The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Heh heh! Big Brother, Second Brother, Fourth Brother."

With his two sons in tow, Yun Yunfeng rushed to the ancestral shrine. Upon seeing Yun Yunshan and the other two brothers chatting jovially by the main hall entrance, he quickly approached them, his face adorned with a flattering smile.

Among the four brothers, Yun Yunfeng was the most idle, spending his days in leisure. As such, he harbored a deep sense of inferiority in front of his brothers, feeling himself unworthy of comparison. He had placed high hopes on his two sons, wishing for them to awaken spirit roots and rise above the ordinary. With that, he could finally bask in their glory and gain some respect.

Unfortunately, his sons had not lived up to his expectations.

Faced with his three brothers, Yun Yunfeng could only humble himself, doing his best to maintain a good relationship with them. He hoped that after he passed on, his brothers and their descendants would look after his lineage.

"Why are you so late?"

Yun Yunyang, the eldest brother, frowned as he addressed him.

"Well... there were delays on the way here!"

Yun Yunfeng scratched his head awkwardly.

"You seem to be quite busy in the village," Yun Yunyang remarked with a faint smile, his tone laced with sarcasm.

Hearing this, Yun Yunfeng was momentarily at a loss for words. He could only scratch the back of his head awkwardly and laugh along.

As for Yun Yunshan and Yun Yunyue, they offered only a brief greeting before asking about Yun Yansong and Yun Yanbai's well-being.

Though they disapproved of their idle brother, they had always been concerned about his two sons. After all, the boys had lost their mother at a young age and had been raised solely by their father.

Despite their reputation in the village for causing trouble and bullying others, it was clear they were heavily influenced by their father's poor example. As elders, Yun Yunshan and Yun Yunyue could not place all the blame on the boys themselves.

When the opportunity arose, they would make an effort to correct the two brothers' behavior, lest they bring disaster upon themselves after leaving the village and lose their lives needlessly.

"Now that everyone is here, let us proceed inside and pay our respects to the clan elders and our fellow clansmen."

Yun Yunyang, as the eldest, gave a nod of approval upon seeing his brothers gathered. He led the way into the ancestral shrine.

The ancestral shrine was spacious, its interiors grand and welcoming. Yun Yunyang had ordered his servants to set up tables laden with fine wines and delicacies to entertain the Yun clansmen.

Yun Family Village had been established for many years. Apart from some outsiders who had settled there, the majority of its inhabitants were direct or collateral descendants of the Yun family—numbering over 150 in total. The non-Yun inhabitants, numbering over 50, were also distantly related to the Yun family through marriages in past generations.

Nearly 200 people had gathered for this grand feast organized by Yun Yunyang, showcasing his wealth and influence.

As the four brothers entered the shrine, all eyes turned toward them. Many of the Yun clansmen greeted Yun Yunyang and the others warmly—Yun Yunfeng being the notable exception.

After all, he was infamous in the village as a good-for-nothing troublemaker, known for petty thefts and other unsavory deeds. He was nothing like Yun Yunyang, who had achieved wealth and success through hard work. Nor did he compare to the second and fourth brothers, both of whom were former soldiers who had seen the battlefield. Their children, measured by a blind elder, were revealed to have spirit roots and the potential to pursue immortality.

The future seemed bright for these two brothers.

Yun Yunfeng pretended not to care about the deliberate distance the clansmen kept from him, but deep down, he was seething with anger. If not for his eldest brother's presence, he might have exploded in rage, berating those who dared to ignore him.

"Nephew Yun Yunyang greets Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and Fourth Uncle."

Yun Yunyang, leading his brothers and their children, crossed the hall and approached the high seats at the head of the shrine. He bowed respectfully to the three elderly men seated on grand chairs.

These three elders were the uncles of the four brothers, sharing the same lineage as their late father.

Second Uncle, Yun Lidi, was a calm and prudent man who managed the village's affairs. From land disputes to quarrels among the clansmen, he was responsible for resolving all matters.

Third Uncle, Yun Liguan, was a former soldier like Yun Yunshan and Yun Yunyue. His aura still carried a chilling edge, a remnant of his time on the battlefield. Even in his old age, his imposing demeanor was intimidating. It was through his connections that the two brothers were able to join the Yue Kingdom's military.

