The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 126 Investigating the Evil Spirit

"Yes," Wang Chongtian replied respectfully.

"The Yun family wants to steal food from our Wang family’s plate," Wang Qingshan murmured, his eyes narrowing, a trace of shadow darkening his expression.

"So, Ancestor, what do you plan to do?"

"The Yun family’s cultivation market must not be allowed to succeed so easily.

Our own market was maliciously destroyed by the Three Great Houses, leaving it inoperable for the foreseeable future. The reconstruction effort will require significant manpower, and we must remain vigilant against further interference from the Three Houses.

Now, the Yun family seeks to exploit the situation, aiming to build a cultivation market of their own.

If they succeed, they’ll grow into another formidable rival to our Wang family."

"But with a powerful figure backing the Yun family, if we take action in secret and are discovered by that senior…"

"Can’t you find some unrelated wandering cultivators to do the job?" Wang Qingshan interrupted, his sharp gaze slicing toward Wang Chongtian, his tone cold and cutting.

"Understood, Ancestor," Chongtian said, bowing low.

Old Zhang was a well-known craftsman in Yunzhang County, his mastery of construction nearly unmatched.

When he heard that the Yun family needed workers to renovate a market, he signed up immediately, eager to earn a generous reward that would provide his wife and children with a better life.

As usual, Old Zhang arrived at a corner of the market with a group of fellow craftsmen, ready to repair a few of the dilapidated shops.

They had brought in wood and prepared all their tools. Without delay, Old Zhang organized his crew and began their work.

"Where’s Old Yun today? He’s usually the first to show up," Old Zhang remarked as he looked over the dozen craftsmen with him, noticing Old Yun’s absence.

"Maybe he overslept," someone suggested.

"That’s not like him," Old Zhang replied.

"Old Yun has been struggling financially, spending most of his savings on medicine for his sick wife. Times are tough for him, and carpentry jobs are hard to come by.

When the Yun family offered this job, Old Yun signed up right away, hoping to earn enough to cover his wife’s medical expenses.

The Yun family pays well and even provides food and lodging for us craftsmen. Old Yun was very grateful, so he’s been working late into the night before returning to the dormitory to rest.

He must’ve been exhausted and overslept," a burly, rugged craftsman explained with a laugh.

"That makes sense. Let him rest for now. When he wakes up, we’ll assign him something manageable. Poor guy’s had a rough time—he deserves our support," Old Zhang said, nodding in understanding.

Satisfied, he returned to his task, sawing planks of wood and focusing on his work.

"Little Li, take the wood, new doors, and shutters to the back of the shop. We’ll deal with them later," Old Zhang instructed a young apprentice with a smile.

"Got it, Uncle Zhang," the boy replied cheerfully.

The boy’s name was Li Yi, a native of Yunzhang County. At sixteen years old, he was an orphan, raised by the kindness of others.

From the age of six, he had lived on his own, apprenticing under Uncle Zhang to learn the craft of carpentry. After ten years of hard work, he now had a trade to support himself.

He had even saved enough to marry soon, hoping to start a family and continue his bloodline.

This job with the Yun family was a rare opportunity, made possible by Uncle Zhang’s recommendation—a gesture for which Li Yi felt immense gratitude.

Li Yi worked diligently, swiftly carrying the materials with a few companions to the back of the shop.

"What’s that smell? It stinks!" one of the companions exclaimed, wrinkling his nose as they neared the back of the shop.

"This area is overgrown with weeds and hasn’t been cleaned for years. Rotting leaves, dead rats, and all sorts of debris are scattered around. It’s no surprise it smells terrible.

Once we’re done moving these materials, we’ll grab shovels and clear out the mess. Leaving the place clean will make a good impression on the employer," Li Yi said with a smile.

Growing up in the slums, Li Yi was no stranger to such foul odors and wasn’t fazed by them.

"Well, if we leave a good impression on the employer, maybe they’ll give us a bonus.

