Xiao Le, who was following Shu Mu, heard what Zheng Yi spoke and he felt his whole body turned cold. "What…?" he muttered under his breath, stunned. "Cheng-shixiong is…?" he asked as he sucked in a sharp breath. His eyes are wide in disbelief. He felt his breathing halted. He couldn't breathe.
That self-important and snarky but also innately kind and soft-hearted Cheng Sheng… is now dying? He thought as he felt his chest hurt. He clutched his chest. His face contorted in pain. He fell on his knees and doubled over because of pain. He can't believe it. In his eyes, Cheng Sheng is very powerful and undefeated.
But now… Cheng Sheng is on the verge of death!
"Xiao Le!" Shu Mu called. He remembered that Xiao Le was following him. But, because he was shock of the news he heard, he momentarily forgot Xiao Le. "Xiao Le! Are you alright?" he asked as he knelt beside Xiao Le and wiped the cold sweat that appeared on Xiao Le's forehead after he was given a scare of what he had heard.
"Mu-ge… Cheng-shixiong… Cheng-shixiong is…" Xiao Le sobbed, then his tears followed. "Fei-shixiong, too!" he added when he remembered that seemingly cold but actually softer than others eldest disciple of the Xinfaxian Sect that is secretly in love towards his third junior brother that was formerly a waste, but now a genius, talented scum.
Shu Mu's eyes narrowed and he nodded, confirming Xiao Le's fears and that it wasn't just Xiao Le's auditory hallucination. "Fei Yin… is dead. And Cheng Sheng… might die." He spoke with much difficulty.
"AAAARH!" Xiao Le wailed as he hugged himself, pouring out all the grief he feels.
Shu Mu pulled Xiao Le into his arms and hugged him tight. He buried his face on the crook of Xiao Le's neck. Everyone knows he's crying, too.
Chen Jing's and Wu Fan's expressions definitely aren't good while Ho Yue silently watched them. His face may have no expression but his eyes are filled with sympathy. Sun Yi and Wu Yuan who heard what Zheng Yi said felt like they were struck by lightning and their ears are ringing, especially Wu Yuan.
He was with Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin in the Heilong Realm. When he left them, they are perfectly fine. How come that when they returned, one was dead and the other is gravely injured? He couldn't believe it, and thinks it is preposterous.
"No…" Sun Yi muttered as his face turned pale in horror. His lips are quivering and his whole body is trembling in shock. "Cheng… Cheng-shidi is… and Fei-shidi…" he muttered as his eyes turned red and his tears streamed down his cheeks.
Wu Yuan was frozen in his place. Only when he heard Sun Yi's sobs did he return to his senses and immediately hugged his husband. To comfort him, or to seek comfort from him… only he knows. The battle continued afar, and the depressing atmosphere just multiplied.
Millennium Ship.
Jing Kang worriedly glanced at Lei Ling standing beside him. Lei Ling is already mentally and physically tired controlling the talismans. But, it became worse after the news of Fei Yin's death and Cheng Sheng's grave injury.
"Ling Ling…" he called. His voice is filled with concern.
Lei Ling heard Jing Kang's voice and felt the strings of his heart were tugged. His eyes became watery because of tears and he pursed his lips, feeling aggrieved. But, he held his tears back and he turned, forcing a smile. Yet, as soon as he saw Jing Kang's handsome face that is usually expressionless now is filled with apprehension, his heart thumped and he felt he can't hold back his tears anymore.
"I – " he spoke, his voice hoarse.
Jing Kang, feeling that the barriers of the ship has stabilized, immediately pulled Lei Ling to him and hugged him tight.
"AAAH!" Lei Ling cried as he buried himself in Jing Kang's warm embrace, seeking comfort.
Jing Kang, although doesn't know how to comfort others, but he knows when they need it. So, he patted Lei Ling's back to soothe him and kissed the top of his head.
"Ah…" Zuo Zhe yawned as he pushed open the door of the cabin and went outside. "What's with all the noise?" he asked. "You woke me up…" he muttered and rubbed his drooping eyes because of feeling sleepy. His voice trailed off when he saw Jing Kang and Lei Ling are hugging in the deck. "Tsk." He clicked his tongue. So early and they're already sticky to each other! He thought and sighed.
