The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

"Yunfeng, Yunshan, take your second brother and look after him," Yun Yunyang said softly, rising to his feet after consoling his grief-stricken brother.

"Yes, Elder Brother."

Yun Yunfeng and Yun Yunshan approached Yun Yunyue, who had aged overnight from the pain of losing his son. Supporting him on either side, they carefully helped him away.

"Those who took Yantian's life—I'll make you pay in blood!"

Yun Yunxun's voice rang out, filled with fury. He turned his bloodshot eyes to the surviving Su family members, his hand gripping a short blade. Without hesitation, he lunged at one of the bound Su family cultivators, slashing their throat with a single stroke.

The other Yun clan members, consumed by their anger and grief, followed suit. They descended upon the Su family survivors, raining punches and kicks upon them, showing no mercy as they vented their rage and hatred.

When the storm of violence subsided, the Su family members lay battered and broken, barely clinging to life in the blood-soaked mud.

"Master Tu, we are indebted to you and your people for your efforts," Yun Yunyang said, bowing slightly toward the Daoist.

"You give me too much credit," Tu Xianshi replied with a sigh. "We still couldn't uncover the true identity of the one who killed the Prince Consort."

"Uncle!"

A voice rang out, and a figure suddenly appeared—it was Yun Yanshuang, returning from the Wang ancestral grounds.

"Shuang'er? Where have you been all day?" Yun Yunyang asked, surprised by his niece's sudden arrival.

"I know who killed Brother Yantian," Yun Yanshuang said, her voice steady but laced with tension.

"What? Who?!"

All eyes turned to Yun Yanshuang, including those of Tu Xianshi and the core members of the Dark Alliance.

"It was Wang Liyuan," Yun Yanshuang replied without hesitation.

Hiss!

The gathered crowd collectively gasped, their faces filled with shock and disbelief.

"Wang Liyuan? But… he died ten years ago in Tongshan County. How could it be him?"

The stunned silence was broken by Yun Yunyang, who turned to his niece with a look of incredulity. He couldn't believe what she was saying, but he also knew Yun Yanshuang wouldn't make baseless claims—especially not in such a dire situation.

"Shuang'er, are you sure about this? Could there be a mistake?"

Even Yun Yunxun, who had just vented his fury, looked at Yun Yanshuang with curiosity.

"Miss Yanshuang, please explain in detail," Tu Xianshi said gravely, his expression reflecting his deep interest.

How could a man thought dead for a decade have been the one to kill the Prince Consort?

"Wang Liyuan didn't die ten years ago—he faked his death," Yun Yanshuang began, recounting her findings.

She told them everything she had uncovered about Wang Liyuan's survival and his hidden actions over the past decade, including his role in nurturing the Su family cultivators to oppose the Yun clan.

However, she deliberately withheld certain details: the involvement of her elder brother Yun Yanshui, the methods she had used to uncover Wang Liyuan's survival, and the secret of the Life-Death Cicada. Instead, she framed it as Wang Liyuan's deception and longstanding vendetta against the Yun clan.

"To think the mysterious rogue cultivator who trained the Su family was actually Wang Liyuan all along!" Yun Yunyang clenched his fists tightly as the realization hit him.

This was a conclusion he had never anticipated.

Who could have imagined that Yun Yantian's death would be tied to someone who was supposed to have died ten years ago?

"It makes sense now," Yun Yunyang muttered. "Wenxuan once told me that the rogue cultivator who killed Yantian used the Wang clan's Jade Forest Sleeve Sword technique and possessed a mastery of sword intent.

"At the time, I couldn't think of any Wang clan cultivator who might possess such skills. I dismissed it as a ruse to mislead us into targeting the Wang clan.

"But now… it was Wang Liyuan all along!"

Yun Yunyang's voice was filled with bitterness as the pieces of the puzzle finally came together.

"Miss Yanshuang, do you have any concrete evidence to prove that Wang Liyuan was the one who killed the Prince Consort?" Tu Xianshi asked, his tone serious.

While Yun Yanshuang's explanation was compelling, Tu Xianshi knew that accusations alone were insufficient. Hard evidence was necessary to settle the matter definitively.

