The Scum Is A

Heilong Realm. 

"There's really nothing different in this place from Huilong." Wu Yuan said as they walked around, sometimes bumping against the demonic cultivators on the way. "Except that the air has a faint demonic energy." He said. 

Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin didn't speak and silently and curiously looked around. "Where do you think might former sect leader Wu and father be?" he asked Fei Yin. 

Fei Yin didn't immediately answer and continued to look around. When another demonic cultivator passed by, he lowered the hood of his head to cover his face. "I don't think they'll stay in the inns." He said. 

"Why?" Wu Yuan asked. 

"Although staying in the inns is good for gathering information since there are many people going in and out, as well as you could listen on through the walls, but – " Fei Yin said. " - Huilong is different from Heilong. Although there might be demonic cultivators in Huilong, but in Heilong, there are thrice, at the least." He said and pulled them two to the side to speak further. "Not to mention the fact that this is their lair, and we're definitely outnumbered, but don't forget the present demonic qi in the air." He adjusted his mask made of the cloth of the Shapeshifting Blanket that could filter the demonic qi in the air they breathe. "If a fight between us breaks out, we're more overwhelmed since the positive qi is barely, almost to none, present. The demonic cultivators could use the demonic qi all they want." He said. "The reason there's still the positive qi present is because of their mental health. They positive qi keeps their mind sane so that they wouldn't be devoured by their heart demons." He explained. 

Wu Yuan nodded, now fully understanding the state Heilong is in. "Not bad." He said and patted Fei Yin's shoulder. "You could deduce everything in a short time." A faint smile was on his lips. 

Fei Yin grinned. "'Birds of the same feather flocks together'." He said and looked at Cheng Sheng. 

Cheng Sheng chuckled while Wu Yuan's smile stiffened. "…" so, you consider only the two of you are smart? I'm excluded? I'm not smart enough? Make this clear, right now. 

Cheng Sheng noticed the strangeness in Wu Yuan's expression and he coughed, meanwhile changing the topic. "I also think former sect leader Wu and father won't be staying in the inns." He said. 

"Why?" Wu Yuan asked him. 

"Because, if they would be discovered, they will be outnumbered, overwhelmed, and thus trapped." Cheng Sheng analyzed. "Here, in Heilong, everyone will side with the demonic cultivators, since this is their territory. Us entering here is just us sending our heads to them." He said. 

Wu Yuan's lip twitched. "Still, we have to find them." He said, his voice and eyes determined. 

"I didn't say we won't." Cheng Sheng said. "However, it's best if we would not split up." He looked at them. 

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. Splitting up is like asking to be killed. As they say, the number of people makes up for the lack of strength of one person. "Then, where do you think they might be?" he asked. 

Cheng Sheng seriously pondered. "As da shixiong earlier said, usually, one would hide within a crowd to avoid the eyes of others. However, we are in an unusual place, and are in an unusual situation. Thus, one would hide in a place opposite of where one would normally hide." He said. "It could be in the forest, in a cave, or – " his eyes narrowed as he looked at faraway. " – they could have built a base in a secluded place. That way, they would have a secure and permanent base." He explained. "What do you think, senior Wu?" he asked. 

Wu Yuan pondered over Cheng Sheng's words. "It is possible, and reasonable." He said. 

Cheng Sheng smiled and Fei Yin was about to share his thoughts when Wu Yuan spoke again. 

"Father must have suffered too much travelling across the desert, when father isn't used to such laborious work. Uncle Jing… his heart must have ached for father, and making a base must be his idea." Wu Yuan said. 

Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin. "…" so, you, his son, is saying that your father grew up like a princess?

Fei Yin's mind became blank while Cheng Sheng's expression turned strange. He looked away from Wu Yuan whose brain waves are working the strange way. 

With his head turning to a random direction, his gaze caught sight of a familiar figure. "The beggar?" Cheng Sheng muttered in surprise when he saw the familiar woven conical hat paired with tattered clothes and a pair of wooden sandals. 

