---
The next morning, Ling was awakened by the sound of rapid knocking on her door. She rose slowly, sensing that something serious might require her presence. She opened the door to find her maid standing there, her expression tense as though she bore heavy news.
The maid said in a trembling voice, "Ling... you've been summoned to the main hall immediately. There's an emergency!"
Worry began to creep into Ling's heart, especially after the last mission, as she felt that things were beginning to change faster than she had expected. She quickly dressed and headed towards the main hall.
Upon her arrival, she found the family members gathered in the hall, their faces grim. Feng Xiang approached her and gestured for her to sit, his cold gaze penetrating her deeply.
He said in a dry tone, "We've received confirmed information that someone within the family is communicating with an outside enemy, leaking sensitive information."
Ling cautiously asked, "And do you know who this person is?"
Feng Xiang replied with certainty, "Yes, but they are well-protected within the family, and it won't be easy to reach them."
Ling pondered this information, wondering how much this discovery was connected to the investigations she had been conducting recently. Things seemed to be getting more complicated, with more enemies surrounding her than she had anticipated.
After the meeting concluded, Liu Qing approached her and whispered, "It seems like tensions are rising. We must be on high alert; we might be the next target."
Ling replied confidently, "I'm ready for anything, but we need to tread carefully with every step. The family isn't as it seems."
Ling felt that something was being woven in the shadows, and that she was only a part of a complex game that went beyond her current understanding.
That night, as Ling reflected on recent events, trying to unravel the mysteries surrounding her, she decided to visit the family's secret library. This library held old books and rare documents, said to contain family secrets and stories of their enemies and rivals throughout the years.
She entered the library quietly and began browsing the books until her gaze fell upon an old book with a strange title: The Blood of Families and the Fire of Vengeance. Intrigued, she decided to examine it for information that might shed light on the secrets surrounding the family.
She opened the book and began reading attentively. It spoke of the histories of powerful families and ancient battles fought between their generations. But in the middle of the book, she stopped at a passage mentioning a "fatal secret," something the family had committed long ago, leaving behind a hidden curse.
While she was reading, she sensed movement behind her. She turned to find Liu Qing standing there, his expression concerned.
He said in a low voice, "I didn't expect to find you here at this hour."
Ling smiled and said, "I needed to learn more about our past; perhaps it holds answers to the questions that plague us."
Liu nodded, sitting beside her to read along with her. As they browsed through the book, they came across a mention of the "Great Sacrifice," an ancient ritual said to grant the family extraordinary power but requiring great sacrifices from its members.
Liu muttered thoughtfully, "If these rituals are real, they might explain some things about the enemies lurking around us. Perhaps someone seeks revenge for these rituals."
After hours of research and thought, Ling felt a weight pressing on her heart. She began to suspect not only enemies from the outside, but also the family's own intentions.
She asked Liu, "What if it's the family itself that committed wrongful acts, causing this hatred to be born around us?"
Liu smiled bitterly and said, "If that's true, then it's our responsibility to right those wrongs."
The next day, Ling decided to confront Feng Xiang with some of her questions. She approached him and cautiously asked, "I read some books in the secret library, and I was curious about the 'Great Sacrifice.' Is it part of our family's history?"
Feng Xiang shot her a sharp look, as if the question stirred old feelings in him. Then he replied coldly, "That's none of your concern, and dwelling on it will only confuse you."
But Ling wasn't convinced by his words and boldly said, "It seems that there are things you're hiding from me, but I'm part of this family and have a right to know the truth."
Feng Xiang smirked sarcastically and said, "The truth can sometimes be more dangerous than you think; it may even cost you your life."
After her confrontation with Feng Xiang, Ling felt that things had become more dangerous than she had imagined. She decided to warn Liu and ask him to remain vigilant, sharing with him what transpired between her and Feng Xiang.
She said, "It seems the family is hiding something significant, and if we continue investigating, we might find ourselves in the line of fire."
Liu replied firmly, "If the truth is within our reach, we won't let fear stop us. We must uncover what's happening, even if it costs us greatly."
While wandering through the mansion's corridors that night, Ling overheard whispers about a secret meeting that would be held soon, involving some influential figures within the family. She had a strong feeling that this meeting would be key to understanding what was going on.
Ling planned to investigate the details of the meeting and discover its location. She eventually found out it would be held in a secluded wing of the mansion. She and Liu agreed to sneak in together to observe the meeting.
On the night of the meeting, the atmosphere was tense. Ling and Liu stealthily made their way to the wing and hid in a spot where they could clearly hear the conversations. The family members discussed "dark alliances" and deals being made in the shadows to protect the family from growing enemies.
But what terrified Ling the most was hearing her own name mentioned. They were discussing her as a "potential tool" to be used as part of a future sacrifice to preserve the family's power.
Ling exchanged a tense glance with Liu, then whispered with determination, "If they see me as nothing but a tool, I'll prove to them I'm much more than that."
---
Ling and Liu left the meeting, armed with terrifying truths about what the future might hold. Ling decided she would not let the family dictate her fate and would carve her own path, even if that path was filled with blood and secrets.