Break off engagement1

Li Zhen stood unmoving, the cold wind swirling around him, tugging at his robes. His hair fluttered lightly, though his expression remained as calm as stone. The last remnants of the crowd had dispersed, though a few still lingered, their eyes full of suspicion and whispers trailing behind him like shadows.

Thub… tubtub.The rhythmic sound of footsteps broke through the silence, drawing his gaze toward the approaching group. Twelve women glided toward him, their movements almost too fluid, too synchronized, as if they were one.

Dressed in flowing green silks that shimmered like jade in the sunlight, they moved with an eerie grace, their presence commanding the attention of everyone nearby.The one leading them stood out, not just because of her poise, but by the palpable aura that surrounded her. Late Core Realm, no doubt. Her every step carried a weight of authority, and the space around her seemed to bend, as if the very air acknowledged her power.

Li Zhen's eyes flickered, curiosity tugging at him, but he pushed it aside. He was no stranger to this world—this world brimming with Chi—yet there was something off. A question lingered, unanswered.

Why is their cultivation so… different?

His face betrayed none of these thoughts as the group came to a halt before him. The crowd murmured in hushed tones, growing bolder with the distance between them.

"Young Master Li Zhen," a voice spoke. It belonged to the woman at the front—Chi Yu, he recognized her from before. Her gaze, cold and measured, never wavered as she extended a small scroll toward him, the scroll shimmering faintly in her hand.

Li Zhen's fingers brushed the smooth parchment as he took it. His eyes swept over the elegant script, recognizing the seal of Lan Qingyuan—his supposed fiancée.Whispers surged from the crowd like a rising tide.

"Lady Lan Qingyuan… isn't she on par with Senior Brother Wei Qing?"

"She's one of the top ten beauties, they say…"

"To think Li Zhen was engaged to someone like her! No wonder Wei Qing tried to kill him."

The words washed over him, pieces of a puzzle falling into place, though he'd rather not hear any more. So, this is the famous Lan Qingyuan… and her invitation.

The woman, Chi Yu, stood quietly, but her eyes betrayed her. Beneath the surface of her calm exterior, Li Zhen sensed a storm brewing. She held herself with pride, yet there was something bitter behind that carefully constructed mask. Her loyalty to her lady was absolute, but the resentment toward him was unmistakable.She wants nothing more than to drag me back herself… he thought, as her stiff posture hinted at the battle within. And yet, she did not act on it. Duty demanded elegance, even in the face of disdain.

"Young Master Li Zhen," her voice came out steady, but there was an edge to it.

"Please follow."Li Zhen inclined his head ever so slightly, wordless, and stepped in behind them. His thoughts drifted as they passed through the sect's grand gates, each step carrying him deeper into the unknown.

Beyond the gate, the scenery shifted. To the left, towering trees stretched their arms toward the heavens, shading tall buildings where inner disciples practiced, their green robes catching the light as they moved. On the right, redwoods burned like embers against the sky, smaller buildings nestled between their roots, each one guarded by thick enchantments that shimmered faintly in the air.Ahead, a different world unfolded. Cherry blossoms rained down, their delicate petals caught in the soft breeze, leading toward a grand, singular building that stood apart from the rest. The air here was heavy, thick with Chi, pressing down on him like an unseen weight. He could feel it in his bones, the density of power unlike anything he had felt in the outer sect. Stronger cultivators walked these paths, their silent movements and veiled auras an undeniable reminder of his place.The grand building in the center loomed before him, flanked by blooming cherry blossom trees that scattered their petals in perfect symmetry. Each step toward it felt as though the world was slowing, drawing out the moment. Finally, they reached a vast wooden door, lacquered to a gleaming finish, the intricate carvings almost seeming to shift under the light.Inside, a serene garden spread out like a painting come to life. And there, seated in the heart of it all, Lan Qingyuan.

Li Zhen's eyes narrowed as he took in her figure. She was beautiful, but in a way that felt distant, untouchable. Her pale face bore no expression, like a marble statue, and her blue eyes, deep as the sea, betrayed nothing. Her snow-white hair fell elegantly across her shoulders, contrasting with the vivid red of her gown—a guzhuang that seemed to ripple with the breeze.

For a moment, his chest tightened. If he were the some random man —weak, impressionable—he might have been lost in her beauty. But he was not li zhen?, there was no allure, no pull. The woman before him was not what he craved. Not any but of her beauty he only had one care that was to understand this new world to understand the time he was to reach beyond other's.

