The sandalwood incense in the main hall of the Ikegami family rose gently, but it couldn't dispel the heavy atmosphere. Ikegami was kneeling in the main seat, with the letter he had read more than a dozen times on his lap. The handwriting on the paper was indeed Ikegami Aya's—that unique upward-sloping stroke to the right, which no one could imitate.
"Master, everyone has arrived," the old steward whispered from outside the door.
Ikegami took a deep breath, carefully folded the letter, and tucked it into his pocket. When he pushed open the sliding door, his face was already filled with a smug expression.
The twelve family elders stood on either side, with several outstanding members of the younger generation seated at the very end. All eyes were focused on the patriarch—the Ikegami family hadn't held a full meeting in a long time since the destruction of the gene laboratory and Aya Ikegami's departure.
"Gentlemen," Ikegami said, his voice booming as he surveyed the crowd, "a turning point has arrived."
Elder Yuta Ikegami frowned: "The patriarch refers to..."
"Aya has written." Chishang pulled the letter from his robes. "Not only is she safe and sound, but she has also brought a tremendous opportunity to our Chishang family!"
These words, like a pebble thrown into still water, stirred up a murmur of discussion. The Third Elder, Kenjiro Ikegami, slammed his fist on the table and stood up abruptly: "That traitor still has the nerve to contact the family? She's caused us to lose so many resources!"
"Kenji-sama, please calm down." Ikegami calmly unfolded the letter. "Aya said in her letter that a 'great person' will be visiting our Ikegami family in the next couple of days to assist us..." He paused deliberately, building suspense, "...to unify the ancient martial arts world of Japan."
The hall fell silent instantly. Shota Ikegami, a member of the younger generation, couldn't help but exclaim, "How is this possible? The Makino family is powerful now. Although the Miyamoto family has also suffered considerable setbacks, they have the support of the imperial family. We..."
"Shota!" Yuta Ikegami shouted sharply, "Watch your manners in front of the head of the family!"
Ikegami waved his hand to indicate he didn't mind: "Shota-kun's concerns are not without merit. But Aya mentioned in her letter that this 'important person' can provide us with what we desperately need—" He lowered his voice, "the complete formula for the gene serum, and a secret method to counter the Makino family's Netherworld Technique."
Another commotion erupted. This time, even the most composed Yuta Ikegami's expression changed: "Master, this is no small matter. Miss Aya has been gone for a long time, and suddenly such news comes back... could it be..."
"A trap?" Ikegami sneered. "Yuta-kun is overthinking it. No matter how willful Aya is, she still carries the blood of the Ikegami family." He stroked the edge of the letter. "Besides, the letter mentions details that only my daughter and I know..."
Fifth Elder Misaki Ikegami suddenly spoke up: "Patriarch, please forgive my bluntness. The catalyst for Miss Aya's departure from home was your plan to arrange a marriage between her and the Makino family. Will she truly help the family despite past grievances?"
The temperature inside the hall plummeted. Ikegami squinted—Misaki was one of the few in the family who had openly opposed the arranged marriage plan, and she was also Ikegami Aya's swordsmanship teacher when she was young.
"Misaki-kun," Ikegami Masashi said, emphasizing each word, "Personal grudges are insignificant compared to the interests of the family. Since Aya has taken the initiative to contact you, she must have already understood this."
He clapped his hands, and a servant immediately presented an exquisite sandalwood box. Ikegami lifted the lid, and inside lay half a broken jade pendant—the very family heirloom he had personally placed on Ikegami Aya's head during her coming-of-age ceremony.
"Also sent back with the letter is this," Chi Shangzheng said, holding up the jade pendant. "She broke the token before leaving home, and now she's returning half of it. The meaning couldn't be clearer—she's willing to reconcile with her family."
Misaki Ikegami stared at the half-jade pendant, hesitant to speak. As one of the people who knew Aya Ikegami best, she felt that things weren't so simple. Would that unyielding girl really bow down to some so-called "big shot"?
"In short," Ikegami said, closing the box, "from this day forward, the entire clan will enter a state of high alert, and prepare the highest level of welcoming ceremony. No matter when that 'important person' arrives, the Ikegami family will demonstrate..."
His words were interrupted by a sudden earthquake. The palace beams creaked, teacups overturned, but the tremors lasted only a few seconds. Just as everyone was filled with surprise and doubt, a guard rushed in in a panic:
"Report! The barrier over the forbidden area in the back mountain has suddenly shattered!"
Ikegami suddenly stood up, his eyes flashing with a sharp light: "They're here!"
He strode out of the hall, and the elders exchanged bewildered glances before following him. When they arrived at the back mountain, the sight before them sent chills down their spines—
The barrier that once enveloped the forbidden area had vanished, replaced by a layer of eerie blue mist. Within the mist, a slender figure appeared and disappeared.
"Welcome to my humble abode!" Ikegami Masashi bowed respectfully, his voice trembling slightly with excitement. "Ikegami Masashi, the current head of the Ikegami family, along with all the elders, have been waiting here for a long time!"
A figure in the blue mist chuckled softly; it was a woman's voice: "You're too kind, Patriarch Ikegami."
The fog suddenly parted to the sides, revealing a young woman dressed in modern casual wear. She looked to be in her early twenties, with her black hair tied in a neat ponytail and a faint smile playing on her lips.
Misaki Ikegami gasped – this girl gave her a sense of crisis. If Han Feng were here, he would definitely recognize her... Mu Xiaoxiao!
"Let me introduce myself." The woman nodded slightly. "I am Mu Xiaoxiao, Ms. Chi Shangling's business partner. Of course..." Her gaze swept over the shocked faces of the crowd, "You can also call me the Seventh Princess of the Youjing Clan."
Ikegami Masashi's smile froze on his face. The terrifying legends of the "Phantom Crystal Clan" were known to everyone in the upper echelons of the ancient martial arts world in Japan. And this seemingly harmless girl before him was actually...
Mu Xiaoxiao seemed to enjoy their reaction, and slowly took out an object from her pocket—the other half of the Chishang Lingyu Pendant.
"Miss Ling asked me to give her regards to my father." She tossed the jade pendant to Ikegami Masashi. "By the way, I should let you know that the terms of the cooperation have been slightly... adjusted."
The moment Chi Shang caught the jade pendant, a chilling cold shot from his fingertips into his heart. He suddenly understood what his daughter's "gift" truly was—it wasn't a token of reconciliation, but a one-way ticket to hell.
Chi Shang stared at Mu Xiaoxiao in disbelief, clutching the letter in his hand as if it were his last lifeline, mumbling incoherently without making a sound.
Mu Xiaoxiao smiled, but the words she spoke were like icy descent into a cave: "Xiaoling will never forgive you, and she has become the Holy Maiden of my Moon Goddess Organization. She is the one who asked me to kill you and become the new head of the Chishang family."
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