The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 127 The Child Demon Secret Alliance
"What’s the status of the investigation?"
Upon hearing about the death of the elderly craftsman at the market, Yun Yanling and Qin Zhan rushed to the scene to question Yun Yanshui.
"According to the coroner, it’s likely the work of an evil spirit. To avoid panic and disruptions to the repair efforts, Yandong has already ordered a lockdown on the information," Yanshui reported.
"Sister Ling’er, we should temporarily send the workers home. Once Shuang’er arrives and deals with the malevolent spirit causing trouble, we can resume repairs," Yanshui advised succinctly.
"I understand," Yun Yanling replied, her expression serious.
A malevolent spirit haunting the market was no small matter. If left unchecked, any subsequent incidents would undoubtedly spark fear among the workers, making it impossible to continue the renovations. Everything had to be resolved before progress could resume.
"Everyone, I apologize for the inconvenience. A murder has occurred at the market, and the authorities need time to investigate and identify the culprit.
For now, I ask that you all return home. Once the investigation is complete, we’ll resume the repair work.
Rest assured, during this downtime, the Yun Clan will continue to pay your wages," Qin Zhan announced to the hundreds of workers gathered at the market.
To avoid panic, no mention of the malevolent spirit was made to the workers.
Hearing that they would still be paid despite the halt in work, many of the craftsmen left in good spirits, returning to their homes to await further updates.
"Master Qin, if I may speak out of turn," said Old Zhang, stepping forward with a bow after most of the workers had dispersed.
"Old Zhang, what is it? Speak freely," Qin Zhan said with a warm smile. He held Old Zhang in high regard for his excellent carpentry skills and honest character.
"Master Qin, Old Yun’s wife has been bedridden for years, and he was her sole caretaker.
Now that he’s gone, she’s left alone with no one to look after her…"
Old Zhang trailed off, knowing his request was a bold one. Still, for the sake of his late colleague, he felt compelled to speak up, even if it was uncertain whether Qin Zhan would offer assistance.
"I understand. I’ll arrange for someone to take care of Old Yun’s wife so he can rest in peace. The Yun Clan will also provide appropriate compensation," Qin Zhan assured him.
"Master Qin, I… thank you!" Old Zhang said, deeply moved by Qin Zhan’s kindness.
His respect for Qin Zhan and the Yun Clan grew even stronger. It was rare to encounter wealthy nobles who genuinely cared for those at the bottom of society.
"No need to thank me. The market’s progress so far is thanks to your hard work.
Go home now, Old Zhang, and spend time with your family. Once the investigation concludes, we’ll need your help again," Qin Zhan said, patting Old Zhang’s shoulder with a smile.
"Master Qin, I’ll always remember your kindness. Once everything is back on track, just call on me, and I’ll be here with my men to assist you immediately," Old Zhang promised.
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"Haha! Good, I’ll hold you to that!" Qin Zhan said, laughing.
Bidding farewell with another bow, Old Zhang left with Li Yi and the others.
"Sister!"
Shortly after Qin Zhan dismissed the workers, Yun Yanshuang arrived in haste.
"Since you’re a cultivator, examine Old Yun’s body and determine what kind of malevolent spirit caused his death," Yanshui instructed.
Squatting down, Yun Yanshuang removed an amulet inscribed with talismanic markings from her waist and placed it on Old Yun’s forehead.
The amulet absorbed faint traces of sinister energy lingering on the corpse, quivering slightly before settling into stillness.
Retrieving the amulet, Yun Yanshuang infused her divine sense into it. Drawing on her extensive knowledge of demons and spirits gained from years of cultivation, she quickly identified the source of the evil energy.
"It’s a Tongzi Demon," she said grimly.
"A Tongzi Demon?" Yanshui echoed, frowning.
"Yes. It’s an extremely sinister ghostly entity created through an abhorrent ritual. The process requires forty-nine newborns born during yin-aligned hours, whose essence and souls are extracted and refined through secret methods.
The resulting demon harbors immense malice and killing intent.
If fully matured, such an entity can rival a cultivator in the Qi Refining stage.
Judging by Old Yun’s condition, the Tongzi Demon responsible appears to be in the sixth stage of the Embryo Breath realm," Yanshuang explained.
