C391 News of His Parents

In the Yu family's storeroom, where medicinal herbs were meticulously organized, Yu Lili was showing Bai Shenshen around. Bai Shenshen examined each herb with a discerning eye, nodding in approval at some and furrowing her brow at others as she assessed their quality and cultivation issues. Yu Lili, with a smile, humbly accepted her feedback.

As a rare herbalist from the Sacred Hands, Bai Shenshen's revealed identity was something the Yu family could not take lightly. Many of the Yu family's exotic herbs had come from the Sacred Hands, after all. Yu Jue, in his younger days, had married a woman who brought with her a treasure trove of unique herb seeds. She taught the Yu family's herb slaves to cultivate them, which earned the Yu family a period of esteemed treatment by the Su family of the empire.

Regrettably, that period was short-lived. Due to Yu Yuan's lack of wisdom, he and his wife ventured out in search of herbs and ultimately vanished in the Frozen Hellscape.

When Yu Lili learned of Bai Shenshen's identity and heard her intention to have the Sacred Hands purchase herbs from the Yu family, she was ecstatic. The Yu family was currently facing a dire predicament; the Su family had unilaterally breached their contract and ceased purchasing herbs from them. Moreover, they forbade other families from doing business with the Yu family.

The Sacred Hands, situated in the Serpent Spine Mountains, was a sect that commanded respect from both the Crimson Sun and Silvermoon Empires. It maintained close ties with the Order of Healing in the Land of Quiescence, holding a position that even the Su family, with all its imperial clout, would not dare to challenge.

By choosing to purchase directly from the Yu family, the Sacred Hands could bypass the Su family entirely. Even if the Su family became aware of this, they would likely not interfere. This new arrangement with the Sacred Hands, a prestigious buyer for the Yu family's diligently cultivated herbs, could resolve their crisis. No longer would they live in constant fear of their family's decline and potential expulsion from Asvetaesi.

The involvement of the Sacred Hands might even influence the Su family to reconsider their stance, potentially leading to a reassessment of their relationship with the Yu family. With these thoughts in mind, Yu Lili's smile took on a sycophantic tinge as she expressed her gratitude, "The Yu family is deeply grateful for the generosity of the Sacred Hands and the care shown by Miss Bai. We will hold this kindness close to our hearts."

"No need to dwell on it." Yu Yuan's voice filled the room as he stepped inside, taking in the familiar scent of herbs with a slight flare of his nostrils. His expression soured as he spoke, "So, you've come to the Yu family on behalf of Sacred Hands to buy our herbs?"

"Yu Yuan!" Yu Lili exclaimed with delight, rushing forward to inspect him closely before her face broke into a wide smile. "Look at you! When did you advance to the middle period of the Golden Sanctum without anyone noticing? The spiritual energy around you is so pure. Have you refined it again?"

She reached out, feeling his arm, and marveled, "The speed of the spiritual energy flowing through your veins is impressive! Tell me, how many Golden Sanctum acupoints have you cultivated?"

Yu Yuan, seeing the genuine joy in his aunt's eyes, smiled and replied, "I'll fill you in later, Aunt."

He then turned to Bai Shenshen, his brow furrowed, and reiterated, "We're grateful for the good intentions of the Sacred Hands Sect. However, the Yu family will pursue other avenues for our herbs in the future. Your concern is unnecessary."

"I meant well," Bai Shenshen said.

"There's no need," Yu Yuan dismissed with a light huff.

"Yu Yuan, what's this about?" Yu Lili paused, her mind working through the implications before she asked, "Is there some kind of misunderstanding between you two?"

She had come to understand her nephew well enough to know that Yu Yuan's unfriendly demeanor must be rooted in a reason.

Yu Yuan had repeatedly demonstrated his capabilities and his significance to the family.

So, when Yu Yuan spoke those words of clear rejection, she didn't reprimand him. Instead, she sought to understand the situation first.

"There is a bit of a misunderstanding," Bai Shenshen admitted with a sense of resignation.

