Cheng Sheng nodded. "En." He answered. He doesn't have any need for it, anyway. Instead, it was just taking up some space in his qiankun sleeve.
"I… I, at least, should compensate you…" Wu Yuan said, feeling flustered. Yesterday, he was very happy because he found a way to see Sun Yi. He forgot to ask Cheng Sheng on how he can compensate him. Not only for the treasure, but also for helping him find a way on how to contact Sun Yi.
Also, even though he is friends with Cheng Sheng, but he doesn't like taking advantage of other people. Everything should be just and equal.
Cheng Sheng was about to refuse Wu Yuan when he saw Wu Yuan's expression. That feeling of chagrin returned again, and he heard Fei Yin laughed when the other saw his distorted expression. Fei Yin knew that he, Cheng Sheng, likes to spend, and not receive. Thus, Fei Yin knows Cheng Sheng was put in a difficult situation because of Wu Yuan's straightforwardness.
As expected, Fei Yin saw Cheng Sheng cast him a look, his gaze asking him for help. Fei Yin almost roared in laughter. "Senior Wu." He called.
"En?" Wu Yuan answered and turned to him.
"Repaying my shidi is repaying our sect." Fei Yin said. "Can we… postpone this matter and talk about this again in the future?" he asked.
Wu Yuan stared at him and fell silent. Not only Fei Yin managed to avoid Cheng Sheng's crisis, but Fei Yin is also insinuating that there will be future for all of them.
A smile formed on his lips. "Alright." He answered and didn't speak again. He resumed caressing the surface of the mirror, as if it was Sun Yi's face.
Cheng Sheng sighed in relief and he glanced at Fei Yin. He nodded at him, smiled, and mouthed 'thank you'.
Fei Yin softly smiled back. "Okay, the dinner's ready! Time to dig in!" he said.
Cheng Sheng and Wu Yuan froze, stunned. "…" why didn't we notice the dish being cooked?!
Fei Yin didn't notice the other two's strange expression and he picked up a bowl, scooped the soup from the bowl with the soup ladle, then gave it to Cheng Sheng. Wu Yuan was woken from his daze when he smelled the fragrant aroma of the dish and then followed Fei Yin to serve himself.
The three of them filled their stomach, rested for a moment, before they prepared to go back to the city to find out who is the leader of the city.
Huilong Continent, Shashan Pass.
"My Lord!" a subordinate cried as he knelt before Wu Ran.
"Speak!" Wu Ran frowned. Obviously, he is in a bad mood. It's been days, he's trying to destroy Cheng Sheng's barrier surrounding the Sand Sea Mountain. But, until now, there is no result. He can't do anything with Cheng Sheng's barrier, and his foul mood is increasing each day that pass.
The subordinate saw Wu Ran's dark face and he trembled in fear, for his news brought would make Wu Ran's mood become worse. But, if he won't report this matter to Wu Ran, the problem would become bigger. "My Lord…" he called, his voice shaking in fear. "About the 'generals'…" he said, his face is paling.
"What about them?" Wu Ran asked. "Have they finally killed Cheng Sheng's forces?" he asked.
"My Lord… sire…" the subordinate felt his body turning cold, and he stammered. He doesn't know how to tell Wu Ran, but he has to tell him, nonetheless. "The 'generals'…" he said. "… were killed by Cheng Sheng's forces…" he said, his voice low and almost inaudible.
But, Wu Ran has a high cultivation, so he heard him. "WHAT?!" he exclaimed, his voice echoed in the Twin Sand Mounds. His roar made the two mountains and the ground shook.
"Watch out!" they exclaimed and ran away when the rocks and trees from the mountains fell and almost crushed them. The dust smoke rose, then after it disappeared, some corpses that were crushed underneath the boulders and trees can be seen. "What the…" they muttered under their breath before they immediately bit their tongue to stop themselves from cursing, since Wu Ran, the cause of this, can hear them.
They also heard the new, and bad, report that just arrived. They couldn't help but shake in fear, and prepare themselves for the worst to come.
…
"No catch?" Yu Sheng, standing beside the anxious Lei Ling, asked after he saw Lei Qing, Jing Hei and Qian Lin returned. You Rou, Qian Tian, Fei Lin and Zheng Yi – whose condition is getting better, were looking after the patients.
"We suck in fishing…" Jing Hei, Qian Lin and Lei Qing dejectedly said as their shoulder slumped.
Yu Sheng laughed while Lei Ling immediately comforted them. "You're not bad at fishing!" he said. "The demonic cultivators are just as slippery as the eel, so they are not easily caught." He explained.
Jing Hei's and Qian Lin's expressions turned better while Lei Qing smiled and patted Lei Ling's head. "Yes. They're the ones in the wrong!" she said.
Lei Ling sighed in relief, then glanced at Yu Sheng whose shoulder is shaking. Yu Sheng cleared his throat and spoke. "The demonic cultivators are only willing to be caught – " he said. " – when they turned to corpses." He grinned.
Jing Hei's, Qian Lin's and Lei Qing's shoulders fell once again. They have fought hard earlier beneath the ship to catching one demonic cultivator. But, as Lei Ling said, they are as slippery as an eel. When they saw them going to capture their comrade, they replace their comrade to fight against them. Worse, that demonic cultivator will commit suicide, or his comrades kills him to prevent any of them from getting caught. They are more cold-blooded than the reptiles. This devilish operation, they are really deserved to be called demonic cultivators.
Because of the way the demonic cultivators operate, Jing Hei, Qian Lin and Lei Qing were forced to stop. Not because they feel their blood go cold and they cowered. It's because they are compassionate. Even though their opponents are demonic cultivators, but because of them – who wanted to capture one of them, these demonic cultivators will die. And it was because of this reason that the other method of 'fishing' was dropped.
This other method is baiting. One of them will be a bait to lure the demonic cultivators. But, even though someone is willing to be a bait, but the others aren't willing to use someone as a bait. This trait of theirs is what makes them a righteous cultivator. They, the righteous cultivators, aren't willing to forsake their companion for the sake of benefit. Meanwhile, the demonic cultivators wanted to kill their companion.
"What should we do now?" they asked each other before they all looked at Yu Sheng. Their eyes are bright, obviously expecting him to say something. They know that with Yu Sheng's skill, it will be a piece of cake for him to capture a demonic cultivator.
Yu Sheng opened his mouth to speak. But, just as he was about to speak, Zuo Zhe arrived. "What's going on?" he asked as he yawned.
"Young master Zuo…" Lei Ling called as he gaped at Zuo Zhe. It was already noon! Zuo Zhe has just woke up! This proves that Yu Sheng, last night, instead of sleeping, he slept with Zuo Zhe instead…
Zuo Zhe saw Lei Ling is staring at him with a weird gaze. "What's that look?" he asked.
"Oh." Lei Ling muttered and immediately looked away.
How can Yu Sheng not know what's going on in Lei Ling's mind? Lei Ling's thoughts are seen on his face. Indeed, Yu Sheng slept with Zuo Zhe last night. But, nothing happened between them. Yu Sheng is indeed tired, and after he hugged Zuo Zhe – who wanted to escape from his arms, he immediately fell asleep despite Zuo Zhe's struggles. In the end, Zuo Zhe, who couldn't escape, also fell asleep. The reason why Zuo Zhe woke up already noon is because, as what Zuo Zhe told Yu Sheng before, Zuo Zhe was already used to wake up late in the world where he came from. Zuo Zhe called it as 'biological clock'.
But, Yu Sheng doesn't want to clarify Lei Ling's misunderstanding. "Zhe." He called as he very naturally wrapped his arm on Zuo Zhe's waist before he pulled him towards him in in one smooth motion. Before Zuo Zhe, or any of them could react, he lowered his head and kissed Zuo Zhe.
Their eyes widened, and Zuo Zhe's eyeballs almost popped out of their sockets. His face turned red in the blink of an eye. YU SHENG!!! He screeched in his mind as he moved his gaze to glare at Yu Sheng.
But, Yu Sheng is unbothered by his glare and instead deepened their kissed. Zuo Zhe felt his oxygen was being sucked out of his body by Yu Sheng. When he was about to become faint from the lack of oxygen, Yu Sheng finally released him.
"Zhe." He heard Yu Sheng called. "We've kissed so many times, how come you're still not used to it?" he asked.
Zuo Zhe's answer? SLAP!