The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace-Chapter 43 Demonic Fox

Trailing behind him were Captain Ban and a group of county constables, their expressions a mixture of grim determination and unease.

Yun Yunyang clasped his hands together in a polite greeting to Lu Zizai. As his eyes swept past the official, they fell on the group of constables carrying several stretchers covered with white cloth.

"Lord Lu," Yunyang began, his voice steady but laced with curiosity, "what are those?"

Lu Zizai exhaled heavily, the lines of worry etched deeply into his face. "These are the bodies of individuals who have died under mysterious circumstances recently in the county."

Yunyang frowned. "Mysterious deaths? If it concerns the county, surely it falls under your jurisdiction, Lord Lu. Why bring this matter to my family?"

"If it were a common murder," Lu Zizai replied, his voice grave, "I would never dare disturb your household, let alone bring this to your attention. But this..." He motioned for Yunyang to follow him toward the stretchers. "Yun brother, you should see for yourself the state of these bodies."

With a nod from Lu Zizai, one of the constables stepped forward and pulled back the white cloth covering the first stretcher.

A sickening wave of decay hit the air, the putrid smell spreading rapidly through the courtyard. Several members of the Yun clan, unable to withstand the stench, gagged and retreated.

The sight that awaited them was no less horrifying than the stench. Ten stark-naked bodies, frozen stiff, lay on the stretchers. Each face was contorted in sheer terror, their eyes wide open as if they had stared death itself in the face. Even the seasoned Yun Yunyang, who had seen his share of life’s darker moments, felt his stomach churn. He clenched his fists and forced himself to remain calm.

"From what you’ve told me, Lord Lu," Yunyang began, his tone sharp, "these deaths clearly weren’t caused by ordinary means."

"Exactly." Lu Zizai nodded grimly. "The coroner’s examination revealed that every single one of these men died from fright. What’s more troubling is that the victims are all adult males. This has led me to suspect that their deaths may be connected to... something unnatural."

Yunyang’s gaze darkened as he studied the lifeless faces frozen in fear. "I understand," he said at last, straightening his posture.

The imperial court had entrusted the Yun family with overseeing Yunzhang County, bestowing annual tributes of spiritual grains and resources in return for their protection. It was their duty to intervene in matters beyond the reach of ordinary officials.

Yet Yunyang hesitated. Among the Yun family, only Yun Yanshuang and Yun Yantian had begun cultivating the spiritual path, guided by the blind Daoist for less than a year. Would they be strong enough to confront whatever was behind these deaths?

If this truly was the work of a malevolent force, sending Yanshuang and Yantian into such danger could be tantamount to sending them to their deaths.

"Lord Lu, if you’d follow me outside for a moment."

Yun Yunyang’s voice was calm but carried a weight of urgency. He motioned for Lu Zizai and his entourage to bring the stretchers along. His destination? The shaded grove where the blind Daoist often resided—perhaps the only one in the family capable of providing insight into the grim situation.

"Very well," Lu Zizai agreed with a nod, instructing his men to carry the stretchers behind them.

The group made their way out of the Yun family estate. The snow, which had blanketed the entire Yunzhang County, seemed to sap the life from the surroundings. Trees stood bare, their skeletal branches reaching skyward, and the once-vibrant land was now a canvas of cold, unbroken white. Yet, the peculiar grove where the blind Daoist meditated was untouched by winter’s icy hand.

The ancient willow trees stood tall, their branches cascading like waterfalls, heavy with verdant leaves that defied the frost. The sight was nothing short of miraculous, and even seasoned members of the Yun clan often found themselves marveling at it.

"Yunyang greets the venerable Daoist," Yun Yunyang said, bowing respectfully as they arrived under the grove’s canopy.

"Brother Yunyang, what brings you here today?" The blind Daoist’s voice was calm and knowing, as if he had already divined the purpose of their visit.

"I seek your guidance," Yunyang replied directly, his tone grave. "Several citizens of Yunzhang County have died under mysterious circumstances. Their deaths... they are unlike anything we have encountered."

Lu Zizai signaled his men, and the constables carefully laid the stretchers beneath the shade of the trees, pulling back the white cloths to reveal the bodies.

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"Fox demon."

The Daoist spoke the words almost as soon as the corpses were uncovered, his expression unchanging.

"Fox demon?" Yunyang repeated, furrowing his brow.

"Yes," the Daoist replied with certainty. "These ten men were drained of their essence—an unmistakable mark of a fox demon. Yet, the situation is more complicated. I also detect traces of ghostly energy."

"Ghostly energy?" Yunyang echoed, his unease deepening.

"Indeed. It appears someone has been using forbidden techniques to capture foxes, extracting their spirits to create a ghost-fox—a creature of both demonic and spectral origin," the Daoist explained. His voice, though measured, carried a weight that silenced the group.

"What is its strength?" Yunyang pressed, his tone sharp. If they were to confront this creature, they needed to know the risks.

"The ghost-fox itself is at the first layer of the Breath Embryo Realm," the Daoist replied evenly. "However, whoever created it is likely far more powerful."

Yunyang’s expression hardened, weighing the danger. Could he afford to send his niece and nephew—Yun Yantian and Yun Yanshuang—to face such a threat? They had been training for months but had yet to experience a true battle. This could be an opportunity—or a fatal mistake.

"Do not worry," the Daoist continued, as if reading Yunyang’s thoughts. "The ghost-fox is within their capabilities. Moreover, they lack the bloodied edge of true experience. If they are to walk the immortal path, they must face trials like this. Shielding them forever would only weaken them."

Yunyang considered the Daoist’s words carefully. "Very well," he said at last. "I will send Yantian and Yanshuang to handle this matter."

He turned to Lu Zizai. "Lord Lu, return to the county. Tomorrow, my family’s two cultivators will join you to deal with this menace."

"Many thanks, Yun brother! We shall await their arrival," Lu Zizai said, relief washing over him. With a deep bow, he led his men and the stretchers back toward Yunzhang County.

"Daoist, this will be their first time facing a demon," Yunyang said once the group had departed, his voice betraying a hint of concern.

"Fear not," the Daoist reassured him. "They will emerge stronger from this trial. The immortal path is not for the timid. It is a realm of struggle and conflict, where strength is the only currency. If they do not learn to fight and kill now, how will they survive in the future?"

Yunyang nodded, the Daoist’s wisdom giving him some measure of comfort.

Meanwhile, in the newly completed armory of the Yun clan, Yun Yanshui stood alone in the forging chamber. Before him lay a dark green war bow, its polished surface gleaming faintly under the firelight. His lips curled into a satisfied smile.

"Two months of effort... it’s finally complete," he muttered to himself. The bow was a masterpiece, crafted meticulously using eight lower-grade spirit stones. "Good thing it didn’t fail. Losing those spirit stones would’ve been a painful waste."

Carefully, he wrapped the bow in a layer of leather to protect it. "I’ll give it a proper test when I go hunting next," he said, his voice filled with anticipation.

With his creation safely bundled, Yanshui left the forging chamber and made his way home. As he entered the courtyard, he heard his sister’s voice from inside.

"Father, I’ll head to Yunzhang County with Yantian tomorrow to deal with the fox demon," Yanshuang said, her tone resolute.