C256 Desolate Medicinal Garden
In the Silvermoon Empire, within Asvetaesi City, the Yu family, which had once flourished following the downfall of the Huang family, found themselves in decline once more. The news of Yu Yuan's demise within the Moonfall Sanctuary was no longer a secret. Initially, individuals like Zhao Yafu and Su Yan insisted that Yu Yuan was alive, merely cultivating within the Moonfall Sanctuary. However, as time went on without any word from him, doubts began to surface.
Yu Yuan had managed to offend numerous cultivators of the Silvermoon Empire during his time in the Moonfall Sanctuary, which did not bode well for his reputation. Particularly, Lin Fengyan of the Lin family was rumored to have died directly because of Yu Yuan's actions. The demise of Van Le was also whispered to be connected to Yu Yuan, further tarnishing his image.
Both the Lin and Van families held significant power within the empire, being among the top five noble families. Their combined influence, along with the calculated oppression from other families, exacerbated the Yu family's dire situation.
Those who had once been close to Yu Yuan, such as Su Yan, Lee Yu, and Zhan Tianxiang, were either engrossed in critical phases of their own cultivation or too young to sway their family's decisions, leaving the Yu family with scant external support.
In a subsequent turn of events, Lin Zhuyun, who had mysteriously vanished from the Moonfall Sanctuary, was confirmed to have been taken by the masters of Winter's Bite. She had officially joined the Euwrea Continent and become a core disciple of the sect. The details of her ordeal remained unknown, but reports from Euwrea indicated that she had dedicated herself to relentless cultivation, showcasing her exceptional talent and earning significant esteem.
This development subtly bolstered the Lin family's standing within the Silvermoon Empire. Cultivators from Winter's Bite made several visits to the Lin family, openly backing Lin Hanyu and bringing with them precious pills and magic items.
Following Lin Fengyan's death, Lin Hanyu, who had been hastily thrust into the role of patriarch despite his insufficient experience, was rumored to have rapidly advanced in his cultivation. Back in Asvetaesi, Lin Hanyu, who had suffered humiliation in the Yu family's great hall and learned of his elder brother Lin Fengyan's death, which was closely tied to Yu Yuan, took every opportunity to hinder the Yu family at every turn.
The Yu family had long struggled to find buyers for their various spirit herbs and spirit plants. Their continued presence in Asvetaesi was only due to the Seed of Life pills that Yu Yuan had crafted, which were exchanged for a substantial amount of soulstones from the Yuan and Zhao families.
Since Yu Yuan's departure, the Yu family had been unable to produce any more Seed of Life pills. Their resources were dwindling, and they were on the brink of exhaustion.
One day, within the Zhao family's Vault of Wonders, the corpulent Zhao Dongsheng placed a bag of soulstones on a stone table in the courtyard and addressed Yu Lili, "Here are three thousand soulstones, a loan for the Yu family. There's no need for a written agreement; you can repay it when you're able."
Yu Lili, with a hint of restraint in her demeanor, eyed the hefty bag of soulstones and replied, "I truly appreciate it."
Many in her clan were at pivotal junctures in their cultivation, requiring soulstones to advance. Yu Feifei, along with numerous Yu family members, depended on these soulstones, which had now been depleted due to the sales of the Seed of Life.
Yu Lili found herself there because Zhao Yafu, before entering seclusion, had sought her out to offer assistance if the Yu family ever faced hardship, directing her to Zhao Dongsheng for help.
Upon her return to the Zhao family, Zhao Yafu's cultivation and combat prowess had surged forward. She attributed all her success to Yu Yuan, crediting him with saving her life and providing invaluable assistance on multiple occasions.
Zhao Dongsheng, too, had not forgotten past kindnesses and had discreetly supported the Yu family.
However, he expressed his own regrets, "The one who should be apologizing is me," Zhao Dongsheng said, adjusting his posture. "I'm truly sorry. The Zhao family isn't the most powerful in Asvetaesi. We must look at the bigger picture and prioritize our clan's well-being, which sometimes forces our hand."
Yu Lili had previously expressed her wish to trade the family's medicinal herbs for soulstones from the Zhao family.
The Lin and Van families, along with others who harbored dissatisfaction towards the Yu family, had publicly declared a prohibition against any clan secretly acquiring the Yu family's spiritual herbs.
The current head of the Su family, Su Yan's father, along with Su Yan herself, were absent from the Silvermoon Empire. Rumors circulated that Su Xiangtian had covertly taken Su Yan to the continents of Quiescence and Euwrea, likely to place her in a sect for cultivation.
With Su Xiangtian and his daughter gone, several members of the Su family began to surreptitiously undermine the Yu family, exacerbating their plight. Faced with mounting pressures, the Zhao family found themselves unable to resell the medicinal herbs they had purchased from the Yu family. As the herbs sat unused, their spiritual energy dissipated, rendering them worthless.
Recognizing the futility of holding onto unsellable herbs without the aid of a herbalist, Zhao Dongsheng graciously declined Yu Lili's proposal to purchase the Yu family's herbs. Instead, out of respect for Yu Yuan's past kindness, he opted to lend soulstones to Yu Lili.
The loan of soulstones, however, was a temporary fix. The herbs, with no buyers in sight, would inevitably perish. Yu Lili, staring at the hefty bag of soulstones, was visibly troubled. The clan members might be appeased for now, but what of the future? Could he face them again when the time came to borrow more?
Meanwhile, Yuan Lianyao, having long been in seclusion, had instructed her family to show kindness to the Yu clan. Yet, without a market for their herbs, the Yu family's fundamental issues remained unresolved, and disorder was bound to ensue.
...
On the outskirts of Asvetaesi lay Thylethlume, a town under the Yu family's jurisdiction. The family's medicinal gardens, once thriving, now dotted the landscape around Thylethlume in a state of decline.
Many of these gardens were struggling, with herbs barely growing. Some had been abandoned altogether, with no new planting in sight. Herb slaves, rather than tending to the gardens, sat idly under the sun, engaging in despondent chatter, indifferent to the fate of the plants they once cared for.
For instance...
Why bother with the effort when the medicinal herbs are destined to wither and die? It's a waste of time.
Since nobody has the courage to purchase herbs from the Yu family anymore, it's best to just let the medicinal garden fall into neglect.
The Yu family's influence in Asvetaesi is waning rapidly. We need to plan ahead and seek opportunities in other cities, perhaps with families affiliated with the Su family.
Most of the herb slaves hail from Thylethlume and nearby towns, lacking any real attachment to the Yu family.
Their sole responsibility was to tend to the medicinal garden, but with the Yu family members showing little interest, the slaves cared even less.
"So many have fallen into disrepair."
A voice suddenly echoed amidst the plots of the garden.
The herb slave lounging in the sun glanced over, feigning ignorance, and resumed his idle talk.
Yu Yuan surveyed the area, realizing the dilapidated state of the Yu family's garden meant it could no longer be profitable.
It wouldn't have come to this otherwise.
The thin girl beside him no longer had the peculiar protrusions on her back, and her black dress concealed the carapace on her chest. To the naked eye, she appeared unremarkable.
Imitating Yu Yuan, she looked around, her nose twitching, seemingly unimpressed by the surroundings.
"Looking at it now, it's hardly captivating," Yu Yuan said with a smile. "But give me some time, and the landscape will transform. My return is to ensure the Yu family can thrive even in my absence. Then, I can leave with a clear conscience, free from any debt to them."
