Lin Clan POV
It had been a long time since the Lin Clan severed ties with Seo Lin.
From their perspective, everything had unfolded perfectly.
Seo had been ruined by the Crown Prince, and in the aftermath, the Lin Clan played the role of victims flawlessly. They earned sympathy from the Emperor, gained land, wealth, and—most importantly—connections.
Everything was going exactly as planned.
Until that morning.
A group of women arrived at their gates.
They were dressed in exquisite attire, their bearing elegant yet oppressive. Their mere presence carried an overwhelming aura—one that made even seasoned cultivators uneasy.
No clan in the empire had warriors like these.
Old Master Lin stepped forward, his expression calm but his heart cautious.
"May I ask what brings you here this fine morning?"
The commotion quickly drew the attention of the entire clan. Soon, everyone—from elders to juniors, including Jiang Lin and her so-called brothers—gathered in the grand reception pavilion.
Whispers filled the hall.
Speculation. Unease.
Then—
The woman standing at the center of the group stepped forward and cleared her throat.
Silence fell instantly.
Slowly, she removed the veil covering her face.
And in that moment—
The entire hall went cold.
She was breathtaking.
Every feature was sculpted to perfection, her beauty sharp yet suffocating. But what truly froze their blood…
She looked exactly like Seo.
No—like a more mature, more refined version of the naïve girl they had cast out months ago.
"Seo, you bitch—what are you doing back here?!"
Jake, the youngest son of the main branch, lunged forward without thinking.
The elders' expressions changed instantly.
That woman was not Seo.
And she was dangerous.
"Stop—!"
But it was too late.
Before Jake could take more than a few steps, an invisible force wrapped around his throat, lifting him into the air. His body dangled helplessly, feet kicking as his face turned purple.
The hall fell into dead silence.
"From your reactions…" the woman said, her voice low and edged with irritation, "it seems my daughter was indeed here."
As she spoke, the cloth draped over her shoulders slipped away, revealing a mark at her neck—
A pink lily intertwined with a clover, growing from a skull.
The moment the elders saw it, their last trace of composure shattered.
The Zhen Clan.
Every elder shot to their feet. The rest followed in panic.
"I've asked around," the woman continued, her tone growing colder. "It seems my daughter lived here until recently."
Her gaze swept across them like a blade.
"I also heard… some rather unpleasant rumors."
A pause.
"I trust you'll clear them up."
The pressure in the room became suffocating.
Old Master Lin stepped forward, forcing his voice to remain steady.
"F-From your appearance, it's clear you are little Seo's mother…" he said carefully. "Indeed, she stayed here for some time. However… she left recently for a trip."
He swallowed.
"If you are willing, you may stay and await her return."
The woman studied him.
For a moment, the tension stretched unbearably.
Then—
She exhaled softly and released Jake.
His body dropped to the ground with a thud, unconscious and barely breathing. Servants rushed in to carry him away.
Her gaze lingered on the Lin Clan members one last time before she turned toward the exit.
At the doorway, she paused.
Then slowly turned her head.
Her eyes pierced through them all.
"You had better not be lying."
Her voice dropped—quiet, but filled with killing intent.
"Because if even a single hair on my daughter's head is missing…"
She didn't finish the sentence.
She didn't need to.
Then she left.
Only after her presence completely disappeared did the hall breathe again.
Many collapsed back into their seats, drenched in cold sweat.
Seo's adoptive mother frowned, clearly confused.
"Isn't she just that brat's real mother? What are you all so afraid of? If she tries anything, we can just—"
''Smack''
The sharp sound echoed through the hall.
Old Master Lin's hand trembled as he lowered it, fury blazing in his eyes.
An elder stood up slowly, his voice shaking.
"That woman… was Kaori Zhen. The leader of the Zhen Clan."
Silence.
Then—
Realization hit.
Their faces drained of color.
They had cast out the daughter of someone who could bring the entire empire to its knees.
Panic erupted.
"Find her," Old Master Lin ordered immediately, his voice harsh. "I don't care how—bring her back within three days."
His gaze shifted.
"Jiang Lin, go to the Crown Prince. Inform him of everything. We will need his support."
None of them noticed—
A figure hidden within the shadows of the courtyard, silently listening to every word.
- - -
Meanwhile…
Far from the capital, Seo lounged comfortably on a rocking chair.
She lazily popped spirit grapes into her mouth as the five sisters attended to her, while the drunken beauty leaned nearby, half-asleep.
Peaceful.
Carefree.
Completely unaware of the storm gathering in the capital.
Then—
A bracelet on her wrist flickered with light.
She tapped it.
A small projection formed above it—Meihua's silhouette.
"Seo," she said, her voice filled with excitement, "everything is ready. You can send your people to complete the plan."
Seo smiled faintly.
"Good."
She called over her companions and briefly explained.
Originally, she intended to send Choi and the five sisters ahead.
But after a moment's thought—
She changed her mind.
"I'll go as well."
After all…
Since arriving in this world, all she had seen were endless forests.
It was about time she visited the capital.