Her expertise came from a manual on ghost taming, Night Parade of a Hundred Ghosts, which she had obtained five years ago. She had spent considerable time studying its contents in the family’s library.
"So, this Tongzi Demon wasn’t naturally formed?" Yanshui asked.
"Correct. It must have been deliberately created through dark and forbidden means," Yanshuang confirmed, her expression darkening.
"Yes, a ’Tongzi Demon’ cannot form naturally. There must be a cultivator behind this," Yun Yanshuang confirmed.
"If a cultivator is controlling it, why would they unleash the demon at our Yun Clan’s market?" Yun Yanling asked, her brows furrowed in confusion.
"Ling’er, the actions of cultivators can’t always be understood with common logic," Yanshuang replied gravely.
"They kill for all sorts of reasons. Sometimes it’s for a purpose, sometimes it’s out of sheer interest, and other times it’s simply to vent their emotions.
To them, mortal lives are as insignificant as weeds on the roadside—perhaps even less so."
Her tone grew heavier as she spoke, and her thoughts drifted to a certain cultivator from years past—the one who had raised ghost foxes.
That man killed indiscriminately, not out of enmity or rage, but simply because the blood and vitality of mortals enhanced the strength of his ghost foxes, which in turn elevated his cultivation.
The cultivator behind the Tongzi Demon was likely cut from the same cloth.
Hearing this, Yun Yanling’s expression turned grim. For the first time, she began to grasp the terrifying nature of cultivators—beings who practiced immortality but often committed atrocities instead of good deeds.
"Ling’er, Brother Zhan, and Yandong, you should return for now. My brother and I will handle this matter," Yanshuang said decisively.
"Yanshui? Can he manage?" Yanling asked, surprised.
"Don’t worry! I brought my brother’s Golden-Eyed Beast. With it here, he’ll be well protected," Yanshuang replied with a reassuring smile.
She opened her storage pouch, and the tiny head of the Golden-Eyed Beast poked out.
As it leapt out, the beast, originally no bigger than the palm of a hand, grew rapidly in size, swelling to that of a small calf in the blink of an eye. Yun Yanling and the others looked on in amazement.
"Very well, then. Be careful," Yanling said, offering one last reminder before leaving with Qin Zhan and Yun Yandong, escorted out of the market.
"Your talisman can track the source of the demon, can’t it?" Yanshui asked, settling onto the back of the Golden-Eyed Beast.
"Yes," Yanshuang replied with a nod. Injecting a strand of her divine sense into the talisman, the object began to tremble before suddenly pointing toward a location outside Yunzhang County.
With a flash, Yanshuang disappeared from the spot.
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The Golden-Eyed Beast sprang into action, its massive frame transforming into a black whirlwind as it carried Yanshui in pursuit.
Outside Yunzhang County, in an abandoned temple:
A young man dressed in black lay lazily atop a pile of straw, a blade of grass dangling from his mouth, his demeanor carefree and indifferent.
Below him, seated cross-legged on a tattered meditation mat, was a middle-aged cultivator clad in fine robes.
"Killing one of the Yun family’s craftsmen should be enough to scare them into dismissing all their workers, right?" the youth asked, his voice casual.
"I’m not sure yet. Go check the county later. If they haven’t withdrawn, I’ll take further action," the middle-aged cultivator replied in a low, emotionless tone.
"You know, I still don’t get why you took this job from the Dark Alliance. It’s so boring I don’t even have much to do," the youth remarked, shooting the cultivator a sideways glance.
"The pay is good, and the job is simple. Is that reason enough?"
"Simple? I wouldn’t be so sure. I’ve heard the Yun Warehouse Yun Clan has two formidable Linggen disciples.
If they send one of them to investigate, we might be in for trouble," the youth warned.
"I’ve already investigated them. One is Yun Yanshuang, at the peak of the sixth stage of Embryo Breath. The other is Yun Yantian, at the sixth stage as well. Neither are worth worrying about," the cultivator said confidently.
"Let’s hope you’ve got it right. Otherwise, if we bite off more than we can chew, it could cost us our lives," the youth said, his tone skeptical.
"Have you ever known me to act without confidence?"
"As rogue cultivators, our pursuit of immortality is already fraught with danger. It’s far riskier for us than for the descendants of cultivation clans.
Without thorough preparation, how could we dare to risk our lives against others?"
