The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 42 Snow Murder

"Fourth Uncle!"

A soft voice called from outside the courtyard. Turning toward the sound, Yun Yunshan saw Yun Yanling standing at the gate, accompanied by Qin Zhan.

"Ling’er? Come in, have a seat," Yunshan said warmly, a wide smile spreading across his face as his niece and her future husband arrived for a visit.

"Ling’er!" Yun Yanshui and his younger sister, Yun Yanshuang, greeted their cousin with cheerful grins. Their eyes quickly shifted to Qin Zhan. "And this must be our future brother-in-law?" Yanshui teased.

"Haha, hello there," Qin Zhan said, rubbing the back of his head awkwardly.

Despite being the son of Yunzhang County’s wealthiest merchant and accustomed to grand social settings, Qin Zhan couldn’t help but feel nervous. He was, after all, visiting his fiancée’s family for the first time—a significant moment that called for careful manners and a sincere effort to make a good impression.

"Future brother-in-law, you’re quite the looker! Ling’er has excellent taste," Yanshui joked, causing Qin Zhan to chuckle bashfully, his face slightly flushed.

Yanling’s cheeks reddened too, and she shot Yanshui a playful glare. "You little rascal! You used to wet the bed as a kid, and now you have the nerve to tease your big sister?"

"Ling’er, can we please not bring up ancient history?" Yanshui’s head drooped in embarrassment, drawing hearty laughter from everyone present.

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt," Yanling said after the laughter died down, her voice softening. "This is Qin Zhan, the son of Qin Yang, Yunzhang County’s wealthiest merchant. We’ve known each other since childhood, and he’s now my fiancé. Today, we’ve come to formally meet you."

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, it’s an honor to meet you," Qin Zhan said politely, cupping his fists in a respectful greeting.

Yunshan studied Qin Zhan for a moment, his expression thoughtful. Then he broke into a broad smile. "Handsome and polite—indeed a fine match for our Ling’er. The two of you truly are a golden couple. After you’re married, I expect you to help our family grow and prosper!"

"I... I’ll do my best," Qin Zhan stammered, his face turning red. Yanling’s cheeks flushed an even deeper shade of crimson, and she lowered her gaze in embarrassment.

"Come, sit and have a simple meal with us," Yunshan said, gesturing to the table. Yanling’s aunt hurried into the kitchen to fetch additional plates and utensils.

"Fourth Uncle, Fourth Aunt, and siblings," Qin Zhan began hesitantly, placing a small wooden box on the table. "This is my first visit, and I didn’t come empty-handed. Please accept this small gift as a token of my respect."

When Yunshan opened the box, he found fifty gleaming silver ingots neatly arranged inside. He couldn’t help but feel a surge of admiration for Qin Zhan’s generosity.

As expected of the son of the wealthiest merchant in the region, his gift was both thoughtful and substantial.

"You’re about to marry into our family and become one of us, so there’s no need for formalities. These silver ingots... I can’t accept them," Yunshan said with a shake of his head. "All I ask is that after you marry Ling’er, you treat her well and never let her down. Otherwise, I won’t go easy on you."

Qin Zhan froze for a moment, clearly flustered. "Fourth Uncle, I would never do anything to let Ling’er down. But these silver ingots are a small token of my sincerity. Please... reconsider."

Seeing Qin Zhan’s awkward expression, Yanling stepped in with a gentle smile. "Fourth Uncle, I know the family doesn’t lack for silver, but this is Qin Zhan’s way of showing his respect. Please accept it."

"Well, if you insist," Yunshan relented with a sigh. He motioned for his wife to take the box of silver ingots inside.

"Ling’er, when are you and Brother Qin getting married?" Yanshuang asked, her curiosity evident.

"Father has chosen a date three days from now," Yanling replied with a soft smile. "It’s an auspicious day, and many of Yunzhang County’s notable figures will be attending to celebrate."

"That sounds like it will be a grand occasion," Yanshuang said, her eyes lighting up with excitement.

"Make sure, Ling’er, to give him ten or so children. I’ll take them all out for some fun—teach them how to fish and raid bird nests!"

Yun Yanshui’s mischievous grin earned him a round of laughter from the group.

Yun Yanling’s face flushed red once more. Shaking her head, she sighed, a smile tugging at her lips as she looked at her younger brother.

