Inside the temple.
By the campfire, Li Youyou looked at the man in front of her, Yang Xuan, and asked, “Can you beat her?”
Yang Xuan shook his head. “I’m not sure.”
He truly wasn’t sure. That woman’s cultivation realm was higher than his, and there were others waiting outside the temple. If it came to a real fight, he had no confidence at all.
Hearing this, Li Youyou grew curious. “If you’re not sure, why did you act so confident just now?”
Yang Xuan smiled, but said nothing.
Li Youyou’s fine brows furrowed slightly in puzzlement, yet very quickly her eyes widened as realisation struck. She exclaimed in shock, “You did it on purpose. The calmer and more confident you appear, the more wary that woman becomes. She’ll think you’re unfathomable, or that you have powerful backing.”
Yang Xuan remained silent. He simply took out two steamed buns and handed one to Li Youyou.
Li Youyou accepted the bun. As she looked at him, shock filled her heart.
This man was terrifying!
When they had learned that the woman belonged to the Heretic Sect, Li Youyou had forced herself to stay calm, but inside she had been panicking.
The Heretic Sect!
Let alone her, even the Mo family behind her could not afford to provoke that power. Yet the man before her could remain completely composed. It was truly frightening.
After finishing his bun, Yang Xuan lay down on the weeds nearby and said, “Miss Youyou, we still have to travel tomorrow. Rest early.”
Li Youyou glanced at him, then leaned against a stone nearby. After a long silence, she suddenly asked, “Young Master Yang, have you heard any of the legends about your fiancée?”
Yang Xuan shook his head.
Li Youyou smiled. “They say she is the number one beauty of Central Continent, so beautiful that countless men have gone mad for her!”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “Oh.”
Li Youyou glanced at him again, somewhat dissatisfied. “Is that all? You’re far too indifferent!”
Yang Xuan said, “Whether she is beautiful or not has nothing to do with me.”
Li Youyou thought for a moment, then continued, “Before, I would have agreed it has nothing to do with you. But now… I think you are worthy of her. Are you really sure you want to break off the engagement?”
Yang Xuan nodded. “We have never met, we know nothing about each other. How could we marry and spend a lifetime together under such circumstances?”
Li Youyou nodded slightly. “That makes sense. If I had to marry someone I had never met and spend my whole life with him, I wouldn’t want to either.”
Yang Xuan smiled, but said nothing more.
Li Youyou turned to look at him again. She had to admit Yang Xuan was very handsome. Although he was only fifteen or sixteen, he was tall and well-built, and he completely lacked the spoiled air of other young masters. He was mature and refined.
He had strength, intelligence, and elegance.
For some reason Li Youyou’s cheeks suddenly flushed. She quickly looked away.
The night passed.
At dawn the next day, the two set off again.
The mountain paths were rugged and difficult. A journey that should have taken five days ended up taking six before they finally emerged from the vast mountain range.
Once out of the mountains, Li Youyou took a deep breath and said, “We’ve finally left those mountains.”
During this time she had suffered a lot on the mountain roads. Mosquito bites were minor; the worst part was being unable to bathe.
For a girl who loved cleanliness, that was utterly unbearable.
At that moment Yang Xuan suddenly took out a map, glanced at it, and said, “Xuan City in Central Continent is about a hundred li ahead. We’ll be there soon.”
Xuan City!
It was the largest and most prosperous city in Central Continent.
Yang Xuan put the map away and said, “Miss Youyou, let us go.”
Li Youyou nodded. “Alright.”
The two urged their horses into a gallop.
In the mountains the paths had been uneven, so although they rode they could not gallop. Now, however, they faced an endless plain.
Li Youyou stretched out both arms, greedily breathing in the fresh air. Sunshine warmed her face. Although she looked weary, it did nothing to diminish her stunning beauty.
A faint smile also appeared on Yang Xuan’s face.
The time spent in those mountains had truly been hard.
Suddenly Li Youyou turned to him and asked, “Young Master Yang, what are your plans after you break off the engagement?”
Yang Xuan thought for a moment. “I’ll decide when the time comes.”
Li Youyou was about to speak when Yang Xuan said, “Look ahead.”
She turned and saw, several li away, the faint outline of an ancient city.
Xuan City!
Yang Xuan smiled. “We’ve arrived.”
Li Youyou nodded, glanced at him once, and said nothing.
Soon the two reached the city walls.
