The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Daoist, I take my leave. I shall visit again in the future," Yun Yun Yang said, bowing respectfully as he prepared to depart with his daughter.

"Take the wine with you," the blind Daoist said firmly.

"Daoist, please don't be so modest. Consider this wine a token of my appreciation—please accept it," Yun Yun Yang replied.

A shrewd businessman, Yun Yun Yang knew how to seize opportunities. Though his daughter Yun Yan Ling had not been chosen as a disciple, the blind Daoist was still a cultivator.

Should his daughter one day have descendants with spiritual roots, they might need the Daoist's guidance. These twenty jars of Nu'er Hong were a small price to pay for laying the groundwork for future goodwill.

Seeing Yun Yun Yang's insistence, the Daoist said no more. With a wave of his hand, the twenty jars of wine disappeared into the folds of his robe.

This display of Sleeve Universe, a technique that allowed him to store objects within his sleeve, left Yun Yun Yang and Yun Yan Ling utterly dumbfounded.

"Truly a divine being!" Yun Yun Yang exclaimed in awe, his gaze toward the Daoist now filled with reverence.

He wasn't alone. Many other Yun clan members who had brought their children to seek the Daoist's favor were equally astonished by the display.

One after another, they stepped forward, eager to greet the Daoist and build rapport, pleading with him to teach their children the art of cultivation.

But none of them succeeded.

Not a single one of their children possessed spiritual roots, and the Daoist rejected them all without exception.

"Ling'er, return to town with the servants and inform your mother to sell off our properties and estate as quickly as possible.

I will visit the clan elders and request one of your grandfather's ancestral homes.

Once everything is settled, we'll move back to Yun Family Village," Yun Yun Yang instructed his daughter with a serious expression.

"I understand, Father," Yun Yan Ling replied gently.

A quiet, intelligent young woman, Yun Yan Ling didn't need her father to explain the reasons behind his decision.

With a mountain cultivator now residing in Yun Family Village, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the clan. Being close to the Daoist increased their chances of forging a favorable relationship with him.

After seeing his daughter off in the carriage, Yun Yun Yang clasped his hands behind his back and headed toward the clan's ancestral hall.

On the way, he encountered his third brother, Yun Yun Feng, hurrying toward the willow tree with his two sons, Yun Yan Song and Yun Yan Bai.

Carrying a jar of jade-yellow wine and half a pound of beef jerky, Yun Yun Feng was moving with unusual urgency.

"Big... Big Brother!" Yun Yun Feng stammered, his face instinctively showing a trace of fear as he saw Yun Yun Yang. He quickly bowed in greeting.

Behind him, Yun Yan Song and Yun Yan Bai also bowed respectfully. "Greetings, Uncle."

"You still recognize me as your elder brother?" Yun Yun Yang asked, his face darkening as he snorted coldly.

Among the four Yun brothers, Yun Yun Yang and the second brother had both left the village years ago. Yun Yun Yang had built a prosperous business selling fabric and clothing, while the second brother had established a martial arts school in town.

Their youngest brother, Yun Yun Shan, had returned to the village after his military service, running a blacksmith shop and farming enough land to support his family comfortably.

But the third brother, Yun Yun Feng, was a perpetual disappointment.

Known since childhood for his laziness and dishonesty, Yun Yun Feng's antics—stealing and cheating—had made him a pariah in the village.

Upon learning of this, Yun Yun Yang had written numerous letters, urging his brother to mend his ways for the sake of his two sons, who had already lost their mother. He had warned that if Yun Yan Song and Yun Yan Bai followed in their father's footsteps, they would grow up to be nothing more than petty scoundrels, doomed to a harsh and possibly short life outside the village.

But despite the letters, Yun Yun Feng remained defiant. Dismissing his brother's advice, he would often burn the letters after barely glancing at them.

Over time, his behavior worsened.

"Big... Big Brother, why say such things? You'll always be my elder brother," Yun Yun Feng said with an ingratiating smile.

