"If you are scheming against me, I know you wouldn't immediately tell me about Ming Ye's proposal." Cheng Sheng said as he talked with Wu Yuan. "I know, some people take the initiative to send themselves for others to relieve their suspicion of them. But, I know sect leader Wu wouldn't be like that. Even for the sake of your loved ones." He said and looked at Wu Yuan in the eyes. "You don't want them to be disappointed with you." He told him.

Wu Yuan secretly sighed and kept his expression normal. Cheng Sheng really knows him well. Sun Yi smiled, while Chen Han's face is blank.

"Brother." Cheng Sheng called Chen Han. "I also want to save father." He told him.

Chen Han's pupils shrank. His head that was lowered all this while to avoid Cheng Sheng's gaze, raised and his eyes met Cheng Sheng's eyes.

Cheng Sheng smiled. "I want to save Xiwang, the Youxiwang Sect." he said.

Chen Han's eyes reddened and his lips quivered. "Ah Sheng…" he called as his tears fell.

"Even if sect leader Wu might knock me out earlier and kidnap me to present me to Ming Ye…" Cheng Sheng added.

Everyone. "…" we thought you're not holding a grudge? Was earlier just empty words?!

Fei Yin smiled and held Cheng Sheng's hand. He can't do anything if it's Cheng Sheng's decision. He knows, Cheng Sheng has already considered all possible options.

"I'll find a way to resurrect elder Luo. If I could, Ming Ye might soften and we can discuss with him to free the Youxiwang Sect and Xiwang, as well as father and elder Wu." Cheng Sheng said. "If not, then we'll invite him to a decisive battle with the world's peace at stake. If we win, he'll surrender. If he wins, he'll continue his world domination, but we can continue to resist his rule." He said.

The first part is good, but the second part… isn't that so shameless?

Cheng Sheng saw their doubts and he laughed. "We have to believe in elder Luo's value in Ming Ye's heart." He told them. Then, he glanced at Wu Yuan.

What Wu Yuan told them was that Ming Ye 'humiliating' Luo Shi and then killed Luo Shi after. However, he doesn't know that Ming Ye really loves Luo Shi. Wu Yuan is an honest person, thus he felt aggrieved with Ming Ye's schemes. He wouldn't keep it from them if he knew Ming Ye's feelings towards Luo Shi. Instead, he would even ask them of their opinion. Thus, he really is clueless about his shifu's and shishu's relationship.

Cheng Sheng remembered that time when they were looking for the missing Wu Fan, and stopped where the trace of Wu Fan's qi ended. He took out the Recollection Bell that time, and everyone was shocked except Ming Ye who remained calm. That time, Ming Ye admitted he had pure thoughts towards a certain person. That person is Luo Shi.

He was really telling the truth. He didn't hint his feelings at Luo Shi. He didn't make any advances, nor flirt with him. He didn't confess. It was only at this time did he finally released all his emotions towards Luo Shi. He can't help but lament at their fate.

"However." He spoke. "Before I present myself to Ming Ye, I had to help them deal with Qi Ling first." He told Wu Yuan.

Wu Yuan nodded. "He only told me to pass his message to you. As for the time, he didn't specify. He doesn't care whether when you go or not, or whether Qi Ling lives or dies." He explained.

They fell silent, then looked at each other. Wu Yuan's words reveal that Ming Ye and Qi Ling are two forces acting independently. They aren't working together.

"… should I go to Ming Ye first and propose him a deal to help us deal with Qi Ling?" he asked.

Everyone. "…" he's still so shameless! This is taking advantage of Ming Ye too much! They still have principles as righteous cultivators!

"… okay. Let's deal with Qi Ling by ourselves first." Cheng Sheng said and scratched his cheek as he gave them a smile.

Everyone. "…" so, you are aware! You still have a conscience!

…

Jing Kang slowly opened his eyes and what greeted him is an unfamiliar ceiling. It took him a while before he remembered what happened the past days.

After they left the Xinfaxian and travelled to the Central Region, they were intercepted in the gates of Zhongyang. However, something happened and they bypassed it. Then, they immediately flew to the Yunxiao Inn and reunited with Jing Rui, before they started to save people.

