Chapter 4 and 5: The Day of Reckoning
---
Chapter 4: The Day of Reckoning
The Ling estate was buzzing with excitement. Servants scurried across the vast courtyard, decorating the grand hall with golden silk and fragrant incense. A lavish feast was being prepared, exotic dishes carried in and out of the kitchen.
It was all for one person—Ling Yue.
The eldest daughter of the Ling family, the Celestial Frost Sect's rising star, and the pride of the household.
But today was also Ling Huai's thirteenth birthday.
No one had mentioned it.
Not a single word.
As she sat by the window in her isolated courtyard, watching the estate come alive with celebration, she felt neither sadness nor resentment—only determination.
She had already given up on expecting love from this family. Today, she would carve her own path.
---
A Beauty's Return
As the sun reached its peak, a luxurious white jade carriage rolled through the grand gates of the Ling estate, pulled by spirit stallions.
The moment the carriage stopped, the servants lined up, heads bowed in respect. The doors opened, and Ling Yue stepped out.
She was breathtaking.
Her long silky black hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. Her skin was smooth, glowing like polished porcelain. Her full, natural red lips curled slightly, her button nose adding a delicate charm to her striking features. She had a curvy, well-proportioned figure, her every step exuding grace and power.
Draped in elegant blue robes embroidered with silver frost flowers, she carried herself with the poise of a celestial fairy descending from the heavens.
"She's even more beautiful than before…" one of the maids whispered in awe.
"Of course," another chimed in. "She trained in the Celestial Frost Sect—one of the strongest sects in the continent. They say she's already reached the Core Formation realm at sixteen!"
"A genius! She will bring honor to the Ling family!"
Hearing these words, Ling Huai smirked coldly from her window.
They worshipped Ling Yue like she was some celestial goddess. But to her, beauty and talent alone weren't enough. Power was the only thing that mattered.
And she would prove it soon.
---
A Locked Bird
Just as she was about to return to her meditation, a loud bang echoed outside her door.
"Miss, the Patriarch has ordered that you remain in your courtyard for the day."
Ling Huai's expression darkened. "Why?"
The maid outside let out a mocking chuckle. "It's obvious, isn't it? The Eldest Miss has returned. You—" she sneered, "—are an embarrassment. The Patriarch doesn't want you ruining her grand entrance."
Ling Huai clenched her fists, nails digging into her palms. An embarrassment?
She took a deep breath, suppressing her anger. She would let them have their moment—for now.
Turning away from the door, she walked to the center of her room.
It was time.
Today, she would take the final step in cleansing her body.
---
The Infamous Technique
She sat cross-legged, her breathing steady.
From her sleeve, she pulled out a thin, aged scroll—the "Celestial Beast Sovereign Art."
This was no ordinary technique.
It was a forbidden art, feared and lost in history. Not only did it grant unparalleled martial strength, but it also contained beast taming abilities, allowing the user to communicate and command spirit beasts.
It was infamous because those who practiced it either perished or became terrifying existences that shook the world.
Ling Huai had stumbled upon this scroll in her past life. And now, it would be her greatest weapon.
She unraveled the parchment, running her fingers over the ancient characters.
Without hesitation, she closed her eyes and began.
A powerful force surged through her veins. Unlike ordinary cultivation techniques, which required gathering Qi from the world, this one drew power from her very essence—stripping her of all weaknesses and refining her body to perfection.
Suddenly, pain erupted in her core.
Her body convulsed as she felt something inside her shatter.
Then, the impurities—thick, black sludge—began pouring from her pores, drenching her entire body in a sticky, foul-smelling liquid.
Her muscles trembled. Her bones cracked and reformed, strengthening under the immense pressure.
It was agonizing.
Yet she endured.
Minutes turned into hours.
By the time it was over, she collapsed onto the cold wooden floor, gasping for breath. Her entire body was covered in filth, but beneath the grime, her skin had transformed—soft, smooth, and glowing like jade.
She had done it.
She had completely cleansed her body.
And for the first time in her two lives, she felt it.
Qi.
Pure, boundless energy surged in her dantian.
She clenched her fists, her body pulsing with newfound strength.
She had finally begun her cultivation journey.
---
A Vow to Herself
As she slowly stood up, she caught her reflection in the bronze mirror.
Gone was the sickly, frail girl.
