Bai-Xue felt a presence at the door. She turned and saw her grandfather standing there, framed by the dim light. Her eyes widened.
At this hour...?
Without a moment's hesitation, she ran toward him like a small child, throwing herself into his arms.
"Grandpa! What are you doing here?" she said, voice full of feigned innocence. "Did you miss me? I missed you too—hehe."
Her grip tightened slightly. "I was so scared... what if those goons came back again?"
Jia-Hai's expression remained calm but piercing. His voice was firm, cutting through the air.
"Stop pretending, Bai-Xue. I can see right through you. Don't act weak in front of me."
Bai-Xue tilted her head, pretending to be puzzled.
"Pretending? Grandpa... what are you talking about? Why would I pretend?"
Jia-Hai stepped closer, his gaze intense.
"Enough. I know. Your cultivation core... it's awakened. The same as your mother's. Don't try to hide it."
Bai-Xue's playful expression vanished. With a flick of her hand, all the doors and windows in the room slammed shut simultaneously. The air grew heavy and still, as if the room itself had become sealed.
Her face changed. Her once-soft eyes turned cold and sharp, filled with steel. A faint, dangerous smile curved her lips.
"What do you want?" she asked, her voice calm, sharp, and commanding.
Jia-Hai's chest tightened. The girl in front of him was no longer the child he remembered. She radiated strength, unyielding and composed.
"I don't want anything from you," he said quietly. "I only wanted your trust. But it seems... you won't give it to me."
Bai-Xue raised an eyebrow. "And why should I? What makes you think you deserve it?"
He exhaled slowly, his voice low but sincere.
"Because I am your grandfather... and I want to help you. Nothing more."
Her gaze burned. "Help me? Where were you when I needed it the most? When I was surrounded by demons and abandoned? Where were you then?"
Guilt flashed across his face. His shoulders slumped.
"My greatest mistake... was leaving you there. I never imagined they would harm a thirteen-year-old child. I... I'm sorry, Bai-Xue."
Her eyes blazed. "Sorry? Your apologies mean nothing. It's too late. I will not tell you anything—not now, not ever. For your own safety, you should leave."
Jia-Hai hesitated. Slowly, he raised his palm. A crimson mark glowed faintly on it.
Bai-Xue's eyes widened. She felt a strange warmth and recognition in her soul.
"What... is this? I... I can feel my mother's aura!"
"Yes," Jia-Hai said softly. "This is a trust bond. Your mother gave it to me—a bond of absolute faith and protection."
Bai-Xue's voice softened, almost whispering. "A trust bond?"
He nodded. "A bond formed not through words, but through complete trust. I was your mother's master when she was young. To the world, we were merely in-laws. But to me, she was a daughter, and a friend."
His voice trembled slightly.
"When she died... you lost a mother, but I lost a daughter, and a friend. More than you can imagine. This mark... it was her way of entrusting you to me. And yet, I failed her. That is why... I ask for your trust today."
Bai-Xue's voice grew cold again. "Do you really believe my mother died of illness?"
"No," he said firmly. "There is more... a secret behind her death."
"Then why didn't you try to save her? Or uncover the truth?"
Jia-Hai's lips tightened. "Your mother... she was stubborn. She believed she could handle everything herself. She never let me know the dangers she faced. By the time I realized... it was too late. And this mark... it prevents me from learning the full truth. I can feel her will... she did not want anyone to know how she died."
Bai-Xue's fists clenched. "Then why leave me here? If you loved me, why abandon me?"
"Because of your mother," Jia-Hai said quietly. "She believed this house was the safest place for you. She feared that if you left, unimaginable dangers would follow. I wish I had known what she was hiding... if I had, she might still be alive today."
Bai-Xue's eyes sparkled with determination. "Her secrets will be revealed... by me. No matter how dark they are, I will drag them into the light."
Jia-Hai stepped closer. "Then let me help you. Let me correct my mistakes."
Bai-Xue studied him for a moment, then allowed a faint smile.
"I trust you, Grandpa. But not everything... not yet. You may trust that I am a cultivator... just like my mother. That is enough for now."
Jia-Hai smiled, placing a hand on her head. "If you dare to claim you are strong like her... then you truly are. I am proud of you."
He took a deep breath, his expression turning serious. "Now... tell me what happened that night. The night you were kidnapped."
Bai-Xue's eyes darkened. Her voice was low and cold.
"Ya-Ting and her sister... they tried to kill me."
Jia-Hai's face went stormy.
"Those concubine daughters... how dare they! They dared... to harm you?"
Bai-Xue's lips curved into a faint, cruel smile.
"Yes... and they will pay. One way or another."
Jia-Hai clenched his fists, a mix of anger and sorrow on his face.
"I will make sure they answer for their crimes. You will never face such horrors alone again."
Bai-Xue's gaze softened slightly, but her resolve remained unshakable.
"Good... but this time, Grandpa... we will uncover every secret. And this is only the first step of our revenge."