The Scum Is A

They all looked at each other. Then, they turned to Qian Tian, waiting for him to continue what he is going to say.

Qian Tian cleared his throat. "Our first option is to continue to travel to Shashan Pass." He spoke. "It leads to the Sand Sea Mountain where the main Ni Lai Gate, which Cheng Sheng sealed, is located." He looked at them before he continued. "Wu Ran will definitely there." he said. 

Silence fell. 

"The pros for this option… we can send people to go to the Sand Sea Mountain, enter Heilong Realm and meet with Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan earlier, then ask them about the progress of their search of the Chen patriarch and former sect leader Wu." Qian Tian said. "When Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan return, our force would become stronger." He added. 

Everyone's eyes brightened. 

"But – " Qian Tian spoke. " – there are cons in this. We have to send a person in exchange of three, in which we can't afford." He looked at them. "We are battling against Wu Ran. We can't lose even one person." He told them. 

"In short – " Fei Lin spoke. " – we have to wait for Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan to go out of Heilong Realm on their own." He said. 

"And, hope they found Chen Jing and Wu Fan and brought them back with them." Yu Sheng added. 

They all sighed. 

"We still do not know how large is Wu Ran's force, and how strong is Wu Ran." Qian Tian reminded. 

Hearing this, their faces fell. They all looked at each other and fell in a depression. Wu Ran was Ming Ye, an elder of the Youxiwang Sect. If Chen Han, Wu Yuan or Sun Yi was here, they would immediately ask what level is Ming Ye in now. Regrettably, Chen Han acted as a bait for Cheng Sheng to escape with Fei Yin and Wu Yuan so they could go to the Southmost Region. Sun Yi was in the Xinfaxian Sect and in a coma after Sun Rong knocked him out with a potion. Even if Sun Yi wakes up and follows them to Southmost Region, it will be too late for him to arrive. Chen Jing and Wu Fan are still missing, and most probably right now are in Heilong Realm. And Luo Shi… 

They all heaved a sigh. 

Seeing their reaction, Qian Tian spoke. "Wu Ran's and his forces' strength is uncertain." He said. "There are also sect leader Jing, sect leader Xie, elder Fan and elder Xi in a coma. We have to use all our forces to fight against Wu Ran, leaving them three – along with You Rou, here alone in the Millennium Ship." He explained. 

They didn't speak. It was obvious that if they'd choose the first option, their future is bleak. They silently looked at each other. There's only one option for them to choose. 

"The second option is to stay and wait until sect leader Jing, sect leader Xie, elder Fan and elder Xie wake up to increase our force's strength." Qian Tian said. "The con is that…" he looked at Fei Lin and Yu Sheng. 

Fei Lin and Yu Sheng didn't speak. 

Instead, it was Zuo Zhe who spoke. "We are racing against time." He said as he chewed a melon seed. "Not only it will delay our reunion with Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan – we don't even know when will they return from the Heilong Realm, or if they can return…" his voice trailed off. He cleared his throat. "If we choose this option, then there's only one question to consider – " he looked at them. " – will Wu Ran break Cheng Sheng's barrier surrounding the Sand Sea Mountain and return to the Heilong Realm to gather more forces for him happen first, or – " he pointed to the cabin before he pointed to the sky where Cheng Sheng's barrier for the Sand Sea Mountain can be seen. " – Jing Rui, Xie Lan, Fan Wen and Xi Ling wake up, and Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan return from the Heilong Realm happen first?" he asked them. 

They all fell silent as they stared at Zuo Zhe. 

Zuo Zhe flashed them a smile. "So, which will it be?" he asked them. Tick, tock, tick, tock. He thought as he drummed his fingers on the table, the sound striking in their chest. 

Each option has its corresponding risk. One wrong move and they will all die. They can't lose even just one person. So, which option will they choose? 

"How about a third option?" Yu Sheng spoke. 

They all looked at him. "What do you mean… there's a third option?!" they asked. 

The corners of Yu Sheng's lips curled up. "Let's make a deal." He answered. 

"… huh?" they were all puzzled. What does Yu Sheng mean by that?

But, Zuo Zhe, who knows the truth, widened his eyes in shock as he stared at Yu Sheng. 'deal'? What deal?! And… who will he make a deal with?! What are the stakes of this deal?! He thought. A horrifying thought entered his mind. Yu Sheng… has he already made a deal with that person?! What exactly are you planning?! 

Heilong Realm, Drunken Moon City. 

Wu Yuan thanked the demonic cultivator that sent them the water for them to have a bath. He also asked for a towel for Fei Yin to wipe Cheng Sheng. He then closed the door and turned, only to see Fei Yin gently combing Cheng Sheng's hair as if afraid that Cheng Sheng will wake up. 

He heaved a sigh and took out the Mirror of Yearning. He misses Sun Yi. But, ever since they have entered the Drunken Moon City, he can't contact Sun Yi again. He figured it must be because they are going deeper of the Heilong Realm. 

"How is outside?" Fei Yin asked. 

Wu Yuan kept the Mirror of Yearning. "They look tense." He answered, referring to the demonic cultivators. "But, since Meng Gui still remembers to have his people accommodate us, then his situation might not be that bad." He added. 

Fei Yin nodded in agreement. "There's still Shang He and, even if Ma Wen's forces might be versed in espionage, but they definitely should know how to fight." He said. "Du Xiang's force is all women. Even if some of them could fight, but, physically speaking, they are weaker than men. Even if they could rely on some tricks, but tricks are just tricks, after all." He explained. "Sooner or later, they will be overpowered, added to the fact that the three factions are attacking her." His face is serious. 

"En." Wu Yuan agreed. "Even though this fight is already decided, but it still bought Meng Gui some time to strengthen his own force." He said. 

"We should have a plan." Fei Yin said. "Meng Gui won't keep up in just one week. We can't afford to delay longer." He said. 

Wu Yuan's expression changed. "I agree." He said. "What plan do you have?" he asked. 

"I have two." Fei Yin answered. "First plan: go to the Peony Plaza and steal the antidote from Meng Gui." He said. "Since Meng Gui doesn't trust us, naturally he won't leave the antidote here where he left us." He explained. 

Wu Yuan nodded. "That's indeed the case." He said. 

"But, there are dangers in this plan." Fei Yin said.

"No problem." Wu Yuan spoke. He knows, since Fei Yin can't leave Cheng Sheng behind, then it can only be him who has to steal the antidote. He has no qualms about this, even if it should be Fei Yin who has to steal the antidote since Cheng Sheng is his lover and not his – Wu Yuan.

Since their goal is to find Chen Jing and Wu Fan, it should only be he, Chen Han and Cheng Sheng who should go to the Southmost Region to find their fathers. But, because it should be Chen Han that has to be the bait since he's the only one who has a deep relationship with Ming Ye, then Chen Han has to stay. So, now it should only be Cheng Sheng and Wu Yuan. But, Fei Yin went with them. It's because Cheng Sheng is his lover. He will risk his life for Cheng Sheng. 

It's not that Sun Yi is a coward. Sun Yi also wanted to go with Wu Yuan. But, it is Wu Yuan who doesn't want for Sun Yi to die for him. This is also the reason why they didn't have a Life and Death Contract like Yu Sheng and Zuo Zhe where one dies, the other would also die. Wu Yuan can't bear to let Sun Yi suffer. Thus, he is deeply gratified that Fei Yin went with him and Cheng Sheng. One more person is better than one less person. 

Thus, Wu Yuan doesn't hate Fei Yin. On the contrary, he wanted to repay him thus he will do this favor.