Between Brothers

Yang Fan held the letter in his hands, his expression shifting between shadows and light, his fingers trembling slightly as his emotions wavered. In his other hand, he cradled a jade pendant, its azure hue gleaming like the finest gemstone, the material unknown, but it exuded an air of otherworldly beauty.

"Elder Brother…" Yang Huixin stood nearby, a hint of concern furrowing her brow. 

It was evident that something within the envelope had unsettled him, prompting a rare change in his usually calm demeanor. Moreover, Yang Fan had no intention of revealing the contents of the letter to his sister.

After a long pause, he exhaled a heavy breath, allowing his countenance to return to its tranquil state. With a flick of his fingers, a flickering flame consumed the letter, reducing it to ash.

"Elder Brother, what has transpired?" Yang Huixin could no longer contain her curiosity.

"Dear sister, this matter is of no concern to you; it pertains to the grievances of the cultivation world," he replied flatly, though his features betrayed an unease that had not been present before.

"About the jade pendant you hold…" Yang Huixin's gaze fell upon it, intrigued.

"This was a relic left behind by our father, with explicit instructions that it was to be entrusted to me," Yang Fan explained, attaching the azure pendant securely to himself, his eyes reflecting a flicker of nostalgia.

"Sister, tell me, during our younger brother's last visit to Wuliu Town, was there anything unusual?" Yang Fan's voice took on a serious tone as he questioned her.

Yang Huixin pondered for a moment, her voice laced with memories. "Since you departed, he has visited twice. The first time was the very afternoon you left, and he appeared anxious and disappointed. Strangely, he stayed home for two whole days, acting rather mysteriously. Upon his last return, he assured me he had warned Fat Li not to trouble me again, claiming he would protect me and our mother like you used to…"

"When he visited the second time, I noticed he had changed significantly; there was a fierceness in his expression, a newfound arrogance, as though he had gained a higher status within the family." 

Yang Huixin shared everything she knew, unconcealed and candid, for she felt an inexplicable trust in her elder brother.

Yang Fan fell into contemplation, his thoughts flickering with uncertainty. After a moment, he sighed deeply, "Regardless of the circumstances, he is still my brother. In a few days, once the clinic is stable, I shall make my way to Yang Family Fortress."

Upon hearing this, Yang Huixin released a breath she hadn't realized she was holding. "I fear for any conflict between you and our younger brother…"

"He still sees me as a waste. He thinks that merely because he has some resources now, he can stride boldly through the cultivation world…" Yang Fan replied, a hint of mockery creeping into his smile.

"Your brother is merely young and impetuous; it's only natural that he carries a bit of arrogance. Do not take it to heart," Yang Huixin urged gently.

"He possesses not just ambition and brilliance but also a sizable measure of ambition… I can only hope that one day I can help him clean up the mess he makes," Yang Fan murmured softly to himself before stepping out of his sister's room.

As Yang Huixin watched her brother's retreating figure, a perplexed expression crossed her face. She mused inwardly, "What on earth is in that letter that has seemingly driven a wedge between my brother and our younger sibling? Could it have something to do with our father, whom I have never met?"

Lost in her thoughts, she couldn't fathom the deeper connections at play, despite her cleverness and insight.

After returning to his own chamber, Yang Fan entered his "omniscient mode," thoroughly scanning every corner of the house for any anomalies. 

Repeatedly, he found nothing amiss.

"It's strange… How did my younger brother discover the location of the treasures our father left behind?" Yang Fan wondered, baffled. He recalled his sister mentioning that during his younger brother's stay, he had acted peculiarly secretive. 

Clearly, Yang Lei had uncovered some clue in the house leading to the treasures, a legacy left by their father, Yang Tian, who had mysteriously vanished.

Yang Fan learned of this fortune through the letter from his brother. As he had suspected, Yang Lei's visit home had indeed been an attempt to seek out valuable resources from Yang Fan's storage bag, but fate had conspired against him; Yang Fan had already departed.

However, Yang Lei had stumbled upon a lead while at home, which led him to the hidden treasure.

As for what treasures Yang Lei had discovered at their father's abandoned site, he remained tight-lipped, hoarding all the findings for himself. Nevertheless, the jade pendant, clearly designated for Yang Fan by their father, had been left in the house to be passed on by Yang Huixin.

The letter conveyed Yang Lei's boundless confidence and ambition, declaring his intent to avenge Yang Fan's past grievances and elevate their family's name in the cultivation world, all while shouldering the burden of their father's disappearance, clearly portraying a desire to assume control over the family affairs.

Emboldened by the newfound riches, Yang Lei's cultivation had significantly advanced, setting him on a collision course with the previously unparalleled third-generation disciple, Yang Guang, as they vied for supremacy among their peers.

"Brother, you act with such reckless abandon! It's one thing to seize our father's legacy for yourself, but your ambitions are laid bare for all to see. This world of cultivation is not as simplistic as you believe…" Yang Fan pondered for a long while, feeling a mix of exasperation and concern.

What irked him most was not just that Yang Lei had appropriated their father's treasures but also that he had unilaterally taken command, neglecting to mention their father's fate or the clues he had uncovered. Yang Fan's greatest worry, however, lay in the burgeoning ambition he sensed within his brother's words.

Shifting his focus back to the azure pendant, he examined it closely, even probing with his spiritual sense, yet he found no discernible oddity; it was simply a strikingly unique piece, akin to a treasure from the mortal realm.

This pendant had been specifically entrusted to him by their father. What secrets might it hold?

"Why was it my father's wish to leave this to me and not to my brother? Could it somehow be linked to my unknown mother…" 

Suddenly, an epiphany struck Yang Fan. He realized that he and Yang Lei were, in fact, half-brothers. Their father, Yang Tian, had likely had a dual cultivation partner in the world of cultivation before marrying a mortal woman in Wuliu Town. As for Yang Huixin, she had been adopted into the family.

In essence, they were a blended family, woven together by an intricate web of relationships and unspoken secrets.

That night, despite returning to a tranquil routine, Yang Fan found it difficult to find peace within himself. 

Two matters preoccupied his mind.

The first was, of course, his brother Yang Lei.

The second was the plight of the new clinic, which faced pressure from the combined forces of Fat Li and Hu Bansian. This too gnawed at his heart.

For he knew well that establishing the clinic was not merely about healing others; it was a silent endeavor to enhance his own cultivation. 

Without popularity, how could he attract cultivators to seek healing?

Thus, the next day, after finishing breakfast at home, Yang Fan made his way to the "Pulai Clinic." 

From this day forward, he resolved to take charge personally, daring anyone to challenge him.