The family gathered in the courtyard, enjoying a simple but warm meal. They talked and laughed, sharing anecdotes and teasing one another. The atmosphere was filled with a sense of harmony and joy. As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows over the courtyard, Yanling and Qin Zhan finally bid their goodbyes.

The next day, Yun Yanshui accompanied his father to the newly completed weapons workshop.

The massive facility had just been finished, and already, large quantities of iron ore had been delivered from Yunzhang County. The ore was neatly stacked in the storerooms, ready to be refined and forged into tools or weapons.

The clanging of hammers and the roar of furnaces filled the air as workers toiled tirelessly to smelt iron and shape it into form.

"Brother Yunshan!"

Several Yun clan members greeted him warmly as soon as he stepped into the workshop. Noticing Yanshui beside him, they also asked after his well-being.

Although the workshop was spacious, only a handful of clan members were present, mostly overseeing operations. The actual smelting and forging were carried out by hired laborers brought in from Yunzhang County.

"Go on, Shui’er," Yunshan said, leading his son to a secluded chamber deep within the workshop.

The chamber was outfitted with a blazing furnace and a variety of smithing tools, all neatly arranged and ready for use.

"This room is yours now," Yunshan said, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I’ve ensured that no one will disturb you here. You can focus entirely on your craft. If there’s anything you need, come to me directly."

"Thank you, Father. I’ll do my best," Yanshui replied, his voice steady with determination.

In the days that followed, Yanshui divided his time between hunting in the mountains to offer tributes to the bronze mirror and experimenting with forging in the secluded chamber. His goal was to create a functional spiritual bow and arrow—a weapon that would not only channel his abilities but also withstand the strain of his spiritual energy.

Meanwhile, preparations for Yanling and Qin Zhan’s wedding progressed smoothly. The event, as expected, turned into a grand celebration.

Dignitaries and wealthy merchants from Yunzhang County arrived in droves, bearing lavish gifts. The Yun clan’s newly elevated status as a prominent cultivation family was evident in the opulence of the festivities and the distinguished guest list.

For many of the visiting merchants, the news of Qin Zhan marrying into the Yun family was both shocking and enviable. Some could only grit their teeth in jealousy, their resentment hidden behind forced smiles.

With Yanling now married, their attention shifted to other young members of the Yun family. If aligning themselves with the Yun clan meant securing a prosperous future, they were determined to build those connections by any means necessary.

As autumn turned to winter, a heavy snow blanketed Yunzhang County.

Snowflakes as large as feathers covered the rooftops and streets, turning the entire town into a white wonderland. Pedestrians bundled themselves tightly against the cold, their breath visible in the frosty air.

In a quiet alley, amidst the silence of the snowfall, Chief Ban and his deputies huddled together, blowing warm air into their hands as they tried to fend off the biting chill.

"This weather is cursed! Who would’ve thought Yunzhang County could see such heavy snow?" Chief Ban grumbled, stamping his feet for warmth.

"Old Wu, can’t you hurry up? What did you find?" he snapped at the elderly coroner, who was crouched over a corpse, his hands moving deftly as he examined the body.

The coroner frowned, his face creased with thought. "Chief, this is... strange," he muttered.

"What’s strange about it? Wasn’t he just frozen to death?" Ban asked impatiently, eyeing the naked corpse sprawled in the snow.

The victim, a middle-aged man, had been discovered earlier that morning, lying lifeless in the alley without a stitch of clothing on him.

"No signs of external injury," the coroner began hesitantly. "But..."

"But what?" Ban pressed, his frustration mounting.

"But it doesn’t look like he froze to death. It’s almost as if he was... frightened to death."

"Frightened?" Ban’s brows furrowed in confusion.

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"Yes," the coroner replied, pointing to the corpse’s face. "Look at the eyes—pupils dilated, the expression frozen in terror. It’s as though he saw something so horrifying that it scared him to death."

Ban leaned closer to examine the body. Indeed, the man’s face was twisted in fear, his wide-open eyes staring blankly at the sky.

"What in the world could scare someone to death?" Ban muttered, his voice tinged with unease.

The coroner shook his head. "That, I can’t say."

"Well, you’d better figure something out!" Ban snapped. "I can’t go back to the county office with this nonsense. What am I supposed to write in the report? ’Scared to death by unknown forces’? They’ll laugh me out of the office!"