Parting Ways

"Chen'er... Mother knows you're hurting, but your little brother truly loves Qingxuan. For her sake, he can't eat or sleep, and he's already wasted away. You're the older brother—can you bear to see him suffer like this? Just give in to him, alright?"

Wen Wanrong felt it was somewhat excessive, but after hesitating for a moment, she still spoke the words.

"Ha... He suffers, and you feel sorry for him. I was abandoned in Desolate Town for three years, and you never even came to see me once, not caring whether I lived or died. You said it was for my recovery, but you've treated me so well, haven't you?"

A flicker of bitterness passed through Xiao Chen's eyes.

Though he was a transmigrator.

He had still merged with the memories of his predecessor.

That pain and despair of longing for family affection yet being denied it.

He felt it as his own.

It was utterly miserable!

And when Xiao Zhentian and his wife recalled his predecessor to Barren North City to fulfill the marriage contract with Ye Qingxuan, his predecessor had been overjoyed, crying like a child.

He naively believed.

That the three years of cold neglect and torment were finally over.

That he would soon gain his parents' love, his younger brother's respect, and his wife's warmth.

But.

When he returned to Barren North City.

What awaited him was a family's icy indifference.

At that moment.

His heart shattered.

Later.

Xiao Lingtian openly tried to steal his fiancée.

And even beat him severely.

His parents paid no attention, not even sparing him a second glance.

After that.

His predecessor died of despair!

Such conduct from this family.

Let alone being human.

Even beasts would have to bow in shame.

And now.

Wen Wanrong actually used Xiao Lingtian's sadness and missed meals as an excuse to make him give up the marriage contract!

This was utterly outrageous!

A surge of nameless fury roared up in Xiao Chen's heart.

"Chen'er, don't... misunderstand. You're both my flesh and blood, I love you both. It's just that in your current... situation, even if you don't give up the contract, Qingxuan won't marry you."

Seeing Xiao Chen so enraged, Wen Wanrong panicked and explained with reddened eyes.

She still held some attachment to her eldest son in her heart.

After all, he was born from her own flesh.

But Xiao Zhentian was an extremely prideful man, unwilling to allow a waste like Xiao Chen to exist in the Zhenbei King Manor—it would tarnish his prestige as the Zhenbei King.

So they had thrown young Xiao Chen into Desolate Town, entrusting him to an ordinary local family.

And to downplay Xiao Chen's existence, they never visited him over the years.

With Xiao Chen not by her side, Wen Wanrong naturally poured all her love into Xiao Lingtian, and over time, it became favoritism.

But she never imagined.

That the brothers had only just met.

And they were already at each other's throats.

This was something she, as a mother, didn't want to see.

But.

One was a stranger, a waste of an eldest son she hadn't seen in three years.

The other was a prodigal youngest son she had raised day and night since childhood.

She naturally leaned toward the younger.

Even going so far as to make such an excessive demand.

She never once considered that Xiao Chen had already given far too much for Xiao Lingtian.

Xiao Lingtian would owe Xiao Chen for a lifetime.

"Enough, Wen Wanrong. Stop pretending to be a loving mother with me. To be honest, the things you just said prove you're not even fit to be a mother. So save your tears, alright? I don't need them!"

Xiao Chen sneered coldly.

The moment those words left his mouth.

Wen Wanrong's heart clenched violently.

A flicker of disbelief flashed through her eyes.

She hadn't expected.

That Xiao Chen, who had always treated her with utmost respect, who would be so excited he couldn't sleep just from a faint smile of hers, would now be so ruthless toward her!

Not fit to be a mother?

Had Xiao Chen's resentment toward her really reached this level?

"You unfilial wretch! How dare you defy your mother? I'll kill you right now!"

Xiao Zhentian roared in fury.

"Kill me? Go ahead! Xiao Zhentian, you've been waiting for this day for a long time, haven't you? If you're not afraid of the world calling you a murderer of your own son, then by all means, strike! It's not like I can dodge anyway!"

