The Scum Is A ***

A chill ran down their spine and the hairs all over their body stood at their ends as their eyes widened and their pupils shrank with their faces turning pale in horror after they heard what Jin Yu said.

"'above' and 'beneath'?!" Qian Meng sucked in a sharp breath. "Y – you… you don't mean – " he said as his body shivered in fear as he imagined it.

Naturally, Fei Yinzi, Wen Wen, He Shun and Qi Lan are the most creeped out about this. "Fck!" Fei Yinzi, who has always been gentlemanly in appearance, and even Qi Lan who is taciturn, couldn't help but curse loudly, making Wen Wen and He Shun, who have gone silent in fright just imagining it, startled.

Even if they are cultivators and should be used to this kind of hair-raising things, they are still young and inexperienced.

Chen Su rubbed the goosebumps that formed on his skin while Chen Yu hid behind Chen Wu while clutching Chen Wu's clothes tight. Su Yi's expression looked like he was disturbed while Cui Xiang and Sun Ri are shaking on their seats, hugging each other tight with tears in their eyes. Cui Xiao's mind had gone blank while Su Mi's face twisted in anger.

En… Su Mu is really tough. "They are toying with us!" she even said. If she would be cruder, she would already have spat. But, she is still a lady, and a Xinfaxian Sect disciple even. Even the Xinfaxian Sect is a carefree sect, they still are formal people.

They all fell silent, since this is what they think, too. The demons are smart. If the participants could band, then the demons can, too.

"Then, are we still going tomorrow night to find medicine?" Zhu Xi asked.

"No need. We can still look for medicine during the day." Chen Wu sighed.

"No. We have to." Wu Lian said.

Everyone looked at him, then at Chen Wu. Their faces are filled with surprise. Why? Because this is the first time that these two said something contradicting!

"Hey… are they going to fight?" Tang Li asked Li Yan as he nervously gulped while he looked at Chen Wu glaring at Wu Lian who has no emotion on his face.

"No way, right?" Jing De asked and forced a laugh. But, he also broke into a cold sweat.

"Hey, you two…" Qian Jue called, only to shut up after Chen Wu and Wu Lian turned to him. "I mean, yes, you go continue your 'discussion'." Qian Jue said and sighed in defeat as he pulled the dazed Qian Meng to their tent to rest.

"Hey, Wen Yan-ge! You wouldn't stop them?" Jing De asked in surprise when he saw that Wen Yan is leaving with Zhu Xi.

Wen Yan just shrugged and resumed walking while chatting with Zhu Xi. It was obvious that Chen Wu and Wu Lian are the leaders in the camp.

"Let's go rest, too." Fei Yinzi told Wen Wen who looked stupefied while looking at Chen Wu and Wu Lian who remained standing in the middle. "Mi-shijie, Xiang-shijie, Xiao-shijie… it is not good to stay up late." He told the three. "You, too." He added as he looked at Sun Ri.

The four girls nodded in agreement. Sun Ri went to check on her elder brother's condition and also her fellow disciples before she left with Su Mi. Cui Xiang also wanted to rest today instead of refining magic pills and brewing potions because she was too exhausted treating the patients today. Cui Xiao helped her walk since she still feel weak until now.

He Shun was still scared with what Jin Yu just said and Qi Lan pulled him to their tent. Tang Li and Jing De looked at each other before Jing Xu sighed and took Jing De away while Li Yan patted Tang Li's back, indicating for Tang Li to not meddle with Chen Wu and Wu Lian's fight. Meanwhile, Jin Yu has already left since earlier after they have decided who will go tomorrow night.

"Da ge…" Chen Yu called and tugged Chen Wu's clothes.

"Chen Su. Return to your tent, both of you!" Chen Wu said, ignoring Chen Yu.

Chen Su and Chen Yu were frightened by Chen Wu's severe tone. They immediately followed his instruction, now leaving only Chen Wu and Wu Lian outside.

