Ning Rongrong, Are You Awake?

"Rongrong, is that truly what you think? Must you dissolve our engagement today, of all days?"

Yu Tianjiao's tone held no hint of anger; it was almost gentle, as if the person before him were not his childhood friend and betrothed, but a complete stranger.

Yet, it was precisely this detached tone that caused Ning Rongrong's heart to tighten inexplicably, a stifling pressure building in her chest.

She didn't understand!

Why could Brother Tianjiao be so calm, so indifferent, as if this engagement carried no weight to him at all?

"No, that's not it. I didn't want to bring this up today either, it's just... it's just..."

Ning Rongrong stammered, her words tumbling out in a panic. She looked utterly distressed, as if all the hidden thoughts in her heart had been laid bare.

"When it comes down to it, you still prefer that eleven-year-old Soul Ancestor with the astonishing talent, not me, Yu Tianjiao."

Seeing this, Yu Tianjiao couldn't help but sigh.

He didn't think there was anything wrong with admiring strength; if he were a girl, he wouldn't want to marry a failure either.

It was just that coming to break off the engagement on his birthday, the very first day after their three-year agreement ended—this impatient display was truly disappointing.

[Nalan Yanran has arrived with experts from the Misty Cloud Sect to break off your engagement. You feel deeply humiliated, write a letter of divorce, and roar: "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young because they are poor!"]

[Reward: A Buddha Fury Fire Lotus exclusive soul ring, the age of which grows with the host's strength.]

As the system text flickered into view, Yu Tianjiao couldn't be bothered to write a formal letter. He simply stood up, bowed to Yu Yuanzhen, who sat at the head of the table, and said:

"Old man, let's just dissolve this engagement. I told you long ago not to bother with these useless things. Nowadays, everyone values freedom of love; who still does arranged marriages?"

With that, Yu Tianjiao pulled out the brush, ink, paper, and inkstone he had prepared in advance. He wrote a letter of divorce on the spot, then, expressionless, sliced his palm open with a blade. He clenched his fist, let the blood soak into his palm, and slammed it onto the paper.

"Here, take it. If I didn't make a statement after you broke off our engagement on my birthday, wouldn't the world look down on the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan? Sword Douluo, for the sake of your good intentions toward Rongrong, I, Yu Tianjiao, offer you a piece of advice: Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river, do not bully the young because they are poor!"

Yu Tianjiao slapped the blood-stained letter beside Ning Rongrong. Ignoring her, who remained frozen in place by his smooth, practiced sequence of actions, he turned and walked out without a shred of hesitation.

This carefree, indifferent demeanor left both Ning Rongrong—who had steeled herself to coldly reject him had he tried to cling to her—and Chen Xin—who had specifically chosen today to break the engagement in hopes of seeing Yu Tianjiao lose his composure and shatter the perfect image he held in Ning Rongrong's heart—completely stunned.

After all, the engagement had been initiated by the girl's side; for them to go back on it now was absolutely unacceptable to the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan.

For a young genius who had been famous since childhood, this was an even greater blow.

How could Yu Tianjiao act as if nothing had happened?

Although he had written a divorce letter and stamped it with a bloody handprint, which looked quite intimidating, no one present could sense any rage from the boy. It felt more like he was just going through the motions to complete a task.

Yet, the certainty in his words gave everyone an illusion—as if Yu Tianjiao's soul power had never faded, and he remained the most talented prodigy on the continent.

However, looking at the bloody handprint on the letter and the striking crimson droplets on the floor, Ning Rongrong suddenly let out a pained whimper. Tears the size of beans welled up in her eyes, and she grabbed the letter and chased after him!

Chen Xin immediately moved to follow.

"Sword Douluo, it would be best if you stayed put. Let the children handle their own affairs. You and I both know what this is really about. The Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect going out of its way to break the engagement today is going too far. If there isn't a proper explanation, let alone continuing our cooperation, the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan will sever all ties with your sect from this day forward.

Ning Rongrong may be the princess of your Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, but Tianjiao is a child I raised myself. In terms of status, he is no less than that little girl!"

Yu Yuanzhen blocked the doorway with a dark expression.

Yu Luomian and the others also looked grim. Even if they couldn't treat Yu Tianjiao like a brother, he was still family, and they had to present a united front.

"Enough. Tianjiao is a good child, and today's events were indeed my fault. The apology gifts are in this Soul Tool. Furthermore, as compensation, the Sect Master is willing to allow the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect's outstanding disciples to prioritize marriage alliances with the talented youths of the Blue Lightning Tyrant Dragon Clan."

Chen Xin knew Yu Tianjiao's character and knew that the current Yu Tianjiao posed no threat to Ning Rongrong, so he sat back down and placed a glazed Soul Tool on the table.

Meanwhile, Ning Rongrong had caught up to Yu Tianjiao. With tears still hanging on her face, she grabbed his hand in concern. Seeing the raw, gaping wound, her tears flowed uncontrollably again.

"Brother Tianjiao, I'm sorry, I... I really didn't want things to turn out like this."

She sobbed.

Yu Tianjiao pulled his hand back and tucked it behind his back, his brows furrowed.

Why did this little girl have to chase after him?

And she just had to stare at the wound.

Damn it, doesn't she know it's about to heal if she keeps looking at it!

Thanks to his Ancient Void Dragon martial soul, his physical constitution was incredibly robust. A superficial wound like this would scab over in a minute at most and be nearly healed in three.

"Spare me that. If you were truly against this, could an old man like Sword Douluo really use his status to pressure a fifteen-year-old boy like me just because you asked?

Three years ago, you told me to wait for you, and now that the time is up, you couldn't wait to come here and break it off. I granted your wish, and now you're unhappy? Ning Rongrong, I have to ask, are you even in your right mind?"

After Yu Tianjiao finished speaking, he was speechless himself.

This was even worse than Nalan Yanran!

At least Nalan Yanran wanted the freedom to choose her own partner.

Ning Rongrong had begged for this engagement herself, only to break it off, all while acting like a lovesick girl forced into a separation.

If he weren't currently unable to defeat the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect, he would have tied this woman up and given her a good beating to help her come to her senses.

"Brother Tianjiao, no, listen to my explanation. I didn't want to separate from you. Even if you can't cultivate soul power, it doesn't matter. Breaking the engagement was just my father and my two grandfathers' idea. I actually planned to find a powerful Soul Master, marry him in name only, and have him protect us. I wouldn't let him touch me. How could I ever bear to let you leave me?"

Ning Rongrong said hurriedly.

"???"

"Wait, what?"

"Ha, haha, hahahaha!"

After hearing that, Yu Tianjiao couldn't help but laugh out of sheer exasperation.

Is this even a person?

Whose grandmother's bad luck is it to have to be a turtle?

It couldn't possibly be Oscar, could it?

"Fine, you really got me. I'll wait for your good news!"

Yu Tianjiao felt that if he stayed with this woman any longer, his IQ would plummet. After tossing out a perfunctory remark, he took off at top speed.

Ning Rongrong didn't chase after him. She simply watched Yu Tianjiao's retreating back, a sudden gleam of brilliance erupting in her eyes.

That's right!

She could actually do that!

Although it was just something she blurted out in a moment of desperation, now that she thought about it carefully, it wasn't impossible!

"Brother Tianjiao, I will definitely protect you!"

"In my own way!"