12: Chapter 12 The Yun Family

Yun Ming counted out fifteen Spirit Stones and handed them to Carpenter Feng.

After receiving the Spirit Stones, Carpenter Feng immediately went to prepare.

With nowhere else to go at the moment, Yun Ming thought about heading home for a visit.

Utility Disciples are not eligible to return home to visit Family unless they are old and can no longer contribute to the Sect, and their cultivation has stagnated or even regressed for life; only then will the Sect allow them to leave, and it would be a complete departure from the Sect.

Outer Sect Disciples do not have this restriction, but it doesn't mean they can return home whenever they please; first and foremost, the monthly tasks must be completed, which is the top priority.

Furthermore, each visit home cannot exceed half a month; exceeding this limit is considered defecting from the Sect, and a bounty will be issued, with immediate execution upon capture.

Finally, there is only one opportunity to visit Family each year.

Yun Ming thought about how he had been in the Sect for over a year and it was time to go home, mainly because he was worried that the bastard Yun Xin might actually write a letter to the Family.

No formalities were needed; he just had to notify the Sect's Deacon Hall, and so Yun Ming set off with all his belongings.

The Sunset Glow Sect is located on the eastern side of the Qixia Mountains, while the western side is the Mortal kingdom of Daqian. The Yun Family, where Yun Ming belongs, is in Wuan City in Qingzhou, on the border of Daqian.

The Yun Family was already a prominent Family in Wuan City, and having produced two Immortals, their influence was unmatched for a time, inciting envy and hatred in many who were nonetheless powerless to do anything.

The already arrogant and domineering Yun Family had now reached a level of utter disdain for others; even if a prominent Family from the capital came to Wuan City, they would have to bow their heads before the Yun Family.

Even the Emperor's words might not carry weight in Wuan City, but the Yun Family's words certainly did.

In the past two years, the Yun Family had become the undisputed local tyrants of Wuan City.

Yun Ming was currently eating at a restaurant owned by the Yun Family. This trip home was mainly intended to sever his worldly ties and focus on cultivation, and the one his predecessor worried about most was his mother.

No matter what, he couldn't let his mother stay in the Yun Family any longer; he didn't want Yun Xin's threats to become a reality.

Just then, someone else entered the restaurant.

This person was dressed in silks and satins, walking with an air of arrogance, flanked by two fierce-looking, muscular men.

Yun Ming immediately recognized him as one of the Yun Family juniors who had bullied him along with Yun Xin since childhood—Yun Qing.

Yun Qing was the youngest son of the second head of the Yun Family. Like Yun Xin, he had been spoiled and arrogant since childhood. At only sixteen, he was already an expert at drinking, gambling, and visiting brothels, and secretly committed all sorts of atrocities, bullying men and women alike.

Today was once again his time to go out and have some fun.

"Waiter!" Yun Qing shouted into the restaurant. "Are you blind? Can't you see this young master has come to eat!"

The waiter's face turned bitter, thinking to himself why this little brat had to come; nothing good ever happened whenever he showed up.

Despite his thoughts, he still put on a flattering expression and went to greet him: "Oh! Young Master Yun, I was blind not to see your arrival. Please forgive me."

Looking at the waiter bowing and scraping before him, Yun Qing kicked him to the ground. "Stop the nonsense. I'm hungry. Bring me your best food and drink."

Before he could even get up, the waiter said while lying on the floor, "Thanks to your patronage, the restaurant is full today. Would you like to eat upstairs, or perhaps come back another day?"

"Full?" Yun Qing swept a glance around. The diners all lowered their heads, none daring to meet his gaze, except for Yun Ming, who remained unmoved, quietly drinking and eating.

"Isn't there a seat right there?" Yun Qing pointed to the empty spot next to Yun Ming.

The waiter finally scrambled to his feet and looked in the direction Yun Qing was pointing. Seeing Yun Ming sitting alone at a table, he understood he was being told to kick the man out.

So the waiter hurried to Yun Ming's side and whispered, "Sir, please be kind. This meal is on the house. Could you please vacate your seat?"

Yun Ming remained unmoved. "I came here to eat. Are you driving a customer away before they've finished?"

"Oh, sir, it's not like that. You must be new to Wuan City. You can't afford to offend this young master," the waiter explained. "He's from the Yun Family. They were already a prominent Family here, and last year they produced two Immortals. For us Mortals, it's best not to cross them."

"He is not an Immortal," Yun Ming said flatly.

"You don't understand, this young master grew up with the two Immortals and they are very close. Offending him is the same as offending the two Immortals."

Yun Ming heard this and smiled.

So the three of them were close?

At that moment, someone couldn't stand it anymore. A man dressed as a Jianghu Swordsman stood up and barked, "Enough! I despise nothing more than you pampered brats who use your influence to bully others. Today, I shall rid the people of this menace!"

With that, the man drew his sword and swung it; the table in front of him was split in two, and a long sword mark was even left on the floor.

A few guests whispered among themselves:

"I know this man. He's a criminal wanted by the imperial court named Shen Mo. He's a famous Jianghu Swordsman who specializes in punishing evil."

"Then he's a good man. Why is the court hunting him?"

"Why else? He probably killed a few corrupt officials."

"I also heard that Hero Shen's martial arts have reached Major Achievement, and he's already a Grandmaster at such a young age."

"So powerful. The Yun Family is in for it."

Hearing the guests' words, Yun Qing still didn't take the man seriously. He turned to the muscular men behind him and said, "Go, cripple that kid. I want to make sure he can never swing a sword again!"

The two muscular men were no ordinary people either; their bodies were like iron, impervious to blades. With a burst of strength from their feet, the marble floor tiles instantly shattered.

The three of them quickly engaged in a chaotic fight.

The guests and the waiter in the restaurant all scrambled to escape, hiding in the street for fear of being caught in the crossfire.

A crowd gathered outside the restaurant to watch, yet Yun Ming remained seated as if none of it concerned him.

Yun Qing hadn't recognized Yun Ming yet, but seeing how incredibly calm he was, he felt a sense of familiarity. However, he couldn't connect him with the timid and weak cousin in his memory.

On the other side, the battle between the three quickly ended. The two muscular men were no match and were killed by Shen Mo's sword across their throats, collapsing to the floor.

Shen Mo wasn't doing much better, having sustained some internal injuries.

Yun Qing kicked the corpses of the two muscular men and cursed, "Useless! All of you are useless!"

Watching Shen Mo slowly approach him, Yun Qing finally began to feel afraid. "Don't come any closer! Both of my cousins are Immortals! If you dare touch me, they will kill your entire Family!"

"Hmph! Ridiculous. Where are there Immortals in this world? If there were, they wouldn't let scum like you commit atrocities in their name!" With that, Shen Mo raised his sword. "Today, I shall carry out justice for Heaven!"

At that very critical moment, Yun Qing recognized Yun Ming and cried out, "Cousin, save me!!!"