"Er Zi's condition is really good?" Chen Wu asked. "As well as Wen Wen's?" he added as he looked at Cui Xiao and Ling Yun.
Cui Xiao nodded as an answer. Her expression is earnest. "My jie said so." She told them. She trusts her elder sister, and she believes in Cui Xiang's skills as a doctor. So, if her sister says so, then it should be.
Ling Yun smiled. "I can see that Er Zi's meridians have become wider, and the flow of his qi has now become smoother." He answered.
Chen Wu sighed in relief while Wu Lian's tensed muscles relaxed. Chen Wu must have brought Cui Xiao and Ling Yun with him and Wu Lian since Cui Xiao is a girl, and also to ask her and Ling Yun about Fei Yinzi's and Wen Wen's condition albeit it was already told back in the camp that Fei Yinzi is now out of danger and he and Wen Wen only needed to rest.
Meanwhile, Wu Lian, although he doesn't show much expressions, his emotions can be seen through his actions and behavior. Like just now, he looked tensed but after hearing Cui Xiao's and Ling Yun's confirmation, he relaxed.
"Good. That's good, then." Chen Wu said and smiled, feeling very good.
Although they are currently in a competition, if no one would be hurt or injured, then wouldn't that be good? He believes that if they can avoid fighting, then they would, and if they can avoid to be injured, then they should. This virtuous attitude of him was due to the good upbringing of the Chen family.
"Ling Yun." Chen Wu called. "Look for the direction where the demonic qi is the densest." He told Ling Yun.
"Okay!" Ling Yun nodded and flew above the trees before he closed his eyes. When he opened them again, his pupils are glowing. He started to look around the area.
"We have to be more careful. The demons are stronger this time." Wu Lian reminded them.
"En." Chen Wu nodded in agreement as he placed Cui Xiao beside him so he can immediately protect her in case a demon would suddenly jump out at them.
Suddenly, they heard Ling Yun gasp. "What the fck…!" he cursed under his breath.
"What is it?" Chen Wu asked.
Ling Yun descended. "I saw three dark clouds of demonic qi. One is in the canyon, and is fairly big. The second one is the biggest, and is in the forest in the northeast." He told them.
"Northeast?!" Chen Wu exclaimed.
"Isn't that where Zhu Xi-shixiong and Wen Yan-shixiong's group are going?" Cui Xiao asked.
Wu Lian's expression turned more serious. "Should we head where they are?" he asked as he looked at Chen Wu.
Chen Wu pondered. "They aren't that weak. Also, if they would really find themselves in a pinch, they would send us a signal." He said.
"En." Wu Lian agreed. Then, he turned to Ling Yun. "Where is the third one?" he asked.
Ling Yun scratched his face. "This is what I was surprised about. The third one is a small cloud of demonic qi and is moving." He said. Then, his brows knitted. "But, it was moving in circles." He told them.
"'in circles'?" Wu Lian was puzzled.
"Could it be that – " Chen Wu looked at them. " – the demons are chasing people?" he asked them.
They were surprised. "It is possible." Wu Lian answered.
Ling Yun pinched his chin as he pondered. "Indeed… now that I think about it, I seem to recall that I have seen some sword glares inside that small dark cloud." He said.
"Then, there must be people!" Chen Wu said.
"How many are the sword glares?" Wu Lian asked.
"This…" Ling Yun muttered and suddenly froze.
"Hm?" Cui Xiao looked at him.
Ling Yun stiffly smiled. "I saw… there are only two…" he answered.
Chen Wu and Wu Lian froze while Cui Xiao tilted her head. "'two'…?" she muttered. Before she could react, her waist was seized by Chen Wu and they flew.
"Which direction?" Chen Wu asked as they looked around.
But, as soon as he pointed, they saw light rose in that direction.
"… eh?" Ling Yun muttered and froze. "… my finger didn't produce a beam, right?" he asked and blinked.
"It is a call for help!" Wu Lian said and flew ahead.
Chen Wu, with Cui Xiang in tow, flew after him.
