Chapter 119 - The Scum Is Gossipy

The next day. 

What you doesn't see doesn't bother you. Chen Han and the others forgot Zuo Zhe and Yu Sheng explaining to them of their relation to Cheng Sheng. Last night, their attention is all on Cheng Sheng. They're afraid there might be complications in his condition. When morning came, they hurried up since they woke up late. Zuo Zhe and Yu Sheng always wakes up late, so they didn't see them and forgot about them. Thus, they hadn't demanded an explanation for them, and also they don't have time to spend with them.

Especially when the first match for the fourth day of the second stage is actually Chen Han's. They sighed in relief when they made it in time. 

"Ah Sheng. Ah Tian. Cheer me on, okay?" Chen Han told the two before he went up the stage.

"Only Li-shixiong is needed to cheer for brother." Cheng Sheng said and grinned at Li Tian who immediately blushed because of what he said. The others laughed and continued to tease Li Tian.

"OH! Finally, the Youxiwang Sect is up!" the audience said when they saw Chen Han up the stage. 

Jing Cheng looked at Chen Han on the stage before his gaze fell on the Xinfaxian Sect – especially Cheng Sheng. "He looked pale." He said when he saw Cheng Sheng's poor complexion.

"Yeah." Xi Ming nodded. "Did he get injured last night because of the sudden earthquake?" he asked when he remembered the earthquake that occurred.

"Better than being attacked by the demonic cultivators." Jing Cheng said, his face serious.

"But, he doesn't seem to be careless?" Jing Hei said as he listened to their conversation and glanced at the Xinfaxian Sect who's with Sun Yi. 

"Of course. Someone like him can't be beaten down by a mere earthquake." Qian Lin said as he waved open his fan and also watched the Xinfaxian Sect instead of Chen Han's match. They knew Chen Han would win, anyway. 

"You really had high evaluation of him." Jing Bai told Qian Lin and smile. Jing Hei heard what his elder twin brother said and just clicked his tongue. 

"Well, he's really strong, though." Xi Ming stated the obvious fact. They already have seen Cheng Sheng's strength back then during the preliminary stage. However, they knew it's not his full strength.

Xi Ning stayed behind while Xi Shi had been holed up in his room ever since he had lost to Li Tian. Gong Xian was still sleeping while sitting, while Xi Xing was sleeping beside him, copying his actions. Xi Ming placed a palm on his face because of how disappointing his fellow disciples are.

"What do you think happened to him, then?" Jing Hei asked, returning to the topic at hand. "Was he attacked by demonic cultivators?" he asked, his eyes narrowed.

They didn't forget this problem. It's just that, everything's too quiet lately and their fellow disciples, including the Shanliangde Sect's who're with Mu Jun, Qianxu Sect's who're with Qian Tian and the Youxiwang Sect's who're with Chen Jing, are patrolling the Zhongyang without fail. 

"I think… they had a disagreement between them." Jing Kang suddenly spoke. They turned to him in surprise, because he's actually been there all along, and that he's also observing the Xinfaxian Sect. He's too quiet they missed him.

They looked at the Xinfaxian Sect. Chen Han came back to their group after he easily won. However, whenever his gaze landed on Fei Yin, he was glaring at him. The others looked like they think they covered it up, but there was a tension between them. Well, precisely between Chen Han and Fei Yin.

Jing Cheng looked at Jing Kang. Because Jing Kang had been observing the Xinfaxian Sect and the Youxiwang Sect for days, Jing Kang could see the other group's situation. "What do you think happened, then?" he asked him.

Jing Kang thought for a while before he spoke. "Cheng Sheng is injured." He said. "Chen Han is glaring at Fei Yin. Fei Yin had a look of guilt and was avoiding Cheng Sheng which is unlike him…" he told them his observation. "It must be Fei Yin who had injured Cheng Sheng." He concluded.

Their eyes widened. "… eh?" they said and stared at the Xinfaxian Sect and the Youxiwang Sect. Now that they heard of Jing Kang's observation and analysis of the other group, they were enlightened. So it could be that way! They thought. 

"'injured'… how do you think Fei Yin injured Cheng Sheng?" Xi Ming asked. Their group stared at the other group as they think. They saw how Fei Yin reluctantly and gingerly avoided Cheng Sheng's gaze. 