After all, he had been present in Tongshan County when Wang Liyuan was declared dead. Wang Qinglin's descent into madness following that event had nearly led to an all-out conflict with the other clans.

The idea that Wang Liyuan had faked his death seemed far-fetched.

"I do."

Yun Yanshuang nodded and retrieved a spiritual artifact resembling a bronze mirror. Infusing it with spiritual energy, she activated it, and images began to appear within the mirror—scenes of her brother Yun Yantian's final moments, including his confrontation with Wang Liyuan.

This bronze mirror had been specially prepared by Yun Yanshui. The images it displayed were recorded using the soul imprint left behind by Yun Yantian at the moment of his death, which Yun Yanshui had transferred into the mirror.

As the scenes unfolded, the gathered Yun clan members, including Yun Yunyang, Yun Yunrui, Yun Yunlin, and Yun Yunxun, all clenched their fists, their eyes turning bloodshot with rage.

Even Tu Xianshi, watching intently, drew in a sharp breath as the rogue cultivator in the mirror was revealed to be none other than Wang Liyuan.

"He's alive? Could it really be that Wang Liyuan faked his death?"

Tu Xianshi's doubts evaporated as the evidence unfolded before him.

"To think… it was him all along," Tu Xianshi said gravely, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Miss Yanshuang, may I take this spiritual artifact back to the imperial capital and present it to His Majesty? I'm sure that, upon seeing this, His Majesty will ensure justice for the Prince Consort," Tu Xianshi asked solemnly.

"Yes," Yun Yanshuang replied, handing the mirror to him without hesitation.

"Brother Yunyang, everyone—I must take my leave now," Tu Xianshi said, bowing to the Yun clan before departing with the core members of the Dark Alliance.

"Brother Yunyang, give the order!"

"That's right! The Wang clan has gone too far. They killed Yantian—we must avenge him!"

Several Yun clan members turned to Yun Yunyang, their voices filled with anger and determination. Their grief and fury boiled over, demanding action.

"The Wang clan's foundation is deep. They're not an opponent we can confront head-on.

"If we act rashly, more of our people will die—and that's something I cannot allow. Nor would Yantian have wanted it.

"For now, we must let His Majesty's forces handle this," Yun Yunyang said with a heavy heart.

As much as he longed to avenge his nephew, he had to consider the welfare of the entire clan.

A direct conflict with the Wang clan would lead to countless casualties among their own. That was a price Yun Yunyang wasn't willing to pay—not even for Yun Yantian.

"Uncle, there's something else I need to tell you and the elders," Yun Yanshuang said suddenly, stepping forward.

"Oh? What is it?"

"Earlier, with Master Tu present, I didn't reveal everything.

"Wang Liyuan didn't just fake his death—he used an immortal artifact to return to life."

The secret of the Life-Death Cicada was too significant and carried too much karmic weight. It was a truth she felt should remain within the family. Tu Xianshi and the Dark Alliance did not need to know.

"An immortal artifact?"

Hearing this revelation, Yun Yunyang and the others were both shocked and elated.

If their family could obtain such a miraculous artifact, it might change everything.

"It's called the Life-Death Cicada, an immortal artifact capable of bringing the dead back to life. Wang Liyuan found it in Wanlong Mountain.

"I plan to visit Wanlong Mountain to search for this artifact.

"If I can't find it, I'll look for other ways to revive Brother Yantian.

"So, I ask that the clan refrain from burying Yantian's body for now. Let Wenxuan find a spiritual artifact capable of preserving his remains in perfect condition."

"This world… the divine arts of cultivators are truly beyond the comprehension of us mortals.

"To think such a heaven-defying artifact actually exists!" Yun Yunyang marveled, his astonishment shared by the others.

"Even so, the chances of finding such an artifact must be slim," another elder remarked.

"Even the slimmest chance is better than no hope at all," Yun Yunyang said with a faint smile. This news, though faintly hopeful, was the best the clan had received in a long time.

"Since you have a clear goal, pursue it. I'll have Wenxuan accompany you to Wanlong Mountain.

"And we'll share this hopeful news with your Second Uncle and Sister-in-law Moxue."