Chapter 182: Li Jing Rang, Let’s Break Off the Engagement
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
Su Ming returned to his room, still feeling upset and frustrated. He couldn’t shake off the irritation, so he decided to find his junior sister, Ye Cong Xin, to talk things out. However, when he reached her room, he was surprised to see Li Jing Rang standing outside her door.
His brows knit together in displeasure.
“Senior Brother Jing Rang, what are you doing here? This is my junior sister’s room,” Su Ming said, his tone sharp.
Li Jing Rang looked a bit embarrassed when he noticed Su Ming. “I just came across a beautiful verse and thought of discussing it with Junior Sister Cong Xin.”
“Junior Sister has been busy and exhausted these past few days. She’s resting right now. Senior Jing Rang, you should go back,” Su Ming replied firmly.
Su Ming’s tone left little room for argument, and though Li Jing Rang didn’t want to leave, he had no choice.
“Alright, I’ll come back in a few days then,” Li Jing Rang said quickly before Su Ming could refuse again. He turned and walked away, albeit reluctantly.
Once Li Jing Rang was gone, Ye Cong Xin opened her door, a slight look of gratitude in her eyes. “Third Senior Brother,” she greeted, relieved by his timely arrival.
Li Jing Rang’s persistent attention had been troubling her, and Su Ming’s presence had spared her from further discomfort.
“Junior Sister, you should keep your distance from shady people like Li Jing Rang. He already has a fiancée, yet he comes around looking for you when no one else is around. He’s definitely up to no good,” Su Ming advised, his voice tinged with protectiveness.
Growing up in the capital, Su Ming had seen enough to understand the unspoken dynamics between men and women, even if he hadn’t experienced much himself. It was clear to him that Li Jing Rang’s intentions toward Ye Cong Xin were far from pure, and he was using poetry as a flimsy excuse to get close to her.
Ye Cong Xin nodded gently in agreement, her expression calm and without a hint of displeasure.
Suddenly, Su Ming thought of Yu Zhao, the rebellious and stubborn girl who always seemed to be a thorn in his side. He began to vent his frustrations to Ye Cong Xin.
“Junior Sister, why can’t Yu Zhao be as gentle and sweet as you? We all used to get along so well. If she felt wronged, she could just say something and let Master or Senior Brother defend her. But no, she keeps everything inside, and who knows what she’s thinking!
Now that we’ve realized our mistakes, Senior Brother and Second Senior Brother have taken turns apologizing to her. Fourth Senior Brother even gave up his chance to become an alchemist to earn her forgiveness. What more does she want? Does she really expect us to kneel and beg for her forgiveness? That’s too much…” Su Ming’s words flowed out in a torrent of frustration and bitterness.
Ye Cong Xin listened quietly, occasionally nodding in agreement, but inside, she was sneering. Is this the one favored by fate? she thought, her mind swirling with disdain. Clearly, he’s just a blind fool.
Even now, Su Ming didn’t understand why Yu Zhao had left. He didn’t see that Yu Zhao never cared about worldly possessions. If she had, she wouldn’t have lent him all her spirit stones without hesitation back then. They only knew how to demand Yu Zhao’s obedience, treating her like a pet to be summoned at will, never bothering to understand what she truly wanted.
Ye Cong Xin almost pitied Yu Zhao. If it were me, I would have found a way to win their favor, then drain their luck all at once, saving myself the trouble of dealing with their stupidity.
Suddenly, Ye Cong Xin shivered. So, Yu Zhao isn’t playing hard to get; she’s finally come to her senses and decided to abandon them completely?
The more Ye Cong Xin thought about it, the more it made sense, and the more frustrated she became. Yu Zhao, who had always been strong in every aspect, was now free to rise without constraints, while she was still stuck dealing with these fools. Would Yu Zhao look down on her for picking up what she had discarded?
Her breathing became unsteady. Before, Yu Zhao was better than me in every way, and I had to rely on winning over Fang Cheng Lang and the others to suppress her. Now that Yu Zhao is no longer held back, isn’t she free to soar?
