The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 221: Clouds and Rain

Looking at his brother ruthlessly dealing with the Su family elders and heirs, Sun Fenglin remained calm and did not intervene.

To him, evil needed to be dealt with by the wicked.

Repaying evil with virtue? That would only make enemies think you were weak and easy to bully, encouraging them to press harder.

"Feeling better now?"

Sun Fenglin walked over to his brother's side, glancing at the skinned Su family elder at Sun Fengxuan's feet with a faint smile.

"Better? Not even close. When I saw the scene in the dungeon—the state of Seventh Uncle and the others—I wished I could…"

Sun Fengxuan's voice trembled with suppressed rage, his fists clenched tightly. fɾeewebnoveℓ.co๓

"Brother, what about the women and children of the Su family?"

Sun Fengxuan suddenly remembered the defenseless women, children, and elderly among the Su family.

"Those Su bastards had no bottom line. They acted worse than beasts. But do you want to stoop to their level?"

Sun Fenglin patted his brother on the shoulder, his voice calm yet firm.

Hearing this, Sun Fengxuan took a deep breath and nodded. "I understand."

"Have Congyun take the rescued survivors with us when we leave. It's time to rebuild the Blue Scaled Sun Clan. And as for other scattered members of our clan, send word to them. If they wish to return, they're welcome. If not, we won't force them."

"I'll take care of it."

Sun Fengxuan nodded and strode off to relay the instructions.

As he left, Sun Fenglin turned toward the Su family gates, his gaze steady. "The main family should be arriving any moment now."

Su Family Gates

Outside, a contingent of riders led by Yun Yunyu arrived, their banners bearing the emblem of the Yun clan from Yunzhang County.

On horseback, Yun Yunyu reined in, signaling his soldiers to stop. With practiced ease, the group dismounted and entered the Su family estate.

The sight of bloodied bodies littering the courtyard did not faze them. It was as though they had seen worse.

"Uncle Yunyu," Sun Fenglin greeted with a respectful bow as Yun Yunyu approached.

"No need for formalities. You and your brother have worked hard. Leave the cleanup to us," Yun Yunyu said, patting Sun Fenglin on the shoulder.

"Understood."

With a final bow, Sun Fenglin gathered his brother, nephew, and the twenty or so survivors of the Sun clan, escorting them out of the Su family estate.

Yun Yunyu and his troops moved toward the inner courtyard, systematically gathering the Su family's accumulated wealth and resources for transport back to the Yun clan's estate.

As for the remaining Su family women, children, and the elderly, Yun Yunyu did not order their deaths. Instead, they were allowed to leave.

Yun Family Manor, Yunzhang County

"Smells amazing!"

Yun Yanshui exclaimed as he approached Yun Yandong's home, catching the savory aroma of lotus root and pork rib stew wafting from the kitchen.

"Yanshui, come on in!"

Yun Yandong, just returning from tending the spirit fields, greeted him warmly, motioning him to sit.

Even Yun Yandong's mother emerged from the house, smiling.

"Yanshui, your aunt's looking better and better," Yun Yanshui remarked with a grin.

"It's thanks to the family's spirit herbs these past years. They've done wonders for her health," Yun Yandong replied.

"But you still need to take it easy, Auntie. Don't overwork yourself." Yun Yanshui's expression turned serious.

"Don't worry about me. I don't do much these days. I help Light-Rong with some needlework and watch over the children. It's nothing tiring."

"Good to hear! You deserve to enjoy life, Auntie. Maybe Uncle Yunxun could take you on some trips to relax?"

"He's cooped up in the medicine hall all day, poring over incomplete pill recipes. He has no time for outings."

"Well, how about Yandong then?"

"Ah, no need. Staying in the manor, helping out with the family, and watching the kids feels much more fulfilling than traveling around."

"You're absolutely right, Auntie," Yun Yanshui agreed.

"Mom!"

A voice came from the kitchen—Light-Rong's.

"Yes, Light-Rong, what is it?"

"Could you grab the bowls and call Yandong to get Dad for lunch?"

"Got it!"

Yun Yandong's mother nodded, placing the sleeping Yun Wenxin in Yun Yanshui's arms before heading to the kitchen to help.

"Wow, big brother! Sneaking over to Yandong's house for a feast and not inviting me!"

