Chapter 3

Four lion-horse beasts pulled the carriage steadily along the broad streets of Nanfeng City, with the buildings lining the streets rapidly receding.

The interior of the carriage was quite spacious, warm, and comfortable, with Li Luo and Jiang Qing'e sitting on either side of a small tea table.

The two of them did not exchange many words. Li Luo closed his eyes to rest as soon as he got in, while Jiang Qing'e opened a book and read it attentively. A ray of sunlight filtered through the gap in the carriage window, illuminating her delicate, jade-like face, making it even more translucent.

The silence lasted for a long time. Suddenly, Jiang Qing'e's long, thick eyelashes fluttered, and she lifted her pretty face, her golden eyes fixed on Li Luo. "It seems that what I said a few years ago at Nanfeng Academy has caused you some trouble."

"I'm very sorry."

Upon hearing this, Li Luo opened his eyes. He looked at the beautiful, sharp, and strong face in front of him and smiled. "This apology doesn't seem very sincere."

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

Jiang Qing'e casually flipped through the pages of her book. "Is this what they call a breakup? But in the stories and plays, shouldn't it be me who initiates this? Aren't you getting the order wrong?"

Her sudden cold humor left Li Luo somewhat at a loss, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

Jiang Qing'e lifted her head and glanced at Li Luo, saying coolly, "What? Afraid this engagement will cause you more trouble?"

Li Luo fell silent for a moment, then shook his head. "I'm afraid it will delay you. Why should a girl like you bear an unnecessary engagement? You know how this engagement came about, and how many times my mother has beaten my father over it?"

"My father's actions were absurd, and I actually agree with the beatings. But the key is, why do I always get a beating whenever my mother beats my father?!"

At the end of his words, Li Luo's expression was filled with resentment.

Thinking of the elegant woman who was gentle to him but would stand with her hands on her hips, her willow eyebrows inverted, and beat the two men in the house until they were in a mess, even Jiang Qing'e couldn't help but smile slightly, though she quickly composed herself.

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

Li Luo, with a headache, said, "What about when you meet someone you like in the future? This is just a mess."

Jiang Qing'e smiled faintly. "I might not meet anyone. My standards are quite high, and since we are already engaged, I can't have feelings for anyone else."

Li Luo stared at Jiang Qing'e, his voice suddenly filled with anger. "Jiang Qing'e, what are you thinking? I know my parents are good to you, and you are grateful to them, but you don't need to express your gratitude in this way. Do you think I'm a tool for you to express your gratitude?"

"Did you agree to this engagement? Did I ever agree?"

Li Luo's sudden outburst left Jiang Qing'e stunned. She looked at him with her pure golden eyes, fell silent for a moment, and then said softly, "I'm sorry, I didn't consider your feelings."

Seeing this, Li Luo said, "If so, then this engagement..."

"However..."

Jiang Qing'e lifted her pretty face and looked at Li Luo seriously. "You should know the rules in our family. If there is a disagreement, we fight first, and the winner has the decision-making power."

This rule was set by Li Luo's mother and had been in effect for many years, applying to any matter in the family. So every time she and Li Luo's father had a disagreement, she would roll up her sleeves and drag him into the training room.

"So if you have a strong objection to the engagement, we can go to the training room after we get home and follow the rules," Jiang Qing'e said.

Li Luo's expression immediately stiffened, his face changing. Finally, he gritted his teeth and pointed at Jiang Qing'e, saying angrily, "Jiang Qing'e, don't be too much. I'm just a beginner in the Ten Imprints Realm, how can I fight a Disha General like you?!"

In the human cultivation system, after opening the Phase Palace, one enters the Ten Imprints Realm. After the Ten Imprints Realm comes the Phase Master Realm, and only after reaching the Phase Master Realm does true cultivation begin.

After the Phase Master Realm, there are three major realms:

General, Marquis, and King.

Marquis and King are too far away, but the General realm is divided into two stages: the upper stage is the Tian Gang General, and the lower stage is the Disha General... and Jiang Qing'e is at the Disha General stage.

To reach the General realm at her age, Jiang Qing'e's cultivation talent is absolutely astonishing, and some people have even speculated that she might break the record for the youngest Marquis in the Daxia Kingdom.

But now, this Disha General Jiang Qing'e wants to fight a Ten Imprints Realm Li Luo...

Li Luo was really worried that if she couldn't control her strength, she might accidentally kill him with one slap.

Jiang Qing'e put away the book on the table, somewhat regretfully saying, "It seems you don't agree with this method, so there's nothing we can do."

Li Luo shivered with anger. Is this world still okay? Is it so hard to break an engagement?

