Chapter 45: A Family’s Ultimatum

As the most formidable Void Beast in history, the entity codenamed Skyfire once jeopardized the very existence of the entire Blue Star.

It was not until Tian Lanxing ascended to the Star God rank that this crisis was finally averted.

Subsequently, the most powerful faction within the GSA at the time, the Star Rail faction, disregarded objections from other groups and ignited a fierce conflict with Tian Lanxing over the Su Wanning incident.

This confrontation directly led to Tian Lanxing’s eventual reclusion.

****

They sprinted relentlessly, only pausing once they had darted into a secluded alleyway.

Leaning against the wall, Hua Mu’ai gasped for air, her face flushed with an unusual thrill.

‘It’s been ages since I had such a satisfying fight!’

Turning her head, she found Xia Xingyan staring at her, utterly still.

Xia Xingyan’s heart was pounding wildly in her chest.

As she gazed at the pink-haired girl whose cheeks were now flushed, the recent scenes replayed vividly in her mind.

The brutal elbow strikes, the decisive crunch of a crushed ankle, the resounding slap—every move Tian Lanxing made had been in her defense.

At that moment, that slender figure had seemed as imposing as a mountain.

A torrent of fervent emotion surged within her chest, threatening to shatter her frozen composure.

It was precisely then that Xia Xingyan’s phone suddenly rang.

She answered, offering only a faint acknowledgment.

“I understand.”

The light in her eyes extinguished, and she promptly ended the call.

“Thank you for today.”

“It’s nothing. This young lady simply couldn’t stand to see a future teammate being bullied.” Hua Mu’ai averted her gaze, her earlobes faintly reddening.

Xia Xingyan remained silent for a few seconds before softly uttering, “I’m sorry.”

“Huh?” Hua Mu’ai was taken aback. “Why are you apologizing?”

“They tracked me here using my phone’s location.”

“Thank you so much for accompanying me shopping today. I have something else to attend to, so I’ll be leaving now.”

After speaking, Xia Xingyan cast a profound glance at Hua Mu’ai, then turned and dashed out of the alley without a backward look.

Hua Mu’ai was left standing rooted to the spot, her mind a whirlwind of confusion.

Recalling Xia Xingyan’s demeanor after hanging up the phone, she had sensed that something was amiss with her emotions.

‘What on earth is wrong with that woman?’

****

The Xia family manor was ablaze with lights.

The glow of the crystal chandeliers spilled across the marble floor, reflecting an austere chill.

Xia Xingyan pushed open the heavy wooden door to find her parents, Xia Hongde and Liu Yun, seated on the living room sofa.

Both their faces were etched with fury.

“So, you finally decided to return?”

Liu Yun was the first to speak, sharply tapping her bone china teacup against the table, producing a brittle sound.

“Tell me, I just heard that Zhao Lingtian was beaten so badly he ended up in the hospital, nearly losing his ability to have children. Does this have anything to do with you?!”

Liu Yun’s voice was shrill and biting, launching into a barrage of accusations.

Xia Hongde remained silent, merely scrutinizing his daughter with an assessing gaze.

Xia Xingyan calmly changed her shoes, her movements unhurried, as if oblivious to the palpable fury radiating from her parents.

She calmly uttered the three words: “It is related.”

“You!” Liu Yun shot to her feet, pointing a trembling finger at her daughter and raging, “Well, well, Xia Xingyan, you’ve grown quite bold, haven’t you? Daring to associate with disreputable people outside, and even laying hands on Young Master Zhao! Do you have any idea how much our Xia family has sacrificed for this alliance with the Zhao family? With your single act, hundreds of billions in cooperation projects could go down the drain! Can you bear that responsibility?!”

“Tell me! Who was that little bastard you were with? If you don’t explain yourself clearly today, I’ll break your legs!”

Confronted by her mother’s hysteria, Xia Xingyan’s face remained utterly impassive.

