Ten-Year Engagement for Freedom

Outside the World-Saving Pavilion, over a hundred disciples had gathered, sharp glints visible in their solemn eyes.

A woman came into view—beautiful, so beautiful it was suffocating.

Dressed in snow-white robes, she resembled an immortal fairy descended from the heavens.

Her curvaceous figure left mouths dry and tongues parched.

With crimson lips and pearly teeth, she exuded irresistible allure.

Yet her noble coldness made her seem untouchable.

The daughter of the Sacred Domain Liang Family, Liang Simeng, was one of the most dazzling women on the Azure Wave Continent.

At the same time, she was the chief disciple of the Azure Wave Black and White Academy.

When Liang Simeng saw the young man approaching her, a flicker of astonishment flashed through her eyes.

"Qin Jishi?"

"You are?"

"Liang Simeng!"

Hearing that name, Qin Jishi was visibly taken aback before frowning slightly.

Ignoring his surprise, Liang Simeng said coldly, "I only came to tell you that there is no possibility between us. Perhaps this is unfair to you, but reality is like this. You were once the adopted son of the Qin Clan Head of the Sacred Ancestor Continent, but that was only once. Now, you are merely a menial servant of the World-Saving Pavilion."

"To be honest!"

After a brief pause, Liang Simeng continued, "The Qin Family letting you live was already a mercy. You should cherish it and live out the rest of your life as an ordinary person. That would be quite good."

Qin Jishi said nothing, though a cold gleam flashed deep within his eyes.

The Qin Family?

Seeing Qin Jishi's expression, Liang Simeng shook her head. "I have heard a little about the World-Saving Pavilion's rules. Once your ten-year term is up, you will be driven away. Consider this Storage Ring compensation. I believe it is enough for you to squander for the rest of your life."

Without caring whether Qin Jishi agreed, Liang Simeng tossed the Storage Ring into his hand.

"Oh, right!"

After taking only a few steps, Liang Simeng stopped. "I forgot to tell you. The useless Qin Tian you looked down on ten years ago is now a dream forever beyond your reach. In three years, I will marry him. Give up."

Hmph!

Tang Yan, the maid who had accompanied her, cast Qin Jishi a disdainful glance before turning and leaving.

"Young Lady!" After the two had walked some distance away, Tang Yan asked in confusion, "He is merely an abandoned son of the Qin Family. Why did you need to come here in person?"

"You do not understand!"

Liang Simeng spoke slowly. "I came to assess his cultivation."

"There was not the slightest fluctuation of profound qi."

"He was undoubtedly an ordinary mortal."

As though it had been expected, yet carrying a trace of disappointment, Liang Simeng left.

"Young Lady, are we returning to the academy?"

"No. We are going to Soaring Dragon City. Several people there have decent foundations and need to be brought back to the academy."

"..."

Watching Liang Simeng's retreating figure, his eyes slowly narrowed.

"A worthless wretch reborn? He obtained my essence blood and destroyed my childhood. I will settle this debt with you, one by one."

Qin Jishi could never forget that cold night. If he had not encountered Old Man, he would not be where he was today...

Crack!

As he clenched his fists, a dense Sha Qi surged from his body, making the Divine Souls of the surrounding disciples tremble violently. They could not understand why the Young Pavilion Master had become so furious.

"Young Pavilion Master!" Qingfeng's face was grave. "Shall I go teach them a lesson?"

Daring to provoke their Young Pavilion Master—they truly had dog eyes and could not recognize Mount Tai.

"No need!"

Qin Jishi shook his head. "I have nothing to do with her."

Glancing at the Storage Ring in his hand, Qin Jishi tossed it to Qingfeng. "It is yours."

World-Saving Pavilion Forbidden Grounds!

Qin Jishi stood before an exceedingly shabby thatched hut.

"I turned eighteen today. Old Man told me to come here—surely it will not be like the previous times again, right?"

When Old Man had left three years ago, he had instructed Qin Jishi not to force his way into his residence before reaching eighteen. Naturally, such instructions had no effect on Qin Jishi.

During that time, he had come here more than once, and every time, the barrier's backlash had left him in a miserable state...

Gulp!!

