The despair and indignation that had filled her heart suddenly transformed into profound emotion during the brief exchange of words just now.

When her own father indicated he would give her up, though Guan Qinghan understood and even sympathized with his choice, an infinite sorrow still pierced her heart. She had even resolved that even if she had to sacrifice herself for the sake of the two families, she would never allow that detestable man to lay even a single hair on her! The day the sedan chair arrived at Blood Soul Fortress would be the day she walked the path to the Yellow Springs!

But now, Guan Qinghan had suddenly changed her mind. A person cannot live only for themselves.

She had previously thought that her willingness to step into the sedan chair again, for her father’s sake and the family’s consideration, was the height of nobility. Yet, at this moment, having witnessed the decisions of the Jun family, Jun Moxie, and Jun Wuyi, Guan Qinghan realized that perhaps what she had done was still not enough!

Looking at Jun Moxie and Jun Wuyi, an infinite warmth surged through Guan Qinghan’s heart: For people who cared for and cherished her like this, what did sacrificing the latter half of her life matter? As long as they could live on in peace and joy, wasn't that more important than anything else?

I could choose to end my life rather than suffer humiliation, but if Blood Soul were to vent its wrath upon the Guan and Jun families because of it, would that not be a greater sin on my part!

How could I possibly drag down such heroic men and such an esteemed family?! How could I allow them to lightly sacrifice themselves for me, leading to countless innocent lives being defiled, trampled upon, and brutally slaughtered? How could I bear that in my heart? How could I find peace in my soul!?

“Third Uncle, Father, I have something to say.” When Guan Qinghan turned her face, she had already regained the cool composure she usually maintained, now tinged with an even greater, chilling beauty.

“Say whatever you wish, Qinghan. Third Uncle will surely support you.” Jun Wuyi looked at her deeply, a sense of foreboding suddenly rising in his heart.

Guan Qinghan quietly raised her head, glanced at the increasingly violent rainstorm outside the hall, and finally steeled her resolve. She turned to Jun Wuyi, slowly knelt down, and kowtowed eight times.

She raised her head again, looking at Jun Wuyi, and spoke calmly: “In matters of family importance, I, Qinghan, normally have no place to speak. However, this entire affair originated with me. As the eldest daughter of the Guan family, and having been the betrothed granddaughter-in-law of the Jun family, my failure to serve the Jun and Guan families to my fullest extent is already a sin. To have attracted such a great disaster is truly a heavy iniquity. I implore Third Uncle, Third Brother Moxie, and Father, to cease all further disputes over this matter. In these recent days, I have also thought through many things in my heart. Although Mo You and I share an engagement vow, we share no marital bond. It is highly improper for me to shamelessly reside in the Jun household for so long. Therefore…” (I dare to ask) Third Uncle for your forgiveness… ‘Qinghan wishes to…”

Guan Qinghan bit her lower lip hard, and one word at a time, declared: “…dissolve the engagement!”

She lowered her head powerlessly, as if she had expended all her strength. “This matter should rightfully be for me to apologize to the Elder Master in person, but I truly lack the face to seek an audience with him. I can only ask Third Uncle here to grant my request! Tomorrow, I will return to the Guan family with Father. From this day forward, I, Guan Qinghan, shall have no further connection with the Jun family!”

Jun Wuyi nearly jumped out of his wheelchair! The emphasis in Guan Qinghan’s words—that she was only the eldest daughter of the Guan family and no longer acknowledged herself as a Jun family daughter-in-law—what did that imply?!

Guan Dongliu was also stunned by his daughter’s declaration, but amidst the shock, there was a sense of understanding, and the solace of a father thinking, To have such a daughter, what more could I ask for? This choice, no matter how it affected the Jun or Guan families, was perhaps the best possible solution at this moment, but oh, what suffering this girl must endure! Thinking of this, two lines of clear tears fell silently.

Jun Moxie looked at Guan Qinghan with some surprise. He saw that her face remained cool and placid, without the slightest ripple, but the small hands hanging at her sides were tightly clenched, the knuckles white, making his understanding of her intentions instantaneous!

“Qinghan, such a decision is momentous; it concerns your entire life. I urge you to consider it carefully! Just utter one sentence, and you will forever be the Jun family’s daughter-in-law. As long as one person in the Jun family can still draw breath, no one can force you!” Jun Wuyi did not look at Guan Qinghan, instead gazing absently at his own hands—these hands that now possessed the Heavenly Profound power!

“There is no need to consider further; my mind is made up. I hope Third Uncle will grant my wish!” Guan Qinghan offered a mournful smile. “In truth, Mo You and I have only met three times. That matter back then was due to my own foolish obsession—and also—and also…”

Guan Qinghan turned her head to look at her father. Guan Dongliu awkwardly turned his head away. As a father, at this moment, he actually dared not meet his daughter’s eyes! He feared his heart might soften and that he would stop her!

Guan Qinghan gave a slight smile and shifted the topic: “Time never turns back; what has passed is past. In truth, that was merely a verbal betrothal back then, and even a document of severance is unnecessary. Let it be so. Qinghan’s future marriage will have nothing to do with the Jun family.”

Jun Moxie distinctly felt that Guan Qinghan had hesitated several times while speaking these words. She was clearly agitated inside. This involuntarily made him ponder deeper, and he glanced questioningly at Guan Dongliu, thinking: Could there be some hidden story behind that old engagement?

“Qinghan, Third Uncle knows you are choosing this sacrifice only because you do not wish to implicate us. But, given how things have developed, it is already too late. Even if you dissolve the engagement now and declare yourself severed from my Jun family, it is still too late. Once I have learned of such a matter, regardless of the aspect, I will not stand by and do nothing.”

