The Scum Is A

Everyone decided to have a meeting after the Intersect Competition today and gather at the Yunxiao Inn again where Cheng Sheng stays for him to not leave there and give the enemies an opportunity to attack him.

"As I've said, I kept the spirit servant's corpse in case I'd find something on it as another clue about the spirit servants, and also the enemies." Cheng Sheng started. "Naturally, I kept its mask on. I never touched anything, as I what also told the Guhe Sect disciples. I then kept it in a safe place." He said. "But, when I came to check on it this afternoon after I realized something, my conjecture was proven right." He looked at them. "That mask… it's a parasite." He told them.

Silence fell. Although they have already heard it this afternoon, they are still stunned upon hearing it again.

"Another parasite… like the Eating Worms?" Qian Shan asked.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "Yes." he answered. "The Eating Worms eat what's inside the skull where they house. But these parasites… they ate the corpse of their host that wore the 'mask'." He told them.

Their eyes widened in shock and their faces turned green like Chen Han, Li Tian, Feng Mo and the Huakai Sect earlier after they heard this, too.

Tang Teng clutched his chest as if he wanted to vomit. Li Nanzi's twisted of holding back his nausea. "Disgusting… utterly disgusting." He muttered after they know another disgusting creature.

"Scavengers?" Jing Rui spoke.

"Could be." Cheng Sheng shrugged.

"By 'could be', you mean…" Sun Yu muttered. "They could also feed from live beings?" he asked.

Cheng Sheng didn't answer. Whether his silence means 'yes', 'no', or 'maybe', they can also let their imaginations run wild.

"So, aside from devouring its host, is there any other thing that we have to guard against these spirit servants with masks?" Zheng Fu Gong asked.

"Are they only the ones who can have this mask, or there might be other living or dead beings that could have this mask?" Pai Lie added.

Cheng Sheng shook his head. "I don't know where did these parasites come from." He spoke. What he mean is that he doesn't know who can have this 'mask'. "As for what these parasites are for other than devouring their hosts…" he looked at them.

He Run's heart skipped a beat. But, he knows that he can't forever hide it.

Cheng Sheng saw He Run's resigned expression and he inwardly sighed in relief. That meant that he can say it. "Mental attacks." He answered.

Everyone sucked in a sharp breath. "Mental… attacks…" they muttered in a daze.

"You can also add spiritual attacks, just in case." Cheng Sheng frowned.

"Cheng Sheng." Sun Yu called. "This spirit servant that has the mask attacked He Shun, right?" he asked.

As soon as he asked it, everyone's gazes fell on He Run. Cheng Sheng can't help but his brow twitched. This Sun Yu really has a sharp tongue.

"It is." He Run spoke. "My son… Shun-er… is in Cheng Sheng's care right now because he is suffering from a mental disturbance due to that surprise attack." He told them.

"Sect leader He…" they sympathized with him.

Cheng Sheng heavily sighed. "Right now, I used acupuncture with special energy imbued to block the mental attacks on He Shun." He spoke. "Although, I can't destroy the 'mask' yet since I still don't know how will He Shun end up." He told them and didn't elaborate.

Everyone is smart so they can guess. What if Cheng Sheng destroys the mask and He Shun's head also would turn into a paste? They all shivered at the thought. He Run's face also turned pale in horror just imagining it happening to his son.

"Cheng Sheng… these parasites… how should we deal with them?" Jing Cheng asked.

Cheng Sheng fell silent. "… give me more time." He finally spoke. "I will definitely find a way." He said. "There's also Ho Ting, and Xi Ming." He lowered his head.

Their expressions changed when they heard Xi Ming's name. One thought came into their mind: Spirit Tracing Bell.

Cheng Sheng naturally saw their guarded expressions and bitterly smiled. He was reminded again that a tool is like a double-edged sword. It can protect, but it can also harm. The Spirit Tracing Bell can help them, protect them, but also can harm them.

There is no such thing as free lunch in the world.

"Xiao Sheng." Xie Lan called.

Cheng Sheng blinked. He didn't notice that he became absent-minded again. "Sorry…" he muttered.

