The Scum Is A ***

"What the hell is this...?" the audience doesn't know whether to laugh or cry when they saw Wu Lian, Fei Luo and Sun Yan as a group of three.

Although it was said that making a team with the other sects is permissible... well, they haven't seen it in the past solo and double battles... and in this group battle, it was only them three who formed a collaboration from different sects!

Wu Lian and Fei Luo are supposed to sign up for solo battles while Sun Yan wanted to sign up in the double battles together with another Shanliangde Sect disciple. But, mishaps happen.

"We'll be signing up as a team! See you later!" Chen Wu told Wu Lian as he brought his two younger brothers Chen Su and Chen Yu to register. 

Wu Lian nodded as an answer and watched the three left. The opening ceremony for the second stage of the Intersect Competition was already finished and the rest of this morning was left for the fifty participants to sign up as a single challenger, pair challenger or team challenger for solo, double and group battles respectively. 

Wu Lian was about to head to register for the solo battles. He wanted to prove himself to his adoptive father that he is worthy to be raised by them as their adoptive son. Though, he really doesn't need to do this since Sun Yi is carefree while Wu Yuan doesn't care about these things. Wu Lian is just persistent. He wanted to repay them for raising him since he was a child, and he wanted them to be proud of him. 

Wu Lian lined for the single battles when a subordinate of their sect called him. He was told that his dad Sun Yi was sick and he went to the Yunxiao Inn to rest. Thus, he hurried over to Sun Yi. 

… only to see Sun Yi's disappointed but also helpless expression when he saw him. "That... Lian-er, I called for your father, not you." Sun Yi said while he is training with his sword. "The messenger should have misheard your names..." he muttered and placed a palm on his face that reddened due to embarrassment. "And... yes. You can see. I am not sick. I am just willful towards your father..." he added. He coughed and looked away to hide his embarrassment. 

"... oh." Wu Lian muttered. He not only was mistakenly called but was also forced to eat dog food. He woodenly left the Yunxiao Inn and returned to the venue. 

But, when he returned, no matter how fast he was, he lost the opportunity to sign up for the single battles. The number of participants are now even. They can't add one more. He nodded in understanding and excused himself, feeling ashamed that he was absent during the registration. 

Thinking that he can sign up for double battles, he had to look for someone to pair up with. He has been thinking of Chen Wu but then he heard him and his brothers talking about tactics for their three-person team. He decided not to tell them about his dilemma. He knows that Chen Wu would feel distressed and would definitely make him join their team and become a four-person team. He doesn't like to burden Chen Wu, thus he tried to look for another person again. 

But, just as he did, he heard that the Righteous Alliance disciple has closed the registration since the number of pairs have also been even. A coincidence that the remaining number of participants that still haven't signed up are enough for a team of three – the only team needed left in group battles! Wu Lian then knew that he can only sign up for the group battles. But who to group with? He thought and turned. 

He saw two people. 

Wu Lian snapped out of his reminiscing and he turned to look at Fei Luo and Sun Yan, asking if they want to pick up the nameplate for their opponents. It wouldn't be good if they'd pick Chen Wu's group. Wu Lian doesn't want any of their teams lose.

But, Fei Luo didn't answer since he doesn't want to touch the nameplates he deem dirty. Sun Yan helplessly smiled at this attitude of Fei Luo and he apologized to Wu Lian. He had him then pick for their opponents.

Wu Lian nodded and silently went to the host.

…

Fei Luo's brow is twitching because of irritation. Everyone knows he is a germaphobe. During the elimination stage in the desert arena, he was the one who erected a barrier around them for the sand to not stick to his clothes, hair or skin. 

Yet, today, someone bumped into him and he saw the faint mark of sweat on his clothes, albeit it evaporated immediately. While everyone was registering, he went to the restroom to change his clothes. After pressing flat his changed clothes, he burnt his clothes that he wore earlier before he came out of the restroom, only to bump into Sun Yan. 

"What?" he asked with a scowl on his face. 

Sun Yan sniffed and smelled the smoke. "... you burnt your clothes?" he asked and looked at Fei Luo's spotless white and neat clothes without a wrinkle. 

"Yes." Fei Luo answered. "Make way. I still haven't signed up for the solo battles." he spoke and walked around Sun Yan when he saw that the other didn't move. 

Sun Yan followed after him. "I also still haven't." he spoke, referring to registering. 

Just as his voice fell, both of them heard that the registration for solo battles was closed. 

"... pair up?" Sun Yan asked and glanced at Fei Luo's dark expression. He knows that the other is pissed and is just holding it in. 

Fei Luo pressed his lips tight. "Fine." he answered through his gritted teeth. He doesn't like pair and group battles because the others might dirty his clothes during the fight. 

Sun Yan nodded in understanding. Just as they turned, they heard that the double battles were also closed. "... sorry." he apologized despite he didn't do anything. 

A vein popped in Fei Luo's forehead. Obviously, he is about to explode. "... why didn't you sign up earlier yourself?" he asked, holding his temper. 

"I am giving others chance." Sun Yan answered. 

Fei Luo shut up. He knows that Sun Yan is the easy-go-lucky type, or the one who goes with the flow like his uncle Sun Rong and younger uncle Sun Yi. Thus, Sun Yan can sign up for any type of battles - single, double or group, since he is good at socializing. 

"Huh? There are three of you left and we need a team of three." They heard a Righteous Alliance disciple, who responsible for signing the teams in group battles, spoke. "Why don't you three work together? After all, you are disciples, too. It shouldn't be a problem!" he proposed. 

Fei Luo and Sun Yan looked at each other. Three people? There are only two of them, so that meant there is one more unfortunate person. They thought. And since that person said 'disciple', the other is also a disciple... 

The two of them turned and saw the remaining person is also looking at them. It's Wu Lian. 

…

"Whew! Fortunately, Wu Lian has a lucky hand!" Chen Wu explained. "He didn't pick out team! Who knows if we can beat them!" he told his younger brothers.

Chen Yu nodded timidly.

"But, ge. The three of them didn't have the tacit understanding the three of us have!" Chen Su told him.

"So what if we are tacit?" Chen Wu sighed. "The three of them are strong individually!" he reminded him.

"En." Chen Su nodded and smiled stiffly. He almost forgot. Wu Lian is the strongest disciple of the Youxiwang Sect. Chen Wu is also strong himself, but Wu Lian's performance is more brilliant than Chen Wu's.

Not to mention that Chen Su and Chen Yu are weaker than Chen Wu, even if Chen Wu can fight against Wu Lian equally, Chen Su and Chen Yu definitely can't fight against Fei Luo and Sun Yan. Ai… their team definitely would be miserable if it happened. Fortunately, Wu Lian hadn't picked them.

"Too stiff! They are too stiff!" they heard someone spoke from the audience when the fight started. "They don't look like a team at all! More like forced to work together!" they said as they watched the match.

"... surely they won't lose?" someone nervously asked.

"... I think so." someone forced a smile that obviously is stiff. In short, he also isn't sure.

"They don't look like friends. Why did they team up?" someone asked in puzzlement as they watched the three chaotically moved around the space, the stage arena for group battles, they were sent to meet their opponents.

They don't have any tactics!

"Was it really as I said? They were forced?" someone curiously asked. "But, two of them three are from the Shanliangde Sect. Why do they look like they also don't get along?" this person looked intrigued. 

"Who knows?" they all shrugged, unsure.