He was about to go back inside when he noticed that the barrier of the Millennium Ship is activated.
His expression changed. "The battle already started?" he muttered. "So, we've finally reached the Sand Sea Moun…tain…" his voice trailed off when he noticed something. He turned to Lei Ling and Jing Kang. "Why are you two hugging… then…" his voice trailed off once again as his eyes slowly widened when he saw the two people lying on the floor of the ship, with one diligently attended by You Rou whose face is red from crying silently.
Her hands never stopped moving as she used all the potions and magic pills she refined and fed them all to Cheng Sheng. Even her own magic pills and potions were used. To her relief, the color of Cheng Sheng's face slightly recovered, but Cheng Sheng still didn't wake up.
"Cheng-shixiong… da shixiong…" You Rou called and sobbed. She buried her tear-stained face on her hands and her shoulders were shaking. Her back is hunched, making her look very pitiful.
Zuo Zhe's whole body froze. Then, he felt it became cold. He felt his head is swelling. What… the hell? He thought as he looked at Fei Yin's corpse on the side. Then, he turned to Cheng Sheng who was attended by You Rou. What… the… hell? What happened? Why is Fei Yin dead and Cheng Sheng was gravely injured? Why? He thought as thousand curses can be heard in his mind. How did Fei Yin die? How was Cheng Sheng injured? He thought and slowly walked towards Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng, stopping before them.
"How…" he spoke, his voice strained and low as he stared at Fei Yin's corpse and Cheng Sheng's wounds which have finally stopped.
You Rou slowly lifted her head while Jing Kang is still pacifying Lei Lin on the side. "Zuo… young master Zuo…" she spoke, then sobbed. Her face is fileld with grievance as she looked at Fei Yin and Cheng Sheng again. Her tears fell once again.
"What happened?" Zuo Zhe asked as he finally calmed his emotions.
"We came too late." You Rou answered. "Wu Ran delayed our arrival. So, when we arrived, da shixiong and Cheng-shixiong have already come out of the Heilong Realm. But, they were attacked by Wu Ran." She said, then paused. Her voice became smaller. "Cheng-shixiong… was stabbed… by Chen-shixiong." She added.
It took a while for Zuo Zhe to understand that the 'Chen-shixiong' she meant is Chen Han. But, even if he finally understood, but he still can't understand why the brocon Chen Han would stab Cheng Sheng. It was only a minute after that he then remembered that Chen Han was held hostage by Wu Ran.
You Rou guessed what he was thinking. "Chen-shixiong was controlled by Wu Ran to kill Cheng-shixiong…" she cried again.
This is really devastating. Zuo Zhe's expression turned ugly and he pulled his hair. "Fck!" he finally let out a curse from his lips and he kicked a chair.
If it was the usual, You Rou would have jumped out of startle. But, right now, she couldn't care even if the sky collapses. To her, the Xinfaxian and the Xinfaxian Sect is her world. Her family is there. Her fellow disciples, her friends, are there. Her founder and shifu are there. She embarked on this journey of cultivation for her family to live longer and stay with her longer. But, she failed to protect her other family. Fei Yin died and Cheng Sheng is hanging for his life.
Zuo Zhe balled his fists. "Yu Sheng… how about Yu Sheng?" he asked as he turned.
But, no one answered him.
His expression changed. "Yu Sheng… he still hasn't returned?!" he asked.
As soon as his voice fell, they felt the whole world shake and was followed by a loud explosion. "AAH!" they screamed as they all fell on the floor of the ship. After the violent shaking, they climbed up on the railing and turned to look at the battlefield. But, what they see stunned them.
"What… the… fck." Zuo Zhe cursed as his face paled and his eyes widened as he stared at the smoke in the battlefield.
After the smoke dissipated, everything was revealed. Jing Kang, Lei Ling and You Rou were also shocked.
"Wh…" they spoke. "Where is the Sand Sea Mountain?!?!?!" they asked.
The Sand Sea Mountain was gone!