"They. Can't. Go!" Chen Wu said through his gritted teeth as he glared at Wu Lian. "Haven't you already seen what happened to the Shanliangde Sect, Wu Tie and Jin Yu?! Do you want for the others to end up the same, too?!" he asked Wu Lian.

"Of course not." Wu Lian answered with an even tone. "But, one has to take the risk in order to gain. The medicines are running out. We may be more careful this time, and accidents can be avoided but it is inevitable." He stared at Chen Wu whose face darkened. "Food isn't that important since everyone practices inedia. But, medicines are very important, because the ingredients are rare." He explained. "Cui Xiang is always here to refine medicines for us, but the ingredients? It won't always be there." He told Chen Wu.

"But the demons are already aware of our intention!" Chen Wu said. "It was obvious that they know since they have been staring at us! You heard what Jin Yu said!" he said as he looked at Wu Lian in the eyes. "Even the strong Shanliangde Sect has been reduced to this… how can our other friends compare?" he asked as his voice trembled in fear.

Wu Lian fell silent. The others naturally didn't go to sleep and were secretly listening. Hearing what Chen Wu said, they sighed. They know their strengths, and they really can't compare with Sun Yan, Fei Luo and the usually obscure Xi Bing whose real strength was revealed by protecting Fei Huo all this while.

So, they understand Chen Wu's concern. If the demons have defeated Sun Yan, Fei Luo and Xi Bing, then what about them, who are weaker than the three? But…

"But, they are willing to take the risk." Wu Lian told Chen Wu.

Chen Wu froze.

"They are going, not only because they are worried for the Shanliangde Sect disciples, Wu Tie, and also their friends and themselves if they will later be hurt, but also – " Wu Lian spoke and took a deep breath. " – they also wanted to test their strength." He explained.

Chen Wu didn't answer.

"Chen Wu." Wu Lian called.

Chen Wu clenched his fists.

"I understand what you feel. It is the same as Fei Luo. You care for your brothers deeply. And you care for your friends as well, that is why you are acting like this." Wu Lian said.

The others who are secretly listening sighed with emotion.

"But, just like Fei Luo, your mistake is being overprotective." Wu Lian said. "You should also know that too much can be bad. Look at how the Shanliangde Sect ended up before the second elimination period." He sighed. "Fei Luo cared for Fei Huo too much to the point that he was distracted. He can't leave his brother alone, thus making Fei Huo unable to protect himself, and became dependent on Fei Luo, so Fei Luo can't do what he ought to do for their sect." he explained.

Chen Wu's whole body is trembling in anger.

"I have been meaning to tell you this." Wu Lian took a step towards Chen Wu who was rooted on the spot. "Chen Su and Chen Yu… they might look lacking but their skills aren't bad. But, their growth is being impeded… by you." He told him.

Everyone's eyes widened and gasped because of Wu Lian's boldness!

As expected, Chen Wu's pupils shrank before his eyes reddened in anger. "How dare you - !" he said as he glared at Wu Lian.

"Am I wrong?" Wu Lian asked. "You know in your heart whether I am right or wrong." He said.

Chen Wu gnashed his teeth in anger.

"Our Wu family has always been close with the Chen Clan… your family. So, I know how overprotective you are to your family members." Wu Lian continued. "But, didn't elder Cheng leave? And after he left, he developed." He said, referring to Cheng Sheng.

Chen Wu's face is red in anger.

Seeing how Chen Wu is about to erupt, Wu Lian decided to stop. He knows that Chen Wu will get physical if he pushed him further. And he doesn't want to exchange fists with him. "People are like the sand. The tighter you hold on to them, the more they will slip away from your hand." He told him. "Only by letting go of them will you see how they make up for the greater good." He looked at Chen Wu whose face has paled. "You should let them, not only your brothers, but also our friends, go." He said, before he stopped. "Furthermore… even if they are your brothers, they are your friends… it doesn't mean that you have the right to control them. It is their lives, not yours. They are the ones to make their own decisions, not you deciding what was good for them.." he told him before he left.