From the weapons shop, Yun Yanshuang had rushed over upon hearing from her mother that her brother was at Yandong's home, her tone mock accusatory as she entered.

"Shuang'er, come on in and sit!"

Yun Yandong's mother warmly greeted her as she entered the courtyard, clearly delighted to see her.

"Thanks, Auntie!"

Yun Yanshuang, ever lively, bounded into the courtyard and plopped herself down, taking the still-sleeping Yun Wenxin from her brother's arms with a playful grin. She cooed softly at the baby, her eyes brimming with affection.

"Things settled with the Su family?"

"Indeed," Yun Yanshuang replied with a firm nod. "Second Uncle has already led our people to gather what was left behind at the Su estate. They've returned with everything of value."

"Good," Yun Yandong remarked, visibly relieved.

"Oh, Shuang'er, just the person I needed to see," came Yun Yundong's father, Yun Yunxun, as he entered the courtyard.

"Uncle Yunxun, what's the matter?"

"I've completed the work on that damaged alchemical formula you gave me. The pill in question is called the Qi Refining Pill, a Grade Six Yellow Tier spiritual pill. It can aid cultivators at the ninth peak of the Embryonic Breath Stage to break through, and help consolidate their foundation once there."

"That's incredible!" Yun Yanshuang exclaimed, visibly excited.

"Since you and Yun Yantian are nearing the Qi Refining stage, it would be wise to prepare to refine these pills soon," Yun Yunxun advised, sitting on a stone bench and setting down the formula.

"But, Uncle, a Grade Six Yellow Tier spiritual pill would require at least dozens of ingredients, all of significant grade. Isn't that an issue?" Yun Yanshuang furrowed her brows in concern.

"Correct," Yun Yunxun admitted. "The recipe requires a total of forty-eight different types of herbs, all ranging from Grade Four to Grade Six. At present, our family doesn't have the capacity to gather such high-grade ingredients. It'll take time."

"Didn't the Emperor bestow high-grade spiritual seeds to Yantian during the Hundred Families Conference?" Yun Yanshui interjected.

"Yes, but cultivating these herbs will take one to two years at minimum, possibly longer for the higher grades," Yun Yanshuang sighed.

"Is there no way to expedite the process?" Yun Yanshui asked.

"Theoretically, yes—using Grade Six Yellow Tier spiritual liquids could accelerate growth significantly. But we don't have access to such high-grade liquids right now."

Yun Yanshuang's eyes suddenly lit up. "Actually, there's another way!"

"Oh? What's that?"

"Through a special technique—Cloud Summoning Rain Technique! It's mentioned in the high-level spiritual planting manual bestowed by the Emperor. This technique allows practitioners to summon rain infused with spiritual energy, which can dramatically accelerate the growth of spiritual herbs and plants."

"Have you mastered it?"

"It's not that easy! I'll need time to study and practice. But once I've mastered it, our family's cultivation capabilities will greatly improve," Yun Yanshuang said with determination.

"Haha! Yantian and Shuang'er, save the serious talk for later. Let's eat first!"

Yun Yandong entered the courtyard, carrying a large bowl of steaming lotus root and pork rib soup, its aroma spreading warmth through the crisp winter air.

In the ancestral grounds of the Wang clan, Wang Qinglin's face was as dark as a stormcloud as he stared at the bodies of the four slain cultivators returned from the Su estate.

"No clues as to who was behind this?"

"None, but we suspect it's likely someone from the Yun family," Wang Zhongtian replied, his tone respectful yet grave.

"It must be! The Yun family must have other hidden cultivators. These deaths are too similar to how Li Jiao was taken out back then," Wang Qinglin muttered, his expression deepening with concern.

"What are your next steps, Old Ancestor?" Wang Zhongtian ventured carefully.

"We'll have to play the long game—probe carefully and determine exactly who the Yun family has in their ranks, especially that archer. It's likely the same one who killed Yan'er."

"Agreed, Old Ancestor."

"And as for the Su family..."

"They're finished," Wang Qinglin said with finality. "There's no point in propping them up further. Our family cannot afford to openly antagonize the Yun family—especially with that blind elder sitting in their ranks, not to mention their ties to the imperial family."

"Does this mean we let it go?" Wang Zhongtian pressed.

"What choice do we have?" Wang Qinglin exhaled heavily, his gaze distant.