Everyone looked at the scene with complicated gazes. They all can't help of what they seen during the Intersect Competition that happened years ago. But, in the end, they didn't say anything. And when Cheng Sheng looked at them, they all tacitly looked away without revealing their thoughts or emotions on the surface.
How can Cheng Sheng not know what they are thinking? Li Tian, Feng Mo and Lei Ling are just silent, suddenly regretting bringing Fei Yinzi here. They became soft-hearted earlier after the child begged them to take him with them after he heard that they will be going to the Zunjingde Sect.
"It's fine." They all heard Cheng Sheng spoke. They turned and saw him pulled his sleeve from Fei Yinzi without any expression on his face.
Everyone immediately lowered their gazes. They are afraid that Cheng Sheng would snap, but Cheng Sheng still knows that there are others around present. So, he didn't snap and just remained silent for his disciple to not lose his face if he had reprimanded him.
"Ehem. Cheng Sheng, we owe you so much." Jing Cheng spoke and bowed, breaking the tense atmosphere.
Jing Bai, Jing Hei and Jing Kang also bowed. "Thank you very much for saving our uncle." They said. "If not for you, we don't know when…" they said, and the rest of their words turned into a sigh.
"Cheng Sheng, we also thank you on behalf of the Righteous Alliance." Zheng Fu Gong spoke and bowed, together with Pai Lie and Su Yuan. Without Jing Rui's and the Zunjingde Sect's support, the Righteous Alliance will weaken.
They don't know when will the other sects would swallow the Righteous Alliance whole. The reason why the other sects didn't make a move until now is because they are waiting to see if Cheng Sheng would make a miracle of saving Jing Rui's life. They can say that those sects are still reasonable, for not kicking them while they were down.
"En." Cheng Sheng nodded. He glanced at his hat on the floor and the Shapeshifting Blanket immediately moved to pick it up before it handed his hat to him.
Cheng Sheng then tied his snow-white hair before wearing his hat, hiding his hair underneath his hat. Everyone silently heaved a sigh.
"Just send the payment on the Yunxiao Inn. I'll be collecting it in five months." Cheng Sheng spoke, ignoring the others' gazes.
Naturally, Cheng Sheng will give the Zunjingde Sect some time to gather money to pay him. He isn't that black-hearted to bankrupt the sect and the Jing Clan. And in five months… it will be the Intersect Competition.
"Thank you very much!" Jing Cheng spoke and he, Jing Bai, Jing Hei and Jing Kang bowed to Cheng Sheng to express their gratitude. Naturally, they know that Cheng Sheng is giving them face, and consideration for their sect.
"Hm." Cheng Sheng answered. Then, he turned to look at the pale and weak Jing Rui. "Sect leader Jing, I wish you good health." He told Jing Rui and slightly bowed before he left.
Fei Yinzi, seeing his master leaving, immediately bowed to the elders present before he ran after Cheng Sheng. Feng Mo and Li Tian followed behind him, as well as Sun Rong and Qie Shi who don't have any business with the Zunjingde Sect and the Righteous Alliance and only came to watch for fun.
"Jing Kang… I'll meet you in five months!" Lei Ling said and kissed Jing Kang before he followed Cheng Sheng and the others.
Jing Kang took a minute to analyze Lei Ling's words before he was stunned. "What?! Five months?! Ling Ling!" he called and ran after Lei Ling.
Jing Cheng and the others looked at each other and laughed. Today is a good day for everyone in the Central Region. After all, their leader is finally back!
…
"Li-shixiong, Feng-shixiong, why did you come?" Cheng Sheng asked as they walked back to the Yunxiao Inn… err, no. It was only them who are walking because Cheng Sheng is riding on Bai Tan since he still feels unwell after curing Jing Rui.
Li Tian heaved a sigh. "Chen Han returned to Youxiwang Sect." he answered. "I have nothing to do since my disciples are currently practicing their spells, so I went with Feng-shidi and Lei-shidi here." He explained.
"Same with Li-shixiong. My disciples are training so I went here with Li-shixiong." Feng Mo spoke. "Shijie and shimei are still teaching their disciples, so they, regrettably, can't come." He explained.