He leaned helplessly against the carriage window, his gaze fixed on Jiang Qing'e's smooth, delicate face, especially her pure golden eyes, which were so captivating.

He sighed, his voice much lower. "Sister Qing'e, we have been together for many years, but I understand that you don't have romantic feelings for me."

"Without a foundation of feelings, what's the point of this engagement?"

Jiang Qing'e fell silent for a moment and said, "Although I want to say that you're only seventeen tomorrow, why act so mature..."

"However, what you said does make some sense. I have no interest in anyone else, but I don't dislike you."

Li Luo smiled bitterly. "Sister Qing'e, the engagement is more because of your gratitude to my parents. I believe your feelings for them are much stronger than for me, but I really don't need this kind of gratitude."

After saying this, Li Luo lowered his head and said slowly, "I know it might be unrealistic to ask you to revoke the engagement, but..."

He lifted his head and looked directly into Jiang Qing'e's eyes. "I hope you can give yourself and me a chance."

Li Luo paused and continued, "We can make a deal. You help me control Luolan Manor until I have enough ability. If you can ensure that Luolan Manor suffers no significant loss when I take over, I will return the engagement to you as a token of gratitude. How about that?"

Jiang Qing'e didn't speak, only tapping her long, slender fingers rhythmically on the table. After a long silence, she said softly, "Li Luo, do you really not like me?"

Li Luo was taken aback, then he took a deep breath. "Sister Qing'e, you might underestimate your attractiveness and excellence. For someone my age, your charm is irresistible. If I said I don't like you, it would be too insincere and hypocritical."

"But I don't need this engagement."

Jiang Qing'e's willow eyebrows lifted slightly, and she suddenly slapped the tea table.

Bang!

Li Luo was startled and quickly moved back, saying, "Let's talk this out, no need to resort to violence."

Jiang Qing'e gave him a cold look and said coolly, "Li Luo, your eloquence has improved. However, what you said does make some sense. I can treat this as a deal. When you take over Luolan Manor, I will hand it over to you intact, and at that time, you can return the engagement to me."

Li Luo let out a sigh of relief but also felt a vague sense of loss deep in his heart, which made him curse himself inwardly, thinking he was really cheap...

"Your words today have made me look at you differently. It seems you're no longer a child."

Li Luo was a bit angry. "A child? What makes you think I'm a child?"

Jiang Qing'e ignored his words and looked at him with a faint smile. "However, Li Luo, I still need to remind you. Do you really want to make this deal? Once you return the engagement, you might never have a chance again in this life."

Li Luo narrowed his eyes, pressed his hands on the tea table, and straightened up, looking down at Jiang Qing'e. Their faces were only about half a foot apart.

"Jiang Qing'e, I don't value this engagement at all. In the future, I want you to give it to me again, not to my parents."

Jiang Qing'e's golden eyes reflected Li Luo's handsome face, and her faint smile grew. She understood Li Luo's meaning. The reason she was returning the engagement was that she didn't have romantic feelings for him now, but if she gave it back to him in the future, it would mean she had fallen for him.

"Sit down," she said, her lips parting slightly.

A mysterious force appeared out of nowhere, pressing Li Luo back onto the carriage floor with a thud, making him wince.

The momentum he had built up was instantly lost.

Jiang Qing'e propped her chin on her hand, looking at Li Luo lazily. "You don't have much skill, but you have a big mouth. I've seen many talented people, but no one has dared to say such things to me."

"Li Luo, don't aim too high. Your goal is unrealistic, but if you really want to try, I'll give you a chance."

Her golden eyes shone, mysterious and deep.

"I'll be waiting for you at the Holy Profound Star Academy... This is the first step. If you can't even achieve this, consider today's words as a youthful rebellion and forget them."

Li Luo didn't say anything more. He leaned against the carriage window, his eyes gradually closing, and said calmly, "Then I'll wait."

Jiang Qing'e looked out the window at the passing streets and buildings, the sunlight filtering through and shining in her eyes. She smiled faintly, her eyes softening.

The carriage sped on. After a long while, Li Luo suddenly opened his eyes, looking puzzled. "This isn't the way home?"

Jiang Qing'e nodded slightly and said softly, "We're going to the Golden Dragon Treasure Shop to pick up something."

Her golden eyes met Li Luo's.

"Your master and mother left this for you before they left, saying you should open it when you turn seventeen."

Li Luo was immediately stunned.

His parents left something for him?

(PS: Nalan Yanran: Heard you want to break the engagement? Young man, you're on the wrong path.

Ha, it's been a while since I asked for votes, but since it's a new book, I should call for votes. Everyone, please vote, any kind of vote will do.)

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