"Sheng? What is it?" Fei Yin asked when he noticed Cheng Sheng's distracted behavior. 

"Well…" Cheng Sheng turned to them before he turned back to what he was looking at. 

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan also turned and were as surprised as Cheng Sheng when they saw the beggar they have met in the Stop By Town before. They tried to investigate his identity, but before they could start, the beggar suddenly disappeared. They didn't try looking for the beggar again since one, they have already found a person whom they could ask for more information: the stall owner, Sha Yan. Two, they should be cautious in their actions, thus, they can't carelessly look for another person in case they'll attract some attention. 

"That beggar!" Wu Yuan exclaimed when he recognized the familiar figure. Just like when they saw him before in the Stop By Town, the beggar's back is stuck on the wall while he leaned down as if he's staring at his empty tin can, contemplating about life. His wide, conical hat is covering almost all of his face. 

Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan looked at each other before they carefully walked towards the beggar. 

"Be careful. We're now in the main territory of the demonic cultivators." Cheng Sheng reminded them as he took a step back to avoid a demonic cultivator that just passed by him, their shoulders almost bumped against each other. 

"Sheng. Are you alright?" Fei Yin asked as he pulled Cheng Sheng back. 

"I'm alright." Cheng Sheng answered as he steadied himself. The demonic cultivator just suddenly appeared beside him. Fortunately, he is very quick to react and so he managed to avoid him. 

In Jianghu, even if an action is unintentional, but if someone maliciously made it look like it was intentional, then, in the worst case, that single action might cost a life. 

Cheng Sheng held Fei Yin's hand tight. "Sheng…?" he heard Fei Yin called, but he didn't answer and just pulled him. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan followed behind their feet. 

"My friend." Cheng Sheng called when they've finally reached the beggar. "We met again." He said. 

"'my friend'?" the beggar spoke in a low voice. His voice indistinguishable. His wide, conical hat slightly moved as if he raised his head to take a glance at them. However, the three of them didn't even see the edge of his chin. "I don't think I have seen these friends." He said.

Fei Yin's brows raised while Wu Yuan slightly frowned. Meanwhile, Cheng Sheng's expression didn't change. "That's alright, that's alright." He said as he bent on one knee to be eye-level with the beggar. "It might be that I mistook you for someone else." He said. 

Fei Yin looked at Cheng Sheng. He knew, Cheng Sheng can never mistake a person unless he intentionally didn't pay attention to them. Thus, he knew, this is the beggar they have met in the Stop By Town. However, how did the beggar reach Heilong? 

Cheng Sheng showed them the method to find the answer to the question. "Friend." He called as he flicked a gold coin on the tin can. "May I ask what is Heilong?" he asked. 

The beggar looked at the gold coin rolling inside the tin can, making the tin can shake until it stopped. Then, he raised his head to look at them. "Are these friends not residents of Heilong?" he asked. When he didn't hear them answer, he lowered his head. "It's fine. This lowly one isn't one, too." He said. "Heilong is a realm that appeared only one hundred years ago." He answered. 

"Why didn't we hear anything about it?" Cheng Sheng asked. 

"If you have found a treasure cove, will you share its location?" the beggar asked back. 

Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan were taken aback. "There's a treasure in Heilong?" they asked, surprise in their voice. 

"There are." The beggar answered. 

"What kind of treasures are they?" Fei Yin asked, seeming interested. 

The beggar turned to his direction. "Demonic treasures." He answered. 

"'demonic treasures'…" they looked at each other. 

"They are the treasures of the Wuran Kingdom." The beggar told them. 

"It still exists?!" 

The beggar shook his head before he paused, then nodded his head. "They said that the Heilong devoured the Wuran Kingdom. It isn't wrong, but it also isn't right." He said. 

"What do you mean?" 

"The Wuran Kingdom… is Heilong."