Arrival

Inside the Misty Cloud Sect's main hall, Yun Yun wore a plain dress, her hair pinned with a Phoenix Hairpin. A faint trace of anger showed on her beautiful, captivating face.

"When I returned, I told you all to properly rectify the sect's atmosphere and strictly enforce its rules. During my time in seclusion, did you take my words as mere wind in your ears?"

"There has not been the slightest improvement. It is still the same as before. It seems none of you have taken me, the Sect Leader, seriously."

Below the hall stood all the major elders of the Misty Cloud Sect. Each was part of the sect's upper echelon, and being reprimanded by Yun Yun now left their old faces looking rather unpleasant.

"Sect Leader, we have naturally obeyed your instructions. But everything within the sect is as usual, and the disciples cultivate diligently. What is there to rectify?"

Yun Leng spoke up. He did not understand either. Ever since the Sect Leader returned that day, she had ordered them to reform the sect's rules and atmosphere. None of them understood what there was to reform. In their eyes, everything in the sect was perfectly fine and needed no rectification.

Fire burned in Yun Yun's beautiful eyes as her gaze swept across the senior elders one by one. All of them possessed Dou Wang strength. The Dou Wang Lin Feng had mentioned might be among them.

With a cold snort, Yun Yun's clear, chilly voice rang throughout the hall. "Everything is as usual? Some of you know exactly what you have done. Relying on your own strength and the Misty Cloud Sect's influence to cause trouble everywhere and bully the weak—do not think I am unaware of it."

"I have been too lenient with you in the past, out of consideration for my teacher. But if you dare to do anything else that damages the sect's reputation or continue committing evil wherever you go, I will show no mercy."

The elders exchanged glances, leaning close and whispering among themselves. From the Sect Leader's words, they could infer some of what had happened. Someone must have caused trouble outside under the Misty Cloud Sect's name, and the Sect Leader had found out. No wonder she had ordered a strict reform of the sect's rules and atmosphere upon her return.

Yun Leng's expression changed slightly upon hearing this. Could it be that the Sect Leader knew something?

Keeping his expression calm, he asked, "Sect Leader, have you heard something?"

Yun Yun looked at him and said coldly, "I do not know which one of you it was, but word of your disgraceful deeds has already reached me. But let me make this clear: if you did it, then you must pay the price. If anything happens in the future, you will have only yourselves to blame."

"I do not wish for anything similar to happen again. Otherwise, even if it is you people, I will not show mercy."

Fine beads of sweat appeared on Yun Leng's forehead. He was now certain that the Sect Leader knew something. Fortunately, from the looks of it, she did not know that he and Ge Ye were involved.

Although he did not know where the Sect Leader had learned of these matters, facing Yun Yun while she was angry, he did not dare reveal anything.

He secretly considered that if anything happened in the future, he could only go seek out the Old Sect Leader.

Within the hall, the elders exchanged looks. They were somewhat dissatisfied with Yun Yun's attitude today. To them, even if someone from the Misty Cloud Sect had done something wrong, it was no big deal—at worst, they could offer some compensation. Reprimanding them like this was truly excessive. Yet due to Yun Yun's current status, they did not dare say much.

Only after Yun Yun spoke of several more matters did the meeting disperse. Once the elders left the hall, they immediately could not help but snort coldly. "Hmph! Even if someone from our sect did something wrong, giving them some compensation would be enough. Was there any need for this?"

"Sigh, the Sect Leader is still too young. The Old Sect Leader is in seclusion again, so for now, let us just listen to the Sect Leader."

Yun Leng's expression was rather ugly. He quickly told them that he had other matters to attend to, then left first.

After watching those old men leave, Yun Yun frowned slightly. It was clear that although they appeared respectful toward her on the surface, they still harbored dissatisfaction and refusal in their hearts. There was no helping it. Many of them had been her teacher's trusted subordinates, and in their hearts, they only acknowledged her teacher.

"If he were here, he would probably laugh at me for being an unqualified Sect Leader again."

The image of that young man surfaced in Yun Yun's mind, and she shook her head with a self-mocking smile.

Just as she was about to leave, a middle-aged man walked into the hall from outside.

A faint smile rested on the man's face. His sharply defined features showed that he must have been a handsome man in his youth. He possessed a mature, steady temperament tempered by the years, one that carried a deadly allure for somewhat younger women.

The man looked at Yun Yun in the seat of honor, a hidden trace of affection flashing through his eyes. He cupped his hands and said softly, "Sect Leader."

Yun Yun came back to her senses. The faint smile on her face vanished, replaced by the familiar cold and aloof expression.

"Gu He, have Yan Ran's pills been refined?"

Gu He nodded. "They have already been sent to Yan Ran."

Yun Yun nodded. She remained rather courteous toward this Pill King.

Seeing that Yun Yun did not look well, Gu He asked, "Sect Leader, is something troubling you?"

Yun Yun shook her head. "It is nothing. Is there anything else?"

Seeing that she was unwilling to say more, Gu He did not press further and explained why he had come. "I came to ask the Sect Leader for a favor."

Desert City.

Lin Feng walked down the streets, looking at the passersby around him. Most had bare arms and dark, lean bodies. The occasional women he saw did not have delicate, fair skin, but rather a healthy wheat-colored complexion. Their tight leather garments covered only their chests and a small area below, exposing their slender waists.

They wore only short skirts on their lower bodies, their long, shapely legs visible beneath them. As they walked, their waists swayed like water snakes, presenting a distinct exotic charm.

Along the way, Lin Feng had quite a feast for the eyes.

"Xiao Yan's two older brothers are here as well."

Lin Feng thought of Xiao Ding and the others. As Xiao Yan's two older brothers, they had also established their own mercenary group here.

However, because they had left the clan so early, Lin Feng's relationship with them could only be considered ordinary. They had little interaction and were merely acquainted.

Thus, he did not intend to seek them out. As he wandered around, he considered that if he wanted to get close to the Snake-People Tribe, he had to travel deep into the Tagor Desert. For that, he needed a detailed map of the area.

"If I remember correctly, Hai Bodong should be here, right?"

After circling around and asking people for directions, Lin Feng traveled quite a distance before finally spotting the shop called "Ancient Map."

"I finally found it."