The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Where did you get this?"

Yun Yun Shan cast a quick but sharp glance at the damaged bronze mirror in his hand, his gaze heavy as he fixed his eyes on his son. His tone was unusually serious.

"I found it in Li Zhai Creek," Yun Yan Shui replied with a smile, then quickly asked, "What do you think, Dad? Is it some kind of antique? Can we sell it in town for a good price?"

"How many people know you found this?"

"Just you."

"Remember, don't tell anyone about this mirror. Do you understand?"

"Why not?"

"Don't ask why! Just do as I say—don't tell anyone."

Yun Yun Shan's voice deepened, his expression more stern than Yun Yan Shui had ever seen before.

A relic with lingering spiritual energy was not something ordinary mortals could safely possess. If it caught the attention of the wrong people, it could bring unimaginable disaster to their family.

"Alright, I understand!"

Seeing his father's rare display of severity, Yun Yan Shui nodded solemnly.

"Let's go home."

Yun Yun Shan tucked the ancient, battered bronze mirror into his coat and began walking home with his son.

"Dad! Big Brother! Come and eat—Mom made spicy crab and crystal shrimp porridge!"

The moment Yun Yun Shan and Yun Yan Shui returned, Yun Yan Shuang's face lit up with a delighted smile.

"Uncle Yun Shan, Yan Shui-ge," Yun Yan Dong chimed in politely, though he could hardly hide his excitement for the meal.

The family gathered around the table and began their feast. As the night deepened, they enjoyed the hearty dinner, their laughter filling the house.

After eating his fill, Yun Yan Dong patted his stomach contentedly, thanked the family, and made his way home.

Yun Yun Shan, meanwhile, sat quietly on the edge of the porch, gazing at the full moon in the distant sky. His thoughts seemed far away.

It wasn't until Yun Qin Shi finished cleaning up with Yan Shui and Yan Shuang, preparing for bed, that Yun Yun Shan finally spoke:

"Come inside and close the door. I have something to say."

Startled by his tone, Yun Qin Shi and the children exchanged worried glances but did as he asked, shutting the door securely behind them.

"Husband, is something wrong?"

Yun Qin Shi couldn't help but ask, her face etched with concern.

Even Yan Shui and Yan Shuang, who had rarely seen their father this serious, couldn't help but feel uneasy.

"Today, Yan Shui found an ancient bronze mirror in Li Zhai Creek."

Yun Yun Shan took a deep breath, pulled the damaged mirror from his coat, and placed it on the table.

In the dimly lit room, the broken mirror emitted a faint, moon-like glow, illuminating Yun Qin Shi and Yan Shuang's astonished faces.

As for Yun Yan Shui, he remained unfazed. He had already seen the mirror glow earlier when his blood had accidentally dripped onto it after he stepped on it in the creek.

"Dad, this mirror... it's glowing!"

Yan Shuang's small face was full of shock as she stared at the glowing mirror.

"If I'm not mistaken," Yun Yun Shan said gravely, "this broken bronze mirror is a spiritual artifact—an item once used by an immortal."

His words stunned everyone. Even Yun Yan Shui, who had picked up the mirror, was left speechless.

He had thought it might be a valuable antique, but he had never considered it could be something so extraordinary.

"Dad, are you sure? Couldn't you be mistaken?"

Yun Yan Shui tried to suppress his astonishment as he questioned his father.

After all, his father was just an ordinary blacksmith. How could he possibly recognize whether this mirror was connected to immortals?

"There's no mistake," Yun Yun Shan said with conviction. "Years ago, during the Yue Kingdom's war, I served alongside your second uncle and Uncle Xu. During that time, I had the rare chance to witness an immortal invited by the Yue royal family.

That immortal used a single artifact to annihilate thousands of Wu Kingdom's elite soldiers in an instant.

The aura that artifact emitted left a lasting impression on me—something I've never forgotten. The residual energy in this bronze mirror feels remarkably similar.

That's why I'm certain this mirror was once used by an immortal. Judging by its damaged state, its owner must have suffered some great calamity, or perhaps it was accidentally lost and ended up in Li Zhai Creek."

