Not Yours to Decide

Liu Qiang and his son's eyelids twitched, their contempt replaced by shock.

A Grade 3 Perfect Elixir?

Gulp~

Only after a long while did someone swallow, breaking the silence.

"Did... did I see that wrong? That was... that was a Grade 3 Perfect Spirit Gathering Elixir?"

"It really... really was a Grade 3 Perfect Spirit Gathering Elixir? How could he possess such an elixir?"

"..."

No one present understood better than they did just how precious a Grade 3 Perfect Elixir was.

To put it plainly, not a single Grade 3 alchemist had ever appeared in all of Soaring Dragon City.

The low-grade Spirit Gathering Elixir obtained by the Liu Family had cost two hundred thousand mystic stones in the imperial capital. What kind of value did a perfect-grade elixir possess?

If that low-grade Spirit Gathering Elixir had a high chance of allowing Zhang Shiqing to break through to the Mystic Spirit Realm, then a perfect-grade elixir would leave no doubt whatsoever.

At that moment, the way they looked at Qin Jishi changed. Much of their earlier contempt and disdain faded, replaced by confusion and astonishment.

Without a background, who could produce a Grade 3 Perfect Elixir?

Impossible~

Liu Kai was full of doubt. Qin Jishi clearly had no fluctuations of mystic energy at all. How could a mere mortal produce a perfect-grade elixir? Even with those two elixirs right before his eyes, even though he had seen them himself, he refused to believe it.

Just as he was about to question him, Liu Qiang grabbed his arm and gently shook his head.

Though Liu Kai did not understand, he ultimately held back his impulse.

Just because he could restrain himself did not mean Tang Xiulan could restrain her doubts.

"Impossible. You must have swiped those Spirit Gathering Elixirs from World-Saving Pavilion. Our Zhang Family will never accept them. Do you want to drag us into eternal damnation by offending World-Saving Pavilion?"

Tang Xiulan's words seemed to strike a chord. Only that explanation made sense.

Looking at the Zhang Family elders nodding in agreement, Qin Jishi said earnestly, "I never expected Aunt to see through me. Those two Spirit Gathering Elixirs were indeed swiped from World-Saving Pavilion. To avoid unnecessary trouble, I think it would be wiser for you to call off the engagement."

Everyone: "..."

Was marrying Zhang Shiqing really so difficult?

No matter how they looked at it, Qin Jishi seemed utterly unwilling, as though he had been forced into it.

"Master!"

"Shiqing!"

Tang Xiulan was so furious smoke practically poured from her seven orifices. "Did you hear that? Our Zhang Family absolutely cannot tolerate such a tainted person. If word gets out, it will disgrace our family's reputation!"

"Break off the engagement!"

World-Saving Pavilion was the most mysterious existence on the Azure Wave Continent. Even ten Zhang Families would not amount to anything before them. If this matter truly implicated the Zhang Family, would they not be doomed beyond redemption?

"Yes, yes, yes!" Qin Jishi chimed in. "Aunt is absolutely right. The engagement must be broken."

"Uncle Zhang!"

"World-Saving Pavilion is far too mysterious. I'm not worth taking such a risk for."

As he spoke, Qin Jishi had already retreated to the Main Hall entrance. He could not wait to leave.

Zhang Jinhua's face was dark. Qin Jishi's actions truly baffled him.

"Stop!" Zhang Shiqing shouted coldly again. "This engagement is not yours to decide."

"Father!"

Zhang Shiqing turned, her gaze resolute. "Tomorrow, I will marry him."

After saying that, Zhang Shiqing did not give Tang Xiulan a chance to rebuke her. She glared at Qin Jishi, then left the Main Hall beneath everyone's watchful eyes.

Black lines appeared across Qin Jishi's forehead as his eyes blinked repeatedly. This was not how the plot was supposed to go.

"No... Shiqing..." Liu Kai wanted to chase after her.

"Kai..." Liu Qiang's voice was extremely low, thick with suppressed anger.

"Father..."

"Shut up!"

Anyone could see that Liu Qiang's rage had already reached the boiling point. The Zhang Family elders' Adam's apples bobbed, and a trace of panic flickered deep in their eyes.