No wonder… No wonder Yu Zhao’s cultivation had been advancing so quickly lately…
“Junior Sister? Junior Sister? What’s wrong? Are you even listening to me?” Su Ming’s voice snapped her out of her thoughts.
Ye Cong Xin forced a smile. “Third Senior Brother, I’m sorry. I’m not feeling well,” she said, her face pale and her expression distant.
Su Ming didn’t suspect anything. He left her room, still grumbling, his footsteps heavy.
In the dimly lit room, Ye Cong Xin’s face was hidden in the shadows, her expression unclear. But her tightly clenched fists revealed the storm of emotions raging within her.
“Yu Zhao, don’t think you can get rid of me. I’ll catch up to you soon, very soon…”
As the sect competition approached, various sects from the cultivation world gathered at the Achievement Pavilion.
Yu Zhao also met Mo Ci and Jing Nan from the Hundred Flowers Valley, as well as Ji Han Zhou from the Heavenly Sword Sect.
Mo Ci and Jing Nan were as warm as ever, inviting Yu Zhao to visit their area and introducing her to other disciples from their sect. Even days later, Yu Zhao could still sense the lingering sweet fragrance of the women around her.
In contrast, Ji Han Zhou seemed to be in a bad mood. Although he tried to hide it in front of Yu Zhao, she could easily see through his facade.
It was all because of Li Jing Rang’s lack of restraint. With the competition so close, he should have been more focused, but instead, he spent his days visiting other sects, showering Ye Cong Xin with praise. The news had reached the Heavenly Sword Sect, and Yu Zhao guessed that Senior Sister Liu Zheng was probably already on her way to confront him.
Yu Zhao’s guess was right.
When Li Jing Rang was called out by Liu Zheng, he approached her with his head held high, a paper fan in hand, exuding his usual air of arrogance. His fiancée had rushed to meet him as soon as she arrived at the Achievement Pavilion. Clearly, in the man’s view, his charm was unmatched.
“Li Jing Rang, let’s break off the engagement.”
“Liu Zheng, are you crazy?!” Li Jing Rang was so shocked that he almost dropped his fan. Their engagement had been arranged by the leaders of their respective sects. It wasn’t something that could be easily undone.
Besides, Liu Zheng’s sudden desire to break off the engagement made it seem like she didn’t care about him or the Taibai Academy at all! No man could swallow that insult!
Liu Zheng’s eyes were sharp, her back straight, and her entire presence exuded the cold, formidable energy of a sword.
“Since you have feelings for Junior Sister Cong Xin, I’ll step aside. Let’s end the engagement here. My master, Master Chong Yang, will handle the remaining details with your sect leader.”
“No! I won’t agree to this!” Li Jing Rang’s face twisted with anger. “There’s nothing improper between Junior Sister Cong Xin and me. Clearly, you have ulterior motives and are trying to smear my name! It’s not going to happen!”
This novel is translated and hosted only on BCatranslation
He couldn’t break off the engagement! If word got out, where would he stand in the eyes of his senior brother, the Taibai Academy leader, and his fellow disciples? He hadn’t done anything wrong, and he wouldn’t let her frame him for it!
Liu Zheng looked at him with confusion.
“Everyone knows about your feelings for Junior Sister Cong Xin. Why not admit it? If you’re worried about being ridiculed for the broken engagement, I can clear things up for you.”
When Liu Zheng first received the news, she wasn’t as angry as her juniors. In fact, she felt a sense of relief. Her engagement to Li Jing Rang had always been more of a political alliance. They had only met twice and had no real affection for each other. Now that Li Jing Rang had someone he liked, it was a perfect reason to dissolve the engagement. She couldn’t understand why Li Jing Rang was so against it.
“Who said I like Junior Sister Cong Xin? We’re just friends! Don’t think so lowly of us. This is an insult to me and to Junior Sister Cong Xin! You’re a woman too—why are your thoughts so malicious?!” Li Jing Rang retorted, his voice full of indignation.