You May as Well Break Off the Engagement

Azure Wave Black and White Academy? The highest academy on the entire Azure Wave Continent, with the Sacred Domain Xia Family standing behind it—wouldn't the Liu Family soar straight into the heavens?

If the Zhang Family truly formed a marriage alliance with the Liu Family, they would certainly reap tremendous benefits in the future.

"Patriarch Liu, I never expected your esteemed son to be accepted as a disciple by the Azure Wave Black and White Academy. Congratulations, congratulations!"

"Patriarch Liu, our Zhang Family will have to rely on your family more in the future."

The Zhang Family elders found Liu Kai more pleasing to the eye the longer they looked at him. They practically wished they could make him marry Zhang Shiqing on the spot.

Liu Kai raised his brows. "Sister Shiqing, this time, the Azure Wave Black and White Academy recruited us as disciples. I heard that in seven days, they will select another group. With this Spirit Gathering Elixir, your cultivation will definitely reach the Mystic Spirit Realm. When that time comes, the Azure Wave Black and White Academy will surely accept you as a disciple."

Zhang Shiqing's delicate brows shifted slightly, but she said nothing.

"Hahaha!"

Liu Qiang arrived amid hearty laughter. "If Shiqing truly becomes a disciple of the Azure Wave Black and White Academy, then the two of them would be a perfect match, a talented man and a beautiful woman."

"Exactly, exactly!"

Tang Xiulan chimed in, "In all of Soaring Dragon City, only our Shiqing is worthy of my worthy nephew. This marriage is settled, and they will marry before long."

If Tang Xiulan had been somewhat hesitant at first, then the moment she learned that Liu Kai had become a disciple of the Black and White Academy, she made up her mind to agree to this marriage.

As Tang Xiulan's voice fell, the Zhang Family elders all echoed their agreement.

What a joke. The Liu Family was now like the sun at high noon. An alliance would bring them nothing but benefits, so they had no reason to refuse.

"Hehe..." The Zhang Family's reaction seemed to be within Liu Qiang's expectations. "Rest assured, everyone. Once our two families form this marriage alliance, we will be as one family. Whatever the Liu Family has, the Zhang Family will have as well. We will share honor and disgrace..."

"Mother!" Tang Xiulan's unilateral decision left Zhang Shiqing dissatisfied.

"Don't speak." Tang Xiulan lifted an arm and glared at Zhang Shiqing.

"Father!" Left with no choice, Zhang Shiqing could only seek help from Zhang Jinhua.

Hearing Zhang Shiqing's plea, Zhang Jinhua's expression turned solemn. After weighing the matter, he slowly spoke.

"Patriarch Liu, I believe this matter should follow Shiqing's wishes."

As Zhang Shiqing's father, Zhang Jinhua naturally knew what she was thinking. Still, the Liu Family was one of the three great families, and he had to give them some face.

Liu Qiang was taken aback, his brows knitting slightly.

Clearly, Zhang Jinhua's answer had caught him by surprise, and his gaze involuntarily shifted to Zhang Shiqing.

"Shiqing, what is there to hesitate over? A young talent like Young Master Liu is destined for great things."

"That's right. I believe that if you marry Young Master Liu, he definitely won't mistreat you."

The Zhang Family elders all tried to persuade her. They did not want to offend the Liu Family over this.

"Sister Shiqing!" Liu Kai patted his chest. "Don't worry. I will definitely treat you wholeheartedly in the future and never let you suffer the slightest grievance."

Zhang Shiqing turned a deaf ear to him and glanced sideways at Qin Jishi.

Feeling Zhang Shiqing's gaze, Qin Jishi turned and walked to one side.

That action immediately drew Zhang Shiqing's displeasure.

Someone was openly proposing marriage to you right in front of your face, and you had no reaction at all?

Sigh~

Zhang Shiqing let out a sigh, thoroughly disappointed in him.

"Patriarch Liu!"

Zhang Shiqing's tone carried a trace of chill. "I'm sorry, but I already have a marriage engagement."

These words were no less than a thunderclap on level ground. The instant they were spoken, everyone present was stunned.

She already had a marriage engagement?

The expressions of Liu Qiang and his son instantly darkened, and the atmosphere became oppressive.

Tang Xiulan was the first to react. She rebuked, "Shiqing, this is not something you can decide."

