The Mighty Mage
Chapter 351: Wrong

Chapter 351: Chapter 351: Wrong

"I will not kneel for something I have not done. Neither I will let my father kneel for something he didn’t do wrong."

Mr. Gu felt a strange warmth in his heart as he looked at Gu Jin.

His eyes softened, and a mix of emotions swirled within him. He remembered the past, the many times he had been forced to kneel in similar situations.

In all those moments, Gu Aihan had never stepped forward to protect him. She had always stood on the sidelines, indifferent, as if it wasn’t her concern.

Yes, there were other family members who had tried to shield him.

But never Gu Aihan, the daughter he had believed was his own.

And yet here was Gu Jin, the daughter he had acknowledge just for 3 days, standing up to the most powerful figure in the family for his sake.

Gu Jin’s cold, unwavering voice rang through the room again, cutting through the thick tension.

"You may be an elder, but that doesn’t give you the right to wrongfully punish my father. If he hasn’t committed any mistake, why should he kneel?"

The first elder’s expression darkened even more.

"You arrogant girl! Do you think you can challenge me?"

The second elder, who had been silent until now, raised an eyebrow, his interest piqued.

"Interesting. This girl has a strong will," he murmured softly.

The first elder slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, and the pressure intensified.

The air in the room seemed to grow heavier, making it hard for everyone to breathe.

But Gu Jin stood firm.

Sweat trickled down her forehead, and her breathing grew labored, but she refused to yield.

Mrs. Gu, who had been sitting silently, suddenly stepped forward.

"First Elder, that’s enough! Gu Jin has done nothing wrong!"

The first elder’s gaze shifted to Mrs. Gu, his expression filled with disdain.

"Do you think your words hold any weight here?"

Mrs. Gu’s hands clenched into fists, but she didn’t back down.

"Gu Jin is my daughter. Most importantly she had suffered for so long..."

The first elder sneered. "You’re too soft on her. That’s why she’s so unruly!"

At that moment, Gu Jin spoke again, her voice steady despite the pressure. "If standing up for the truth makes me unruly, then so be it. But I will not kneel before someone who cannot distinguish right from wrong."

Her words struck a chord in the room. Even the second elder leaned forward slightly, intrigued by her boldness.

The first elder’s face turned red with anger, but before he could speak, the second elder finally intervened.

"Enough," he said, his voice calm but firm. "The girl has made her point. Continuing this will only disgrace the family further."

The first elder hesitated, glaring at Gu Jin before reluctantly withdrawing the pressure.

Gu Jin straightened her back, her gaze never leaving the first elder.

Gu Aihan, who had been silent throughout the confrontation, suddenly spoke, her voice dripping with mock concern.

"Gu Jin you shouldn’t talk with an elder like that..."

Gu Jin chuckled softly.

"Oh, Gu Aihan," she said, her tone light but sharp, "I didn’t know you cared so much about respect for elders. Otherwise, why would you go and tattletale on father? Where was your respect?"

Gu Aihan’s face stiffened, and she quickly looked away, trying to mask her discomfort.

The room grew silent again, the tension thick enough to cut with a knife.

The second elder leaned back in his chair, his gaze moving between Gu Jin and Gu Aihan. A faint smile tugged at the corner of his lips as if he were enjoying the show.

Mr. Gu, still standing behind Gu Jin, felt his heart swell with pride. He had never imagined that his recently found daughter would be the one to defend him so fiercely.

The first elder’s voice broke the silence, low and full of menace.

"Enough of this drama."

He turned to Mr. Gu and said with a dark face,

"I heard from Gu Aihan that you kicked her out?"

"I did." Mr. Gu nodded with a stern expression.

"Why? Have you forgotten how much magical resources you have invested in her?" The first elder asked with a dark face.

Mr. Gu’s gaze didn’t falter as he replied,

"I may have provided for her, but I’ve also learned the hard way that resources don’t buy loyalty or respect. Gu Aihan crossed the line by betraying her family. I couldn’t let that slide."

If Gu Aihan had told him about the switch before, he would have adopted her. But she didn’t...

