Bab 4: Chapter Four: The Decision to Confront
---
Ling Yui entered the grand meeting hall, where the atmosphere was charged with tension and anxiety. All the family members were there, sitting in majestic rows, their faces reflecting various expressions—some showed concern, others suspicion, and some outright hostility.
She sat quietly, trying to hold herself together despite the anxiety raging inside her. She had no idea why this emergency meeting was called, but she sensed that this gathering might reveal new secrets about her true place among her family members.
As she contemplated the faces around her, Feng Xiang, the family patriarch, entered slowly. He was an elderly man, his cold eyes reflecting a rare strength and power, and his wooden cane added to his dignity, despite his frail physique.
Everyone stood in respect for him, then sat down as soon as he took his seat. He began speaking in a calm yet firm tone, saying, "We gather here today because we face a new threat."
He glanced around, then continued, "There are external forces seeking to undermine our family, and we must be prepared to confront them. This means that every person here must prove their loyalty and their ability to protect our legacy."
His words were directed specifically at certain individuals, including Ling, who felt some of them looking at her with doubt or scorn.
---
After the meeting concluded, the attendees dispersed, but Feng Zuo Lin approached Ling with a challenging look, saying sarcastically, "It seems you've become a threat to the family, haven't you? A little girl with dual abilities—it's rather laughable."
Ling responded confidently, trying not to show any weakness in front of him: "Perhaps things seem simple to you, but I can prove that I'm more capable than you think."
Zuo Lin laughed lightly and said, "If you're that confident, there's a challenge waiting for you. Let's see how you'll react then."
Ling didn't fully understand what he meant, but she sensed that a challenge awaited her. Perhaps it was a test to prove her loyalty to the family, or perhaps something more.
That night, Ling sat alone in her room, reflecting on the day's events. She wondered, "Why do I always feel there are deeper secrets than mere family conflicts? What is Feng Xiang hiding, and why all this tension?"
Thoughts began to swirl in her mind, and she decided it was time to learn more. She no longer wanted to be a tool in someone else's hands or a puppet manipulated by circumstances.
Suddenly, she remembered the sorcerer she had met earlier, who had hinted at her unique talents. She thought for a moment and said to herself, "If I want to be truly strong, I must seek ways to become more powerful and fully understand my abilities."
The next day, she secretly left the palace, heading to the place where she had first met the sorcerer. After waiting for a while, when he appeared, she greeted him, saying, "I want to learn more; I want to be stronger."
The sorcerer smiled and said, "I knew you would return; you are not one to back down. But remember, strength comes at a price, and you must be ready to bear the consequences."
Ling nodded firmly, "I am ready, and I will do whatever it takes."
The sorcerer began training her in new techniques to control the elements, teaching her how to blend ice and wind in a way that allowed her to utilize both elements simultaneously. The training was intense and demanding, but she learned quickly, driven by the desire to prove her capability to herself and others.
After weeks of training, her level began to rise, and she became better at controlling her elements, even faster. She was now capable of creating small ice tornadoes swirling around her and using the wind defensively and offensively at the same time.
While training one day, the sorcerer informed her that there was a final test she needed to pass. "The final test, my dear, is not just a test of strength, but a test of spirit and will."
She asked cautiously, "And what does this test entail?"
The sorcerer replied with a mysterious smile, "You will know soon. All you have to do is prepare yourself and maintain your calm and confidence in your abilities."
Ling returned to the palace to find a message waiting for her on the table. The message contained an order from the family patriarch, instructing her to head to a remote area outside the city, where she would meet members of a rival family.
Doubt began to creep in, and she said to herself, "Is this a coincidence? Or is there a deeper game being played against me?"
But she decided to confront the challenge. She prepared to meet the rival family, aware that this mission could be a test of her loyalty to her family or perhaps a test from them to gauge her strength.
Upon arriving at the designated area, she found a group of members from the rival family waiting for her. Among them was a young man named Liu Cheng, who had a sharp gaze and features that exuded ferocity.
Liu Cheng smirked mockingly and said, "So, this is the girl with dual abilities, but I've heard you're just a little girl who knows nothing but boasting."
Ling smiled coolly and replied, "If you think that, why don't you try for yourself?"
Without hesitation, she summoned her energy and began forming a ball of ice, moving the wind around her to propel the ball swiftly towards Liu Cheng. But with quick skill, he dodged it and sent a magical attack towards her, but she was ready; she used the wind to absorb the attack and push it away.
Liu Cheng realized that Ling was not as easy to handle as he had expected, so he began using his offensive power more aggressively. He possessed the ability to control fire and started forming rings of flames around her, trying to dominate her movement.
However, Ling, thanks to her new training, summoned all her energy and began forming a storm of ice and wind, making the flames retreat and cool down. It was a critical moment as she charged toward Liu Cheng, attempting to end the battle in her favor.
In the heat of the fight, Ling managed to control the ice energy to freeze Liu Cheng's feet, preventing him from moving, then delivered a powerful gust of wind that sent him crashing to the ground.
Liu Cheng stood up with difficulty and looked at her in astonishment. He had expected her to be just an inexperienced little girl, but he now realized she was much stronger than he had imagined.
He said, trembling, "You've proven that you're not just an ordinary member of your family. I will return and inform my leader of what I've seen."
Ling watched him walk away, then sighed with relief, but she knew that this battle was only the beginning of a series of challenges awaiting her.
---
Ling returned to the palace, realizing that she needed to be stronger and more cautious. The world around her was filled with conspiracies and challenges, and she now understood that she might be just a piece in a larger game, but her decision was clear: she would face every challenge with a strong spirit and the ability to overcome.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone