"What?! They don't know who he is?!" they asked.
"But, didn't he target them?" You Rou asked. "There should be animosity…" she said.
"But, there also can't." Cheng Sheng cut her off.
You Rou's eyes widened in shock.
"Yes." Cheng Sheng smiled. "It can be just pure malice." He said.
Silence fell. They all looked at each other and their gazes talked before they looked at Cheng Sheng. They felt their heart became cold. Xie Lan held Fan Wen's hand tight. If they don't know that Fei Yin's body is complete, they would've think that Cheng Sheng would definitely use these worms to fill what Fei Yin's body is lacking.
Their hearts can't help but be gripped by fear just thinking this. Fortunately… fortunately, Fei Yin's body is complete and healthy! Or else… they closed their eyes tight.
Cheng Sheng sensed that Xie Lan's and Fan Wen's moods changed and he coughed to break the atmosphere. "Anyway, I had Er Zi ask the villagers if they know the man as he showed them the picture I drawn based from the man's appearance that I saw when he was still alive." He continued. "Guess what I've found?" he asked and looked at them.
Nobody spoke.
Cheng Sheng rolled his eyes at them. "That man came from another village that is living near the tribe." He spoke. "They said that the villagers of the village are all dead." He said.
"WHAT?!" they were shocked.
Cheng Sheng nodded. "Well… they are now dead." He added.
"… 'now dead'?" they asked.
"At current, those villagers are now dead." Cheng Sheng spoke. "But, they were still alive before." He said.
"Then, how did they die?" Jing Kang asked.
"Through those Eating Worms." Cheng Sheng answered.
Silence.
"The tribe must have 'ran out' of 'benefactors' so they targeted those villagers. Expectedly, those villagers died." Cheng Sheng spoke.
None of them spoke as they silently prayed for those villagers.
"But, this man, managed to come out alive. And even has a pair of the Eating Worms." Cheng Sheng continued, then suddenly paused. He turned to You Rou. "As I've said, that man was acting out of malice." He said. "He must have seen the family in the past and followed them, then placed the mother worm by their doorway. He was already dying and is afraid to die, so he wanted for the family to replace what he lacks." He shook his head.
"But, he didn't expect for you to see the mother worm." Fan Wen spoke.
Cheng Sheng nodded. "Truly a coincidence." He clicked his tongue.
They all smiled.
"But, Cheng Sheng, the tribe… how did they die?" Jing Kang asked.
"Must be because the villagers killed them first after the villagers found out that they were treated as the tribe's 'benefactors'?" Cheng Sheng guessed while tilting his head.
"Karma." They all sighed.
Cheng Sheng nodded in agreement. "But, Jing Kang, this shouldn't be what you should ask me." He said as he looked at him.
"Huh?" Jing Kang was taken aback.
"Shouldn't you be asking how did the Eating Worms reached the Central Plains?" Cheng Sheng asked him.
Everyone was stunned. That's right… the Eating Worms should be in the south. Why did they come in the Zhongyang? They thought, puzzled. Then, they looked at Cheng Sheng.
"Cheng Sheng, do you…" Jing Kang's brows knitted.
Cheng Sheng blinked innocently. "Hey. I only have the mother worm. She and the father worm works as a pair. She is useless without the father worm." He said.
They fell silent.
Jing Kang coughed awkwardly. "It's not that I am suspecting you." He said and flushed in embarrassment.
"I know. What you wanted to ask if I might know how to catch the perpetrator." Cheng Sheng smiled.
"Yes." Jing Kang nodded.
"Simple. Just look for anyone who died with their skull emptied." Cheng Sheng answered. "That person must own the father worm of this mother worm." He said and tapped the box containing the mother worm that Jing Kang caught who died after.
Jing Kang was surprised and abruptly rose from his seat. "Thank you." He said and bowed. "Everyone, please pardon my leave." He told them. He turned and kissed Lei Ling before he hurriedly left.
Everyone's gazes fell on Lei Ling who is blushing furiously. He hasn't reacted yet but Jing Kang has already left.
"AAAH!" Lei Ling squealed as he covered his blushing face with his both hands.
Everyone smiled, feeling happy for Lei Ling.
"Hm? Everyone is here." It was Chen Jing and Wu Fan.
