Not even fit to tie your shoes?

Wen Wanrong's face turned pale with fright.

She had never expected this.

Her eldest son, who had always been submissive and obedient to his parents, would suddenly erupt today—and in such an absolutely uncompromising manner.

Her original intention was merely to have Xiao Chen yield his engagement to Ye Qingxuan to his younger brother, not to sever ties with him entirely!

"Chen'er, how can you say such heartbreaking words to your parents? You are the flesh torn from your mother's body—how could I bear to cut ties with you?"

Wen Wanrong's eyes glistened with tears.

"Heh... Wen Wanrong, save your crocodile tears! Ask yourself—over all these years, have you ever cared whether I lived or died? Flesh from your body? Stop putting on an act! The only flesh from your body has always been that little beast Xiao Lingtian—don't get it twisted!"

Xiao Chen remained unmoved, his face cold.

"Unfilial brat! Over such a trivial, chicken-feather garlic-skin matter, you want to sever ties with your parents? Have you lost your mind?"

Just as Wen Wanrong tried to reason further, Xiao Zhentian's furious voice suddenly rang out.

He slammed his palm down, shattering the tea table, and roared, "Sever ties, is it? Fine! Get out of this house right now! From today onward, you are no longer a member of my Xiao Family. I will strike your name from the family registry!"

At these words.

Everyone present shuddered, disbelief written across their faces.

Struck from the family registry?

They never imagined Xiao Zhentian would go this far!

According to the laws of Great Xia, once a clan member's name was removed from the registry by the patriarch, it meant a complete and permanent break from the family—never to interact again, as if dead to each other.

If Xiao Zhentian struck Xiao Chen from the registry.

It meant Xiao Chen would be completely cut off from the Zhenbei King Manor. Without the Manor's protection, a mere cripple like Xiao Chen could never survive the Barren North—a hellish arena overrun with demonic chaos.

Xiao Zhentian was sealing Xiao Chen's fate!

And Xiao Lingtian, upon hearing this, couldn't hide the glee on his face.

Over the years, though Xiao Chen rarely appeared at the Zhenbei King Manor, word of his affairs had spread more or less. Xiao Lingtian had often been mocked for having a useless older brother.

Now.

If this waste was expelled from the Xiao Estate, didn't that mean the family would finally shed this enormous disgrace?

He would even walk with a bit more pride.

"Xiao Zhentian, what nonsense are you spouting? Strike him from the registry? Do you want Chen'er dead? A man with a shattered dantian—without the Zhenbei King Manor's protection, how can he survive in this chaotic world?"

Wen Wanrong could no longer hold back. Her gaze turned icy as she glared at Xiao Zhentian, her voice sharp with accusation.

Xiao Zhentian was momentarily struck speechless. After a long silence, he said, "Wife, I spoke in anger. I..."

He knew he had gone too far; he regretted it the moment the words left his mouth.

But Xiao Chen's demand had infuriated him!

He was the dignified Zhenbei King, one of the Great Xia's Ten Martial Kings.

Countless people would kill to be reborn as his son—even the vast Barren North couldn't hold them all.

And Xiao Chen, blessed without knowing it?

What had he, Xiao Zhentian, ever done wrong by him?

Even if he had been somewhat neglectful over the years.

Hadn't he still ensured the boy had food and clothing?

In this demon-plagued world.

Many children died the moment they were born.

To be born into the Zhenbei King Manor, to enjoy safety—wasn't that fortune enough?

"You are the dignified Zhenbei King and the father of two children. Do you have no tolerance at all? Picking a fight with a child?"

Wen Wanrong was usually gentle, but now she was genuinely furious.

"Wife, I didn't mean it. If this unfilial brat will kneel and kowtow in apology right now, I am willing to take back what I said..."

Xiao Zhentian took a deep breath.

In his view.

As the Zhenbei King, whose word was law, stooping to this level was already an immense show of leniency toward Xiao Chen.

"Bring me paper and brush!"

Xiao Chen cut him off directly.

Several servants exchanged glances.

