The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Late at night, in the underground cellar, Yun Yanshui sat at his desk, meticulously transcribing the techniques for Thousandfold Sword Shadows, Silver Dragon Spear Technique, and Footsteps on Snow, Without a Trace. His brow furrowed in concentration as his pen danced across the pages.

Beside him sat the black wooden box.

Unbeknownst to him, the box's lid had been pushed open by the tiny Golden-Eyed Beast. The cub was now clawing at the edge, its stubby little legs kicking as it struggled to climb out, driven by the alluring scent of a celestial fruit lingering in the air.

"Shui'er, what are you working on?"

The voice startled him. Yun Yunshan stepped into the dimly lit cellar, having returned from overseeing tasks at the forge. He couldn't help but be curious about what his son was so engrossed in.

"I'm writing down the training methods for Thousandfold Sword Shadows, Silver Dragon Spear Technique, and Footsteps on Snow," Yanshui replied with a grin, not looking up from his work.

"You've taken on quite the task," Yunshan remarked, a hint of pride in his voice.

"Eh, I'm used to it. Mr. Yu always had me copying books as punishment," Yanshui quipped, chuckling.

Yunshan shook his head with a smile. "Alright, I won't disturb you. Finish up and get some rest soon."

"Got it, Father!"@@novelbin@@

But just as Yunshan turned to leave, Yanshui froze. A sudden surge of awareness washed over him—a soul imprint had appeared in his mind.

It was the Golden-Eyed Beast.

"That little rascal!" Yanshui exclaimed, his gaze snapping toward the corner where the box lay.

"What's wrong?" Yunshan asked, alarmed by his son's outburst.

"Father, this little beast ate the celestial fruits from the bronze mirror!"

In a flash, Yanshui snatched up the culprit, who was now happily gnawing on the remnants of a celestial fruit from a nearby bag. His frustration boiled over.

For months, he had painstakingly hunted in the mountains to offer tributes to the bronze mirror. Finally, he'd managed to collect a full nineteen celestial fruits. But now, eighteen of them were gone, devoured by the insatiable cub, leaving only one behind.

"You little glutton! I ought to strangle you!" Yanshui growled, holding the satisfied Golden-Eyed Beast aloft. The cub let out a soft burp, its tiny belly bulging with its feast.

But recalling his uncle's instructions, Yanshui's anger dissipated into a weary sigh. He placed the cub back into the wooden box, firmly closed the lid, and stacked several books on top to prevent any more escapades.

"This thing's sense of smell is too sharp," Yunshan commented, observing the scene with a calm demeanor.

"Too sharp," Yanshui muttered, his frustration evident. "All those fruits, and now I've only got one left."

Yunshan gave him a thoughtful look. "Did you notice any changes after it ate the fruits?"

"Changes?" Yanshui frowned. "I got a soul imprint from the beast in my mind, but that's it."

"It seems the celestial fruits produced by the bronze mirror aren't just for cultivators with spiritual roots. They can also benefit spirit beasts.

If the beast ate them, it might have strengthened your connection, and you may see some abilities manifest as a result," Yunshan mused.

"We'll see," Yanshui said with a sigh.

"Good. This divine bond is yours, and you'll understand its effects better than I can. Rest when you're done," Yunshan said, patting his son's shoulder before leaving the cellar.

Meanwhile, in Lan Lin Mountain, at the Sun family estate, a meeting was underway.

"The Yun family has withdrawn completely?"

Sitting at the head of the hall, Sun Tianming frowned as he listened to the report from his scout.

"Yes. Yesterday, Yun Yun Yue led dozens of Yun clan soldiers and withdrew from the outskirts of Yunzhang Mountain," the scout confirmed.

"What are they planning? Could they have already discovered the obsidian vein?" Sun Tianming muttered, his expression darkening.

"Clan leader, it's possible they realized the obsidian vein is too difficult to locate and decided to give up," another elder suggested.

"Exactly! The Yun Cang Yun clan is a newly ascended cultivation family. Without the means to locate spiritual veins, they wouldn't have an easy time finding the obsidian deposit. Perhaps they've acknowledged their limitations and chosen to retreat," another chimed in.

But Sun Tianming remained silent, deep in thought. After a long pause, he spoke.

"The Yun Cang Yun family isn't the type to abandon the possibility of an obsidian vein so easily. Like us, they're in a critical stage of growth.

