Outside, the audience are watching from the other participants' Cleansing Stones aside from Fei Yinzi's and Wen Wen's. Fei Yinzi has already closed off his Cleansing Stone as soon as he noticed that his condition is wrong while Wen Wen is always closing off his Cleansing Stone when he is making talismans because he doesn't want anyone to watch him make talismans. It makes him self-conscious. So, no one knows what happened inside their tent earlier, and only watch this start when Wen Wen called Cui Xiang.
"Will Er Zi get better?" Wen Wen anxiously asked and bit his lip.
Cui Xiang shook her head. "I don't know." She honestly answered. "Medicines to relieve fever is fine… but we can't feed him magic pills that might affect his qi. Or else…" she said and didn't continue.
They all feel silent as the atmosphere turned grim.
"Why would he push himself like this?" Li Yan asked. "There is no need to be that hard on yourself, right? What we are here for is to gain experience." He said.
The others nodded in agreement.
"Could it be because of his master?" Qian Meng asked in a quiet voice. "Like, he wants to prove himself?" he said.
Ling Yun's eyes widened. "No way! Although elder Cheng seems to have lots of expectations from Er Zi and I, he wouldn't push us if we failed to meet his expectations." He answered. "Instead, he would comfort us and tell us that this is better since we have more room for improvement. It is us who are incompetent." He explained.
"Oh!" the participants exclaimed when they understood. What Ling Yun meant, Cheng Sheng is hard on the outside but soft inside.
Cheng Sheng who is watching. "…" Ling Yun, you should be prepared for punishment, even if you have met my expectations! He thought as his face darkened.
The other elders who have a meaningful smile on their faces. "…" so that's it… just a tsundere master. They thought.
Fan Wen who feels proud of his fourth disciple. "^_^" I know that xiao Sheng is really caring! He thought and wiped the tears on the corners of his eyes.
The Xinfaxian Sect elders who really knows the truth. "…" well… let's keep this image of Cheng-shidi for his and the sect's sake.
Xie Lan whose expression looked complicated. "…" well… what should I say? Should I betray my conscience? He thought and looked at Fan Wen who is smiling happily.
"Hahaha…" Fei Yin laughed and coughed when he saw that Cheng Sheng glared at him. "Cheng-shidi really deserves to be someone's master." He said. "And they should be honored." He added.
Cheng Sheng declined to comment as he looked away. "How about da shixiong? Among us all, only you who don't have a disciple." He said. "Would da shixiong accept one?" he asked.
Fei Yin who felt a chill on his spine. "…" okay, my bad, Sheng. I shouldn't have provoked you. He thought and grimaced. If he would answer 'yes', wouldn't that make Cheng Sheng angrier? Worse, he wouldn't be able to sleep with him on the same bed! "No, I won't." he said.
"Really?" Cheng Sheng asked and smiled. "It would be such a pity…" he said as his smile became brighter.
Fei Yin felt all the hairs on his body stood at their ends. He knows that Cheng Sheng is angry. "It won't be a pity. I don't have any plans to accept a disciple." He said.
"Oh." Cheng Sheng just muttered indifferently and resumed watching the competition.
The others who have been silently watching the two heaved a sigh of relief. Earlier, they really thought that Cheng Sheng would snap.
"Cheng-shidi." Li Tian called. "Earlier, you seemed to be frowning while watching Er Zi fighting against xiao Bao… is it because of this?" he asked and looked at Fei Yinzi squirming on the bed with his whole body flushed red and is bathed in sweat.
Everyone's attention immediately refocused on Fei Yinzi.
"En." Cheng Sheng nodded.
"Is it qi deviation?" Chen Han worriedly asked.
"No. He doesn't have a heart demon." Cheng Sheng answered.
"Then, what is it?" Jing Cheng asked.
"Exhausted his meridians after overusing qi." Cheng Sheng answered.
Everyone frowned when they heard this. If it was just depleting qi, it can be resolved by meditating or eating magic pills and drinking potions for replenishing qi. But, the problem is the meridians, which is channeling one's qi. If something happened… then this would be irreversible, and he will become waste.
"How did this happen?!" Fan Wen worriedly asked.
