The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Shuang'er, since your brother found the Golden-Eyed Beast, it's only fitting that he be the one to care for it," Yun Yunyang said with a gentle smile, ruffling his niece's hair affectionately. "Besides, Shui'er spends his days idling about. This will give him something meaningful to do."

"But Uncle, my brother is so clumsy! I'm worried..."

"You are one of the family's cultivators, a bearer of spiritual roots. You mustn't waste your time on such matters and neglect your training. Do you understand?"

Yun Yunyang's tone remained kind, yet firm.

"Understood, Uncle. I'll take the Golden-Eyed Beast back and hand it over to Brother," Yanshuang replied after a brief moment of contemplation, nodding obediently.

"In addition," Yun Yunyang continued, "there are twenty-five lower-grade spirit stones left in the family's treasury. I'll have your Uncle Yunrui retrieve them and give them to Shui'er.

For now, we don't have the resources to properly feed the Golden-Eyed Beast, so these spirit stones will have to suffice."

"Alright," Yanshuang said, her smile returning. She cheerfully picked up the wooden box and headed home.

Meanwhile, Yun Yunrui left the ancestral hall to carry out his orders: notifying Yun Yue to return with the search party and retrieving the spirit stones for Yun Yanshui from the family's treasury.

Moments later, a Yun clansman entered the hall, bowing as he announced, "Brother Yunshan has returned with his group from Yulin County!"

"Let's go and greet them," Yun Yunyang said with a smile, leading the others outside.

"Big Brother," Yun Yunshan called, clasping his hands respectfully as he saw Yun Yunyang approaching with a group of elders.

"You've worked hard on this journey," Yunyang said warmly.

"It was nothing, Big Brother. Just a bit of travel," Yunshan replied modestly.

"How did the procurement go?" Yunyang asked.

"Please, take a look," Yunshan said, producing a box and opening it slowly. Inside were five spirit ores, each emitting a faint aura of power.

"This trip to the cultivation market in Yulin County yielded five spirit ores, all of Yellow Grade, first tier. The total cost was sixty-eight lower-grade spirit stones.

We still have twelve stones left," Yunshan explained, handing over a small pouch containing the remaining stones.

"Keep the spirit stones," Yunyang said, waving off the gesture.

"Why?" Yunshan asked, surprised.

"Hahaha! Your son, Shui'er, is quite something—his luck is extraordinary."

At these words, a flicker of unease crossed Yunshan's face. Had Shui'er's lack of spiritual roots been discovered?

But as Yunyang elaborated on the events surrounding the Golden-Eyed Beast, Yunshan's anxiety eased into a mixture of relief and amusement.

"That rascal," Yunshan said with a laugh. "He spends all his time loafing about, and yet he managed to do something incredible for the family!"

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"Exactly," Yunyang said with a chuckle. "I've assigned Shui'er to take care of the Golden-Eyed Beast from now on. Give him these twelve remaining spirit stones as feed for the beast."

"But what about Shuang'er and Tian'er? They need spirit stones for their cultivation," Yunshan said, his concern resurfacing.

"The court's stipend has arrived. It should cover their cultivation needs for the time being. There's no need to worry.

Besides, if we raise the Golden-Eyed Beast properly, it will give our family the ability to locate spiritual veins and minerals with ease.

If it succeeds, our family's future supply of spirit stones and ores will no longer be a concern," Yunyang said with a hearty laugh.

"You're right, Big Brother," Yunshan said, nodding in agreement.

"Good. Take the remaining twelve spirit stones to Shui'er. Also, give the five spirit ores to Shuang'er so she can continue learning the art of artifact forging."

"Understood. I'll see to it immediately," Yunshan replied, bowing before heading off to fulfill his tasks.

Yun Yunyang gave his younger brother, Yunshan, a reassuring pat on the shoulder, signaling him to head home.

Not long after Yunshan departed, another clan member hurried into the ancestral hall with a report: Lu Zizai had arrived with his retinue, bringing along the promised five thousand deaf-mute laborers.

Upon hearing this, Yun Yunyang immediately led a group of clan elders outside to greet their visitors. His focus was now on properly settling the laborers before organizing the necessary tools and materials for their work—digging and channeling the water deep within Yunzhang Mountain.

