Zong Shou couldn't help but feel a sense of resignation. He had anticipated this moment ever since leaving the city gates a few days prior.

Her journey across a thousand li to this place was almost certainly to find him.

Having inherited the memories of the previous 'Zong Shou'—those thirteen years—he felt a knot of discomfort and a suppressed surge of indignation. Still, this matter required handling, and he had no desire to let it drag on endlessly.

"Is she here to break off the engagement?"

Seeing Yin Yang's peculiar expression, Zong Shou didn't dwell on it. He decided it was best to meet her now and proceeded directly into the reception hall of the front courtyard.

The accommodations arranged by Cloud Saint City were quite grand: an entire four-courtyard private residence. As Zong Shou entered the main hall, he spotted the figures of two women seated within.

One was barely sixteen, possessing crimson lips, pearly white teeth, and almond-shaped cheeks. She wore a well-tailored, tight-fitting red riding shirt. While her figure wasn't as overwhelmingly endowed as Chu Xue’s, the way the garment clung to her made her utterly captivating.

The other woman appeared to be a servant, perhaps twenty years old, with a refined and dignified beauty. However, her face was grim, suggesting profound displeasure.

He had glimpsed both of them from afar near the city gates, but seeing them up close now gave him a slightly different impression.

Upon seeing Zong Shou and his party enter, the younger girl immediately raised her willow-like eyebrows and scrutinized Zong Shou closely. After only a moment, her eyes filled entirely with disappointment. The other woman, however, let out a cold snort: "Finally willing to show your face? You’ve kept our young lady waiting for several hours on three separate visits. Young Master Zong Shou, you certainly put on airs—"

Zong Shou let out a dry laugh, genuinely too weary to bother with her impudence. Since appearances were already ruined, there was no need for pleasantries. He walked straight to a seat in the hall, his expression placid. "Miss Yiren, have you come to dissolve the engagement? That is no trouble; I understand your difficulties, Miss Yiren, and I dare not press the matter. Uncle Yin, bring the ink and brush. I will write the Letter of Severance—"

Yin Yang’s face flushed with awkwardness, and he did not move. The girl in red also cast a look of surprise between Zong Shou and Yin Yang, finally knitting her brows slightly. "Who said I was here to break the engagement? Your marriage was arranged by our parents, we exchanged gengtie [engagement tokens], the ceremonies of Nacai (betrothal gifts), Wenming (asking the name), Naji (congratulations), and Nazheng (sending gifts) are all complete. Only the date for the wedding ceremony remains. How can it be so easily discarded? If you wish to break the engagement, where does that leave your Xuanyuan Yiren?"

Zong Shou nearly gaped, his face a mask of astonishment. What in the world was this situation? Hadn’t Xuanyuan Yiren come here specifically to call off the engagement?

Could there be some hidden concern, some other protocol at play?

He recalled that in ancient times, although female chastity was paramount, the customs could also be quite open. Given the status of Xuanyuan Yiren's parents, such matters shouldn't significantly impact things.

It was only the reputation that might be slightly tarnished.

Xuanyuan Yiren, however, would not yield, glaring furiously at Zong Shou: "Do you think I, Xuanyuan Yiren, am the sort of petty person who betrays trust?"

Zong Shou became even more speechless, inexplicably feeling that this girl possessed an overwhelmingly powerful aura. Especially now, it rendered him completely incapable of resistance.

His brow furrowed, Zong Shou managed a forced, light cough. "Naturally not, it's just that I heard Miss Yiren has always strongly objected to this marriage. Your aunt and uncle have ignored me these past years; their attitude is clear enough. I, Zong Shou, know I live day by day, never certain of the next, and I dare not burden you. In truth, Miss Yiren, there is no need to worry. Seeking benefit and avoiding harm is human nature. This concerns a lifetime; one must be extremely cautious. Besides, this arrangement by our parents, without consulting either of us, also displeases me—"

"Silence!"

