You're a Little Too Extreme

Normally, this incarnation of the Yellow Wind Little Sage was governed by Zhou Yao's consciousness. As a mythic creature reforged from the Hair of the Yellow Wind Great Sage, the Yellow Wind Little Sage would have been a genuine member of the Demon Race in the Mythic Era.

Yet even the Yellow Wind Little Sage felt an instinctive revulsion from the depths of his flesh when faced with what was happening before the Northern Yin Mountain Temple.

It had nothing to do with identity or stance, nothing to do with one's understanding of good and evil. It was simply pure disgust.

Even in the Mythic Era, when ordinary people sacrificed to spirits, monsters, and evil gods, they would instinctively choose someone else's children as offerings. Only when there was truly no other way would they offer up their own family.

Yet the Yinshan Investigation Branch member named Hou Ming had chosen to use his own blood relative as a test subject in exchange for his future prospects.

Even after the little girl survived and could have been saved, Hou Ming had voluntarily suggested withholding treatment in order to display his own sacrifice, watching helplessly as the little girl died.

As a demon of the divine age, even the Yellow Wind Little Sage could only say, "You're a little too extreme."

If the Yellow Wind Little Sage possessed the strength of Scavenger Perfection, he would have summoned the Divine Wind and scattered everyone present to the four winds long ago.

Unfortunately, the Yellow Wind Little Sage was not strong enough. He could only watch as the people from the Mythic Investigation Bureau laughed without restraint.

Besides that, another troubling thought arose in the Yellow Wind Little Sage's heart.

"They've discovered the existence of the Fire Stealers and found a way to deal with them. They aren't going to seal off the Northern Yin Mountain Temple, are they?"

Sure enough, after a bout of unbridled celebration, Flesh Mountain patted his belly, cast a glance at the Northern Yin Mountain Temple, and revealed a cold smile.

"From this day onward, seal off the Northern Yin Mountain Temple and report everything here to the deputy director.

"This matter concerns Fire Stealers. How to make the Fire Stealer reveal flaws and suffer the backlash of Mythic Will must be decided by the deputy director."

Flesh Mountain swept his gaze across the Mythic Walkers present, his eyes deep as he issued his order.

"This place will be guarded under my command."

Several hundred meters away, the Yellow Wind Little Sage's expression tightened.

With his current abilities, dealing with a Scavenger Fourth Rank was already his limit. If Flesh Mountain, a Scavenger Fifth Rank Mythic Walker, remained here to guard the place, entering the Northern Yin Mountain Temple would become difficult indeed.

Especially once the news about the Fire Stealers was reported, the Investigation Bureau would surely place greater importance on the Northern Yin Mountain Temple. Today, there was a Scavenger Fifth Rank guarding it; later, Mythic Walkers of even higher ranks might be stationed here.

The Yellow Wind Little Sage's heart gradually sank to rock bottom.

But to his surprise, at that very moment, a shrill voice suddenly rang out and interrupted Flesh Mountain.

"Captain Flesh Mountain, absolutely not!"

Everyone followed the sound and saw that the speaker was none other than Hou Ming.

A trace of anger appeared on Flesh Mountain's face, but Hou Ming wore a fawning expression as he hastily added,

"Discovering the Fire Stealer is Captain Flesh Mountain's foremost merit. Naturally, Captain Flesh Mountain should personally report it to the deputy director.

"If someone else went to seek the deputy director's instructions, wouldn't that be overstepping their place and cooking another man's meal?

"If some misunderstanding arose, who knew whose head that foremost merit might land on?"

A gleam flashed through Flesh Mountain's eyes. He patted Hou Ming with his broad palm and praised, "You're right. I really should personally lead the team for this matter."

Hou Ming looked humble as he bent slightly at the waist and said,

"Guarding the Northern Yin Mountain Temple is not actually important. After all, aside from us, the only ones left in the entire Yin Mountain Realm are the people from the Four Great Megacorporations.

"They are merely a pack of hyenas raised by companies. How would they dare offend our Yinshan Investigation Branch?

"Therefore, Captain Flesh Mountain only needs to symbolically leave behind two Scavenger Fourth Ranks to stand guard here."

Upon hearing this, a twisted smile appeared on Flesh Mountain's face, piled with fat.

"In that case, guarding the Northern Yin Mountain Temple will be left to you and Gu Feng!"

A trace of shock appeared on Hou Ming's face. Just as he was about to speak, a massive hand came crashing down onto his shoulder.

Crack!

The faint sound of bone breaking rang out from his shoulder. Hou Ming's gaunt face turned green and purple, while Flesh Mountain still wore a smile.

