The Sacred Leaves Family's Wishes for Peace

Yun Yunshan glanced down at the flowing water beneath his feet. His years of experience hunting in the mountains led him to a confident conclusion: the source of Li Village Gorge was not far ahead.

"These past two days have been exhausting for everyone. We've trekked through mountains and streams without rest," he said, offering a warm smile to his weary clansmen.

"Let's take a break here for a while before we continue."

At his suggestion, the group of Yun clansmen gratefully shed their heavy packs, finding comfortable spots to rest.

"Second Brother, have some water," Yun Yunshan said, handing a bamboo flask to Yun Yunyu.

"Tell the others not to put out their torches, especially at night. This mountain is rife with predators," Yun Yunyu cautioned, taking several large gulps from the flask.

Afterward, he reached into a pouch on his belt and pulled out a piece of dried rations, tearing into it as he sat down.

"Don't worry, I've already given those orders. On the way here, I spotted several tracks—likely left by a tiger," Yun Yunshan replied between bites of his own dried rations.

"But I can't help wondering," Yun Yunyu said, his voice tinged with doubt. "After all this trekking and searching, will we actually find anything at the source of Li Village Gorge?

If we come up empty-handed, this whole journey will have been for nothing."

"There's bound to be something," Yun Yunshan said, his gaze drifting toward the dark depths of the forest ahead, where the stream disappeared into shadow.

After about half an hour of rest, the group resumed their journey. Holding torches aloft, they followed the stream deeper into the forest.

At the front, Yun Yunshan and Yun Yunyu hacked their way through dense undergrowth, using their long blades to clear branches and thorny brambles obstructing their path.

They pressed on for nearly another half an hour before the stream led them to the mouth of a pitch-black cave.

"Could this be the source of Li Village Gorge?" one clansman murmured, peering curiously at the shadowy cave entrance.

Several were eager to explore, raising their torches as they prepared to step inside.

"Wait! Don't rush in," Yun Yunshan barked, halting them. His nostrils flared as he sniffed the air.

"I smell blood."

Years spent on battlefields and in the wild had honed Yun Yunshan's senses to a razor edge. Even from a distance, he could detect the faint stench of decay wafting from the cave.

"It reeks of carrion. There must be a predator lairing inside," Yun Yunyu said grimly, his expression tense.

Yun Yunshan nodded in agreement. He hefted his torch and hurled it into the cave, its fiery light piercing the shadows within.

At the same moment, he raised his bow, nocking an arrow and drawing the string taut. His sharp gaze locked onto the cave, waiting for movement.

A thunderous roar shattered the silence.

"ROAR!"

The deafening cry of a tiger echoed from the depths of the cave, shaking the air like a roll of thunder.

Many of the Yun clansmen clutched their ears, their bodies trembling in fear as the sound reverberated around them.

Before they could recover, a massive tiger with golden eyes and a striped, scarred pelt leapt out of the cave, its ferocious growl shaking the ground as it charged straight for Yun Yunshan.

But Yun Yunshan had anticipated this moment. Releasing the bowstring, he let his arrow fly.

The icy shaft shot forward, striking the tiger squarely in the forehead and embedding itself deep into its skull, spraying a mist of blood into the air.

The beast let out a pained, furious roar. Its powerful body staggered backward, its charge halted by the searing pain.

Yun Yunshan's quick reaction gave the others just enough time to regroup.

"Clan soldiers to the front! Everyone else, fall back!" Yun Yunyu bellowed, his commanding tone echoing through the forest.

The clan's trained soldiers—over a dozen men clad in rattan armor—immediately moved into formation, forming a shield wall in front of Yun Yunshan.

Their shields, woven from sturdy rattan, locked together seamlessly, creating an impenetrable barrier. Through the gaps in the shields, sharp spears jutted out, their tips aimed unerringly at the tiger.

If it lunged again, it would meet a wall of deadly points.

Yun Yunyu stood just behind the formation, his silver spear at the ready, watching the tiger intently for any opening to deliver a fatal blow.

The tiger's glowing eyes burned with rage and hatred as it glared at Yun Yunshan, the source of its pain.

The beast roared once more and charged forward, undeterred despite the arrow buried in its skull.

Yun Yunshan's arrow flew true once more, piercing the tiger's skull again and sending it crashing to the ground mid-leap.

Seizing the opportunity, Yun Yunyu dashed forward with explosive speed. With a precise thrust, his silver spear pierced through the tiger's neck, spraying warm blood across his armor.

The massive beast collapsed, its struggles growing weaker. Yun Yunyu quickly retreated to safety, allowing the other clan soldiers to move in.

Forming a protective shield wall around the dying tiger, they cautiously jabbed their spears into its body, ensuring it was no longer a threat. Only when its breathing ceased and its lifeless form lay motionless did the soldiers finally relax.

"Yun Yunshan, Yun Yunyu—truly warriors of the battlefield!"

"That's right! Facing such a terrifying beast, you both handled it so calmly."

"If it weren't for the two of you leading us, we'd surely have suffered heavy casualties against this tiger."

Several Yun clansmen stepped forward to inspect the massive tiger's corpse, their admiration for the brothers evident in their voices.

"You flatter us," Yun Yunshan said with a modest smile, slinging his bow back over his shoulder.

"Second Brother, this tiger is a treasure trove. The tiger's penis can be used to brew medicinal wine, its bones strengthen the body, and its meat can enhance the physical strength of our clansmen."

"You're right," Yun Yunyu nodded. "We'll have someone process the tiger's body and bring it back. But for now, we must explore the cave."

"Agreed," Yun Yunshan said. The two brothers took the lead, torches in hand, venturing into the dark cave.

The stench of decay grew stronger as they delved deeper. The floor was littered with jagged rocks and the scattered remains of various animals.

Further inside, they came across fresh carcasses of deer, their flesh torn and steaming, evidence of the tiger's recent hunt.

"This is it—the source of Li Village Gorge!" Yun Yunshan declared, holding his torch high to illuminate a clear spring bubbling up from the earth.

The group gathered around, marveling at the pristine water flowing from the spring.

"Thankfully, the tiger didn't throw the rotting carcasses into the water. If the stream had been contaminated, it would've been a disaster for our clan," one of the clansmen remarked.

"Even wild beasts understand the importance of water sources," Yun Yunshan replied. "The tiger must've known this spring's value and kept it clean."

His experience as a seasoned hunter lent credibility to his explanation.

"Search the cave thoroughly," Yun Yunshan instructed. "See if there's anything else of value."

The clansmen split into small teams, exploring the cavern in groups of three or five. Meanwhile, Yun Yunshan and Yun Yunyu scoured the area around the spring.

Their efforts paid off when they uncovered three fragments of low-grade spirit stones nestled among the rocks in the stream.

"It seems the stones Yun Yandong found downstream were indeed washed down from here," Yun Yunshan said, studying the shimmering fragments in his hand.

Though they had only found three fragmented spirit stones, their mission was not in vain.

"Yun Yunshan! Yun Yunyu! Hurry—come quickly!"

A terrified voice echoed from deeper within the cave.

The brothers exchanged a glance, their expressions turning grave. Yun Yunshan drew his bow, readying an arrow, while Yun Yunyu tightened his grip on his silver spear.

"What's wrong?" Yun Yunshan called as they rushed toward the source of the cry.

"A corpse!"

"There's… there's a human corpse sitting over there!"

The voice trembled with fear, sending a chill through the already tense group.