Chapter 719: Breaking the Engagement

Jiang Jiang Qinge's departure was set for two days later.

This meant she couldn't even travel back to Nanfeng City with the House Luolan Mansion convoy, but everyone knew it couldn't be helped, because Jiang Jiang Qinge's time was far too pressing—her burning Bright Heart was consuming her life force every moment, and every extra day would make the Bright Heart problem even more severe.

So after confirming that the Holy Light Ancient Academy could resolve the burning Bright Heart issue, although Li Luo was deeply reluctant in his heart, he still decided to let Jiang Jiang Qinge set off as soon as possible.

On the broad avenue, the House Luolan Mansion's long caravan stretched out of sight at both ends.

As they gradually left Daxia City, the world here once again returned to its former peace and tranquility; there was not the slightest contamination of malicious Qi in the air, and even the sunlight had become warm again.

However, although the influence brought by the malicious Qi had been eliminated, the atmosphere within the House Luolan Mansion's massive caravan was still somewhat oppressive, because everyone knew that Jiang Jiang Qinge, the pillar of House Luolan Mansion, would leave Daxia in two days and head for the incomprehensibly distant Inner Shenzhou.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's departure undoubtedly dealt no small blow to House Luolan Mansion's morale. After all, her personal charisma within House Luolan Mansion was far too powerful—even Li Luo couldn't quite compare in this regard.

It was she who, at House Luolan Mansion's most turbulent time, single-handedly and forcefully put a stop to the chaos and division—and at that time, she had only just entered the Holy Void Star Academy to cultivate not long before. Her strength and personal charisma had, over these past few years, sunk deep into the heart of every person in House Luolan Mansion.

In her, everyone saw the shadow of Dantai Lan.

But they also understood that Jiang Jiang Qinge had already paid an extremely heavy price to force Shen Shen Jinxiao to retreat. If she didn't leave, she would soon perish; compared to that outcome, they naturally still preferred that Jiang Jiang Qinge go to the Ancient Academy.

They believed that as long as Jiang Jiang Qinge could resolve this problem, with her talent, no matter where she was, she would shine brilliantly.

Inside one of the broad carriages in the caravan.

Li Luo and Jiang Jiang Qinge sat facing each other on either side of a tea table. The carriage windows were wide open, and the dense forest on both sides, under the sunlight, stretched its shade inward.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's expression was slightly languid; this kind of relaxed demeanor had rarely appeared on her before, but perhaps because of her own condition, she had instead appeared increasingly at ease these past few days.

Li Luo's gaze remained fixed on that breathtakingly beautiful, goddess-like face before him. Although he had looked at it for over a decade, he felt he could never tire of it—there was simply no helping it, she was truly too beautiful. Those exquisite features seemed as if the heavens had painstakingly carved them out, and every smile and frown radiated endless charm.

"Everyone's morale is very low, and this is even before the news that you'll also be leaving has been released..." Jiang Jiang Qinge toyed with her teacup, saying somewhat helplessly.

One could imagine that once the news of Li Luo also leaving for a fairly long period was released, what a tremendous impact it would have on House Luolan Mansion's morale.

It might even, if one were careless, lead directly to a disbanding.

After all, with both pillars gone, House Luolan Mansion would truly be somewhat demoralized.

But Li Luo didn't answer; his gaze still wandered over Jiang Jiang Qinge's cheeks, pausing on her red lips from time to time, as if savoring something.

Sensing Li Luo's increasingly brazen gaze, Jiang Jiang Qinge's languid expression vanished, and her eyes instantly returned to their usual calm and sharpness. She swept a cool glance at Li Luo, her eyes full of warning.

Only then did Li Luo reluctantly pull his gaze back and say: "There's no helping it, it has to be announced eventually. There will definitely be an impact, but fortunately the situation in Daxia has changed dramatically now. The Extreme Flame Mansion and House House Jinque have both retreated to the north with the Regent, and from now on they won't have the chance to target House Luolan Mansion again. So in the short term, House Luolan Mansion has no external enemies, and in terms of survival environment, it's actually better than before."

"With Sister Cai Wei and Sister Yan Lingqing there, although House Luolan Mansion can't expand, it should be enough to hold what it has. And with Instructor Xi Chan helping to hold things down, there shouldn't be any major problems."

As Li Luo spoke, he let out another sigh and said resentfully: "Why is it that only Dean Ling has the qualification to recommend someone?"

