The Scum Is A

"Boss…?" Shang He's people called when they didn't hear their leader respond. They saw him fall into another daze. "Boss?" they called again, their voice sounds hesitant.

Shang He blinked. Then, he saw Fei Yin and Wu Yuan staring at him. He forced a smile, nodded at them, then left without saying a word. Shang He's subordinates looked at each other, their gazes speaking. What did just happen? They thought. Then, they looked at Meng Gui's subordinates who were left, stunned, and still haven't reacted from their leader's behavior. 

Meng Gui has just left in a hurry. Meanwhile, Shang He left silently, and looked gloomy. Anyone who has a brain could guess that something must have happened between these two. Or else, they wouldn't act this strangely than their usual behavior.

They wanted to immediately follow their respective leaders and watch over them, making sure that they won't do something stupid like hang their self or do self-harm. Thus, they turned to Fei Yin and Wu Yuan who were left and bowed. 

"Yin-daozahang. Qiu-daozhang. We'll be taking our leave first!" they said and immediately left. 

The servants who followed Meng Gui belatedly reacted. They immediately bowed and then conscientiously closed the door and left, leaving the snacks and drinks they brought in the room. 

Wu Yuan and Fei Yin who were the only ones left. "…" they just came and then left. If they want to talk business, then talk about business. Why bring up some old matters? I just casually spoke it, yet you brought your entire history?! 

Wu Yuan, who has always been level-headed, spoke to break the silence. "We don't need to steal the antidote?" he asked. 

Fei Yin pursed his lips. "No." he answered. "We will even get two." He said. 

Wu Yuan nodded and remembered Shang He's request. "They actually have a history between them, so Shang He made such a request. Are they that not confident in defeating Ma Wen?" he asked. 

"Not really, if we talk about force." Fei Yin spoke. 

Wu Yuan looked at him and waited for him to explain. He thinks he is like Shang He, who always uses force when he does things. He leaves the thinking to Sun Yi. 

Fei Yin didn't disappoint Wu Yuan. "Du Xiang uses a beauty trap to lure her enemies then kill them." He spoke. "Shang He uses brute force to directly kill them. Meng Gui uses both force and traps. Meanwhile, Ma Wen – " he said as he picked up his cup and drank. " – he's using the most elaborate traps to pit his opponents and then kill them in one fell swoop." He explained. 

Wu Yuan's eyes widened and he felt enlightened. "So, in order to deal with Ma Wen, they have to use their mind?" he asked. 

"That's right." Fei Yin spoke. "'counter poison with poison.' With my impression of this Ma Wen whom we haven't even met, Meng Gui and Shang He couldn't use their normal means if they want to fight against Ma Wen." He said. 

"So, this fight would be brain-draining." Wu Yuan commented. 

Fei Yin smiled. "What happened today in the Plum Blossom City is the prime example." He said.

Wu Yuan stared at him. 

"What is the most frightening person?" Fei Yin suddenly asked. 

"A strong person?" Wu Yuan answered. 

Fei Yin shook his head. "An intelligent one." He told him. 

Wu Yuan's brows shot up. "How is he frightening?" he asked. 

"When he acts like he is weak, and he is really weak, but – " Fei Yin answered. " – he actually can be strong." he spoke. He didn't wait for Wu Yuan to ask again as he spoke. "He can be strong, since he can utilize those who are strong without using his weak body." He said and looked at Wu Yuan. "He only needs to use his brain, to devise an elaborate plan. And when he does, he then can make them dance in his palms." He told him. 

Hearing those words, Wu Yuan's hairs stood on their end and he shivered when he suddenly felt cold. "That's indeed pretty scary." He spoke. 

Fei Yin nodded. "You have seen an example of it." He said. 

"Where?" Wu Yuan asked. 

Fei Yin didn't answer. He just turned his head and used his eyes to show him the answer. 

Wu Yuan followed his gaze and their gazes landed on Cheng Sheng. "…" why do I suddenly feel cheated? He thought, then turned his gaze back on Fei Yin. 

