Chapter 11

Yin Rulong's eyes fell upon a breathtaking beauty, with eyebrows like willow leaves, eyes like autumn water, skin as white as jade, and lips like a touch of crimson. Her hair, like a waterfall, cascaded down to her waist. As she saw Rulong enter, their eyes met, causing his heart to race wildly.

The young girl seemed like a celestial being, untouched by the烟火 of the mortal world. Her presence transformed the entire room into a paradise on earth. Rulong stared at her in a daze for a moment, completely entranced.

The girl's jade-like cheeks turned slightly red, and she avoided Rulong's gaze. Seeing this, Lady Long couldn't help but cough and said, "Rulong, why don't you greet Mengqi? She is your betrothed, chosen for you in a childhood engagement."

At the mention of a betrothed, Lady Long's face lit up with joy, but Rulong was greatly surprised. He had no idea about this engagement.

"Greetings, Miss Mengqi," Rulong finally reacted, bowing slightly after noticing his mother's signals.

Mengqi's face flushed, and she returned the bow, but her cherry lips moved without uttering a word.

Lady Long smiled and said, "Mengqi, you and Rulong are both young. Why don't you chat for a while? I'll go prepare some food."

With that, Lady Long gave Rulong an encouraging look and left the room, leaving the two of them alone.

Facing a celestial-like beauty, Rulong felt somewhat at a loss for the first time. After a long pause, he managed to say, "Please sit."

Mengqi shook her head lightly, glanced at Rulong, and a hint of complexity flashed in her eyes. "Rulong, there's something I want to talk to you about. Can we go somewhere else?"

Rulong was slightly taken aback but nodded. They left the Long family home and found a secluded place. Rulong was dumbfounded as Mengqi extended her jade-like hand and slowly formed a seal in front of her chest. Recognizing the seal, Rulong almost screamed out loud, for he knew its ability—contract summoning, a skill possessed only by beast tamers.

"Hum"

Suddenly, the space rippled, confirming Rulong's thoughts. A monstrous creature with a lion's head and an eagle's body, over ten feet long, appeared before them, emitting a powerful aura.

Although Rulong couldn't practice martial arts before, he was familiar with the basics of the Monster Compendium. This monster, known as a Lion Eagle, was a terrifying second-stage beast.

The Lion Eagle before them was not yet fully grown, but its combat power was formidable, even surpassing that of a typical Blood Condensation Realm expert.

However, the seemingly fierce Lion Eagle was unusually gentle in front of Mengqi, lying obediently on the ground.

Mengqi took light steps and slowly climbed onto the Lion Eagle's back, saying to Rulong, "Come up."

Rulong glanced at Mengqi, noticing a hint of nervousness in her eyes. After a moment's hesitation, he climbed up.

Stepping onto the back of a monster, Rulong felt nervous; this thing could eat people if it went mad.

"Whoosh"

The Lion Eagle suddenly spread its wings, and its massive form soared into the sky, carrying the two of them. Rulong almost fell off as the Lion Eagle took off.

Suddenly, a jade-like hand steadied Rulong, easing his embarrassment. Mengqi's face showed a hint of amusement, as if she wanted to laugh but didn't dare to. Rulong felt a bit awkward.

"I get a bit airsick," Rulong smiled, offering a lame excuse.

Mengqi couldn't help but giggle, but then she turned her face away, feeling a bit embarrassed.

The Lion Eagle flew swiftly, and in a short while, they left the capital and landed on Luoxia Mountain outside the city.

The sky was about to turn dark, and the setting sun, like blood, illuminated the entire capital, creating a beautiful scene.

The two stood on the mountain peak, neither speaking. Rulong looked at the capital, a hint of helplessness flashing in his eyes.

"Rulong, I..." Mengqi hesitated for a long time, finally took a deep breath, and softly said, "Are you here to break the engagement?"

Rulong didn't turn around, his eyes still fixed on the capital. "Did you come to break the engagement?"

Mengqi's heart trembled, and a look of disbelief appeared on her face. "You... knew?"

"I guessed," Rulong slowly turned his gaze to Mengqi's flawless face. "Thank you."

"Thank me?" Mengqi was puzzled.

"Thank you for not mentioning it in front of my mother, not making her sad, and considering my feelings. So, I thank you," Rulong smiled.

Mengqi looked at Rulong. Over the past few days, she had learned everything about his recent situation.

She had imagined Rulong's anger, his madness, and even his curses upon hearing the news, but she never expected this.

"I know you are a celestial being, able to tame a second-stage beast at such a young age.

And I am just a mortal. We belong to different worlds. What you did is not wrong. You don't need to feel guilty," Rulong smiled warmly, making her feel comfortable.

