"I guess no one would come for the meantime." Cheng Sheng said after they crossed the other side of the river.

They have finally left the city. They can go find a place to hide, but only temporarily. He can't set up a barrier around them to alert them of the incoming enemies since they can't use talismans or arrays in Heilong Realm.

The talismans they have aren't the evil type – which is normally used by the demonic cultivators. So, they would be exposed if they would use talismans. They also can't use arrays, which the area where Cheng Sheng excels, since the qi used to create the array would expose them. Fortunately, the three of them are martial arts experts, and some of the best, so they didn't dare use qi carelessly. Or else, they would have already exposed themselves as soon as yesterday when they have been ambushed.

They could only rely on their instinct, their ability to perceive danger, their martial arts, and their meticulous planning.

"I'm sorry." Wu Yuan apologized as they entered the woods. "If not for me…" he said.

Cheng Sheng cut him off. "Senior Wu doesn't need to apologize." He said. "It's my mistake. I took out the Mirror of Yearning without considering the place. I know it is a treasure, but I was rash in my action." He explained. It's not that he is a saint to not blame anyone, and instead place all the blame on himself. He is just clear on what's right and what's wrong, and who's the one who should take the blame.

"Cheng Sheng – " Wu Yuan still wanted to speak. But, Fei Yin patted his shoulder. He turned and saw Fei Yin shook his head.

Although Cheng Sheng is his lover, but Fei Yin know when to be biased.

"I'm sorry." Cheng Sheng apologized. "I brought the trouble upon us." He said. Even though he is concerned about Wu Yuan, and sympathizes with him, but he is the one who acted. Now, they are being chased. Fortunately, treasures are common between the righteous and demonic cultivators. No one found out that they are righteous cultivators.

From now on, they are walking on a tight rope. One wrong move and it is a death sentence for them. They should increase their cautiousness to several degrees.

"In the end, what is hidden in that city?" Fei Yin asked. "Why does Bai Yun wanted us to go there?" he added.

Because Cheng Sheng messed up, they were forced to leave the city before they could investigate.

"Did we just overthink it?" Fei Yin said before he shook his head. "No… there's really something fishy with that Bai Yun!" he said and frowned. "My instinct is telling me that there's something off about him…" he muttered.

Wu Yuan nodded, clearly agreeing to what Fei Yin has said. "I feel that there is something wrong, but I can't point it out." He frowned, obviously displeased.

"Even I." Cheng Sheng honestly said.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan looked at him.

Cheng Sheng helplessly smiled and raised his hands. "I can only assume and then carefully consider our next course of actions like what I did yesterday." He said before the smile faded from his face. "Even though there's a high possibility that Bai Yun is an enemy, but we can't let an opportunity slip by." He said.

"'opportunity'?" they said.

Cheng Sheng nodded before he smiled. "I figured that there might really be something in that city." He said. "And, I have confirmed my guess." He told them.

Their eyes widened. "When did that happen?" they asked when their voice trailed off after they realized something. "It couldn't be…" they stared at him.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "Yes. When I took out the Mirror of Yearning." He said.

Their jaw dropped as they looked at him in shock.

"It just happens that senior Wu is missing senior Sun, and needs the Mirror of Yearning, so…" Cheng Sheng looked meaningfully at them.

"You took out the treasure, since you know the demonic cultivators will scramble for it." Wu Yuan said. "And so, we were ambushed." He said.

Cheng Sheng nodded.

"Sheng." Fei Yin called. "Your purpose is to lure out the leaders of the demonic cultivators." He said.

"En." Cheng Sheng nodded.

Wu Yuan looked at him in awe.

"Who is it?" Fei Yin asked.

"Not Bai Yun." Cheng Sheng answered.

"Why?" Fei Yin asked.

"I thought it would be him, since he wanted to lure us there. But – " Cheng Sheng said. " – based from what I have observed of Bai Yun when we chatted with him before, Bai Yun, although have much free time on his hands, wouldn't be roundabout with his plans." He explained.