A cold sneer curled at the corner of Xiao Chen's mouth as his icy gaze locked onto Xiao Zhentian. "Everyone says the Zhenbei King is brave and invincible, holding back the Demon Race beyond the Barren North, a great hero, the backbone of humanity. But in truth, you're nothing but a fame-seeking hypocrite!"

"Before I turned fifteen, you treated me as the future of the Xiao Family, doting on me and giving me everything I wanted. After I turned fifteen, when my dantian shattered and my talent was destroyed, you changed your face entirely—ignoring me, treating me like ice."

"At the end of the day, you just think I'm a waste now, no longer able to carry the glory of the Xiao Family, don't you?"

As his words fell.

Everyone present shuddered.

Fear crept into their eyes.

How dare Xiao Chen speak of the Zhenbei King like this?

Wasn't he afraid that the Zhenbei King, in a fit of rage, would kill him on the spot?

As for Xiao Zhentian, his face had already turned iron with fury, his body trembling slightly. A terrifying martial aura radiated from him, causing even the void itself to crack inch by inch, spiderweb-like fissures spreading through the air.

The people around immediately felt a suffocating pressure descend out of nowhere.

As if a thousand-zhang mountain were pressing down on their heads, cold sweat poured down their backs.

Xiao Zhentian truly deserved his reputation as a martial prodigy of Heaven-grade talent.

Still in his middle years.

He had already reached the realm of Martial King.

With just a trace of his pressure.

It was already this terrifying!

But the next moment.

That overwhelming force receded like a tide.

Looking at the mocking expression on Xiao Chen's face.

A flicker of defeat suddenly passed through Xiao Zhentian's eyes.

Though he didn't want to admit it.

Every single word Xiao Chen had spoken was true.

He was the head of the Xiao Family.

And the Zhenbei King guarding the Barren North.

He carried too much on his shoulders.

Over the years, he had indeed neglected Xiao Chen.

He had failed Xiao Chen.

But it wasn't entirely his fault.

In the past.

When Xiao Chen was born and was discovered to have the Born King Physique.

He had been overjoyed.

A Born King Physique was far too powerful.

Powerful enough to secure the Xiao Family's glory for a thousand years.

So he had poured all his hopes and love into Xiao Chen.

But as the saying goes, the greater the hope, the greater the disappointment.

When Xiao Chen's dantian later shattered, Xiao Zhentian's spirit nearly collapsed.

The Born King Physique was gone.

The thousand-year foundation of the Xiao Family was shattered.

He couldn't accept it.

He even felt disgusted just looking at Xiao Chen.

Although he knew.

This wasn't Xiao Chen's fault.

He couldn't control it.

In the end, he simply threw Xiao Chen somewhere out of sight, out of mind.

From start to finish.

He only considered his own feelings.

Without caring whether Xiao Chen lived or died.

For the next seven years, he almost completely forgot Xiao Chen, forgetting he ever had such a son.

It wasn't until the old marriage contract came due.

That he brought Xiao Chen back to his side.

But there was little affection left by then.

And Xiao Chen's constant meek submission gave him a false impression.

He was the father.

No matter how he treated his son, it was only right.

The other could only bear it silently.

Until Xiao Chen's outburst just now.

He finally realized.

He was wrong!

And terribly so!

Unworthy of being a father!

But with his pride, admitting fault was impossible!

So.

He could only stay silent!

Seeing this.

Everyone present was stunned!

Who would have thought the ever-dominant Zhenbei King would actually back down?

That's right!

This silence.

For Xiao Zhentian, was already a concession!

A massive concession!

"Heh... What? Hit the mark? Lost for words?"

Xiao Chen sneered coldly.

"Give up the marriage contract, and I'll compensate you later!"

Xiao Zhentian was silent for a long time before forcing out a few words.

"Compensation? No need! From today onward, I sever all ties with you and the Xiao Family! I am no longer your son, and you are no longer my father. From now on, we are strangers, never to cross paths again!"

Xiao Chen took a deep breath, cutting the last thread of attachment, and spoke slowly.

At these words.

Everyone present's pupils shrank, shock flashing countless times in their eyes!

Sever all ties?

Never cross paths again?

Was Xiao Chen really cutting ties with the Xiao Family?