"So, you mean to say, something attacked you from the darkness, and Yu Sheng alerted you to save saved you." Cheng Sheng said after he heard the Zunjingde Sect's explanation. "But then he suddenly disappeared into thin air?" he said as he looked at the map Yu Sheng dropped before he disappeared, and the Zunjingde Sect picked it up.
"Yes." Jing Hei and Qian Lin answered as they lowered their head in shame. It was their fault. They are too slow to react to the quick change of the events. By the time they finally reacted from Yu Sheng's warning, they felt something push them on their back. They turned, only to see Yu Sheng who pushed them towards Jing Bai, Jing Cheng and Jing Kang who stood frozen and had a stupefied expression on their face when they saw Yu Sheng, who was on Jing Hei and Qian Lin's back, disappeared into thin air.
"I wanted to save him, but before I could, we didn't see him anymore." Jing Cheng explained. "And his fading voice told us to run and never look back." He added. Honestly, they had relaxed their guard after they found Jing Hei and Qian Lin. Thus, Yu Sheng's disappearance happened.
Jing Kang sighed as he held his forehead. The color on his face finally returned after he had rested. "I tried using talismans, but they didn't work." He said. Frustration can be seen on his usually emotionless face. He felt useless.
Jing Bai patted Jing Kang's shoulder when he saw the other's ugly expression. It was rare for Jing Kang to express his emotions, much less such intense emotions for Jing Kang is a cool-headed person.
"Even though Yu Sheng looked carefree, but we know he is a strong and serious person." He said and looked at Cheng Sheng. "After Ah Kang's talismans failed, we immediately left according to Yu Sheng's instruction." He told him.
Even though they wanted to save Yu Sheng, whether out of good will or out of guilt for their negligence thus a misfortune befell to him for being implicated by their group, but the other had already given up saving himself. Also, not only they have to worry for their own lives, but also they have to worry of their brothers' life.
And so, they fled. Their emotions were a mixture of shock, guilt, and fear. Shock from the fast events. Guilt for being unable to save Yu Sheng, and leaving him behind. And fear for whatever that had attacked Yu Sheng, which is a hidden danger for all of them.
Although the others felt angry, but actually, nobody blamed the Zunjingde Sect. Everyone values their life. If they were in the Zunjingde Sect's position, they would also flee. Their anger earlier is their initial reaction towards what happened. Who wouldn't be shocked?
However, after they heard the Zunjingde Sect's further explanation, their emotions had finally subsided. They understood them. In fact,
Cheng Sheng didn't doubt the Zunjingde Sect, either. After interacting with them for so long, he knows they are honest people. And, among the people present, he is the one who knows Yu Sheng the most. The other one who knows Yu Sheng was in the capital – Zuo Zhe.
Cheng Sheng's eyelids drooped as he thought of Zuo Zhe. Zuo Zhe is Yu Sheng's partner, and the two's feelings towards each other are sincere. Even if it wasn't explicitly stated, but like Jing Cheng and the other leaders, Cheng Sheng bears the responsibility to protect his team members. And, he knows Zuo Zhe entrusted Yu Sheng to him.
Although Yu Sheng didn't need protection, but as someone who he already treated as one of his own people, Yu Sheng is, undoubtedly, one of the people Cheng Sheng wanted to protect. Even though Yu Sheng is strong, but Cheng Sheng still wish to protect him, even if it is secretly. That's how he cares about them.
Yet, Yu Sheng still got harmed. And now Yu Sheng is missing. Yu Sheng got missing while he is asleep. How is this caring for Yu Sheng? He is just irresponsible. He is a useless leader! If this happened to Yu Sheng, how can it not happen to Fei Yin, Chen Han, Li Tian, Feng Mo or Sun Yi? Even Wu Xi, who has been missing since earlier!
"Sheng." Fei Yin called and pressed Cheng Sheng's shoulder when he saw Cheng Sheng's ugly expression.
Anger, sorrow, guilt, as well as self-blame were all can be seen on his face. Fortunately, he was blocking Cheng Sheng from the others' sight. However, Cheng Sheng's changing expressions are as clear as the day to him. And it pains him so much.
As Cheng Sheng's lover, with a tacit understanding with Cheng Sheng, how can he not know what is Cheng Sheng thinking? "Halt your thoughts." He whispered as he half-hugged him to not let the others notice what is going on before their eyes. "You should know how Yu Sheng is." he said. "He may be a serious person to their eyes, but he isn't as kind as what they thought of him is." he lowered his head to plant a subtle kiss on Cheng Sheng's kiss. "Yu Sheng isn't someone who will save others in the expense of his life. More so after he met Zuo Zhe." He explained. "If you ask him who to choose between you and Zuo Zhe, what do you think his answer will be?" he smiled.
Cheng Sheng's expression finally changed and his gaze moved to look at Fei Yin. He knows what Fei Yin is thinking: Yu Sheng will definitely choose Zuo Zhe over him.
"See?" Fei Yin said to confirm Cheng Sheng's thoughts. "Also, he is a selfish person…" like you. He thought in his heart, but he knows Cheng Sheng knows the supplementary words to his sentence. He coughed to clear his throat and continued. "Thus, Yu Sheng definitely didn't do it to save the Zunjingde Sect. He must have found something, or he must be planning something." He concluded in a low voice only the two of them could hear.
Cheng Sheng almost couldn't control his expression. Fortunately, he had practiced controlling his expressions over the years as a scum. He can smile even if he was angered to the point he could faint. He could also cry a river of tears despite he is roaring in laughter in his heart.
After fixing his expression and choosing the words he has to say to the others, he secretly tapped his lover's index finger with his index finger to indicate he understood what he said, as well as thanking him.
"I will respect Yu Sheng's will." He finally said as he looked at them one by one with a calm gaze before his gaze fell on the Zunjingde Sect who were anxiously waiting for his words and were nervous as to what his reaction will be.
After all, Cheng Sheng is a protective person towards his own people, albeit he is a scum.
Cheng Sheng, who isn't aware of their thoughts, continued to speak. "Yu Sheng saved your lives, and was also the one who told you to flee and leave him. He must know that his opponent, whatever, whoever or whichever it is, is formidable and Yu Sheng can't escape. He knows he will perish there, and to not implicate you, he gave up, but didn't give up your lives." He sighed before he looked at the sky and saw the shining sun. "In order not to waste his efforts, we have to move on and continue to leave." He said.
Although he said that, but the expression on his face, and his heart, is heavy. He must feel a deep sorrow for the loss. They thought and felt sad for Yu Sheng's misfortune. Yu Sheng is a formidable person, so it is a waste for him to perish.
"Cheng-shidi…" Feng Mo and Li Tian called. Li Tian's eyes are reddened from holding back his tears so that Cheng Sheng won't feel more sadness if he'd see them crying. Meanwhile, Feng Mo turned his back to them to cry.
Sun Yi pressed his lips into a thin line. He also didn't like what had happened. He felt Yu Sheng doesn't deserve what happed to him.
"Ah Sheng…" Chen Han choked a sob and he, like Feng Mo, turned his back to them and sobbed.
Because of them, Cheng Sheng felt his eyes sting and they reddened and watered. His tears threatening to fall. He felt his noise is sour. However, as a leader, he shouldn't show weakness. Thus, he forced back his tears. "The impostors might about to come back, so let's enter the underground palace now." he said. His voice is hoarse. "If we're lucky, we might meet the Huakai Sect and Wu Xi." He told them. Then, he paused. "This time…" he said as he clenched his fists. His eyes narrowed in determination as he looked at them. "This time, we won't let anything happen to any one of us!"