Jing Cheng's face became grim. He didn't expect for Wu Xi to cut Pei An's tongue and blind him. Pei An might have provoked him, but as one of the Luohu Sect's disciple has said, he didn't have to go that far. However, Jing Cheng doesn't know Wu Xi's story, so he can't judge him. Also, Pei An just sowed his mistake, which caused him his eyes and tongue - his sight and his speech. Everyone should be matured and be responsible of their actions. Pei An ran his mouth without knowing his opponent. He should have been prepared for the consequences. This is also a match. Anyone, as long as they didn't break a rule, the Alliance will overlook their actions.
"We should stay away from him. He's dangerous." He told Jing Bai and Jing Hei who were shocked speechless of what they had seen. "Did you hear me?" he asked, waking them up from their daze.
"Yes, da ge!" Jing Bai and Jing Hei answered when they heard Jing Cheng's strict voice. Jing Cheng was obviously mad from their reaction. They finally recovered from their shock.
They weren't pampered, since Jing Rui would never do that. They have seen many things in this world since Jing Rui exposed them to it. However, they haven't seen the viciousness in just a simple match. Wu Xi is extremely vicious. Just a mere provocation and he cut Pei An's tongue, as well as his eyeballs. Provocation is just normal between the contestants during a match. However, there will be some sensitive people who will get mad because of it. Wu Xi is one. Pei An is unlucky to meet him, and in a match which only cares about rules and result. Whatever happens in the middle, nobody cared and would overlook it. This is the reality.
Pei An was obviously treasured and haven't seen much of the world. He's a frog in a well, that's why he ended up like this. If Jing Rui had raised them like how Pei An was raised, Jing Bai and Jing Hei would definitely have the same outcome like Pei An.
Jing Rui frowned, while the other sect leaders felt baffled. "He didn't break any rule." Zheng Fu Gong spoke. "Take sect leader Pei's son away immediately to treat him." He told Zheng Yi before he picked up names for the last match today.
"Yes." Zheng Yi answered and jumped down to the stage. He picked up Pei An and then disappeared.
Sect leader Pei rose from his seat and murderously glared at Wu Xi who had just left the stage, then disappeared among the crowd. It's no use asking for help from Zheng Fu Gong, nor the other elders of the Righteous Alliance. Zheng Fu Gong has already spoken.
He indignantly sat back to his seat as the last match started.
Yunxiao Inn.
The Youxiwang Sect and Xinfaxian Sect went back to their inn accompanied by Chen Jing, Wu Yuan and Xie Lan. "Is he a demonic cultivator?" Lei Ling finally can't help but ask when they went inside the inn.
"No." Xie Lan answered.
"Then, why…" Lei Ling said before he stopped. He could help but cover his mouth again and close his eyes tight as if it'd prevent from his eyes being plucked out of their socket and his tongue being cut.
"Do you think only the demonic cultivators can be this ruthless?" Xie Lan asked as he looked at them. His eyes are cold.
Lei Ling shut up. "This is a good eye-opener for you." Chen Jing said. "Just because they're demonic cultivators, doesn't mean they're necessarily bad. Likewise with the righteous cultivators. It doesn't mean they are good just because they're on the righteous path." He explained.
They were enveloped by silence. "Who do you think will be competing tomorrow?" Wu Yuan spoke, changing the depressing topic.
"Whoever it is, one just need to be prepared." Xie Lan said. "Come on. Let's go eat. It's already dinner. I'm starving~" he said as he pushed them to the dining hall where the food for them has already been prepared.
Sun Yi's elder brother and his employees are really competent.
Baiming Inn.
"My son!" sect leader Pei cried as he looked at his son sleeping on the bed, wrapped in bandages. His son will forever be blind and mute. "Find that bastard and bring him to me! I'll make him suffer more than death!" he said.
"Yes!" his disciples answered and immediately left.
"So scary…" a voice behind him said.
"Is he really not a demonic cultivator?" sect leader Pei asked.
