The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

The sky was oppressively dark.

Rain poured down in torrents, drenching the entire Lanlin County in a relentless deluge.

On a distant mountain peak, a middle-aged man clad in luxurious robes stood with his hands clasped behind his back, silently overlooking the rain-shrouded county below.

The downpour hammered against him, but the water was effortlessly repelled by an invisible barrier of Qi that encased his body.

"As planned, the three spirit-root cultivators of the Sun family have been dealt with. The Yun family has already sent their people," the robed man said, his voice calm and measured.

Behind him, six figures in black robes emerged from the shadows. They were young cultivators, likely in their twenties, with cultivation levels ranging from the third to the fifth stage of the Embryo Breath Realm.

"Who did the Yun family send this time?" the robed man asked.

"Yun Yantian and Yun Wenxuan," replied the leader of the black-robed figures as he stepped forward. His cold, crimson-tinged eyes stared intently at the rain-drenched county below.

"Well done," the robed man said with a faint smile.

"We're simply seeking vengeance," the black-robed youth responded indifferently.

"If it weren't for your guidance and the cultivation techniques you taught us, my siblings and I wouldn't have been able to kill the three spirit-root cultivators of the Sun family.

"Now that Yun Yantian and Yun Wenxuan have arrived, killing them will bring us halfway to avenging our clan."

The young man's voice was laced with cold detachment. His name was Su Shengyu, one of the few survivors of the Su Clan massacre ten years ago.

He still vividly remembered the day when the Sun brothers and Yun Yunyue led the charge against his family, slaughtering his kin and seizing the Su Clan's accumulated resources. The hatred from that day had taken root deep within his heart.

After fleeing Lanlin County with his siblings, they had been fortunate enough to encounter the mysterious "immortal master" before them. Under his tutelage, they had learned powerful techniques and honed their skills, enabling them to assassinate the Sun family's spirit-root cultivators and begin exacting their revenge.

"The Yun family's Yun Yantian will not be easy to deal with. You and your siblings should remain in hiding. Leave everything to me," the robed man said with a faint smile.

"As you command, Master," Su Shengyu replied, bowing deeply before retreating into the rain with his siblings, vanishing from sight.

Lanlin County, Yun Family Marketplace.

Inside a main hall, the sound of sorrowful weeping filled the air.

Three bodies lay on stretchers, their faces pale and tinged with blue. They were the Sun family's spirit-root cultivators, now cold and lifeless.

Their grieving family members clung to their corpses, wailing uncontrollably.

At the head of the hall, Sun Fenglin and his younger brother Sun Fengxuan sat with heavy expressions, their gazes fixed on the mournful scene.

Beside them, Sun Congyun and his eldest son, Sun Liwei, stood silently, their presence a solemn gesture of support.

"Patriarch, the main family's representatives have arrived!"

A Sun family member, clad in a rain cloak and straw hat, hurried into the hall, his tone respectful as he addressed Sun Fenglin.

This particular Sun family member had once fled with his wife after the collapse of their clan. When Sun Fenglin had rescued many scattered Sun family members from the Su Clan, he had brought them back together, reuniting the family under his leadership.

The tragedy had taught the Sun family a harsh lesson—only through unity and strength could they avoid oppression and humiliation.

"Let's go greet them," Sun Fenglin said, rising to his feet. He quickly led his brother Sun Fengxuan, nephew Sun Congyun, and great-nephew Sun Liwei to the entrance of the hall.

As soon as they stepped outside, Sun Fenglin spotted Yun Yantian and Yun Wenxuan approaching through the rain. Bowing deeply, he greeted them with utmost respect:

"Your subordinate Sun Fenglin greets Young Master Yun and Young Master Wenxuan."

"No need for formalities. Take us to see the bodies of your three spirit-root cultivators," Yun Yantian instructed, his tone direct.

Sun Fenglin nodded and led the two into the hall, where the lifeless bodies of the three Sun family cultivators were laid out.

"We've conducted an investigation and found no external or internal injuries—no wounds or marks of any kind.

"We suspect that a malevolent spirit has infiltrated the marketplace and killed them. However, we've been unable to determine what kind of entity it is or uncover any clues.

