said. "It is because he is absent-minded." He told them.
"'absent-minded'?!" they exclaimed before they looked at Fei Luo's face. This perfect disciple is absent-minded?! They thought with their eyes wide in disbelief.
"How?" Lei Qing asked as she observed Fei Luo's expressions. She can't see it. You Rou and Lei Ling are also skeptical.
"His brother." Chen Han spoke.
Everyone looked at him. "His brother?!" they asked.
Chen Han nodded.
Everyone. "…" do you think everyone is brother crazy like you?! They thought and remembered Qian Jue and Qian Meng.
Qian Lin and Qian Tian, noticed that everyone turned to look at Qian Jue and Qian Meng, coughed. Did they notice that Qian Jue is in love with Qian Meng?! They thought, secretly panicking as cold sweat trickled down their faces.
"Fei Luo, surprisingly, is overprotective of Fei Huo though he doesn't show it." The observant Sun Yi spoke.
Everyone. "…" bullshit! Why can't we see that?! They thought and looked at Sun Yi with suspecting gazes.
But, Sun Yi just smiled. He could see from Fei Luo's eyes that he really cared much about Fei Huo, for Sun Rong's also had that gaze when he is looking at him. Doting, as well as care. Chen Han naturally have that gaze, too, every time he looks at Cheng Sheng, as well as Qian Tian towards Qian Meng. Because they are elder brothers, and their instinct is to protect their younger brother. Thus, after Fei Luo and Fei Huo were separated, Fei Luo secretly worried about Fei Huo and became absent-minded.
"Then… what happens if the Shanliangde Sect will be voted next?" Tang Yun asked.
Cheng Sheng played with his fan. "It depends…" he spoke.
'it depends' again?! They thought.
"It depends on Fei Luo?" Shan Lu asked.
"It depends… on Sun Yan." Cheng Sheng said.
Shan Lu. "…" alright. I won't talk again. My face really hurts! He thought and inwardly cried.
Everyone was surprised. "Sun Yan?! Why?" they asked.
Jing Bai uttered a sound of surprise. "Is it because he will have to take the lead later if they will fight because Fei Luo is absent-minded?" he guessed.
"That's one of the two." Cheng Sheng answered.
Jing Bai suddenly felt a sense of pride because he has guessed right. Shan Lu looked at him enviously.
"'two'? There is another one?" Feng Mo caught the key point.
"En. The other one…" Cheng Sheng muttered as he looked at Sun Yan. "… is how far can he convince Fei Luo." He answered.
"'convince'? Convince what?" Tang Zhe asked.
"Wouldn't they fight?" Zheng Yi added.
"Mn." Cheng Sheng nodded. "That's it." He said.
… 'that's it'? they thought.
Fei Yin chuckled when he saw that Cheng Sheng has ran out of energy to explain. "What Cheng-shidi meant is how can Sun Yan make Fei Luo be in his best state." He said.
They all turned to him. "'be in his best state'?" they asked.
"If Fei Luo would fight later but still absent-minded, Sun Yan had to bear everything." Fei Yin slowly spoke. "So, if he can make Fei Luo return to his best state beforehand, then Fei Luo can fight along with him on his peak state." He explained.
"Oh! You have a point!" they exclaimed when they finally understood.
"This way, they can fight one on one against xiao Ling and xiao Bao!" Jing Hei said.
"En." They nodded.
"But, if Sun Yan can't, then, they might have to withdraw." Cheng Sheng spoke.
They froze. "That's right…" they muttered. There is also this option! Chen Wu withdraw because he might have another plan. Then, Sun Yan and Fei Luo can also withdraw!
"And if they will, then…" Cheng Sheng continued.
"Then…" the others muttered and suddenly, their eyes widened in shock when they realized something.
The corners of Cheng Sheng's lips curled up.
"All three chances will become Wu Tie's!" they exclaimed in shock.