"Brother!" Wen Wen exclaimed when he saw Wen Yan and Zhu Xi came in after Chen Wu.
"Wen Wen." Wen Yan called as he walked towards Wen Wen's bed.
The other participants didn't crowd around Wen Wen's bed after they have asked him how he is feeling. They went to Fei Yinzi who Cui Xiang is now checking.
"How are you feeling?" Wen Yan asked as he sat on the side of Wen Wen's bed.
"I am fine." Wen Wen answered and smiled. "How is Er Zi?" he asked and turned his head to look at Fei Yinzi. But, the others are blocking his sight.
Wen Yan stiffened for a moment before he imperceptibly smiled a helpless smile. I am a cut-sleeve, so what right do I have to stop my brother from being one, especially if he truly likes someone? He thought and checked Wen Wen's temperature. "Er Zi's good now, thanks to you." He told Wen Wen.
Wen Wen sighed in relief. "That's great…" he smiled and closed his eyes.
"Wen Wen?" Wen Yan called.
"Yan-shixiong, Wen Wen must still feel exhausted right now." It was Cui Xiang who spoke.
The others parted to reveal her.
"Although he was safe, physically, he is exhausted." Cui Xiang explained. "I had already gave him magic pills, so let him have some sleep first. He will be completely fine when he wakes up again." She told him.
Wen Yan nodded. "Thank you." He said.
Cui Xiang nodded back before she resumed checking Fei Yinzi who returned to sleep before he could completely wake up.
"What about Er Zi?" Zhu Xi asked.
"Both physically and spiritually exhausted, but like Wen Wen, he already took some magic pills. He will be fine after he sleeps." Cui Xiang answered.
They all sighed in relief. They really were given a fright today. After all, like they said last night to Cheng Sheng and Zheng Yi, before they are competitors, they are friends! So, even if they are competing, they definitely don't like it if their friend was hurt. So, they are really concerned of Fei Yinzi's condition.
Fortunately, Fei Yinzi's luck isn't that bad. Not only had he unexpectedly and suddenly advanced, his life was also saved.
"See? I told you! Our master cares for his disciples!" Ling Yun said as they all came out of Fei Yinzi's and Wen Wen's tent after Cui Xiang shooed them all off so that the two could peacefully sleep.
"Of course, uncle cares for his disciples!" Chen Su said.
"A – and… and his n – nephews… t – too…" Chen Yu stuttered.
The other participants nodded in agreement. "That's right! Elder Cheng is benevolent!" they said.
"Hey." Wu Tie suddenly called to Cui Xiang.
The others turned to him.
"Yes?" Cui Xiang answered.
"We want to buy magic pills." Wu Tie told her.
It was then that they recalled that their magic pills are about to be depleted after a grueling battle that happened before the second elimination period.
"We would like to buy, too!" Fei Huo said and raised his hand.
"Sure." Cui Xiang answered with a nod. "How will you pay?" she asked.
Suddenly, there was silence that fell upon them.
"Huh? 'how' will we pay, you say… aren't we paying with money?" Fei Huo asked and tilted his head.
Jing De's lip twitched when he remembered. He looked at Jing Xu and Jing Xu also looked at him. Their gazes are talking. Qian Meng suddenly became uneasy but Qian Jue comforted him. Meanwhile, Qi Lan looked at He Shun. He expected that He Shun would also feel uneasy like Qian Meng, but He Shun actually would look calm.
"You still have money left?" Jin Yu asked and raised his brows as he looked at the Shanliangde Sect.
But, aside from Fei Huo who is still completely clueless, Sun Yan, Fei Luo and Xi Bing are silent. Sun Ri is also silent and bit her lip, looking anxious.
"What do you mean?" Fei Huo's brows knitted. "Brother. We don't have money left?" he looked at Fei Luo whose brow twitched.
"No." Fei Luo answered.
"Ah?! Why?!" Fei Huo exclaimed.
"It was stipulated in the rules that the amount of money that we can bring is limited." Chen Wu spoke.
"Didn't you already have a way?" Xi Bing asked as he looked at Wu Lian.
Wu Lian nodded. "If you don't have money, you can pay with your points." He said.