Before the words had even fully left his mouth, Xuanyuan Yiren let out a sharp shout, followed by a crisp zheng sound. A gleaming sword flashed forward, pointing directly at Zong Shou’s nose, cold, sharp, and imbued with a killing intent.

The eyes of the girl in red seemed to spit fire, brimming with sheer obstinacy.

"My name is Yiren, but read backwards, it means Benevolence and Righteousness (Renyi)! The surname Xuanyuan is descended from the ancient Sages; it is a noble name in this world and will not tolerate defilement. When Uncle Weiran was alive, this engagement could have been dissolved if I disliked you, and I could have spoken my mind freely. But now that Uncle is gone, for Xuanyuan Yiren to destroy this marriage would be to kick a man when he is down, an act of ingratitude!"

Zong Shou’s eye socket twitched again, and he glared furiously at Yin Yang beside him.

He cursed inwardly: Is this the fiancée who wanted to break the engagement, as you described?

Yet, Yin Yang stood there with an expression of deep satisfaction, looking utterly appreciative.

With a faint sigh, Zong Shou felt utterly drained, his brow deeply furrowed. "Then, Miss Yiren, have you consulted your aunt and uncle about coming here? Here is what we shall do: I will still write the Letter of Severance for you to take back to your parents for final judgment. Do not blame the Xuanyuan family of Profound Mountain City for this dissolution; it is I, Zong Shou, who has someone else I favor and am initiating the break—"

The servant-dressed woman’s expression shifted immediately, revealing a flash of indistinct joy.

Xuanyuan Yiren was also slightly taken aback. She scrutinized Zong Shou up and down, then coldly sneered without accepting his gesture. "I simply dislike your temperament. Are you truly unwilling to burden me by initiating the break? Or are you just swelling your face to look good, trying to play the saint? Or perhaps you are simply aware that you are doomed? Though you are useless, you are my future husband. Do not speak such words in front of me again! If you have someone you favor, then marry her later. My father has a harem full of wives, and I never saw my mother complain. What does that have to do with breaking the engagement?"

Zong Shou was struck dumb, truly unsure what to say next. Xuanyuan Yiren retracted her sword, standing with imposing grace and fierce spirit. "No matter what our parents think, I, Xuanyuan Yiren, will never commit such a faithless and unjust act. Rest assured, you are my fiancé. From this day forward, I will stay by your side. With Xuanyuan Yiren here, I will never let you die by anyone else's hand! Even if you, Zong Shou, truly are worthless, no one will dare offend you in the slightest from now on—"

Before her words finished, and without waiting for Zong Shou’s consent, she strode directly toward the inner courtyard.

This left Zong Shou standing stunned in the hall. After a solid moment of frozen silence, the younger woman approached him, her expression exceedingly grim, and bowed respectfully.

"Li Yunniang of Mystic Saint City greets the Young Master!"

Zong Shou’s gaze immediately sharpened. Not just because of this woman, but because her aura was several measures stronger than Yin Yang’s at this moment. Even as he was now, he could not fathom her depth. Furthermore, it was because of the undisguised killing intent radiating from Li Yunniang. She stared at him coldly, like two blades of ice, making his cheeks sting.

"My lady has always been unconventional, somewhat eccentric, and quite naive. I beg the Young Master’s understanding! However, if I were the Young Master, it would be best to dissolve this engagement sooner rather than later. Do you know that the Seventh Direct Disciple of the High Heaven Sect recently proposed marriage to Profound Mountain City? Not only has the City Lord’s wife already agreed, but the City Lord himself is leaning toward acceptance."

Li Yunniang gave a cold laugh, her expression shifting into one of profound meaning. "I advise the Young Master to abandon all futile hope. The longer this matter drags on, the more disadvantageous it will be for you. How can a cripple who cannot cultivate possibly be worthy of my lady? My words are concluded. Young Master, please ponder this carefully—"