Just as they arrived, a man in white robes hurried over. He walked quickly to Li Youyou and said excitedly, “Youyou, you’re finally here.”
Li Youyou looked at the man. “So it’s Young Master Luo.”
A servant beside Young Master Luo quickly added, “Miss Li, my young master has been waiting here for three whole days since he learned you were coming. He has grown thinner these past few days!”
Young Master Luo glared at the servant. “Talk too much.”
The servant retreated with a grin.
Li Youyou glanced at Young Master Luo, then at Yang Xuan beside her. Young Master Luo noticed the exchange and turned to Yang Xuan. “And this young master is?”
Yang Xuan smiled. “Yang Xuan.”
He turned to Li Youyou. “Miss Youyou, this is where we part. Farewell.”
With that he walked away.
Li Youyou suddenly called, “Wait.”
Yang Xuan turned back. After a brief hesitation she said, “Young Master Yang, you’ve only just arrived and don’t know anyone. Why not come and stay at my place first?”
Yang Xuan shook his head. “I wouldn’t want to impose.”
He turned to leave again.
Li Youyou hurriedly called, “Wait!”
Young Master Luo’s brows knitted together.
Yang Xuan turned once more. Li Youyou hesitated, then said, “After you finish your business, come find me. I’ll take you to the Academy of the Gods. As for the enrolment quota, don’t worry, I’ll sort it out for you!”
Yang Xuan still shook his head. “I appreciate Miss Youyou’s kindness, but I have never considered enrolling there. Farewell.”
With that he left.
Seeing this, Li Youyou grew angry. “Yang Xuan!”
In the distance Yang Xuan stopped and looked back.
Li Youyou stared at him, bit her lip, hesitated, then said, “Do you really have to reject my kindness?”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “Miss Youyou, farewell.”
He quickly disappeared into the city.
Li Youyou stamped her foot in frustration.
Young Master Luo stared deeply at Yang Xuan’s retreating back, then turned to Li Youyou with a smile. “Youyou, I’ve reserved a private room at the Immortal Guest Inn to welcome you. Shall we…”
Li Youyou shook her head. “Thank you for your kindness, Young Master Luo, but I’m rather tired today and would like to rest.”
With that she walked away.
The smile on Young Master Luo’s face froze.
After a long pause he said calmly, “Look into that Yang Xuan.”
The servant bowed respectfully and withdrew.
Young Master Luo narrowed his eyes, lost in thought.
…
Yang Xuan walked through the city.
Li Youyou was a beauty, and she had clearly been showing him favour.
However, he truly felt nothing for her.
To him, if he did not like someone he would not lead them on or do anything that might cause misunderstanding.
One should be decisive and straightforward in life.
Especially where feelings were concerned.
If you like someone, pursue them. If you do not, do not flirt or be ambiguous.
Sometimes a “nice guy” who keeps people hoping is worse than a jerk.
After wandering the city for a while, he sold his horse for ten spirit stones.
He was rather surprised. He had bought the horse for only three spirit stones, yet after riding it here he sold it for ten.
He had actually made a profit!
For a moment he even considered going into the horse-trading business.
After selling the horse, Yang Xuan asked around, learned the location of the Ye Clan, skipped lunch, and headed straight there.
First, break off the engagement!
Until the engagement was cancelled, neither he nor the Yang Clan could rest easy.
Soon Yang Xuan arrived at the Ye Estate. The Ye residence was more than a hundred times grander than the Yang Clan’s, covering a vast area like a small city.
At the main gate a Ye Clan guard stopped him. “Young master, do you have business here?”
Yang Xuan nodded slightly. “Please announce that Yang Xuan of the Yang family from South Province has come to pay respects to the Ye Clan head.”
Yang family, Yang Xuan?
The guard frowned, feeling the name was familiar but unable to place it. Just as he was about to speak, another guard suddenly exclaimed in shock, “You’re the Young Master Yang who is engaged to our young miss!”
Yang Xuan nodded slightly. “Yes.”
Both guards were stunned. One quickly turned and hurried inside to report.
Yang Xuan!
The remaining armed guard sized Yang Xuan up and laughed. “They say you’re a complete good-for-nothing. Is it true?”
Naturally everyone in the Ye Clan knew of their young miss’s fiancé. The guard dared to be so rude because everyone from top to bottom in the Ye Clan knew this marriage would never happen.
