The grand halls of the Zhao estate loomed ahead, their imposing presence a stark contrast to the cold night outside. The moment she stepped through the threshold, the heavy wooden doors shut behind her with a deep, resounding thud. The air was thick with an air of authority, the kind that demanded obedience without a single word.
Zhao Tian led the way, his tall frame radiating a commanding presence as he strode forward without sparing her another glance. The estate was just as she remembered—vast, adorned with symbols of Zhao honor, and filled with silent, watchful eyes. Servants and disciples of the clan lined the corridors, pausing momentarily as she passed, their expressions unreadable.
She kept her son close, her arms tightening around him as she followed her father through the familiar halls. Memories threatened to resurface, but she pushed them aside. There was no time for the past. Not when the present held far greater dangers.
They entered the main hall, a massive chamber lined with towering pillars, their surfaces engraved with golden dragons. At the far end of the room, an ornate chair sat atop a raised platform—her father's seat of power. The air was cool, yet suffocating.
Zhao Tian finally turned to face her.
"You should not have returned." His voice was calm, but the weight behind it was unmistakable.
She met his gaze unflinchingly. "I had no choice."
A flicker of something unreadable passed through his eyes. "You always have a choice."
She exhaled sharply. "People are hunting him, Father. Strong ones. Cultivators beyond my level."
Zhao Tian's gaze dropped to the child in her arms. His expression remained unreadable, but the slight narrowing of his eyes did not go unnoticed. "The moment you stepped into this house, you brought those threats to my doorstep."
"He is your grandson."
"That does not change the reality of what you have done."
Silence hung between them, heavy and unyielding. The child stirred slightly but remained asleep, unaware of the conflict surrounding him.
She knew this would not be easy. Her father was a man of power, of discipline. He did not tolerate weakness, nor did he bend to sentiment. And yet, she had hoped—hoped that, despite everything, he would not turn them away.
"I need your help." Her voice was steady, but there was an edge of desperation she could not hide. "I need answers."
Zhao Tian studied her for a long moment before stepping forward. His movements were slow, deliberate. He stopped just before her, looking down at the child she held so protectively.
"When did it happen?"
She knew what he was asking. "The night he opened his eyes."
A barely perceptible shift in his expression. "Describe it."
She hesitated, then spoke. "The air turned heavy. The winds howled. The ground trembled as if the heavens themselves had taken notice. And then, there was silence."
A shadow crossed his face. "And the Soul Mirror?"
"It shattered."
A slow exhale. Zhao Tian straightened, turning away as he clasped his hands behind his back. He stared at the vast tapestries lining the chamber walls, his gaze distant.
"This child is marked by fate," he said at last. "His existence alone will shake the balance of the world."
"I don't care about fate," she said firmly. "I only care about keeping him safe."
He turned back to her, his sharp eyes piercing through her resolve. "You misunderstand. If you truly wish to protect him, you must accept the truth—you cannot hide him forever."
Her grip on her son tightened. "Then what do you suggest?"
He was silent for a moment before speaking. "The great sects, the royal clans, and the unseen forces of this world—they will come for him. You must be prepared."
A chill ran down her spine. "And if I refuse?"
His gaze did not waver. "Then you will not leave this estate alive."
Her breath caught. The words were spoken without malice, without anger. They were simply fact.
She should have expected this. Her father was not a man who allowed risks to fester. If he deemed her son too dangerous to exist… he would not hesitate to act.
Slowly, she lowered her gaze to her child's peaceful face. The warmth of his tiny body against hers was the only thing anchoring her in this moment.
She had fought to protect him before.
She would do it again.
Even if it meant standing against her own blood.
"I will not let you harm him." Her voice was quiet but firm, unwavering.
Zhao Tian studied her for a long time. Then, to her surprise, a faint, almost imperceptible smile tugged at the corner of his lips.
"You are your mother's daughter, after all."
She frowned. "What—"
But before she could question him further, the great doors of the hall burst open.
A messenger stumbled inside, breathless, his robes disheveled. He fell to his knees before Zhao Tian, pressing his forehead against the cold floor.
"My Lord! The eastern scouts have returned—there are riders approaching the village. Armed. Powerful."
Zhao Tian's expression hardened instantly. "How many?"
"Dozens. Perhaps more. And at their head… a man wielding an aura unlike any we have ever seen."
A tense silence filled the hall.
Zhao Tian turned back to his daughter, his gaze unreadable once more. "It seems your enemies have found you."
Her heart pounded.
Outside, the winds howled once more.
End of Chapter 18