Chapter 15: The Broken Engagement Runs a Wave

"That person looked only in his teens, had no agility or martial skill, and the sword he used seemed like the embroidered swords used in opera, with two low‑grade spirit crystals attached."

"But his swordsmanship was extremely, extremely terrifying!"

"Each strike seemed as if it had been rehearsed thousands of times in advance!"

"Every slash was lethal, completely different from our sword techniques!"

"Qingyi… is no match for him!"

"At the City Lord's Mansion, Ye Qingyi was wrapped like a rice dumpling, having taken a pill, her face turned pale as she lay on the bed."

"In the room stood a group of Yè Jiā elders."

"The atmosphere was somewhat solemn."

"'Only in his teens… that's terrifying, but unfortunately the family's Qi‑consolidating expert rushed over and didn't find him!' an elder said. 'By the way! Did he announce his family name?'"

"Ye Qingyi nodded, 'He said his name was Niu Bi Sanren!'"

"Speaking, a thought stirred; more than twenty days ago, Heng Xian of the Heng family seemed to have also claimed that title."

"Impossible! It could absolutely not be him!"

"How could I possibly be defeated by a worthless person?!"

"'Niu Bi Sanren?' the Yè Jiā elders looked at each other in bewilderment."

"What kind of ghostly title is that?"

"…"

"'I was only helping Miss Ye of the Yè family, but that person's swordsmanship was too formidable!"

"Each sword strike was lethal; the moves looked simple, yet the thrusts were fast and fierce."

"We couldn't block any! Three against one, completely defeated!"

"The key is he was only in his teens and still only at the Pre‑Heaven Fourth Realm!"

"Li Jia."

"Li Tong, with gauze wrapped around his arm, knelt clumsily on the ground."

"Surrounded by a group of Li Jia elders, they frowned coldly:"

"'A strange teenager could defeat the legitimate heirs of our two great families and a minor family's line?'"

"'Pre‑Heaven Fourth, one versus three, over‑level! And completely defeated you?'"

"'Truly a disgrace to the utmost!'"

"'That's not it!' Li Tong said timidly, 'It feels like he practices sword solely to kill; we've never encountered such a person, and we suffered a huge loss,"

"but his sword technique is perverse, the rest is ordinary,"

"next time we meet, using agility, we won't be defeated so badly!'"

"'You still have the nerve to try next time?'"

"…"

"Boom—"

"A light rain began to fall from the sky."

"Heng Xian spared half the city, tossed aside his mask, hat, and coat,"

"making sure he wasn't being followed, he shouldered his sword, walked home to the Heng family in the rain."

"In fact, he felt quite pleased inside."

"The true form of the Sword Saint really is awesome!"

"My ten thousand sword practices were not in vain!"

"I still have to continue tomorrow!"

"However, my agility is a shortcoming; if someone entangles me it's enough to trouble me, I must work on my agility!"

"Boom—"

"Lightning streaked, illuminating the hallway of the opposite mansion, where a petite, exquisite figure leaned against the wall, sipping a cup of warm beast‑sweet milk."

"A pair of bright large eyes blinked and looked over."

"Heng Xian?"

"The moment she saw Heng Xian, Xie Lingyu's first reaction was disgust; she turned to leave, then felt a bit curious."

"In the few months since arriving at the Heng family, she'd only heard that this guy couldn't cultivate, was shameless, wasteful, a rogue, and had rarely seen him."

"But the first time she met him, she ended up having diarrhea all day—how infuriating!"

"Yet… she hadn't seen him these days; where did he return from at this hour?"

"Looking closely, this guy… is actually quite good‑looking."

"Though drenched by the rain, his posture was upright, skin fine, features very handsome, especially a pair of attractive large eyes that seemed to carry a hint of melancholy."

"What the—clearly a quirky‑tempered, strikingly handsome fifteen‑year‑old little bishōnen!"

"At that moment Heng Xian lowered his head, sword on his back, walked past, not even glancing at her."

"'Uh!' Xie Lingyu felt inexplicably gloomy, deliberately coughing twice: 'Ahem…'"

"Heng Xian seemed to hear, but was too lazy to pay her any attention."

