Shao Cheng has gazed upon the man that has let out a victorious smile despite the way that he has coughed up blood while being violently lifted up high in the air with a hand piercing through his body.
"... m-mission… c-complete…"
With that last word being whisper softly, the person that Shao Cheng heart has pierced over with his hand has finally become limp as he took his final breath.
Shao Cheng sapphire eyes remain freezingly cold with his lip thinning up before roughly removing his hand off upon the already dead body before him, uncaring and unbothered at the messy splash of blood that has spread around with his actions.
And there isn't even a single bit of reaction despite his black robes, long hair, and covered mask that showed a chilling expression underneath it has been stained with the warm crimson blood of a dead person as he took a step and ruthlessly stamping upon the dead man's head while the gore and brain spilling out as it broke easily.
Crack
"Cheng!"
With the sound of blood dripping down upon his arm hand that has turned limp, Shao Cheng has felt rather than seeing as Ren Yuan quickly appearing beside him.
"Y-Yan…"
Hearing the wet cough along with a weak voice of the dying person, Shao Cheng has turned around and walk toward Yu Qin that is holding the person with a dagger into his chest while Ren Yuan hovers at his side, completely alert and alarm at what happened, completely preparing for another unexpected accident to abruptly occur.
"M-my… f-friend... Cough… S-Sorry… T-Truly… I.. am.. Cough… Sorry…"
Arriving at the people surrounding the dying man, Shao Cheng watched as the person that has a wicked dagger stab through his heart has slowly raise his hand in a weak manner causing the other person who has kneeled down to his side to grab it with his own hand, eyes hard and pained with grief and sorrow.
"G-Gao…y-you…what… how… Why?"
And Shao Cheng just closes his eyes at the painful voice of Shao Yan which is filled with complete confusion and uncertainty about what has just occurred.
After all, the reason why the person that is dying right now was Gao instead of the genuine Shao Yan was the fact that Shao Cheng has used his medicine to change Gao eye color to the same one that his older brother has.
Right now, the only person with a dark shade of blue that can easily recognize of Shao Yan identity in the midst of people having cloth masks in their faces is Gao alone and it was absolutely the reason why Gao was the one that got a dagger through his heart rather than the actual Shao Yan.
The entire time, Shao Cheng has noticed Gao as a perfect double for his older brother to be used in this dire situation especially when the two of them have the same body shape and size, thus, Gao was a perfect person to sacrifice in the case for an unwarranted situation that will suddenly occur.
Although… Shao Cheng couldn't help but feel slightly uncomfortable because he knew for sure that his older brother will be able to understand all the evidence as for the reason why Gao has the same shade of his eye color.
It doesn't matter though… better be hated than watching his older brother die.
After all, Shao Cheng knew the whole time that there is someone else in the enemy that is completely specialized in stealth, a truly skilled one at that because after sensing with his special ability, Shao Cheng has always unable to completely detect that certain person after using his normal senses.
Shao Cheng has been prepared and alerts the whole time but he has been far too late to react when the deadly attack happens.
And Shao Cheng can only feel so glad for being ruthless rather than being kind because rather than his older brother's life being taken away today, Shao Cheng will exchange Gao life for the people that are far more important to him.
From the start, Shao Cheng couldn't remove the ominous feeling he has been feeling the whole time that the confrontation started, especially when in the previous life, although he doesn't know all the inside information but there is just that nagging feeling about how the question of how did his older brother get wounded so severely?
Did an accident happen? That was the reason for Shao Cheng's heartless plan, he has been preparing for the worse to befall even though he genuinely wants all of them to be safe and sound.
However, this is how life is, completely and absolutely unfair, one couldn't run away or evade experiencing hardship, struggle, and difficulty in life.
"... Yan! Cough, become great! Rise to the TOP! You Have To! Promise me!"
"G-Gao! I… I will! Gao! T-Thank You! A-And Sorry my friend!"
With a bloodstain lip, Gao who has his face mask already remove away has let out a satisfied smile when the grip on his hands has tightened up while Shao Yan delivered a pledge and vow, although when Gao saw with a blurry vision at the quiet young man standing silently a bit far away from them.
Somehow, Gao felt so glad that this person has been with them, he already has an overwhelming regret of being unable to save his younger sister���s life, he didn't want to add the regret of betraying his closest friend and the person he respected in the list of what he failed in life.
And if he were to truly be able to remain alive after the betrayal happens, Gao knew that he will carry that regret for the rest of his entire life.
Rather than feeling remorse, anger, and hatred as he slowly dies, Gao only felt complete relief inside because he is truly glad for this Third son of the Shao Family existence, Gao has felt it, the change to this person is going to be a great chance for his friend family causing him to feel great comfort that someone like Shao Cheng will watch over his friends after he is gone.
"Ah… y-young master… I… choose this… and accepted it… don't feel guilty…ok… I… almost live a life… full of regret…thank you… for giving me... this chance…I... am happy...to have a significant ending..."
Saving my life friend… isn't a bad reason to die for… Shao Yan… take care, be the outstanding man I knew that you can become...Yu Qin… watch him for me alright?
Hmm…Then... I'm leaving first…
Soon Gao's eyes close his eyes with a rather peaceful look on his face.
"Gao? Gao!"
"...!"
Shao Yan and Yu Qin cry out in grief as Gao took his last breath, while Shao Cheng that has heard the comforting words of the already dead man only felt of how foolishly kind the person was to even think of reassuring the person that has used him.
Although, he doesn't hate this kind of person, it just that Shao Cheng has forgotten how to be one and would never become one because kind people usually are the one who has a far more miserable ending.
As for the promise of exchange the two of them has secretly discuss, Shao Cheng will fulfill it, although he has already decided to eradicate the people that have planned this attacked in the first place, so the person that has taken Gao younger sister, Shao Cheng has already had them on the list of people he needs to eliminate.
"Cheng…"
Hearing the worried voice of Ren Yuan, suddenly Shao Cheng felt a bit uncomfortable on how he will be perceived by this person because if Shao Yan can comprehend how everything has happened, then surely Ren Yuan was also able to understand it.
Shao Cheng killing people can easily be understood since they live in a brutal world especially if he doesn't fight back then he will be the one dying, so the cruel, wicked, ruthless side of his is something that Shao Cheng prefer for Ren Yuan to remain clueless for as long as he could.
And so without even glancing at the hovering man on his side, Shao Cheng has quickly appeared to the silent Xixi and whispering a word of checking something out before quickly leaving without waiting for any reply back.
"... Ren Yuan… take care of him…"
For once, Xixi remains silent while seriously gazing upon the figure of her disappearing cousin before staring at the other person that has instantly follow her cousin without any hesitation, those peach blossom grey eyes only have Shao Cheng reflection upon it.
And in a few minutes, Shao Cheng has finally appeared to a distant place which he stood in the branch of one of the tallest and highest trees in the entire forested area while his eyes glowed in purple color before the special being inside his body has once more went out with a loud roar.
Purple who has been let out has swiftly changed into a slightly bigger size and slowly circling around Shao Cheng body.
"Purple… Go…"
And with the last roar, Purple has flown to a certain place without another word while Shao Cheng has soon sensed the arrival of Ren Yuan, in which he didn't wait for the other person to make his first move as Shao Cheng has spoken out without turning around to face the man with a question that causes his heart so beat in nervousness.
"Hey… Ren Yuan… Do… you think… that I'm too heartless?"
I already know I am one… however, I actually want to know how you think about me… which is so weird and strange to be even caring about your opinion.
With that, Shao Cheng has raised his lip as a smile of irony appears underneath his face that is covered with a cloth.
Sigh… you truly have become special in my life.