"Left with no other choice, we had to seek assistance from the main family," Sun Fenglin explained, his voice heavy with frustration and grief.

While Yun Yantian and Yun Wenxuan crouched beside the corpses, carefully inspecting the bodies of the three Sun family spirit-root cultivators, Sun Fenglin stood to the side, recounting the events in full detail.

"In the marketplace, were only these three Sun family spirit-root cultivators killed?" Yun Yantian asked after completing his examination.

"Yes," Sun Fenglin replied.

"I suspect this is more than just the work of a malevolent spirit," Yun Yantian remarked.

"Oh? What makes you say that, Young Master?" Sun Fenglin asked, his expression shifting as he caught the implication in Yun Yantian's words.

"If it were merely a malevolent spirit wreaking havoc, it wouldn't have targeted only your Sun family members. A marketplace like this sees many rogue cultivators coming and going daily. A true spirit attack would have left casualties among them as well," Yun Yantian explained as he stood.

At his words, Sun Fenglin and the others froze, their expressions darkening. Sun Fenglin was the first to speak. "Are you saying this was deliberate? That someone specifically targeted my Sun family?"

"Exactly," Yun Yantian confirmed. "The fact that only your three spirit-root cultivators were killed points to a calculated act of vengeance, not random chaos.

"Think carefully—has your Sun family offended anyone over the past decade?"

Sun Fenglin frowned deeply, lost in thought. "My brother and I have been focused on rebuilding the family these past ten years, gathering our scattered relatives and developing in silence. We've avoided provoking others…"

"Brother, do you remember the Su family from ten years ago?" Sun Fengxuan interjected suddenly.

"What are you implying, Fengxuan?" Sun Fenglin asked, his tone uncertain.

"Ten years ago, we annihilated the Su family. But some of their children survived. I'm thinking…" Sun Fengxuan trailed off, letting the implication hang in the air.

"It seems your Sun family should investigate the surviving Su family descendants," Yun Yantian said, nodding as he absorbed the theory.

"It's been ten years. Those surviving children would now be in their twenties. If someone has been guiding them in cultivation, teaching them techniques, it's entirely possible they've returned for revenge."

Sun Fengxuan's theory clearly resonated with Yun Yantian, and after a moment of contemplation, he spoke to Sun Fenglin.

"Do some digging. If your family's past actions have come back to haunt you, this won't be the last attack."

"I understand," Sun Fenglin said with a solemn nod. After hearing the analysis, he too began to suspect that the Su family's remnants were responsible for this tragedy.

"We should have eradicated the Su family completely back then!" Sun Fengxuan growled, his voice tinged with bitterness.

"Had we done so, we wouldn't have lost three spirit-root cultivators now! We let our mercy come back to bite us!"

Staring at the grieving families of the deceased, Sun Fengxuan clenched his fists tightly, his weathered face twisted with anger and regret.

"We can't jump to conclusions just yet," Sun Fenglin said, sighing as he tried to calm his brother. Despite his outward caution, his heart was already leaning toward believing the Su family's involvement.

"Now that you have a direction for your investigation, there's no reason for us to stay. We'll leave the rest to you.

"If you need further assistance, send word to the Yun family," Yun Yantian said, preparing to depart. His uncle's funeral was still ongoing, and he and his nephew needed to return as soon as possible.

"Thank you, Young Master Yun, and Young Master Wenxuan, for your efforts," Sun Fenglin said, bowing deeply.

"Farewell," Yun Yantian replied, cupping his hands before leaving the hall with Yun Wenxuan.

Braving the downpour, the uncle and nephew duo walked along the rain-slicked stone streets of the Yun family marketplace. As they neared the gate, a middle-aged man in a resplendent robe stood boldly in their path, blocking their way.

"Who are you?" Yun Yantian asked, stopping in his tracks. He fixed his gaze on the man, his instincts immediately warning him of danger.

The man's presence exuded an oppressive aura, and his expression carried a faint smirk of arrogance.

Yun Yantian's hand subtly moved toward the spear on his back, his posture tense as he prepared for a confrontation.

From the corner of his eye, he noticed Yun Wenxuan mirroring his stance, ready to draw his weapon at a moment's notice.

The rain continued to pour, its rhythmic drumming blending with the charged silence between the two parties.