"Xie Lingyu snorted, 'You bastard, when you see your cousin you don't even greet! Last time you gave us a laxative, and you still haven't settled the score!'"

"Heng Xian finally turned his head, gave her a glance, his gaze icy!"

"Xie Lingyu puffed out her chest, shaking her head rebelliously: 'So what?'"

"Heng Xian suddenly walked over, came up to her, blinked his eyes, and then,"

"viciously knocked over her milk cup."

"Immediately, he bolted, vanished in the rain in the blink of an eye."

"Uh…"

Looking at the milk on the ground being washed away by the rain, Xie Lingyu shouted angrily, "Heng Xian, you bastard, you damn scoundrel, how dare you spill my milk!"

…

Returning to East Garden, it was the time for lighting the lamps.

Su Wan'er, A Gou, Lan Xiang and a group of servants anxiously looked around; when they saw Heng Xian return, they shouted excitedly, "The young master is back, the young master is back!"

Patter—…

One to two hundred servants and guests all surged out.

Heng De was also among them, his face tense: "Xian'er, you should be worried for father's sake; I've been looking for you for several rounds, you don't know how dangerous it is outside!"

Ling Feng also said, "Exactly! The young masters and missuses of Yè Jiā and Li Jia were injured by a sword‑wielding expert called Niu Bi Sanren.

It is said that the sword Niu Bi Sanren used is the same as the young master's, a theatrical sword, just like yours, little boy, oh…

Before he finished speaking, he was taken aback.

Then the crowd all turned to look at the sword on Heng Xian's back.

A theatrical sword?

Heng Xian, bored, waved his hand: "I was practicing sword beside you, Father, come inside, I have something to discuss with you!"

"Alright!" Heng De nodded.

The two elders swiftly entered the house.

Heng De poured two cups of tea: "Son, please speak!"

Heng Xian said, "I have a fiancée?"

Heng De chuckled, "Yes, haha, you can't cultivate, right? Two years ago I asked your elder uncle to arrange at the Xue family a legitimate maiden who can cultivate for you.

That girl's talent is good; she's sixteen or seventeen, already at innate level five or six, given time she'll become a great talent.

The key is, she looks good, naturally charming, a top‑grade beauty, you know."

After speaking, he squinted his eyes.

Heng Xian rubbed his forehead: "Break off the engagement!"

A wife must be chosen by herself, moreover this girl is very dissatisfied and talks badly about me behind my back.

She might even be involved with that Li Tong!

Heng De was startled: "Why is that?"

Heng Xian said, "She's not worthy of me!"

Heng De's mouth twitched: "My son… you make a valid point!"

"It's settled, tomorrow!" Heng Xian turned and went back inside.

Heng De raised his hand: "My son… great talent!"

…

The next morning, a light rain was still falling.

Heng Xian and Heng De boarded a luxurious carriage, taking dozens of guests and house servants, and headed straight for Xue Jia.

Upon receiving the news, the Xue family flung the doors open, and the family gathered together.

The two elders, with Ling Feng, entered the main gate.

Heng Xian glanced at the gift Ling Feng was carrying, frowned, and said, "You still give gifts when breaking off an engagement?"

Heng De gave an awkward smile: "I didn't tell them we were coming to break off the engagement; it's… a friendly separation, that's just social etiquette!"

While speaking, they arrived at the main hall.

The head of the Xue family, Xue Zhengnian, the matriarch, son Xue Hao, daughter‑in‑law, and a dozen Xue elders came out to greet them.

Their attitude was neither cold nor warm.

A group entered the main hall and took their seats.

Xue Zhengnian calmly looked at Heng De: "Your nephew's arrival is rather sudden!"

The matriarch also said, "No preparation at all!"

Heng De awkwardly nodded: "Indeed the matter is a bit sudden! Haha…"

Xue Zhengnian looked at the leisurely‑sitting Heng Xian, gave a cold smile: "Grand‑nephew, you're so relaxed, not even a word of greeting—so this is the Heng family's upbringing?"

Xue Hao, who is Xue Jiao'er's father, also looked displeased: "Your nephew arrived at the Xue family with not a hint of a smile on his face, who owes you?"

(End of Chapter)