The Scum Is A ***

"An ambush?" Jing Cheng spoke after Jing Hei relayed to them what happened to him and Qian Lin. He is still conscious but Qian Lin wasn't when they finally arrived in Zhongyang.

"Yes." Jing Hei nodded as he worriedly looked at the screen covering Cheng Sheng who is operating on Qian Lin behind it with Qian Tian pacing back and forth outside.

Fortunately, You Rou followed them to give them medicine and assist Cheng Sheng since everyone are panicking and forgotten to bring medicine with them.

"I and Ah Lin are travelling incognito. But, we were suddenly attacked, and we don't know where did the enemies come from." Jing Hei frowned as he covered his arm that was bandaged along with chest. "Ah Lin pushed me away, receiving the attack. The disciples with us were also attacked and some of them died. The problem is – " his brows knitted in confusion. " – the enemies' attack is savage.. Some of them ate the disciples' flesh and some…" he turned and looked at the two disciples whose tongues were eaten thus they are now mute.

One of them even has a missing ear.

"They aren't demons?" Jing Bai asked.

Jing Hei shook his head. "No. We are carrying tools that could help us detect demonic energy. We didn't sense any demons in the surroundings." He answered.

"Then… what could it be that attacked you?" Jing Bai is extremely puzzled.

"They are definitely not animals, either." Jing Hei spoke.

"How do you know?" Jing Cheng asked.

"Because, although their attacks might be savage, making them like beastly, but – " Jing Hei looked at them. " – we couldn't see them. That's the main reason why we couldn't fight back, because we can't see them." He told them.

A sudden silence fell upon all of them.

Jing Hei's narrowed when he noticed their expressions. "… you know something?" he asked.

"We all know something." Cheng Sheng spoke as he and You Rou came out of the screen and they removed the disposable robes that were stained with blood from their bodies.

Jing Hei's and Qian Tian's expressions changed. "What about Ah Lin/Qian Lin?" they immediately asked.

"Although a large chunk of flesh was removed from his side and leg and lost too much blood, but he is lucky that you have stopped the flow of the blood in his body and I have responded in time, barely saving his life that is hanging on a thread." Cheng Sheng answered. "In short, he is now safe. You only need to feed him more blood supplements and wait for his lost flesh to grow out again. There are no fractures on his body, either, so he was able to cling to his life." He added.

They all heaved a sigh of relief.

"So, those that attacked Qian Lin… they are spirit servants?" Qian Tian asked.

"'spirit servants'?" Jing Hei muttered before he turned to Jing Kang when he recalled that Jing Kang has spirit servants before.

Jing Kang sighed. "Yes. They are the same spirit servants." He told Jing Hei.

Jing Hei was stupefied. "But, Jing Kang's spirit servants came from his father who went to east in the past and acquired the knowledge of making spirit servants through talismans from there…" his voice trailed off when he realized it. "The enemies… are from the east?!" he exclaimed.

"They must be. Only them knows the process of making spirit servants, since it originated from their land." Cheng Sheng answered as he washed his bloodied hands on the basin before xiao Bao helped him wiped his hands dry.

"How did they know Ah Lin and I will be there?" Jing Hei asked.

"Who knows, aside from them?" Cheng Sheng asked back and shrugged. "It might just be a coincidence. But – " he looked at them. " – if they have been long planning this… how scary would that be?" he smiled which is not really a smile.

They all fell silent.

"Lin-er! Where is Lin-er!" Qian Shan and Qian Su finally arrived. It was already noon, just when the morning matches have finished.

"Jing Hei!" Jing Rui called as he walked towards his nephew. "How are you?" he worriedly asked.

Jing Hei's eyes brightened. "Uncle! You are finally awake!" he said and hugged Jing Rui tight. "I'm glad to see you again!" he said.

Jing Rui smiled and patted Jing Hei's head.

"Father. Mother. Qian Lin is now out of danger. Cheng Sheng was able to save his life." Qian Tian told his parents.

"Thank goodness!" Qian Su cried.

"Thank you." Qian Shan told Cheng Sheng.

Cheng Sheng just nodded and then left, leaving You Rou to talk with the Qian family about Qian Lin's prescription.

