Chapter 3

Four lion-horse beasts pulled the carriage smoothly along the broad streets of Nanfeng City, the forest-like buildings on either side flashing past rapidly.

Inside the carriage, the space was spacious, warm, and comfortable; Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge sat on opposite sides of the tea table.

The two exchanged little speech; Li Luo closed his eyes to rest upon boarding, while Jiang Jiang Qinge opened a book and read intently. A strand of sunlight slipped through a crack in the window, falling upon her jade-like, exquisitely sculpted cheek, making it glow even more translucent.

Silence endured for a long while, until Jiang Jiang Qinge's long, thick eyelashes suddenly fluttered. She lifted her face, golden pupils fixed on Li Luo before her, and said: "It seems my words at the Nanfeng Academy years ago caused you some trouble."

"I'm sorry."

Li Luo opened his eyes, gazing at the beautiful, exquisitely crafted face before him—still radiating an unmistakable sharpness and dominance—and smiled: "That apology shows not a shred of sincerity."

"If you were sincere, you'd allow me to dissolve the engagement."

Jiang Jiang Qinge idly flipped through the pages of her book. "Is this what they call breaking off an engagement? But in novels and operas, shouldn't it be me who brings it up? Aren't you reversing the order?"

Li Luo found her sudden dry humor both exasperating and amusing.

Jiang Jiang Qinge lifted her gaze, glancing at Li Luo. "What? Afraid this engagement will bring you even more trouble?"

Li Luo fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm afraid of holding you back. You're a girl—why burden yourself with an unnecessary engagement? You know how this engagement came about. How many times has my mother beaten my father over this these past years?"

"My father's antics were ridiculous—I even agree he deserved the beatings. But why does my mother always drag me into it every time she punishes him?!"

By the end, Li Luo's expression carried a trace of resentment.

Recalling the elegant woman who was gentle with him yet would thrust her hands on her hips, eyebrows arched, and send both the big and little men in the household flying in panic, even Jiang Jiang Qinge couldn't help but let her rosy lips curve slightly—before quickly smoothing them back.

"I'm not afraid," she shook her head.

Li Luo rubbed his temples. "Then what will you do when you meet someone you like? This is pure nonsense."

Jiang Jiang Qinge smiled faintly. "I may never meet anyone. My standards are high. Besides, we already have this engagement—I couldn't possibly entertain feelings for anyone else."

Li Luo stared at Jiang Jiang Qinge, his voice suddenly thick with anger: "Jiang Jiang Qinge, what are you thinking? I know my parents treated you well, and you're grateful to them—but you don't need to express that gratitude this way. What do you think I am? A tool to repay them?"

"You agreed to this engagement—but did I ever agree?"

Li Luo's sudden outburst left Jiang Jiang Qinge momentarily stunned. Her pure golden pupils fixed on his face. She fell silent for a moment, then lowered her head slightly. "I'm sorry. I truly didn't consider your feelings."

Li Luo said: "Then if that's the case, this engagement—"

"But—"

Jiang Jiang Qinge lifted her face, looking at Li Luo seriously. "You know our family's rule: when there's disagreement, we settle it with a fight—the winner gets the final say."

This rule was established by Li Luo's mother and has governed every family matter for years. Whenever she and his father disagreed, she'd roll up her sleeves and drag him straight into the training chamber.

"So if you strongly oppose this engagement, we can go to the training chamber after we return home and settle it by the rule," Jiang Jiang Qinge said.

Li Luo's expression froze. His face shifted through a dozen emotions before he gritted his teeth, pointing at Jiang Jiang Qinge in outrage: "Jiang Jiang Qinge, don't push too far! I'm a beginner in the Ten-Seal Realm—what am I supposed to do, fight a Earth-Sha General?!"

In human cultivation, after opening the Xiang Palace, one enters the Ten-Seal Realm. After Ten-Seal comes the Xiang Master Realm—and only after reaching Xiang Master does true cultivation truly begin.

After Xiang Master, there are three great realms.

Appointed General, Enfeoffed Marquis, Proclaimed King.

Enfeoffed Marquis and Proclaimed King are too distant. Appointed General is divided into Upper and Lower Ranks: Upper is Heaven-Gang General, Lower is Earth-Sha General. Jiang Jiang Qinge is at the Earth-Sha General level.

To reach Appointed General at her age, Jiang Jiang Qinge's cultivation talent is undoubtedly shocking to countless others. Some have even speculated she will break the Great Xia Empire's record for its youngest Enfeoffed Marquis.

Yet now, this Earth-Sha General Jiang Jiang Qinge wants to fight a Ten-Seal Realm beginner like Li Luo.

Li Luo genuinely feared that if she couldn't hold back her power, she'd slap him dead in one blow.

Jiang Jiang Qinge closed her book on the table, sighing slightly. "It seems you disagree with this method. Then there's nothing more to be done."

Li Luo trembled with rage. Can this world not be fair? Is it really this hard just to break off an engagement?

