The revelation of the Zhao family's connection to the Abyssal Order weighed heavily on Lin Tian. Sitting in the dim light of his modest room, he reread the letter he'd found in Old Master Zhao's study. Each word stung like a dagger, revealing a betrayal far more profound than he had imagined.
The pact detailed an agreement: in exchange for wealth and power, the Zhao family had provided the Abyssal Order with intelligence about the Heavenly Dragon Clan. It was this betrayal that had allowed the Abyssal Order to ambush and decimate his clan centuries ago.
Lin Tian clenched his fists, the jade pendant glowing faintly in response to his anger. "So the Zhao family's wealth and power were built on my ancestors' blood," he murmured. His thoughts turned to Zhao Yue—did she know about this treachery? Or was she just a pawn in her family's schemes?
Before he could decide his next move, a soft knock on the door broke his concentration. "Come in," he said, his voice steady.
Zhao Yue entered hesitantly, her expression a mixture of determination and unease. "You said I could come with you," she began, her tone firm. "But you've been avoiding me all day. If we're going to do this, I need to know what's going on."
Lin Tian regarded her silently for a moment, weighing his options. Finally, he handed her the letter. "Read this."
She took it, her brow furrowing as her eyes scanned the contents. With each line, her face grew paler. When she finished, her hands were trembling. "This… this can't be true," she whispered.
"It is," Lin Tian said coldly. "Your family betrayed mine, Yue. The Zhao legacy you're so proud of was built on the ashes of the Heavenly Dragon Clan."
Zhao Yue shook her head, tears brimming in her eyes. "I didn't know… I swear I didn't know." She looked up at him, her voice breaking. "You have to believe me."
Lin Tian's expression softened slightly, but his resolve remained firm. "Whether you knew or not doesn't matter. What matters is what you'll do now."
"I'll help you," she said without hesitation. "Whatever it takes, I'll help you bring the Abyssal Order to justice."
Lin Tian studied her for a moment before nodding. "Then we need to move quickly. The longer we stay here, the more danger we're in."