"He's not like us." The demonic cultivator answered. "Even if you'd use that as an excuse, but Zheng Fu Gong has a Cleansing Stone with him to prove a person's innocence – that he's not a demonic cultivator. The demonic cultivator will die just by being exposed to the Cleansing Stone's light." He explained. That's why they're going to destroy the Cleansing Stone. That's why they're targeting Cheng Sheng – who created the Cleansing Talisman. With the Cleansing Talisman upgraded, it'll only be a matter of time a talisman can kill them – demonic cultivators. Cheng Sheng is a threat to them, thus he had to be killed.
"Damn it!" sect leader Pei cursed. "He's so useless!" he said and glared at his son, then took out his sword and killed him.
The demonic cultivator just scoffed at Pei Zhu's change of heart. It doesn't necessarily mean that all demonic cultivators are bad, likewise with the righteous cultivators to be good.
The next day.
"Sect leader Pei's son died?" someone asked in surprise.
"Yeah. That's why he's not present today." somebody answered.
"I heard that Pei An died last night. The Luohu Sect has to go back to arrange for Pei An's funeral." someone explained.
"Well, they lost. So there's no need for them to stay in Zhongyang." somebody shrugged. It's none of their business, anyway.
Cheng Sheng and the others heard the people gossiped. He nibbled the meat bun Fei Yin gave him this morning. They're waiting for the matches today to start.
"Yeah. That Wu Xi, too, is done with his match. Fortunately, he didn't stay. Or else he'll just frighten us." they heard someone said.
"You're right. I guess we'll be seeing him again in the next stage next week." somebody told him.
Next week is the third stage of the Intersect Competition - the group stage or the free-for-all. They will be hunting the walking corpses in group. However, there's still the individual competition since the winner will be determined who has the biggest number of walking corpses killed. The Righteous Alliance's committee made it a group stage for the contestants to develop a sense of camaraderie, and also to have a higher chance of surviving from the walking corpses by having allies to help him. It's hitting two birds with one stone. The Righteous Alliance is really cunning.
Cheng Sheng roamed his gaze on the venue and didn't see a shadow of the conical veiled hat. Wu Xi really didn't return. "How boring." He muttered and chewed the fleshy meat.
"Delicious?" Fei Yin asked as he stood beside Cheng Sheng.
"Yes." Cheng Sheng nodded as he pinched the soft bun. "Thank you, da shixiong." He told him.
"Mn." Fei Yin muttered.
"Da shixiong… we want some, too." The Xinfaxian Sect disciples said as they smelled the fragrance of the meat bun. They already ate breakfast, but the fragrance made them hungry. However, they know it's in vain. The food Fei Yin makes is exclusive to Cheng Sheng.
Sun Yi chuckled because of the Xinfaxian Sect's antics. He's already used to it.
Pai Lie, who had been waiting yesterday to see Cheng Sheng's power and use the array, was impatient. "Elder Qi. Can't you hurry up?" he asked. As much as he wanted to see Cheng Sheng fight, but he can't do anything if Cheng Sheng isn't pick up for a match.
"Yeah." Qi Ling rolled his eyes as he raised his sleeve to pick a name plate. It was a green nameplate with a leaning flower crest. "Xinfaxian Sect – " he said.
Pai Lie's eyes lit up.
" – Fei Yin." Qi Ling said. Pai Lie's face fell as he glared at Qi Ling. "What?" he said. "There are six people left for Xinfaxian Sect. It's one out of six chances Cheng Sheng will be picked among them, and one out of thirty six in this box alone." He said and shook the box in front of Pai Lie.
Pai Lie gritted his teeth and looked away, frowning. Meanwhile, the Xinfaxian Sect rejoiced. "Da shixiong! You were picked!" they exclaimed. "Good luck!" they said.
"Mn." Fei Yin nodded as he rose from his seat and took his sword. Then, he looked at Cheng Sheng whose mouth is full.
"Hm?" Cheng Sheng looked at him. "Ofh – " he licked the sauce off his lips. Fei Yin's eyes darkened. "Da shixiong?" he called.
"It's nothing." Fei Yin said and walked up the stage.
"… that was really effective, Cheng-shidi." Lei Qing said when they saw Fei Yin's fired up appearance.
"What is?" Cheng Sheng asked and tilted his head.
He's a devil. They thought. He just seduced Fei Yin, didn't he? Their face darkened, and they lit up rows of candles for Fei Yin's opponent.