The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Nightfall.

Under the escort of several clan guards, Yun Yunyang traveled by carriage to the gates of the Sun family village. Continue your adventure with My Virtual Library Empire

From a distance, he noticed the somber atmosphere that permeated the entire settlement. Every household had white mourning decorations hanging at their doors.

In the stone plaza, many Sun clan members, dressed in mourning attire, knelt before rows of coffins, their cries of grief echoing across the village.

Nearby, several Taoist priests were performing rituals to guide the spirits of the deceased toward reincarnation, offering them peace and release from suffering.

Chants of the Rebirth Sutra filled the air, mingling with the crackling sound of burning joss paper. Around the plaza were wreaths, elegiac couplets, and paper effigies, completing the scene of mourning.

"Father, someone from the Yun Cang Yun family is here!"

Sun Tianming, who had been silently watching the priests perform their rituals, was momentarily taken aback when his son, Sun Fenglin, delivered the news.

He quickly collected himself, gathering several senior members of the Sun clan before heading out to greet their guests.

"Brother Yunyang!"

Clad in mourning robes, Sun Tianming approached Yun Yunyang and his party. Bowing deeply, he clasped his hands in respect.

"Brother Tianming, my deepest condolences," Yun Yunyang replied, returning the gesture. He then instructed his men to present the gifts they had brought to the Sun clan members.

"If only I had listened to you earlier, Brother Yunyang. Had I not insisted on searching for the obsidian vein, this tragedy might have been avoided," Sun Tianming sighed, his voice heavy with guilt.

"Life is unpredictable, and no one can foresee such events. Your decisions were made with the best interests of your family in mind. You need not burden yourself with blame," Yun Yunyang said, offering words of comfort.

"What's done is done. Regret changes nothing," Sun Tianming said with a deep sigh, steadying himself. "Come, Brother Yunyang, and you all as well. Let us talk further inside."

He led Yun Yunyang and the others into the Sun family estate, instructing servants to prepare tea and refreshments as a gesture of hospitality.

After taking a sip of tea, Yun Yunyang broke the silence. "I heard the ones responsible for the deaths of over a dozen of your clan members were followers of the Gu Master Cult?"

Sun Tianming nodded solemnly. "That's correct."

"Do you know how many cultists are hiding in the Chuyun Mountains?" Yun Yunyang asked, his expression serious.

The question carried great weight. Since his niece and nephew would soon join the mission to capture these cultists, it was vital to understand the scale of the threat they faced.

"We don't know," Sun Tianming admitted with a bitter smile.

Yun Yunyang's brow furrowed, and he fell into a pensive silence.

"All we know," Sun Tianming continued, "is that the cultist hiding in the Chuyun Mountains seems to be a practitioner skilled in controlling corpse gu."

"Corpse gu?"

"Yes, a type of specialized gu worm. When implanted into the dead, it transforms them into feral, man-eating monsters.

"My family lost over a dozen members to these corpse-controlled creatures."

"I see," Yun Yunyang said, mentally filing away the information. He resolved to warn Yun Yanshuang and Yun Yantian about this so they could prepare accordingly.

"By the way, Brother Yunyang, has your family received any orders regarding this matter?" Sun Tianming asked, glancing at Yun Yunyang.

"Lord Lu has informed us of the situation."

"And your family's stance?"@@novelbin@@

"As the saying goes, 'when the lips are gone, the teeth grow cold.' The Gu Master Cult is a heretical force, committing countless atrocities. If the cultists in the Chuyun Mountains aren't dealt with now, your family won't be the only ones to suffer. Mine will be next."

"True. Then let us work together to eliminate these evil cultists and avenge my fallen family members," Sun Tianming said, his relief evident.

Since learning that the court couldn't spare additional resources to assist the Sun family, Sun Tianming had been consumed with worry.

The Gu Master Cult's methods were as sinister as they were unpredictable, and with no clear understanding of how many cultists were hiding in the Chuyun Mountains, sending his three cultivators into the mountains without support was a perilous gamble.

Now, with the Yun Cang Yun family agreeing to help, the burden on the Sun family was significantly eased.

"Will the Lanlin County office send reinforcements?"

"I've already sent word to them. They will deploy one thousand soldiers to assist us."

"I see. And Yunzhang County?"

"They'll also send a thousand troops."

"Excellent. Between our two families, we'll have a total of five spiritual-root cultivators. Your Yun Cang Yun family's two cultivators are especially skilled.

