Ms. Diviner: The Prodigal Daughter's Return Chapter 5 take the initiative

With a sharp *ching*, the longsword, previously resting at the head of her bed, was drawn from its sheath and plunged into the floor with full force. Her lips quirked as she observed the shallow white mark etched onto the floorboards. She was pathetically weak. The strength she had wielded before her rebirth could have easily crushed her current self with a mere flick of a finger, even if a hundred of her were present. How utterly tragic!

While returning to life was cause for immense joy, the vast chasm between her current power and her past strength not only disheartened her but also forged an unshakeable resolve within her heart.

She absolutely had to regain her strength, and quickly!

However, before ascending to true power, she first needed to navigate her current reality. Mu Hanyan understood that while many found her disagreeable, none harbored profound grudges or outright hatred. Yet, it was precisely these individuals who seemed to relish in causing her distress. Her own strength was negligible, her father paid her scant attention, and Han Feng possessed both power and considerable favor with her father. Consequently, people naturally gravitated towards oppressing the weaker party.

“I refuse to be such an easy target!” Mu Hanyan’s lips curved slightly. Before acquiring the formidable power she craved, what she urgently needed, even if on a small scale, was her own faction—a means to act at her discretion, perhaps to deal with Fourth Miss Zhao.

Just as these thoughts occupied Mu Hanyan’s mind, Yue Fanling entered, her expression etched with tender concern as she clasped Mu Hanyan’s hand. Mu Hanyan recognized the guilt behind the gesture. Having been raised in disguise as a boy since childhood, the family had always measured and expected of her according to the standards of raising a son—a pointless endeavor in Yue Fanling’s eyes. Furthermore, they had indulged her unreservedly, shaping her into a spoiled playboy. How could she not feel a pang of pain and guilt?

Mu Hanyan’s fingers brushed against the unadorned ring on her right little finger—this very ring that had flawlessly concealed her male identity. In her previous existence, even when confronting formidable individuals, none had ever discerned she was a woman masquerading as a man; such was the ring's extraordinary nature. Yet, its utility was confined solely to this purpose; it possessed no other functions. From a young age, she had been strictly warned never to remove the ring in the presence of others. Only much later did she comprehend that this instruction also served as a form of protection.

“Mother, I wish for two guards,” Mu Hanyan stated softly.

Yue Fanling paused upon hearing this, then nodded vigorously. “Indeed, indeed! You absolutely should have personal guards. My foolish child, you are far too trusting. I should have assigned someone to follow you much earlier. You shouldn’t have listened to your father’s insistence that Mu Family disciples must cultivate independence. That’s for other clans, not for us. Your father is the City Lord; you don’t need to strive as hard as those from the Branch Families.”

“Yes, mother. May I choose them myself, if it’s permissible?” Mu Hanyan continued. Her mother’s indulgence was always this straightforward—it was nearly an explicit declaration that “Your father is wealthy and powerful; you might as well live off him without a care or effort.”

“Okay, okay, not a problem at all,” Yue Fanling readily agreed, still nodding. “I’ll summon all the guards from the City Lord’s Mansion, and you can select whomever you desire. There are even some new recruits who joined just today; feel free to choose any of them.” Yue Fanling was completely compliant with Mu Hanyan’s requests, acting on them immediately.

As Mu Hanyan watched her mother depart swiftly to arrange the matter, her thoughts turned to two individuals among the City Lord’s Mansion guards. These two, one named Huayue and the other Zirong, had possessed an inherently unremarkable quality from the outset, blending seamlessly into any crowd, their strength also nothing to boast of. However, both exhibited considerable inherent talent. Their cultivation would later progress by leaps and bounds. Among them, Huayue possessed the characteristic of growing stronger when confronted by formidable opponents, capable of fighting significantly beyond his apparent level. Zirong, conversely, was excessively cunning. He was the kind of person who could betray someone, facilitate their downfall, and still have them assisting him with the spoils, all while leaving them feeling indebted. A truly deceitful and shrewd individual!