Xie Lan, Fan Wen, Lei Ling and You Rou looked at each other before they immediately left after bidding a haste goodbye to Chen Jing and Wu Fan.
"Huh? What are they doing?" Chen Jing asked, puzzled, as he looked at the four people's backs.
Meanwhile, Wu Fan's eyes narrowed and he looked at Cheng Sheng who is smiling brightly. Seeing that Cheng Sheng is about to open his mouth to speak, he immediately grabbed Chen Jing with him and hurriedly fled the pavilion after bidding a haste goodbye to Cheng Sheng. He already knows Cheng Sheng's oddness, and the Xinfaxian Sect's quirks towards Cheng Sheng's behavior. Thus, he knows that Cheng Sheng must have done something odd today!
"… ai." Cheng Sheng sighed as he watched Chen Jing and Wu Fan leave. "Former sect leader Wu is really fast. Admirable, admirable." He smiled as he raised a cup to the direction the two left before he sipped a drink. "Da shixiong… only da shixiong." He said and looked at Fei Yin inside the space of the Shapeshifting Blanket. "Only da shixiong understands me. Only da shixiong tolerates me. Only da shixiong dotes on me." He raised his hand and his hand passed through the Shapeshifting Blanket before reached Fei Yin's face.
Cheng Sheng drew a sharp breath when he felt the familiar warm skin. He lowered his head and his tears fell, filling the cup of tea.
"Hm?" Fei Yinzi, who was passing by, turned when he seemed to hear a sob. His ears perked up, trying to listen, but then he didn't hear the sob again. Was it just my imagination? He thought and stared at the pavilion by the bridge. The koi fishes are freely swimming in the clear and cold water.
"Er Zi?" a voice called from behind him.
"WAH!" Fei Yinzi exclaimed, startled, and he almost jumped out of his skin. He turned and saw Wen Wen standing behind him.
"E – Er Zi?! What's wrong with you?" Wen Wen asked when he saw Fei Yinzi's pale face. "D – Did I… did I scare you? S – sorry…" he apologized and lowered his head in self-reproach.
Fei Yinzi looked at him and a smile appeared on his lips. Then, he raised his hand and patted Wen Wen's head. "It's not your fault, so don't blame yourself, Wen Wen." He spoke. "I'm not mad, really. It's my fault, too, for being absent-minded." He said.
"R – really?" Wen Wen asked.
Fei Yinzi nodded. "Really." He answered. "Come. Let's eat our breakfast. The others will be waking up later. Let's fill our stomachs first." He said.
"Okay!" Wen Wen nodded and followed behind him.
Fei Yinzi then met the disciples of the other sects. But, they don't have time to play since the Intersect Competition will be starting one day away, as today is the second day of the registration period. They ate breakfast together and, instead of roaming around the Zhongyang, they sparred with each other. Meanwhile, Wen Wen watched from the side, along with the other mage disciples.
"Look how lively they are." Feng Mo spoke as he, Li Tian and Lei Qing descended from the stairs and saw the disciples sparring.
They passed by Lei Ling and You Rou who have finally returned earlier while they were running back to their rooms. Though they were puzzled why the two told them to not go and see Cheng Sheng, whom they have planned to invite for breakfast this morning, they understood from Lei Ling's and You Rou's terrified expressions that Cheng Sheng did something evil again. They thanked their youngest male and female fellow disciples before they went to the dining area.
"And I am glad to see you looking so lively, too." A voice spoke.
Feng Mo turned and his eyes widened when he saw the familiar man he missed very much. "WU BAI!!!" he exclaimed and ran before jumping on the man and then wrapped his arms around the man's neck before he kissed him.
Wu Bai was taken aback but fortunately he immediately balanced himself carrying two people's weights before he wrapped his arms around Feng Mo's waist and kissed him back. "Xiao Mo…" he called, his voice hoarse as they panted after their kiss. He planted another kiss before he hugged him tight.
Feng Mo hugged him back. Li Tian and Lei Qing smiled as they watched the two.
"Wu Bai. Why are you here?" Feng Mo asked after they reluctantly broke their hug.
"To see you." Wu Bai answered. "And also… to ask Cheng Sheng something." He said as his smile disappeared.