The Scum Is A

Qian Tian's eyes widened in shock and his face immediately paled in horror. He dashed towards the railing of the ship. "QIAN LIN!!!" he screamed and felt his heart rose up to his throat when he saw Qian Lin's figure disappeared, along with Jing Hei and Lei Qing, after they were surrounded by the demonic cultivators. 

"Sect leader Qian?!" Lei Ling exclaimed. "Shimei…" he turned to You Rou. 

You Rou was about to ask when Qian Tian spoke first. "What are you planning?" he asked as he looked at Yu Sheng. 

Yu Sheng glanced at him, but he didn't immediately answer. Instead, he looked at Lei Ling. "How much longer?" he asked. 

Lei Ling counted with his fingers. "… four minutes left." He answered. 

Yu Sheng nodded and didn't speak. He turned to Zuo Zhe to chat. Qian Tian was puzzled by their calmness. 

You Rou seemed to realize something and her eyes widened. "Lei-shixiong, you don't mean…?" she said as she looked at Lei Ling. 

"What? What are you talking about?" Qian Tian asked. 

"Neutralizing agent." You Rou answered. 

"'neutralizing agent'?" Qian Tian asked. "Isn't that what the demonic cultivators are…" he muttered. 

You Rou shook her head. "What the demonic cultivators are using is a poison, since it could immediately kill. Meanwhile, what Cheng-shixiong taught me is a harmless one." She said. "The neutralizing agent will render your qi useless, as well as weaken your body. After five minutes, your body will be paralyzed. The paralysis will last for half a day, depending on how much neutralizing agent was taken by the body." She explained. 

"So, this neutralizing agent is…" Qian Tian stared at her. 

You Rou nodded. "Yes. It was mixed with a paralyzing agent." She said. 

Qian Tian gaped at her. "So – " devious…! He internally exclaimed. 

You Rou narrowed her eyes at him before she ignored him. "Lei-shixiong. How much neutralizing agent did you give to them?" she asked. 

Lei Ling scratched his head. "I don't know." He honestly answered. 

"Huh?" You Rou and Qian Tian stared at him. 

Lei Ling sheepishly grinned. "Young master Zuo's plan is to coat their sword with this neutralizing agent. Since there isn't enough time, I just poured two bottles of neutralizing agent on their sword." He explained. 

You Rou's jaw dropped as she stared at him in shock. "Two… two bottles – " she muttered. 

Lei Ling's eyes widened and he immediately tensed. "Shimei, what's wrong?" he nervously asked. 

"… one drop of the neutralizing agent can paralyze someone for two hours." You Rou said. "A bottle consists of one hundred drops. So…" her voice is quiet. 

Silence fell upon them. And because of it, they can clearly hear the silence in their surroundings. They slowly turned and saw the barriers of the ship were not being attacked anymore. This only meant one thing – 

They looked at each other before they immediately ran to the railings and looked down the top of the canyon. From a hundred people earlier, only three figures remained – Lei Qing, Jing Hei and Qian Lin. All the demonic cultivators around them are lying on the ground, wide-eyed in shock as they tried to move their body, but found that they can't. If their senses aren't working, as well as their heart and lungs, they would think that they are already dead. 

"… this neutralizing agent is very potent…" Qian Tian said. 

You Rou didn't answer. Qian Tian jumped down, at the same time Yu Sheng jumped down. They landed behind Lei Qing, Jing Hei and Qian Lin. You Rou, Lei Ling and Zuo Zhe were left on the deck and they silently looked at each other. 

"Grab one each and go back. He and I will search their belongings." Yu Sheng said as he pointed to Qian Tian. 

"Yes!" Lei Qing, Jing Hei and Qian Lin answered before they picked up the demonic cultivators beside them. Then, they flew back to the ship. 

"Why do we have to check their belongings?" Qian Tian asked as he and Yu Sheng worked. They could see the struggle in the demonic cultivators' eyes as the two of them search underneath their clothes. But, they ignored them. 

"We might find some useful potions and pills from them." Yu Sheng answered. 

Qian Tian froze. He is smart so he understood the implication of Yu Sheng's words. "Are you planning for You Rou to recreate their poisons?" he asked. Only You Rou is the potion mage in the ship. 

