From that moment on, no one dared to disobey his commands. They all saw the situation clearly.
Ning Dong was the first to crawl over. His only desire now was to stay alive. Only by surviving would there be any possibility of a comeback. Having lost both arms, he managed with great difficulty to instruct his subordinates to transfer all the spirit stones from his spirit treasure.
"Hum." Yun He looked down and smiled faintly. "Twenty million. Not bad at all. Go on."
...
In the end, Yun He's spirit treasure held an additional twenty-five million spirit stones. Combined with the five million he had before, he now had a total of thirty million. In Ningcheng, that was more than enough to cover living expenses for him and his siblings.
He stood up and said to Ning Dong, "I don't care about your background, nor do I care to pursue it. If you offend me, Yun He, the consequences will be brutal. From now on, whenever you see my family, stay far away. Do you understand?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Ning Dong lowered his head and answered humbly, but the viciousness flashing in his eyes was hard to hide. *Brat, once I get through this ordeal, you are a dead man. I will make sure you and your family can't even find a place to be buried.*
Yun He's lips curved slightly. How could Ning Dong's changing expression escape his notice? Yet he didn't care at all. In the eyes of the strong, what did the emotions of mere ants matter?
Half an hour later, Yun He returned to the barbecue stall.
Yun Qu's face was filled with surprise. "Ming'er, are you all right?"
Yun Huan looked as though she were reproaching him, but she said, "Showing off like that—you didn't get beaten up by anyone, did you?"
A warm current surged in Yun He's heart. Although he had spent a millennium cultivating in another realm and become a powerful being, he had lacked family. Now that he had returned, he had the care of family.
"Don't worry, Ning Dong was quite sensible. He didn't know what his subordinates were doing, and he even compensated Sister E with ten thousand spirit stones. The debt is completely wiped out."
Sister E asked, "Young Master Ning is a good man?"
In this remote little village, who didn't know that Ning Dong was a rampaging wolf who oppressed villagers, plundered women, and always took whatever he wanted? How could there ever be a reason for him to offer compensation and apologies?
"It's true. From now on, they won't come to trouble you anymore. Sister E, I'll transfer the spirit stones to you. Don't refuse; as cultivators, what does a little compensation like this matter?"
"No, you don't need to give me this much. Just a few broken wooden tables and stools were smashed. Two thousand spirit stones are more than enough. Consider the rest my thanks. You risked your life to go find Young Master Ning..."
Yun He looked closely at Sister E, feeling that this woman was truly rare. Despite leading a hard life and raising two children, she was not greedy.
"Ning Dong gave me some extra money for my trouble, and the ten thousand spirit stones we agreed on belong to you. I'm giving them to you now."
With that, he transferred the full ten thousand spirit stones to Sister E without hesitation. "Buy the children some spiritual food and cultivation supplies. From now on, we'll come often to support your business."
Zige hadn't expected Yun He to actually resolve the matter. Qian Ting pulled her away with a face full of disdain.
"Zige, I'm not picking faults, but what is your cultivation level, and what is their status? How can you associate with people like that? By the way, in a few days is Uncle Yunhai's sixtieth birthday banquet. He is my master, and there are bound to be many aristocratic young masters attending. Come with me that day; I want to see if I have the good fortune to catch the eye of some young master from a noble family..."
Although they spoke in whispers, Yun He heard every single word clearly. Yunhai—wasn't that his own Eldest Uncle? With his sixtieth birthday coming up, it was time for him to pay a visit and settle the matter of them usurping the family property.
After a hearty meal, Yun He followed his brother and sister home. Before entering the door, he stopped and stood outside.
Yun Qu looked at his younger sister with a pleading expression.
Although he was the older brother, Yun Qu knew very well that his sister possessed extraordinary cunning, and he always followed her arrangements.
Yun Huan said expressionlessly, "The wind is fierce, and they say it's going to snow tonight. What are you still doing standing outside?"
Yun He smiled faintly, his smile as warm as the spring sun.
His kind-hearted sister had forgiven him after all.
At night, the three siblings sat around a bonfire, cracking melon seeds to keep warm.
The house was old, with wind whistling through every wall.
Yun He spoke up, "In a few days, let's move back. It's too cold here."
Yun Huan was stunned and asked uncomprehendingly, "Move back? Move back to where? Do you despise this run-down home? Do you still think you're the young master of the Yun Family? Can't get used to living here?"
"Of course we're moving back to the Yun Family ancestral home. I'm used to living there—the first room on the left on the second floor, I've dreamed about it. That is our true root."
"Yun He, what you're saying is completely unrealistic. That hasn't been our home for a long time; it's Eldest Uncle's place now..." Yun Huan's voice dropped low. "The family property was used to pay off debts, didn't you know? We still owe Eldest Uncle twenty thousand spirit stones."
"Uncle Yunhai is celebrating his birthday in a few days. I plan to go offer my congratulations and incidentally have him return the ancestral home."
Yun Huan thought Yun He was simply delusional.
She tossed away a melon seed shell, clapped her hands, and stood up. "Yun He, I think you've truly lost your mind, or else you're running a fever and talking nonsense. If you can take back the ancestral home and move us back there, I'll wash all your clothes with my own hands from now on and wait on you hand and foot. What an absolute pipe dream."
Yun He's gaze was piercing as he stared at the pouting girl, a sudden urge welling up inside him to chase her away. If she didn't like him, she didn't have to; why put on that kind of face? If his older brother recovered his talent, she wouldn't even be fit to carry his shoes.
Aunt Zhang chattered endlessly, introducing Yun Qu to a foreign woman named Amin, saying that the woman worked as a waitress in a nearby tavern and earned four spirit stones a month. "Look at her build—sturdy and capable, she's bound to bear strong sons. Seeing how honest you are, Auntie is making this match. She's not after your family wealth; she only wants a stable home."
Amin stood up, glanced around the cramped room, and furrowed her brow slightly. "This dwelling is far too narrow. With only two rooms, it's barely enough for one person. I still have two younger brothers. When they get married in the future, they will inevitably have to come live here, and then it will become much too crowded."
Yun Huan looked completely bewildered. "Wait, your brothers are going to move in? Then where are we supposed to go?"
Amin looked at Aunt Zhang with a trace of grievance in her eyes. "Didn't you tell them my conditions?"