The Frightened Yan Family

Yan Yun watched her father-in-law’s conflicted expression, a smile threatening to break through her own.

“Cough, cough, Father-in-law,” Yan Yun began, “this son-in-law wasn’t always a woman, you see.”

“I became a woman through cultivating a poison cultivation technique, so please, you must treat me as a man.”

“Moreover, I must state this upfront: you are not to separate Yao’er and me.”

“We two are destined to be together for this lifetime.”

Yan Yun suddenly reached out with great seriousness, pulling Jiang Yao into her embrace, and declared to Jiang Yuan with an earnest expression.

Jiang Yuan immediately rolled his eyes at Yan Yun.

“Are you out of your mind?” Jiang Yao interjected.

“At least give my father some time to mentally prepare.”

Yan Yun, however, did not share that sentiment.

“It’s better to have a short, sharp pain than a prolonged one,” she reasoned.

“Taking it step by step would be like slowly carving away at Father-in-law with a knife, wouldn’t it?”

“It’s far better to be direct.”

Jiang Yuan gazed at his son-in-law, who now seemed even more feminine than his own daughter, and found his emotions a tumultuous mix of complexity and disarray.

“Alright, I see what you’re doing, you rascal,” Jiang Yuan huffed, feigning anger.

“You’re intentionally saying these things to provoke me, aren’t you?”

Yan Yun quickly shook her head and waved her hands in dismissal.

“I wouldn’t dare, I wouldn’t dare,” she insisted.

“This son-in-law is merely stating a fact.”

As Jiang Yuan observed the quick-witted and eloquent Yan Yun before him, it felt as though he was meeting her for the very first time.

Previously, Yan Yun had always struck him as a person of honest and dutiful character.

“Never mind,” Jiang Yuan sighed, “I’m not going to argue with you, young man.”

“First off, as a man, you possess courage and responsibility; you’re a true man.”

“To be frank, if I were in your shoes, I truly wouldn’t have had the courage to sacrifice myself, to give up a little for the greater good.”

“For this, I must thank you on behalf of the Jiang family.”

“Otherwise, it wouldn’t just be the Yan family implicated; our Jiang family would inevitably be dragged into it as well.”

As he spoke, Jiang Yuan’s demeanor suddenly grew solemn.

Yan Yun found these words quite gratifying.

“Heh heh, that’s right, Father-in-law,” Yan Yun chuckled.

“You needn’t worry about the Lin family’s affairs; I’ll handle everything.”

“As for the Zhou and Song families, let them reap what they sow.”

“Once this matter is concluded, the Zhou and Song families will cease to exist in Qifeng City.”

Yan Yun’s face hardened as she spoke.

Jiang Yuan nodded slowly.

“Naturally,” he affirmed.

“Once the Lin family is repelled, our two families will certainly seize the opportunity to annihilate the Zhou and Song families.”

“There is no turning back now.”

After their discussion, Yan Yun cast a glance at Jiang Yao.

“Alright, it’s time for me to make a trip back to the Yan family.”

“Go on then,” Jiang Yao said.

“I returned secretly, so it wouldn’t be wise for you to appear openly, lest the Lin and Zhou families discover your presence.”

Yan Yun bid farewell to Jiang Yuan once more, then departed the main hall, leading Wen Meng and the others back to the Yan family compound.

****

Upon learning of Yan Yun’s return, the Yan family naturally rushed to greet her immediately.

However, only a select few within the Yan family were currently aware of Yan Yun’s true identity.

Yan Long, seeing his son again, and witnessing how dramatically his appearance had changed, felt a far more complex swirl of emotions than Jiang Yuan had.

Yan Kun, for his part, also wore a look of utter astonishment.

It would have been a lie to say he wasn’t surprised by the transformation of his younger brother into a sister.

“Welcome, Pavilion Master Ziyun, to the Yan family,” Yan Long greeted, “Please, come in.”

Naturally, he wouldn’t expose Yan Yun’s true identity in public, so he politely ushered her inside.

Yan Yun walked in without hesitation.

‘Is this fellow Third Sister? This… this change is far too drastic, isn’t it?’ Yan Kun thought.

‘The last time I saw her, she looked nothing like this. Could it be a disguise?’

Yan Kun’s heart churned with discomfort, seeing his beloved younger brother’s gender changed.

Yan Yun, sensing Yan Kun’s continuous scrutiny, subtly cast a playful glance his way.

That look instantly made Yan Kun feel awkward, and he quickly averted his gaze.

