Not Fit to Carry My Shoes?

Wen Wanrong's face went pale with fright.

She had never expected this.

The eldest son who had always endured in silence and obeyed his parents without question would suddenly erupt today—and with such an absolutely forceful attitude.

She had only meant to make Xiao Chen yield his marriage agreement with Ye Qingxuan to his younger brother. She had never intended to sever ties with Xiao Chen!

"Chen'er, how could you say something so heartbreaking to your parents? You are the flesh of my flesh, the piece of meat from my heart. How could Mother ever bear to sever ties with you?"

Tears welled in Wen Wanrong's eyes.

"Heh... Wen Wanrong, put away those hypocritical tears! Search your conscience—over all these years, have you ever cared whether I lived or died? The piece of your heart? Stop acting! The only piece of your heart has ever been that little beast Xiao Lingtian. Do not get it confused!"

Xiao Chen remained unmoved, his face cold and indifferent.

"Unfilial son! Over such a trivial matter, you want to sever ties with your parents? Have you gone mad?"

Just as Wen Wanrong was about to continue persuading him, Xiao Zhentian's furious voice suddenly rang out.

With one palm strike, he shattered the tea table and roared, "You want to sever ties? Fine! Get out of this house right now! From this day onward, you are no longer a member of my Xiao Family. I will remove your name from the Lineage register!"

The moment those words were spoken.

Everyone present shuddered, disbelief surfacing on their faces.

Removed from the Lineage register?

No one had expected Xiao Zhentian to go this far!

Under Great Xia's laws, once a clan head removed a family member's name from the Lineage register, it meant they had completely severed ties with that family—never to have dealings with one another until death.

If Xiao Zhentian removed Xiao Chen from the Lineage register.

It would mean Xiao Chen had completely severed ties with Zhenbei King Manor. Without Zhenbei King Manor's protection, a cripple like Xiao Chen could never survive in the Shura battlefield that was the Barren North, where demons ran rampant.

Xiao Zhentian was cutting off Xiao Chen's path to survival!

Yet when Xiao Lingtian heard this, delight surfaced on his face.

Over the years, although Xiao Chen had rarely appeared at Zhenbei King Manor, people still knew more or less about him.

Xiao Lingtian had often been mocked for having a useless elder brother.

Now.

If this useless brother were driven out of the Xiao residence, would that not mean the Xiao residence had finally cast off this enormous disgrace for good?

He would carry a little more glory on his face whenever he went out.

"Xiao Zhentian, what nonsense are you talking about? Removing him from the Lineage register? Do you want Chen'er dead? His dantian is shattered. Without Zhenbei King Manor's protection, how can he survive in these chaotic times?"

Wen Wanrong could endure no longer. She stared coldly at Xiao Zhentian and demanded furiously.

Xiao Zhentian was left speechless. After a moment of silence, he said, "Madam, I was angry for a moment. I..."

In truth, he knew he had gone too far and regretted the words the instant they left his mouth.

But Xiao Chen's demand had truly enraged him!

He was the illustrious Zhenbei King, one of Great Xia's ten Martial Kings.

There were countless people who wished to be reborn as his son—even the vast Barren North could not contain them all.

Yet Xiao Chen did not know how fortunate he was?

In what way had Xiao Zhentian wronged him?

Even if he had neglected him somewhat over the years.

Had he not still ensured that Xiao Chen wanted for neither food nor clothing?

In this demon-plagued, chaotic age.

Many children died the moment they were born.

Was it not fortunate enough for him to be born in Zhenbei King Manor and enjoy peace and safety?

"You are the dignified Zhenbei King and the father of two children. Can you not even tolerate this much? You are actually quibbling with a child?"

Wen Wanrong was usually gentle by nature, but now she was truly enraged.

"Madam, I did not mean it. So long as this unfilial son is willing to kneel, kowtow, and admit his mistake, I am willing to take back what I just said..."

Xiao Zhentian took a deep breath and said.

In his view.

For him, the Zhenbei King whose word was law, to yield this much already showed Xiao Chen immense leniency.

"Bring me paper and brush!"

Xiao Chen cut him off directly.

Several servants looked at one another.

After hesitating for a moment, one of them brought Xiao Chen paper and a brush.

"You want to write a letter of repentance? That is not impossible! But you must present it on your knees."

A flicker of confusion passed through Xiao Zhentian's eyes as he frowned.