"Don't worry. I'll personally ask the deputy director to reward you for your merits!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Flesh Mountain swept his gaze over the remaining Mythic Walkers and waved his large hand.

"Hou Ming and Gu Feng will remain. Everyone else, come with me."

Five or six Mythic Walkers swiftly departed with Flesh Mountain, leaving behind only Hou Ming and Gu Feng, both wearing ugly expressions.

Gu Feng, the Scavenger Fourth Rank Mythic Walker, was the young man who had argued with Hou Ming earlier.

Only after Flesh Mountain had completely vanished from sight did Hou Ming slowly rein in his ugly expression. Gu Feng, standing beside him, took the initiative to approach. His posture was intimate, utterly unlike the furious way he had argued before.

Gu Feng spoke in amazement. "Things really did turn out more or less as you predicted. Flesh Mountain left us behind to guard the Northern Yin Mountain Temple.

"But you were the one who offered the plan. You were even the one who made Flesh Mountain go report the good news and seize the foremost merit. So why did Flesh Mountain leave you behind, even dragging me into it?"

Hou Ming no longer had his previous fawning, crafty appearance. Calmly, he held his shoulder and reset the crushed bones before speaking.

"Do you really think Flesh Mountain doesn't know that reporting good news means seizing the foremost merit? He merely put on a show for all of us to see.

"Anyone who truly agreed to it would definitely be given some excuse by him and severely punished."

At this point, Hou Ming sneered.

"If it were another law enforcement captain, perhaps he would not have such petty thoughts. But Flesh Mountain is different.

"He is an old hand in the Investigation Bureau. Back when we were Scavenger Second Ranks, he was already a Scavenger Fourth Rank powerhouse and commanded the Seventh Law Enforcement Team.

"But as the opportunities within the Yin Mountain Realm were uncovered and vast amounts of Mythic Material resources replenished the bureau, nearly the entire Investigation Bureau advanced to Scavenger Fourth Rank, while he only barely rose to Scavenger Fifth Rank.

"Worse still, because he had pursued rapid advancement in his early years, his Mythic System Diagram shattered. Even if he gathered all five Mythic Traits, they could never again achieve perfection together. He would remain stuck at Scavenger Fifth Rank for the rest of his life.

"Meanwhile, we latecomers still have a chance to challenge Scavenger Perfection and even touch the Fire-Stealing Rank.

"When that time comes, do you think he can accept us juniors standing above him?"

"Flesh Mountain was selfish by nature. For the past month or so, whenever anyone from the Seventh Law Enforcement Team showed promise, they would suffer his suppression.

"Xu Yu and several other Scavenger Perfection captains have long been dissatisfied with him, but they have not made their stance known out of consideration for his seniority.

"There are even faint rumors that the deputy director believes Flesh Mountain has exhausted his potential, and that his continued occupation of his position will hinder the Investigation Bureau's internal development."

As he spoke, Hou Ming's expression took on several traces of fanaticism.

"Within the branch, no news comes from thin air. So this is an opportunity.

"I deliberately stepped forward and lured Flesh Mountain into suppressing me. Once the deputy director truly becomes dissatisfied with Flesh Mountain and personally arrives at the Northern Yin Mountain Temple, he will use this opportunity to punish him.

"And I, who offered the plan and saw through the traces left by the Fire Stealer, will have a chance to compete for the position of captain of the Seventh Law Enforcement Team!"

Hearing this, Gu Feng looked at the fanatical Hou Ming and could not help instinctively taking two steps back.

"For a single opportunity, you offered up your niece. Was it worth it?"

"Niece?" The glow of dusk shone across Hou Ming's face, and the upward curve of his lips added a touch of eerie cunning.

"Have you forgotten? From beginning to end, I never had any sisters. That little thing was merely one of my illegitimate daughters. I can just have another one with her mother.

"If reincarnation truly exists, then judging by the timing, perhaps she can happen to be reborn into her mother's body.

"By then, I will naturally be able to become the captain of the Seventh Law Enforcement Team.

"Trading a biological father who is a core member of the branch for one who is a captain-level figure—by all rights, she should be the one profiting."

As he spoke, Hou Ming turned to look behind him, and the smile on his face instantly froze.

Gu Feng, who had originally been following behind him, had at some unknown point been pierced through the throat by a steel fork flashing with cold light. Blood-colored frost froze Gu Feng's head, and his eyes within the ice crystals still held terror and shock.

The next moment, a mocking voice sounded beside Hou Ming's ear.

"I think she would rather have you accompany her."