Chapter 1: Breaking Off the Engagement? Shang Hongchen

Great Qi Dynasty.

Longshe Cheng.

The gentle breeze of March ruffled the brilliant sky; a boy sat on the mountain, before him stood a girl holding her sword upright. The trees nearby swayed, shedding a few emerald leaves. The girl's sword was already drawn, the leaves cleaved in two, the clean cuts exuding the sharpness of sword technique.

The girl's gaze was cold; though only sixteen, she pointed her sword at the boy, her beautiful eyes narrowed, and she said coldly: "Chen Chuyang, I could never be with you, I could never marry you, and I could never spend my whole life stuck in this tiny Longshe Cheng."

The boy before her was named Chen Chuyang; hearing this, he slightly lifted his eyes and glanced at the girl.

"Oh."

His flat, unremarkable reply lacked the expected fury and explosive rage; that "oh" made Shang Hongchen frown, her gaze sharpening, her sword technique yearning to break free.

The girl stepped forward, her presence pressing down.

"Chen Chuyang, I'm talking serious business—can you be a bit serious? I want to leave Longshe Cheng; I could never marry you. This time I came to ask you to annul our engagement. Between us, it's absolutely impossible, so the engagement my father set is void."

A unilateral notice—no need for his consent.

Shang Hongchen's intent was obvious; Chen Chuyang raised his head and answered again: "Oh."

The girl flared up, taking another step; her sword was now a fist's width from Chen Chuyang—any closer would pierce his throat and kill him. Her control of distance was exquisite, poised there to threaten him and make him uneasy, yet he dared not retaliate.

The girl's will was firm; the engagement between them must be broken.

Chen Chuyang looked at the girl before him—Shang Hongchen, the eldest daughter of the Shang Clan, a renowned beauty of Longshe Cheng and the dream lover of many young disciples. The Chen and Shang Clans were allies; their friendship had lasted a century, with each generation's family head arranging marriages to deepen their bond.

Coincidentally, Chen Chuyang and Shang Hongchen were close in age, born the same year, and thus their engagement was set.

They were also childhood friends, but Chen Chuyang was more of a recluse, almost always staying in the mountains of the Chen Clan, farming and raising fish, focusing on his own pursuits. He was not originally of this world; he had transmigrated from another, opening his eyes as an infant. After enduring a tragic dozen years, he finally came of age.

He constantly hid his adult consciousness, fearing he'd be seen as a monster and unwilling to stand out, so he preferred living alone, thinking those people were immature; thus the rumor spread that Chen Chuyang was just an ordinary person, quite ordinary indeed.

This is a world of cultivation; when Chen Chuyang learned of it, he too stepped onto the path of cultivation like everyone else—except his path was unlike any other's.

The girl before him was a famed genius of Longshe Cheng, brimming with terrifying talent, one of the top two existences in the city; it was said that several sects had taken notice and wanted to take her as a disciple, which led to this scene.

"Chen Chuyang, have you agreed?"

Shang Hongchen was somewhat pleased, having thought this would be difficult; her father might not consent to breaking the engagement, after all it concerns the two families' relations, and besides, Chen Chuyang is merely an ordinary person—not a waste, not a playboy—he meets her standards.

The engagement was set for marriage after they came of age; now, only a few months remain before wedding preparations begin. Shang Hongchen is unwilling; she wants to break it off. After being refused, she came herself to see Chen Chuyang.

"No."

Chen Chuyang knows how important this is; he won't agree lightly, or else his parents will surely flay him.

"Shang Hongchen, if you want to break the engagement, go talk to my parents; if they agree, I naturally have no objection."

Shang Hongchen's brows knotted as she stared at Chen Chuyang.

"Can you go say it?"

Chen Chuyang knew it wouldn't be that simple; this woman indeed had such plans—as the saying goes, no one visits the Three Treasures Hall without purpose. Her first visit to this mountain told him nothing good would come.

This is trying to make him bear everything—isn't that courting death? Chen Chuyang would never do such a thing, nor… let his parents catch him with a handle; having finally achieved a solitary life, how could he… go back?

"Don't, don't mess with me—I don't want to get beaten."

"If you want to break the engagement, you say it—I won't go."

Chen Chongyang also didn't want to marry so quickly; speaking frankly, regarding Shang Hongchen, he felt just so-so, not very familiar.

Out of deference to his parents, he could only passively agree.

If Shang Hongchen broke the engagement, he would love it—no engagement meant he could do as he pleased, without worrying about this or that.

"You…"

Shang Hongchen huffed: "Chen Chuyang, just help me out this once, okay?"

"I promise you—after this, I'll leave Longshe Cheng, we'll have no further ties, I won't pester you, and I believe you also wish me to leave Longshe Cheng and hope I break the engagement."

"We're all acquaintances—why bother acting?"

Chen Chuyang saw through her thoughts but didn't show it, waving a hand: "That's just your one-sided wish; I don't care."

"A great beauty—of course I don't care."

"If she were an ugly woman, Chen Chuyang might… turn the tables."

"He wouldn't be the one losing out—why make him bring it up? When the time comes, those greeting him won't be his parents but elders from both families and the Shang Clan; the pressure would be immense, right? Chen Chuyang knows how terrifying this is, he won't fall for it, nor be bewitched by Shang Hongchen."

"You…"

Shang Hongchen saw her plan fail and stomped her feet in anger.

"This man isn't under her sway—indeed, it's the first time I've seen such a thing; usually men seeing her would kneel and beg to do anything for her, but with this man…"

She sheathed her sword, Shang Hongchen put on a pitiful, tearful look, tears welling up at will.

"This acting, this maneuver—it truly stunned Chen Chuyang."

"Even a movie emperor couldn't match her."

"All we can say is she's a born acting saint—truly impressive, admirable."

"Holy shit, this woman's acting is… too much, huh?"

"Just this move, Chen Chuyang would call her the strongest."

"Big Brother Chuyang, do you really want to watch me fall into a pit?"

"Pitiful and wronged, full of feeling, sending autumn waves."

"Those eyes hold all the proper emotions; any normal man seeing this would already be stirred, his adrenaline surely flooding his brain, then nodding to help her."

"Chen Chuyang is no novice; having seen countless beauties in his past life, enough to fill an entire existence, he's a seasoned veteran—not some greenhorn just discovering love—such acting just wants to trap him, overthinking it."

"First, let me say this: my home isn't a pit, and I won't trap you; this matter was set by your father and mine—you could actually have your father break the engagement, and it would surely succeed."

Shang Hongchen's gaze went vacant, astonished at Chen Chuyang—she had actually failed.

"The man before her actually regarded her with teasing eyes, mocking her."

"Will you help or not?"

"If her father were willing to break the engagement, that would be best—but the problem is he won't agree."

Sorry, I can't do anything.

You...

Hey, take a strike from my sword!

He drew his sword, about to strike, but Chen Chuyang before him had already vanished.

I'm so angry, this bastard is just as bad as ever, utterly rotten.

Ahhh!