"Aunt, you needn't worry about the family's future. Rest assured, now that I'm back, I'll handle everything. There's no need for undue concern," Yu Yuan assured her.

"If you hadn't brought it up, it would have slipped my mind!" Yu Lili smacked her forehead, chiding herself, "Look at me, forgetting the important things! You need to leave Asvetaesi before you're discovered. Just the other day, that old fiend from the Lin family sent a letter demanding we hand you over. He wants his Lunar Spirit to invade your soul and sift through your memories!"

She was frantic, tugging at Yu Yuan, urging him to hurry away. "Lin Mu, that old freak, has reached the late stages of the Lunar Spirit! His Lunar Spirit might be closely monitoring our Yu family's every move! Now that you've returned, if he decides to spy on us, he'll see everything. By then, it'll be too late to escape!"

Bai Shenshen chimed in, "I've heard about this as well."

"Auntie, I've said it before, there's nothing to worry about," Yu Yuan said as he pulled away from her. "I've just come back from the Keep. There, Su Kui, Su Kang, Van Xuan, and even Lin Mu were present. The issues between Lin Mu and me, as well as those involving the Su family and our Yu family, have been addressed by Grandfather."

Bai Shenshen's gaze turned peculiar, wondering internally, What can Yu Cen possibly do?

Yu Lili also inquired, "How has it been resolved?"

"There's someone advocating for justice on behalf of our Yu family. You needn't worry," Yu Yuan replied, his brow furrowing once more. Noticing Bai Shenshen's demeanor, his irritation grew as he said bluntly, "I won't be seeing you out."

His words were an unmistakable signal that he wanted her gone.

Yu Lili, on her part, didn't attempt to defuse the tension, instead choosing to trust her nephew at this crucial juncture.

"Do you want to know where your parents are right now?" Bai Shenshen suddenly asked.

"What?!" Yu Lili was visibly shaken, her eyes blazing with an intense light as she stared at Bai Shenshen and demanded, "What are you saying? You have news of them?"

Yu Yuan was taken aback.

His emotions were mixed, yet Bai Shenshen's revelation didn't stir the storm he might have expected. Perhaps his lack of attachment to his parents in this life was due to his rebirth. In his past life, he was an orphan and had never experienced such connections.

In this life, his parents had ventured into the outside world in search of medicine and had vanished in the Frozen Hellscape. He had learned of their fate after the realignment of his earthly and heaven souls. His plan was to search for them in the Frozen Hellscape once he had grown strong enough and amassed sufficient power.

He was well-acquainted with the Frozen Hellscape, having deeply experienced its chilling secrets and icy extremities in a past life. Therefore, he wouldn't make any hasty moves until he was sufficiently powerful.

"Sacred Hands has accurate information about your parents," Bai Shenshen said, slightly embarrassed as she lowered her head. "It's not the Frozen Hellscape you're familiar with, but another location. I don't know the specifics. However, I believe if there's a closer relationship between Sacred Hands and the Yu family, our sect master will disclose the full truth."

"Sacred Hands deceived us?" Yu Lili was incensed.

The news of Yu Jue and his wife's disappearance in the Frozen Hellscape had indeed come from Sacred Hands, who had advised the Yu family to grieve. This implied that Yu Jue and his wife were more likely dead than alive. Bai Shenshen's sudden revelation that Sacred Hands had hidden the truth, suggesting it might not be the Frozen Hellscape, immediately enraged Yu Lili. They had been played for fools by Sacred Hands!

"Why have you come to the Yu family? Was it your own initiative, Bai Shenshen, or were you ordered by someone from Sacred Hands?" Yu Yuan demanded sternly.

Bai Shenshen, growing increasingly uneasy, replied in a low voice, "It was the sect's directive."

Yu Yuan's expression turned icy. He snorted and dismissed her, "I understand. You may go now."

He had his suspicions; the Sacred Hands' interest in him was likely due to the Serpent Spine Mountains and the Forgotten Ruins.

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