Outside the Shen Family's main gate, four figures slowly came to a halt.
The two women leading the group were graceful and striking, both possessing extraordinary beauty that drew attention.
Xiao Wan looked up, and the words “Shen Family” on the plaque above the gate brought back memories.
Once upon a time, when the Xiao Family was also a Level Four family, the Xiao Family and the Shen Family had close ties.
The two families had arranged a marriage from birth, and she and Shen Changsheng were childhood sweethearts, innocent and inseparable.
But now, everything had changed.
“Shen Changsheng, you are a good person, but you blocked my path, so I can only apologize.”
Xiao Wan had always known that Shen Changsheng could not have raped and murdered the Wei Family's Eldest Miss.
This was not only because she knew his character well but also because she had personally witnessed Shen Congyun's scheme to frame him.
However, from beginning to end, she had not testified for Shen Changsheng because she did not want to marry him.
In her youth, she did not understand what love was, only the commands of her parents and the words of matchmakers.
But it wasn't until two years ago, when she fell for a man, that she finally realized she could freely pursue love.
Of course, her desire to break off the engagement wasn't solely due to her feelings for another.
The Xiao Family had now ascended to a higher level, becoming a Level Five family.
And her beloved, whom she had supported, had recently been accepted as a personal disciple by the Luo Tian Sect Master.
That was one of the most powerful forces in the upper echelons of the Qing Zhou Continent.
To be accepted as a personal disciple by the Luo Tian Sect Master proved that this person had the potential to embark on the path of immortality!
Becoming an Immortal! Who wouldn't want to become an Immortal?
Xiao Wan was ambitious, and she also had her own pursuits.
She clearly knew what kind of person to choose would be more beneficial to herself.
“Sister, what are you hesitating about? The Shen Family and our Xiao Family are no longer on the same level. If it weren't for fear of gossip, Father and Mother would have wanted you to break off the engagement long ago. But now is the perfect time! Shen Congyun really helped us out a lot! Hurry in!”
Her younger sister, Xiao Ling'er, urged.
Xiao Wan said nothing, nodded, and stepped onto the stairs leading to the Shen Family's main gate.
Before long, a servant of the Shen Family led the two sisters and their two guards into the main hall.
Upon stepping into the reception hall, all four noticed something and furrowed their brows.
Dozens of Shen Family members stood respectfully on both sides of the hall.
Only Shen Changsheng sat leisurely in the main seat, and even Shen Xiao, the Shen Family Patriarch, stood beside Shen Changsheng, his expression strange.
“Why is the Shen Family a bit strange?”
Xiao Wan pondered in her heart.
She quickly realized that there wasn't a single seat left for them in the reception hall.
The four of them now stood in the center of the hall, and in such a peculiar atmosphere, they seemed like four prisoners being interrogated in front of everyone.
“To humiliate us like this!”
Xiao Ling'er gritted her teeth, her voice suppressed low, but everyone present had some cultivation, so they naturally heard clearly.
The Shen Family members exchanged glances.
At this moment, they were in a dilemma; on one hand, Shen Changsheng held their lives, and on the other, they did not want to offend the Xiao Family.
Shen Changsheng scrutinized the two sisters.
In Qing Province, they were considered top-tier beauties; eight hundred years later, in his previous life, they would become renowned in the Upper Realm. But in his eyes, they were merely flesh and bones, painted skeletons.
“Let's get straight to the point. This Young Master is in a hurry to leave.”
Shen Changsheng took a sip of tea and said indifferently.
Xiao Wan frowned slightly; Shen Changsheng's coldness and composure surprised her.
Xiao Ling'er's anger flared upon seeing his attitude.
However, Xiao Wan raised her hand and stopped her in time.
“That's fine too.”
Xiao Wan said, “Shen Changsheng, what you've done is probably known to half of the Qing Zhou Continent now. Your character is despicable, and you are unworthy of being my Xiao Family's son-in-law. Let's break off the engagement.”
A marriage contract appeared in her hand, which she tossed to Shen Changsheng.
Shen Changsheng took it, placed it on the tea table without looking at it.
“Break off the engagement? I disagree,” he said calmly.
Xiao Ling'er was so angry she almost laughed.
“Shen Changsheng, you're like a toad trying to eat a swan now.”
“Not only did you defile Miss Wei, but you also killed her. Bearing such a crime, you still want to cling to my Xiao Family? You're not even worthy of being a live-in son-in-law!”
