Zheng Yi, behind his mask, gritted his teeth in irritation. However, he knows better than be provoked by Cheng Sheng. He is the eldest disciple of the Righteous Alliance, and the only grandson of Zheng Fu Gong. He knows how to control his temper. "The Alliance's goal is the solidarity of the contestants. As righteous cultivators, we should know how to cooperate for a common goal." He said.

"No, no. I didn't say anything about the Alliance's motives." Cheng Sheng said. "What do you imply? That I deliberately broke off my team because I'm aiming for something? Hey, hey. Why would I sacrifice my family and friends just for my motives?" he asked. "You're thinking too highly of me. I'm not an ambitious person. If I am, the world would have long known of my name and face!" he said.

Zheng Yi's fists clenched. He took a deep breath to calm his fury. "Cheng Sheng. You are a smart and highly-skilled individual. You should know this place is dangerous." He said. "Why would you bring your people here?" he asked.

"You really do highly think of me." Cheng Sheng said and sighed. "You already said, the secret realm is a dangerous place. Any place looks dangerous. This one isn't any different." He said and pointed the area behind them with his thumb. "Also, even if Wu Xi is in my team, but everyone here only teamed up temporarily. The same can be said between Wu Xi and I." he continued. "Wu Xi has his own goals to achieve. Who am I to stop him, even if I know the place is a forbidden area? We're just mere stranger to each other!" he explained as he crossed his arms. "Also… this really is a forbidden area?" he asked, his tone surprised as he looked behind them.

"Elder Zheng already said beforehand. The secret realm is dangerous. Even if an accident occurred, but if the contestant wasn't careful, the Alliance won't be held responsible." Zheng Yi coldly said. "Wu Xi's disappearance serves as a warning to everyone!" he said, his voice loud as he announced to all the contestants. "Don't act on your own. If you don't value your life, then do so!" he said and then turned to Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin. "If you still want to continue roaming around this area, then you're free to do so." He told them.

"No, no. After hearing elder Zheng's grandson's warning, of course we wouldn't dare!" Cheng Sheng said with a big smile. "Right, da shixiong?" he turned to Fei Yin.

"Yes." Fei Yin nodded as an answer.

Zheng Yi's eyes narrowed. "I don't know what you're planning, but be careful not to act against the Alliance. Even if it's against my principles, I will kill you." He told him. "This conversation wasn't recorded in the Cleansing Stone, so you don't have to worry." He said.

"That should be said to you." Cheng Sheng said as he grinned at Zheng Yi.

A vein popped in Zheng Yi's forehead when Cheng Sheng waved at him. Then, he went back to the Zunjingde Sect's side.

"Yiyi?" Jing Bai called when Zheng Yi reappeared. "What was… Yiyi?" he called again when Zheng Yi didn't answer him. Zheng Yi would usually retort to him after being called by his nickname of him. However, Zheng Yi didn't this time.

There's also the sudden announcement just now after Wu Xi disappeared…

"What happened to him? Was he replaced?" Jing Hei whispered to him.

"No." Jing Bai answered. He knows it is Zheng Yi and he wasn't replaced by an Alliance's disciple. Thus, he was puzzled by Zheng Yi's silence.

"Then, why did he suddenly become mute?" Jing Hei curiously asked.

"The Alliance's disciples always had1." Jing Kang answered when he saw Jing Bai's serious expression. "Let's continue." He said.

"Yes!" Jing Hei answered as he followed Jing Cheng and Qian Lin who were making a killing.

Jing Kang looked at Jing Bai and Zheng Yi before he left.

"Zheng Yi." Jing Bai called. His tone is serious. This is the first time he called Zheng Yi by his full name.

Zheng Yi blinked when he heard Jing Bai's address of him. "What?" he asked and turned to Jing Bai, only to be met by Jing Bai's face. Jing Bai's face is too close to him. If he wasn't wearing a mask, they would have already kissed! His eyes widened in shock and he immediately pushed him. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"No… I thought you were sleeping while standing." Jing Bai said before he smiled. "So? What did Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin say about Wu Xi's disappearance?" he asked.

"Oh. They just wandered too far." Zheng Yi said and blinked. "Is your group done with this area?" he asked as he looked around and saw countless corpses lying on the ground.