One of them hesitated, then brought Xiao Chen paper and brush.

"You want to write a confession of guilt? That's not out of the question—but you must present it on your knees."

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

He had never considered that Xiao Chen asking for paper and brush was to write a Severance Writ.

After all.

To be born into the Zhenbei King Manor was something countless people dreamed of.

Now that he had already offered a way out.

Xiao Chen would definitely take the chance to back down.

In fact, even Wen Wanrong and Xiao Lingtian thought Xiao Chen was going to write a confession of guilt.

They too didn't believe Xiao Chen truly dared to leave the Zhenbei King Manor.

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

Under everyone's watch.

Xiao Chen's brush danced like a dragon or snake.

Soon, the Severance Writ was finished.

After writing the last character.

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

When Xiao Zhentian saw the contents, his pupils abruptly contracted, and a surge of blazing fury erupted in his eyes. His tiger-like gaze locked onto Xiao Chen. "You rebellious brat, are you courting death? You dare write a Severance Writ? Do you think I wouldn't dare to expel you?"

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

Wen Wanrong's body trembled, and she covered her mouth in disbelief.

A Severance Writ was a document recognized by Great Xia law to sever ties with one's family.

She had thought Xiao Chen was just acting on impulse, never expecting he would actually write a Severance Writ.

Was he really going to cut ties with their family?

"Xiao Zhentian, no need for more words. Just sign it! I don't want to stay in your Zhenbei King Manor for even a moment longer!"

Xiao Chen said expressionlessly, his eyes filled with nothing but indifference.

As if the people before him were not his biological parents and younger brother.

But merely a few unrelated strangers.

This was no lie.

Years of neglect and mistreatment.

He had endured enough.

He truly didn't want to stay here a second longer.

"Fine, fine, fine. You rebellious brat, let's see how long you can live after leaving the Zhenbei King Manor!"

Xiao Zhentian, unable to contain himself any longer, picked up the brush and signed his name on the Severance Writ, then slammed it down in front of Xiao Chen.

The Severance Writ.

Required all parties involved to sign before it took effect.

He didn't believe.

Xiao Chen would actually dare to sign his own name.

"Quick and decisive. When it comes to being heartless, you really are something, 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 with lightning speed.

The servants present were all dumbfounded.

This Xiao Chen actually dared to sign!

Seeing this.

Xiao Zhentian was also frozen in place.

He never dreamed.

Xiao Chen would actually dare to sign!

And at such speed!

This rebellious brat!

Was he that eager to sever ties with him?

Meanwhile, Wen Wanrong stared incredulously at the Severance Writ in Xiao Chen's hand.

Only now did she realize that her eldest son truly wanted to cut ties with them.

For some reason.

Her heart felt as if it had been stabbed by a sharp blade, a piercing pain surging within.

In the past, she had favored her younger son and neglected her eldest.

But when her eldest son was truly about to leave, she regretted it.

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

Xiao Zhentian, having snapped back to reality, glared at Xiao Chen with fury.

"Heh... why wouldn't I dare? Isn't this exactly what you wanted? Without me, this waste of a son, your reputation as the Zhenbei King is bound to shine a bit brighter!"

Xiao Chen shot back with a cold laugh, then took the Severance Writ and walked over to Xiao Lingtian. "You sign too."

Xiao Lingtian glanced at his parents, hesitated for a moment, and finally ignored Wen Wanrong's pleading gaze, signing his name on the Severance Writ.

And when Xiao Chen handed the Severance Writ to Wen Wanrong, she refused to sign it no matter what, tears streaming down her face as she desperately tried to win him back.

But by now, Xiao Chen's heart was already dead.

Without even glancing at her, he took the Severance Writ and prepared to leave the Xiao Family.

"Xiao Chen, you waste! Once you leave the Xiao Family, you're doomed to be a cripple for life—not even fit to polish my shoes!"

Seeing their mother so reluctant to let Xiao Chen go, Xiao Lingtian's anger flared, and on a whim, he spat out a harsh remark at Xiao Chen.