Consolidating her power required engaging with the outside world. A week after her agreement with Yun Ming, Ye Xia attended a high-profile international economic forum in Hong Kong. It was her first official appearance as the representative of the Yun family, and all eyes were on the young, mysterious heiress who had seemingly come from nowhere.
She handled the attention with a cool grace, her [Advanced Etiquette & Composure] skill and her new [Qi Perception] allowing her to navigate the shark tank of global finance with ease. She could sense the greed, the ambition, the fear in the auras around her. It was like reading an open book.
It was during a keynote speech on the future of Pacific Rim trade that her senses prickled. A new aura entered the grand ballroom, one so vast and dense it momentarily overshadowed all others. It wasn't aggressive like Leng Feng's, or complex like Mo's. It was… deep. Implacable. Like the bottom of the ocean.
She turned slightly. The man who had entered was in his late fifties, with streaks of silver in his jet-black hair and a face that was both handsome and ruthlessly hard. He moved with an unconscious authority that made the other titans of industry look like boys playing dress-up. His name was announced in a hushed whisper: Jin Long, the "Dragon of the South China Sea." A shipping and logistics magnate whose empire was rumored to be built on a foundation of shadowy deals and unparalleled ruthlessness. He was a self-made billionaire who answered to no one, not even the ancient families.
And his aura… there was something strangely familiar about its fundamental frequency, an echo that resonated faintly with her own.
As he took his seat, his gaze swept the room and, for a fleeting second, locked with hers. His eyes, the color of dark amber, held no warmth, only a penetrating, analytical coldness. He showed no recognition, only a brief, professional assessment before looking away.
But in that moment, Ye Xia felt a jolt, an inexplicable and unsettling connection. It was the same feeling she got when she looked at a faded photograph of her mother.
The system, which had been quietly humming in the background, issued a rare, unsolicited alert.
[Warning: Proximity to high-level genetic match detected. Source: Paternal lineage. Probability: 97.3%.]
Ye Xia's blood ran cold. Paternal lineage? Her father was Ye Zhentao, a weak, pathetic man she had left in ruins. This man, Jin Long, with his immense power and terrifying aura… could he be…?
The speech ended. As the crowd milled about, Jin Long stood and began to make his way towards the exit. But he stopped as he passed her table.
"Miss Ye," he said, his voice a low baritone that vibrated with power. "A remarkable presentation on ASEAN market fluctuations. Your insight is… unexpected for one so young."
"Thank you, Mr. Jin," Ye Xia replied, her voice miraculously steady. "I believe in being thorough."
A ghost of a smile touched his lips. "Thoroughness is a virtue. We shall see if it is enough." He nodded curtly and moved on, leaving behind a wake of silent awe and a whirlwind of terrifying questions in Ye Xia's mind.