It had been five days since Yuan and his wives bid their farewell to the Imperial Family of the Holy Light Empire, yet they still hadn’t arrived at the Blank Clan. The delay was caused by the heavy snowfall that blanketed the region, turning the roads into a treacherous path of ice and snow.
While Yuan and his wives could travel effortlessly even in such weather thanks to their cultivation, the sa couldn’t be said for Aisha, who was riding in the carriage with Uncle Jones as the driver.
Yuan had been giving instructions to Uncle Jones throughout the journey, and the old man followed his every word without question. The road ahead was hidden beneath a thick layer of snow, and driving the carriage recklessly would have been foolish. But with Yuan and his wives using their Divine Sense, they could see the path as clearly as if the snow didn’t exist at all. Despite the blizzard-like conditions, nothing escaped their gaze.
Eventually, after navigating through the snow-covered wilderness, they arrived near the outskirts of the Blank Clan’s territory. Through their Divine Sense, they could see a massive courtyard and a towering palace that stood proudly at the heart of the territory.
Surrounding the palace were nurous large mansions, forming what looked like a small, isolated town—one hidden deep within the snowy mountains from all directions.
"It feels very nostalgic... I haven’t been to this place in so many years..." Anna said softly, standing beside Yuan atop her flying sword. A strange smile touched her lips as she gazed toward her birthplace.
Grace, however, remained impassive. Her expression was the sa as always—cold and distant, not a single emotion flickered on her face.
"It’s nostalgic, yes... but also just as disgusting as I rember," Grace added, nodding slightly. "We received nothing but cruelty here."
She spoke of the hatred they both endured in the past—the insults hurled at them by their father, the cold shoulders, and the mockery from others in the clan. All because she had once been considered defective, an embarrassnt for lacking the ability to wield mana.
Other than their mother and older sister, no one showed them even an ounce of compassion. But now, everything had changed. They were no longer those pitiful children.
They were powerful cultivators now—beings capable of shattering mountains with their fists and splitting rivers with a sword strike. Their strength far exceeded the imaginations of those who once mocked them.
"We should be arriving at the clan shortly," Uncle Jones said, still driving the carriage through the snow. A faint smile tugged at the corners of his lips.
’Madam will be overjoyed to see her daughters again... and her grandchildren too. I can already picture her excitent,’ he thought, a dazed smile creeping across his face.
Soon, the group reached a massive gate made entirely of shimring ice. Just before the gate stretched a narrow bridge—also crafted from ice—that spanned across a frozen ravine.
Two guards stood on either side of the gate. Strangely enough, they wore nothing more than regular uniforms despite the biting cold around them.
"Aren’t they cold?" Little Zoe asked curiously, her eyes wide as she pointed at the two guards. "How can they wear normal clothes in this freezing weather?"
"The entire estate of our clan is surrounded by many powerful barriers, and one of them keeps the temperature of the estate very comfortable. That’s why we don’t feel cold inside," Aisha replied with a small smile on her face.
Then, glancing at Yuan and his wives, she added, "Get inside the carriage. I don’t want your presence to cause a commotion in the clan."
"Sure. I also don’t want to attract unnecessary attention from the people of your clan for now. It’s too troubleso," Yuan nodded before stepping into the carriage.
His wives followed closely, including Miss Zara and Little Zoe.
Shortly after, the carriage began moving again and crossed the icy bridge. Though made of ice, the bridge was incredibly sturdy—strong enough to bear the weight of a hundred elephants without so much as a crack.
"Open the gate for us. We’re in a hurry," Uncle Jones said to the guards posted at the entrance.
"Welco back, Master Jones. The Clan Head is waiting for the lady’s arrival," one of the guards replied with a smile as they opened the massive gate.
The guards’ expressions brightened with excitent—they were clearly honored by the return of their clan’s beloved princess.
"Lady Aisha, it seems the Clan Head is waiting for you at the Frozen Palace. I wonder what he wants now," Uncle Jones said as he drove the carriage through the main street of the estate.
"I have no idea what that person wants from ," Aisha responded coldly, her tone sharp and filled with disdain. Her eyes turned distant as if recalling unpleasant mories.
’This must be about arranging my marriage with soone from the other nine families among the Ten Great Families... What a pain in the ass,’ she thought with a quiet sigh.
Soon, the carriage arrived before the Frozen Palace—the central headquarters of the Blank Clan. The grand palace was heavily guarded, its entrance flanked by elite guards whose aura rivaled that of top-tier Magic Knights from outside the estate.
"Hey, look! Lady Aisha is back from the Lionheart Empire!"
"She’s been gone so long—I thought she wouldn’t return for years!"
"I thought the sa! But if she’s back now, she must have completed her mission."
