Master Xia's face was so dark it seemed to drip water, his wide sleeves billowing even without wind. He slammed his hand on the table, making the teacups clink: "What are you all standing there for? Seize this arrogant brat!"

More than ten guards dressed in black tight-fitting clothes stepped forward in response; they were all cultivators who had entered the Qi cultivation stage.

The group of people aggressively surrounded Bai Ying, but their expressions changed drastically the moment they grabbed her arm—no matter how hard they tried, the seemingly frail girl in front of them remained motionless, like a towering mountain.

"What happened?" Master Xia's eyes widened in anger. "You can't even handle a maid?"

"Master..." The head guard's forehead was covered in beads of sweat, his voice trembling, "Miss... she..."

Before she finished speaking, Bai Ying flicked her long sleeves, and a surge of powerful spiritual energy suddenly erupted. The guards were sent flying like kites with broken strings, crashing heavily against the courtyard wall with dull thuds.

The guests were in an uproar, and the clinking of teacups filled the air.

Pei Qingfeng, the heir of the Marquis of Anding's mansion, snapped his folding fan shut, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.

A flicker of panic crossed Xia Yuwei's eyes, and her brows furrowed slightly. She moved with light, graceful steps, her voice soft yet sharp: "Sister, are you going to disobey Father? Father has treated you so well, not only taking you in but also letting you cultivate with the immortal master. How can you be so ungrateful..."

"Shut up." Bai Ying interrupted coldly, her gaze sweeping over Xia Yuwei's carefully made-up face like a sharp blade. "You've been acting out this 'switching the prince for a cat' trick for long enough."

Master Xia trembled with rage, his finger pointing at Bai Ying shaking uncontrollably: "Rebellion! Utter rebellion!"

He turned to the assembled guests, suppressing his anger, and said, "Please forgive me, everyone, this adopted daughter has been unruly since childhood, and today she dared to..."

"Adopted daughter?" Bai Ying chuckled softly, her voice low but each word piercing. "Father, are you sure you want to continue this lie in front of everyone?" Her eyes were fixed on Xia Qingdai's parents. "Even if you're certain that I don't have concrete evidence to prove I'm your biological daughter, your blood flows in my veins, and I can verify it with a blood test!"

The courtyard fell silent instantly.

Master Xia's face turned deathly pale, and Madam Xia's teacup shattered on the ground with a "crash," the shards of porcelain tearing the hem of her embroidered skirt.

Marquis An Ding slowly rose, his gaze sharp as a sword: "Lord Xia, how should this matter be explained?"

Xia Yuwei was clearly taken aback by Xia Qingdai's words. She quickly grabbed Old Master Xia's arm, her voice trembling with tears, "Father! My sister must have learned some evil magic from there! I've heard that some secret methods can even fake blood kinship tests..." As she spoke, a tear slid down her cheek. "I never imagined she would resort to such a method."

"Exactly!" Master Xia exclaimed, grasping at a straw, "This woman is wicked; to impersonate someone of the Xia family bloodline, she has resorted to such despicable means!" He turned to Marquis Anding, cupping his hands in a gesture of respect, and said, "Your Excellency is wise; this girl's actions are truly hateful..."

Bai Ying watched the farce unfold before her with a cold eye, a wave of indescribable sorrow welling up in her heart for Xia Qingdai.

She could almost see the despair Xia Qingdai had endured over the years.

This poor girl was raised like a pig or a dog by her adoptive parents, and she suffered terribly every day.

When she finally learned that her adoptive parents were not her biological parents, what kind of expectations and hopes must she have had?

Bai Ying seemed to see Xia Qingdai tossing and turning in countless late nights, fantasizing about reuniting with her biological parents; she saw her saving every penny she could to embark on the journey to find her family; she saw her hands, cut by thorns as she trekked through mountains and rivers, and her eyes that always shone with hope.

But when she finally found her biological parents, she was met with a denial that was even more cruel than abandonment.

These so-called parents not only refused to acknowledge her, but also slandered her as a scheming liar and a despicable person who would stop at nothing to curry favor with the powerful.

Bai Ying's fingertips trembled slightly, and Xia Qingdai felt a chill run down her spine.

The cruelest thing in the world is having the flame of hope extinguished by the very people you love.

She could almost imagine how painful it must have been for Xia Qingdai to be treated so differently by them...

Bai Ying narrowed her eyes, her spiritual energy subtly surging, her hair moving without wind. She pointed at Xia Yuwei: "For seventeen years, she enjoyed wealth and luxury, while I fought for food with stray dogs in the marketplace." Her voice was soft, yet everyone heard her clearly. "Now that I've returned, you even deny your own flesh and blood!"

"Sister!" Xia Yuwei's eyes had turned red: "Why did you say such hurtful things?"

She turned to the crowd and said pitifully, "My sister grew up in the countryside, so it's understandable that she longs for her father's love."

I know you also wish you were your parents' biological daughter...

Your father's willingness to take pity on you and adopt you is already an immense blessing for you.

Why would you so cruelly condemn the entire Xia family, sister? This imposter is still an imposter; it can't be changed by mere tricks..."

Bai Ying gave Xia Yuwei a cold glance, a look that made Xia Yuwei unconsciously take a half step back.

"I'll say it one last time," Bai Ying's voice wasn't loud, but each word was clear, "I'm not an adopted daughter. But since you're unwilling to acknowledge me, I naturally won't stay in the Xia family anymore."

Master Xia, enraged, laughed coldly, veins bulging on his forehead: "Fine! Very well! I'd like to see how many days you can live without the Xia family!"

The guests whispered among themselves, their eyes filled with disdain as they looked at Bai Ying.

The young ladies from noble families covered their faces with round fans, exchanging meaningful glances; the young gentlemen shook their heads and sighed, as if they had already foreseen the tragic future of this ignorant and arrogant girl.

Bai Ying glanced around at everyone, a cold smile playing on her lips.

She slowly removed the jade pendant from her waist, a symbol of her Xia family status. The pendant gleamed warmly in the sunlight, the delicate "Xia" character clearly visible on its surface. Before everyone's eyes, she gently placed the pendant on the ground. The crisp sound of it hitting the ground seemed to bring this farce to a close.

"Since Father and Mother are unwilling to acknowledge me as their biological daughter, then I'd rather not be a daughter of the Xia family anymore! From today onwards, I, Xia Qingdai, have absolutely no relation to you."