Jun Wuyi pondered for a moment, then suddenly laughed. “Qinghan, don’t forget, although I, your Third Uncle, am crippled now, I was once a soldier. Once a soldier, always a soldier; a soldier possesses the spirit of a soldier!”

“For such a humiliating act as a political marriage alliance, any soldier with a shred of spirit in his chest would absolutely refuse! Furthermore, this concerns you, the daughter-in-law of my Jun family!” Jun Wuyi’s sharp brows rose. “I can authorize the dissolution of the engagement. But the matter of Blood Soul Mountain Villa, my Jun family must see to it! Even if you are no longer my Jun family’s daughter-in-law, you are still a daughter of my Jun family! No one is allowed to defile a member of the Jun family!” “Exactly! Third Uncle speaks truly!” Jun Moxie said coldly. “Even if your intentions were noble, wishing not to burden the Jun family, the reality is that my Jun family cannot withdraw now! Even if you insist on breaking the engagement, we absolutely cannot allow you to return to the Guan family! Do you think we are concerned only about that scrap of paper, the marriage contract you mentioned? Hmph! This has become an indelible, great shame that the Jun family must wash away!” Jun Moxie glared at her: “Don't be so presumptuous! Why are women always so short-sighted!”

Jun Moxie’s voice was icy, and his words were quite harsh, yet to Guan Qinghan’s ears, they brought an indescribable sense of moved devotion.

Jun Wuyi beckoned a servant over and whispered a few words. The servant hurried inside and soon returned with a small wooden box, handing it to Jun Wuyi.

Jun Wuyi held the box in his hands and said, “Niece Qinghan, inside here is the document dissolving the engagement. This letter was drafted as soon as you first entered the Jun family gates; the one who presided over it was my father. After the Blood Soul matter reaches a conclusion, I will announce to the world on behalf of the Jun family that you, Guan Qinghan, are completely separate from my Jun family! But until then, you are still my Jun family’s daughter-in-law! Even if you unilaterally deny it, we absolutely will not agree!”

Jun Moxie smiled as he looked at the wooden box and said leisurely, “This wooden box, I believe, has only two possible endings. The first: we safely navigate this crisis, and I will personally open it then to grant you your freedom! The second: it will perish alongside us, and you, turning to ash. Even if it is smashed to dust, we absolutely will not allow it to safely make its way to Blood Soul Mountain Villa.”

Jun Moxie spoke these words with a faint smile. Yet this light, understated sentence conveyed the resolute determination to perish together in mutual destruction!

Guan Qinghan’s beautiful eyes blurred with tears. Seeing Jun Moxie’s calm, composed, gentle smile, his brow seeming to radiate the heroic aura of a top swordsman, for some unknown reason, her bewildered heart suddenly steadied.

Guan Dongliu, standing by, felt like he was sitting on pins and needles. His daughter’s righteous decision brought him infinite grief, yet also a measure of relief. But in the space of these few exchanges, the situation had escalated to this point, leaving him without even the opportunity to persuade.

Sighing heavily, he stamped his foot hard. “Brother Jun, you, you... Ah, what can I say to you! With this choice, aren’t you utterly betraying Qinghan’s heartfelt intentions! For the nation, for the family, for others, and for yourselves—is this truly right?”

“Brother Guan’s difficulty, I understand, and I understand this child Qinghan’s heart even better,” Jun Wuyi smiled understandingly. “What Brother Guan says is not wrong; I believe that on this matter, even His Majesty today would likely make the same choice as you, Brother Guan. No one says you are wrong; it is simply that our stances differ.”

“And in reality, this issue represents the greatest point of conflict between our military faction and the political faction! The political faction seeks stability, while the military faction demands iron-blooded resolve; this is irreconcilable. If the political faction yields to bloodlust, the nation will inevitably fracture; but if the military seeks only stability, the nation’s demise is not far off.”

“And we, the Jun family, as the head of the military faction, if we compromise on such a matter, won’t we become a laughingstock throughout the ages? It is not that we are unwilling; it is that we cannot and dare not!”

Guan Dongliu suddenly slapped his head. How could I have forgotten this matter! To come to a house full of warmongers and speak of a political marriage alliance—wasn't that deliberately asking for a fight? It was all that damned beast who had to bring this up publicly at this critical juncture, harming both the Jun and Guan families! He truly achieved nothing but disaster!

“Brother Guan, please proceed with the arrangements for the Guan family. Regardless of the final outcome, we will not blame you. As for Qinghan, please remain at the Jun family residence for the time being,” Jun Wuyi said with a smile, his voice gentle but admitting no refusal.

Guan Dongliu sighed deeply, remained silent for a moment, and finally stood up, striding out of the hall. Since matters had reached this pass, there was no room for turning back. As the head of his house, he had many arrangements to make; after all, it was not only the Jun family facing disaster, but the Guan family as well!

“Regarding the matter of your second son and that woman, I have other plans. I ask that Brother Guan absolutely does not meddle in that affair.” Guan Dongliu had intended to immediately head to the Nishang Pavilion at Lingwu Lake to settle accounts with the courtesan named Yue’er once he returned, but Jun Wuyi’s sentence made him abandon that thought instantly.

He stopped at the hall entrance and, after a moment, said: “The Li family has only given us two months. Please, Third Brother Jun, make your preparations early.” Jun Wuyi’s eyes flickered; he said deeply, “Thank you, Brother Guan. You should also return and prepare.” Guan Dongliu stomped his foot once and left the hall.