The next day, Yun Qu went out to deliver food, and Yun He followed him downstairs. Grabbing his brother's arm, Yun He said, "Brother, don't worry about delivering food today. Come with me."
"If I don't deliver food, where will we get spirit stones?" Yun Qu gave an honest, simple smile. "My sister still relies on this for her cultivation resources."
"Don't worry about cultivation resources, I already have some. Come on, let's go buy you some decent robes. Seeing people look down on you yesterday made me feel so frustrated. My brother is so handsome, once you dress up, you'll definitely look like a dashing cultivator."
The two of them went out. Before leaving, Yun He acted with caution and set up a warning array on the doorknob. If any dangerous outsider broke in, he would notice immediately.
Only Yun Huan remained at home, studying ancient texts.
Yun He took his older brother to the marketplace and picked out several items suitable for both of them—robes, magical garments, belts, and boots—everything a cultivator could need, choosing purely based on preference rather than price. Back when the Yun Family was wealthy, Yun He had always been this generous. Now that he had spirit stones in hand, he couldn't wait to spend them all on his family.
Next, he picked out clothes for his younger sister. Since he wasn't familiar with women's apparel, he asked about the latest styles and bought them according to her measurements. He also bought her alchemy notes, spiritual ornaments, and a precious storage bag.
Fortunately, it was Yun Qu. Not knowing how many spirit stones these things cost, he didn't question where Yun He got so much money. If it had been Yun Huan, she probably would have interrogated him about the suspicious origin of his wealth.
Once the items were packed, the two of them picked up their bags and prepared to leave when a BMW sped by and suddenly stopped right in front of them. The car window slowly rolled down, revealing two familiar faces.
Yun He took a look and realized these were his high school classmates, Ning Jia and Ren Bei. Back then, Ren Bei had been his desk mate. She had taken a strong liking to him and pursued him ardently. Yun He came from a wealthy background, while Ning Jia was merely a distant relative of the Ning Family who had just arrived from out of town with a heavy rustic aura. The Ning Family favored Ren Bei, while Ren Bei had her heart set on Yun He, creating a delicate love triangle among the three of them. Yun He actually didn't care for Ren Bei; after a brief flirtation, they went their separate ways after graduation.
Yun He had been admitted to the Ningcheng Cultivation Academy, while he heard that Ren Bei went to the Spirit Protection Vocational School. Ever since then, the two had no further contact. He never expected to reunite with them here today.
Seeing her former rival suddenly appear, a flash of smugness and pleasant surprise crossed Ning Jia's eyes. Of course, he knew the Yun Family had fallen into decline and that Yun He had vanished for a full ten years. Looking at his old-fashioned, tacky clothes and the huge piles of packages he was carrying, it was clear he was doing hard labor—probably just a low-level errand-running cultivator. Meanwhile, he himself had now become a modestly successful merchant; although only part of a branch family, he had accumulated substantial wealth.
Instantly, he felt a surge of vindication while his former rival had plummeted to the bottom. This turnaround in life was truly exhilarating.
Ning Jia swept a glance toward Ren Bei beside him, and smiled at Yun He, "Yun He, it's been a long time. Ten years, no less! Where have you been practicing the Dao?"
Seeing Ning Jia's flamboyant demeanor, Yun He immediately understood that he was here to show off. Frowning slightly, Yun He replied calmly, "I haven't practiced any Dao, I just returned from the outside domains."
"For you to suddenly vanish for ten years, you must have broken some major ban and only just been released!"
"Believe whatever you want. I have things to do, so I'll take my leave."
"Don't go, don't be like that."
How could Ning Jia let go of this chance to mock him? He hurriedly got out of the car. "Old classmates reuniting, how can we part in such a hurry? I know you're running around delivering goods outside. Sigh, what kind of future can you possibly have with such a meager income?"
Yun He looked at Ning Jia as if gazing at an ignorant mortal.
"Bi'er and I are getting engaged soon, and we plan to invite a few old classmates for a banquet at the Huatian Immortal Tower this weekend at seven in the evening. You must come. No need to bring gifts—it's settled, I'll cover all of it."
Yun He said indifferently, "We'll see when the time comes."
"Sigh, I know you must be feeling unhappy inside. Judging by the looks of it, you haven't taken a cultivation partner yet, nor do you have a Foundation Establishment dwelling. Who would have expected the Yun Family to fall to such a state? Bi'er is my cultivation partner now, while you're still all alone. Tsk, tsk. How about this? Why don't you come and cultivate under my banner? Since you have a sketchy past, major sects won't accept you, but I have a hundred or so disciples. If you're willing to work for me, I certainly won't treat you poorly. Oh, that's right, I happen to lack a mountain-guarding cultivator right now."
Just as Ning Jia was gloating and mocking Yun He, Yun He's heart suddenly tightened, and a suffocating aura welled up.
Oh no.
The defensive array he had casually set up was actually triggered!
Who dared to trespass in his dwelling?
Blinded by fury, Yun He casually summoned a flying shuttle, pulled his older brother aboard, and left without saying a word.
Actually, he had wanted to fly directly there, but the streets were currently packed with people. Fortunately, his home wasn't far away—at most a ten-breath journey—so he should make it in time.
Watching Yun He escape in a flying shuttle, Ning Jia smugly said to Ren Bei, "This punk was putting on airs in front of me, even taking a flying shuttle. His cultivation earnings for the entire day probably went into this ride. Good thing you weren't blind back then and picked the right guy!"
With that, he planted a heavy kiss on Ren Bei's cheek, but then suddenly stopped, pinched her throat, and demanded, "You and him... nothing actually happened back then, right? I'm not cleaning up someone else's mess, am I?"
Ren Bei pushed his hand away and said impatiently, "What kind of nonsense are you talking about? Nothing ever happened between Yun He and me. He kept pestering me back then, but I never cared for him at all."
...
The flying shuttle quickly stopped downstairs of their residence. Yun He said to Yun Qu, "Big Brother, hold onto these items for now. Go sit in that small shop over there for a bit; I need to speak with my younger sister alone."
Yun Qu's mind had not yet fully awakened, and his intellectual capacity was limited. Whatever his younger brother told him to do, he simply listened and followed instructions without fail.
He picked up the pile of things and sat inside the small shop. After settling his eldest brother, Yun He turned around and strode quickly toward the front door.
The door wasn't tightly shut—it was half-open—but Yun He could sense the killing intent emanating from behind it.
However, he didn't care in the least and pushed the door open directly. Sure enough, a chill wind swept toward him from behind the door. Without looking back, Yun He merely raised his elbow slightly, and the intruder's jaw instantly shattered with a crunch.
A three-foot green peak sword was gripped in his palm. A heavily built cultivator standing nine feet tall clutched his broken jaw and collapsed to his knees in agony, yet he bit down hard on his teeth, choking back any cries of despair.
Yun He looked over and saw a thin cultivator sitting on the sofa, along with two thugs inside the room. Counting this injured one, there were four in total.
Meanwhile, his younger sister, Yun Huan, was lying flat on the floor, still breathing faintly.
Zuo Tian's gaze turned gloomy. "So you really are a cultivator. But so what?
Tell me, was the incident at the headquarters of the Black Tiger Hall your doing?"
"Are you from the Black Tiger Hall?" Yun He didn't answer the question, instead asking one of his own.
"That's right! Having seen the Black Tiger Hall, why aren't you kneeling?" roared one of Zuo Tian's disciples.
"Was it you who struck and injured my sister?" Yun He's voice was as cold as frost.