Xie Lan and Fan Wen felt like they were stabbed by Li Tian's words. Right… they thought as they felt heartache while they watch Li Tian's tears fall. How can we forget Chen Han? They thought and looked at each other before they looked away, feeling guilty. They can't believe they are heartless people for forgetting one person – Chen Han. Although Li Tian already said that nobody can predict everything, but, they still felt responsible.
They shouldn't have forgotten Chen Han… no. They shouldn't have let him be captured in the first place. Even if Cheng Sheng has said that he has a plan, but, they shouldn't have placed everything on the disciples' shoulders and let them solve everything as their test for them.
Yes – Fei Huang's motive is to test the disciples – the new generation, their strength, and see if they could defeat Wu Ran. They agreed because they wanted to see how strong their disciples have become, and see how matured they have grown. But, everything had gone awry. They, the elders, have joined the fray since they can't just bear to see their disciples being beaten, facing so much difficulties, and they also can't just let them face a BOSS like Wu Ran alone.
Where did it gone wrong? Why did it happen? Was it because of their overindulgence? In any case, there's no need to think over it now since it has already happened. What has been done can never be changed, since time can't go back.
Heilong Realm, Yao City.
"I don't feel any illusion spell casted, leader." xiao Huan spoke as he squinted while looking at the surroundings, including the demonic cultivators afar drinking liquor in a shabby shack.
"Huh? Are you sure?" Meng Gui asked.
Xiao Huan nodded, his expression firm. "Definitely." He answered.
Meng Gui fell into a deep contemplation. "Even if Cheng Sheng's wasn't an enemy's attack, but we have to be extremely careful." He said and looked at xiao San, xiao Huan and the others. "We have to fully prepare just in case." He told them.
"Yes!" they answered.
Meng Gui turned to Shang He. "Let them form groups and have them scout in all directions to look for Ma Wen's people. After we confirm Ma Wen's location, let's regroup and strike them." He told him.
Shang He nodded in agreement. Then, he turned to his people. "Follow leader Meng's people closely and don't separate from the pack. Wolves will die if they were separated from the pack." He said.
"We understand, boss!" they answered.
Meng Gui turned to xiao San. "You group them and cover us from the shadows. We'll be the vanguard." He said.
Xiao San nodded. "Yes." He answered.
Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng just listened on the side as xiao San and xiao Huan divided Meng Gui's and Shang He's people.
"Yin…" Cheng Sheng called. "Do you remember that I told you this is just a big conspiracy?" he asked.
Fei Yin thought about it and nodded. "I do." He answered.
"I was forced to cooperate, but the biggest fool here is – " Cheng Sheng's gaze dropped. " – Yu Sheng. They played him like a fool." He said.
Fei Yin looked at him. "He doesn't know about Fei Huang's and Mu Jun's plan?" he asked.
Cheng Sheng shook his head. "If I knew earlier that he is my elder brother, I would've told him." he sighed and his shoulders sank in dejection. "He and I were used, and he was the one who unintentionally triggered Fei Huang to start his plan. Yu Sheng's objective is to increase my strength for me to protect myself whenever, wherever. It just happens that his objective coincided with Fei Huang's plan to find a 'weapon' to counter Wu Ran." He frowned.
"This weapon… is you." Fei Yin said.
"Yes." Cheng Sheng answered. "So, I…" his voice trailed off.
"Sheng…?" Fei Yin called when he saw Cheng Sheng has fallen silent. Suddenly, he thought of something. "Did you…?" he asked, his eyes slowly widening.
Cheng Sheng's lips curled and he raised his head to look at Fei Yin who was shocked by his thought. "As expected… you know me the best." He said and kissed him.
Fei Yin immediately kissed Cheng Sheng back, but internally, he was cursing. If what I am thinking is correct, which is highly likely considering my familiarity of Cheng Sheng's thoughts and attitude and Cheng Sheng's answer just now… then, there'll definitely be a carnage awaiting us when we reach the Yingyi Palace where Mu Jun, and definitely Fei Huang, are.
It's just that in this carnage, it isn't Ma Wen they'll be meeting, but Yu Sheng.
