"Everyone, welcome back! This afternoon will be the last portion of the single battle!" the host announced as the drums roll on the side to set up the exciting atmosphere. "We now only have six participants left, and for three matches! And lo!" he exclaimed as he shook the box in his hand containing the nameplates of the remaining six participants. "We only have one disciple left, and five rogue cultivators!" he said.
The audience roared and cheered, gearing up to watch the remaining three matches for the single battle. Tomorrow, it will be for the double battle.
"The disciple… that nameplate the color of the bamboo grass… Xinfaxian Sect! It's the Xinfaxian Sect disciple!" someone exclaimed.
"Yes, yes! They only have one contestant for this single battle!" someone piped up.
"As I can remember… it's elder Cheng Sheng's disciple, Fei Yinzi!" they added.
The audience became even more excited and the discussions became heated up while Fei Yinzi coldly sweated because everyone's expectations for him rose up.
.
But, that's not just it. He also has his sect who are expecting for him to win, most importantly, his master. Yet… why isn't his master here yet? He thought as he looked at where the Xinfaxian Sect elders were seated but Cheng Sheng's figure can't be seen. He's not here.
Fei Yinzi's mood is starting to fall. His master… he said that he would come… he thought.
"Er Zi!" he heard Wen Wen called.
Fei Yinzi started and he turned. He saw Wen Wen smiled.
"Don't be gloomy. It's better for you to smile!" Wen Wen said and lifted the corners of Fei Yinzi's lips to make him smile. "Although Cheng-shibo isn't here yet, but it can't be said that you will be the first one to go up this afternoon!" he told him.
"Wen Wen's right." Cui Xiang and the others piped up.
"W – who knows… may – maybe… maybe you'll be the last one in the match!" Cui Xiao added.
Zhu Xi, Wen Yan, Su Yi and Su Mi nodded in agreement.
"Also – " Wen Yan spoke. " – even if Cheng-shishu really won't come - " he said.
"But, aren't our masters, as well as Xie-shigong and Fan-shigong are also here to watch?" Su Yi asked.
"Not to mention the elders of the other sects!" Zhu Xi said and slapped Fei Yinzi's back. "Everyone's here to watch you! And since you're the only disciple remaining to have his match yet, the whole audience will definitely be watching your match!" he told him.
"And, you're the only disciple of Cheng-shishu." Su Mi added. "Cheng-shishu's achievements are widely known. So, you have to worry about yourself more and think of your performance later. You can't let your master's name go down." He patted his head.
Fei Yinzi's heart skipped a beat and his lips twitched. Right… why did I forget? He thought as his mood became gloomier. My master is a great person. I have to match him up as his disciple, right? He thought and now his brow twitched in annoyance.
Everyone. "…" oops… it seems that we overdid it. They thought and looked away, only to see their masters giving them a thumbs up. Well, as long as Fei Yinzi's attention would shift away from Cheng Sheng.
But… where did Cheng Sheng go? Although he's a scum, but as he said earlier, he keeps his promises. So, where is he now?
"For the first match – " before they knew it, it was already the picking of the participants for the first match this afternoon.
Zheng Yi threw them an apologetic glance since he knew that the Xinfaxian Sect members are waiting for Cheng Sheng to arrive, and they all do, but Cheng Sheng isn't here yet. They also didn't see either Sun Rong or Qie Shi coming, or even their people, to inform them of Cheng Sheng's whereabouts.
Suddenly, a thought struck them and their hearts thudded wildly inside their chest because of fear. It can't be… something happened to Cheng Sheng?! They all thought and even Zheng Yi almost dropped the nameplate he already picked.
Fortunately, it wasn't Fei Yinzi's nameplate, but of a rogue cultivator's.
"Please pick your opponent." Zheng Yi stiffly smiled at the rogue cultivator who came up the stage while inwardly wishing for him not to pick Fei Yinzi.
It seems like Heaven heard his wish since the rogue cultivator picked another rogue cultivator, and Zheng Yi hurriedly left to go to his grandfather Zheng Fu Gong.
