"… is it too late for us to return now?" Fei Yin asked, his face covered in black lines. Meanwhile, Wu Yuan's face is as stiff as a stone.

"Yes." Cheng Sheng honestly answered.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan. "…" you could've lied to us to comfort us! They thought, internally complaining.

But, they know better. Cheng Sheng would never comfort anyone and even sprinkle salt on their wound. Because he is a scum. And a scum is a sadist – one who laughs in other's misfortune. Thus, they can only swallow this bitter pill of meeting someone like Cheng Sheng.

"Sheng, you… why do you look so calm?" Fei Yin asked when he saw Cheng Sheng's expression didn't even change. Aren't they in the same boat?

"We have to stay calm in this situation so that we can think rationally." Cheng Sheng answered as he stood on his horse's back and jumped to reach for the fruit hanging from the tree.

"Oh. You're right." Fei Yin said and looked at Wu Yuan whose expression finally eased. "So, what should we do next?" Fei Yin asked as he turned to Cheng Sheng.

"Let's see…" Cheng Sheng said as he picked another fruit and threw it to Fei Yin.

Wu Yuan already followed Cheng Sheng's behavior and picked some fruits for himself.

Cheng Sheng saw Fei Yin also stood on his horse's back and picked fruits, so he sat on the back of his horse and ate the fruit in his hand. "Since we're already in this situation, even if we have realized the consequence earlier, it doesn't change even if we have realized it later." He said.

Fei Yin, his arm filled with fruits, nodded in agreement. "You're right. This road leads to the Plum Blossom City, as we've heard earlier." He said.

"We can only go forward." Wu Yuan said.

"Such a pity." Cheng Sheng muttered as he took another bite. "But, there's another way for us to escape, though." He said.

"What is it?" Fei Yin and Wu Yuan asked.

Then, they saw Cheng Sheng smiled before his hand loosened its hold of the fruit. Then, he closed his eyes and fell from the back of his horse.

Fei Yin's and Wu Yuan's eyes widened in shock. "SHENG!" Fei Yin cried before he jumped off of his horse and walked towards Cheng Sheng. "Sheng… Sheng!" he called as he tapped Cheng Sheng's cheek to wake him up. But, Cheng Sheng didn't wake up and his breathing is faint. "Sheng!" he called.

"Junior Fei." Wu Yuan called and looked at the approaching demonic cultivators.

"What the f*ck…!" Fei Yin cursed as he picked up Cheng Sheng and carried him in his arms. "Who are you?!" he asked as he glared at the newcomers.

"Hoho. Country bumpkins!" one of the demonic cultivators said and laughed as they looked at Cheng Sheng who fainted. "They don't know that the Star Fruit is poisonous! Hahahaha!" he laughed.

"Poisonous?!" Fei Yin and Wu Yuan exclaimed.

"They really don't know!" another one said and cackled.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan looked at each other, their face paled. Then, they looked at the scattered fruits on their feet.

"Death or slavery?" the leading demonic cultivator asked as he pointed his sword at him.

Fei Yin and Wu Yuan didn't immediately answer. "How do we cure him?" Fei Yin asked as he looked at Cheng Sheng's pale face.

"Our leader has an antidote. If you work with us, then our leader might help you cure your friend." The demonic cultivator said.

"Work." Fei Yin said.

Wu Yuan nodded. "We'll work with you." He told the demonic cultivators. He is also worried for Cheng Sheng.

"Then, keep up with us!" the demonic cultivator said before they climbed on their horses and rode away.

Fei Yin immediately climbed on the back of his horse with Cheng Sheng in his arms, then followed the demonic cultivators. They are outnumbered, and the cure is only with the demonic cultivators. They have no choice but to follow them. Wu Yuan also knew their place, so he silently followed behind Fei Yin, leaving Cheng Sheng's horse nibbling on the leaf of the tree.

A figure appeared from the tree and watched the group disappear in the distance. Then, he approached the horse and patted the horse's head. "Ah." He muttered when he remembered something. "So it seems that Meng Gui is already preparing to avoid his funeral." He chuckled as he meaningfully looked at the direction where the demonic cultivators left along with Fei Yin, Wu Yuan, and the unconscious Cheng Sheng.