His role in the village was to train the clansmen in martial arts and prepare them for combat, ensuring the safety of Yun Family Village.

After all, this world was far from peaceful.

Though the immortal cultivators in the mountains took responsibility for dealing with demons and malevolent spirits, the mundane world was far from safe. Ferocious beasts, tigers, leopards, and even mountain bandits posed constant threats.

The Yun Family Village itself had once been raided by bandits, nearly facing total annihilation. It was only due to the courage of Yun Yunyang and his brothers' father, who led the villagers in resistance, that the village survived. Sadly, the severe injuries he sustained during the battle led to his passing. A year or two later, their grief-stricken mother, unable to recover from her sorrow, succumbed to illness and followed their father.

The fourth uncle, Yun Lihuang, oversaw the village's finances. From the grain tax and land tax to the head tax demanded by the government each year, it was his responsibility to ensure the village met its obligations. He also worked tirelessly to find ways for the villagers to prosper, carving out mountain paths and leading them to wealth, ensuring they could pay their taxes and avoid calamities.

Additionally, he managed the annual ancestral worship ceremonies of the Yun clan.

"No need for formalities. It has been years since I've seen the four of you together," Yun Lidi, the second uncle, said with a kind expression as he looked at his four nephews.

However, when his gaze fell on Yun Yunfeng, his demeanor shifted slightly. "Yunfeng, as your second uncle, I must speak plainly. Today, with your eldest and second brothers present, and all the clan members gathered, it's the perfect opportunity for me to issue a warning. From now on, you are to cease causing trouble in the village. If you don't, I'll ensure your eldest brother disciplines you according to clan law.

"And as for Yansong and Yanbai, those two brothers have suffered enough under your care. Instead of learning proper skills, they've only learned to bully others. Today, your eldest brother and I have decided that Yansong and Yanbai will be placed under his supervision. This way, they won't grow up to follow in your footsteps, stealing and causing trouble, only to bring disaster upon themselves."

In the past, Yun Yunfeng would have brushed off his second uncle's public scolding, letting the words go in one ear and out the other. He might have even retorted defiantly.

But today was different.

With his eldest brother present, how could he dare show disrespect? The second uncle and the others had refrained from enforcing clan law against him out of respect for his late father. But now that his eldest brother was here, if they decided to discipline him, no amount of pleading would save him.

Thinking of this, the usually defiant Yun Yunfeng humbled himself, bowing respectfully to his second uncle. "Nephew understands Second Uncle's teachings. From now on, I will not cause trouble in the village."

"Yantian, Yanshuang, step forward," Yun Lidi said after finishing his reprimand of Yun Yunfeng, turning his attention to the younger generation.

"Grandchildren greet Second Grandfather, Third Grandfather, and Fourth Grandfather," said Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang as they stepped forward, bowing deeply.

"You two are the pride of our Yun clan," Yun Lidi said with a warm smile. "Having been measured by the old Daoist to possess spiritual roots and the aptitude for immortal cultivation, your future is boundless. I believe that under your guidance, our Yun clan will one day ascend, becoming a family of immortal cultivators like those of other great sects. The future of the clan will depend on your care and support."

Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang both bowed solemnly. "Grandchildren will remember your words."

"The old Daoist has accepted you as disciples, and from now on, you will be regarded as esteemed figures of Yun Family Village. Be sure to honor and respect him."

"Grandchildren will bear your words in mind."

"Good. You may step back now."

"Yueling, Yansong, Yanbai, and Yanshui, step forward."

The next group of younger clan members stepped forward hesitantly.

"You did not awaken spiritual roots, and it is a shame," Yun Lidi said with a sigh. "But do not let this dishearten you. Though the path of immortality is closed to you, you can still achieve great things through other means, bringing glory to our Yun clan. When you marry and have children, if any among them are born with spiritual roots, be sure to guide and support them well."

"Grandchildren will remember your teachings," they replied in unison, bowing deeply.

"Good, good. I have said all that needs to be said. Now, go and enjoy the feast! Mingle with your peers, for you are all one family. The future prosperity of the Yun clan depends on you, the younger generation. Only by standing united can we overcome all challenges. Do you understand?"

"Yes, we understand!" the younger generation chorused with conviction.