Yun Yun Shan paused for a moment, his expression even more serious.

"I'm telling you this tonight because I want you all to keep this a secret. No one must know about this mirror. If word gets out, it could bring disaster upon our family.

If possible, I want to study this mirror further. Perhaps it could help you two take the first steps on the path of cultivation."

"Cultivation?!"

Both Yan Shui and Yan Shuang were stunned, wondering if they had misheard.

"That's right," Yun Yun Shan confirmed. "Remember, this world is cruel. As ordinary mortals, our lives can be controlled by others at any moment. Only by becoming immortals can you take control of your fate."

As Yun Yun Shan spoke, his mind replayed the harrowing scene of the Wu Kingdom's thousands-strong elite army, annihilated in a single strike by the immortal invited by the Yue royal family.

The gap between mortals and immortals was vast—so vast that it was beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.

If there was even a chance for his children to pursue the path of immortality, Yun Yun Shan was determined not to let it slip away.

"Yan Shui, starting tomorrow, you don't need to attend the school anymore," he suddenly declared.

"Huh? Why not?"

"From now on, you'll stay home and keep an eye on this bronze mirror. Make sure no one else learns of its existence."

"And you, Dad?"

"I'll be visiting the blind Daoist outside the village. He seems to be someone with ties to cultivation. I need to figure out why he's here in Yun Family Village and see if I can get any useful information out of him."

"The blind Daoist... he's a cultivator?"

The revelation stunned Yun Yan Shui, his sister, and his mother.

"It's just a suspicion," Yun Yun Shan admitted, "but I'd wager I'm not far off. The faint aura he carries is similar to that of the immortal I once encountered during the war."

"Dad, when you visit him, take some wine. He loves drinking," Yan Shui suggested.

"Good idea. I'll bring him some," Yun Yun Shan agreed.

He turned his attention to Yan Shuang. "Shuang'er, you're clever and diligent. Keep attending school and learning under Mr. Yu. He's one of the most capable people in Yun Family Village. Though not an immortal, he's well-traveled and knowledgeable. He might know a great deal about the world of cultivation.

When the opportunity arises, try to subtly ask him about such matters."

His gaze softened as he looked at his daughter, a trace of fatherly affection lighting up his face.

"Don't worry, Dad. I'll do my best," Yan Shuang promised earnestly, her small face serious with determination.

"As for you, my dear wife, the family matters will rely more on you from now on."

"Don't worry. I'll manage everything," Yun Qin Shi reassured him.

With their plans set, the family retired for the night.

Later that night, well past midnight, Yun Yun Shan quietly climbed out of bed. Ensuring the house was silent, he crept into the backyard and descended into a hidden cellar.

In the dimly lit space, he carefully placed the bronze mirror on an old offering table.

"Our humble home is crude, and we have no celestial offerings for now," he murmured, bowing before the mirror. "But should this branch of the Yun family rise to greatness one day, I vow to honor you with livestock, divine treasures, and celestial tributes."

To his astonishment, the bronze mirror seemed to respond. Its surface began to glow softly, filling the cellar with a warm, gentle light.

Fixing his gaze on the mirror, Yun Yun Shan saw an incredible sight—within its glowing surface, the faint image of a seed appeared.

The seed slowly cracked open, and from it sprouted a tiny green sapling.

The delicate sapling, no larger than a pinky finger, had crystalline, jade-like leaves. Gold veins shimmered faintly across its surface, as if containing profound truths of the universe.

"This..."

Yun Yun Shan's face was filled with shock as he stared at the sapling, its vibrant energy radiating an otherworldly vitality.

"Tomorrow," he resolved, "I must visit the blind Daoist under the willow tree outside the village."

Looking at the miraculous sapling within the mirror, Yun Yun Shan grew increasingly certain that this was a divine blessing bestowed upon his branch of the Yun family.

To fully harness this celestial opportunity, he needed information—information only someone well-versed in the ways of immortals could provide.

Still, he knew that immortals, especially those who had lived for centuries, were notoriously shrewd and calculating.

When dealing with the blind Daoist tomorrow, he would have to tread carefully, ensuring he didn't arouse suspicion or accidentally invite calamity upon his family.