But, during one of their rescue missions, he fell ill and they took him back to Yunxiao Inn, letting him rest. Jing Rui then remembered that Jing Kang has a frail body when he was young, and his illness recurred. However, Jing Kang lately drank the Spring of Life, so his illness acting up is actually his body started to revitalizing itself.

Right now, he could feel his body brimming with energy and he left his room to look for the others. He found Jing Cheng, Jing Bai and Jing Hei along with the Xinfaxian Sect and the Youxiwang Sect. Jing Rui, Xie Lan and Zheng Fu Gong weren't present.

"Cheng Sheng. Are you sure that after we kill Qi Ling, Zheng Yi will turn better?" he heard Jing Bai ask.

"They should be, or else I won't let Qi Ling die easily." Cheng Sheng said.

"How will you deal with Qi Ling?" Jing Cheng asked.

"Fight poison with poison." Cheng Sheng said. "I'll infiltrate his soul!" he told them.

"What?! You can do that?!" Jing Hei was shocked.

"Shall I test it on you?" Cheng Sheng's eyes narrowed.

Jing Hei immediately shut up. Jing Kang, who was secretly listening, smiled. It has been so long since he last heard them talk in a relaxed way.

"This is the grudge between me and Qi Ling." Cheng Sheng said. "He touched one of my people. I can't spare him, or I will feel bad if I won't avenge Lei Ling!" he said.

Jing Kang's heart skipped a beat when he heard Lei Ling's name. "What… what happened to Lei Ling?!" he asked as he ran towards them.

"Ah Kang!" Jing Bai exclaimed.

However, Jing Kang's eyes had been on Cheng Sheng. "What happened to Lei Ling?" he asked again and waited for Cheng Sheng's answer.

It was Jing Cheng who answered for him. "Qi Ling took a portion of Zheng Yi's and Lei Ling's soul. Now, both of them are in a coma." He explained.

Jing Kang's face paled. All of them present are aware of Jing Kang's feelings towards Lei Ling, thus, none of them spoke further more of negative stuff.

"Can – " Jing Kang said. " – can the Spring of Life help?" he asked and took out half a bottle of water.

Cheng Sheng calmly looked at Jing Kang. "Yes." He answered. Before Jing Kang could speak, he spoke. "But, it would not solve the problem." He told him.

Jing Kang was stunned. "Why… this is the Spring of Life." He said.

"It is not omnipotent." Cheng Sheng said. "The Spring of Life can help a person by curing their illness. However, it can't help much if some part of their soul was taken." He told him. "The Spring of Life can only help nourish the soul to make it stronger, resisting the attacks against it. However, it can't restore the soul that was taken." He explained.

Jing Kang fell silent as he listened very carefully to Cheng Sheng's words.

"If one's soul was injured, then the Spring of Life can heal it. However, a part of Lei Ling's soul was stolen. That meant, it still exists, just that it's in someone's possession. It has interference of others, so the Spring of Life can't resolve it." Cheng Sheng explained. "The only way we can help them is to take back their soul from Qi Ling, and then kill Qi Ling to cut off his connection with Zheng Yi and Lei Ling." He said.

Jing Bai nodded, while the others listened.

"I – " Jing Kang said.

Everyone. "…" what's with this stutter of yours?! Can't you complete a sentence in one shot?!

"I will kill Qi Ling!" Jing Kang said as he took a deep breath. He raised his head and looked at Cheng Sheng in the eyes. "I'll kill Qi Ling, then marry Lei Ling!" he told him.

The others were about to cheer him, but then they heard his second sentence. "…"

Cheng Sheng. "…" why look at me?! I'm not Lei Ling's father nor guardian! In terms of seniority, shouldn't you look at Fei Yin, our da shixiong?!

Fei Yin who has been shot while doing nothing. "…" I can't believe my lover can actually pit me, too?

Yu Sheng and Zuo Zhe who was watching the farce. "…" let's continue being a part of the background and reduce our existence more.