"As for earlier, we have caught the spirit servant that is spying from the roof." Cheng Sheng continued. "But, it self-destructed." He said.
"They also can self-destruct?" they asked.
"I already have said, the masters in a one-sided contract can give an unconditional order to their spirit servants." Cheng Sheng spoke. "Since he ordered his spirit servant to self-destruct, then his spirit servant will die and then the life energy left of his spirit servant will be transferred to him to give him more energy to put up a fight, and also he can lengthen his life if he manage to escape." He explained.
"Despicable! Truly despicable!" the sect leaders exclaimed in disgust and indignant.
Cheng Sheng nodded.. "Also, I have to tell you about the Spirit Tracing Bells." He spoke. "Since you come into contact with the spirit servants through the bell, naturally, you can perceive their strength, condition, as well as their thoughts." He told them and glanced at Xi Ming who subconsciously pinched his ear due to what happened earlier.
"What's wrong with you?" Sun Yu asked him.
But, it was Cheng Sheng who answered. "Since you can also hear the spirit servants' thoughts, you could also hear their cries." He said. "And also sympathize with them, so if the spirit servant wants to die, then you can also feel that you wanted to die." He explained.
They were all stunned.
"Don't ask me to do something with this." Cheng Sheng spoke. "Since we also want to save the spirit servants, then we can't cut our contact from them. We have to share the same perception as them." He explained.
Jing Kang's expression turned heavy. "I'm sorry." He apologized. It was him who suggested this, after all.
"It's not your fault." Lei Ling told him. "The spirit servants are spirits who are unwillingly bound with their masters and they were bound to them because they were weak. It is natural to sympathize with them since they have not only died, but also have to commit such wrongdoings after their death." He explained.
Everyone nodded, agreeing with Lei Ling's sentiment. Jing Kang sighed in relief.
"If we can't do something to the bell, then is there anything we can do with this?" Jing Rui asked.
"There is." Cheng Sheng answered.
Everyone stared at him.
"Control your own thoughts and don't let be swayed with the spirit servants' thoughts." Cheng Sheng told them. "Since you have higher cultivation than them, then you could do this." He said.
They all sighed in relief.
Seeing that they have relaxed, Cheng Sheng gave them another bomb. "Shu Mu and Xiao Le have also foreseen for the master to commit suicide after they cornered him so they managed to stop him from stabbing himself." He continued. "But, he still died in the end." He said.
"Why?" they asked, startled.
"Because he has poison." Cheng Sheng answered. "Before Shu Mu and Xiao Le could react, the master's corpse… dissolved." He told them.
Their faces, as expected, turned green.
"And, the liquid that became of his corpse even vanished after." Cheng Sheng added.
Their faces darkened. "This…!" they exclaimed.
Cheng Sheng didn't speak since he doesn't know anything anymore. He has already told them everything that should be said. He excused himself from them since he has another thing to do: interrogating He Shun who has fallen into coma last night.
He Run knows that he is going to He Shun so he followed him, leaving the sect leaders and elders to continue discussing before heading to the venue of the Intersect Competition for the last three matches this afternoon of the single battle.
"Xiao Sheng." Fan Wen called. "You won't be late, right?" he asked, referring to watching the matches.
Xie Lan, Li Tian and the others are looking at him.
Cheng Sheng stopped and turned. Then, he nodded. "I keep my promises." He answered. "Also, you should worry more for him in case he loses." He told them before he left with He Run, and Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le who tagged along with him again, acting as his bodyguards.
Chen Han, Jing Cheng, Tang Zhe and the others who wanted to help Cheng Sheng, too. "…" those four people again! They thought, then helplessly sighed before they also head back to the venue.
"Cheng Sheng, my son…" He Shun worriedly called as they stopped outside the door. They heard some noises inside. He Shun felt his heart sinking even more.
Last night, while all the sect leaders are listening to Cheng Sheng's lecture, the unconscious He Shun was left with Qi Lan and the rest of the Guhe Sect disciples. But, when xiao Bao is about to reach Cheng Sheng's room carrying him, Qi Lan suddenly snatched him from xiao Bao and woke him up.
