At the same time, inside the grand hall of the Lin family, the atmosphere was entirely different.
The hall was vast and imposing, with golden bricks covering the floor. Dragons and phoenixes were carved along the beams and pillars, exuding an aura of majesty. A massive Star Treasure Lantern hung from the ceiling, its brilliant light illuminating the entire hall as bright as day.
At the center, the Lin family's patriarch, Lin Xiaotian, sat upright in the grand master's chair. His hair and beard were snow-white, but his face was ruddy and full of life. His sharp eyes gleamed with vigor even at his three hundred years of age. He wore a dark red robe embroidered with golden peaches, radiating both authority and festivity.
To his left sat another elderly man, also white-haired—the patriarch of the Huang family, Huang Guinian. Dressed in a deep-blue brocade robe, his face was square and stern, his eyes deep and steady, and his presence faintly carried the pressure of a Yin God expert.
Before them, an Eight-Immortals table was laid with fine pastries and top-grade spiritual tea. The gentle aroma of tea wafted through the air.
"Brother Huang," Lin Xiaotian said with a warm smile, lifting his teacup, "back in the day, we used to hunt and drink together across the northern forests. I still remember you chasing that Crimson-Blood Spirit Deer for three days and three nights. You collapsed from exhaustion, and I had to carry you back myself."
At the memory, Huang Guinian couldn't help but laugh, his eyes filled with nostalgia. "That's right. We were young and fearless then—nothing could stop us. Unlike now, when the body's grown stiff and the bones lazy."
He sighed lightly, his tone softening. "Responsibilities pile up, and freedom grows scarce. It's been twenty years since our last meeting—and that was also the last time we drank ourselves senseless."
"Haha, indeed!" Lin Xiaotian laughed heartily, clapping his hands. "That time, you even took out your treasured 'Drunken Immortal Brew.' I can still taste its sweetness when I think of it."
The guests surrounding them laughed along, the hall filled with cheerful warmth and nostalgia.
The Lin family's senior members stood respectfully by the sides, hands clasped, maintaining solemn decorum. They all knew that the Huang family's power rivaled their own—if not slightly surpassed it. Huang Guinian, a Yin God powerhouse, was among the few of such level in the entire Horn Constellation Realm. His personal visit for Lin Xiaotian's birthday was a sign of deep friendship and commanded the utmost respect.
Just then, a young woman dressed in a light-purple gown approached, carrying a teapot.
She looked about eighteen or nineteen, her skin fairer than snow, her features exquisite like a painting, her bearing graceful and composed. She was Lin Qing, often praised as the "Peony of the Lin Family." Daughter of Lin Hui, the second master of the clan, she had been carefully nurtured since childhood. Both her beauty and her cultivation were outstanding—she had already reached the second level of the Insight God Realm, marking her as one of the most promising juniors in the Lin family.
"Elder Huang," Lin Qing said sweetly, her voice clear and melodic, "this junior will refill your cup."
Her every movement was elegant and proper as she poured the tea and offered a respectful bow. Not a single gesture was out of place.
Huang Guinian looked at her with visible admiration and turned to Lin Xiaotian. "Brother Lin, this must be your granddaughter Lin Qing? What a fine young lady—beautiful, poised, and radiant. Her elegance truly rivals that of my daughter Biyun back in her youth."
Biyun, or Huang Biyun, was Huang Guinian's daughter. When the Huang family faced near ruin years ago, it was Huang Biyun who had turned the tide, stabilizing the clan's foundation and even marrying into the divine Chen clan, elevating their standing greatly. Being compared to her was an exceptional compliment.
A faint blush touched Lin Qing's cheeks as she replied humbly, "Elder Huang, you flatter me. This junior dares not accept such praise."
The guests around them began voicing their admiration one after another.
"Miss Lin Qing truly is exceptional—both talented and graceful. She'll surely marry well in the future."
