Chapter 396 - The Scum Is Smug

"The Chen patriarch! It is indeed the Chen patriarch… and former sect leader Wu!" Xiao Le exclaimed in shock. 

"They're… alive…" Xi Ming muttered under his breath as they all stared at Chen Jing and Wu Fan, wide-eyed in disbelief. 

"They're just missing, ge. It's not as if missing equates to being dead… ow." Xi Xing grunted in pain when Xi Ming hit him on his back. He immediately shut up. 

"Chen patriarch… former sect leader Wu… you're really back!" Shu Mu sighed in relief when Wu Fan and Chen Jing reached them. 

"En. We've also saved your brothers." Wu Fan spoke. 

Before any of them could react, they all heard the snapping of ropes behind the demonic cultivators. They all turned, only to see Shu Mu's fellow disciples were now lying on the ground. Their chest heaved up and down, indicating that they are now breathing easier than earlier. 

"Damn it!" a demonic cultivator cursed and glared at Wu Fan and Chen Jing. "Kill them!" he said. 

"AAAAAAARRRRHH!!" the demonic cultivator yelled as they advanced to them. 

"Go take care of your brothers. We'll take care of these shameless bastards." Wu Fan patted Shu Mu's back, sending some qi on him before he and Chen Jing met the demonic cultivators head-on. 

Shu Mu, Xiao Le, Xi Ming and Xi Xing looked at each other before they all jumped and leapt over the heads of the demonic cultivators, then landed on the ground behind them. They immediately ran towards the Nanshu Sect disciples. 

"Xiao Le. Medicine!" Shu Mu said.

"Here!" Xiao Le immediately took out his qiankun pouch filled with medicines. Before they left, Li Nanzi and Kang Ce gave him their sect's medicines as a compensation for what he had gone through when he was still in their sect. 

But, how can the others not know they are leaving? Jing Xian, who stayed in the Xinfaxian Sect to watch over it along with Su Yuan, asked the Xinfaxian Sect disciples to give their group going to South some medicines and also talismans to protect themselves. The Xinfaxian Sect may be lacking in cultivation methods, but not magic pills, magic potions and talismans! And, they all learned from Cheng Sheng – a master level mage! So, their magic pills, magic potions and talismans are all of high quality! 

As expected, the colors on the faces of the Nanshu Sect disciples returned. Their bleeding also stopped as their wounds slowly closed. For someone who was heavily beaten after being treated like a punching bag, their wounds closing is already the best outcome after taking medicine! 

"Da… shi… xiong…" one of the Nanshu Sect disciples called when he saw Shu Mu's vague figure. He's the only one remained half-conscious as he has the least wounds on him. The other Nanshu Sect disciples must have protected him. 

Shu Mu turned and recognized that it was their youngest disciples. His eyes turned hot and he can't hold back his tears from falling. Xi Ming and Xi Xing saw the scene and they turned around, leaving Shu Mu some space and to also look out for the demonic cultivators who would turn to attack them. 

Xiao Le didn't say anything and just silently bandaged the wounds of the other disciples. Not long after and he heard Shu Mu sobbing. He sighed, then wiped the dirt and blood on their bodies after he had treated their wounds and fed them medicine. Then, he took out some Cleaning Talismans and stuck them to their clothes. A few seconds later and the clothes of the Nanshu Sect disciples now looked clean, and only torn in some places after they were maimed by the demonic cultivators when they captured them. 

"Da… shixiong… where are the others?" the youngest disciple weakly asked. 

"I'm sorry… I'm so incompetent…!" Shu Mu cried. "They… are dead…" he told him. 

The youngest disciple's eyes widened in shock. But, because his eyes are inflamed and was bruised due to being beaten up, his eyes hurt from his movements. However, it didn't stop him from weeping. 

Xi Ming and Xi Xing fought against the demonic cultivators who returned after seeing that they can't beat Chen Jing and Wu Fan. Xiao Le joined them after putting up a barrier made of talismans around Shu Mu and his fellow disciples. 

With Chen Jing's and Wu Fan's help, it took not more than an hour for them to kill all the demonic cultivators. But, even if they won the battle, even if they killed them, they didn't feel satisfaction nor comfort. The atmosphere is heavy. 

