The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 20 : Yun family has no one left

"Hmph! It seems the Yun family has no one left. Death is at their doorstep, yet they’re busy making small talk with a beggar Daoist!"

Beside Zhou Zhesheng, a Zhou clan member sneered as he noticed how respectfully Yun Yunyang and his group greeted the blind Daoist under the willow tree.

"They probably think that scruffy Daoist is some hidden expert who can save their clan," Zhou Zhesheng replied with a cold laugh.

Today, the Yun family had to fall. Zhou Zhesheng was determined to avenge his son, Zhou Kuang, with blood.

Yun Yunyang stepped forward with a group of his clansmen, a polite smile on his face. He cupped his hands toward Zhou Zhesheng and greeted him, seemingly unperturbed.

"Patriarch Zhou, you’ve arrived with such a large group. What business do you have with our humble Yun Village?" he asked courteously.

Behind him, Yun Yunyue, Yun Yunshan, and several Yun clan members stood ready, their expressions serious.

The two groups faced off, tension thick in the air, as if the slightest provocation would ignite a violent conflict.

"Yun Yunyang, I didn’t expect you to be back!" Zhou Zhesheng snarled.

"I’ve been home for a while now," Yun Yunyang replied evenly.

"You’re not qualified to talk to me. Bring out Yun Lidi and the others to face me directly. I’m not here for pleasantries," Zhou Zhesheng barked.

"If there’s something you wish to discuss, Patriarch Zhou, I’m the one in charge of the Yun family now," Yun Yunyang replied calmly, unaffected by Zhou Zhesheng’s disdain.

Zhou Zhesheng studied Yun Yunyang, his tone laced with mockery. "I see. So the Yun family’s authority has fallen into your hands. I suppose that makes sense—among your generation, you’ve had the most success, opening businesses in town and amassing wealth. It’s no wonder Yun Lidi handed you the reins."

"Patriarch Zhou, I assume you’re not here to discuss my family’s leadership?" Yun Yunyang said, maintaining his smile.

"Indeed not," Zhou Zhesheng replied, his voice turning icy. "My son, Zhou Kuang, led a group of our hunters into Yunzhang Mountain recently. They were killed."

"Oh? Such a tragedy," Yun Yunyang said, feigning surprise.

"Don’t play dumb with me! My son and our clansmen were killed, and your Yun family is clearly responsible," Zhou Zhesheng accused, his gaze sharp and cold.

Behind him, the Zhou clan members tightened their grips on hoes, sickles, and wooden clubs, ready to strike at Zhou Zhesheng’s command.

"And what evidence do you have to support such a claim?" Yun Yunyang asked, his tone unbothered.

"This!" Zhou Zhesheng declared, producing a bloodstained dagger. The blood had long since dried and darkened. He threw it to the ground in front of Yun Yunyang.

"Other than your Yun family, who else could have left this blade at the scene in Yunzhang Mountain? Don’t try to deny it, Yun Yunyang. I know you have connections in town, but my Zhou family isn’t without support either!

"The authorities will arrive soon. I want to see how you explain this to them!" Zhou Zhesheng sneered, his expression twisted with rage. "This time, I’ll see your Yun family exterminated—erased from Yunzhang Mountain forever!"

Yun Yunyang glanced at the dagger on the ground, his expression unreadable. He remained silent, waiting.

If the Zhou family had indeed reported this to the authorities, so much the better. Now it was a matter of seeing who would survive this ordeal—the Yun family or the Zhou family.

"Father!"

A shout rang out in the distance, breaking the tense standoff. Zhou Ao, accompanied by several Zhou clan members, came running down the path toward them, his face slick with sweat.

Catching his breath, Zhou Ao shot a glare at Yun Yunyang and his group before turning to Zhou Zhesheng. "Father, the authorities have arrived!"

"Well done. Step back. This time, the Yun family is finished!" Zhou Zhesheng said, his voice brimming with confidence.

His gaze returned to Yun Yunyang, filled with malice and mockery. He couldn’t wait to see how Yun Yunyang would handle the situation now.

Unbeknownst to Zhou Zhesheng, Yun Yunyang remained calm, unbothered by the approaching officials. In fact, he had been waiting for them.

Soon, a group of 25 officials appeared in the distance, marching down the path.

Dressed uniformly in black caps and dark green robes, their chests bore the character "Bu". Their white-soled black shoes clattered rhythmically as they approached, each armed with a long blade at their side.

Leading the group was a man with a stern face and dark complexion, his presence far more imposing than the others. The captain was emblazoned across his chest, marking his rank.

