The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 195: Recognize the Thief as Your Father

"You flatter me, Brother Yinglong," Yun Yunyang said with a polite smile. "It's we who should apologize for disturbing you with a visit at this hour."

He gestured for his clansmen to take seats around the hall before continuing, "We've long heard of your esteemed family's rise to becoming a new cultivation clan. It is a great accomplishment.

"As a token of our respect, we've brought some spirit stones and spirit pills as gifts. Please, Brother Yinglong, do accept them."

"Brother Yunyang, you're far too generous!"

Su Yinglong laughed heartily, making no move to refuse the offering. Though the number of spirit stones and pills was modest, for the Su family, it was a welcome addition to their coffers.

Yun Yunyang's expression turned serious as he moved to the true purpose of the visit.

"Our visit has two purposes: first, to pay our respects to your family, and second, to discuss fostering a harmonious relationship between our clans. Cooperation benefits us both."

Su Yinglong's sharp mind caught the underlying tone of Yun Yunyang's words. The Yun family patriarch was alluding to the Su family's recent meddling with rogue cultivators causing trouble at Yun family properties.

It was a subtle yet unmistakable warning—back off, or tensions would escalate, benefiting no one.

"Of course, of course! We've long admired the prosperity of your esteemed family. It is only natural for us to seek harmony and collaboration," Su Yinglong replied smoothly, his words laced with diplomacy.

Yun Yunyang nodded, his eyes glinting as he pressed further. "Your family's rapid growth is truly remarkable. In just a year, you've nurtured four spiritual root descendants and even secured the presence of two rogue cultivators to guard your clan. It surpasses what my Yun family could achieve in such a short time."

"Ah, merely luck!" Su Yinglong replied modestly, though his expression betrayed a flicker of unease.

"Much of our success comes from the spiritual resources left behind by the Sun family. As for the two seniors residing with us, they are unnamed rogue cultivators who chose to stay, attracted by our family's fortuitous destiny."

It was a well-rehearsed response, designed to deflect suspicion and keep the Wang family's involvement hidden. The Wang family had repeatedly warned Su Yinglong never to reveal their support, and Su Yinglong dared not disobey.

Yun Yunyang smiled faintly, appearing to accept the explanation. But inwardly, he was more certain than ever—the Wang family was behind the Su family's rise, and the two rogue cultivators were undoubtedly Wang family agents.

"Godfather!"

The conversation was interrupted by the arrival of a young man clad in a pristine white robe. His features were handsome and refined, but what caught Yun Yunyang's attention was the uncanny resemblance between this youth and the Sun brothers now residing with the Yun family.

The boy must be the Sun family's spiritual root descendant, taken in by the Su family, given their name, and added to their lineage, Yun Yunyang mused.

"Ah, Yun'er! Come, meet Brother Yunyang!" Su Yinglong greeted warmly, waving the youth forward.

The young man approached Yun Yunyang and bowed respectfully. "Junior Su Shengyun greets Uncle Yunyang."

"No need for such formalities," Yun Yunyang said with a cordial smile. Then, his tone shifted subtly. "Do you know Fenglin and Fengxuan? They are brothers, now residing with my family."

Su Shengyun's brow furrowed slightly, but he quickly masked his discomfort. "No, I don't know them."

"Ah, I see. Your resemblance to them is striking. I thought you might be acquainted," Yun Yunyang said with a faint smile.

Beside him, Su Yinglong's expression darkened.

"Brother Yunyang, the Sun family is long gone. Those two are little more than stray dogs who sought refuge with your esteemed family.

"Surely, they're not worth mentioning?" Su Yinglong's tone carried a sharp edge.

"Of course, Brother Yinglong. I merely brought it up in passing," Yun Yunyang replied smoothly, rising from his seat. "It's getting late. We won't impose on your hospitality any longer."

With a polite bow, he signaled his companions, and they departed without another word.

As Su Yinglong watched Yun Yunyang's group disappear down the path, his calm facade cracked.

"Yun Yunyang! What arrogance!"

With a roar, he slammed his teacup onto the table, shattering it into fragments as tea splashed across the floor.

Su Shengyun, hailed as the strongest spiritual root descendant of the Su family, was a figure whose past was shrouded in controversy.

