"Ah, that feels good! I almost died holding it in!"
Yun Yanshui returned to his seat beside his sister after a brief absence from the banquet. Reaching out, he grabbed a drumstick, ready to feast.
"Did you wash your hands?!" Yun Yanshuang asked, swatting her brother’s hand away with a scowl.
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"Of course I did! What do you take me for?" Yun Yanshui grumbled, wiping his hand on the hem of her dress.
"Brother! That’s disgusting! You’re so sloppy!" Yun Yanshuang snapped, glancing at her now-dirtied dress. She glared at him, barely restraining the urge to wring his neck.
As the banquet concluded, Li Qing rose with a smile.
"Thank you for your hospitality, but it’s time for us to take our leave."
"Master Li, why not stay a few more days at our estate?" Yun Yunyang suggested politely.
"There’s no need. There’s still much to handle at court.
"I’ve been busy mediating between the Three Great Clans and the Wang-led Seven Families to prevent further conflicts," Li Qing explained.
"In that case, I won’t keep you. Master Li, safe travels to you and your companions."
"Haha! Once things settle, we’ll visit again," Li Qing replied warmly. With a light step, he and his three companions soared into the sky, disappearing as streaks of light on the horizon.
Turning to his daughter and son-in-law, Yun Yunyang said, "Ling’er, Zhan’er, the future operations and management of the market are now in your hands."
"Don’t worry, Father. My husband and I will do our best to make the Yun family market the strongest cultivation market in Yue Kingdom," Yun Yanling assured him confidently.
"Haha! Good, good. With the two of you in charge, I can rest easy.
"To lighten your load, I’ll assign other family members to manage the weaving and dyeing workshops. You can focus solely on the market."
"Understood, Father," Yun Yanling replied with a respectful nod.
"With that, we elders must return to the clan to handle other matters," Yun Yunyang said.
"Safe travels, Father, Second Uncle, Third Uncle, and everyone," Yun Yanling and Qin Zhan said, bowing as they saw them off.
Yun Yanshuang stayed behind at the market, while Yun Yanshui, Yun Yantian, and the other younger generation members followed their elders back to the family estate.
Just as Yun Yunyang and the others stepped out of the market gates, Yun Yunrui approached hurriedly with an urgent report.
"Brother Yunyang, Wang Lijiao has been killed!"
"What? How did that happen?" Yun Yunyang asked, his brows furrowing.
"Just now, our people in the county heard that Wang Chongtian and his group were ambushed on their way back to Yulin County.
"Wang Lijiao was killed with a single arrow!" Yun Yunrui said gravely.
The news left everyone stunned. Yun Yunshan, however, glanced at the yawning Yun Yanshui and shook his head with an amused smirk—this troublemaker clearly had a hand in it.
"Was it the work of the Three Great Clans?" Yun Yunyang asked after a moment of thought.
"It’s unclear. Wang Chongtian is furious and has already ordered a covert investigation," Yun Yunrui replied.
"Let it be. Regardless of who did it, the loss of Wang Lijiao is undoubtedly a boon for our family," Yun Yunyang said with a relaxed smile.
Remembering Wang Lijiao’s near-attack on Yun Yanshuang during the banquet, Yun Yunyang felt no sympathy. His death seemed like karmic justice.
"Whether it was the Three Great Clans or another family or rogue cultivator with a grudge against the Wang family, we owe them gratitude for their ’righteous’ action," he added with a hint of sarcasm.
"For now, let’s return home. Once the Wang family holds a funeral for Wang Lijiao, we’ll send someone to offer condolences," Yun Yunyang concluded.
"Understood," Yun Yunrui replied.
Wang Qingshan stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the ancestral hall’s soul lanterns.
The lantern representing Wang Lijiao’s soul had extinguished hours earlier.
"Patriarch, a message has arrived from the clan leader… regarding Young Master Lijiao…"
A Wang family disciple appeared silently in the hall, kneeling respectfully behind Wang Qingshan.
"I already know," Wang Qingshan said with a sigh.
"We’ll wait for Chongtian to return and provide a full account of the incident."
"Understood. I take my leave," the disciple said, bowing before retreating.
Three days later, Wang Chongtian returned with his entourage, their expressions heavy with sorrow.
The Wang family soldiers carried Wang Lijiao’s lifeless body into the estate, where grieving family members had gathered.
At the sight of his elder cousin’s corpse, Wang Liyuan clenched his fists, a cold gleam flickering in his eyes.
"Have the family’s cultivators identified the culprit?" Wang Liyuan asked after suppressing his anger.