Zhou Zhesheng wasted no time. He rushed forward, kneeling before the chief constable as he wailed, "My lord, please deliver justice for this humble commoner!"

"Get up. What’s happened here?" the constable asked, helping Zhou Zhesheng to his feet, his brows furrowed in concern.

"Yun family members have disregarded the law, acting with impunity. They killed twelve of my clansmen in Yunzhang Mountain just days ago. My lord, I beg you to punish them severely and bring justice to my family!" Zhou Zhesheng cried, his voice trembling with emotion.

Zhou Zhesheng refused to rise, continuing to kneel and kowtow as he cried out his grievances.

Following his lead, Zhou Ao and the over one hundred Zhou clan members also knelt, wailing loudly, their cries echoing in the air.

Seeing the dramatic display, the chief constable, his face grim, rubbed his temples in frustration. "Enough! Everyone, get up! If there’s truly an injustice, I will investigate and uncover the truth," he said firmly.

"My lord, the bodies of my son and the other victims are here," Zhou Zhesheng said as he scrambled to his feet.

At his signal, several Zhou clansmen brought forward the corpses of Zhou Kuang and the others, their decayed remains emitting a putrid stench.

"And this is the murder weapon!" Zhou Zhesheng added, presenting the bloodstained dagger. The dried, blackened blood on the blade was stark evidence. He handed it to the chief constable for examination.

A coroner accompanying the constable stepped forward to inspect the bodies. After carefully examining the corpses, he reported his findings.

"Chief Constable Ban, the victims all have arrow wounds, but the fatal injuries are knife wounds to the necks. Based on my observations, it seems the victims were first incapacitated by arrows and then finished off with blades."

"I see," Ban nodded, his expression heavy as he studied the dagger in his hand.

Ban then turned his attention to Yun Yunyang, who stood calmly amidst his clansmen. He gestured for Yun Yunyang to step aside, wanting to have a private conversation.

"Was it your family who did this?" Ban asked directly.

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Yun Yunyang, well-known in town for his textile and clothing business, was someone Ban had dealt with frequently. Ban’s wife was particularly fond of the clothing Yun Yunyang’s shops sold, and over time, they had developed a friendly relationship.

"Yes," Yun Yunyang replied without hesitation.

Ban was momentarily stunned. "You’re not even going to try to deny it?"

He had initially planned to suppress the case, considering their relationship, and find a way to pacify the Zhou family. But Yun Yunyang’s straightforward admission caught him off guard.

"We’re friends. If I were to help you cover this up, and the Zhou family escalates the matter, it would eventually come to light. If that happens, it might cost you your career," Yun Yunyang said with a faint smile.

Ban sighed, shaking his head with a wry smile. "You’re quite loyal, even considering my position."

He added, "But if this case is reported to higher authorities, my lord won’t take this lightly. Your Yun family might face severe punishment for the killings."

"That’s fine. Report it truthfully," Yun Yunyang said, his demeanor unfazed.

"You’re not worried at all?" Ban asked, puzzled by his calmness.

"My clan now has two children with spiritual roots. Why would I fear the Zhou clan?" Yun Yunyang replied with a confident chuckle.

"Is that... true?" Ban’s eyes widened slightly in surprise.

Though he was only a small-town constable, Ban was well-informed about the affairs of the cultivation world. He knew that in the Yue Kingdom, any family with children possessing spiritual roots was treated as a celestial clan by the royal court. Such families were granted special status and privileges, far above the reach of ordinary mortal law.

"When have I ever lied to you?" Yun Yunyang responded confidently.

"If that’s the case, I’ll report this to my superior immediately so he can inform the royal court as soon as possible," Ban said. He knew Yun Yunyang’s character and trusted his words.

"Thank you for the effort. When you have time, I’ll treat you to a drink. And since my clan recently opened weaving and dyeing workshops, I’ll send some fine fabrics to your wife," Yun Yunyang said graciously.

"Haha! It’s just passing along a message. No need for all that!" Ban laughed heartily. He enjoyed dealing with people like Yun Yunyang—straightforward, generous, and trustworthy.

From a distance, Zhou Zhesheng observed the private conversation between Ban and Yun Yunyang, his brows furrowed. He knew Yun Yunyang had extensive connections in town, and it seemed he had a relationship with Ban as well.

If Ban dared to act in Yun Yunyang’s favor, Zhou Zhesheng swore to find a way to escalate the matter further. He would not only destroy the Yun family but also ensure that Ban paid the price.