Although the Miao Clan's strength is many times greater than the Jade Maiden Sect's—enough to completely crush them—they still don't dare to destroy the sect without cause. After all, if you want to wipe someone out, you need at least an excuse.
If the Miao Clan really wiped out the Jade Maiden Sect without even bothering to find an excuse, the other sects would definitely feel threatened and start keeping their distance, wary of the Miao Clan.
What’s more, in Yuyang Commandery, there are several families and sects whose strength rivals the Miao Clan. If they make a move against the Jade Maiden Sect, those other clans and sects would surely start having ideas of their own.
With this in mind, Mia Miao stopped arguing with the Silver-Hair Daoist Master and turned to Lana Snow, saying, “Bottom line: Lena Ling is Miao Clan blood. No matter what, I’m taking her with me. You have no objections, right?”
“Martial Aunt!” Lana Snow looked at the Silver-Hair Daoist Master, her eyes full of pleading.
“Since our friend here has confirmed Lena Ling is of Miao Clan blood, then take her with you.”
“Hmph, at least you know what’s good for you!” Mia Miao snorted. “Sect Master Lana, please summon Lena Ling. I’ll take her home to acknowledge her ancestors!”
Seeing even her Martial Aunt agree to let Mia Miao take Lena Ling away, Lana Snow could only sigh helplessly and ordered, “Shayne Snow, Lena Ling should be with Skyler Ling. Go and fetch her.”
“Yes, Sect Master.”
With a flash, Shayne Snow left the courtyard, riding her magic treasure to the mountainside.
"Lena Ling, come with me."
Lena Ling asked curiously, "What's going on, Martial Aunt Shayne? Oh, and who is that senior in the carriage?"
After a moment’s hesitation, Shayne Snow replied, "Lena, that person is Mia Miao, from the Miao Clan of Yuyang Commandery. She says you have Miao blood and has come to take you home to acknowledge your ancestors."
"What!"
At the mention of the Miao Clan, Lena Ling’s expression changed drastically. Memories from years ago flashed through her mind, and her gaze turned icy. "Martial Aunt Shayne, please go and tell her she’s mistaken. I’m not from the Miao Clan, and I won’t go back with her!"
Hearing this, Shayne Snow was momentarily stunned, not understanding why Lena would refuse. But seeing her expression, Shayne vaguely guessed there must be some hidden pain behind it.
After thinking for a moment, Shayne said, "Lena, the Miao Clan is one of the top families in Yuyang Commandery. If you joined them, it would greatly help your future cultivation. Maybe you should reconsider."
"No need to think about it. No matter what, I’ll never go back!" Lena Ling shook her head firmly.
"How about coming with me to explain?" Shayne Snow suggested again, worried the other side might think the Jade Maiden Sect was deliberately keeping Lena Ling from leaving.
"I don’t want to see anyone from the Miao Clan!" Lena Ling waved her hand, pain flashing in her eyes.
"Alright then!"
A look of helplessness flashed in Shayne Snow’s eyes as she rode her magic treasure up toward the summit.
Over the past few days, Ian Song had gathered a rough understanding of the major powers in Yuyang Commandery through various channels. The Miao Clan was one of the local giants, with no fewer than ten Nascent Soul experts in the clan. Rumor had it their old ancestor was even at the Out-of-Body stage, though he hadn’t appeared for years—no one knew if he was still alive.
Even so, the rumor alone was enough to intimidate outsiders.
Now, to think that Senior Sister Lena Ling was actually from the Miao Clan—but judging by her expression, things between Lena and the clan were complicated.
"Second Fool, I want to drink!" Lena Ling suddenly said.
Ian Song was about to refuse, but seeing Lena Ling’s sorrowful look, he couldn’t bear it. He took out a bottle of Maotai and handed it to her. "Senior Sister, drink slowly!"
But Lena Ling didn’t listen at all. She yanked out the cork and started gulping the liquor down.
In just a few breaths, she finished off the whole one-jin bottle of liquor, then reached out to Ian Song for more. "Another!"
"Senior Sister...!"
Before Ian Song could get a word of advice out, Lena Ling cut him off coldly: "Give me the wine. If you won’t, I’ll go get it myself!"
"Alright then!"
Ian Song could only give a helpless smile and set ten bottles of liquor in front of her. He knew Lena Ling was determined to get drunk, and since he couldn’t stop her, he’d let her drink her fill—after all, it wasn’t her first time.
Two bottles!
Three bottles!
Four bottles!
Five bottles!
In no time, Lena Ling had polished off five bottles of Maotai. Her eyes grew glassy, and her cheeks turned rosy-red.
"Second Fool, do you want to hear my story?"
Suddenly, Lena Ling turned to Ian Song and asked.
"If Senior Sister is willing to tell it, I’m willing to listen." Ian Song nodded.
"Do you know how I came to the Jade Maiden Sect?" Lena Ling asked again. But before Ian Song could answer, Lena continued, "Back then, that person took my mother and me out of the city for a trip. On the way, we were ambushed by a group of assassins."
That person must be Lena’s father, Ian Song thought to himself. She won’t even call him ‘father’—she must really resent him!
Lena Ling took another swig from the bottle and continued, her face full of sorrow: "The assassins were powerful. That person’s bodyguards were killed quickly. Luckily, my mother was strong—she fought desperately to protect us, even at the cost of being wounded."
At this point, Lena’s expression became pained and hateful. She took another fierce gulp and said, "But I never imagined that person would actually run away—he abandoned his wife and daughter!"
"What?"
Ian Song was shocked too. For someone to abandon his wife and child like that—he was no better than a beast.
"After that, my mother fought and fled with me, but in the end we were driven into a dead end. With no other choice, my mother decided to perish together with the assassins. I was six years old, sobbing over her corpse, until my master found me. She pitied me and brought me to the Jade Maiden Sect."
"Sigh." Ian Song gave a soft sigh. He hadn’t expected Lena Ling’s past to be so tragic.
"Master was very good to me—she taught me to read and write, taught me cultivation techniques, even comforted me every night so I could sleep. But I can’t forget the moment my mother died fighting those assassins for me. Every time I sleep, I dream of that day—of that person abandoning us, of my mother’s death. Later, I learned to drink, because only when I’m drunk do I stop dreaming of that day; only when I’m drunk do I stop hating that person!"