Huilong Continent, Southmost Region, Shashan Pass.
"Chen patriarch! Former sect leader Wu!" everyone exclaimed in joy and surprise when they saw Chen Jing and Wu Fan descended on the Millennium Ship.
Xie Lan smiled. "We didn't expect it'd be you two to first arrive." He said.
"Welcome back." Jing Rui nodded at them.
Qian Tian, Fei Lin and Xi Ling also greeted them. "Welcome back." They said.
"How did you two return in Huilong? Weren't you two still in Heilong?" Fan Wen asked.
"This…" Wu Fan muttered and recounted to them his and Chen Jing's experience in Heilong Realm.
Everyone wasn't surprised, since they already knew that Mu Jun is an ally.
When Li Tian heard it, his heart sank. It seems that not only Chen Han's, but also Cheng Sheng's efforts were in vain. He thought as he leaned on the railing, looking at the beautiful scenery with a blank expression and dull gaze.
Everyone noticed his silence and they turned to him, only to see him looking so lifeless. They immediately understood.
"We're so heartless." Fan Wen bitterly smiled and looked at Li Tian's back with a pained expression.
Cheng Sheng's, Fei Yin's and Wu Yuan's efforts to go to the Heilong Realm to look for Chen Jing and Wu Fan were useless since Chen Jing and Wu Fan were actually definitely to return. And, in order to do this, Chen Han was used as a bait to stall Wu Ran, and gradually was captured. Li Tian, Feng Mo, Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, Qian Lin, as well as the other disciples may now also have reached the Southmost Region in order to join the battle, but what they've experienced isn't nearly half of what Cheng Sheng and Chen Han have experienced. And now, Cheng Sheng is still in Heilong Realm together with Fei Yin, while Chen Han is still in Wu Ran's hands, which places him in the most dangerous situation.
Although no one cares about contributions here, but Cheng Sheng and Chen Han have now turned into fools after Fei Huang's plan was exposed. Not to mention Yu Sheng, this Ascension Stage cultivator who have always helped them now also turned to a fool… Zuo Zhe's anger is explicable. Honestly, even though they also felt relieved that everyone was saved because of Fei Huang's deeply hidden plan, but they felt a bad taste on their mouths, of course.
They were also turned into fools. They were played. But, the dissatisfaction they felt isn't as much as the dissatisfaction that Zuo Zhe felt since they were able to accept the situation because, not only they were a part of the plan, but also their concern for everyone's safety is greater than the dissatisfaction they felt. It's not that Zuo Zhe isn't concerned of everyone's safety, or else he wouldn't have helped them. It's not also because of his pride. It's because he deeply cares for Yu Sheng.
Speaking of Cao Cao and he arrives… the door of the cabin opened and they saw Zuo Zhe came out. What they expected for Zuo Zhe's somber expression wasn't seen. Instead, there is a smile on his face, which surprised them.
They watched him lean on the doorframe and crossed his arms on his chest as he faced them. "I agree to what you said that you're heartless." They heard him say.
They were immediately hit in their sore spot. And, since it was Fan Wen who spoke, his face reddened in shame and felt guilty. Xie Lan immediately pulled him in his arms.
But, Zuo Zhe isn't targeting Fan Wen. And his purpose today isn't targeting them. "But, if we're talking about being heartless, then, I can say you don't even compare to the person in my mind." He flashed a smile at them.
Everyone's expression changed when they felt something is off.
"Won't you ask who it is?" Zuo Zhe asked as he walked towards them.
They immediately took a step back and looked at him guardedly, which is funny to see since Zuo Zhe looks weak and he is just one person.
"What are you planning to do?" Jing Rui expressionlessly looked at Zuo Zhe.
"I'm not planning to do anything. Aren't I on your team?" Zuo Zhe asked back.
Their expressions slightly eased. They were about to sigh in relief when they heard Zuo Zhe continued.
"But, I have something to inform you." Zuo Zhe said. Before they could speak, he continued. "And this is about the person in my mind… yes. The heartless, most heartless, one." He grinned. "Cheng Sheng." He told them.