"Cheng Sheng is pale…" Qian Lin said, the tip of his closed fan on his lips. His tear mole looked even more distinct as his eyes narrowed. 

"He also looked uncomfortable…" Jing Hei said.

"… as he sits…" Jing Bai added.

"He looked at Fei Yin, but it was an awkward and… shy gaze?" Xi Ming said, his tone is uncertain.

"He lowered his head…" Jing Cheng said when he saw Cheng Sheng lowered his head after he saw Fei Yin ignored him. He paused.

They all looked at each other before it dawned on them. "AH!" they exclaimed as they pointed at each other. "It couldn't be - ?!" they said, their face is filled with shock. 

"Are they taking the competition seriously?" Jing Cheng said as he frowned.

"Looking how they are now, carefree…" Xi Ming shook his head, a look of disappointment is on his face.

"I remember. Their shimei was careless yesterday and lost, but they just brushed it off." Qian Lin said as he patted the tip of his fan on his cheek.

"Fei Yin looked upright, but he's actually… they really did it1 in the middle of the competition?!" Jing Hei had a look of disbelief. His hands are clawing both sides of his head. 

Jing Bai sighed. He looked sad and regret is in his eyes. "What if Cheng Sheng's match came up? He would surely…" he didn't continue what he's going to say.

Jing Kang turned to them and saw they were covered in gloom. "You guys…" he said, his brows knit. They looked like they misunderstood something? He thought and looked at Cheng Sheng suddenly held his side as he winced in pain. Chen Han and the others immediately came to help him move. Fei Yin's face registered guilt. "He's just injured on his side. It's not what you think." He told them.

"Huh?" they turned to look at the other group. "Oh…" they muttered when they saw Cheng Sheng laughed despite his pale complexion. "Ah." they said when they saw Cheng Sheng's side suddenly was soaked in blood. "He – "

"Ah Sheng!" Chen Han exclaimed when they saw Cheng Sheng's wound bled again. "You should've stayed behind – " he said.

"What if my match came up?" Cheng Sheng said as he took a magic pill. His complexion turned better. "Even if I can't use my sword, but I'm still a mage." He told Chen Han.

Chen Han still looked mad. He pressed his lips tight and turned to glare at Fei Yin. "You." He called. "Why didn't you look after Ah Sheng closely?" he asked. "A thief had crept up behind him and even injured him!" he said.

It happened just before they entered the venue. Everything was so fast. If they would chase the thief to get even with him, then they'll be even more late for the matches today. 

"Brother…" Cheng Sheng sighed. "Da shixiong isn't my bodyguard. You shouldn't blame him. I'm the one being careless not noticing the thief." He explained and looked at Fei Yin. He felt embarrassed since Chen Han is blaming Fei Yin. "My wound will heal not before long." He added.

Only then Chen Han calmed down. He glared at Fei Yin before he sat beside Cheng Sheng. He still hasn't forgotten last night. Even though Cheng Sheng just brushed off the fact that Fei Yin had hurt him1, but Chen Han can't let it go.

This bastard had promised to never hurt Ah Sheng. But last night he had hurt him. Chen Han thought. If it happened once, how can it not happen twice? He thought and balled his fists. I had been too lax. I should've watched Ah Sheng more –

"Brother." He heard Cheng Sheng called. "A pup raised at home will die faster than the pup raised in the streets." He turned to him. "If you'd make me rely on you always, I will surely starve myself in the future." He told him.

It's not as if Chen Han is dumb like how he looked. He can understand what Cheng Sheng meant. "He hurt you." He told him.

Cheng Sheng had heard this for a hundredth time. "It's not enough to kill me." he said. "We just sparred." He told him. Before Chen Han could speak, he added. "Do you think of me as someone pure? Have you forgotten I'm a vengeful person?" he looked at him. "If someone had hurt me for real, I'll kill his entire family. I'm this type of person, not the sweet and innocent younger brother you're always thinking of." He told him and watched the next match.

Chen Han was stunned as he looked at Cheng Sheng. That's right… he thought and lowered his head. Ah Sheng… he's not Ah Shen. He balled his fists.