It is as Chen Wu guessed. Su Yi really has realized their mistake.
"Oh, god!" Jing De rubbed the goosebumps that formed on his skin after they listened to Su Yi's analyzation. "If… if we didn't find out, what would have happened?!" he asked with his face pale in horror. This Cheng Sheng elder… he is really scary! He thought and inwardly cried.
Jing Xu heaved a sigh. "Fortunately, we have two Xinfaxian Sect disciples with us and realized this. Or else…" he shook his head.
Qian Meng grimaced.
"It is because my master is always tolerating Cheng-shishu's antics and told me about it." Su Yi explained.
"Indeed." Su Mi agreed when she remembered that Lei Qing told her that aside from the genius Cheng Sheng, Li Tian is the smartest among Fan Wen's disciples. He also has a good temper because he is always tolerant of his fellow disciples, especially Cheng Sheng who is the most troublemaker.
"Er Zi is in one team while Chen Wu is in another. Both of them should know elder Cheng very well." Qian Jue spoke.
Everyone nodded in agreement. One is the disciple while the other is the nephew. Fortunately, they have Su Yi who is smart like Li Tian, his master, who is also has a good understanding of Cheng Sheng's character.
"What should we do now?" Qian Meng asked.
"Split into three even groups. This is the safest." Su Yi answered.
"You have a point. If we have three people, it would be risky. Two people is the safest since you can guard each other's back." Jing Xu explained.
Everyone agreed. There is no need to choose who should they pick. Jing De and Jing Xu would be a pair. Su Yi and Su Mi is another, and Qian Jue and Qian Meng is the last pair.
"… is it too much of a coincidence that we picked each other who are pairs of siblings…?" Jing De asked and scratched his cheek as they looked at each other.
"No need to ask. Even the author herself is also surprised." Jing Xu laughed.
(Gray Dragon: ... *crawling away to hide in another dark corner)
The three pairs then split up.
…
"What about our group?" Tang Li asked.
"If my guess is right, Chen Wu-ge's group should split into four-two." Fei Yinzi spoke.
"Why?" Tang Li asked.
"He can't leave Chen Su-ge and Chen Yu-ge. Wu Lian-ge naturally wouldn't leave Chen Wu-ge protecting his two brothers alone." Fei Yinzi explained.
But, Tang Li, Li Yan and Wen Yan who thought there was something wrong about this. "…" isn't this just the father (Wu Lian) protecting his wife (Chen Wu) and their kids (Chen Su and Chen Yu)? They thought and immediately shook their heads when they felt their thoughts have gone askew.
(Gray Dragon: No. You are definitely thinking straight that everyone is bent.)
Zhu Xi and Cui Xiao who noticed that the three's expressions don't look right. "?" is the situation really this grave to the point that it is unsalvageable?
"Qi Lan-ge also is already a pair with He Shun." Fei Yinzi continued. "Before the stage started." He added.
Tang Li, Li Yan and Wen Yan who heard Fei Yinzi's first sentence and their thoughts ran wildly again. "… you are right." They forced a smile.
"As for Su Yi-ge's and Su Mi-jie's group… they would split into three pairs." Fei Yinzi said.
"Why?" Zhu Xi asked.
Li Yan answered this time. "It is because they are composed of three pairs of siblings." He explained.
Everyone felt enlightened. "That's right!" they said and laughed.
Jing De chose Qian Meng and Qian Jue to team up because Jing Hei is lovers with Qian Lin. Thus, their sects are close to each other. As for why Su Mi joined them, it is because Jing De's team of four doesn't have a mage with them. Chen Wu's group should be stable with both in attack and defense while Fei Yinzi's group has Cui Xiao. They didn't expect for Jing De's team to be composed of three pairs of siblings. Such a coincidence.
"Since one team split up four-two and the other is three pairs, let's split up into two groups." Fei Yinzi suggested. He turned to Wen Yan. "Wen Yan-ge, I'll go with them." he said and pointed Tang Li and Li Yan.
"En." Wen Yan added. "I and Zhu Xi will protect Cui Xiao." He said.
Tang Li and Li Yan agree with this. Not only Fei Yinzi is strong, he also has magic pills, potions and talismans with him. Not to mention that he has the basic knowledge in alchemy. In case xiao Bao and xiao Ling would attack them using spells… this is too horrifying just to think.
But, they are really right to think this way. Since –
"Watch out!" Fei Yinzi suddenly yelled and pulled Tang Li and Li Yan who still haven't reacted while Cui Xiao pulled Wen Yan and Zhu Xi to the other side and the two immediately blocked her when something hit the area where they have been standing earlier.
"Run!" Wen Yan shouted as he and Zhu Xi pulled Cui Xiao with them and ran away.
Fei Yinzi, Tang Li and Li Yan also ran to the opposite direction.
"Tch!" xiao Ling who just landed together with xiao Bao clicked his tongue. "Why do these people get clever and clever?" he frowned in dissatisfaction.
Xiao Bao helplessly sighed. "Which should we follow?" he asked.
"Split up!" xiao Ling suggested. "Do they think I will be scared if there are three of them while I only have myself?" he asked as he narrowed his eyes.
Xiao Bao understood. "Which will you pick?" he asked.
"It would be impolite of me if I won't 'train' master's disciple on behalf of him as master's sword spirit." Xiao Ling grinned. Before xiao Bao could react, his figure already disappeared.
Xiao Bao sighed and flew to the direction where Wen Yan's group escaped.
…
Fei Yinzi felt a chill on his spine and he immediately pushed Tang Li and Li Yan to the other side while he jumped. His feet barely avoided a spell attack.
"Fck! They really attack using spells?!" Li Yan exclaimed as he and Tang Li resumed running while Fei Yinzi threw out a talisman to avoid another spell coming their way.
It accurately hit the spell mid-air and there was an explosion. "Wow!" Tang Li exclaimed in awe. Even if Fei Yinzi isn't a mage, but his skills are very accurate in counterattacking the spell attacks.
"It's only xiao Ling!" Fei Yinzi shouted to Tang Li and Li Yan.
"Do we fight?" Tang Li asked.
"No!" Fei Yinzi answered. "We don't know how strong he is and we can't risk it. Also – " he looked at them. "I want to test something." He said.
"What is it?" Li Yan asked as his expression turned serious.
"Let's not attack and just continue to defend." Fei Yinzi answered. "There should be restriction placed on them, or else we will definitely be put in a big disadvantage." He explained.
Tang Li and Li Yan looked at each other. "Got it!" they nodded and ran faster.
Thus, the three of them started a game of chase.
…
Wu Tie and Jin Yu catch their breaths as they leaned on the tree. They looked at their Cleansing Stones and sighed in relief.
"I was right." Wu Tie spoke when he saw that his points didn't decrease but Jin Yu's points did. "We really shouldn't counterattack. As long as we attacked, they will have the authority to steal our points." He laughed.
Jin Yu smiled. "Brilliant!" he said.
"I'll help you recover your points." Wu Tie told him.
"Good." Jin Yu nodded.
…
Fei Luo frowned when he saw that their points decreased again. "What the hell is going on?" he muttered as he started to lose his composure.
"Ge… you should take a rest first." Fei Huo told him as he looked at him worriedly.
Fei Luo's clothes and hair are disheveled but due to him concentrating too much on their current problem, he has forgotten it.
"This stage shouldn't be this fair." Xi Bing spoke.
Sun Yan nodded in agreement. "In this stage, our opponents should be the demons and not xiao Bao and xiao Ling. They are just 'guests' who serve as distractors." He said. "But, right now, the demons became the support while our opponents became them two. Not to mention that they can steal our points… there is something wrong." He explained.
"But, if we don't fight back, we will be put in a more disadvantageous position!" Xi He frowned.
"… not necessarily." Fei Luo's eyes flashed.
"What?!" Xi He looked at him.
"One of the competition's goal is chivalry." Fei Luo spoke. "That is, to protect the weak. If we don't fight back, then it will make us look weak. Would they dare attack us if we are the 'weak'?" he asked. "Also, remember, they are here to help us first. Attacking us is just the second.. So, if we won't fight back, they shouldn't attack us!" he explained.