They resumed chatting while walking back. When they finally arrived in Yunxiao Inn, it was then that Cheng Sheng finally reacted. "Oh." He muttered when he realized something. His brain felt sluggish because he is still regulating his qi to restore his strength.
"Hm? What is it, Cheng-shidi?" Feng Mo asked as they went to a private room to eat their lunch.
Cheng Sheng fell silent for a while, contemplating. Then, suddenly, he glanced at Fei Yinzi before he shook his head. "It's nothing." He answered and lowered his head before he eyes to meditate.
For some reason, Fei Yinzi suddenly felt a chill on his spine. This is too familiar. Too familiar! He thought, remembered those times when, for some or no reason, his master orders him from time to time and he suffers later. … what is shizun planning again? He thought as his face was covered in dark lines.
He already knows it, but he still wanted to say it: his master is really scary.
…
Fei Yinzi has just returned from the bathroom when he suddenly heard voices speaking.
"… are you sure about this?" it was Sun Rong.
Fei Yinzi didn't want to eavesdrop but then he feels an unsettling feeling since earlier when they returned in the Yunxiao Inn.
"En." Cheng Sheng nodded with a solemn expression. "There is only one day left for this month. I will go back to the Zunjingde Sect tomorrow to give them the payment of letting my disciple train with them." He spoke. "Meanwhile, you take Er Zi with you to the north and have him train with the Shanliangde Sect disciples." He said.
Sun Rong's family is now the leaders of the Shanliangde Sect. Fei Yinzi is also a member of the Fei Clan, so it isn't unreasonable for him to have a friendly training with the Shanliangde Sect disciples, just like what he did with the Zunjingde Sect disciples.
"Alright. I also owe you for bringing more customers to Yunxiao Inn after making it famous, and also helping my Qie Shi before." Sun Rong agreed.
"Thank you." Cheng Sheng answered.
Fei Yinzi's eyes widened in shock. His face paled and he felt his whole body trembled. Whether because of fright, or anger, or any other emotion, he doesn't know. He suddenly felt numb inside.
"For the month after, I already talked with Li-shixiong for him to bring Er Zi with him to the Youxiwang Sect." Cheng Sheng continued. "Then, the following month, I'll have You-shimei bring him to the Qianxu Sect, along with their order for magic pills and potions." He said.
Fei Yinzi felt his breath hitched. His chest heaved up and down and his heart is thumping loudly.
"Oh. Wait!" Sun Rong muttered when he realized something. "Central, north, west, south… this is spanning for four months. And the Intersect Competition is…" he looked at Cheng Sheng as if he understood something. "Since you have finished with the Central Region, the next ones will be north, west and south, which is for three months. But, the Intersect Competition is in five months. There will be two months left. What are you going to do with it?" he asked.
"Er Zi will be going back to the east, of course." Cheng Sheng answered. "I will have him train with his Li-shibo, Feng-shibo, Lei-shishu, Lei-shigu and You-shigu for one month. And for the last month, he will be training with his Fan-shigong and Xie-shigong." He explained.
Sun Rong sighed in amazement. "You actually have planned this much!" he smiled. "What about you?" he asked.
"I already have trained him. It's his fault for not cherishing it." Cheng Sheng frowned.
Fei Yinzi, who is silently and secretly listening, clenched his fists while his face turned from red to white because of embarrassment and regret.
"No. I don't mean that." Sun Rong spoke.
"Huh? Then, what do you mean?" Cheng Sheng asked, puzzled.
"I mean, what will you be doing during the five months left while your disciple will be training around the continent?" Sun Rong asked.
Silence fell. Cheng Sheng didn't speak nor Sun Rong. Meanwhile, Fei Yinzi felt he is bathing in sweat while suppressing all the emotions he felt, and he is close to fainting. But, he still persisted. He wanted to hear his master's answer.
Finally, Cheng Sheng spoke. "I…" he muttered as he lowered his gaze. Then, he looked outside the window, at the moon hiding behind the roof. "I will go to the south." He answered. "I will find Fei Yin's body." He said.