Her cool, clear voice cut through Liu Yun’s furious roar.

“The one who acted was my future captain.”

“What kind of damned captain?!” Liu Yun trembled with rage at her daughter’s unyielding demeanor. “I don’t care who she is! If she hit Young Master Zhao, even the King of Heaven would have to kneel before me! Tomorrow, I’ll find people to break all her limbs, so she’ll know the consequences of offending us!”

“Enough!”

Xia Hongde, who had been silent until now, suddenly spoke, halting his wife’s tirade.

His brows were deeply furrowed as he keenly grasped the crucial information embedded in his daughter’s words.

“Xingyan, the captain you mentioned,” Xia Hongde’s voice deepened, “are you referring to Tian Lanxing?”

Silence instantly descended upon the living room.

Liu Yun’s curses caught in her throat, and she stared at her daughter with disbelief.

‘So, the person with my daughter today wasn’t a man, but the Magical Girl Tian Lanxing?’

Xia Xingyan met her parents’ gazes.

“Yes.”

The arrogance and fury on Liu Yun’s face instantly froze.

Xia Hongde’s expression also turned exceptionally grim.

Tian Lanxing was a legend who had achieved godhood over a decade ago!

News of her recent return had already spread like wildfire through the upper echelons of society.

It was rumored that even the GSA Director treated her with immense respect, going so far as to use his highest authority to clear any obstacles for her.

‘Hire someone to break Tian Lanxing’s limbs?’

‘Don’t be ridiculous. Even with all their wealth and influence, the Xia family wouldn’t dare provoke an existence of that caliber.’

Liu Yun’s lips trembled a few times, unable to utter a single word; her earlier bluster about pulverizing someone had vanished without a trace.

The atmosphere in the living room became acutely awkward.

“Ahem…”

Xia Hongde broke the suffocating silence.

He awkwardly changed the subject.

“Well… Senior Tian Lanxing might have been a bit heavy-handed, but a minor misunderstanding is normal. Let’s just drop this matter and never bring it up again.”

His ability to change his expression so rapidly was truly remarkable.

Liu Yun quickly chimed in, “Yes, yes, your father is right. Children are often thoughtless. Now, let’s discuss serious matters.”

Xia Xingyan watched her parents’ performance with cold detachment, feeling only a barren chill within her heart.

‘These are my family.’

‘In the face of absolute power, so-called dignity is utterly worthless.’

“Xingyan,” Liu Yun adopted what she believed was a gentle tone, “your engagement banquet with Lingtian is set for next weekend. The invitations have already been sent out. Make sure you conduct yourself well then, and don’t bring shame upon our Xia family.”

It was an announcement, not a discussion.

Xia Xingyan lowered her gaze, her long eyelashes concealing the emotions in her pupils.

“I won’t go.”

Her voice was soft, yet remarkably firm.

The atmosphere, which had just begun to ease, plummeted back to freezing point.

Liu Yun’s face darkened once more.

This time, her anger was laced with a chilling calculation.

“Whether you go or not is not up to you.”

Xia Hongde, leaning back on the sofa with his fingers interlaced on his knees, spoke in a negotiating tone.

“Xia Xingyan, we have already made our greatest concession. We agreed to let you become a Magical Girl because you awakened a talent, and thus still hold value to the family.”

“But don’t forget, with just a word from us, the GSA can revoke your contract at any time. You wouldn’t want to be forcibly removed from Tian Lanxing’s team right after joining, would you?”

It was a blatant threat.

They were using her sole dream, her only salvation, to coerce her into submission.

Xia Hongde observed his daughter’s ashen face and pressed his advantage.

“The choice is simple.”

“Either you dutifully attend the engagement banquet next weekend, and you can continue to be a Magical Girl, a member of Tian Lanxing’s team.”

“Or…” He paused, his voice turning frigid, “you withdraw from Holy Sakura Academy, stay home from now on, and are forbidden to go anywhere until you marry into the Zhao family.”