"Patriarch Liu!"

Tang Xiulan hurriedly explained, "This girl Shiqing is talking nonsense. I will decide her affairs. This matter is settled. We'll choose an auspicious date, and they will marry before long."

"I'm not talking nonsense!" Zhang Shiqing remained cold. "He is my fiancé."

Almost at that instant, everyone followed Zhang Shiqing's gaze and focused on Qin Jishi.

Qin Jishi: "..."

Was she sick in the head?

Couldn't she just agree to his request? That way, he could hurry up, complete his task, and leave.

A mortal?

Everyone here was an important figure from the two great families. How could they fail to sense Qin Jishi's aura? He had no mystic energy. He was undoubtedly a mortal.

The Liu father and son looked at him with confusion, but even deeper within their gazes were disdain and contempt.

"Clan Leader, could he be...?"

Clearly, the Zhang Family elders knew of Qin Jishi's existence. It was just that so many years had passed that, had no one brought it up, they would have forgotten about it.

"Mhm!"

Zhang Jinhua nodded without speaking.

"What should we do?"

"Elder Su had shown our Zhang Family kindness back then. Who would have thought this boy would truly come?"

"Sigh, he came neither early nor late, but had to come at a time like this."

Even though the Zhang Family elders tried their best to lower their voices, every word still fell into Qin Jishi's ears.

"Everyone," Qin Jishi slowly said, "you may as well break off the engagement."

His voice was exceedingly calm, so calm that it carried no emotion at all. It even gave people the impression that he could not wait for the Zhang Family to break off the engagement.

Zhang Shiqing's delicate brows furrowed, as though this had exceeded her expectations.

Damn it!

She had not even disliked him yet, but he was the one rejecting her instead. Did he think she was not good enough for him?

A gleam flashed through Tang Xiulan's and the Zhang Family elders' eyes when they heard this.

"Qin Jishi, those words came from your own mouth. Fine, we are breaking off this engagement."

Zhang Jinhua's expression instantly turned ugly. He could not understand Qin Jishi's actions.

"Ah!" Qin Jishi let out a long breath. "Old Man, the task you gave me is complete. They were the ones who voluntarily broke off the engagement. It has nothing to do with me."

"Freedom at last."

"Awesome~"

Qin Jishi's actions only left everyone even more bewildered. No, why did it look as if he had just been liberated?

"Oh, right~"

Before leaving the Main Hall, Qin Jishi seemed to remember something. He turned around and placed the yellowed square box on the table. "Consider this compensation for you. From now on, we will have nothing to do with each other."

"Stop!" Zhang Shiqing coldly shouted. "I decide my own marriage."

"Father!"

"Mother!"

"Everyone!"

Zhang Shiqing said word by word, "Tomorrow, I will marry Qin Jishi."

Although she despised Qin Jishi, compared to the even more detestable Liu Kai, she would rather choose Qin Jishi.

Uh!

Qin Jishi: "..."

Zhang Jinhua slowly nodded and said in a low voice, "I respect your decision."

"Master~"

"Shiqing~"

"You all~"

Tang Xiulan's body trembled violently, and she did not know how to vent the fury she was suppressing.

Qin Jishi blinked, black lines appearing across his forehead. "Well, please do not force yourselves. I still rather insist that you break off the engagement."

Zhang Shiqing: "..."

Hearing this, Tang Xiulan seemed to find an outlet for her anger. "Shut up! This is no place for you to speak. It is all because of you, you piece of trash! If not for you, the Spirit Gathering Elixir from the Liu Family would have allowed Shiqing to break through to the Mystic Spirit Realm before long and become a disciple of the Black and White Academy."

"Now everything is gone. Everything is gone!"

Tang Xiulan grew angrier the more she spoke. She grabbed the yellowed square box from the table and viciously smashed it to the ground.

"Bringing out some lousy wooden box and treating it like a treasure—could there possibly be a Spirit Gathering Elixir inside?"

"Bang~"

"Smack... clatter..."

The yellowed square box struck a distant pillar and fell to the ground. Two flawless white elixirs rolled into the center of the Main Hall, and a refreshing medicinal fragrance filled the entire hall.

Silence!

At that moment, it was as though the world had frozen. Everyone's eyes were filled with disbelief.