Seeing that this fellow was still dwelling on this matter, Jiang Jiang Qinge found it a little amusing and said: "Because Dean Ling used to be an instructor at the Holy Light Ancient Academy, so in all of Daxia, only she has a recommendation slot."

But looking at Li Luo's listless appearance, Jiang Jiang Qinge felt a bit helpless, so she reached out her hand and said: "I'll be setting off with Dean Ling in the next two days. I probably won't make it to Nanfeng City, so the thing I promised you—perhaps I can fulfill it now."

"What thing?" Li Luo didn't catch on for a moment. These past days, Jiang Jiang Qinge's problems had been entangling his mind constantly, and he simply had no heart to think about anything else.

Jiang Jiang Qinge primly raised her delicate, snow-like chin slightly and reminded him: "The marriage contract."

Li Luo instantly sat up straight. He stared at Jiang Jiang Qinge for a few seconds, then solemnly took out an exquisite box from his spatial sphere, opened it, and a pale yellow sheet of paper came into both of their views.

On the paper was written a delicate and slightly childish handwriting.

Jiang Jiang Qinge gazed with a smile at that pale yellow paper, a look of reminiscence surfacing in her eyes. From deep within her memory, a scene emerged: a little girl holding a brush, earnestly writing out a marriage contract under lamplight that had "sold" herself off.

Actually, this paper marriage contract had no binding force whatsoever, and no one would really take such a thing written by a little girl seriously, but... Jiang Jiang Qinge happened to take it seriously.

"Old Man is really annoying. Back then, after this matter, he got hammered by Mother for three days straight—the screams could be heard throughout all of House Luolan Mansion." Li Luo looked at this marriage contract and couldn't help sighing.

That time, Dantai Lan had truly been very angry. Although Old Man had only spoken those words casually after drinking, Jiang Jiang Qinge's personality was sometimes just that stubborn—once she got serious, no one could pull her back.

So for those few days, Dantai Lan walked around radiating fury, and throughout all of House Luolan Mansion, no one dared to appear near her except Jiang Jiang Qinge, who, still small, went to comfort her like a little adult—including Li Luo himself.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's lips curved into an exceptionally gentle smile, and she said softly: "I really like this family, so I don't resist it."

"Sister Qing'e, your not resisting is one thing, but whether you truly like it is another." Li Luo said seriously.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's eyes rippled, and she said with a half-smile: "Then do you think I truly like it now?"

Li Luo thought for a moment and said: "Anyway, I truly like it."

"Since when?" Jiang Jiang Qinge's golden eyes shimmered with a bright, radiant hue, and her words were also very bold, without much shyness.

"Maybe starting from the first time you hit me as a kid." Li Luo laughed.

"So you're a masochist." Jiang Jiang Qinge said in surprise.

Li Luo rolled his eyes, then suddenly asked: "But speaking of it, it seems Old Man and Mother have never mentioned Sister Qing'e's background."

He remembered that when Li Taixuan and Dantai Lan brought Jiang Jiang Qinge back from outside, the latter had been about four or five years old, but regarding her background—where she came from, who her parents were—it seemed they had never spoken of it.

Jiang Jiang Qinge was startled upon hearing this, and was silent for a moment before saying: "I have no memories of that at all."

Her willow brows furrowed slightly, and she murmured: "My memories seem to start from the first time I saw Master and Mistress... the memories before that are all darkness."

Li Luo also furrowed his brow—was it that strange? It seemed Sister Qing'e's background was rather peculiar. And he also remembered that when he had previously seen Dantai Lan's recorded image, she had said that they, as husband and wife, owed Qing'e something? What did that mean?

Thinking about it in his heart, he had no clue at all, and in the end he could only shake his head.

Then he pulled his thoughts back, took out that paper marriage contract, and pushed it over.

"Sister Qing'e, I'm returning this marriage contract to you." He appeared very solemn, as if completing some kind of ritual.

Jiang Jiang Qinge's slender jade fingers gently pressed on the marriage contract, her gaze swept over it, the corners of her lips slightly upturned, and she said: "Li Luo, then from now on, there won't be any other relationship between us, you know."

Her words were somewhat casual: "Do you remember that time a year ago when I returned to Nanfeng City? That was when you first brought up breaking the engagement with me. I said then that once the marriage contract was broken, in the future you might not be able to get one even if you wanted to."

The teasing color in her golden eyes grew richer, and then she gazed at Li Luo, who was pretending to be calm.

"Li Luo, right now... are you panicking?"