"Yes, indeed! If I had a daughter like her, I'd be smiling in my dreams every night."
Many of the noble ladies present looked at Lin Qing with open envy. Most of them came from wealthy or powerful families, yet even they silently admitted that in beauty, temperament, and cultivation, none could compare to her.
Lin Qing accepted each compliment with calm politeness, her serene demeanor making her seem all the more refined and admirable.
Standing to one side, her father Lin Hui couldn't hide the pride in his expression.
Behind Huang Guinian stood Huang Yuan. The young man wore a pristine white robe, his tall figure and handsome features making him the image of a noble prodigy. Yet at this moment, his gaze lingered on Lin Qing, burning with admiration and longing.
The one he truly desired wasn't Lin Shu—the so-called "lost daughter" of the Lin family—but Lin Qing, a woman of talent and grace worthy of his station.
Unfortunately, marriages were decided by their elders. In this matter, he had no say at all.
Huang Guinian took a slow sip of his tea, his gaze sweeping across the grand hall before turning to Lin Xiaotian. "Brother Lin, my grandson Huang Yuan has been here for quite some time already. Why haven't we seen little Shu yet?"
The Lin family's second master, Lin Hui, immediately stepped forward with a smile. "She's probably been delayed on the way, Brother Huang. I'll send someone to fetch her at once."
"She's not delayed at all."
A crisp, slightly mocking voice suddenly rang out.
Everyone turned toward the sound. Lin Jiao had somehow appeared at the entrance of the hall, her lips curled in a smile of schadenfreude. "I just saw her in the garden."
Lin Xiaotian's brows furrowed, his voice turning stern. "Jiao'er, do not speak nonsense!"
But Lin Jiao raised her chin stubbornly. "Grandfather, I'm telling the truth! I didn't just see her. I saw her walking with a handsome young man, the two of them acting very close. And Aunt Shu even called that boy 'my lord'!"
"My lord?"
The entire hall erupted into murmurs.
Everyone present was from noble or influential families, and they understood the implications behind such words. The term "my lord" was not an ordinary form of address—it carried connotations of intimacy and submission, something often used privately in… unconventional relationships.
For Lin Shu, a direct daughter of the Lin family, to call a young man "my lord" in public was scandalous. It instantly fueled everyone's imagination.
Lin Xiaotian's face darkened, his tone cold. "Are you certain of what you're saying?"
"It's absolutely true!" Lin Jiao said confidently. "Lin Xiao saw it too. If you don't believe me, ask him!"
Dozens of eyes turned at once toward Lin Xiao. Under the weight of their collective gaze, he stiffened, his face paling slightly, but still nodded after a moment of hesitation. "Y-yes… I saw it too."
"Outrageous!"
Lin Hui's angry shout echoed through the hall. His face turned iron-blue with fury. He had feared something like this from the start—Lin Shu's behavior causing trouble that would ruin the arranged marriage with the Huang family. If that happened, he knew there would be people within the clan who'd immediately try to push Lin Qing into the marriage instead.
Lin Xiaotian exhaled heavily, his expression grim. Then he turned to the steward standing nearby and ordered, "Go. Bring Shuyue and A'Feng here immediately."
Moments later, Lin Shu's parents, Lin Feng and Song Shuyue, hurried into the hall.
Lin Feng, the current head of the Lin family, wore a blue brocade robe. His refined face carried a calm dignity. Beside him, Song Shuyue, in a light-blue gown, looked elegant and poised, her sharp eyes revealing both intelligence and firmness.
"Father, you summoned us?" Lin Feng asked respectfully.
Lin Xiaotian pointed at Lin Jiao and said coldly, "Ask her yourself."
Lin Jiao eagerly repeated her earlier story, her tone laced with pride.
Song Shuyue listened carefully. For a moment, her expression froze—then her eyes flickered with sudden understanding. A hint of astonishment crossed her face as she said, "Could it be… that Yang Cheng has come?"