"That must be it. After all, she’s the prodigy of our clan!"
The murmurs spread quickly among the guards as they recognized Aisha stepping out of the carriage. Her unannounced return surprised many, as no word had been sent ahead of ti.
A mont later, Yuan and his wives also exited the carriage.
Imdiately, a hush fell over the crowd.
"W-Who are those people with Lady Aisha? And why do those four look so much like her?"
"They really do! Especially their eyes and expressions... Could they be related?"
"And those won... They’re unbelievably beautiful! I’ve never seen such beauty in our clan before!"
Gasps and stunned expressions spread like wildfire among the watching mbers of the clan. Their attention was fully captured by the sudden appearance of Yuan’s wives—graceful, elegant, and radiating an otherworldly charm that seed to outshine even Aisha’s well-known brilliance.
Selvariel was the last to step out of the carriage, and the mont her feet touched the icy ground, every pair of eyes turned toward her. Her presence was divine—an angel, a loyal servant of the gods residing in the High Heaven, now stood among mortals.
"A-A real angel! That’s a real angel!"
"I can’t believe it! I’m in the presence of a real angel!"
The crowd erupted in disbelief and awe, their voices rising as the realization sank in. Clan mbers were shouting left and right, many pointing, gasping, or even kneeling in reverence.
"Ignore them. Let’s head inside. Mother must’ve already received word of our return," Aisha said, unfazed, as she calmly led Yuan and the others into the Frozen Palace.
From the outside, the palace was magnificent. But the interior was even more dazzling—grand halls lined with crystal chandeliers, enchanted ice sculptures, and glimring walls that seed to breathe mana with every breath. Yuan and his wives looked around, quietly impressed by the majesty of the Blank Clan’s main residence.
Shortly, they arrived before a chamber at the heart of the palace. Inside, Angela Blank—the Matriarch of the clan—was resting. Her body had grown weak over ti, leaving her bedridden, relying on help just to move around.
Aisha, Anna, and Grace paused at the threshold. They stood in silence for a brief mont, taking deep breaths. For Anna and Grace, the nervousness was overwhelming—they hadn’t seen their mother in years.
Then, with a soft voice, Aisha broke the silence. "Mother, I’ve returned from the auction. And... I’ve brought a surprise for you."
Inside, a warm, tired voice responded. "You took longer than expected to return, but you still rembered your old mother," Angela said with a smile, sitting upright in her bed, propped up against a thick velvet pillow.
"How could I forget you? There’s no way I could. A few... complicated things happened, so I was delayed," Aisha said softly, sitting by her mother’s side and gently taking her hand, resting her cheek against it affectionately.
"You said you brought a surprise? Don’t tell ... you t a nice man and brought him here to get your mother’s blessings?" Angela teased with a twinkle in her eyes.
Aisha’s cheeks flushed red. "Mom! It’s not what you’re thinking! You completely misunderstood!" she exclaid, flustered.
’I did find a husband, but... he’s your grandson!’ Aisha scread internally, a complex swirl of emotions on her face.
Angela chuckled softly at her daughter’s reaction. "Do you really think I can’t read you? You’re my daughter, Aisha. I know when you’re lying to ."
She was certain. That bashful look on Aisha’s face was unmistakable to a mother—her daughter had clearly found soone.
"I brought so people with , but it’s nothing like what you’re thinking. You’ll understand once you et them," Aisha said, standing up with a composed expression as she turned toward the door.
With a smile, she called out, "Alright, you guys can co in now."
Angela raised an eyebrow, curious. "Who exactly are you calling in?" she asked, turning her attention toward the door with mild anticipation.
Shortly, a strikingly handso young man stepped into the room, followed by three won who looked nearly identical to one another—Anna, Grace, and Selvariel. Their entrance felt like a wave of calm and warmth sweeping through the room.
Angela’s eyes widened the mont her gaze fell on the young man. Her breath caught in her throat as she looked between him and the won following behind.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"A-Are you..." she stamred, her voice trembling. The words refused to leave her lips as her mind tried to make sense of what her eyes were seeing.
Her eyes locked on Yuan’s face, and the resemblance to Anna was unmistakable. It wasn’t just the features—they shared the sa aura, the sa presence, sothing only a mother could recognize in her children and their bloodline.
Yuan took a step forward, his expression calm and gentle.
"Indeed," he said, his voice soft and steady. "I’m your grandson, Yuan."
Angela’s eyes shimred with unshed tears as she looked at him—her body frozen in disbelief and overwhelming emotion.
The room fell into a profound silence, as if even the air was holding its breath.
Yuan stood tall before her, his gaze warm and sincere. In his eyes, there was no pride, no arrogance—only respect and affection for the woman who was now learning of his existence.
User Comments
0 comments from readers