บท 68: The Scum Is Reliable

Yu Sheng pushed Zuo Zhe to the wall and trapped him on both sides with his arms, making Zuo Zhe cannot escape his embrace. "Young master~" Yu Sheng called, extending the last note of his voice in a flirty manner.

Zuo Zhe's face flushed. "Stop calling me that!" he said.

"Why?" Yu Sheng asked.

"Because it's too awkward!" Zuo Zhe said.

"But in front of them earlier, you didn't feel like it?" Yu Sheng sharply asked. He's referring to the Xinfaxian Sect disciples.

Zuo Zhe's pupils shrank and he looked at Yu Sheng. "You…"

"Zhe. I don't like it when I am given a green hat." Yu Sheng seriously said.

"Who can give you a green hat?" Zuo Zhe asked.

"No one but you. So don't you dare make me wear it." Yu Sheng said and lowered his voice. "I don't want to feel jealous, either, so don't make me." He told him and let go of Zuo Zhe.

Zuo Zhe's breath hitched and his chest suddenly heaved up and down suppressing his anger. "You – why are you so unreasonable?!" he asked. "We're not in a relationship - !" he said.

Yu Sheng cut him off. "I want us to be." He said. Zuo Zhe fell silent. "See? Because you're against it." Yu Sheng bitterly said.

Zuo Zhe's anger finally disappeared. "… why do you have to choose me?" he asked as he lowered his head.

"Who let you fall before me?" Yu Sheng said. Seeing Zuo Zhe became silent, he didn't speak further.

He just let silence fall upon them. They have so much time on their hands anyway.

After settling down in their rooms, the Xinfaxian Sect disciples split up. Li Tian, Lei Ling, and You Rou decided to stay in their room to meditate. They need to preserve as much strength as they have. Meanwhile, the four others – Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin, Feng Mo, and Lei Qing went to stroll around the city to seek more information regarding the Intersect Competition. However, Lei Qing suddenly said she wanted to buy something while Feng Mo went to accompany her. It's better to go in twos in case something comes up. That way, they could help and protect each other.

They didn't know this would be true later. In the meantime, Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin who were silently walking were being stared at by the people again. Then, they crossed paths with the Dongcheng Sect – again. However, this time was different since the Dongcheng Sect detoured just to avoid them.

Cheng Sheng was confused, but he didn't pursue the matter and just let them leave. "Da shixiong, what do you think of the information we received?" he asked Fei Yin when they just left the Exchange Area.

Exchange Area is a place where you can barter anything. For example, Cheng Sheng and Fei Yin exchanged some gold for information regarding the tests they're taking up in the Intersect Competition.

What they got is about the first, second, and third stages of the Intersect Competition. However, they already knew about the first and the second stages from Fan Wen and Xie Lan. What they're concerned about is the third stage – the Group Stage, or the Group Arena. Not only they will be killing corpses and have the most number of heads collected. But, they also have to fight against their fellow participants – enemies, including their teammates.

In the first stage or the preliminary stage, from thousands of cultivators participating in the different tests, only 100 will be chosen and advance to the second stage. In the second stage, only half can prevail and advance to the third stage. In the third stage, out of 50 participants, only 20 people can advance. The head counting of the corpses killed is individual. You can ask your team to help you. The first 20 who have the most kills will advance.

The problem that should be faced and have a solution is sabotaging. You can sabotage other teams so that they will have less number of kills than your team. Thus, teamwork is at the biggest play, as well as trust within the team. If one person betrays the team, the team will be at risk. They will face both the other participants as well as the corpses. Worse, someone might die. As for the pig teammates, you have to cover up for their mistakes and other flaws. This is a headache, as well as irritating.

There's another rule that's crueler – the kills of the person killed will be transferred to the one who killed that person.

"This is a death battle as shifu said." Fei Yin said, his expression grave. "We shouldn't let You-shimei and Lei-shidi face this battle. It'd be better if they'd give up themselves after they heard this. If they can advance to the second stage from the preliminary stage, that's good. However, if they have the resolution to advance to the third stage, then we'd let them." He said and turned to Cheng Sheng. "We are still there to protect them. Winning or losing doesn't matter. As shifu and founder said, our lives are the most important. We all should get back to Xinfaxian complete and safe." He said.

Cheng Sheng nodded. "I agree." He said. "I can make up for shimei and Lei-shidi's post." He's a mage through and through – a pill refiner and talisman maker. "However, the requirement…" he said and looked at the Group Arena's rules.

"'Each team will be consisting of 10 participants.'" Fei Yin read the rule. "We're only seven people in the first place. We're already lacking three people. If shimei and Lei-shidi wouldn't compete, then we're lacking five people. That's half." He sighed. Even if he and Cheng Sheng could make up for their team's flaws, it'll tire them. Even if they are not aiming to win, they'll deplete their strength and lessen the chance of protecting their teammates. There's also another matter to consider.

"We should know them and trust them. And, they shouldn't be pig teammates." Cheng Sheng grimaced. Even if they are pushing the cart before the ox, it's better to plan so that when they are already at the bridge, it's better to have fewer mistakes and not fall off the bridge.

Fei Yin stifled a sigh. As the da shixiong, he shouldn't look stressed over the matter. He should remain strong in front of his fellow disciples and make them think he is reliable so that they can borrow his strength.