Back at the Yun family estate, Yun Yanshui was lounging lazily in the courtyard, enjoying the shade when his sister burst in with the wooden box.

"What? I'm supposed to take care of this pup?" he exclaimed, his face twisting into a comical grimace as Yanshuang relayed her uncle's decision.

"Who else but you? You brought it back, and besides, all you do is laze around," Yanshuang retorted with a playful huff.

"Hey! I'm not lazy!" Yanshui protested, but his tone lacked conviction.

"Doesn't matter. Uncle said you're responsible for it. If anything happens to this pup, I'll make sure something happens to you first!" Yanshuang shot back, her expression stern.

Placing the slumbering Golden-Eyed Beast on the stone table beside her brother, she turned and strode out of the courtyard to resume her cultivation outside the estate.

Left alone with the pup, Yanshui sighed, his face a picture of helplessness. He poked the sleeping cub with a finger, muttering, "Sleep, sleep, sleep! That's all you do! Get up and do something useful, you little freeloader!"

"Whimper…"

The Golden-Eyed Beast stirred, letting out a disgruntled cry at being disturbed. Its tiny, toothless mouth snapped at Yanshui's finger in protest.

"Oh, so you're feisty, huh?" Yanshui chuckled, pulling his hand back. "Fine, let's see how feisty you are after I skip your next meal!"

"Talking to yourself again?"

The courtyard gate creaked open, and Yun Yunshan stepped inside, shaking his head with a smile at his son's antics.

"Father, you're back!" Yanshui exclaimed, springing up from his chair to greet him.

"Where's your sister?"

"She just left to practice outside the estate."

"So, this is the Golden-Eyed Beast you found?" Yunshan asked, stepping under the shade of the tree. He peered into the wooden box, where the cub had already drifted back to sleep.

"Yeah, it's like a clingy little leech. Can't seem to get rid of it," Yanshui muttered, though his words carried no malice.

"Your uncle entrusted it to you, so take good care of it," Yunshan said patiently.

"Alright, I get it," Yanshui replied with a sigh.

"Also," Yunshan continued, "here are the five spirit ores I purchased in Yulin County. They're exactly what you requested.

And these are the twelve remaining lower-grade spirit stones your uncle instructed me to give you. Use them to feed the Golden-Eyed Beast," he said, handing over a box and a pouch of stones.

"Brother Yunshan, Shui'er!"

The gate opened again as Yun Yunrui entered the courtyard with a warm smile.

"Brother Yunrui, come in and sit," Yunshan said, motioning toward a chair.

"Uncle Yunrui," Yanshui added, hurrying into the house to fetch fruits and snacks for his guest.@@novelbin@@

"Shui'er, your uncle asked me to bring you these twenty-five lower-grade spirit stones. You'd better take good care of the Golden-Eyed Beast—it's a treasure for our family," Yunrui said, placing a pouch of stones on the stone table.

"Don't worry, Uncle. With me around, this pup won't starve. I'll make sure it grows up big and strong," Yanshui replied with a grin.

"Good. Your uncle has faith in you, so don't disappoint us. If this beast matures, it'll be a fortune-bringer for the family," Yunrui said.

"Hehe, my sister already told me how amazing it is. Don't worry, Uncle—I'll take care of it!" Yanshui said enthusiastically.

Yunrui turned back to Yunshan with a more serious tone.

"Brother Yunshan, I've completed one errand, but your elder brother has asked me to deliver another message."

"What is it?" Yunshan asked.

"Earlier, Lord Lu arrived with five thousand deaf-mute laborers. Your brother has settled them in the inns outside the estate for now, but he needs your help with something."

"What's the problem?"

"The tools and materials for digging and channeling are still incomplete. Your brother has asked you to supervise the workers at the forge to ensure everything is crafted quickly.

This project will take a long time, and your expertise in managing the forge will be essential."

"I understand. I'll head to the forge immediately and ensure the workers increase their pace," Yunshan said with a nod.

"Good. I'll leave the matter in your hands. There's much to do back at the estate, so I'll take my leave now."

"Take care," Yunshan said as Yunrui rose.

"Uncle Yunrui, take some fruits and snacks for the road!" Yanshui chimed in, offering a peach and a small bundle of pastries.

"Thank you, Shui'er," Yunrui said with a chuckle, accepting the gifts before departing the courtyard.