His previous experiences still haunted Qin Jishi.

Staring at the door before him, he swallowed hard, then closed his eyes and reached out his hand.

Creak!!

The door actually opened.

The barrier was gone?

A smile appeared on Qin Jishi's face. "Hehe, Old Man, let me see what good things you left for me..."

As he spoke!!

Qin Jishi eagerly entered the room.

A moment later!!

Qin Jishi emerged from the room with his arms hanging limply at his sides, utterly listless.

"What kind of joke is Old Man playing? Liang Simeng just left, and now Zhang Shiqing has appeared. And I have to stay by her side for a full ten years?"

"The one they saved back then was you, not me..." Qin Jishi could not help fiercely raising his brows.

According to Old Man, the Zhang Family had been their savior. When they had fallen on hard times in Soaring Dragon City, it was the Zhang Family that had lent them a helping hand.

As for whether they had truly fallen on hard times, Qin Jishi had no recollection. He had been unconscious then, and when he awoke, he was already in the Zhang Family residence in Soaring Dragon City, Azure Wave Continent.

Qin Jishi still had some recollection of Zhang Shiqing...

When she had been young, Zhang Shiqing had been like a lotus rising from clear water. Now, she was surely even more beautiful than flowers, with peerless charm and stunning grace...

What left Qin Jishi most helpless was that the image Old Man had left behind made it explicitly clear: he had to obey, or he would never be allowed to leave the World-Saving Pavilion by even half a step.

Once the ten-year term ended, everything would be up to him.

Qin Jishi had no doubts about that.

Over the past three years, he had left the World-Saving Pavilion more than once. Every time, he was either struck from behind with a club or suddenly fainted. When he woke, he would still be in the World-Saving Pavilion.

Later, he gave up. Old Man's strength was beyond anything he could fathom.

A Ten-Year Engagement for Freedom—he could only surrender through tears.

Off he went!!

Qin Jishi made no preparations. After briefly giving Qingfeng a few instructions, he left the World-Saving Pavilion...

What a joke!!

He had stayed in the World-Saving Pavilion for a full ten years and had long been filled with yearning for the outside world.

Soaring Dragon City, here I come.

On a broad Great Dao, Qin Jishi lounged inside a spacious, luxurious carriage, his legs crossed as he leisurely hummed a tune.

Suddenly!!

Screech!

The swiftly moving carriage abruptly began shaking violently.

Qin Jishi swayed from side to side, his brows knitting involuntarily.

"What is going on?"

"Young Master, my apologies... I startled you. It seems someone is blocking the road ahead..."

The coachman spoke timidly.

"Someone is blocking the road? Under this bright and open sky, is there no law left?" Qin Jishi said as he moved, leaping down from the carriage.

Ahead, a hundred people were gathered together, with two or three of them shouting now and then.

It looked as though he had encountered bandits. Out of curiosity, Qin Jishi walked closer.

Uh!

At the front of the crowd, Liang Simeng entered Qin Jishi's sight.

Liang Simeng was likewise startled. She seemingly had not expected Qin Jishi to leave the World-Saving Pavilion so quickly...

This led her to guess that her visit to the World-Saving Pavilion had coincidentally come just as Qin Jishi's ten-year term had ended and he was preparing to leave.

"Young Lady, Qin Jishi." Tang Yan noticed him as well and said in a low voice, "This Qin Jishi truly has skin thicker than city walls. Young Lady, you already told him there was no possibility between you, yet he actually followed you in secret. How utterly tiresome..."

Though Tang Yan spoke very quietly, Qin Jishi heard every word clearly.

However, he did not pay her any mind and merely watched the scene before him with interest.

Tang Yan's words caused Liang Simeng's brows to twitch. Following her in secret? She hated that sort of thing most.

Just then, three burly men with faces full of flesh, each gripping gleaming broadswords, walked over to Liang Simeng.

"Hehe, what a pretty little lady. Who would have thought that in this godforsaken place, there would be such a peerless beauty? Us brothers are truly blessed."

"Hahahaha!"

"..."

As soon as one of the burly men finished speaking, the other two immediately echoed him.

A sinister light shone in their eyes, their expressions brimming with aggression.