It had never occurred to him that Xiao Chen wanted paper and brush to write a Severance Writ.

After all.

Being born into Zhenbei King Manor was something countless people dreamed of.

Now that he had already given him a way out.

Xiao Chen would definitely take the hint and back down.

In fact, even Wen Wanrong and Xiao Lingtian thought Xiao Chen intended to write a letter of repentance.

Neither of them believed Xiao Chen truly dared to leave Zhenbei King Manor.

With his crippled state, once he left, he would surely die miserably on the streets.

Under everyone's watchful eyes.

Xiao Chen's brush moved like a dragon and a serpent.

Before long, the Severance Writ was complete.

After writing the final character.

Xiao Chen put down the brush, stepped forward, and handed the Severance Writ to Xiao Zhentian.

When Xiao Zhentian saw its contents clearly, his pupils suddenly constricted. Towering fury instantly surged into his eyes as his tiger-like gaze fixed straight on Xiao Chen. "Unfilial son, are you courting death? You actually dare write a Severance Writ? Do you think I truly would not remove your name?"

"What? A... a Severance Writ?"

Wen Wanrong trembled all over and covered her mouth in disbelief.

A Severance Writ was a document recognized by Great Xia's laws for severing ties with one's family.

She had thought Xiao Chen was merely acting on impulse. She had never expected him to write an actual Severance Writ.

Did he truly intend to sever ties with their family?

"Xiao Zhentian, there is no need for further words. Just sign it! I do not wish to remain in your Zhenbei King Manor for even another moment!"

Xiao Chen said expressionlessly, his eyes filled with utter indifference.

It was as though the people before him were not his biological parents and younger brother.

They were merely several strangers with no connection to him whatsoever.

That was no lie.

He had had enough of the neglect and mistreatment of all these years.

He truly did not want to remain here for even one more second.

"Fine, fine, fine! You unfilial son, let me see how long you can live after leaving Zhenbei King Manor!"

Xiao Zhentian could endure no more. He directly picked up the brush and signed his name on the Severance Writ, then slammed it down in front of Xiao Chen.

A Severance Writ.

Would only take effect once all parties involved had signed it.

He did not believe.

Xiao Chen truly dared to sign his own name.

"Decisive. When it comes to heartlessness, it still has to be you, Xiao Zhentian! But for this, I have to thank you!"

Xiao Chen directly picked up the brush and signed his name on the Severance Writ at lightning speed.

The servants present were all dumbstruck.

Xiao Chen actually truly dared to sign it!

When Xiao Zhentian saw this.

He too stood frozen in place.

Not even in his dreams had he expected.

Xiao Chen to truly dare sign it!

And he had done so with such speed!

This unfilial son!

Was he really so impatient to sever ties with him?

Wen Wanrong also stared at the Severance Writ in Xiao Chen's hand in utter disbelief.

Only now was she certain that her eldest son truly wanted to sever ties with them!

For some reason.

It was as if a sharp blade had stabbed viciously into her heart, and a piercing pain rose from deep within her.

Before, she had favored her younger son and looked down on her eldest.

But when her eldest son truly meant to leave.

She regretted it!

"You unfilial son, you actually dared to sign it?"

After recovering from his shock, Xiao Zhentian glared furiously at Xiao Chen.

"Heh... Why would I not dare? Is this not exactly what you wanted? Without me, your useless son, the Zhenbei King's title will likely ring out even more gloriously!"

Xiao Chen replied with a cold laugh. Then, holding the Severance Writ, he walked over to Xiao Lingtian. "You sign too!"

Xiao Lingtian glanced at his parents and hesitated for a moment. In the end, he ignored Wen Wanrong's warning gaze and signed his name on the Severance Writ.

When Xiao Chen handed the Severance Writ to Wen Wanrong, however, she refused to sign no matter what, weeping as she desperately tried to make him stay.

But Xiao Chen's heart had long since died.

Without even sparing her a glance, he took the Severance Writ and prepared to leave the Xiao Family.

"Xiao Chen, you useless cripple! Once you leave the Xiao Family, you are destined to remain a cripple for the rest of your life! You are not even fit to carry my shoes!"

Seeing his mother so reluctant to part with Xiao Chen, rage rose in Xiao Lingtian's heart. As if possessed, he blurted out those harsh words at Xiao Chen.