Family Rise by Daily Intelligence

As the words were spoken.

They carried the power of the Heart Clarity Spell.

Fu Changsheng immediately snapped out of his despondent state.

At the same time, his heart trembled.

Having just awakened to the scene of his father’s death in the first lifetime, coupled with the fact that the fifth brother died in his arms, he nearly fell into a trance.

So close!

Meanwhile.

The prospect of facing the Heart Demon Tribulation upon breaking through to the Golden Core is something he deeply dreads.

Without preparation, he fears he might unintentionally lure the Heart Demon, ignite the Karmic Fire, and perish along with his path!

“Qingru!”

Fu Changsheng reversed his grip to hold the other’s hand.

As he looked at the bed where the fifth brother had already ceased to breathe, he made a silent decision in his heart.

He would nurture the Five Elements Space as soon as possible, so that at least the Divine Temple could later guide his relatives to the Netherworld where the temple resides; even in death, they could continue to live in another form!

At the same time.

There was an urgency to cultivate the Ancient Profound Vine for the Five Elements Space.

Previously.

He thought he had a long lifespan.

The Ancient Profound Vine was allowed to grow naturally without accelerating its cultivation, but encountering the death of the fifth brother made him realize that mortality was closer than he thought.

He closed his eyes.

Pushed down the turbulent and complex emotions.

After Yu Kun’s funeral.

Fu Changsheng called An’an in:

“Are the many children of the fifth brother properly settled?”

“Yes, I specially designated a small town as the fifth brother’s domain, to be inherited by his eldest son. The fifth brother also has six other offspring who have yet to reach the age to test the Spiritual Root, and I have kept them within the family.”

“If they are found to have Spiritual Roots, I will inform you first.”

Yu Kun’s lifelong wish was to have an offspring capable of cultivation.

Fu Changsheng hesitated:

“Among the wives and concubines of the fifth brother, are there any who are pregnant?”

An’an shook his head.

But quickly changed his answer:

“None diagnosed as pregnant yet, but the four concubines the fifth brother was intimate with before his death have been confined in the backyard, Father, your instructions?”

“Bring them here.”

An’an thought Fu Changsheng intended to punish these four concubines.

After all, the fifth brother’s cause of death was somewhat related to these four women.

…..

In the dark of night, inside the Yu Family’s backyard room, the candlelight was dim, casting the pale and haggard faces of four women. They were quadruplets, born to a poor farming family, pushed into this large estate for ten silver taels during famine years to become Yu Kun’s concubines.

After Yu Kun fell ill in their bed, the four were confined to the backyard.

In recent days.

They vaguely heard the sound of mourning horns outside the door.

This indicated.

Yu Kun had indeed passed away.

“Wuu wuu wuu, Elder Sister, the husband… The husband must have already passed away… I fear… I fear the Main Family won’t spare us, even… Even might take it out on our rural family… Wuu wuu wuu… Elder Sister, what should we do… Wuu wuu wuu…”

Sobbing erupted in the room.

The second sister, Xiahe, had already collapsed onto the table crying.

The third sister, Qiuju, had a messy hair bun, with strands of hair falling on her cheeks, looking particularly fragile. The youngest, Dongmei, was filled with fear and despair, silent tears sliding down her face.

Only the eldest sister, Chunlan, remained upright.

At the age of sixteen, perhaps because of the elder sister’s maternal nature, her brows held more resolve than her three sisters’. She appeared to have made a decision, standing and taking from the bedside four white silks pieced together from bed linens, her gaze sweeping over her sisters — Xiahe, Qiuju, Dongmei:

“At this point.”

“We have only one path to take.”

“Which is to take our own lives to apologize, so even if the Main Family is greatly angered, they will let it go, and at least we can protect our family’s peace.”

As she spoke.

Chunlan handed the white silks to her three sisters.

Xiahe instinctively shrank back, stammering: “Big… Sister, we… we really…”

Before she could finish.

She was already sobbing uncontrollably.

She had barely escaped that impoverished home, had only lived a few good days, and did not want to die. She was still young.

Wuu wuu wuu!

Chunlan reached out to hug Xiahe and pulled the other two sisters into her arms, suppressing the agony in her heart, gently stroking her sisters’ cheeks to comfort them:

“Don’t be afraid, I am here. We’ll go together, and won’t be alone on the Road to the Underworld.”

“Think of Mother.”

“Think of the fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth, ninth brothers, and tenth sister who are not yet grown.”

“They have finally begun to eat their fill and wear warm clothes; you wouldn’t want them to lose their lives because of our faults, would you?”

Upon hearing this.

The second sister, Xiahe, cried even harder.

The gambler father had sold them to the Fu Family for those ten silver taels. If not for him, their lives might be tough but they could still live by marrying common folk.

Those ten silver taels.

Gave life and sustenance, which has been repaid.

She owed nothing to anyone. From the age of three, she began helping with chores, waking earlier than the chickens, sleeping later than the dogs, and eating worse than the pigs. She never had a good day in that house.

Why should she sacrifice her life again?

Upon realizing this.

Xiahe stopped crying.

She trembled as she accepted the white silk, silently got up, walked to the beam, tied the silk properly. Chunlan guided them onto the stools one by one, stepping alone herself at last.

“Sisters, close your eyes, don’t be afraid,” Chunlan softly said, her voice carrying a hint of choking.

Qiuju and Dongmei complied, closing their eyes as tears fell down their cheeks.

Only Xiahe didn’t cry; she only heard the beating of her heart, reminding her she did not want to die, she could not die.

As Chunlan, Qiuju, and Dongmei kicked away the stools, Xiahe suddenly jumped off, the white silk slipping from her neck. She sat on the ground, gasping for air, tears finally gushing out. She watched her sisters’ bodies sway slightly in the air, her heart aching like a knife, yet powerless.

“I’m sorry… I’m sorry…” Xiahe murmured, her voice filled with agony and despair.

She just wanted to continue living!

No matter what future hardships she would face, she wanted to continue living.

Xiahe crawled out of the room.

The night wind blew over her.

She felt so cold she was trembling all over.

Looking back at the room and the swaying bodies of her sisters in the night wind, she was so frightened she collapsed on the ground.

….

The next morning.

An’an personally came to the secluded courtyard early. A simple Array was set in the yard, Nanny Ann was guarding the gate, and upon seeing An’an personally arrive, she hurried forward to pay respects:

“Greetings, Patriarch.”

“Mm, how have things been here these few days?”

“Reporting to Patriarch, the Ann Family’s four have been coming out normally for their meals, although looking somewhat haggard, no major disturbances have occurred.”

As for the crying of the Ann Family’s few members, in her view, it was normal.

However.

Compared to previous days, last night they cried even more fiercely. Presumably, they knew they were going to be held accountable and were afraid.

“Mm, open the door.”

“Yes, Patriarch.”

Nanny Ann opened the Array and personally led the way.

However.

Upon entering the yard, the room’s door was open, and three hanging corpses swayed in the wind.

“Oh my, this is…!”

Nanny Ann was startled!

An’an scanned with his Divine Sense, discovering that the three hanging individuals already showed signs of rigor mortis, dead for quite a while, only the central white silk had seemingly snapped midway, and one person lay on the ground, head injured, appearing to be unconscious.