"Not yet. The investigation is ongoing," Wang Chongtian replied, his voice filled with hatred.
"But if I were to guess, the Three Great Clans are likely involved," he added, his expression darkening.
"I had assumed that with your second granduncle and the family’s cultivators stationed at the market, the Three Great Clans wouldn’t dare act recklessly.
"Who would have thought they’d lay an ambush on the road and assassinate your cousin Lijiao?" Wang Chongtian said bitterly.
"Father, something doesn’t add up here," Wang Liyuan interjected.
"Doesn’t add up?"
"If the Three Great Clans were truly responsible, why would they only kill Cousin Lijiao?"
"This…"
Wang Chongtian froze, his anger subsiding as he mulled over the question.
He realized his son was right.
If the Three Great Clans had been behind this, their usual modus operandi would have been to eliminate everyone, himself included. Why would they spare him and the others?
Moreover, targeting Wang Lijiao specifically held little strategic value. If they intended to deal a significant blow to the family, Wang Liyuan—who had comprehended sword intent—would have been the more logical target.
"Is the patriarch here?" Wang Chongtian asked, returning to his senses.
"He’s waiting at the ancestral hall in the mountains. I’ve brought people down to escort you to him," Wang Liyuan replied.
"Let’s go. You’re right—this situation is indeed strange. Perhaps the patriarch has some insights," Wang Chongtian said urgently.
Wang Qingshan sat cross-legged on a meditation cushion, his eyes closed in deep contemplation.
Moments later, Wang Chongtian entered the hall with hurried steps, guided by Wang Liyuan. Kneeling respectfully, he greeted, "Disciple Chongtian greets the patriarch."
"Rise," Wang Qingshan said with a sigh.
"Patriarch, Lijiao…"
"There’s no need to explain—I already know," Wang Qingshan interrupted.
"Tell me in detail about your visit to the Yun family’s market."
"Yes," Wang Chongtian replied, recounting the events at the Yun family market, including the sparring match and everything else that had transpired.
"Sword intent, you say?" Wang Qingshan murmured, furrowing his brows.
The rapid rise of the Yuncang Yun family in just a few short years was startling enough. But their spiritual root bearers’ progress was even more alarming, particularly Yun Yanshuang’s comprehension of sword intent at such a young age.
"That Yun Yanshuang is indeed extraordinarily gifted," Wang Liyuan admitted, still shocked by the revelation of her capabilities.
"Yes, her growth is far too rapid. She is destined for greatness and poses a significant threat to our family," Wang Qingshan said gravely.
"With that elder backing them, our Wang family cannot prevent Yun Yanshuang’s rise," he added with a sigh, his unease evident. The presence of the blind elder had made him deeply apprehensive.
"Patriarch, next summer, the ruins of the Dan Ding Sect will reopen.
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"I’ve heard that the Yun family is heavily investing in resources to raise Yun Yanshuang and Yun Yantian’s cultivation levels in preparation for seeking opportunities there," Wang Chongtian reported.
"Proceed cautiously. Do not let that elder notice," Wang Qingshan warned after a moment’s thought.
"Understood, Patriarch. I will handle it discreetly," Wang Chongtian promised.
"As for Lijiao’s death, cease the investigation. It’s unlikely to yield any results."
"Why do you say that, Patriarch?" Wang Chongtian asked, puzzled.
"Lijiao attempted to kill Yun Yanshuang during the sparring match, and shortly after, he was assassinated on the way back.
"Moreover, the family’s cultivators couldn’t even detect the assassin’s presence.
"Who do you think the perpetrator could be?"
"Patriarch, could it be… that elder?" Wang Chongtian’s body trembled as his mind conjured the image of the scruffy blind elder meditating under the tree outside the Yun family estate.
"Who else could it be?
"It’s inconceivable that the Yun family’s spiritual root bearers could execute such a flawless assassination.
"The Three Great Clans wouldn’t bother targeting Lijiao specifically—it would serve them no purpose.
"The only plausible explanation is that the elder learned of Lijiao’s intentions toward Yun Yanshuang and acted as a warning to our family," Wang Qingshan explained.
"But, Patriarch, that elder wasn’t present at the banquet—he was meditating under the tree outside the Yun family estate. How could he have known what happened in the market?" Wang Chongtian asked incredulously.
"The elder’s abilities are beyond your comprehension," Wang Qingshan said with a calm yet firm tone.
His mind drifted to the time the blind elder had patted his shoulder, helping him break through to the Foundation Establishment stage and condense his spiritual platform.
Such an individual was not merely a cultivator in the eyes of mortals—they were a being that even seasoned practitioners like Wang Qingshan had to revere.