"You're tired." Xie Lan spoke.

They all nodded.

"Everything's been hard on you, too." Hui Qiu spoke.

Cheng Sheng looked at her.

"Look. I won't say such cheesy words like I also wanted to carry half the burden for you." Hui Qiu rolled her eyes. "I'm just saying that only you can we currently rely on. It makes us feel ashamed, so what we can do is to let you rest since you are also a human like us." she explained. "If even us who haven't even contributed anything can rest, then why can you not who does all the work?" she asked.

"She's right." Wu Tong nodded. "If you'll say to give you time, then why would we be unreasonable and not give you time?" he asked. "It's you who knows the most about these things, so we can only be patient. Thus, you should also have a rest, then, take your time to figure things out." He told him.

Li Nanzi and Tang Teng nodded in agreement. "Cheng Sheng… I am old and, honestly, definitely hates worms and other insects so this matter, I will leave to you young ones and would stay away from this." Tang Teng said and covered his mouth when his face turned green again.

"Father…" Tang Yun called as he and Tang Zhe helped Tang Teng sit on the side to breathe fresh air. Guo Cheng also gave him a magic pill to relieve his nausea.

"Cheng Sheng." Jing Rui called. "I owe you my life, and my sect also owes you for saving me. Thus, you can tell us if you need anything." He told him.

"Yes." Jing Cheng, Jing Bai, Jing Hei and Jing Kang nodded in agreement.

"Cheng Sheng." Qian Tian called as he, his father and mother along with Qian Lin approached him. "We… our sect are already allied for marriage like your sect and the Zunjingde Sect, not to mention the Youxiwang Sect… and could also consider the Shanliangde Sect since you and Fei Yin – " he muttered. "Anyway… just… just tell us if you or your sect need anything, okay?" he said, but his gaze is on You Rou who was standing on the side, giggling.

Qian Tian blushed and he pulled his father, mother and brother back to their seats.

"Do we also need to say something?" Sun Yi asked as he smiled.

"We should!" Chen Han answered and coughed.

But, Wu Yuan preempted him. "Our sects have long been a family. No need to hold back." He told him.

Chen Han who is prepared to speak and also prepared a long speech. "…" you cut me off just for two short sentences?! Are you reciting a poem here?! He thought with a dark face.

Sun Yi who already expected Wu Yuan to say short sentences. "^_^" as expected of my Yuan! He thought and giggled.

"Xiao Sheng." Fan Wen called after the Youxiwang Sect left. "Do we still have to hide things and bear the burden alone?" he asked as he looked at Cheng Sheng.

"Cheng-shidi…" Li Tian, Feng Mo and Lei Qing sighed. They all are familiar with Cheng Sheng's style of things so they know that Cheng Sheng's answer to Fan Wen's question is undoubtedly 'yes'.

They were about to speak when suddenly, Fan Wen's expression changed. "Xiao Sheng?" he called when he saw that Cheng Sheng who was sitting on his seat didn't respond.

Xie Lan nervously moved Cheng Sheng's face to face them when they saw that Cheng Sheng's eyes are closed! "Xiao Sheng?!" he exclaimed as he immediately checked Cheng Sheng's body through his meridians to see if there is something wrong.

The others were alarmed with Fan Wen's and Xie Lan's voices and they turned to see that Cheng Sheng was sitting there, but actually is unconscious! They were talking to an unconscious person!

Wait – not right. This isn't the point. They thought. "What happened?!" they exclaimed.

Zheng Fu Gong and Pai Lie who are preparing to talk with Cheng Sheng, too. "…" we still haven't said our piece but something has happened to the person… they thought and felt complicated feelings inside.

Zheng Yi helplessly smiled before he turned to ask Jing Bai what happened to Cheng Sheng.

"We've been talking to him this whole time yet we didn't notice when did he fall unconscious…" Sun Yu's brows knitted as he looked at Cheng Sheng.

"Lan. What happened to xiao Sheng?!" Fan Wen worriedly asked.

"This…" Xie Lan muttered as he stared at Cheng Sheng's face whose eyes are closed, as if he is just sleeping.. "I also don't know…" he answered.