In her place stood someone reborn—with clear, sharp eyes and a body radiating power.
She removed her outer robes and cleaned herself, not sparing a single trace of the impurities. She even performed acupuncture on herself, ensuring that her meridians were perfectly aligned.
As she wiped her face, she smirked.
Her sister was returning as a goddess.
Then she would rise as a sovereign.
She would prove to them who the true Ling family genius was.
And when the time came, they would all kneel before her.
--
Chapter 5: The Summons and the Hidden Plot
Ling Huai sat cross-legged on her bed, her breathing steady as she absorbed the surrounding spiritual energy. It was faint, almost nonexistent, but she persisted, guiding it through her meridians. Though her body was still weak, she could already feel the change—the frailty that once chained her was beginning to fade.
She was no longer powerless.
Just as she was about to deepen her meditation, a sharp knock sounded on her door.
"Miss Ling Huai, the Master has summoned you to the main hall."
Her brows furrowed.
Father? Summoning her?
For as long as she could remember, Ling Feng had treated her as nothing more than an unfortunate blemish on the Ling Clan. He rarely acknowledged her existence, and when he did, it was with nothing but disdain. Why was he calling for her now?
Straightening her robes, she stepped out.
---
The grand hall loomed before her, its golden pillars and intricate carvings a display of the Ling Clan's wealth and prestige.
At the head of the hall sat Ling Feng, the patriarch of the clan. His sharp features and regal bearing exuded authority, while beside him sat his wife, Lady Xu, her delicate face an image of cold elegance.
Ling Huai had inherited their looks—her mother's ethereal beauty and her father's refined features—but to them, she was nothing more than an eyesore.
Their expressions were unreadable as she approached, but when her father's gaze landed on her, his face instantly twisted with disgust.
In contrast, when his eyes shifted to the woman standing beside him, warmth filled them.
Ling Yue.
The celebrated beauty of the Ling Clan. Her long, silky black hair cascaded down her back, her full red lips curved in an elegant smile. She was the pride of the family—the one everyone adored, the one Ling Huai was constantly compared to.
Ling Huai could feel the elders' scrutinizing gazes, their expressions a mix of disappointment and disdain.
"She's still so weak."
"A disgrace to the Ling bloodline."
"With such parents, how could she turn out like this?"
She didn't need to hear the words to know what they were thinking. She had lived with their judgment her entire life.
Lady Xu barely spared her a glance before sipping her tea, as if she wasn't worth her attention.
Then Ling Feng finally spoke.
"Ling Huai, you are to leave for the Misty Forest tomorrow at dawn."
She stiffened.
"The Misty Forest?"
Her father's voice was cold as he continued, "There is a rare Moonlight Leaf that the clan requires for alchemy. You will retrieve it and return."
Silence filled the hall.
Ling Huai's fingers curled slightly.
The Misty Forest was a treacherous land, filled with dangerous spirit beasts. Even skilled cultivators hesitated to venture too deep without proper protection. And yet, she—someone who had just started to recover her strength—was being sent there?
Then she noticed it—the faint smirk on Ling Yue's lips, the amusement flickering in her eyes.
Realization struck.
This wasn't a mission.
It was an exile.
"To ensure your safety," her father added, "you will be accompanied by a group of guards."
For a brief moment, suspicion flickered in her heart.
Then, a figure stepped forward.
She recognized them immediately—the lowest-ranked guards in the clan.
Men who had failed to advance in cultivation, barely stronger than ordinary people.
A cruel joke.
Her father wasn't sending her to complete a task. He was sending her to her death.
Ling Huai's gaze darkened, but she kept her voice steady. "I understand, Father. I will prepare."
As she turned to leave, Ling Yue's voice rang out, dripping with mockery. "Try not to embarrass the Ling name while you're out there, little sister. Some places are simply too dangerous for someone… fragile."
Laughter echoed through the hall.
Ling Huai didn't react.
She simply walked away, her heart colder than ever.
If they wanted her gone, she would go.
But she would return stronger than they ever imagined.
And when she did, they would regret the day they cast her aside.
---
That night, she sat by her window, gazing at the moonlit sky.
"The Misty Forest, huh…?"
A flicker of excitement stirred within her.
It was time to leave this cage.
To take the first step toward her revenge.
---
End of Chapter 5
(Word count: ~1604)