Yan Yun had arrived at the Yan family under the guise of Ziyun, necessitating a preliminary discussion of official matters.

Only after these formalities were concluded did Yan Long find an excuse to dismiss everyone unaware of Yan Yun’s true identity, leaving only Yan Hui, Yan Hua, and Yan Yun’s sisters.

With the windows and main door of the room securely shut, only Yan Yun and a few others remained seated, creating an atmosphere of palpable awkwardness.

Yan Yun sat there, silent as an old monk in meditation, uttering not a single word.

Yan Hui and the others were perplexed, unable to fathom why Yan Long had kept them behind, especially with such an air of mystery.

After a moment of uncomfortable silence, Yan Kun finally couldn’t hold back any longer and rose to his feet.

Given the situation, he reasoned, there was no point in prolonging the stalemate.

“Hey! Third Sister, it’s you, isn’t it?” he blurted out.

“Since you’re already back, why bother pretending?”

The moment these words left his mouth, Yan Hui and the others gasped in shock, their gazes snapping in unison towards Yan Kun.

“Third Sister? Where’s Third Sister?” Yan Hui stammered, bewildered.

“Second Brother, what… what are you talking about?”

The instant Yan Yun heard Yan Hui speak, she felt an urge to roll her eyes.

Before Yan Kun could even begin to explain Yan Yun’s identity, Yan Yun herself took the initiative to speak.

“Second Brother, what—what exactly do you want me to say?” she challenged.

“You insist on me speaking first, don’t you?”

“How—how am I supposed to say it?”

“Besides, I doubt any of you genuinely care what I’ve become, do you?”

Her opening remarks were tantamount to a self-exposure, leaving Yan Hui and Yan Xia staring at Yan Yun with expressions of utter astonishment.

“Second Brother? Her?” Yan Xia gasped, pointing at Yan Yun, her eyes wide with disbelief.

Yan Yun, observing her sister’s expression, and never one to shy away from making a bigger splash, immediately waved to her.

“Eldest Sister, it’s been a long time.”

At this, Yan Hui and the three Yan family sisters were completely dumbfounded.

The Pavilion Master Ziyun, clad in purple robes, was actually their younger brother?

Yan Kun, seeing the stunned faces of Yan Hui and the others, promptly offered a reminder.

“Stop playing around,” Yan Kun urged.

“Shed your disguise already.”

After a moment’s thought, Yan Yun raised her hand and swept it across her face.

Instantly, her once rather ordinary-looking features transformed into a countenance of striking handsomeness and beauty.

The moment this face was revealed, Yan Xia and the others immediately crowded around Yan Yun.

“It really is Little Third Sister!” they exclaimed.

“But, Little Third Sister, is your body also a disguise?”

The three Yan family sisters, their faces full of wonder, poked and prodded at Yan Yun’s body, finding no indication that it was fake.

That familiar face, now adorning the figure of a graceful woman, created a cognitive dissonance that left the Yan family members stunned for a long time.

“Stop it, it tickles!” Yan Yun exclaimed, gently batting away her sisters’ hands.

“It’s real; your brother has become a woman.”

The others were greatly shocked, but Yan Yun, unwilling to offer further explanations, turned her gaze to Yan Long.

“Alright, let’s talk about something else,” Yan Yun stated, her expression devoid of emotion.

“After helping the Yan family overcome their crisis last time, I consider the family’s nurturing kindness repaid.”

“Therefore, we are now even, owing each other nothing.”

“Once I’ve completely helped the Yan and Jiang families resolve the troubles in Qifeng City this time, I truly don’t expect to return.”

“There’s no need to speak of unnecessary things.”

Her words struck them as particularly heartless, clearly laced with barbs, but only she knew the true depths of her inner thoughts.

“Hey? Yun’er, those are harsh words,” Yan Long countered, his brow furrowed as he spoke in a low voice.

“I know you have strong opinions about the family and your father, but the Yan family has never been harsh on your living conditions, have they?”

“The family has always supported you, even allowing you to learn cultivation.”

“The family has given so much for you, yet you claim we owe each other nothing?”

“Heh, Yan Long, don’t make me laugh,” Yan Yun scoffed, her face etched with derision.

“How I learned to cultivate—do you truly not know?”

“If I hadn’t stumbled upon an unexpected fortuitous encounter, do you think I could have cultivated to this level with the meager resources the family provided?”

“As for sustenance?”

Yan Long was left speechless by Yan Yun’s words.

