Chapter Eighteen: Confrontation

At this moment, the grand courtyard of the Chu family was filled with the leaders of every sect, all having hurried through the night upon receiving invitations from the Martial Alliance Leader. Yet, upon arriving, they were only intermittently greeted by maids serving tea and water; the Alliance Leader himself was nowhere to be seen. Faces were filled with confusion and doubt.

It wasn't long before the murmurs began. After all, they had rushed here without rest, and at the very least, the Alliance Leader should have come out to greet them. But—contrary to his usual reputation for courtesy—the Alliance Leader had kept them waiting from noon until dusk without so much as a word.

As the maids dwindled away, the once-pampered sect leaders were reduced to pouring their own tea. The hum of conversation ebbed lower and lower, until silence reigned, broken only by the rustling of leaves stirred by the wind in the courtyard.

The oppressive stillness was suffocating.

All present were masters in their own right, and each sensed that something was amiss. Their vigilance heightened, they missed not the faintest trace of movement. Their expressions shifted between ease and tension, brows gradually knitting in thought. Hands tightened around their weapons, and several made to leave—such an eerie atmosphere was not one to linger in.

Just as someone stepped out of the main hall, a woman in white drifted into view, borne on a chill gust of wind. Every sect leader felt their pores tighten, their faces growing ever grimmer as they prepared themselves for a desperate struggle.

Who was this woman? Why did instinct scream that her power surpassed their own? Why did she wear a silver mask? The cold aura she exuded made them shudder; who could she possibly be?

Why was her presence so reminiscent of the Silver Fox, who had vanished years ago? Could it be... no, impossible! The Silver Fox was said to have been assassinated four years ago! Then who was this woman?

“Why are you all in such a hurry to leave? The Alliance Leader has yet to properly receive you,” the woman in white said as she approached, her voice as melodious as a celestial harp, yet biting with a chill to the bone. The face behind the mask only deepened their curiosity.

“And you are?” An elderly man studied the new arrival, his eyes filled with suspicion. His experience told him she had broken through the limits that ordinary martial artists never could, having stepped into the realm of the arcane.

“Me? I am merely a subordinate of the Alliance Leader—hardly worth Elder Yue’s concern.” Her tone remained indifferent.

Elder Yue, the aged man, was taken aback by her reply. Why did he feel an inexplicable sense of unease?

A younger, exceptionally gifted man was even more suspicious after hearing her words. Relying on his own talents, he grew arrogant, laughing as he sprang forward to snatch away her mask. As he moved, lamentations rang out from behind him, yet unable to stop, he pressed on.

The woman’s silver whip flashed, and the young man plummeted from the air. All present gasped: the heir of the Silver Fox! Many retreated in fear, their previous composure utterly lost, replaced by panic alone.

“May I ask who you truly are?”

Respected Elder Yue stepped forward, instantly overwhelmed by a powerful aura. His calm vanished, cold sweat beading on his brow as he used every ounce of inner strength to keep from being flung away.

The woman in white laughed softly. “Does Elder Yue truly wish to know?”

“Of course.”

“Very well, then I shall show my true face.”

With that, she gently removed her mask, revealing the face of a girl barely out of childhood—yet an inborn chill radiated from her bones, starkly at odds with her youthful features.

The hall erupted in shocked whispers—Yinling? Impossible!

Just days ago she had been a naive, innocent girl; yet now, she seemed utterly transformed. No disguise could so perfectly mimic such natural innocence. What on earth was happening?

“Now you all know who I am, don’t you?” Yinling’s eyes darted around the room.

Instinctively, heads nodded.

“Anyone who has seen my true face and knows my power must keep this secret!” Yinling remained calm and unhurried, capturing every nuance of their reactions.

Yet the assembly failed to understand, faces clouded with confusion.

“You all know,” Yinling paused deliberately, piquing their dread, “that only the dead can keep a secret!”

A frigid chill swept through them. Panic broke out, and some scrambled to escape.

The silver whip lashed out behind them, extending without end, encircling everyone in an instant. Those who had tried and failed to flee fell lifeless beneath the whip, eyes wide in terror, fixed upon the weapon that had struck them down—dying with fear frozen on their faces.

In the blink of an eye, only ten remained—ten of the most influential figures of the martial world. They exchanged glances, their expressions regaining composure as they faced this uncanny girl. Yinling was unsurprised; these men and women had survived countless massacres—such scenes were hardly novel to them.

“Is Miss Yinling truly the Silver Fox’s orphaned child?” Elder Yue’s gaze grew resolute, confirming what everyone had suspected.

Yinling smiled as if to say, “Isn’t it obvious?”

It was strange—she had intended to show her true identity, yet a sudden urgent message from her master had ordered her to impersonate the Silver Fox’s orphan…

“Yes, indeed.”

“Otherwise, why would I be called Yinling?”

After a round of discussion, they accepted her identity, steeling themselves for a battle with no way back. Silence fell between the two sides.

Suddenly, laughter rang out before the person appeared. “Ha! Who would dare impersonate the Silver Fox’s orphan?”

A figure in blue stood atop the eaves, disdain flashing in her eyes. A jet-black whip hung at her side; her half-revealed, stunning face betrayed her identity as the Serpent Lady, Silver Yao.

“Silver Yao? The Serpent Lady?” The elders exchanged glances, all believing her intervention was foolish, yet admiring her courage.

“Serpent Lady, leave now!” Elder Yue urged kindly. He knew that if at least one person survived to spread the word, the truth would not die here. Since the Serpent Lady stood outside the circle of danger, and her skills were formidable, she stood a good chance of survival.

“Serpent Lady? Silver Yao? Ha!” Yinling mused, then burst into laughter, leaping up to face Silver Yao atop the roof.

“Why impersonate the Silver Fox’s orphan? You are not Linger—so who are you?”

Suspicion gnawed at Silver Yao. Who would impersonate her? And where was Linger? The person before her was surely an imposter.

Yinling smirked. “And what if I am not the Silver Fox’s heir, nor Yinling—then who is?”

The elders within the courtyard worried for the Serpent Lady; they had seen Yinling’s powers firsthand. No matter how skilled Silver Yao was, could she truly contend with otherworldly might?

“Oh? So you do not intend to deal honestly with me?” Silver Yao remained calm, secretly pleased to have discovered such power by chance—even if her own identity was being used, which warranted investigation.

“Haha! And are you being honest?” Yinling replied with equal boldness. With her power, what had she to fear? This was mere sport.

Silver Yao fell silent, doubts gnawing at her heart. Could it be that Yinling knew something? But her own disguise should have been flawless. Who was this woman—an enemy or an ally?

“Ah, so Miss Yinling knows who I am?” Silver Yao probed, not naming herself, to see if Yinling’s knowledge was genuine.

“Perhaps. But I believe you are not yet willing to admit your true self, are you?” Yinling’s words struck unerringly at Silver Yao’s inner thoughts.

“That’s true. It seems Miss Yinling does indeed know something.” Silver Yao was convinced the woman before her knew at least part of the truth. Clearly, all witnesses would have to be silenced.

----- Author’s Note -----
It’s May 20th! I had planned to update at 13:14, but the system doesn’t allow for that time—what a pity! Hope everyone has a joyful day~ o(n_n)o