Even after all the things he did for her, she chose to not tell him about his daughter and even use his own name to harm his family!

Gu Aihan’s face turned pale, but she quickly recovered, her tone defensive.

"I didn’t betray anyone! I was just scared."

Gu Jichun scoffed, crossing her arms as she looked at Gu Aihan.

"Scared? That’s your excuse? You weren’t scared when you lied and used Father’s name to harm Gu Jin. Don’t act innocent now."

Gu Aihan’s eyes darted around the room, looking for support, but no one came to her defense.

Her voice wavered as she said,

"I... I didn’t mean for things to go this far. I just wanted to protect myself."

"Protect yourself?" Gu Jin’s voice was sharp, cutting through the awkward silence. "Wow, to protect yourself, you let the real heir suffer? What a great protection."

The second elder, who had been quietly observing, let out a low chuckle.

"This is quite the mess. Gu Aihan, your actions have consequences. It seems you underestimated this young lady."

Gu Aihan clenched her fists, her face flushed with anger and embarrassment.

"You’re all acting like I’m some kind of villain! I’ve been part of this family my whole life. You can’t just throw me away like trash!"

Mr. Gu’s voice was calm but firm. "You weren’t a villain yet you proved yourself as one."

Tears welled up in Gu Aihan’s eyes, but she bit her lip, refusing to cry.

The first elder, still visibly upset, slammed his hand on the table.

"Enough of this family drama! This isn’t the place for it."

He turned Mr. Gu and said in stern voice,

"Don’t mess around. Gu Aihan knows her mistake. Just adopt her."

Mr. Gu’s expression hardened as he faced the first elder.

"Adopt her? After everything she’s done? Respect is earned, not demanded. She betrayed the family and hurt my real daughter. How can I just overlook that?"

The first elder’s glare grew sharper.

"You’re being foolish. Aihan has been with us for years. Do you think you can erase that so easily? She’s trained, talented, and still has value to this family."

Gu Jin’s voice cut through the tense air.

"Value? Is that all you care about? What kind of family values someone who destroys it from within?"

Gu Aihan, still standing to the side, looked desperate. "I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to ruin anything! I can make up for it!"

Gu Jin turned to her, her gaze cold.

"Make up for it? How? By pretending none of this happened? By hoping everyone forgets what you did? Sorry, Gu Aihan, but trust isn’t something you can fix with empty words."

The second elder spoke up, his tone calm but firm.

"First elder, pushing this matter won’t help anyone. The girl has to face the consequences of her actions. Forcing Mr. Gu to adopt her now would only cause more chaos."

The first elder frowned but didn’t argue.

He knew the second elder’s words carried weight.

Mrs. Gu stepped forward, her voice steady but filled with emotion.

"We welcomed Aihan into this family and treated her as one of our own, but she betrayed us. This isn’t about revenge—it’s about protecting the family’s future. Gu Jin has proven herself to be a true daughter of this family, and we need to stand by her."

Gu Aihan looked around the room, realizing she had no allies left. Her shoulders slumped, and her voice cracked as she muttered,

"I... I’ll leave."

Mr. Gu sighed deeply, his expression softening just a little.

"Aihan, you made mistakes, but leaving isn’t the solution. Reflect on what you’ve done and find a way to make amends. Until then, don’t expect things to go back to how they were."

The first elder huffed but didn’t say more. He turned on his heel and left the room, his frustration clear.

The second elder lingered for a moment, giving Gu Jin an approving nod.

"You’ve got a strong spirit, girl. Don’t let it waver." Then he, too, left.

As the room emptied, Gu Jin finally relaxed the weight of the confrontation lifting.

Mrs. Gu placed a hand on her daughter’s shoulder.

"You were brave, Jin’er. But this is just the beginning. The first elder won’t forget this."

Gu Jin nodded, her resolve clear in her eyes. "Let them come. I’ll protect this family, no matter what."

Mr. Gu smiled proudly. "That’s my daughter."

Gu Aihan slipped out quietly, her head hanging low as she left the estate.