But Mengqi's heart ached at that smile. This young man had already endured too much suffering. Was it too cruel to add more salt to his wounds?

"Give me a few days. I will persuade my mother to break the engagement. I promise it won't take long."

Rulong finished speaking and turned to leave slowly. The setting sun's afterglow cast a melancholy shadow on his slender figure as he walked down the mountain path.

Watching Rulong's departing figure, Mengqi's eyes welled up with tears, and she covered her lips with her hand.

"Was what I did right or wrong?"

Behind Mengqi, another girl slowly approached and consoled her, "Sister, since it's already out, let's resolve it completely. But this Rulong is indeed a bit pitiful."

The two girls watched Rulong's figure until it disappeared completely.

After descending the mountain, Rulong's mood grew increasingly gloomy. When he first saw Mengqi, he had developed a deep admiration for her.

Mengqi's otherworldly demeanor, like a celestial being, made it hard for Rulong, a mere mortal, not to be moved.

But just as his admiration was growing, it was doused by a bucket of cold water.

No one would feel good about it. Rulong's soul power was exceptionally strong, making him highly sensitive to others' emotions.

When Mengqi displayed her strength and summoned the Lion Eagle, he sensed that something was wrong, leading to their subsequent conversation.

"Before I even fell in love, I've already lost it."

Rulong felt a deep sorrow. He wanted to scream wildly. Despite all the委屈 and oppression he had endured, he had never cried, but this time, he really felt like crying.

He could sense that Mengqi was a kind girl; otherwise, she wouldn't have considered his feelings and could have broken the engagement in a more direct way.

Rulong didn't want to break the engagement, but what could he do? Cry and beg with tears and snot?

If it could help, Rulong wouldn't mind losing his dignity, but it would be meaningless even if he did.

It was better to part amicably. Despite the pain in his heart, Rulong held it in and returned home when it was already dark.

As soon as Rulong returned, his mother began questioning him about what they had talked about, any progress, and any intimate actions.

Feeling helpless, Rulong finally managed to respond and asked, "Mother, how did Mengqi and I end up engaged? Why didn't you tell me?"

Lady Long's eyes showed a hint of pain at Rulong's question, but she quickly concealed it.

She told Rulong that the two families were once very close. Rulong's father and Mengqi's father were life-and-death friends. Later, they became sworn brothers and declared that if they had sons, they would be brothers, if they had daughters, they would be sisters, and if one was a boy and the other a girl, they would be husband and wife.

Rulong pursed his lips. They were so enthusiastic, but it left him in a difficult situation.

"Mother, I think Mengqi and I are not a good match," Rulong said after a long pause, steeling himself.

"What?" Lady Long's face changed, and she looked at Rulong in disbelief.

"Cough, Mother, don't get upset. I just think Mengqi and I are not a good match, because..." Rulong said hesitantly.

"Rascal, what nonsense are you talking? Mengqi is a celestial being. How could she not be a good match for you?" Lady Long was furious and scolded him.

"Mother, listen to me. Love should be mutual and consensual. You and Father decided on the engagement without our consent. Isn't that a bit too hasty?" Rulong smiled.

"You... You are really trying to make me cry," Lady Long couldn't listen to Rulong and tears welled up in her eyes.

Rulong felt awkward but couldn't tell the truth, so he just stood there. Lady Long, crying, suddenly asked, "Rulong, tell me the truth. Did Mengqi change her mind?"

"It couldn't be. Mengqi is a good girl. I just feel it's too sudden and I can't accept it," Rulong quickly said.

"Don't say more, child. It's your parents who have wronged you."

Lady Long wasn't foolish. She knew Rulong's temperament and realized the situation wasn't simple. She hugged Rulong and cried.

"Mother, it's not as bad as you think. I just said we're not a good match now, not that we won't be in the future," Rulong smiled.

"I plan to break the engagement first. Then, your son will win her back with his own abilities and make her your daughter-in-law again. Wouldn't that be a happy ending?" Rulong said with a grin.

"Hmph, it's not that simple. Mengqi is a celestial being, and many people pursue her. Once the engagement is broken, how can you have a chance?"

Lady Long sighed and continued, "You're right. Such matters can't be forced. Since it's your engagement, and you are grown up, you can make the decision."

"Thank you, Mother," Rulong finally breathed a sigh of relief.

Lady Long took out an ancient wooden box from under the bed, retrieved a thin piece of paper, and handed it to Rulong, saying, "This is your engagement contract. If you want to break the engagement, just destroy the contract."

Rulong took the thin piece of paper, feeling a mix of emotions. The thought of losing a celestial-like daughter-in-law was hard to accept.