Chapter 392 - The Scum Is Manipulative

"I wish we could have this in the Heilong Realm." Shang He spoke as he looked at the Water Fruit, nicknamed as the Spirit Probing Fruit. Although the fruit has a flesh inside, but there is more content of its juice. 

"Shen Shen said that we could have mixed this also as an ingredient." Meng Gui spoke as he removed his gaze from Ma Wen's quartet. "But, some ordinary people might not take its stimulating effect, so he removed this in the ingredients' list." He explained. 

"I see." Shang He spoke. "Did he say anything else?" he asked. 

"He said that we should still watch the Drunken Moon City's people while eating the dinner later." Meng Gui answered. 

"Good." Shang He nodded, understanding what Cheng Sheng wants to do. 

The breakfast this morning has triggered the people's psychological shadow towards food. The lunch this noon increased their anxiety. Then, the dinner tonight will be the catalyst to this psychological warfare against Ma Wen's people. They will use the citizens of the Drunken Moon City as a shadow while boosting their arrogance in their hearts, thinking that they have already won this battle. 

"How is xiao Huan doing?" Shang He asked in concern. When he stalked Meng Gui, not only was Meng Gui he is watching, but also Meng Gui's people, scrutinizing them whether they are good or bad to be Meng Gui's subordinates. 

Xiao Huan is the one who worries him. He is very young when Meng Gui took him with them, together with his grandmother. Because he is the youngest, Meng Gui's subordinates took care of him and protected him always. They don't want him to die very young. Because of this mentality, they failed to temper xiao Huan, making xiao Huan even more timid because they sheltered him. 

A young bird won't learn how to fly if he won't experience how to fall. This is the case of xiao Huan. Because xiao Huan lacks experience, he can't showcase his talent. Then, his talent will be wastes if this goes on. That's why Shang He, as well as Meng Gui, is glad that xiao Huan met Cheng Sheng. Neither Shang He nor Meng Gui knows about alchemy, so they can't teach xiao Huan about spell casting. None of their brothers are fast learners, except Shang He, Meng Gui and xiao San. But, Shang He and Meng Gui are carrying heavy responsibilities as leaders while xiao San carries half the burden Meng Gui has. 

Thus, no one has the time to learn about spells, nor spell casting, as it is very difficult, too. Not only one has to memorize the available spells, nor create new spells, but they also have to learn how to cast it and master the feel of casting. Only xiao Huan knows spell casting, but, unfortunately, isn't proficient with it since no one can guide him, much less teach him. 

"I don't know. Shall we go and see them?" Meng Gui asked. 

But, they didn't expect what they will see when they arrived in the area where xiao San brought xiao Huan, Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan for Cheng Sheng to teach xiao Huan. 

BOOOM!!! Meng Gui and Shang He could only see a bright light flash followed by a loud explosion. 

"Be careful!" Shang He told Meng Gui as he pulled the other back after Meng Gui almost stumbled when the ground suddenly shook because of the explosion and the surroundings where covered in smoke and dust. 

"What… what happened?!" Meng Gui exclaimed in shock when they saw a large pit before them after the smoke around them receded. 

"Da ge!" xiao San called when he saw Meng Gui and Shang He. "That Shen Shen provoked xiao Huan to trigger his power be released in the maximum. So…" he turned to look at the pit. "Then…" he looked at the distance. 

Meng Gui and Shang He also looked over and saw xiao Huan was lying on the ground, covered in suit and dust. On the other side, Cheng Sheng was flicking off the dust that stuck on his clothes. Even his hair was unharmed. 

Xiao San noticed that Meng Gui and Shang He noticed the disparity in xiao Huan's and Cheng Sheng's condition after the explosion. "That Shen Shen didn't use his own strength since he wanted to test xiao Huan's strength on how strong can he harm his opponent." He explained. 

"Then, how did he…?" Shang He asked. Cheng Sheng didn't look like he was harmed at all! 

"In that moment where xiao Huan's attack was about to hit Shen Shen, I saw a white cloth slipped out of Shen Shen's clothes." xiao San answered. "That white cloth blocked the attack." He told them. 

