Liu Xing Sheng stared at Zhao Feng Ying and was just about to speak when the young man did something unexpected.
!!!
Without caring about the people watching, Zhao Feng Ying suddenly knelt down and hugged Liu Xing Sheng's thigh. What he did was clearly shocking.
"Young Master Zhao!" Liu Xing Sheng was shocked by Zhao Feng Ying's embarrassing behavior. He might be the only person who could make Liu Xing Sheng panic.
"Xing Sheng Dagē, please don't abandon me. I'm sorry if I did something wrong. Please don't cast me away like this, Xing Sheng Dagē..."
"Young Master Zhao, control yourself and get up." It wasn't Liu Xing Sheng who was clinging to someone's leg, but rather, he was the one deeply embarrassed by Zhao Feng Ying's actions. Seriously, where did this man learn such strange behavior?
"No! I won't let go! If I do, Xing Sheng Dagē will leave me!"
"I won't do that, so please get up. Do you really have no shame?" Liu Xing Sheng tried to remove the hands clinging to his thigh, even patting Zhao Feng Ying's shoulder.
"You have to promise you won't leave me, Xing Sheng Dagē."
"A-alright, I promise. I'll personally escort Young Master Zhao home."
Zhao Feng Ying finally let go of Liu Xing Sheng. He stood up again, flashing a friendly smile that seemed odd to the disciples of the Tiān Fēng Sect.
"Ahem, we... should probably leave this place now," one of the Tiān Fēng Sect disciples spoke up, though her voice sounded nervous.
"If I may ask, which city do you wish to visit, Young Master?" Liu Ye Rin spoke up, drawing Liu Xing Sheng's attention to her.
"Shu City," Liu Xing Sheng replied seriously. He explained, "Young Master Zhao actually had a mission with his fellow disciples to go to Shu City. The place was attacked by the undead."
!!
The three Tiān Fēng Sect disciples gasped at Liu Xing Sheng's words. They exchanged looks before one of them spoke up.
"Young Master Liu, we actually had a similar mission. However... Shu City is beyond saving." The disciple glanced briefly at Liu Ye Rin before continuing, "We... were forced to carry out a purge."
Liu Ye Rin lowered her gaze slightly and said, "I did encounter two disciples from Mount Xuandu Sect. But... we were too late to save them. They were both infected by corpse poison."
!!
"Sh-Shixiong..." Zhao Feng Ying looked shocked upon hearing that his fellow disciples had fallen victim to the Shu City tragedy. He even reached out and covered his eyes while bowing his head.
Liu Ye Rin and the other two Tiān Fēng Sect disciples saw Zhao Feng Ying's body trembling. The young man even bit his lip as if deeply frustrated.
Liu Xing Sheng himself didn't know what to say. Seeing Zhao Feng Ying like this proved how close he was to his fellow disciples, making their loss even heavier.
"You have my condolences, Young Master Zhao..." Liu Xing Sheng reached out and gently patted Zhao Feng Ying's back. He honestly didn't know how to comfort a grieving person, but hoped his actions might help a little.
With a trembling voice, Zhao Feng Ying said, "My Shixiong... Though they often treated me harshly, it was all just training so I could... become braver."
Memories of the two Mount Xuandu disciples flashed before Zhao Feng Ying. They were the ones who often kicked and hit him from behind—even played tricks during class.
"My Shixiong were so... caring," Zhao Feng Ying recalled having soup dumped on his head, or being splashed with filthy water from time to time.
"My Shixiong..."
"Death is a fate no one can escape, Young Master Zhao. I believe your Shixiong have reached nirvana with many merits," Liu Xing Sheng gently patted Zhao Feng Ying's back again, trying to calm the still-trembling youth.
Zhao Feng Ying bit his lower lip and wiped his face. His eyes were swollen, clearly from sorrow. However, neither Liu Xing Sheng nor the three disciples of Tiān Fēng Sect knew the truth Zhao Feng Ying kept hidden.
The truth was, Zhao Feng Ying was trembling not out of grief—but rage. He couldn't accept that his fellow disciples died so easily. After all they did to him, they deserved far worse.
"They don't deserve a peaceful death. Those bastards should rot in hell," Zhao Feng Ying bit his lip again. "Tsk, such a shame I didn't get to see them torn apart by the undead. That would've been quite the spectacle~"
Silently, Zhao Feng Ying smirked faintly. He remained bowed before slowly lifting his head again. The sorrowful expression he wore easily drew pity from the Tiān Fēng Sect disciples, including Liu Xing Sheng.
"Xing Sheng Dagē..." Zhao Feng Ying finally spoke again. His voice was soft as he said, "Right now I... feel so sad. I can't see my Shixiong again, so... may I ask you for something?"
"What is it that Young Master Zhao wants?"
"Please take me back to Mount Xuandu Sect. I... want to leave with you."
!
Though Liu Xing Sheng felt reluctant in his heart, he had already made a promise to return Zhao Feng Ying home. There was no way he could break it.
Liu Xing Sheng took a deep breath and nodded slowly. He would escort Zhao Feng Ying home and continue his journey afterward.
"Don't worry, Young Masters. We'll provide you with transportation," Liu Ye Rin offered. She and her companions had the ability to ride flying swords, allowing them to travel far distances.
"Thank you for your help, Miss." Liu Xing Sheng pressed his hands together and bowed in gratitude toward the kind cultivator before him.
******