"I am, but Jing Cheng and the others aren't yet." Jing Bai answered. "Since I am tired, shall we go have a chat?" he asked and smiled brightly at Zheng Yi.

Zheng Yi's face darkened. "Don't interrupt me with my work!" he told him before he marched away.

Jing Bai watched him walk away and his smile disappeared. That was him just now. He thought. He's referring to Zheng Yi. Then, who was 'he'? He thought as his eyes narrowed. He looked at the talisman on his hand that was now burning. It was a talisman he asked from Jing Kang and he pasted it on Zheng Yi's back before Zheng Yi could leave earlier. If it was the 'usual' Zheng Yi, he would have already noticed. However, 'he' didn't.

He looked back and saw Jing Kang was staring at him. Their gazes talked. Something's wrong with Zheng Yi.

On Cheng Sheng's side, he and Fei Yin finished eating the barbecue – albeit the mountain of corpses on their side.

"What have you found out?" Fei Yin asked.

"Hmm… I am not too sure." Cheng Sheng answered and he frowned. "This is troublesome, ne." he sighed.

"I'm with you." Fei Yin told him.

Cheng Sheng blinked and he looked at Fei Yin before he smiled. "I know." He said. "Da shixiong is the most reliable person!" he said with a big smile.

"…" that's not what I wanted to hear. Fei Yin thought before he sighed, feeling helpless. "Sheng." He called.

Cheng Sheng stared at Fei Yin. "Say. You're not my da shixiong, nor am I your shidi, so – " he said as he tiptoed and had his face approach Fei Yin's face. " – can't you smile, Fei Yin?" he asked.

Fei Yin's eyes widened before he stared at Cheng Sheng. He felt his heart skipped a beat when he heard Cheng Sheng called his name. Sheng… he thought as he raised his hand. However, just as his hand reached the back of Cheng Sheng's head to pull him to him, he stopped. He lowered his hand before he moved his gaze. "I will." He told him. "But not now." he said.

Cheng Sheng stared at Fei Yin before he sighed in disappointment. "Geez… da shixiong just can't spoil his shidi!" he complained with a pout.

"…" am I not spoiling you enough? Fei Yin thought before he took a deep breath to calm his fast heartbeat. His heart almost stopped beating earlier when he saw Cheng Sheng's face is so close to his. He thought he'd kiss me. He thought as he secretly glanced at Cheng Sheng who was checking around the area.

"It's already afternoon and it's so hot!" Cheng Sheng said.

Yeah. It really is hot. Fei Yin thought as his face reddened. He's still thinking if Cheng Sheng would have kissed him earlier. "Hm?" he muttered when he saw the sky suddenly turned gray. "Rain." He said as he pulled Cheng Sheng. "Let's go find a shelter." He told him and pulled him to leave the forest.

"Okay!" Cheng Sheng answered.

Just as they left, a figure appeared behind a tree and was staring viciously at them. Its long and slender tongue flickered as it hissed.

Up the tree, the invisible Wu Xi was silently watching the figure before the figure ran towards the deeper part of the forbidden area. "…" should I follow it? He thought before he sighed. No. I'll just sleep. It'll come out later, anyway, as long as Cheng Sheng is around. He thought before he closed his eyes to sleep.

Outside the secret realm, Zheng Fu Gong and the other elders looked grim. Meanwhile, the sect leaders felt disappointed.

"It was a waste, that Wu Xi." One of them said. "I was hoping to recruit him for my sect." he said.

"Yeah. Who would expect for him to be so greedy and follow a corpse? He was led to his demise." Another one said. They already decided that Wu Xi died.

The audience also felt disappointed, but they already had expected the forbidden areas. "That was really unfortunate, for it to happen to Wu Xi." They said.

"Wu Xi…" Lei Ling muttered and he felt sad.

"Wu Xi disappeared. Is he still alive?" You Rou asked. "What would happen to Cheng-shixiong's promise to him?" she added.

"We should believe in Wu Xi." Lei Qing said. "He won't die. Cheng-shidi must know something." She said. Her voice is firm.

Zuo Zhe looked at her. You don't know how you were so right, girl1. He thought as he looked at Wu Xi sleeping on top of the tree. Cheng Sheng really loves to play with people's feelings, making the one in the know – him, feel mad!

acting mute. Lei Qing