“Someone like you deserves to die; you should be sent to a brothel to be a male prostitute and be trampled by men!”
“Moreover, my Xiao Family has already been promoted to a Level Five family. In terms of family strength and status, your Shen Family is no longer worthy of intermarrying with my Xiao Family.”
“So you'd better be sensible, or I'll make sure your Shen Family declines!”
Xiao Ling'er's series of insults and threats caused a stir among the Shen Family members, who were secretly annoyed.
They looked at Shen Changsheng with worry.
Shen Changsheng, however, still maintained an indifferent expression.
He said, “What crime? Talking about being honorable with me, both of you should look in a mirror.”
“Xiao Wan, Xiao Ling'er, you conspired with Shen Congyun to frame me, and you even took the life of Miss Wei. One of you for the position of Young Master, and both of you to break off this marriage contract—what you've done is truly deranged!”
Upon hearing this, the Shen Family members all looked at the two Xiao Family women.
Could it be that the Young Master really didn't do that?
The two women's expressions changed.
“What nonsense are you spouting? How could this matter be related to us? Don't you dare slander us!” Xiao Ling'er said urgently.
“Shen Changsheng, don't drag people down without evidence,” Xiao Wan also said.
Xiao Wan certainly hadn't participated in the plotting; she had merely watched from the sidelines.
But rumors were dangerous, and Shen Changsheng's words made her experience a taste of being unable to explain herself.
Shen Changsheng smiled faintly, stood up, and slowly walked towards Xiao Wan.
“What are you doing?”
Xiao Wan's guards became nervous and were about to move to block him.
But suddenly, a burst of pressure erupted from Shen Changsheng's body, easily suppressing all four of them in place.
The four were astonished, unable to believe that Shen Changsheng, a Ling Xu Realm cultivator, could unleash such powerful pressure!
The Xiao Family sisters realized something was amiss; they had miscalculated this time, only bringing two people!
However, they figured Shen Changsheng wouldn't dare do anything, after all, a Level Five family stood behind them!
Shen Changsheng said mockingly, “Xiao Wan, you fell in love with the Luo Tian Sect Master's personal disciple and even had an affair with him, which is why you were so eager to break off the engagement with me, right?”
Xiao Wan's pupils constricted.
She never expected that Shen Changsheng would know she had someone in her heart!
“Where did you hear such rumors? I, Xiao Wan, am pure and chaste, still a virgin!”
“Oh! A virgin?”
Shen Changsheng widened his eyes, filled with surprise and mockery.
“You lie without even blushing. Are you a virgin or not? Shall we verify it on the spot?”
Shen Changsheng immediately raised two slender fingers, his tone playful.
“You!” Xiao Wan was utterly mortified, wishing she could slap Shen Changsheng on the spot.
However, the four of them were currently suppressed by the pressure, unable to move even half a step!
Seeing Shen Changsheng approach, Xiao Ling'er was even more anxious than her sister.
“Shen Changsheng! Don't touch my sister! If you have the guts, come at me!”
The little girl blurted it out, whether simple-minded or intentional, she didn't even blush saying such words.
Shen Changsheng glanced at her, then withdrew his disgusted gaze.
Of course, he didn't want to touch anyone, only saying with disinterest, “This Young Master has a phobia of uncleanliness; I avoid unchaste people like the plague.”
“But breaking off the engagement is impossible. Don't I have face to uphold?”
“So, let's just make it a widowhood.”
With that, he slapped out with a backhand!
A golden light directly sent Xiao Wan and her two guards flying.
The three had no time to react and were instantly sent flying outside, almost dying on the spot!
The hall erupted in an uproar.
Killed?
He just killed her!
This was his fiancée, whom he had loved since childhood!
Everyone watched in horror.
At this moment, Xiao Wan's world had fallen silent!
She lay in a pool of blood.
In her dying moments, her eyes wide, her gaze fixed on the clear sky, astonished and bewildered.
She couldn't believe that Shen Changsheng would kill her.
At this moment, all grand ambitions, all true loves, all bright futures...
The beautiful life she had envisioned on her way here now shattered like a broken dream, becoming a fatal jest of fate at Shen Changsheng's casual strike…
Ridiculous?
No, even if Shen Changsheng knew her thoughts, he wouldn't laugh at her naivety.
A person who uses all means to achieve their aspirations is not ridiculous; she merely died on the path of pursuit.
