Clan Building System: I'm not the Protagonist?!-Chapter 361- Prodigy [1]

"Matriarch Fang, don’t you think you’re being too impulsive?"

Du Juan approached slowly with a young girl half-hidden behind her robes.

The child’s fingers clutched the fabric tightly.

Lin Zhaoyue turned at the voice and her eyes gleamed.

"Does it matter?," she said softly at first... and then her lips curved, the softness sharpening into conviction. "Because, in the end I am going to make this realm his. So that when my husband returns..."

Her gaze lifted toward the distant horizon, fervor blooming in her chest.

"...he will return as the king of kings."

The words left her like a vow carved in stone.

A flush crept up her cheeks, her eyes shining too brightly, almost feverish with excitement.

For a moment she looked less like a matriarch and more like a devout believer proclaiming destiny itself.

The intensity melted away as she lowered her gaze and met the little girl.

Her expression softened and she asked warmly, bending slightly,

"How are you doing, Du Xiao? Do you want a candy?"

The little girl immediately shook her head and slipped fully behind Du Juan, peeking out with wide, wary eyes.

Lin Zhaoyue blinked... then sighed with low disappointment.

"She’s still scared of me. Well, that’s your fault, Du Juan."

Du Juan bowed her head faintly, though the corner of her lips twitched. "My apologies, Matriarch. My sister simply has... a sharp sense for danger."

Lin Zhaoyue looked over at Du Juan who promptly turned her head toward the courtyard entrance.

"Oh look, isn’t that Fang Lian? She’s back."

Lin Zhaoyue turned towards the direction, forgetting about the random comment.

At the far end of the path, Fang Lian walked in alongside Mu Qing and several other Fang clan cultivators.

Dust clung to their hems, but their expressions were bright.

Lin Zhaoyue’s lips curled when she saw Fang Lian.

"That kid..." she murmured. "She’s already in Nascent Soul."

"What?"

Du Juan stiffened, her eyes sharpening as she properly focused on Fang Lian this time.

"Hah. If not for her Nascent Soul being weak, she would have fooled me. This is crazy... isn’t she still in her teens? What a genius."

Lin Zhaoyue laughed at that comment. "You’re right and wrong. I spoke with the girl, and apparently it hasn’t even been a year since she started learning. She’s a monster."

"No way..."

They both stared at Fang Lian together, one pair of eyes filled with curiosity, the other with excitement.

"Send your sister back. I’ll check her condition when I return."

Without any more words, she dashed forward.

Her figure blurred, robes fluttering as she shot across the courtyard straight toward Fang Lian.

Fang Lian had barely stepped into the courtyard with the others when her instincts screamed of danger.

A dangerous aura was closing in fast but she couldn’t figure out where it was coming from.

"Golden She’ll Armor: Cowardice."

In a single breath, her spiritual qi surged from her dantian as it burst outward in a golden wave and solidified into a protective barrier around her and the cultivators beside her.

The air trembled as the shield formed.

The cultivators with her gasped, startled by the sudden pressure.

Just then, a figure stopped just inches from colliding with the barrier.

It was none other than Lin Zhaoyue as she stood there with her hands clasped behind her back, robes fluttering faintly from the abrupt halt and a faint smile curved her lips.

"As expected," she said lightly. "Congratulations on entering the Nascent Soul Realm before the age of twenty, little Lian."

The words fell like thunder among the crowd.

"What?!"

"She’s already in the Nascent Soul Realm?"

"Isn’t she nineteen this year?"

The courtyard erupted into whispers.

Both Fang and Lin clan members who had come to welcome the children stood frozen in shock.

"Does that mean she has more talent than the previous clan head?"

"Hey! She’s his disciple. As they say, a disciple’s achievement reflects the master."

"Still... not everyone can step into Nascent Soul just because they have a powerful teacher."

Fang Lian after recognising that the threat she had felt was from Lin Zhaoyue.

The barrier dissolved instantly, spiritual qi retreating into her body as she stepped forward and bowed deeply.

"Fang Lian greets the Matriarch. I was simply lucky."

Lin Zhaoyue studied her for a long moment.

Then she smirked and nodded, satisfied.

"Good. Good. Once you’re done with your tasks, come meet me in my chambers."

Before anyone could respond, she vanished.

The courtyard collectively exhaled in relief upon seeing her go, all except Fang Lian.

Her brows drew together slightly.

Wasn’t the Matriarch also in the Nascent Soul Realm? Then why couldn’t I sense her presence at all?

No wonder my instinct always scream of danger whenever I’m with her. I definitely can’t get on her bad side.

Lin Zhaoyue reappeared near the pavilion where Du Juan remained waiting.

"So," Du Juan asked once Lin Zhaoyue sat down. "How was she?"

"Better than expected. I’m afraid this realm can’t contain her talent."

Du Juan’s brows rose slightly. "What do you mean?"

"I mean," Lin Zhaoyue said, eyes gleaming faintly, "she possesses an extremely rare talent. I could literally smell it, it’s a waste for her to trapped in this world."

Du Juan blinked.

Smell it? What are you, a dog?

She suppressed the thought and simply lifted her cup, taking a composed sip.

Lin Zhaoyue clicked her tongue.

"Tsk tsk. You don’t trust me, do you? No matter."

Her expression softened slightly. "She is my husband’s first disciple. I will make sure she is raised properly."

Du Juan placed her cup down carefully.

"I just don’t understand," she said evenly. "If she is your husband’s disciple, then her master is Fang Yuan, not you. Why are you going to such lengths for her?"

Without warning, killing intent exploded outward freezing the air.

Du Juan’s breath hitched as invisible pressure slammed into her chest.

Her vision darkened at the edges. It felt as though a blade had been placed at her throat.

Her heart pounded violently as she slowly realised there was nothing she could do despite both being in the Nascent soul realm.

The gap between our strength... was it always this wide?

Her fingers trembled against the table as she gritted her teeth, refusing to collapse.

Lin Zhaoyue’s expression shifted instantly, and instantly took back her killing intent.