Exterminate the Pests, Shoot Down the Sun

To Yun Congxin, the Misty Cloud Sect was a complete mess.

It was like an old tree. Though having a Dou Zong powerhouse like Yun Congxin made it seem to have found a second spring and borne fruit, it was actually steeped in decay.

It had gone untended for far too long. Vines had even wound themselves around this old tree called the Misty Cloud Sect. They plundered its resources, damaged its foundations, and often brought flames down upon it.

Watering it, ridding it of pests, and cutting away those vines were all matters of pressing urgency.

That was why Yun Congxin insisted on involving the Misty Cloud Sect in the border army. On the one hand, he wanted the younger generation to temper themselves on the battlefield; on the other, he wanted to salvage the sect's reputation.

The former was pest control, the latter watering. Only then could he set the Misty Cloud Sect's roots straight and cleanse its source, drawing more geniuses to it.

As for cutting away the vines...

"Go and make proper preparations. Also, send Yun Xu over," Yun Congxin instructed.

"Yes, Sect Master."

Cutting away the vines could not be rushed. Yun Congxin sifted through Yun Shan's memories and decided to entrust the task to Yun Xu, the most solitary of all the elders.

"Greetings, Former Sect Master."

A short while later, Yun Xu arrived.

Yun Congxin turned to look at him. He was a serious man who seldom smiled, possessing the formidable strength of a Seven-Star Dou Wang. None of the Misty Cloud Sect's other elders could match him, which was another important reason Yun Congxin had chosen him.

Exterminating pests and shooting down the sun—if someone without sufficient strength took on the task, he would probably soon "commit suicide" by stabbing himself dozens of times.

"Have you heard of the Mo Clan of Salt City?"

Unlike the warmth he had shown when dispatching Yun Sha to water the tree and deal with its pests, Yun Congxin wore a cold expression, his voice elusive and impossible to read.

"Yes, Sect Master, I have." Yun Xu thought for a moment before saying, "The Mo Clan's Grand Elder, Mo Cheng, is a Dou Ling and an Outer Sect Steward of our Misty Cloud Sect. With that status and his formidable strength, he has become a local tyrant in Salt City. He has served the sect devotedly over the years, and his annual tribute consistently ranks among the top three of all our Outer Sect Stewards."

"At last year's assembly, the Grand Elder even praised him personally..."

Of course. He's been waving the Misty Cloud Sect's banner to lord over Salt City, scraping the land so hard that sparks fly. How could the tribute he sends us possibly be small?

"So you think highly of him?" Yun Congxin asked calmly, leaving Yun Xu unable to fathom his thoughts.

"I... can't say..." After considerable hesitation, Yun Xu decided to tell the truth.

"Why can't you say? Yun Leng thinks very highly of them. Unless something unexpected happens, Mo Cheng will even receive the title of elder next year as a reward." Yun Congxin spun the tale offhandedly.

Yun Xu fell silent. His expression kept shifting, like a traveler struggling to pull his legs free of a mire.

Yun Congxin did not press him for an answer. He simply watched Yun Xu's expression in silence, hoping he would give him a satisfactory response.

Thump!

With a soft thud, Yun Xu dropped straight to his knees. He kowtowed to Yun Congxin and said firmly, "Former Sect Master, Mo Cheng is nowhere near as obedient as he appears. You must not reward him!"

"Oh?" Yun Congxin spared his words.

"One year, when he brought Mo Clan members to Misty Cloud Mountain to deliver their tribute, I encountered them at the foot of the mountain."

"I saw the Mo Clan's people plunder a merchant caravan there with my own eyes. Some took pleasure in killing, and the others not only failed to stop them, but watched as though enjoying a show. Clearly, the Mo Clan members are nothing like the gentle, respectful people they pretend to be. Below Misty Cloud Mountain, they wear an entirely different face. They are wolves clad in human skin!" Yun Xu said, remaining prostrate.

Hah, no surprise there. Mo Cheng was bold enough to drug Nalan Yanran when she was still the Misty Cloud Sect's Young Sect Master. What wouldn't he dare do?