I’ve heard the Yun Warehouse Yun Clan is a cultivation family here in Yue Kingdom—wealthy, with deep roots.

Even the prominent officials and nobles of Yunzhang County are eager to curry favor with them.

Being able to work under such an employer is a blessing," one of the companions remarked.

"Haha, true enough. The pay here is three times better than anywhere else, and they provide meals and lodging.

Good employers like this are rare," Li Yi agreed with a smile.

Though young, Li Yi had seen his fair share of hardship. Many past employers had delayed or outright refused to pay their wages.

Li Yi and Uncle Zhang had once camped outside an employer’s house in the dead of winter, hoping to collect their overdue pay so they could afford a proper New Year’s celebration. Instead, they were beaten by the employer’s thugs, leaving them not only penniless but burdened with medical bills.

By comparison, the Yun Clan’s fairness and generosity stood in stark contrast, making them seem like a beacon of hope.

If given the chance, Li Yi thought, he would gladly work for the Yun Clan for the rest of his life, giving his all for their projects.

As the group continued chatting, Li Yi and his companions finished stacking the wood, shutters, and doors near the courtyard wall behind the shop. Then, they grabbed shovels to begin clearing the overgrown weeds.

Suddenly, a scream pierced the air, startling the group.

"That was Zhang Li’s voice!"

"Quick, let’s check it out!"

Li Yi urged, leading the group in the direction of the sound.

As they neared the source, a pungent, gut-wrenching stench filled the air—far worse than the odors of the slums. It was the unmistakable stench of decay.

When they arrived, they were horrified to find a rotting corpse curled up among the overgrown weeds in a corner of the courtyard.

The corpse was badly decomposed, emitting an overpowering foul odor. It was clear that Zhang Li had stumbled upon it while clearing the area, causing him to scream in terror and collapse to the ground, trembling and pale with fear.

The sight sent several of the boys into violent fits of vomiting. Even Li Yi, though used to hardship, couldn’t endure the nauseating stench. He rushed to a corner of the courtyard and retched until his stomach was empty, only then finding some relief.

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"Go… go inform Uncle Zhang and have him come take a look," Li Yi stammered, trying to steady his nerves.

Meanwhile, Yun Yandong, dressed in his patrol uniform, approached Yun Yanshui and relayed the findings of the coroner.

"Yanshui, the coroner says the time of death was likely around midnight.

However…"

"However, what?" Yanshui asked, his expression grim.

"The coroner said that the degree of decomposition doesn’t match someone who’s been dead for only one night.

Moreover, the cause of death isn’t clear. The coroner suspects it might be the work of something sinister—perhaps an evil spirit."

"An evil spirit?" Yanshui muttered, his voice low.

The Yun Clan’s market needed to be repaired and operational as soon as possible. If a malevolent force was indeed interfering, it could severely disrupt the clan’s plans.

"Uncle Zhang, do you recognize the deceased?" Yanshui asked, turning to the shaken craftsman.

"Yes, it’s Old Yun…" Uncle Zhang said after bowing respectfully, his voice heavy with sorrow.

"Was he working with you last night?"

"Yes, but we finished early. Old Yun decided to stay behind to earn extra pay.

Afterward, we don’t know if he returned to the dormitory. This morning, when we didn’t see him, we thought he’d overslept due to exhaustion. We never imagined…"

"Old Yun had a hard life. Now that he’s gone, what will happen to his bedridden wife?" Uncle Zhang lamented, his voice filled with anguish.

"Yanshui, with a murder occurring, should we suspend work for now?

If we don’t deal with this malevolent force quickly and more deaths occur, panic will spread.

The craftsmen we’ve worked so hard to recruit will undoubtedly flee, leaving the market renovations in shambles," Yandong said, his tone urgent.

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"I’ve already informed Shuang’er. She’ll investigate the evil spirit responsible for Old Yun’s death," Yanshui replied, his expression resolute.