"'roundabout'?" they asked.

Cheng Sheng looked at them. "Have you noticed, the number of the group of demonic cultivators chasing us are random?" he asked.

Wu Yuan's eyes widened. "That's right." He said. "When we were first ambushed, there were three groups of demonic cultivators, a total of thirty people. The second time, there are twenty people. The third time, there are twenty-five. Next, there are only ten…" he said as he recounted the times they were ambushed.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "That's not all." He said.

"There's more?" Fei Yin asked.

"Yes." Cheng Sheng nodded. "This person has too much time in his hands." He said.

Fei Yin's brows knitted. He wanted to say that it might be Bai Yun, since Bai Yun has a lot of free time in his hands. But, he trusts on Cheng Sheng's judgement, and that it was not only Bai Yun that might have much time on his hands.

"Lastly – " Cheng Sheng spoke.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan. "…" there's more?!

" – this person… he wants for us to exhaust our strength…" Cheng Sheng said. "He wants to see how long can we last. But – " he lowered his gaze. " – he seems to be toying with us." He told them.

"What?!" Fei Yin gnashed his teeth.

Wu Yuan's fists clenched and his face darkened.

"Just who is he?!" Fei Yin asked.

Cheng Sheng shook his head. "We've heard from Bai Yun that there are Four Demonic leaders in Heilong, as well as the Patrician Houses. They have their power in their respective territories." He said.

"So, it was one of them? Bai Yun lured us there to be killed?" Fei Yin asked.

Cheng Sheng lifted his gaze. "Not necessarily to be killed…" he muttered.

"What? What do you mean?" Fei Yin asked.

"As I've said, Bai Yun might be an enemy." Cheng Sheng said. "But, there's a possibility he can be an ally…" he told them.

Fei Yin looked like he had just heard a joke. "How can that be?! How can he be an ally?" he asked.

"Him luring us here…" Cheng Sheng said. "Did we die?" he asked.

"No." Fei Yin answered.

"Then, he believed in our strength. That we won't die if we'll go to that place." Cheng Sheng said. "Instead, we have benefitted." He told them.

"What benefit?" Fei Yin asked.

"That the Four Demonic Leaders… as well as the Patrician Houses…" Cheng Sheng said. "Their sphere of power starts from here." He told them.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan were stunned.

"We have reached their territory." Cheng Sheng added. "We can't let our guard down even for a second." He said.

Fei Yin's and Wu Yuan's expression is grim. "Understood." They said.

"Also – " Cheng Sheng spoke.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan froze. "… there's more?" they asked.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "Don't forget there's one more person who has a great power in Heilong." He said.

"Who?" they asked.

"The Emperor of Heilong." Cheng Sheng answered.

…

Bai Yun was taking a nap on the bench when he felt the wind changed. "… if I'm not keen on my surroundings, you could've killed me while I'm asleep." He said without changing his position, nor looking at the person he is talking to.

"Because I know you are keen on your surroundings, I can't kill you." The person answered.

Bai Yun grinned and he opened his eyes. "What did I do for you to grace me with your presence – " he said as he looked up at the person. " – Your Majesty, the Emperor?" he asked.

…

"There's still time before the dusk. We can rest here first, then go back to that place." Cheng Sheng said.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. "En." They answered.

"I'll go find us something to eat." Fei Yin said.

"I'll go find some firewood." Cheng Sheng said. Then, he left together with Fei Yin.

Wu Yuan sat on the ground before he took out the Mirror of Yearning. "Sun Yi…" he called.

A few seconds later and the surface of the mirror rippled like the water when touched.

Wu Yuan's eyes widened when he saw Sun Yi. "Sun Yi!" he cried and stared hard at Sun Yi's face on the mirror. He didn't notice that the rim of his eyes turned red.

His tears fell.