How can Yu Sheng not know Qian Tian's worries? "Cheng Sheng is the one who guided her as a mage." He said. 

"I trust in her skills." Qian Tian said. "But – " 

"And Fan Wen and Xie Lan are the ones who taught her as a cultivator." Yu Sheng said before he turned to Qian Tian. 

Qian Tian fell silent. He understands what Yu Sheng is trying to say. Because Xie Lan and Fan Wen are upright people, naturally, their disciples would also be upright people. And You Rou is one of them. So, there's no need for him to worry that You Rou will go astray if she'll experiment on the poisons used by the demonic cultivators. 

"Cheng Sheng has always been unorthodox." Yu Sheng said. "He was criticized. But, later, because his creations were very useful, their thoughts towards him changed. But, if it is only because of that, it wouldn't be enough for the people to change their impression of him." He said. "Nobody knows he is the second young master of the Chen at that time. He was even labelled as a scum after they found out his personality. What pulled Cheng Sheng out of this crisis are Fan Wen and Xie Lan." He looked at Qian Tian. "Fan Wen and Xie Lan are well-known to everyone as upright people. Although Cheng Sheng's personality is questionable, but the people are reassured that Cheng Sheng won't fall and become a demonic cultivator despite his unorthodox methods." He explained. 

"I know. I understand your point." Qian Tian spoke. "Just – " he is still unresolved. 

Yu Sheng smiled. "Shouldn't you the one that would believe in her the most?" he asked. 

Qian Tian stared at him. 

"Don't you have feelings towards her?" Yu Sheng evilly grinned. 

But, the expected reaction didn't come. Instead, Qian Tian's face is expressionless. "Preposterous." He said. But, he resumed checking the belongings of the demonic cultivators. 

Yu Sheng chuckled meaningfully. But, he didn't say anything else and also resumed his task. 

"What's taking them so long?" Zuo Zhe asked as he placed his elbows on the railings and rested his face on his hands. Then, he watched Yu Sheng's and Qian Tian's small figures below. "Are there really any valuable items on the demonic cultivators?" he asked as he turned to You Rou and Lei Ling. 

Lei Qing, Jing Hei and Qian Lin were tying up the demonic cultivators they have caught, then tied them with another rope on the pillar. 

Lei Ling pondered. "Usually, there are their hidden weapons like the poisonous needles. Daggers, too." He said. 

You Rou, a doctor, has another idea. "Poisons. Toxic pills and potions." She answered. 

Zuo Zhe stared at her. "You want to study it?" he asked. 

"I can find a way how to counter them in case one of us will be poisoned." You Rou answered, then she lowered her voice. "As long as it can help everyone…" she muttered. 

"Shimei…" Lei Ling called and smiled. 

Zuo Zhe stared at her and just shrugged. Then, he turned, only to see Yu Sheng and Qian Tian have also returned. Qian Tian was staring at You Rou while Yu Sheng was grinning. Obviously, they have heard what You Rou said. 

You Rou noticed Lei Ling and Zuo Zhe fell silent. She raised her head and she turned, only to meet Qian Tian's gaze. "Found something?" he calmly asked as she turned to Yu Sheng, ignoring Qian Tian. 

Yu Sheng nodded. "En." He answered and raised a bag. He patted Qian Tian's back before he walked towards You Rou. He gave her the bag, then turned to hug Zuo Zhe, who looked bored. "Let's go inside." He told him as he wrapped his arm on Zuo Zhe's waist. "Remember to add another barrier on the ship." He told Lei Ling before he and Zuo Zhe left. 

Lei Ling was blinded by Yu Sheng and Zuo Zhe. "Yes!" he answered and then turned to add another barrier. He sighed. "I should hurry up and go to Jing Kang!" he muttered as his face turned serious while light came out from his hands. 

Meanwhile, You Rou was caught off-guard of how heavy the bag is and she doubled over. "Careful." She heard Qian Tian spoke before she felt the bag she is holding became lighter. 

She raised her head and looked at Qian Tian. She didn't expect that Qian Tian was staring at her, and so, their gazes met again. They stared at each other for a while before she loosened her grip on the bag. The next thing that happened is Qian Tian howling after the bag fell on his foot. 

You Rou walked away with a calm expression, as if it wasn't her who purposely dropped the heavy bag on Qian Tian's foot.