Originally a member of the now-destroyed Sun family of Lanlin, he had been taken in by Su Yinglong after the Sun family's fall. Su Yinglong had adopted him as his godson, added him to the Su family registry, and even elevated him to the status of a direct descendant.

This decision had sparked significant dissent among Su family members, and Su Shengyun's origins had since become a taboo topic within the family.

Yet Yun Yunyang had deliberately brought up the Sun family, subtly reminding Su Shengyun of his roots. It was a calculated move, a way to plant seeds of doubt and discontent, urging the young man to reconsider his place in the Su family.

Su Yinglong's face had darkened at the veiled provocation. He understood the implications: Yun Yunyang was subtly encouraging Su Shengyun to abandon the Su family.

A direct descendant not of Su blood? For any family with a proud lineage, this was a difficult concept to swallow.

"Godfather, shall I kill Yun Yunyang?"

Su Shengyun's tone was cold as he bowed deeply, his words laced with resolve.

"Don't act rashly," Su Yinglong said, waving a hand to dismiss the idea. "Killing Yun Yunyang won't benefit our family in any way. We'll deal with him when the time is right—once our family has grown strong enough to challenge the Yun clan."

"I understand," Su Shengyun replied, his tone deferential.

He was keenly aware of his precarious position within the Su family. Though adopted and granted the status of a direct descendant, many in the family still viewed him as an outsider.

Determined to prove his worth, Su Shengyun had spent the past year cultivating with relentless dedication. He followed Su Yinglong's every command without question, hoping to earn the patriarch's trust and solidify his place within the family.

And to Su Yinglong's credit, he had indeed treated Su Shengyun as if he were his own blood. The cultivation resources sent by the Wang family had been distributed generously to Su Shengyun, far surpassing the allotments given to the Su family's other spiritual root descendants.

"Enough. Everyone is dismissed," Su Yinglong said, waving the family elders out of the hall.

As the room emptied, he muttered bitterly, "That Yun Yunyang! He ruined my mood entirely."

Back in the carriage, Yun Yunrui burst into laughter, recalling the tense exchange at the Su family's hall.

"That Su Yinglong nearly turned green with anger from your words, Brother Yunyang. And yet, he didn't dare say a thing!"

"I merely spoke the truth," Yun Yunyang replied with a chuckle.

"Ah, the truth indeed! But for someone like Su Yinglong, the truth stings more than any insult," Yun Yunrui said, shaking his head.

"His ability to remain calm under pressure is far inferior to Brother Tianming's. With Su Yinglong leading them, the Su family won't last long," Yun Yunyang said thoughtfully.

"Exactly. Especially since he foolishly elevated a descendant of the Sun family to the status of a Su family direct descendant.

"I'm sure many within the Su family are deeply dissatisfied with his decision."

"Dissatisfied? More like outright resentful," Yun Yunrui said with a grin.

"The day the Su family's other three spiritual root descendants grow into their power, there's bound to be internal conflict.

"And if Su Yinglong fails to maintain balance, the Su family will follow the Sun family's footsteps into ruin," Yun Yunyang said, his tone calm yet foreboding.

"But from what I saw, Su Shengyun seems perfectly content in the Su family. He's loyal to Su Yinglong and unlikely to stir up trouble," Yun Yunrui noted.

"Ah, the mindset of someone who would rather be the head of a chicken than the tail of a phoenix," Yun Yunyang said with a faint smile.

"In the Sun family, Sun Fenglin and Sun Fengxuan were the ones groomed as heirs. Su Shengyun, as a mere branch family member, was overlooked.

"Now, in the Su family, he's a direct descendant, favored by Su Yinglong. Why would he abandon such privilege to return to a ruined legacy?

"Besides, the Sun family is no more.

"Even if the Sun brothers are now with our Yun family, if you were Su Shengyun, would you prefer to be someone's dog or to live as a dignified member of a cultivation clan?"

"And whether or not the Su family eventually descends into chaos isn't something Su Shengyun alone can decide," Yun Yunyang concluded.

"Haha! Well said, Brother Yunyang," Yun Yunrui said, nodding in agreement.

The two continued to discuss as the carriage made its way back to Yunzhang, leaving behind the seeds of unease they had sown within the Su family.