"Have they already sent people to look for Cheng Sheng?" he immediately asked seeing their worried expressions. He knew that they also thought something has happened to Cheng Sheng.
"Zheng Meng said he isn't in the Yunxiao Inn. And Cheng Sheng didn't tell him to do any task." Zheng Fu Gong sighed. "Zheng Meng doesn't know where could Cheng Sheng be." He said.
Zheng Yi's expression fell and he looked at the seats of the sect elders. He saw Jing Bai shaking his head telling him that their own people didn't see Cheng Sheng.
"Wait… where are Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le?!" Fan Wen asked when he noticed that the four people are missing.
Everyone started and they all turned. They finally realized that some people are missing.
"It couldn't be… Cheng Sheng left to do something again?" Tang Zhe asked.
"No. Cheng-shidi keeps his promises. If he says he will be present this afternoon, he will be!" Feng Mo said.
"Find Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le!" Chen Han decided.
"Wait!" Sun Yi cried when he saw a familiar person running towards them. It is Sun Rong's subordinate. "What happened? Where is junior Cheng?" he immediately asked.
Sun Rong's subordinate didn't dare catch his breath first seeing everyone is staring at him. "Elder Cheng left earlier with sect leader He." He immediately answered.
Everyone turned and saw He Run. He Run is here, but… where is Cheng Sheng?!
"What about Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le?" Jing Cheng asked.
"This subordinate doesn't know." The person shook his head. "I only saw elder Cheng and sect leader He leaving not long after all of you have left." He explained.
Everyone's expression fell. Jing Bai signaled Zheng Yi to ask He Run.
Zheng Yi and the others immediately caught the message and Li Nanzi who is nearest to He Run spoke. "Sect leader He, may I ask if you have seen Cheng Sheng earlier?" he asked.
"Huh? I did. We came here this afternoon and separated at the entrance." He Run answered. "Why? Something happened to him?!" he exclaimed as his eyes widened.
Li Nanzi stared at him and saw that He Run's expression is authentic. "This… everyone is looking for him now since he didn't show up this afternoon." He explained.
"What?!" Wu Tong exclaimed when he heard it and Hui Qiu's expression also changed.
They all know how important Cheng Sheng is, especially now that he possesses a vast knowledge and could deduce some facts about the enemies.
"This couldn't be…" Hui Qiu's fiery red lips pursed in irritation. She called for her servant and sent her to look for Cheng Sheng.
Wu Tong did the same.
He Run coldly sweated. "This can't be… we arrived together…" he muttered as he clenched his fists.
Everyone thought that he is worried because he will be suspected for hiding Cheng Sheng. Only he knows that this isn't what he is worried about.
"Look for Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu and Xiao Le!" Qian Lin spoke. "They must know where Cheng Sheng is!" he said.
"It was the four of them who left earlier with Cheng Sheng aside from sect leader He." Qian Tian added.
"Contact the Chen patriarch, former sect leader Wu, elder Fei and elder Xi." Jing Kang spoke.
Everyone turned to him.
"That's right!" Jing Hei exclaimed. "If Cheng Sheng would really do something, he will inform the four of them!" he said.
Everyone nodded in agreement. Though, even if they have decided this right now, they are still worried. What if neither Xi Ming, Xi Xing, Shu Mu, Chen Jing, Wu Fan, Fei Lin nor Xi Ling know where Cheng Sheng is? What if he was really caught by the enemies? The more they think, the more they worry.
"Elder Zheng Yi, the second match." The host called Zheng Yi and lowered his head, feeling embarrassed since he knows that the sect leaders and elders looked troubled. Although the audience can't see it, but he can since he has been working for the Righteous Alliance for a long time.
Zheng Yi picked a nameplate with a heavy heart. Then, he sighed in relief when he saw that it wasn't Fei Yinzi. Cheng Sheng… where are you? Your disciple is here waiting for you! He thought.
Everyone also sighed when the rogue cultivator picked up his opponent and it wasn't Fei Yinzi. This means that Fei Yinzi will be in the last match. Cheng Sheng should appear before the last match!