Phew~

Zhang Jinhua took a deep breath. "Patriarch Liu, I truly apologize. After all, this concerns my daughter's lifelong happiness, so..."

Before Zhang Jinhua could finish, Liu Qiang raised a hand to cut him off. "Patriarch Zhang, you had already arranged an engagement for Shiqing. Why did you not mention it? Your Zhang Family really knows how to save face."

"Hmph~"

"Let's go."

Liu Qiang flicked his sleeve and left with an incomparably ugly expression.

"This..."

"Patriarch Liu..."

"No..."

Tang Xiulan did not know whether to stop them or let them go. Only after watching the entire Liu Family group leave did she erupt in fury. "Master, do you know what you are doing? Offending World-Saving Pavilion will ruin our Zhang Family."

"Jishi!"

Zhang Jinhua ignored her and said softly, "Go make your preparations. The wedding will be tomorrow."

Led by two maids, Qin Jishi walked out of the Main Hall listlessly.

Once Qin Jishi had left, the elders came back to their senses, their faces equally filled with worry.

"Clan Leader, although our Zhang Family did indeed have a marriage agreement with Elder Su back then, isn't this matter a little too hasty?"

"Indeed. If Qin Jishi really stole those two Spirit Gathering Elixirs from World-Saving Pavilion, we will be unable to bear their wrath."

"..."

The Zhang Family elders could not be blamed for worrying. If this matter spread, the Liu Family would surely lose all face. Would they not bear a grudge? If the Liu Family truly suppressed the Zhang Family, the Zhang Family would find every step difficult in Soaring Dragon City from then on.

More importantly, there was still room to maneuver after offending the Liu Family—but what about offending World-Saving Pavilion?

They would not even need to act personally. They only had to spread the word, and countless forces eager to curry favor with World-Saving Pavilion would take action, condemning the Zhang Family to eternal damnation.

How could Zhang Jinhua not have thought of this? His voice was extremely grave. "Elders, you all know how powerful and terrifying World-Saving Pavilion is. Could Jishi, with the body of a mortal, have swiped Spirit Gathering Elixirs without anyone noticing?"

The moment those words fell, the Main Hall fell silent.

Indeed, if Qin Jishi had truly swiped Spirit Gathering Elixirs from World-Saving Pavilion, would World-Saving Pavilion's disciples have failed to notice? Such an act could never escape their eyes.

Then there was only one explanation: World-Saving Pavilion had gifted these elixirs to him.

Having thought it through, their worries eased somewhat, yet their hearts remained heavy.

"Clan Leader, then the Liu Family..."

"Enough!"

Zhang Jinhua interrupted them. "I will give the Liu Family an explanation myself. Right now, the most urgent matter is to prepare Jishi and Shiqing's wedding. Have invitations delivered to every guest."

"Great Elder, I leave this matter to you."

Zhang Jinhua's attitude was so firm that even the Zhang Family elders could only handle it helplessly.

Before long, only Zhang Jinhua and his wife remained in the Main Hall.

"Master, what exactly are you thinking? Liu Kai is now a disciple of Black and White Academy. The Liu Family's future is boundless. What prospects could Shiqing possibly have by following Qin Jishi?"

"Master~"

"I'm talking to you."

"..."

Amid the noisy clamor, Zhang Jinhua shook his head and left the Main Hall.

Southern outskirts, Liu Family!

Smack~

After returning to the family, Liu Kai slammed his palm down and shattered the table in the Main Hall. "Damn it, damn it!"

"Ah~"

Under his outburst, the entire Main Hall was left in ruins.

Seemingly exhausted, Liu Kai sat in a chair, panting heavily.

Liu Kai was obsessed with Zhang Shiqing's beauty. He would never allow the meat already at his lips to simply fly away.

Zhang Shiqing... I treated you sincerely, yet you refused me. Qin Jishi tried every way possible to break off the engagement, yet you clung to him like dogskin plaster. Bitch.

Qin Jishi~

Creak!

Seeing the dense killing intent in his son's eyes, Liu Qiang slowly walked before him, wearing an expression of hatred toward iron for failing to become steel.

"My son, are you blaming your father over what happened earlier?"