"So, what exactly does Cheng Sheng plan to do?" Qian Tian asked Zuo Zhe.
"I don't know." Zuo Zhe answered.
"… then how can you say it earlier…" they said, wearing complicated expressions on their faces.
"Is it not obvious?" Zuo Zhe asked. "I trust Yu Sheng." He said.
Silence. Although they still doubt that Zuo Zhe is lying to them, and that Zuo Zhe actually knows what Cheng Sheng is planning, but what can they do? And if Zuo Zhe really is hiding to them Cheng Sheng's plan, and the reason why he hides it is because it might harm them, but what can they do? Chen Jing and Wu Fan are the strongest among them, and even the two of them combined, Zuo Zhe wasn't harmed the slightest. Even if they all would combine to beat the truth out of Zuo Zhe's mouth, and the result is unknown, but that is a disgusting method. Also, they really treat Zuo Zhe as their ally so they feel unwilling to harm Zuo Zhe.
"Are you sure that Cheng Sheng's plan won't harm everyone?" they asked Zuo Zhe.
"You know it in your hearts what kind of person Cheng Sheng is." Zuo Zhe said.
A scum. They unanimously thought. But, a kind scum. They added, then sighed. They really trust Cheng Sheng's character, disregarding how contradicting it is. So, they didn't haggle the matter over with Zuo Zhe and just resumed what they were previously doing – admiring the scenery.
Or so they thought.
"Young master Zuo." Fei Lin called. "Will Yu Sheng really not kill my uncle?" he asked as he looked at Zuo Zhe.
"He won't." Zuo Zhe answered.
"How do you guarantee…" Fei Lin bit his lip, didn't continue what he is going to say.
Zuo Zhe understood what Fei Lin meant, though. "Is my life enough to guarantee your uncle's life?" he asked.
Everyone was stunned. Fei Lin's face is filled with guilt. He doesn't want to do this, but he was left with no choice. He knows that although Zuo Zhe now became his 'hostage', but Zuo Zhe won't run. He has nowhere that he wanted to run to, anyway.
"Lin…" Xi Ling called.
"I'm sorry." Fei Lin closed his eyes tight. "I only have Yin-er and uncle left." He said.
Everyone fell silent.
"Don't blame him. And I don't blame you." Zuo Zhe said. "A man must keep his words with his life." He told him.
He didn't know that he just planted a big FLAG.
Heilong Realm, Yao City.
BANG! BOOM! BAM!!! A series of explosions were heard and the ground shook even more violently as smoke was seen after it appeared from the peak of the Yingyi Palace in the distance.
"Uncle…" Meng Gui nervously muttered as he anxiously stared at the crumbling walls of the Yingyi Palace in the distance.
"Cheng Sheng! Can't you contact your friend? We have to find Ah Yan's uncle!" Shang He looked at Cheng Sheng.
"Can't." Cheng Sheng answered. Before Shang He could speak, he raised two of his fingers. "One reason, we agreed that I shouldn't intervene with his fight against Mu Jun and Fei Huang. Two, I can't distract him in the middle of the fight." He explained.
Shang He gritted his teeth in anger. He comforted Meng Gui.
"Oh." Cheng Sheng muttered when he remembered something. "Since Yu Sheng won't drag the uninvolved parties in his fight, then, your uncle and Ma Wen should be currently escaping now." He told them.
Meng Gui's and Shang He's eyes widened. They didn't spare any more words and immediately left to find Bai Yun, and to kill Ma Wen. As to how will they find them, it's up to them.
"Sheng." Fei Yin called. "Will Yu Sheng really kill Mu Jun and Fei Huang?" he asked.
"No." Cheng Sheng answered.
"… because he can't?" Fei Yin asked.
"Because he doesn't want to." Cheng Sheng said.
Fei Yin's brows knotted. "Then, what is he putting up this act for?" he asked, confused. But, he didn't hear Cheng Sheng answered. "Sheng?" he called and looked at Cheng Sheng. He saw him staring at him.
"Yin." Cheng Sheng called. "Won't you ask me why I didn't tell you about my plan?" he asked.
Fei Yin's eyes widened and he stared at Cheng Sheng. "I won't." he answered.
"Why?" Cheng Sheng asked.
"Because I know that you must have a reason for not telling me." Fei Yin answered.
