The Scum Is A ***

"That's what happened." Cheng Sheng said after he told them his nightmare. He could still feel the fear he felt when he was inside his nightmare. His body was shuddering from the cold, but also trembling because of the lingering fear. 

He snuggled closer to Fei Yin, plastering his back against Fei Yin's solid chest. Only when he did feel the familiar warmth and the gentle embrace coming from Fei Yin did he calmed down. Fei Yin gives him a full security; he doesn't need to worry about anything, most especially his fears, as long as Fei Yin is there. 

"That's…" they said and looked at each other. Anxiety and alarm filled their eyes. Actually, as the cream of the crop among the current generation of the cultivators, they would never panic. They are always cool-headed. 

However, this is Cheng Sheng we are talking about. The Cheng Sheng who is too OP, too heaven-defying. Surely, his dreams, as well as nightmares, would mean something, right? 

The Zunjingde Sect and the Shanliangde Sect fell silent. Unlike their fellow disciples, Jing Cheng and Xi Ming are calm and collected, displaying the redeeming qualities of a leader. Seeing their respective leader's demeanor, their fellow disciples finally calmed down and pressed down their anxiety. 

Cheng Sheng sighed when he knew he made the atmosphere tense. "How did our group meet them?" he asked his own group and glanced at the Zunjingde Sect and the Shanliangde Sect. 

They were surprised. "You don't remember?!" they exclaimed. 

If I do, I wouldn't have that nightmare, okay? Cheng Sheng thought and shook his head. "My memories are confusing me." He honestly said with his brows knit. 

Alarm registered on their face again. Their eyes are wide and round like plates as they stared at him in shock. 

"Shidi." Fei Yin called as he tightened his hold on Cheng Sheng who's in his embrace. "If you are tired, you should rest more. Don't push yourself." He told him and covered him with a blanket up until his chest. 

"Da shixiong…" Cheng Sheng called before he sighed. "Just tell me. I don't want my mind to be confused." He said and faced the others. 

They all looked at each other. Chen Han was hesitating while Sun Yi remained silent. Li Tian looked worried while Feng Mo was frowning in discomfort. 

The task naturally fell on Fei Yin's hands. "Yu Sheng had made a map, so that helped us a lot as we go around the ruins." Fei Yin answered. "Then…" he said and glared at the Zunjingde Sect. 

Jing Cheng's face is blank. Jing Bai forced a smile while Jing Kang's expression is deadpan. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo flashed an awkward smile while Yu Sheng and Sun Yi chuckled. Meanwhile, Kang Ce is still sleeping on the side. 

"… you fought?" Cheng Sheng had guessed based from his lover's hostile gaze directed at the Zunjingde Sect. 

"Yes." Fei Yin honestly said. 

"…" da shixiong, you're working very hard. Cheng Sheng thought and helplessly smiled at Fei Yin. "They're already beaten up." He told Fei Yin. 

"My bad." Fei Yin insincerely said. 

Cheng Sheng looked at him in disbelief but Fei Yin looked away. His lover has learned how to be shameless now! He exclaimed in his heart as he gaped at Fei Yin. Seeing Cheng Sheng's parted lips, they looked like inviting. He almost had kissed him had it not for the others around them. 

He knew how to give face for his lover. 

Their friends just laughed. "Second young master Chen." Jing Cheng called. "Thank you for your help." He told him. His face is solemn and his gaze is sincere. 

Cheng Sheng turned to him and just nodded. "All the teams have now regrouped." He said. "The Xinfaxian Sect and the Youxiwang Sect, as well as the Shanliangde Sect, Zunjingde Sect and the Huakai Sect." he looked at them. 

"Not yet." Jing Bai said. "Ah Hei and Qian Lin are still somewhere out there." He looked around the desolate and dark surrounding while frowning. He is deeply worried for his twin brother and friend. 

"Do you think they have already gone inside?" Jing Kang suddenly asked and looked at the entrance of the ruins. 

Hearing his question, everyone froze. Their expression complicated and their eyes held different emotions. Despite the dangers they faced that led them to temporarily work together, they still didn't forget they are in a competition. 

"It couldn't be… the Huakai Sect and Wu Xi, too?" Xi Ming asked. 

If it had been someone, their expression would turn grave. However, hearing the Huakai Sect's name, as well as Wu Xi… "…" they don't know whether to treat is as their luck or misfortune if they really had gone inside. 