In just three short years, the Mo Clan went from an ordinary family to Salt City's local tyrants. Their egos have swollen so much that they want our Misty Cloud Sect to return their tribute. Of course they're wolves in human skin!

If not for those Wolf Cubs, Qing Lin might well have been discovered by another Outer Sect Steward and joined the Misty Cloud Sect.

Then the Misty Cloud Sect would have had a truly gifted Young Sect Master, and Yun Congxin would not have found his hands tied at every turn as he did now.

The Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils! One of the handful of cheat abilities across the entire Dou Qi Continent, even more incredible than the woeful poison body!

She was born in the Jia Ma Empire, right under the nose of a Misty Cloud Sect Outer Sect Steward. Heaven practically handed the sect a meal.

And what happened?

Because of the Misty Cloud Sect's decline over the years, what she met was a beast clad in human skin!

Heaven put food right into the Misty Cloud Sect's mouth, and Mo Cheng actually pried it back out!

Whenever Yun Congxin thought of how the Triple Jade-Green Snake Flower Pupils, which might originally have belonged to the Misty Cloud Sect, had instead fallen into the Heavenly Snake Mansion's lap for nothing, he ground his teeth in hatred...

"At the foot of Misty Cloud Mountain, outside the Imperial Capital." At that thought, Yun Congxin's expression darkened further. He continued to pressure Yun Xu. "In such an important place, with so many eyes watching, they still dared commit atrocities?"

"Your subordinate speaks no falsehood. If you do not believe me, Sect Master, I..."

"You'll do what?"

"I am willing to go to Salt City myself. If I cannot uncover proof, if I cannot find evidence, I will never return to Misty Cloud Mountain!"

"Oh, there's no need for that." Yun Congxin helped Yun Xu up and nodded in satisfaction. "The Mo Clan has already been wiped out. The Xiao Clan, our Misty Cloud Sect's new Outer Sect Steward, did it. Cleaning our own house—what a gratifying thing, wouldn't you agree?"

"The Xiao... Xiao Clan?" Confusion appeared on Yun Xu's face. He did not remember the Xiao Clan ever becoming an Outer Sect Steward of the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Yes, the Xiao Clan," Yun Congxin emphasized. "The Xiao Clan originally from Wutan City. The family of that boy who defeated Yanran on Misty Cloud Mountain not long ago."

"That young fellow Xiao Yan is capable. He went to Salt City himself, gathered extensive evidence of the Mo Clan's crimes, and personally cleaned house for our Misty Cloud Sect. He has certainly fulfilled his duties as a Guest Elder," Yun Congxin said. "But this isn't over yet. Our Misty Cloud Sect must also investigate its own ranks. The Mo Clan was a dog that bit everyone it saw. Who made them an Outer Sect Steward of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

A vicious gleam flashed in Yun Congxin's eyes, and even his smile brimmed with murderous intent. "I'm leaving this matter to you. Dig him out and hand him over to me."

"Also, how many of these old men on Misty Cloud Mountain accepted Mo Cheng's gifts? How many accepted gifts from other families?" Yun Congxin instructed Yun Xu. "How many Outer Sect Stewards are as utterly devoid of conscience as the Mo Clan? Who else is a bastard with a wolf's ambition, like Mo Cheng?"

"You must get to the bottom of all of it." Yun Congxin patted Yun Xu's shoulder. "Once you accomplish this, you will be the Misty Cloud Sect's Grand Elder..."

"Yes, Sect Master."

"We must not only eliminate the parasites among the Outer Sect Stewards, but also shoot down the sun they look up to." Yun Congxin suddenly thought of a certain Entomologist. He took a piece of meteoric iron from his Storage Ring and personally engraved four characters upon it:

Exterminate the pests, shoot down the sun!

"I'm entrusting this matter to you. Show this token to Yun Yun when necessary. She will be your steadfast support."

"Oh, right, one more thing. If there are any Mo Clan members Xiao Yan failed to finish off, finish them off for him. Children act on whatever pops into their heads. They're bound to overlook something..."