"While continuously using the qi he has on his body, he was also borrowing qi from his surroundings while in the middle of fighting against xiao Bao." Cheng Sheng answered. "Truly a daredevil." He frowned in displeasure.
Everyone. "…" you are one to talk! They thought and sighed.
"Why would he do this?" Xiao Le anxiously asked.
"I don't know." Cheng Sheng answered as he stared at Cui Xiang repeatedly check Fei Yinzi's meridians.
Everyone was stunned. Then, they sighed in dismay. They know that Cheng Sheng is not omnipotent to know each and every thing. But, if Cheng Sheng himself doesn't even know, then how will they?
"It seems serious. Let's go help Er Zi!" Su Mi worriedly said and You Rou nodded in agreement.
But, Cheng Sheng didn't move.
"Cheng-shixiong…?" You Rou called.
"Do you want him to be disqualified?" Cheng Sheng asked.
Hearing his words, they were stunned.
Zheng Yi heaved a sigh. "It was stipulated in the rules of the competition, of this third stage, that if a participant would require an external aid and the external aid agrees, he would be disqualified." He explained.
Their eyes widened in shock. Then, they recalled that there seemed to be that rule.
"Then… then what about Er Zi?" Qian Tian asked.
"He did this upon himself." Cheng Sheng answered.
Their jaws dropped in shock.
"Cheng Sheng!" Xi Ming exclaimed. "Don't you care about Er Zi's life?" he asked.
Cheng Sheng didn't turn. "I do." He answered after a while.
"Then, why won't you go and help him?" Jing Bai anxiously asked. "A competition is nothing in terms of one's life!" he said.
Cheng Sheng didn't answer.
"Because Er Zi has a pride." Sun Yi spoke.
They all looked at him.
"His pride is equal to his life." Sun Yi said. "If he would be disqualified in the competition, not only he will be mocked, but also his master's reputation will be smeared." He explained.
"But Cheng Sheng doesn't care about his reputation!" Tang Zhe said.
"We all know that. But, can you shut the mouths of all people?" Sun Yi asked.
They all fell silent.
"Ah Sheng has already suffered like this before… he doesn't want for his disciple to undergo that, too." Chen Han said.
They all sighed in helplessness.
"Then what can we do?" Shan Lu asked with his brows knitted. "If this continues, he will die." He said.
"Xiang-er doesn't dare do anything with Er Zi's condition and can only check. She fears that if she would…" You Rou sighed and shook her head.
They know. Fei Yinzi might die if Cui Xiang would err. Then… who can save Fei Yinzi? They thought and felt anxious. The audience, as well as the sect leaders and the Righteous Alliance also feel anxious. But, Cheng Sheng who is the master of Fei Yinzi remained calm.
"Cheng-shidi." Fei Yin who is silent the whole time called. "Do you believe in him?" he asked, referring to Fei Yinzi.
"Is this the time for you to be drinking vinegar?" Cheng Sheng finally spoke. "I do." He answered.
Fei Yin's hand holding Cheng Sheng's hand tightened.
But, Cheng Sheng didn't feel pain, for even if Fei Yin is mad or jealous, he would never hurt him even the slightest. And this made Cheng Sheng smile. "Do you know why I do?" he asked.
"Why?" Fei Yin asked in a low voice.
"Because I have seen that he is as stubborn as you." Cheng Sheng answered.
Fei Yin fell silent.
Cheng Sheng laughed. How can he not notice it, when he is the one who raised Fei Yinzi? Thus, he knows that Fei Yinzi, despite housing Fei Yin's soul before and was believed to be influenced by Fei Yin's soul, is really stubborn like his uncle. This got nothing to do with Fei Yin's soul affecting Fei Yinzi's personality. Instead, stubbornness runs into the Fei family's blood.
If not, why would Fei Yin, the original one, would run away from his home and search for Chen Shen, the original owner of Cheng Sheng's body, the real second young master of the Chen Clan, and Chen Han's younger brother? It is precisely this stubbornness that took Fei Yin's life, though, making Yin the Keeper, Cheng Sheng's lover, possess him.
"This has got nothing to do with affection." Cheng Sheng spoke. "But, rather, this is seeing through a person.." He told Fei Yin.