The grand hall of the Zhao Clan was as imposing as she remembered. Tall pillars lined the walls, carved with intricate depictions of legendary warriors and divine beasts. Golden lanterns cast a soft glow over the polished floors, but the warmth of their light did nothing to ease the tension in the air.
Zhao Tian sat at the head of the chamber, his presence undeniable. His sharp, calculating eyes locked onto his daughter as she stepped forward, cradling her child in her arms. Around him, the elders of the Zhao Clan sat in silence, their expressions unreadable.
She knew this was not a welcome return.
She stood firm. "Father, I need your help."
Zhao Tian exhaled slowly, his gaze shifting to the sleeping infant in her arms. "You left this family behind years ago," he said, his tone even but cold. "And now, you return… bringing trouble with you."
Her jaw tightened. "I never asked for this."
"No," he agreed. "But trouble has followed you nonetheless."
A murmur spread among the elders. Some whispered in disapproval, others watched in quiet curiosity. The weight of their stares pressed down on her, but she refused to waver.
One of the elders leaned forward, his voice laced with suspicion. "Is it true that the Soul Mirror shattered the night your son's eyes opened?"
She hesitated for only a fraction of a second. "Yes."
The murmurs grew louder.
Another elder, an aged woman with sharp eyes, narrowed her gaze. "Such a phenomenon has not occurred in centuries. Do you understand what this means?"
She did. But she did not want to hear it from them.
Zhao Tian leaned forward, his fingers interlocking. "Your son… is an anomaly."
"He is my son," she snapped, anger flaring in her chest. "That is all that should matter."
Zhao Tian regarded her with the same unreadable gaze he had always carried. "And yet, the world sees him differently. You were followed here, were you not?"
She stiffened. "Yes."
"By whom?"
She hesitated. "I do not know. They wore masks, but they were powerful."
A heavy silence filled the hall. The elders exchanged glances, their expressions grim.
Finally, Zhao Tian spoke. "You have placed this clan in danger."
Her grip on her child tightened. "I had no choice."
"There are always choices," he said, his tone sharp. "And now, we must make one."
One of the younger elders, a man with a thin mustache, cleared his throat. "The child is dangerous. If the great sects and the royal clans learn he is here, they will come. We may not be able to protect him."
Another elder nodded. "If we harbor him, we invite disaster upon ourselves."
The suggestion in their words was clear. She felt a cold fury rise within her.
"I will not let you harm him," she said, her voice unwavering.
Zhao Tian did not answer immediately. Instead, he rose from his seat, stepping down from the dais until he stood before her. For the first time, she saw something flicker in his expression—something almost like conflict.
"I do not intend to harm him," he said at last. "But neither can I ignore the consequences of his existence."
She swallowed hard, her heart pounding. "Then what will you do?"
Zhao Tian glanced toward the elders, then back at her. "For now, he will remain under this clan's protection."
The elders murmured in protest, but he silenced them with a single raised hand. "However," he continued, "this protection comes with a cost."
Her breath caught. "What cost?"
Zhao Tian's gaze hardened. "You will prove that he is worth protecting. You will regain your place in this clan, earn back the trust you abandoned. And if you fail…"
He did not finish the sentence.
He did not have to.
She understood.
This was not just a test for her.
It was a test for her son.
And she would not fail.
End of Chapter 19