Bai Yun walked towards the Heilong emperor and snapped his fan open. "Naturally. After all, he is the weakest among the Four Demonic Leaders. He can only rely on Shang He and Ma Wen in this battle to kill Du Xiang." He explained. "And, after Du Xiang dies, Shang He and Ma Wen will point their swords towards him next." He said, the corners of his lips rising up.

"But – " the Heilong emperor spoke. " – Meng Gui's luck seem to be on the rise. Not only will he be saved from this first onslaught and Du Xiang will die on his stead. But, he fortunately picked up these righteous cultivators." He said.

Bai Yun's chin raised. "Indeed, he is lucky." He agreed. "His fortune will depend on these righteous cultivators next." He said. "If he won't play his cards well, then he's doomed to lose his life. But, if he did…" he looked at the Heilong emperor.

"En." The Heilong emperor nodded. "We'll keep his life then." He said.

Bai Yun smiled and cupped his fists towards the Heilong emperor. "I'm looking forward to that day." He said.

The Heilong emperor didn't speak. He just climbed on the horse before he left. Bai Yun chuckled before he snapped his fan close. A servant appeared together with his horse. Then, the servant got off of his hose and gave the horse to Bai Yun.

Bai Yun looked at him as he climbed on the horse. "What will you tell your companion when you return without your horse?" he asked.

"The horse ran away." The servant answered.

Bai Yun nodded, satisfied. Then, he left to follow the Heilong emperor.

Huilong Continent, Southmost Region.

"We've finally reached the Nanli Town!" Lei Ling exclaimed.

"With them on our tail." Lei Qing said and looked at the demonic cultivators following behind them. "Our stealth is now useless." She said.

Lei Ling grimaced. "With them closely following us, it is hard to shake them off." he helplessly smiled.

Jing Kang, who's now awake after three days, patted Lei Ling's back to comfort him. "We will find a way." He told him.

Lei Ling turned and smiled at Jing Kang. Then, he held Jing Kang's hand tight. "Thank you." He said.

Zheng Yi saw Lei Ling and Jing Kang interact. Then, he turned to Jing Bai and also held Jing Bai's hand tight. "Bai-er! They are holding hands!" he said as he pointed Lei Ling and Jing Kang. "It looks good. Let's hold hands, too!" he said and grinned at Jing Bai who was rendered speechless.

Jing Bai also woke up and found Zheng Yi hopping around him, then hugged him tight. He was used to Zheng Yi ignoring him before. And even if he and Zheng Yi were close when they were young, but it was decades ago. Zheng Yi being proactive towards him makes him feel helpless. "En." He just said and let Zheng Yi hold his hand.

Zheng Yi giggled. Jing Hei who saw his elder twin brother and Zheng Yi smiled in relief. Then, he turned to Qian Lin.

Qian Lin shrugged, but a smile was on his lips. "Let's go see the Nanli Town." He told Jing Hei. Jing Hei nodded and they went to the quarterdeck to get a clearer view of the Nanli Town ahead of them.

Lei Qing who's watching them smiled. After three days, Jing Kang and Jing Bai woke up. Jing Bai has woken up earlier than Jing Kang, since he only overexerted himself like Feng Mo, who woke up just yesterday, did. Feng Mo is also now awake, but he is watching over Xie Lan, Fan Wen and Li Tian. As for Jing Kang, he is fortunate he recovered faster than Li Tian, who is still deeply asleep.

Jing Rui is also still in a coma, as well as Xi Ling. Jing Cheng is watching over Jing Rui while Fei Lin is watching over Xi Ling. You Rou is still busy as ever, but with Feng Mo, Jing Bai and Jing Kang now awake, her patients became lesser so the medicines she needed to make also lessened. Qian Tian stayed with her to help her with her work, albeit her refusal.

"Nanli Town… there will definitely be more demonic cultivators ahead of us." Lei Qing said, her face grim. "One large group behind us, and another large group will be in front of us. We will be stuck in the middle, and we won't be able to escape." she told them.