A cold gust swept through the room, rattling the wooden door behind Li Zhen as he entered. The air was tense, thick with unsaid words. Across from him, Lan Qingyuan sat, her posture rigid, her expression unreadable. Her long, dark hair fell gracefully over her shoulder, swaying slightly with the breeze. The flickering candlelight barely reached the depth of her cold, impassive eyes.

Li Zhen sat opposite her, his face devoid of emotion. He knew little of Lan Qingyuan—just enough to understand that any meeting like this was bound to carry a hidden weight. The silence between them was brittle, like a thin layer of ice that could crack at any moment.

Without a word, the servants approached, laying tea and snacks between them before quickly retreating, leaving the two of them alone in the quiet room. Neither moved to touch the refreshments. Instead, Lan Qingyuan's hands, pale and deliberate, reached for her cup. She lifted it with a calm grace, her gaze never leaving Li Zhen's face.

"Li Zhen," she said, her voice as cool and sharp as the wind outside. "It has been some time since we last spoke."

Li Zhen gave a slight nod, his expression steady. "Yes, it has."

The atmosphere was thick with tension, though neither of them acknowledged it. As Lan Qingyuan sipped her tea, the silence stretched on, oppressive and uncomfortable. Li Zhen's eyes drifted toward her movements, watching her hands glide effortlessly, yet there was a stiffness in the way she placed the cup back down—a signal that something was coming.

"I imagine you know why I called you here," Lan Qingyuan said, her voice measured, a layer of ice beneath it.

Li Zhen remained silent for a moment, sensing the undercurrent of her words. He could guess, but he wasn't about to play into her assumptions so easily. "I have an idea," he replied cautiously, his voice calm, betraying no emotion.

"It could be due to the fight with her senior brother," he mused quietly, "or perhaps it's related to this engagement."

she finally spoke, breaking the silence that had settled between them. "Li Zhen, I've heard about a recent altercation between you and my elder brother, Wei Qing. What was it about?"

Li Zhen's gaze remained steady, his expression unreadable. "It was nothing serious," he replied with a dismissive tone. "Just a small disagreement."

Lan Qingyuan's brow furrowed slightly, her mind churning with the implications. The rumors had suggested a more intense conflict, yet Li Zhen's calm response seemed to downplay the situation. This dissonance intrigued her. Was there a deeper reason behind his reaction?

Lan Qingyuan's eyes flickered, a cold amusement dancing briefly in their depths. She reached into her sleeve, pulling out a small folded parchment. With a quiet, deliberate motion, she slid it across the table toward him.

"Read it," she said softly, her tone almost mocking in its detachment.

Li Zhen took the paper without hesitation. His gaze lowered to the neat, precise handwriting. His suspicions were confirmed—this was no ordinary letter. It was a formal dissolution of their engagement, signed by Lan Qingyuan herself.

For a moment, the only sound in the room was the faint rustle of the paper in his hands. Lan Qingyuan watched him, her eyes unreadable, waiting for his reaction. But Li Zhen's face remained expressionless as he placed the parchment back on the table.

"So, this is what you've decided," he said quietly, his voice clearer than ever before.

He placed the parchment back on the table without much reaction. "I see."

Lan Qingyuan's gaze was icy, her smile thin. "You don't seem surprised."

Li Zhen met her eyes, calm and steady. "I'm not."

Lan Qingyuan, on the other hand, watched him with a hawk's eyes, as if expecting some reaction, some flicker of emotion. When none came, her expression grew even colder.

"I thought you'd ask why," she said, testing him.

"Why?" he repeated, almost mechanically, as though indulging her in what seemed to him a trivial matter.

Her fingers drummed against the table, a gesture as controlled as everything else about her. "This engagement," she said slowly, "was never meant to be. Our clans hoped for a union, but I... have other plans."

Li Zhen nodded, as though he'd expected this. "And this meeting is to officially inform me."

"Correct," she replied, her voice still like ice. "It's better for both of us."

Li Zhen considered her for a moment, then spoke in his usual calm tone. "Very well. If that's your decision, then I won't oppose it."

"In the past, Li Zhen would go out of his way to get closer to her, but now he seemed completely different—more mature, he even solved the fight against senior brother wei , it's as if he had become an entirely new person."

"Since you've agreed, I'll send the letter of dissolution to your family, along with the compensation."

"Send it to my room," Li Zhen replied swiftly, his tone cold and firm.

Lan Qingyuan was taken aback by how quickly he responded when it came to the money.

"Alright," she said, a hint of surprise still lingering in her voice. "I will send it to your room."

With that, he walked out of the room, leaving Lan Qingyuan alone with her thoughts. She watched his retreating figure, feeling the faint stirrings of something she couldn't quite name. He had changed—become more mature, more controlled. Perhaps he had finally seen the world as it truly was.