Mo Yanyu's dark-element hands moved swiftly, neatly packing her belongings into a simple traveling bag. The room was silent but for the faint rustle of fabric—until the door burst open with a loud crash.
Mo Jingxia stormed inside, his presence thick with rage.
"Father, I'm a grown woman," Mo Yanyu said without turning. Her voice was calm, almost cold. "As a man, you shouldn't barge into a woman's room like this."
"You still have the nerve to lecture me?!" Mo Jingxia's voice thundered, brown elemental energy leaking from his body like smoke. "Do you even realize what you've done? If Han Tianming had been seriously injured, I'd break your bones myself!"
Mo Yanyu ignored him, slinging the bag over her shoulder. She finally turned to face him, her dark eyes distant and unyielding.
"I'm leaving, Father," she said evenly. "Don't force this marriage on me when I return."
Mo Jingxia's fists trembled with rage. "Where do you think you're going? After the disgrace you've caused, you expect to just walk away? You're coming with me to apologize to the Han Clan!"
Mo Yanyu met his furious gaze without flinching. Her voice softened, but it was filled with an sadness.
"Do you know how long I've wanted to leave this place?" she whispered. "I stayed because I thought... maybe Mother would come back." She paused, then shook her head. "But she's not coming back. And neither am I."
Dark energy exploded from her, swirling around her like a living cloak. In the blink of an eye, her figure blurred—and vanished.
Mo Jingxia stood frozen, stunned. He unleashed his energy in every direction, desperately searching for her aura—but she was already gone.
His face twisted in fury as he roared, "YOU... LIKE MOTHER, LIKE DAUGHTER! BOTH OF YOU ARE NOTHING BUT DISGRACEFUL TRAITORS!"
His voice shook the entire Mo Clan.
---
Meanwhile, in the Han Clan—
"Aghhh! That bitch! How dare she injure me!" Han Tianming howled, clutching his bruised arm as he barked orders at his subordinates. "Find her—catch her—and bring her back to me!"
His lips twisted into a sick grin. "Once we capture her, I'll definitely enjoy her body, heheh..."
From a distance, the Han Clan's Grand Elder watched with a heavy sigh. He shook his head, his expression grim.
"The young master can't even handle a simple defeat. He's unfit to lead."
An elder beside him nodded gravely. "Looks like we have no choice but to prepare Tianxue as the future clan head."
"But she's a woman," another elder protested.
"Do we really have any other option? The Royal Gathering is approaching. We can't present someone like Tianming."
There was a heavy silence before another elder murmured, "Maybe we could still reform Tianming? With strict training—"
"No," the Grand Elder cut him off with a grim chuckle. "Five years of effort, and he's still the same: arrogant, narrow-minded, weak. Only good at pretending."
"I have to admit," another elder said dryly, "in terms of putting on an act, he even outperforms Tianxue."
As they spoke, Han Tianming stormed back into his chambers, slamming the door behind him. Inside, two women awaited him.
---
Elsewhere in the Han Estate—
Han Tianxue strode down the corridor, her boots echoing sharply against the stone floor.
Her short black hair clung damply to her forehead and nape, sweat glistening against her bronze-toned skin. Her angular, handsome face was flushed from hours of harsh training, untouched by cosmetics yet radiant in its natural strength.
She wore tailored men's clothing: a crisp shirt tucked into fitted trousers that clung to her muscular frame. Sleeves rolled up, forearms dusted with fine dark hair.
A group of men approaching her stiffened immediately, bowing their heads and stepping aside.
"Get back to work," Han Tianxue said, flicking her fingers dismissively. Without daring to meet her gaze, they quickly scattered.
She walked until she reached a heavy door, ajar. Without hesitation, she pushed it open.
Inside, the air reeked of sweat and incense.
Han Tianming lay sprawled across a low bed, his body moving rhythmically atop a woman who whimpered beneath him. Another woman knelt at the side, watching, touching herself.
At the sound of the door opening, Han Tianming snapped his head up, his sweaty hair plastered to his forehead.
"Elder Sister... what are you doing here? Get out!" he snarled, resuming his savage pace, the woman beneath him gasping.
Han Tianxue stood in the doorway, her face unreadable. Her gaze briefly swept the scene, then she exhaled slowly through her nose, her jaw tightening.
Without a word, she stepped back, pulling the door shut with a soft click.
In the empty corridor, she leaned briefly against the wall, her eyes closing.
"At least... he's not seriously hurt," she muttered under her breath, but she was disappointment with her brother.
After a moment, she straightened her shoulders and walked away.
(End of Chapter)