He slumped back against the carriage window, gazing at Jiang Jiang Qinge's flawless, exquisite face—especially those golden eyes, pure enough to bewitch.

He sighed, his voice lowering. "Jiang Qinge-Zhong Jie, we've known each other for many years, but I understand—you don't feel romantic feelings for me."

"Without love as a foundation, what meaning does this engagement hold?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge fell silent for a moment. "I was going to say—you're only seventeen tomorrow. Why act so mature?"

"But you do have a point. I have no interest in anyone else. But with you—I don't reject you."

Li Luo gave a bitter laugh. "Jiang Qinge-Zhong Jie, this engagement is mostly because of your gratitude toward my parents. I believe your feelings for them are incomparably stronger than for me—but I don't need this kind of gratitude."

He lowered his head, speaking slowly: "I know asking you to withdraw the engagement may be unrealistic—but…"

He lifted his gaze, locking eyes with Jiang Jiang Qinge. "I hope you'll give yourself—and me—a chance."

Li Luo paused, then continued: "We can make a deal. Until I'm capable enough, help me maintain control of Luo Lan Mansion. When I take over, if you hand it to me with minimal loss, I'll return the engagement to you as thanks. How about it?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge said nothing, only her long, slender fingers tapping rhythmically on the table. Silence stretched for a long while, until she finally whispered: "Li Luo, you don't really like me, do you?"

Li Luo hesitated, then took a deep breath. "Jiang Qinge-Zhong Jie, you may underestimate your appeal and excellence. To someone your age, your charm is universally irresistible. If I said I didn't like you, that would be a lie—and hypocritical."

"But I don't need this engagement."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's eyebrows lifted slightly. Her hand suddenly slammed down on the tea table.

Bang!

Li Luo startled, quickly shifting his seat backward. "Let's talk this out—don't start fighting!"

Jiang Jiang Qinge gave him a withering look. "Li Luo, you've improved your rhetoric since we last met. What you said has some merit. I'll treat this as a deal: when you take over Luo Lan Mansion, I'll hand it over to you intact. Then, you return the engagement to me."

Hearing this, Li Luo exhaled in relief—but deep inside, an inexplicable sense of loss surfaced, making him silently curse himself: damn it.

"Your words today surprised me. You're no longer a child."

Li Luo bristled. "A child? Where am I childish?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge ignored him, watching him with a faint, knowing smile. "But Li Luo, I'll remind you one last time: are you truly certain you want this deal? Once this engagement is returned to me, you'll have no chance at all—for the rest of your life."

Li Luo narrowed his eyes. He braced his arms on the table, straightening up to loom over Jiang Jiang Qinge—their faces barely half a foot apart.

"Jiang Jiang Qinge, I don't want this engagement—not one bit. In the future, I want you to give it to me yourself—not my parents."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden pupils reflected Li Luo's handsome face. The faint, knowing smile on her lips deepened. She understood perfectly: he wanted her to return the engagement because now she didn't love him. But when she gave it back to him later, it would mean she had fallen for him.

"Sit down," she murmured.

An unseen force suddenly appeared, slamming Li Luo back onto the carriage floor. The impact made him wince.

Thus, the momentum from before instantly collapsed.

Jiang Jiang Qinge propped her fragrant cheek, looking at Li Luo with a somewhat languid air, and said, "Your ability is not great, yet your tone is bold. I have seen many geniuses over the years, but no one has ever dared to speak to me this way."

"Li Luo, do not aim too high and reach too far. Your goal is too unrealistic. However, if you truly wish to try, I might as well give you a chance."

Her golden pupils shimmered, mysterious and profound.

"I will wait for you at the Saint Profound Star Academy; this is the first step. If you cannot even achieve this, then treat today's words as the rebellious heart of youthful vigor and forget them."

Li Luo said nothing more this time. He simply leaned against the carriage window, his eyes gradually closing, and said calmly, "Then just wait."

Jiang Jiang Qinge's pupils gazed at the streets and buildings sweeping past through the carriage window gap. Sunlight flew and spilled into her eyes, and then she smiled, almost imperceptibly.

Her eyes carried a hint of rare tenderness.

The carriage and horses galloped. After a long while, Li Luo suddenly opened his eyes and said, somewhat puzzled, "This is not the way home?"

Jiang Jiang Qinge nodded her jade head slightly and said softly, "Go to the Golden Dragon Treasure Hall to retrieve something."

Her golden pupils turned toward Li Luo.

"Before Master and Mistress left, they specially left something for you, saying you should open it when you turn seventeen."

Hearing this, Li Luo's heart trembled instantly.

Did Father and Mother leave something for him?

(PS: Nalan Yanran: I heard you want to break the engagement? Young man, you are walking down a narrow path.)

Haha, I don't even know when I last asked for votes, but with the new book opening, I must make the usual call. Everyone, please cast whatever votes you have.)

(End of this chapter)