He Shun woke up this morning, but then something happened to him. The Guhe Sect disciples panicked and was about to call He Run but Qi Lan knocked them all out to prevent them from alerting the other sect leaders and spread panic.
Earlier, Cheng Sheng has also instructed Shu Mu and Xiao Le to pass a message to He Run to inform him about his son's condition, but shouldn't panic since Qi Lan was there to watch over He Shun.
Cheng Sheng didn't answer and opened the door to see Qi Lan pressing He Shun down the bed and pressed his acupoints to stop him from moving again. "How long was it this time?" he asked.
He Run's face paled and he immediately closed the door. He doesn't want anyone knowing that his son was also mentally attacked last night by the enemy. Cheng Sheng confirmed this when he checked He Shun's condition this morning, and checked the spirit servant's corpse after checking He Shun.
As expected, Cheng Sheng was right. It was that mask. Fortunately, the spirit servant they caught wasn't wearing a mask. It seems that last night's attack was an experiment by the enemies.
"One hour." Qi Lan answered.
He Run sighed in relief. This morning, He Shun had a fit for half an hour. "Cheng Sheng, what should we do?" he worriedly asked.
"Where are the Guhe Sect disciples?" Cheng Sheng asked and looked at Qi Lan.
"That sword spirit… xiao Bao? He is watching over them together with that small fairy… xiao Ling?" Qi Lan answered.
Cheng Sheng nodded. "Sect leader He. I'll have Shu Mu and Xiao Le watch over He Shun with Qi Lan. You go back with me later to watch the competition and don't reveal anything else." He told him.
He Run's forehead is beaded with sweat. "Yes." he answered.
"Xi Ming. Xi Xing." Cheng Sheng called.
"Yes?" they answered.
"Xi Xing. Tie Xi Ming up." Cheng Sheng ordered.
Their eyes widened in shock. If before, Xi Xing would have done so. But now, since he and Xi Ming are lovers, he didn't move. "May I know why?" Xi Xing asked.
"I am worried that Xi Ming might have a sequela of earlier attack." Cheng Sheng answered and looked at Xi Ming who wryly smiled. "Shu Mu. You do it." He spoke when he saw that Xi Xing didn't move. "Xi Xing, will you stay here or go back with me and sect leader He?" he asked.
"… I'll stay." Xi Xing answered. He knows that what Cheng Sheng means is that in case something really happens to Xi Ming later, he might interfere and help Xi Ming instead. But, since he already decided to stay, then he will do what is right.
Cheng Sheng saw through his worries. "Shu Mu isn't heavy-handed. Don't worry." He assured him. "Xiao Le. Go erect a barrier around this area. I will notify Sun Rong and Qie Shi, and to have Qie Shi send a message to father, uncle Wu, elder Fei and elder Xi to inform them in case something happens here while I am out this afternoon." He said, then heaved a deep sigh.
"Cheng Sheng. You also have a life. You go to watch your disciple's match." Shu Mu told him.
Cheng Sheng clenched his fists. "Alright." he answered. "You go send them four a message. Xiao Le, I'll be counting on you to do that." He said.
"Okay!" Xiao Le nodded.
"Xi Ming, you…" Cheng Sheng looked at him.
Xi Ming chuckled. "I will fight it if something really happens." He assured him. "I don't want to be a burden to anyone." He told them.
"… Xi Xing. I retract my words. In case Xi Ming tries anything funny, incapacitate him even if you'll disable him. Don't let him die." Cheng Sheng's face darkened. "Don't worry about his injuries. I can heal them. His life is more important." He said and walked out with He Run following behind him, feeling indignant that he cared for nothing.
Shu Mu laughed while Xiao Le helplessly smiled after Cheng Sheng left. Xi Xing's expression is blank. Qi Lan didn't say anything, either, since he's just an outsider.
"Do you have to anger him?" Shu Mu asked.
"He will continue to hesitate if I didn't do it." Xi Ming wryly smiled. "He also has a life, as I've said earlier. Especially now that he has a disciple." He said.