Without the engagement, the tiny Yang family would be less than ants before the Ye Clan.
Yang Xuan glanced at the guard. “We have no grudge. Why insult me?”
The guard laughed. “I just want you to understand that trash like you is not worthy of our young miss.”
Yang Xuan nodded slightly, showing no anger.
Seeing Yang Xuan afraid to reply, the guard sneered, “As expected, trash.”
At that moment the other guard returned. He glanced at Yang Xuan and said, “Young Master Yang, the clan head invites you in.”
Yang Xuan nodded and followed the guard inside.
The armed guard watched Yang Xuan enter and sneered, “A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh!”
Once inside the Ye Estate, Yang Xuan realised how enormous it was. Without a guide he would surely have got lost.
Soon the guard led him to a side hall. Inside sat only a beautiful woman wearing a pale-red robe. She was voluptuous, her expression cold and imposing even without anger.
The woman stared at Yang Xuan without speaking.
Yang Xuan immediately felt invisible pressure bearing down on him. It was not deliberate; it was simply the natural authority of someone long in high position.
Yang Xuan steadied his mind, took the marriage contract from his bosom, and offered it to her. “Senior, this is the marriage contract between Miss Ye Qing’er and myself. From this moment on, we have no further connection.”
Simple.
Direct.
No unnecessary words.
Yet the woman did not take the contract. She stared at Yang Xuan. “You have come to break the engagement.”
Yang Xuan nodded.
The woman asked, “Why?”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “I am untalented and weak. I dare not hold Miss Ye Qing’er back.”
The woman stared at him, her gaze sharp as if trying to see through him.
Yang Xuan remained calm, neither servile nor overbearing.
After a long while the woman withdrew her gaze, picked up her teacup, took a gentle sip, and said, “You have surprised me.”
Yang Xuan stayed silent. He wanted to set the contract down and leave, but that would be disrespectful.
Over the years the Ye Clan had helped the Yang family greatly and had treated him well enough.
Therefore he did not wish to burn bridges.
Besides, he had come to end an engagement, not to make enemies.
The woman glanced at the still-offered contract and asked, “When you entered, the guard at the gate insulted you. Why were you not angry?”
Yang Xuan looked at her and countered, “Why should I be angry?”
The woman stared. “With your strength, having killed over a hundred heretic cultists in ten breaths, killing that guard would have been child’s play. You didn’t kill him because you feared offending the Ye Clan and us blaming you afterwards?”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “Senior, I came to break off the engagement.”
In other words, can we not talk about anything else?
The woman looked at him. “Answer my question.”
Yang Xuan thought for a moment. “Because I was not angry.”
The woman’s brows creased slightly. “Why not?”
Yang Xuan said calmly, “He is not qualified to make me angry.”
The woman stared at Yang Xuan, inwardly shocked.
Not qualified.
Those two words revealed confidence, composure.
When she learned the guard had insulted him, she had considered two possibilities: first, Yang Xuan would kill the guard in a rage; second, he would swallow the insult and come complain to her, asking her to punish the guard.
Yang Xuan had done neither.
He genuinely felt no anger.
He had truly come only to break the engagement.
The woman fell silent. She realised that she, and the entire Ye Clan, had underestimated this youth.
All these years, this young man who possessed the Invincible Sacred Body might have been deliberately hiding his strength to deceive the world.
At this thought she looked deeply at Yang Xuan once more.
Yang Xuan continued to hold out the contract.
After a long silence the woman reached out and took it.
The youth before her had surprised, even shocked her, but her daughter still could not marry him.
Her daughter could do better, and almost all the elders in the clan opposed the marriage.
However, it would be good to form friendly ties with this youth.
Her instincts told her that one day he would be extraordinary.
With that in mind the woman suddenly called, “Someone.”
At her words an elder appeared beside her.
The woman said calmly, “Kill the guard who insulted Young Master Yang.”
The elder bowed deeply and withdrew.
The woman looked at Yang Xuan. Seeing his expression remain calm, she grew curious. “You said you were not angry, so why not plead for his life?”
Yang Xuan replied calmly, “He is not worth it.”
The woman stared at him, saying nothing.
Yang Xuan cupped his fists slightly. “Senior, I take my leave.”
He turned to go.
But at that moment a voice rang out from beyond the door. “Breaking off the engagement? Did you ask me first?”
As the words fell, a woman in plain white dress slowly walked in.
…