In the past, when Yun Yun Yang was busy in town and couldn't return to the village, Yun Yun Feng acted as he pleased, unrestrained by anyone's authority.

But now, with Yun Yun Yang standing before him, he didn't dare to act recklessly.

When it was time to play humble, Yun Yun Feng played humble.

"So, rushing off with Yan Song and Yan Bai—are you heading to see the Daoist outside the village?"

Despite his irritation, Yun Yun Yang's anger cooled somewhat as he looked at his brother's submissive demeanor. His expression softened, and he turned his gaze to Yun Yan Song and Yun Yan Bai.

Curious, he asked, "What's the rush?"

"Exactly, Big Brother! Everyone in the village says the Daoist is capable. I figured I'd take Yan Song and Yan Bai to meet him and see if they might have the chance to learn the ways of cultivation," Yun Yun Feng replied with a grin.

"Difficult," Yun Yun Yang sighed, offering a single-word response.

"Oh? Big Brother, didn't you take Ling'er to meet the Daoist? How did that go?"

"Don't mention it. Ling'er doesn't have spiritual roots and cannot cultivate. I'm now planning to find her a suitable husband so she can bear a child with spiritual roots as soon as possible.

If her descendants possess spiritual roots, they might have a chance to study under the Daoist and learn the ways of cultivation," Yun Yun Yang said, his tone calm but tinged with disappointment.

He explained everything about Yun Yan Ling's rejection to Yun Yun Feng without reservation.

After all, they were brothers—family—and there was no need to hide such matters.

"Sigh! Even Ling'er wasn't chosen. It seems my two sons won't stand a chance either," Yun Yun Feng said, feigning sympathy for Yun Yan Ling, though inwardly, he was mocking his brother.

Just wait until one of my sons is chosen to learn cultivation from the Daoist.

Let's see if you, Yun Yun Yang, still have the right to act superior in front of me!

"That may not be the case. Yan Song and Yan Bai might just get lucky," Yun Yun Yang said with a faint smile.

"If that happens, I'll throw a huge feast and invite the entire village to celebrate," Yun Yun Feng declared, laughing heartily.

"By the way, Big Brother, what about Second Brother? He must have heard the news. Why hasn't he brought Yan Tian back to meet the Daoist?"

"I've informed him, but perhaps he's busy with his martial arts school in town and doesn't have time to return just yet," Yun Yun Yang replied.

"Second Brother is ridiculous! We're talking about a celestial being here—how rare is that? And yet he's still focused on running that school?

If it were me, I'd drop everything and bring Yan Tian here immediately to see if he has the aptitude for cultivation," Yun Yun Feng said dismissively.

"Enough!" Yun Yun Yang's expression darkened as he scolded in a low voice. "You're not to speak ill of your second brother behind his back. Understand?"

"I... I understand," Yun Yun Feng muttered, shrinking back at his elder brother's anger.

"Go ahead. I need to visit the ancestral hall and speak with the clan elders," Yun Yun Yang said, waving him off.

"Why are you meeting the elders?"

"I plan to request part of our father's old ancestral home so that Ling'er and her mother can move in."

"What?! Big Brother, you're moving back?"

Yun Yun Feng exclaimed, his face paling as if he'd just received devastating news.

"What? You're not happy about it?"

"No... no, how could I not be happy about you and Sister-in-law returning to the village?" Yun Yun Feng said, forcing a smile while inwardly cursing his luck.

If his elder brother returned and took up permanent residence in the village, his carefree days would be over.

But wait—there was still hope!

As long as one of his sons was chosen by the Daoist, he wouldn't have to live under Yun Yun Yang's shadow any longer.

"Big Brother, forgive me. You should head to the ancestral hall and speak with the elders. I'll take Yan Song and Yan Bai to meet the Daoist.

When there's time, let's gather with the Fourth Brother and have a family meal," Yun Yun Feng said, bowing slightly before hurrying off with his two sons.