The procession stopped in front of Skywater Academy's gates. Yan swung down from his horse, straightened his clothes, cleared his throat, then amplified his voice with Soul Power so that everyone present could hear him clearly:
"Students and teachers of Skywater Academy, I am Yan, of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation and a personal disciple of His Holiness the Pope! I have come today for one reason only: to ask for the hand of Miss Shui Bing'er!"
He paused, then pulled a long scroll of gifts from his robes and read aloud:
"I come with the utmost sincerity and have prepared the following betrothal gifts: one piece of Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow Jade, ten jin of Thousand-Year Cold Iron Essence, various rare soul-guidance materials, and exactly one million Gold Soul Coins! I offer these humble gifts as a token of my feelings. I earnestly ask Skywater Academy to grant my request, and Miss Shui Bing'er to accept!"
With every item he read, the crowd erupted in another wave of astonished cries. Spirit Hall was being astonishingly generous!
"My heavens! Fifty thousand pieces of Ice Marrow Jade! Spirit Hall is far too rich!"
"I've heard of that Yan. They say he's part of this generation's Spirit Hall Golden Generation, and that he's already a Soul King at just twenty-one! A true genius!"
"Shui Bing'er is so lucky! With someone from the Spirit Hall Golden Generation taking a fancy to her, she'll never have to worry again!"
"Exactly. Too bad I'm not so lucky."
The crowd rang with all kinds of envious, jealous, and resentful voices. In their eyes, to be courted so grandly by Spirit Hall was an honor beyond compare.
As for Shui Bing'er's own wishes, no one seemed to care.
Hearing the crowd's chatter, Yan's smug expression deepened. He was certain that faced with such lavish betrothal gifts and such an imposing display, Shui Bing'er had no reason to refuse him.
Even if she was already engaged, so what? How could the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect compare to Spirit Hall? He puffed out his chest and stared eagerly into the depths of Skywater Academy, waiting for the figure he had yearned for over the past six years to appear.
Meanwhile, deep within Skywater Academy, the atmosphere in the dean's office was as tense as the stillness before a storm.
Leng Ningshuang stood by the window, looking at the sea of people at the academy gates and the swaggering procession. Her expression had darkened to the extreme.
Beside her, Shui Yue'er stamped her foot in anger, her little face flushed red.
"Shameless! Absolutely shameless!" Shui Yue'er shook her small fists, as if she couldn't wait to rush out and beat Yan up.
"Who does he think he is? Bringing so many people and making such a grand show of it—doesn't he just want to force my sister to submit? He doesn't care about her feelings at all! He just wants to possess her!"
Leng Ningshuang sighed without speaking. She knew Shui Yue'er was right. Yan's actions were less a proposal than a show of force. He wanted to use Spirit Hall's influence and wealth to crush Skywater Academy and Shui Bing'er until they had no choice but to agree.
She turned and looked at Shui Bing'er, who had been standing quietly by the window, her expression as calm as still water. She asked with concern, "Bing'er, are you... really going out there?"
Shui Bing'er slowly turned around. Today she wore a long, water-blue dress, her hair simply pinned up to reveal a stretch of slender, fair neck.
She had made no effort to dress herself up, yet her cool, noble bearing made her stand out from the crowd. Her face showed no anger or panic, only a composure beyond the ordinary.
"Master, there's no escaping him." Shui Bing'er's voice was cool and calm. "Since he insists on making this known to everyone, then I'll make things clear in front of them all."
Without waiting for Leng Ningshuang to say anything more, she turned, opened the door, and walked out.
Leng Ningshuang watched her retreating figure. She wanted to reach out and stop her, but in the end, she stayed where she was. All she could do was pray silently that Shui Bing'er would get through this ordeal safely.
Shui Yue'er froze for a moment, then hurried after her. "Sister! Wait for me!"
The spacious plaza of Skywater Academy was packed with people. All the students and instructors had gathered there, their expressions complicated as they watched the imposing Spirit Hall procession at the gates.
Some timid students were already trembling, afraid that a clash might break out at any moment.
Just then, the crowd parted of its own accord, opening a path.
Shui Bing'er slowly approached.
The moment she appeared, the entire plaza seemed to fall silent. Everyone's gaze was drawn involuntarily to the water-blue figure.
She was like an ice lotus blooming atop a snowy mountain—cool, noble, and aloof from the world, as if the noise and commotion around her had nothing to do with her.
The instant Yan saw Shui Bing'er, his eyes lit up. Six years had passed, and she was even more beautiful and captivating than he remembered!
That cool bearing and exquisite face made his desire to possess her blaze like a fire.
He hurried forward, putting on what he thought was his most charming, handsome smile. His voice trembled with barely restrained excitement. "Miss Bing'er! It's been six years. How have you been? I—"
But before he could finish, Shui Bing'er cut him off.
Shui Bing'er stopped in the center of the plaza, about ten paces from Yan.
She raised her head and calmly met Yan's gaze with her ice-blue eyes. Her cool, clear voice carried across the entire plaza:
"I already know why you've come."
A delighted smile spread across Yan's face. He was about to say more, but Shui Bing'er continued:
"But I cannot accept."
The smile on Yan's face froze instantly.
Everyone in the plaza was stunned. No one had expected Shui Bing'er to reject him so decisively!
She dared to refuse him in front of two Titled Douluo from Spirit Hall, with so many people watching?!
Yan's expression darkened at a visible pace. Forcing down his anger, he asked in disbelief, "Why? Miss Bing'er, my feelings for you are sincere! You've seen the betrothal gifts I brought! Ten-Thousand-Year Ice Marrow Jade, a million Gold Soul Coins! Who in this world could possibly be more worthy of you than I am?"
"Worthy?" Shui Bing'er's lips curled in faint mockery. "Young Master Yan, do you measure 'worthiness' by power and wealth?"
She paused. Her voice grew even cooler and more resolute.
"Though I, Shui Bing'er, come from an ordinary background, I have my own pride and convictions. My marriage, my future—they should be decided by me, not traded away like a piece of merchandise with a price tag!"
"And besides..." She lifted her head and looked Yan straight in the eye, without the slightest hint of retreat.
"I am already engaged. My fiancé is Ning Xiaochun, the young master of the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect. I entered this engagement of my own free will; no one forced me. So, Young Master Yan, please show some respect."
Her words rang across the silent plaza, each one landing with the weight of a stone.
Everyone was stunned. They had never expected Shui Bing'er to so forcefully reject Spirit Hall's offer—and to announce her engagement to the Seven Treasure Glazed Tile Sect in front of everyone! She had just slapped Spirit Hall in the face!
Yan's face had turned black as the bottom of a pot. He clenched his fists so tightly that his nails nearly sank into his flesh. He felt more humiliated than ever before!
He was a member of the Spirit Hall Golden Generation, a personal disciple of the Pope, and he had come to propose with lavish gifts and two Titled Douluo in tow—only to be rejected in front of everyone! Worse, she had compared him to some little brat!
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