What Yan Yun said was indeed the truth.

From a very young age, the Yan family had largely disregarded her due to her perceived lack of talent.

It was only because of her mother that the family reluctantly continued to support her, yet the resources provided were pitifully scarce.

Indeed, one could say that Yan Yun’s life within the Yan family was worse than that of an ordinary clan member.

“This time, my assistance in resolving the Qifeng City crisis for the family is merely to repay my mother’s kindness,” Yan Yun stated, her voice remarkably calm, as if discussing something entirely unrelated to herself.

“It is also to settle the score with those of you who constantly bullied me, looked down on me, and even called me a bringer of disaster, from childhood to adulthood.”

“Henceforth, whatever becomes of your Yan family will have nothing to do with me.”

Hearing Yan Yun’s pronouncements, the Yan family members fell into a heavy silence.

The things Yan Yun spoke of were indeed actions they had committed.

In fact, their treatment of Yan Yun had been far more severe than what she had just described.

Their actions were undoubtedly the reason for Yan Yun’s deep-seated resentment towards the family throughout her life.

Yan Long sighed, knowing full well that anything he said now would fall on deaf ears.

“Alright, all of you, you may leave for now,” Yan Long instructed Yan Hui and the others.

Hearing this, Yan Hui and the others exchanged glances, but said nothing, simply departing in silence.

As Yan Kun and the others watched Yan Hui’s group leave, their gazes involuntarily shifted to Yan Long and Yan Yun.

These juniors dared not interfere in the affairs between Yan Long and Yan Yun; it was clear that this was a matter beyond their intervention.

Both individuals were lost in their own thoughts.

Yan Long looked at Yan Yun, let out a sigh, and asked, “What, exactly, is your current strength?”

Since Yan Yun had managed to inflict such a significant loss upon arrogant individuals like Yan Hui, her strength was undoubtedly considerable.

As the eldest brother and family head of the Yan family, Yan Long naturally wanted to know Yan Yun’s true power.

Yan Yun merely replied with an understated tone, “Spirit Transformation Realm, late stage.”

Upon hearing this, Yan Long’s eyes widened in an instant.

Spirit Transformation Realm, late stage!

Yan Long had never imagined that Yan Yun’s strength would be so formidable.

The strongest in the Yan family had only reached the middle stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm.

Yan Yun had actually reached the late stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm!

“This… this is impossible!” Yan Long stammered, his voice trembling slightly.

After all, he knew that just over a year ago, Yan Yun had merely been at the peak of the Spirit Gathering Realm.

In just over a year, she had ascended directly from the peak of the Spirit Gathering Realm to the late stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm!

Such a cultivation speed was simply unheard of!

Yan Long even felt that no matter how great his own talent, it couldn’t compare to Yan Yun’s terrifying progress.

Yan Yun stated impassively, “Nothing is impossible.”

Yan Long let out a bitter laugh.

Yan Yun wasn’t wrong, for truly, anything could happen in this world.

“Will you stay with the family, now that you’ve returned?” Yan Long inquired.

Yan Yun shook her head.

“No,” she replied.

Hearing her response, a bitter expression crossed Yan Long’s face.

“Very well then,” Yan Long said, his voice laced with resignation.

Yan Long knew that with the power Yan Yun now displayed, the Yan family could certainly not keep her.

The late stage of the Spirit Transformation Realm!

Such strength was enough for her to stride unimpeded through Qifeng City, and even establish a reputation across the entire Azure State.

Yan Yun’s power, even within the entire Yan family, placed her at the very pinnacle.

The Yan family was about to produce a true dragon.

Yan Long’s heart was a mix of emotions; he wasn’t sure whether to be happy or bitter.

That the Yan family had produced a late-stage Spirit Transformation Realm genius was, of course, cause for joy.

Yet, this very genius was estranged from the family, causing a deep bitterness in his heart.

“Yun’er,” Yan Long pressed on, unwilling to give up, “the family is your home, after all.

Are you truly not going to consider its welfare?”

Yan Yun shook her head.

“I’m not,” she replied.

“You…” Yan Long was instantly at a loss for words.

Yan Long also knew that Yan Yun harbored significant grievances against both him and the family.

“Alright, if there’s nothing else, I’ll be taking my leave,” Yan Yun said, rising to her feet and addressing Yan Long.

Yan Long opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing.

Yan Yun turned and departed.

Yan Long watched Yan Yun’s retreating back, his mind filled with an unreadable array of thoughts.