"How is Qian Lin?" the people outside asked.

"He's now safe." Cheng Sheng answered. "I'll make two more Spirit Tracing Bells later for them." He said.

"Spirit Tracing Bells… they were attacked by spirit servants?" Feng Mo asked.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "The spirit servants were invisible so Jing Hei and Qian Lin were passive, thus they almost all died." He sighed.

"This isn't good." Xie Lan frowned.

"The enemies are more brazen now in attacking us." Sun Yu agreed.

"I am afraid…" Cheng Sheng spoke.

They all looked at him. "What?" they asked.

"That they must have long been planning to conquer our land." Cheng Sheng looked at them.

Their eyes widened in shock.

"They must have been lying in wait, and finally made a move when the Intersect Competition arrived." Cheng Sheng took a deep breath. "Jing Hei's and Qian Lin's accident may or may not be really an accident, but it should still fall within the enemies' calculations." He said.

They all fell silent.

"History repeats." Tang Teng sighed emotionally.

They all nodded in agreement. The demonic cultivators and Wu Ran also attacked during the Intersect Competition five years ago. Now, new enemies attacked during the Intersect Competition.

"It can't be helped." Cheng Sheng spoke. "Not to mention that the Intersect Competition is a grand-scale event, but if I am the enemy, I would also choose to attack during the Intersect Competition since all of my targets will gather in one area." He explained.

They all felt speechless as they looked at Cheng Sheng. Although they wanted to refute, they can't since they know that Cheng Sheng is right.

"… do we have to cancel the competition?" Zheng Fu Gong helplessly asked.

"For the sake of everyone's safety, we might have." Pai Lie said.

"You don't have to." Cheng Sheng answered.

"Why?" they all asked in surprise.

"Two reasons." Cheng Sheng answered.

Everyone. "…" here you are with your 'Twos' again? They thought, but they can't help but listen to Cheng Sheng.

"First: disregarding the safety of the participants, the enemy is definitely expecting you to cancel the competition." Cheng Sheng spoke. "Not because it is their objective, but it will signify us admitting our defeat and surrender to them. Of course, it will also the signal to them that we know of their presence." He explained.

They all nodded in agreement. "What's the second reason?" they asked.

"Second: since they would be notified that we are finally aware of their presence, definitely, they will surround us." Cheng Sheng answered before he paused. "If they haven't yet, already." He looked at them.

The atmosphere immediately became tense.

"So, even if we cancel the competition, and then make everyone leave to return to their hometowns, the enemies should be lying in wait for us." he told them. "And since everyone would leave, everyone will disperse, that will make us be divided. Then, they will easily conquer us." he added.

Their expressions darkened.

"What should we do now, then?" they asked. A trace of anxiety and anger on their faces.

"Haven't you thought that since I have thought all these, that makes it me knowing of these matter earlier?" Cheng Sheng asked them.

They all stared at him.

"Of course, since I already know of this, naturally I wouldn't stand by and just watch us all fall into ruin." Cheng Sheng continued. "This would disrupt my peace." He added.

Everyone. "…" he said 'my'… so he is actually just thinking for his own good? They thought, feeling helpless. Though, they know that Cheng Sheng is definitely thinking of them, too, since what Cheng Sheng does, always, benefits all.

"Feng-shixiong." Cheng Sheng called.

"Yes?" Feng Mo was startled for being suddenly called.

"Sorry to separate Wu Bai from you, but I had him along with the Righteous Alliance's disciples led by Zheng Meng to go around the Zhongyang and place the Spirit Tracing Bells all over the capital." Cheng Sheng spoke.

Feng Mo. "…" so that's why Wu Bai hasn't appeared for a long time! He thought and smiled, feeling happy that Wu Bai is doing something good again.

Everyone, especially the Righteous Alliance. "…" how long does he intend to use the Righteous Alliance's disciples like they are his own people?! They thought.

"Also…" Cheng Sheng continued, speaking like some commander. "I had the Huakai Sect yesterday make their disciples guard the gates of Zhongyang with the Righteous Alliance's disciples. So, right now – " he looked at them. " – Zhongyang is a fortress." He told them.