If there's even a chance that the obsidian vein exists, they wouldn't just walk away from it."

"Then why did they withdraw so suddenly?"

"I don't know," Tianming admitted, shaking his head. "But there's more to this than we can see."

"Should we withdraw as well, Father?" Sun Fenglin, his son, asked cautiously.

"No," Tianming replied firmly. "The search must continue. Keep sending people into the mountains. We must find that obsidian vein."

"As for why the Yun Cang Yun family suddenly withdrew, we'll pay them a visit to find out for ourselves," Sun Tianming said, his voice calm but firm, as he revealed his plan.

"I'll go prepare the carriage," Sun Fenglin replied immediately, rising to leave the hall.

At the Yun Family's Ancestral Hall, Yun Yun Yue had just returned to the estate. He strode in with a puzzled expression, seeking answers.

"Big Brother, why did you suddenly order me to withdraw our people?" he asked, unable to hide his confusion.

Yun Yue had been leading a team of Yun soldiers in the Yunzhang Mountains, searching tirelessly for the obsidian vein. When Yun Rui's message reached him, it simply instructed him to pull back without offering any explanation.

"Haha! It seems Yun Rui didn't explain the reason to you yet," Yun Yang said with a hearty laugh, clearly pleased with Yun Rui's discretion.

Yun Rui had taken great care to ensure the news about the Golden-Eyed Beast remained tightly guarded. Even the messenger had been instructed to say nothing beyond the withdrawal order, ensuring that no whispers could reach the Sun family in Lan Lin.

"He was so secretive about it, not a word more than necessary," Yun Yue said with a wry smile. "If I'd known the reason, I wouldn't have had to come here personally to ask."

Yun Yang nodded, acknowledging his brother's frustration but also appreciating Yun Rui's meticulous nature.

"Have some tea first. I'll explain everything," Yun Yang said, pouring a cup for Yun Yue.

Once they were settled, Yun Yang recounted the events leading to the withdrawal, including the discovery of the Golden-Eyed Beast cub.

"A Golden-Eyed Beast cub?!" Yun Yue exclaimed, astonished. The idea that his nephew, Yanshui, had stumbled upon such a treasure during a hunting trip left him speechless.

"Indeed. Do you see now why I called you back?" Yun Yang said with a smile.

"The obsidian vein is no easy find—not for the Sun family, nor for us.

Rather than having you and your men endure the hardships of searching the mountains aimlessly, I decided it was better to reassign you to other duties within the family," Yun Yang explained.

"I see," Yun Yue said, finally understanding.

"This cub is invaluable," he added gravely. "The news must be kept strictly confidential."

"Of course. Only a select few know about it. I've already instructed the clan elders to keep their mouths shut. Anyone who leaks this information will face severe punishment under the clan laws," Yun Yang said, sipping his tea with a satisfied expression.

"Your caution is admirable, Big Brother, and with Yun Rui assisting you, I'm confident the matter is secure," Yun Yue said with a nod.

"Haha! Now that you're back from the mountains, take some time to rest. The family will need you for many tasks in the future!"

"Understood. I'll take my leave for now," Yun Yue said, bowing as he rose. He left the hall, eager to wash up and enjoy a well-earned sleep.

No sooner had Yun Yue departed than Yun Yun Rui rushed into the courtyard.

"Brother Yun Yang, the Sun family's patriarch, Sun Tianming, has arrived with his entourage," Yun Rui announced.

"Oh?" Yun Yang leaned back in his chair, a playful smile tugging at his lips. "As expected of Brother Tianming. His mind is as sharp as ever."

"Do you think they've caught wind of the Golden-Eyed Beast cub?" Yun Rui asked, his tone cautious.

"Highly unlikely," Yun Yang replied confidently. "Only a handful of people know about the cub, and we've taken every precaution to ensure their silence. None of our clan members would leak this information so easily."

"Then why has Sun Tianming come?" Yun Rui pressed. Discover stories at My Virtual Library Empire

"I suspect he's curious about why we withdrew Yun Yue and his team," Yun Yang mused. "He's probably here to test the waters and see if we've uncovered the obsidian vein."

Yun Rui nodded thoughtfully, his expression serious.

"Let's go meet him, shall we?" Yun Yang said, rising from his seat, his demeanor calm but calculating.

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