The Mighty Mage
Chapter 344: Artifact

Chapter 344: Chapter 344: Artifact

The unexpected obstacle caused her to stumble, nearly falling flat on her face.

She barely managed to regain her balance and glared venomously at Gu Jin, who stood a few feet away, her expression calm and composed.

Gu Jin quietly retracted the vine, her movements so subtle that no one else seemed to notice.

But Aihan had seen it. Her face twisted in rage as she shot Gu Jin a venomous look.

Ignoring her entirely, Gu Jin turned her attention to Mr. Gu.

Her cold demeanor softened slightly as her eyes met his. He looked so much like her father from her previous life that she felt a strange sense of familiarity and warmth.

Mr. Gu’s gaze shifted from one person to another, his brow furrowing as he sensed the tension in the room.

Before anyone could speak, Gu Jihu stepped forward and calmly explained the situation.

Mr. Gu’s sharp eyes immediately turned to Gu Jin.

He studied her carefully, his expression unreadable.

As he took in her striking ruby-like eyes and familiar facial features, something stirred deep within him. A memory. A feeling.

"She does..." he murmured, almost to himself. "She looks exactly like Mother."

Before he could say more, Aihan interrupted, her voice desperate.

"Dad, I think I might be Gu Jin’s twin sister! That’s the only explanation, right?"

Mr. Gu frowned and shook his head firmly.

"There were no twins, Aihan. I was in the delivery room when your mother gave birth. I saw with my own eyes that we had a single daughter."

Aihan’s face turned pale at his words.

She stammered, searching for something to say. Finally, she raised her voice, her tone confident but tinged with panic.

"Then Gu Jin must be using some potion or magic to trick us! She’s an imposter, trying to take my place!"

Gu Jin let out a quiet chuckle, the sound both amused and cold. Her piercing gaze turned to Aihan, her lips curling into a faint, mocking smile.

"If anyone here might be an imposter, wouldn’t it be you?" she asked smoothly.

"After all, you’re the one who’s been so desperate to prove your place in this family, even before I arrived in this villa. Why would someone who’s secure in their identity act like that?"

Her words were calm but hit like a hammer. Aihan opened her mouth to argue but found herself unable to form a coherent response.

Gu Jin then turned her attention back to Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu. For the first time, her cold expression softened completely. Her voice was gentle, almost hesitant, as she addressed them.

"Mom. Dad," she said softly, the words feeling strange but natural at the same time.

Mr. and Mrs. Gu both froze, their eyes locked on her. Something about the way she spoke, the sincerity in her tone, tugged at their hearts.

"I don’t need to prove myself with words," Gu Jin continued.

"If you want proof, think about the Mistwood Forest in Fujio City. That’s where Aihan tried to open the portal to the Ancient Magic World. But the portal didn’t respond to her—it opened in front of me."

Her calm revelation left everyone in the room stunned.

Mrs. Gu’s eyes widened in shock. "The portal to Ancient Magic World...?" she echoed, her voice trembling slightly.

"Yes," Gu Jin said, her tone steady. "The portal chose me, not her. If you need more evidence, perhaps you should ask yourselves why."

Aihan’s face turned red with fury and panic. "That’s a lie! She’s lying!"

But her words sounded hollow, even to herself.

Mr. Gu, who had remained silent for a long time, finally spoke. His voice was deep and steady, carrying the weight of his authority.

"Aihan," he said firmly, "that’s enough."

Turning toward Gu Jin his tone softened and he said, "We have another way to confirm if you are our daughter or not."

Gu Jin looked at him with a curious gaze.

"I have a family heirloom. As long as you drop blood on the artifact it will turn into red if your are related to us and if you aren’t it will turn into black."

Mr. Gu stood silent for a moment, his gaze steady.

Then, with a decisive nod, he turned and walked toward his study.

The room remained tense, everyone exchanging glances, unsure of what would happen next.

Moments later, he returned, holding a small, intricate artifact.

It was shaped like a lotus flower, its petals made of shimmering glass-like material that seemed to glow faintly under the light.

"This is the family heirloom," Mr. Gu said, his voice calm but commanding.

"It has been passed down for generations. The magic within it recognizes blood ties. If you are related to our family, it will glow red. If not, it will turn black."

Everyone held their breath as he drew a small blade and pricked his finger. A drop of blood fell onto the center of the artifact. Instantly, the petals glowed a deep crimson red, illuminating the room with its brilliance.

"As you can see, it works," Mr. Gu said.

He gestured for a servant to step forward. The servant hesitated but obeyed. After pricking his finger, the servant let his blood drip onto the artifact. This time, the glow turned black, dull, and lifeless.

Satisfied, Mr. Gu turned to Gu Jin. "Your turn."

Gu Jin stepped forward without hesitation.

She pricked her finger, letting a single drop of blood fall onto the artifact.

The moment it touched the surface, the artifact lit up with the same brilliant red glow that it had for Mr. Gu.

The room went silent.

Everyone stared at the glowing artifact, stunned. Mr. Gu and Mrs. Gu exchanged a look of disbelief, while Gu Jihu and Gu Jichun seemed unsurprised, almost as if they had expected this outcome.

Before anyone could speak, Aihan stepped forward abruptly. "Wait! I want to try it too!"

Mr. Gu frowned but handed her the artifact. Aihan pricked her finger, and her blood fell onto the artifact.

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