Cheng Sheng smiled, then hugged Fei Yin tight. The Shapeshifting Blanket that is acting like his second skin underneath his clothes moved. "Do you remember that I told you that this is all a big conspiracy?" he asked.
"En." Fei Yin nodded. "You mentioned Bai Shen…" he spoke when he recalled.
"Mn." Cheng Sheng muttered as the Shapeshifting Blanket extended and slapped away a rubble that flew towards them because the Yingyi Palace has completely collapsed and the ground continued to violently shake, making the establishments around them also collapse. "Bai Shen…" he spoke. "Is also involved in this conspiracy." He said.
"What?" Fei Yin lowered his head to look at Cheng Sheng, but only able to see the top of Cheng Sheng's head. He tried to move, but Cheng Sheng's grip on him is too tight.
"Not Fei Huang's conspiracy." Cheng Sheng continued and ignored Fei Yin's struggling.
Fei Yin has a bad feeling and he tried to push Cheng Sheng stronger, but the other won't budge. "Sheng – " he called.
"I have someone I'd like you to meet." Cheng Sheng spoke, not directly telling whose conspiracy is Bai Shen involved.
"No!" Fei Yin refused and held Cheng Sheng's arms. "Sheng…" he called in a helpless voice. But, Cheng Sheng didn't answer and just buried his head on his chest.
Before Fei Yin could speak again, he felt something wrapped around his body and tightened. His eyes widened when he realized it was the Shapeshifting Blanket! The Shapeshifting Blanket covered both of them and flew to the direction where they have come from.
The Millennium Ship floated above the mountains, the Shashan Pass between them looking like a long snake in the ground.
Wu Fan frowned when he heard what Zuo Zhe said. "Hmph." He scoffed and looked at the sun in the distance that slowly rose to the sky. "Let's go kill Wu Ran now." He said. "The sun can suppress the demonic qi." He told them.
"We won't wait for more reinforcements?" Jing Cheng asked.
Chen Jing shook his head as an answer. "We're all enough to deal with Wu Ran. And – " he looked at Li Tian. " – save Chen Han." He said.
"Go." Xie Lan spoke. "Full speed." He said.
"YES!" Lei Lin and Jing Kang answered and made a hand seal to manipulate the talismans around the ship.
The Millennium Ship resumed moving, going to the direction of the Sand Sea Mountain where Wu Ran and his forces are right now, finally about to break Cheng Sheng's barrier surrounding the Sand Sea Mountain.
"Heh." Wu Ran sneered as he watched his people continuously attack the barrier.
The barrier violently shook which made the whole mountain and the ground also shook.
Suddenly, they heard a thud, followed by a loud grunt as a body was thrown on the ground, near Wu Ran's feet.
"Ugh!" the voice grunted in pain, followed by a weak cough.
Wu Ran turned and evilly smiled when he saw the beaten Chen Han. "Disciple… you're still alive!" he exclaimed in surprise.
Chen Han's eyes narrowed as he glared at him. His gaze full of loathing. "Don't call me by that address. You don't deserve to call me that, disgusting scum!" he said and spat, which was mixed with blood.
"Hahahaha…" Wu Ran laughed before he raised his foot and kicked Chen Han's head.
"Ugh!" Chen Han cried. His head bled as new wounds covered the old wounds. But, aside from that low grunt, he didn't speak nor cry anything else. Obviously, he's enduring the pain, and the urge to kill Wu Ran.
"You should know your place." Wu Ran spoke as he stomped on Chen Han's chest, which made Chen Han coughed up blood. "Not as my disciple, but as my hostage." He told him.
Chen Han didn't speak and just resentfully glared at him.
"I keep my word. I won't kill you as a consideration for our previous master and disciple relationship." Wu Ran spoke. "But… I didn't say I won't let your friends kill you." He said.
Finally, Chen Han's expression changed. His eyes widened in horror when he realized what Wu Ran is trying to say.
"Yes." Wu Ran chuckled as if he read Chen Han's thoughts. "I'll make you kill them, so they would fight back and kill you with their own hands." he told him.
Chen Han was unable to react, and dodge since he still felt weak. Wu Ran has already grabbed him by his hair and raised him in the air. Demonic qi came out of Wu Ran's hands and went inside Chen Han's head.