"Let's hope they reach the Spring of Life and go back to the capital first." Cheng Sheng said to lighten up the depressing mood. 

"En." They all nodded in agreement. 

Suddenly, Jing Cheng spoke. "Young master Fei." He called Fei Yin. 

"What?" Fei Yin said. His cold face held contempt as he turned to Jing Cheng. 

"Yesterday." Jing Cheng spoke. "I apologize for what happened." He said before he turned to Cheng Sheng. Jing Bai and Jing Kang nodded, approving of Jing Cheng's apology. "I don't know what had gotten to me, but I suddenly felt irritated." Jing Cheng explained. 

"It must be your Heart Demon." Xi Ming told him. His eyes held sympathy. 

"No." Cheng Sheng spoke. "It cannot be. My Acute Array not only checked your meridians, but also cleansed them of impurities." He said. 

Jing Kang blinked before he turned to Cheng Sheng. "That's right. After the process, I felt invigorated." He said as he recalled what happened before. 

"That's why you fought Cheng-shidi?�� Sun Yi asked them. 

Jing Kang couldn't answer. Because that was what really happened. "I really suddenly felt irritated that time." He honestly said. 

Sun Yi didn't speak more. "There's no enmity between our groups, so why would you hate Ah Sheng?" Chen Han asked. 

"That's right." Xi Ming nodded. "The Zunjingde Sect wouldn't attack for no reason." He said. 

"Although we really find second young master Chen annoying, but we wouldn't attack you." Jing Bai honestly said. 

Li Tian and Feng Mo. "…" they couldn't argue with that. Their shidi is really annoying. That's a fact. 

"The Nuhou Poison." Cheng Sheng said. 

"What?" they all turned to him. 

"Remember Shu Mu's pills?" Cheng Sheng asked his fellow disciples. 

Sun Yi's eyes widened. "It's that?!" he exclaimed. 

"What are you talking about? How does this relate to Shu Mu?" Jing Bai asked. He looked puzzled like his fellow disciples, as well as the disciples of the Shanliangde Sect. 

Cheng Sheng turned to them. "Shu Mu was poisoned by Nuhou Pills." He said and explained to them what happened to Shu Mu. "That's what I'm calling those magic pills." He told them. "After it was crushed, its powder is less visible to the eye. So, if you have inhaled it…" he looked at them. 

"That's right." Jing Cheng said as he held his head while he tried to recall. "My temper became worse after that." He said. 

"Da ge…!" Jing Bai exclaimed. 

"I think I got out of my character that time." Jing Kang said. He is a pacifist, so he wouldn't normally attack. 

"So, you're saying…" Xi Ming said, his voice slowed down as the realization dawned on him. 

"There is a traitor in the Righteous Alliance." Cheng Sheng said. 

Their eyes widened in shock while Jing Kang fell silent. "Second young master Chen." Jing Bai called. 

"What?" Cheng Sheng answered. 

"Is it possible for this Nuhou Pill to confuse one's mind?" Jing Bai asked. 

"Huh? What do you mean, Jing Bai?" Jing Cheng asked as he turned to his brother. 

"Da ge…" Jing Bai called and bit his lip. He was hesitating whether to tell Jing Cheng or not. 

Fortunately, someone helped him speak. "Jing Bai suspects Zheng Yi is being controlled." Jing Kang said. 

"What?! Zheng Yi?!" they were shocked. 

Jing Kang looked at Jing Bai before he continued. "You know Jing Bai likes Zheng Yi even though Zheng Yi's all covered up. That's because they have met before, when they were young." He said. "However, Jing Bai noticed Zheng Yi doesn't remember him. Thus, Jing Bai suspects Zheng Yi's memories were deleted." He explained. 

Jing Bai sighed and closed his eyes. "Jing Bai…" Jing Cheng called and patted his brother's back as a comfort. 

"As long as Zheng Yi is safe…" Jing Bai said as he heaved a heavy sigh. 

"Memory loss… confused mind…" Cheng Sheng muttered. "He must be really under someone's control." He said. 

Jing Bai's face paled and his shoulders fell. "Jing Bai…" Xi Ming sighed and patted his shoulder. Then, he turned to Xi Xing who was lying on his lap, sleeping. Gong Xian had long gone to sleep since earlier when they camped. 

"Who could poison us?" Jing Cheng asked. His brows are knitted in anger. 

Cheng Sheng waited for them to calm down first before he spoke. "The only ones who were present yesterday are us - the contestants, and the five Alliance elders." He said.