Another silence. Although it was Wu Lian who said this, the points obviously would go to Cui Xiang who is a pill refiner and potion brewer. Even the Youxiwang Sect would be paying her, of course. Wen Wen, too, when he resumed selling his talismans after he wakes up.
"I remember now…" Qian Meng suddenly spoke. "Didn't this happen, too, during the previous Intersect Competition?" he asked, referring to buying magic pills, potions and talismans using their points.
Everyone. "... oh. You are right." They said as their faces turned black when they recalled that Cheng Sheng has done this before. Thinking this, they all looked at the Xinfaxian Sect.
Cui Xiang remained her graceful smile. Cui Xiao's expression looked carefree. Su Mi's expression is indifferent. Su Yi has a pensive look on his face. Who knows what he is thinking right now. Zhu Xi didn't look like he cares, while Wen Yan's expression is serious.
"No need to look at us. This is Xiang-shimei's transaction so we won't interfere." Wen Yan spoke.
Everyone naturally understood.
"How much will you give?" Wu Tie straightforwardly asked.
"One magic pill for one point." Cui Xiang answered. "One bottle for five points." She added.
Jing Xu's expression changed. "Ehem… shimei, isn't this too cheap?" he asked.
"Is that so?" Cui Xiang tilted her head.
Their expressions turned complicated. But, Cui Xiang looks like she doesn't want to raise the price. Wen Yan has already spoken that their sect won't interfere with Cui Xiang's decision since it was her who is selling magic pills and potions. Thus, they can only grit their teeth and buy while feeling guilt, albeit it wasn't them who set the price this cheap.
After Wu Tie and Jin Yu, and the Shanliangde Sect, buy from Cui Xiang, they left to resume farming for points.
"Wen Yan. Will you stay to watch over your brother?" Chen Wu asked before he and Wu Lian leave. "Chen Shu and Chen Yu can stay to watch over Wen Wen, and Er Zi. They can also guard for Cui Xiang." He said and looked at Cui Xiang who is happily counting her points.
Chen Shu and Chen Yu nodded in agreement.
"Then, thank you. I also have to help Zhu Xi recover his points." Wen Yan said and looked at Zhu Xi.
"'recover points'?" Chen Wu's brows knitted and he immediately checked the leaderboard. Then, he frowned when he saw that Zhu Xi's rank fell below Sun Yan, Fei Luo and Xi Bing. It is even lower than Xi He.
They were all worried earlier that they didn't have the care to check the leaderboard. Someone's life is in danger, especially that it is their friend's life. Naturally, they wouldn't care about the leaderboard. It was only now that Wen Yan said this did they check.
"What happened?" Wu Lian asked as his expression became colder.
Wen Yan didn't answer. He looked at Zhu Xi.
"Zhu Xi?" Su Mi suspiciously looked at him.
"Was it remuneration for xiao Bao and xiao Ling helping Er Zi?" Su Yi asked.
Zhu Xi grimaced. Su Yi is truly too sharp! He thought. The others were also shocked.
"Why didn't you tell us?" Cui Xiao asked. "Here. I will give you a fraction of what they took." She said and transferred points to Zhu Xi before Zhu Xi could react.
Zhu Xi helplessly smiled. "… thank you." He said and placed a palm on his forehead.
Su Mi and Su Yi, as well as the Youxiwang Sect, also gave their points.
"Stop!" Zhu Xi raised his hand when he saw that the other sects also wanted to give their points.
"Hey! Er Zi is also our friend!" Jing De said and immediately transferred points, too, to Zhu Xi. A preemptive strike!
The others laughed and also gave him points.
Zhu Xi doesn't know whether to laugh or cry. "Really… I wanted to tell you, too, but everything happened so fast…" he heaved a sigh.
They all thought he is unassuming thus he didn't tell them. How can Zhu Xi still say that this isn't the case?! They have already given their points to him! It wouldn't be good to return this kindness of theirs to them.
I will smack Er Zi's head when he wakes up! He thought as his brow twitches. This is all because of him!
"Achoo!" Fei Yinzi sneezed and slowly opened his eyes. He looked around and then saw Wen Wen who is sleeping on the other bed. Wen Wen… he thought when he recalled their bodies so close to each other and were separated by only thin clothes.
Warm and gentle spiritual energy passed through their lips that are stuck to each other.