The atmosphere in the Zhao family villa had been stifling these past few days. Even the butler, Old Zhao, tread carefully, hardly daring to breathe too loudly. He had sent his nephew away early, afraid the boy might accidentally provoke the family's wrath.
The household staff worked in silent efficiency, packing belongings into boxes. A moving truck stood parked at the entrance.
None of Zhao Mufeng's three children remained in the villa. The true eldest daughter, Jian Dan, had severed all ties with the Zhao family, relinquishing her shares without a hint of reluctance before walking away for good.
The eldest son, Zhao Zihan, was still hospitalized. A ruptured carotid artery had nearly cost him his life, and he remained under observation in the ICU. The exorbitant medical bills loomed like an unsolved problem.
As for Zhao Ziyu—her fate was far worse. She had been committed to a psychiatric institution.
Lately, Qian Yi had been making frequent scenes, alternating between accusing Zhao Mufeng of heartlessness and cursing the Zhao family for their treachery. "You backstab each other, yet I'm the one left holding the blame!" she shrieked.
Zhao Mufeng's elder brother, Zhao Mulei, had visited once. The two had closeted themselves in the study, their heated argument briefly leaking through the door before silence resumed. When Zhao Mulei left, his face was stormy. After his departure, Zhao Mufeng smashed his favorite white porcelain tea set in a fit of rage.
Seated at his desk, Zhao Mufeng's expression was darker than ever. He couldn't pinpoint when everything had spiraled out of control. Events had bolted like wild horses, impossible to rein in. "This wasn't how things were supposed to go", he thought—yet here he was, blindsided.
Sun Qingguo had proposed replacing him as chairman, brandishing a mere 1% additional share advantage. To Zhao Mufeng's shock, the motion passed. Stripped of his leadership, he faced a chorus of resentment from the Zhao clan.
Worse, rumors spread that the antiques he'd gifted to curry favor were counterfeits. Those who had once accepted his bribes now regarded him with icy disdain, some even sabotaging him outright. His fall from the board's upper echelons was swift.
His household was in shambles: one son critically injured, his so-called daughter locked away in an asylum, and his wife having gifted him a lush, green "canopy of clouds" (an affair).
And his true daughter—she had walked away without looking back. Her parting words still echoed in his ears, chilling him to the bone.
Jian Dan, dressed in a crisp white shirt and jeans, stood silhouetted against the light. With a faint smile, she said: "Father, I'm leaving."
"Mother asked me to relay this: 'What belongs to the Jian family, my daughter will take back. Some things are not for the Zhao family to keep.'"
Zhao Mufeng's face twisted as the girl before him seemed to overlap with the woman who had left him years ago, uttering those same words:
"What belongs to the Jian family, my daughter will take back. Some things are not for the Zhao family to keep."
The words haunted him, an unshakable curse.
In a daze, he realized Jian Dan had already left the study. By the time he ordered the butler to find her, she was on a flight out of the capital.
It felt as though everything had begun unraveling the moment this daughter arrived. She seemed to do nothing, yet her shadow lurked everywhere. The more Zhao Mufeng pondered, the more unnerved he grew—but there was no one left to confide in. He could only swallow his bitterness alone.
The capital's turmoil meant nothing to Jian Dan now.
She had done all she could—reclaimed everything that belonged to the Jian family. Every item bearing the Jian crest had been retrieved, some through subtle exchanges, others taken directly from Zhao Mufeng's private collection. He was likely too overwhelmed to notice yet.
At that moment, Jian Dan should have been en route to France. Instead, she stood at the entrance of Shennongjia's theme park, waiting in line.
The person boarding the flight to France was Zhou Bing. He carried the magnolia jewelry box, shielded by Jian Dan's spells, with instructions to auction it at France's largest auction house.
Zhou Bing had been puzzled. Why sell such a priceless heirloom? But Jian Dan had only smiled enigmatically, calling this his final task for her. Bound by professionalism, he asked no further questions and boarded the plane.
Jian Dan followed the tourist crowd into Shennongjia's forests—though this was merely the outermost periphery. The inner zones were marked "Danger: No Entry."
At the warning sign, Jian Dan didn't hesitate. When no one was looking, she slipped past the barrier.
The deeper she ventured, the more pronounced the change. Her spiritual energy circulated twice as fast as usual, accelerating with every step. The forest's core pulsed with dense, ancient power.
Guided by an unseen pull, Jian Dan wove through the trees, reaching two-thirds of the way in by sunset. The heart of Shennongjia drew nearer.
She hadn't bothered concealing her aura. Though creatures watched from the shadows, none dared approach. Their wariness only confirmed her belief: this planet was indeed in its Dharma Ending Era.