Chapter 6: The Truth Behind the Insect Disaster Is Finally Revealed

In the valley...

Thick, black mist churned and billowed like a clawing monster, obscuring almost all light. A pungent, foul stench hit her, causing Yun Yao’s stomach to churn. She quickly held her breath and took a face mask soaked in a special potion from her storage bag to cover her nose and mouth.

The surrounding spirit herbs had been chewed beyond recognition, leaving only bare stalks that swayed like ghosts in the black mist. The air was filled with a nauseating smell of decay, and the ground was covered in a dense carpet of black insects. They made a hair-raising rustling sound as they greedily devoured the few remaining spirit herbs.

Suppressing her discomfort, Yun Yao carefully observed the creatures. They were entirely black, resembling beetles, with strange red markings on their backs. Their mouthparts were incredibly sharp, capable of tearing through the stalks and leaves of spirit herbs with ease.

"These insects... I have never seen them before," Yun Yao thought to herself, a chill running from the soles of her feet to the top of her head. She realized that this infestation was far more severe than she had imagined.

Just then, she heard faint footsteps behind her. Yun Yao tensed and spun around, only to see Jun Mohuan appearing behind her.

"Why are you here?" Yun Yao asked, surprised.

Jun Mohuan did not answer, merely watching her quietly with a trace of imperceptible concern in his eyes.

"It’s dangerous here, go back!" Yun Yao urged.

Jun Mohuan remained silent, simply shaking his head and standing his ground firmly, as if silently declaring his resolve to protect her.

Meanwhile, in the sect’s assembly hall, Chen Xuan was busy embellishing his account of Yun Yao’s "crimes" to Elder Zhao.

"Elder Zhao, I saw with my own eyes that Yun Yao went sneaking off to the Black Mist Valley. She must be trying to destroy the evidence!" Chen Xuan said, filled with righteous indignation. "She must be guilty, terrified of being exposed!"

Hearing this, Elder Zhao’s expression darkened, and his suspicions toward Yun Yao deepened.

"Hmph, this Yun Yao, she truly is problematic!"

"We must bring her back immediately!" Chen Xuan continued to fan the flames. "Otherwise, the consequences will be unimaginable!"

Elder Zhao nodded. "Men, go to the Black Mist Valley at once and bring Yun Yao back!"

Back in the Black Mist Valley, Yun Yao was surrounded by countless black insects. The deafening sound of their chirping threatened to pierce her eardrums. She swung the long sword in her hand, sending arcs of sword energy whistling out, slicing the approaching insects in two.

"There are too many of these bugs!" Yun Yao thought, feeling her magic power draining rapidly while the swarm showed no signs of thinning. Jun Mohuan stood by her side, also brandishing his sword, killing every insect that dared to approach her.

"Watch out!" Jun Mohuan suddenly shouted, shoving Yun Yao aside.

"Squelch—"

Yun Yao struggled to move forward through the swarm. Her magic was depleting quickly, and she had been bitten by the insects. Blood dripped from her arm onto the ground, mixing with the rotting leaves and insect carcasses, releasing an acrid odor. She felt exhausted, on the verge of collapsing, but a firm conviction sustained her: find the source of the infestation and save the spirit herb garden.

The valley felt like a giant cage, with black mist swirling and trapping her. The swarm surged like an endless tide, wave after wave, their rustling sound deafening. Yun Yao swung her sword, cutting down the insects, but new ones immediately filled the gaps, seemingly infinite.

Jun Mohuan stayed by her side, calling out warnings and shielding her from harm.

"Watch out!" Jun Mohuan suddenly shouted, shoving her aside as a massive insect lunged from the side, only to be cut down by his blade.

"Squelch—" A spray of blood bloomed on the ground. Yun Yao’s shoulder had been grazed by an insect’s mouthpart, sending a wave of pain through her body. She gritted her teeth, enduring the agony, her resolve only hardening.

"The source of this plague must be deep in the valley!" she thought, charging forward without hesitation.

Finally, in a hidden cave, she discovered a vast nest of black eggs covering the walls, emitting a foul stench. "So that’s it!" she realized. She quickly retrieved a bottle of special potion from her storage bag—a rare elixir capable of neutralizing the creatures.

She splashed the potion onto the eggs; a brilliant light erupted, turning the eggs to ash instantly. The swarm began to scatter in a frenzy, eventually dissipating entirely.

Standing in the center of the valley, bathed in light, Yun Yao felt a great sense of accomplishment. She took a deep breath and turned to look at Jun Mohuan. Their eyes met, and in that moment, a silent exchange of emotions passed between them.

"Let’s go back," Yun Yao said softly, her voice weary yet determined. Jun Mohuan nodded, and they set off on the path back to the sect.

The infestation was now a thing of the past, leaving only peace and serenity in the valley.

When they returned to the sect with the news, the entire place was abuzz with joy. However, upon entering the assembly hall, the atmosphere felt stifling. Elder Zhao and several disciples sat at the front, faces grim. Chen Xuan stood to the side with a triumphant glint in his eyes, clearly having thoroughly slandered her.

Seeing Yun Yao, Elder Zhao’s gaze sharpened, though a flicker of doubt crossed his face. He spoke coldly: "You’ve finally returned, Yun Yao. Do you have anything to say for yourself?"

Yun Yao smiled faintly, showing no sign of fear. She replied calmly, "Elder Zhao, I did go to the Black Mist Valley, but not to destroy evidence. I went to uncover the truth of the infestation and resolve it. The crisis in the herb garden is now over."

Before she could finish, the atmosphere in the hall shifted. Chen Xuan’s face turned ashen. "How is that possible? How could you solve the infestation alone? This must be a lie you’ve fabricated!"

Jun Mohuan surveyed the room, his gaze resolute. "Elder Zhao, what Yun Yao says is true. I accompanied her to the valley and witnessed her resolving the infestation. She is innocent."

Elder Zhao paused, his expression complex. He turned to look out the window toward the herb garden. There, the withered herbs were already regaining their vitality, turning lush and green—as if confirming her words.

He sighed heavily, looked up, and addressed Yun Yao with a face full of remorse. "Yun Yao, I was wrong. I wronged you. Please accept my apology."

Yun Yao felt a sense of relief. She smiled generously. "Elder Zhao, you are too kind. Since the matter is resolved, let us say no more of it."

The surrounding disciples, seeing this, also began to admit their mistakes. The suspicion and accusations they had harbored turned into shame and admiration. Yun Yao felt a sense of vindication; all her grievances seemed to vanish in that instant.

Elder Zhao stood up and took several precious spirit herbs from his storage bag, handing them to her. "This is a reward for your contribution to the sect."

Yun Yao accepted the herbs, feeling a deep sense of achievement. She looked around, seeing the envious gazes of the disciples, and knew her efforts had finally been recognized. Jun Mohuan stood beside her with a look of admiration; feeling his gaze, her heart felt sweet.

As her status rose, so did Jun Mohuan’s favor toward her. However, Yun Yao knew she still had tasks to earn more favor points. She gripped the herbs, pondering the challenges ahead. Suddenly, she felt Jun Mohuan’s gaze intensify, as if telling her that a new challenge was approaching.

Yun Yao smiled, her eyes flashing with resolve. She turned and walked toward the herb garden to begin the reconstruction. Jun Mohuan followed closely behind, the two of them walking side-by-side in the sunset, as if signaling that a new journey was about to begin.