The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Chapter 92 - 92 Condolences

The rain poured heavier, the sound of droplets striking the earth blending with the somber atmosphere within the hall.

The room was steeped in sorrow as Yun Lixuan and Yun Lihuang mourned their brother's peaceful passing, tears streaming down their aged faces.

Standing quietly among the gathered family members, Yun Yanshui stared at his second great-uncle's lifeless form, serene as if merely asleep. Memories of their moments together—walking through the family compound, listening to his stories—flooded his mind, filling his heart with a profound sadness.

Beside him, Yun Yanshuang had become a tearful wreck, unable to hold back her emotions.

"Yunrui, Yunxun, inform the rest of the family," Yun Yunyang instructed, his voice heavy. "Once the rain stops, we'll prepare his burial attire, coffin, and paper offerings. Summon the Taoist priests to conduct the rites."

"Make it known—our second uncle passed away peacefully. This is a celebration of a long life well lived."

"Yes, Uncle," Yun Yunrui and Yun Yunxun responded, grabbing oiled paper umbrellas and heading into the rain to spread the news.

"Yunyu, Yunfeng, Yunshan, stay behind to help me wash and prepare Second Uncle's body."

"The rest of you, leave for now. Prepare mourning garments and ensure the younger generation is ready to don sackcloth and hemp to pay their respects."

With his words, the family began to disperse, their faces reflecting grief as they stepped out into the relentless downpour.

Walking through the rain on their way home, Yun Yanshuang clutched her brother's hand tightly, her voice trembling.

"Brother, I... I'm scared."

"What are you afraid of?" Yun Yanshui glanced at his sister curiously.

"Master once said that cultivating immortality means defying the heavens and stealing its fortune. The higher one's cultivation, the longer one's life.

A cultivator in the Fetal Breath stage can live up to 120 years. A Qi Condensation cultivator can live for 240 years.

But our parents, uncles, and cousins, they're all mortals without spiritual roots. Their lifespans are limited.

I'm scared—scared that one day, I'll have to experience this kind of loss again and again..."

Her voice faltered as her small frame began to tremble. She didn't fear combat, nor the hardships of cultivation, but the thought of losing her loved ones terrified her to her core.

The image of being left alone, even if she attained the pinnacle of immortality, filled her with dread.

Hearing her words, Yun Yanshui felt a pang in his chest. He looked ahead at their parents' figures shrouded in rain and couldn't help but feel a hint of melancholy.

"Don't overthink it. Live well each day and cherish the present," he said solemnly.

"But, Brother, aren't you afraid?"

"What's the use of fear? Someday, we'll face these separations—it's inevitable. Perhaps we'll grow used to it over time.

What we can do now is cherish the time we have with our parents and family while they're still here," Yun Yanshui replied with surprising maturity.

"Brother, you won't leave me, will you?"

"Never. I'll always be by your side," he said, his lips curling into a gentle smile as he affectionately ruffled her hair.

Then, bending down, he picked up a handful of muddy rainwater from the ground.

"What are you doing, Brother?" she asked, puzzled.

"Guess!" he teased before smearing the mud across her face with a mischievous grin.

"Aaaah!"

Yun Yanshuang shrieked, her face a mix of shock and fury. Watching her brother laugh uncontrollably, she clenched her fists and shouted, "Yun Yanshui, you're asking for it!"

With that, she scooped up a handful of wet mud and chased after him, hurling it with all her might.

"Water! Shuang'er! Don't get too wild out there!"

Their father, Yun Yunshan, shook his head with a smile as he watched his children's antics through the rain.

"Father, it's Brother's fault for bullying me first!" Yun Yanshuang retorted playfully, her pout barely concealing her laughter.

Inside, their voices echoed through the rain—a fleeting moment of levity amidst the heaviness of grief.

The rain poured relentlessly, but the atmosphere within the Yun family was more somber than ever. Inside the room, Yun Yantian recounted in detail his recent mission to capture the Gu Master Sect's rogue practitioner in the Cloudy Outlands. With careful precision, he placed the storage bag seized from Lan Cai'er on the table before his eldest uncle, Yun Yunyang.

"Nephew inspected its contents. Inside were 218 low-grade spirit stones, manuals on nurturing gu worms and refining corpses, and several pills whose effects are unknown. These pills should be handed to Uncle Yunxun for further analysis. They may aid his studies in alchemy."

"Did you manage to find the antidote for the Hearing Gu?" Yun Yunyang asked, his expression grave.

"Uncle, you needn't worry. On my way back, I visited Master. He personally forced the Hearing Gu out of my body, so there's no longer any need to

Since Sun Fenglin had recounted every detail of the mission to the Cloudy Outlands, Sun Tianming knew they were in trouble. Relations between the two clans had already frayed, and now a single misstep could escalate tensions further.

When news reached him of Yun Lidizhen's passing, he saw an opportunity. With urgency, he prepared rare medicinal herbs, gold, and jewels, then set out with his sons for the Yun estate.

"I understand, Grandfather," Sun Fengli muttered, his voice low and begrudging.

At the estate entrance, Yun Yantian stood vigil with his eldest uncle, welcoming guests. From afar, he noticed the distinct crest of the Sun Clan's carriage approaching.

"Uncle, it's the Blue Lin Sun Clan," Yun Yantian remarked, silently admiring Yun Yunyang's foresight.