Xi Ming chose to start a topic. "Chen patriarch. Former sect leader Wu. We thought you were missing. How did you come back?" he asked. 

Xi Xing and Xiao Le turned. 

"We really came to South, and then the Southmost Region to look for the Wuran Kingdom. With only two people, it is easier to travel and be incognito than a group." Chen Jing explained. "When we reached the Southmost Region, we found out that the Nanli Sect was annihilated, along with the citizens of the Nanli Town. Nan Pingan also became a demonic cultivator. Fortunately, Fan and I didn't approach him and remained observing." He said. 

They all sharply inhaled. "Nan Pingan… became a demonic cultivator?!" they exclaimed. 

Although the Nanli Sect isn't a famous sect, but they have heard of it. As well as Nan Pingan, who is one of the contestants in the Intersect Competition. They all have participated in the Intersect Competition, so they have met him before. They didn't expect that after the outbreak of the demonic cultivators, Nan Pingan would join their side. 

But, it is also somehow to be expected. It was their territory that bore the brunt of the demonic cultivators' attacks. With them besieged, there was no escape. Either they die an honorable death, or bear the humiliation and become one of them demonic cultivators. 

They can't help but sigh as they lament fate. Who would expect that the demonic cultivators are actually biding their time to sweep them all in one but big attack? Although they weren't slacking in killing and guarding against the demonic cultivators, but they had to admit that because of continuous wins in the battles against the demonic cultivators, they became smug. Added with Ming Ye's – who is actually Wu Ran, deceit, they lost a lot this time. 

"Then, we heard about the Ni Lai Gate." Chen Jing continued. "It was said that the Ni Lai Gate will lead you to hell, so we guessed that the 'hell' they meant is the Wuran Kingdom. But, when we arrived, we found that there is no Wuran Kingdom. Only Heilong Realm." He explained. 

Xi Ming, Xi Xing and Xiao Le nodded. They already know about this. 

"Then, Fan and I entered." Chen Jing spoke. This time, his voice sounded low. "What we expected Ming Ye… Wu Ran to greet us turned into another person." he said and frowned. "It was also an acquaintance, but it isn't Ming Ye (Wu Ran)." He told them. 

"Who is it?" they curiously asked. 

"Mu Jun." Chen Jing answered. 

Xiao Le was shocked. But, Xi Ming and Xi Xing were more shocked. They weren't surprised to hear a familiar name come out of Chen Jing's lips. What they were stunned is that the name became of their enemy's. 

"Chen patriarch… are you… mistaken?" Xi Ming asked with much difficulty. 

Chen Jing looked at him. "I know you can't accept it. But, it's the truth." He spoke. 

Xi Ming's face paled. 

"Ge. He abducted sect leader." Xi Xing reminded him. 

Xi Ming started. That's right. Not only Mu Jun is a demonic cultivator, but he also abducted Fei Huang. "Still…" he bit his lip. 

Wu Fan saw Xi Ming's hurt expression and his heart softened. "I know what you want to say. Mu Jun has been helping us. But, this betrayal…" he shook his head in dismay. 

"That's not it." Xi Ming spoke. 

"Huh?" they looked at him. 

Xi Ming raised his head. "Xiao Xing and I have been sneaking out because I don't want him to be bored and instead wanted him to experience some fun." He spoke. "That time, I thought it would be just like one of those nights. But…" his voice trailed off. "I was on my way to xiao Xing when I met Mu Jun." he said. 

Their eyes widened. "What?!" they exclaimed. Even Xi Xing can't help but be surprised. 

Xi Ming nodded. "I asked him where he is going. He said he is going to save someone." He said. "Then, I saw sect leader arrived. Recalling the rumors of them being lovers, I thought that Mu Jun was just joking at that time." He wryly smiled. "Then, the next day, I heard that he abducted sect leader…" he pulled his hair in frustration. 

Everyone saw that torn look on his face. He doesn't know what to believe – whether he should trust Mu Jun or not. But, the facts have already been laid out in front of him. 

"Say… was there no resistance from teacher Fei that time?" Wu Fan asked.