Fei Yin blinked and innocently smiled. "Am I wrong?" he asked. 

Wu Yuan suddenly felt something was holding his neck. "… no." he answered. His intuition told him that if he answered 'yes', then he might die. But, now that he thinks about it, Cheng Sheng does fit on the criteria Fei Yin spoke. Almost. 

Cheng Sheng is a highly intelligent individual. He is also weak (before). But, he used his intelligence to give birth to his inventions, making everyone's lives easier and more comfortable. The only thing Cheng Sheng falls short in Fei Yin's criteria is that Cheng Sheng never played the lives of the humans. 

Suddenly, Fei Yin spoke. "There's only a thin line that separates insanity and brilliance." He said. "Cross this line, and even a genius can turn to a madman." He looked at Cheng Sheng's face. 

Wu Yuan fell silent. He understands what Fei Yin meant. Ma Wen is a highly intelligent individual like Cheng Sheng. But, unlike Cheng Sheng, he used his intelligence to harm people. Fei Yin means that Ma Wen has crossed this line. 

"Everything has two sides just like a coin." Fei Yin spoke. "Light and darkness. Love and hatred. It was only in the absence of the other that one can exist." He said. "Since the other one needs to be removed, they can't coexist. In short, you can't have the best of both worlds." He smiled and caressed Cheng Sheng's cheek with his knuckles. 

Wu Yuan started. He stared at Fei Yin, shocked. Based from Fei Yin's words just now… he sounds sad? But, why? Weren't they just talking about the demonic cultivators? Why should he be sad for them? Also… why is he looking at Cheng Sheng with his eyes filled with extreme sadness? 

Fei Yin felt Wu Yuan's gaze and he recovered his expression. Wu Yuan blinked, then felt that what he has just seen seems like an illusion. 

"Ma Wen must have a reason why he turned from being intelligent to a madman." Fei Yin spoke. "Just like Du Xiang. But, that doesn't justify their deeds." He said. 

Wu Yuan nodded in agreement. "If everyone would make up an excuse to make themselves look pity, then, aren't the people they have harmed pitier?" he asked. 

"Everyone has to be responsible for the decisions they make, since they have given a choice." Fei Yin said. "There's no such thing as having no choice. We are given an equal treatment. There's no such thing as living a poorer life." He spoke. 

"In short – " Wu Yuan spoke. " – we are the ones that leads our life. There's no such things as fate and gods." He said. 

Hearing his words, Fei Yin smiled, then lowered his gaze to look at Cheng Sheng lying on the bed. But there is a god, though. He thought as he held Cheng Sheng's hand. And I am holding onto him right now. He chuckled. "Meng Gui said that he will talk about business tomorrow. Then, tomorrow it is." He said. "Let's use the remaining time for today to know more about the Heilong Realm, and the Heilong emperor." He told Wu Yuan. 

Wu Yuan nodded. "Yes. I'll go ask a servant." He said. 

"With Meng Gui's act today, the servants were rattled by their leader's behavior." Fei Yin said. "They would definitely have lowered their guard as they were caught unprepared for the sudden change in their leader. And since Meng Gui will owe us a favor… they will answer our questions." He explained. 

"Yes." Wu Yuan muttered before he walked towards the door, opened it, then left. 

The moment the doors closed, Fei Yin heaved a sigh. Then, he turned and looked at Cheng Sheng. "Sheng… I've let down my guard. I almost spoke something I shouldn't…" he said as he held Cheng Sheng's hand. "That's how much you affect me. Because I love you so much." He leaned down and kissed Cheng Sheng's forehead. "Sheng… just as I said, everything has two sides like a coin." He spoke. "When there is light, there is darkness." he meant about him, the Keeper, as the light. And the Devourer as the darkness. "But, also – " he closed his eyes. " – the beginning and the end." He whispered as he hugged Cheng Sheng. 

Cheng Sheng is the beginning, and he will be the end. Only when something ends can everything begin again. He doesn't want to leave this world, but he has to. Since only when he leaves, can this world start a new beginning.