"Ah, wait!" Ling Yun cried and followed them.
"Two sword glares… there is only Wu Tie and Jin Yu who work as a pair!" Chen Wu said. "Even if they are strong, but there are only two of them, after all. And the demons left to be hunted are stronger…" he said.
Wu Lian nodded in agreement. "That call for help is the proof." He said.
Ling Yun is nervous. "I didn't think this far… if I have known…" he bit his lip.
Chen Wu sighed while Cui Xiao patted his back to comfort him. "It is not your fault." He told him. "In fact, if not for you, we wouldn't know about Wu Tie and Jin Yu being in danger." He said.
Ling Yun still feels guilty.
…
"Ah… now he realizes the worth of his eyes." Cheng Sheng said as he rested his cheek on his palm.
Ling Xi, who has just returned, grimaced. "Thank you, elder Cheng." He said.
Cheng Sheng looked at him. "No. Although us, adults, should raise children, how much they will develop depends on them." he said and turned his gaze back on the competition.
Ling Xi can't help but smile. "Elder Cheng is right." He said and looked at Ling Yun who is clenching his fists as he looked at the direction where Wu Tie and Jin Yu are which they are approaching.
"If one realizes that he has limited abilities, he shouldn't wallow in self-deprecation." Cheng Sheng said. "Instead, he should use it to make himself a better person." He said.
Ling Xi looked at him.
"If one realizes that he has an unlimited potential, he shouldn't stop and become satisfied." Cheng Sheng continued. "Instead, he should know how to explore, and discover more of its uses." He said.
Fei Yin and Fan Wen who are silently listening smiled. Li Tian, Feng Mo, Lei Qing, Lei Ling and You Rou feels proud at their fellow disciple, Cheng Sheng. The other elders feel warm in their hearts. Although Cheng Sheng is labelled as a scum, that was because people only see what's on the surface, what he show and let them see of him. But, underneath that mask he wears is a soft and kind heart.
That is why albeit Cheng Sheng always annoys them, they don't take it to their hearts because they know who he really is.
Fei Yin looked at Cheng Sheng who is chatting with Ling Xi. Geez… Sheng is just too good… he is the best… he thought, smiling proudly as he stared at his lover. But, because of this, many people likes him. It makes Fei Yin feel a sense of crisis, despite he shouldn't since he knows that Cheng Sheng would always be his, and Cheng Sheng already confirmed this many times.
This virtuous Cheng Sheng, fortunately, has been booked by him. Or else, Fei Yin had to line up at the end of a very long line, compete with the people before him, just to capture Cheng Sheng's heart.
"Hm?" Cheng Sheng muttered when he felt someone is staring at him. He is very familiar with that gaze.
He turned and, as expected, he met Fei Yin's gaze. The corners of his lips instantly curled up and he winked at him. If Fei Yin wasn't just in the public, he would already be clutching his chest where the arrow struck him after he saw his lover's playful wink at him.
Ah, I admit defeat. Sheng is just the best! Fei Yin thought and smiled, feeling proud that his lover is Cheng Sheng.
The others who accidentally saw their flirting. "…" ah! Our eyes! Our eyes! Someone, please cure our eyes that have been blinded! They thought and covered their eyes.
Ling Xi laughed while Sun Yi feels envious. He wanted his Yuan to be here, too!
Wu Yuan who is stuck in the sect leaders' area. "…" Yiyi, it is not that I don't want to! He thought and helplessly sighed, feeling his heart aching for his dearly beloved being alone right now.
Xie Lan whistled when he saw Wu Yuan's longing gaze. "Sect leader Yu, do you also have someone in your heart?" he asked as he smiled teasingly at Yu Wen.
Yu Wen coughed. "Sect leader Xie, you have, right?" he asked back. But, his red ears have given him away.
Xie Lan laughed. "Of course." He answered in a matter-of-fact tone. "We have been married for more than twenty years." He said.
Sun Yan who heard what he said almost did a spit-take. Why? Because more than twenty years ago, Xie Lan was still studying in the Shanliangde Sect, together with Fan Wen!