"With the addition of the two thousand elite soldiers dispatched from the counties, I'm confident we'll succeed in capturing the Gu Master Cultists this time," Sun Tianming said.

"Let's hope so," Yun Yunyang replied, his tone heavy with concern.

"Brother Tianming, there are still many matters to attend to within my family, so I won't impose further. I'll take my leave."

Having finalized their discussion, Yun Yunyang rose, clasped his hands respectfully, and bid farewell.

Sun Tianming did not insist on him staying longer. Instead, he personally escorted Yun Yunyang and his entourage to the village gates.

Yun Family Village.

"Corpse gu?"

Yun Yanshuang, who had been preparing to sleep, was startled awake by her father.

"Yes," Yun Yunshan said, his expression serious. "Your uncle visited Lanlin County and spoke with Sun Tianming. He learned that the cultist hiding in the Chuyun Mountains is a cultivator adept in using corpse gu.

"This type of gu worm can control the dead, turning them into feral, man-eating monsters. It's extremely dangerous."

"I understand," Yun Yanshuang replied, her face solemn.

"Additionally," Yun Yunshan continued, "your uncle tried to ascertain how many Gu Master Cultists might be hiding in the Chuyun Mountains, but the Sun family doesn't know the specifics either.

"Tomorrow, when you and Yantian set out to join the mission, remember to be extremely cautious. If you find yourselves outnumbered or unable to win, do not engage recklessly. Your safety is the most important thing—do you understand?"

As a father, Yun Yunshan was deeply concerned for his daughter's safety.

In his eyes, the lives of his children outweighed all else—be it the family's interests or the court's orders. Nothing mattered more than their survival.

"Yes, Father, I understand!" Yun Yanshuang said, nodding firmly.

"Shui'er," Yun Yunshan turned to Yun Yanshui, his tone grave. "You must also be vigilant. Stay hidden and observe everything carefully.

"Your priority is to protect your sister and Yantian. The lives of others are not your concern."

"Don't worry, Father," Yun Yanshui replied with a harmless grin, flashing his white teeth.

"Rest early. The days ahead will be difficult for you siblings," Yun Yunshan said, his voice softening.

"Father, what about the Golden-eyed Beast?" Yun Yanshui suddenly asked.

"Don't worry. I'll take care of it," Yun Yunshan assured him.

"Great! If possible, take it into the Yunzhang Mountains. It can find its own spiritual food there. These past few days, it's been hunting its meals on its own. It even brought back some useful spirit fruits for the family!" Yun Yanshui said with a cheeky grin.

"Haha! I'll see to it," Yun Yunshan chuckled.

Yun Family Village, Private School.

The study room was brightly lit, the scent of ink faint in the air.

"Mr. Yu, may I come in?"

Yun Yunrui knocked on the door and called softly.

"Come in," a gentle, middle-aged voice replied from within.

Creak.

Pushing the door open, Yun Yunrui stepped into the room and sat down. Before him was a scholarly middle-aged man in a deep blue robe, sitting upright at a desk, meticulously reviewing the essays and scriptures copied by the village children.

"Still working so late, Mr. Yu? These children must really keep you busy," Yun Yunrui said with a smile.

He placed a basket of fruit and snacks on the desk. "Here, try some of these. My mother made them."

"Thank you, please extend my gratitude to your mother," Mr. Yu said warmly.

"Don't mention it. You've been a pillar of our village, helping the children read and write. We owe you so much," Yun Yunrui said.

"It's not just my effort; you've contributed as well," Mr. Yu replied modestly.

"By the way," Yun Yunrui asked, "how was your recent trip? I hope it was enjoyable?"

"It was," Mr. Yu replied with a smile. "Very refreshing."

"That's good to hear. I noticed you seemed unsettled before, but I hesitated to ask if something was on your mind," Yun Yunrui said.

"Haha! No, nothing like that. Just these kids—some of their mistakes are quite frustrating," Mr. Yu chuckled before glancing down at the essays on his desk. They were riddled with errors, and he pressed his fingers to his temple with a sigh.

"I'm sorry to trouble you, Mr. Yu. I've been busy with family matters and haven't been able to help with the school," Yun Yunrui said apologetically.

"It's no trouble. Family affairs are more important," Mr. Yu replied.

"Well, it's getting late. I'll leave you to your work. Please don't overexert yourself, and enjoy the snacks before resting," Yun Yunrui said as he stood to leave.

"Thank you, I will," Mr. Yu replied with a nod.