"The moment your mother unleashed her power, those who were besieging your father were either killed or severely injured, all collapsing on the ground, unable to rise.
It was terrifying! That scene was like a nightmare, lingering in my mind.
I was so scared. I watched with my own eyes as your mother merely waved her sleeve and sent your father out of the Zi family.
Simultaneously, a black vortex appeared in the sky, exuding a terrifying aura, as if an ancient beast had awakened.
The moment that aura appeared, it locked onto your mother. Even we, who were not targeted, felt a strong sense of impending death.
Despite your mother's desperate resistance, she was ultimately sucked into the vortex."
As Zi Wentian spoke, fear filled his eyes and face, and his body trembled uncontrollably.
Twelve years later, he was still so shaken. It was evident how deeply the events of that day had scarred him!
Observing Zi Wentian's state, Zi Lingling could imagine how horrific that scene must have been.
Her shock reached its peak, coupled with profound confusion – what exactly was that massive black vortex? And why was her mother targeted by such a terrifying entity?
She didn't ask Zi Wentian, for she knew he wouldn't have the answers.
"What happened next? What happened after that?"
Zi Lingling took a deep breath, calmed herself, and asked in a cold voice.
Having said so much, Zi Wentian knew he could no longer resist the effects of the 'Yan Wu Bu Jin Dan' (Unspoken Truth Pill).
So, he adjusted his demeanor and continued, "After your mother was sucked into that black vortex, the vortex vanished. Along with it, the terrifying aura disappeared.
It took me a full half hour to shake off that fear.
Originally, with your mother's formidable backing, I shouldn't have harbored any illusions about your father, or rather, the Family Head Token in his possession.
But at that time, greed had blinded me. Moreover, I guessed that your mother, having been taken by the vortex, wouldn't return anytime soon.
I figured that the black vortex and the terrifying aura within it were likely the 'trouble' your mother had mentioned.
Therefore, after careful consideration, I dispatched my men to pursue your father.
However, your father was not only peerlessly strong in combat but also exceptionally intelligent, allowing him to escape my elaborate traps time and again.
Thus, my men pursued from behind, while your father fled ahead.
Perhaps in desperation, or perhaps because your father didn't want to bring trouble back to the Tian Qi Zi family, he ultimately fled to the edge of the Dark Abyss.
By the time I arrived, your father was already covered in wounds.
I tried to persuade him to hand over the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token, promising to let him go. But your father stubbornly refused.
Seeing no hope of escape, he leaped into the Dark Abyss.
As it was a forbidden zone for humans, I had no choice but to return in defeat.
However, I discovered that the soul tablet your father left behind when he infiltrated the Imperial Zi family, though dim, had not shattered.
Hence, I surmised that your father was likely still alive.
But the Dark Abyss, being a human forbidden zone, was undeniably terrifying.
So, even knowing your father was alive, I was powerless.
Later, I sent people to secretly investigate Tian Qi country, inquiring about the whereabouts of the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token. I learned that the token had gone missing along with your father.
It is likely that your father, in order to make thorough preparations, brought the Family Head Token to the Qing Long Empire to exchange for your mother's life, but ultimately leaped into the Dark Abyss with the token.
Without the Family Head Token, the Tian Qi Zi family held nothing of interest to me. Furthermore, I did not want the people of the Tian Qi Zi family to know that I had forced your father to jump into the Dark Abyss.
Therefore, I withdrew some of my people from Tian Qi, but I still kept some spies to constantly monitor the Tian Qi Zi family.
This was because I held onto a sliver of hope, or rather, a suspicion, that your father had not taken the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token with him.
And that it was highly possible your father had left the Family Head Token to you.
However, neither my spies nor your Second Uncle, Zi Wenchang, could locate the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token.
Until recently, when your Second Uncle sent out widespread invitations, stating he would succeed as the Family Head.
Upon receiving this news, I assumed your Second Uncle had obtained the Family Head Token, so I dispatched Donglai to the Tian Qi Zi family, ordering him to seize the Family Head Token at the opportune moment.
But unexpectedly, Donglai not only failed to obtain the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token but was also captured by you.
Even more unexpected was that you were not only not a good-for-nothing but had the audacity to extort me.
In my anger, I ordered Zhaocai to take six spirit users at the peak of the Saint King realm to pressure the Ye family in Tian Qi country.
Firstly, I wanted to use this pressure to force you to release Donglai and the others. Secondly, I wanted Zhaocai and his group to capture you and bring you to Dongfang City so I could personally investigate the whereabouts of the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token.
But before I could receive any news from them, I learned of your arrival in the Qing Long Empire. Truly, what you seek often comes when you least expect it!
Who would have thought that the old relics who survived the battle twelve years ago would be so terrified that they dared not confront you head-on, hoping to win you over to the Imperial Zi family through gentle means? Then, they would subtly inquire about the whereabouts of the Tian Qi Zi family's Family Head Token.
They sent two groups, both of whom you thoroughly humiliated. Thus, they had no choice but to agree with my approach: to subdue you with thunderous methods.
Coincidentally, the Soul Nurturing Wood tree of our Imperial Zi family was stolen. I decided to frame you for it, allowing me to capture you legitimately."
With that, Zi Wentian finally laid bare the entire sequence of events.
However, two matters caused Zi Lingling to inwardly chuckle.
The first was that the group led by Zhaocai, whom she had killed, seemed not to have reported back to the Imperial Zi family.
The second was that Zi Wentian was unaware that she was the one who stole the Soul Nurturing Wood tree; he merely intended to frame her.
She wondered what Zi Wentian's reaction would be if he knew that the culprit behind both incidents was Zi Lingling herself.
However, Zi Lingling would not give him the chance.
Whether it was Zi Wentian imprisoning her mother twelve years ago, deceiving her father, and ultimately forcing him to leap into the Dark Abyss, or his recent actions against her over the past month, all had crossed her bottom line.
Thus, the killing intent radiating from her began to surge.
Because, she, was, going, to, kill!
"Zi Wentian, I'll give you one chance to leave your last words!"