Meng Gui's jaw dropped. His eyes are wide in disbelief. Clearly, he doesn't believe that a mere cloth can block such an explosive attack without being damaged at the least. 

"It's true." xiao San told him. 

Meng Gui closed his mouth. He believes in xiao San. "That cloth…" he muttered. 

"Must be treasure." Shang He said. 

The three of them returned and xiao San picked xiao Huan up from the ground. Cheng Sheng, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan have already noticed Meng Gui's and Shang He's arrival. 

"You've picked up such a talented person." Cheng Sheng spoke when Meng Gui and Shang He reached them. 

"I didn't expect it." Meng Gui honestly spoke. That time, he just wanted to shelter the young xiao Huan because he pitied him. He didn't pay attention as to what xiao Huan's grandmother has said about xiao Huan able to cast a spell. He thought that the old lady said it so that they won't cast xiao Huan away after seeing his usefulness. 

He really didn't expect that what the old lady said is not only true, but xiao Huan unexpectedly has a great potential. 

Shang He nodded in agreement. That time, he just thought that the child seemed very obedient and well-behaved. Who would have imagined that xiao Huan can unleash explosive attacks? He thought and turned to see xiao San treating xiao Huan's wounds after xiao Huan bore the brunt of his own attack because he was defenseless while Cheng Sheng, on the other hand, was already prepared so Cheng Sheng wasn't hurt at the least. 

Thinking of this, he turned to Cheng Sheng. "What was that white cloth xiao San spoke earlier?" he asked. He has always been direct when he was asking. He doesn't like being roundabout, so he really hates Ma Wen who is very manipulative. Ma Wen's methods disgust him. 

Since Cheng Sheng dared to take out the Shapeshifting Blanket, he, Fei Yin and Wu Yuan weren't surprised by Shang He's question. "My weapon." Cheng Sheng calmly answered. 

Seeing that Cheng Sheng didn't take out the white cloth and didn't explain its use, Meng Gui and Shang He didn't press him for answers. They are only cooperating with each other. Since their relationship isn't built with friendship, there's no need to tell others some secrets. 

"Xiao Huan… xiao Huan!" they heard xiao San cried. 

They all turned and saw xiao San is shaking the unconscious xiao Huan awake. "What's wrong?" Meng Gui asked as they all walked towards them. 

"Da ge… xiao Huan isn't waking up!" xiao San cried in alarm. 

Shang He immediately checked xiao Huan's pulse. "So faint." His brows knotted. 

Cheng Sheng squatted next to xiao Huan. "It's starting." He spoke. 

"What?" they said. 

"What's starting?" Meng Gui asked. 

Shang He, whose fingers are still on xiao Huan's wrist, suddenly was startled. "It's chaotic!" he cried when he felt that xiao Huan's pulse started to speed up. 

"Shen Shen…?" Meng Gui called as he turned to Cheng Sheng, waiting for Cheng Sheng's explanation. 

Cheng Sheng rose from the ground. "He's entered a defensive state." He answered. 

"'defensive state'?" they asked. 

"As I've said before, xiao Huan is the type who will only attack after being pushed to his limit." Cheng Sheng spoke. "When his family died, he was hidden by his mother in a burrow. For a child, his defense mechanism is to close his eyes and curl up, thinking that what he couldn't see, he wouldn't think, and wrapping himself up with his limbs, he wouldn't be harmed." He explained. "That was his powerless state, anyway." He said. 

They all stared at him, waiting for more of his words. 

"When he lived with his grandmother, he regained his family." Cheng Sheng continued, then paused. He turned to xiao San. "You said that xiao Huan attacked his neighbor after he woke from his nightmare." He said. 

Xiao San nodded. 

"For a child who thought he is powerless, how can he suddenly attack someone, especially when he is timid?" Cheng Sheng asked. 

Xiao San froze. He suddenly realized that this is the case. 

"That's why I guess, xiao Huan saw his family's attackers before, and he recognized the neighbor. Such a coincidence that the neighbor appeared just after xiao Huan woke form his nightmare." Cheng Sheng smiled. "Do you know what spell did xiao Huan use that time?" he asked.