Chu Ziyan stood in the Bai Clan’s garden, surrounded by ancient pavilions and a small artificial lake.
The fragrance of blooming spirit lotuses drifted in the air, but her mood was anything but peaceful.
It could have been the most peaceful place in the world, but that serenity was shattered by the presence of multiple individuals—primarily the Bai Clan’s male geniuses and their attendants, all flocking around Chu Ziyan.
Ever since the talk with Bai Zihan, she had been approached by various Bai Clan geniuses.
Most of them were subtle in their intentions, expressing polite admiration, dropping hints about their own strengths, and trying to cancel her engagement with Bai Zihan.
However, one person among them was neither subtle nor polite.
Bai Jian!
The undisputed most talented male of the younger Bai generation, Bai Jian was tall, handsome, and possessed an innate arrogance that came with knowing he was superior to almost everyone his age.
Having already reached the Golden Core Stage at just seventeen, he was considered one of the Bai Clan’s future pillars.
Unlike the others who were merely probing, Bai Jian made his intentions clear.
“Miss Chu, you deserve better.”
Bai Jian stated. His voice carried confidence, as if he were merely stating a fact.
Chu Ziyan arched an eyebrow, her expression unreadable.
She had been dealing with this since yesterday, with them trying their best to persuade her to cancel the engagement with Bai Zihan.
“And you believe that better choice is you?”
Chu Ziyan asked, her tone indifferent.
“Of course!”
Bai Jian replied without hesitation.
“Everyone knows Bai Zihan is a disgrace to the Bai Clan. A lazy, arrogant fool who has squandered all his opportunities. He has nothing—no talent, no discipline, no future.”
He stepped closer, lowering his voice.
“Do you think someone like him can protect you? Can he stand by your side? If anything, he will be the greatest burden of your life.”
Chu Ziyan wasn’t too interested in what Bai Jian had to say, as she was already well aware of that.
Perhaps that is precisely why she felt much more relieved to marry Bai Zihan than someone like Bai Jian.
Bai Jian smirked.
“I can be your true partner. One who is worthy of standing beside you. You and I are alike, both blessed with talent, both destined for greatness. Bai Zihan is nothing but an obstacle. If you refuse this engagement and choose me instead, not only will you gain a powerful ally, but the Bai Clan elders will also support the decision. Everyone wants you to be with someone who matches your worth.”
Bai Jian continued babbling about his greatness and how he was the only one worthy of Chu Ziyan while Bai Zihan wasn’t.
It might be somewhat true, as Bai Jian was a rare genius, and apart from Bai Xueqing, he could be said to be the greatest talent of his generation within the Bai Clan.
However, to Chu Ziyan, it was worthless.
After all, while talent like Bai Jian’s was rare, it wasn’t exactly difficult to find—especially in the Heaven Sword Sect, where geniuses gathered.
Moreover, compared to her own talent, Bai Jian was nothing noteworthy. She had already reached the Nascent Soul Realm at seventeen.
“Young Master Bai,” Chu Ziyan finally said.
“I will keep what you said a secret, but you are not allowed to insult my future husband. Refrain from saying that again and leave.”
She wasn’t too concerned about Bai Jian insulting Bai Zihan but wanted to use that as an excuse to chase away the nuisance.
Bai Jian frowned.
He hadn’t expected to be rejected like this and refused to accept it.
How could he, the genius of the Bai Clan, be rejected while Bai Zihan, a mere waste, was accepted by someone like Chu Ziyan?
“Miss Chu Ziyan, please stop joking. Future husband? You don’t seriously consider marrying that waste, do you?”
Bai Jian scoffed.
“Miss Chu Ziyan, you might not know, but Bai Zihan can only keep his position because of his engagement with you. As long as you agree to cancel the engagement with him and engage with me, the result will be the same. The Chu Clan and Bai Clan will still be united through our marriage.”
Bai Jian explained.
Like all the others, he believed that the only reason Chu Ziyan had accepted the engagement with Bai Zihan was because the Chu Clan sought a marriage alliance with the Bai Clan.
“I don’t need to,” she replied. “My engagement is already decided.”
Bai Jian’s expression darkened, but he quickly masked his irritation with a smile.
“I see. You’re bound by duty,” he said smoothly, taking another step forward.
“But duty is not absolute. A marriage between two people should be based on compatibility, strength, and mutual respect. You and Bai Zihan have none of that.”
He reached out, as if to take her hand, but Chu Ziyan shifted slightly, evading his touch without making it obvious.
Bai Jian’s eyes flickered with something unreadable—perhaps frustration, perhaps amusement.
“If you’re worried about the Chu Clan’s interests, rest assured. The Bai Clan elders will not only approve but will actively support our engagement.”
It seems like no matter what she says, Bai Jian will refuse to believe that Chu Ziyan would want to marry Bai Zihan.
His persistence was beginning to grate on her nerves.
She didn’t show it, of course.
Her face remained calm, her posture relaxed, but an unmistakable coldness seeped into her gaze.
(How troublesome.)
If Bai Jian only crossed the line, she could teach him a lesson like she had done with Bai Zihan.
But she couldn’t.
Bai Jian was just pestering her—no good reason to beat him up.
(Where the hell is Bai Zihan? Shouldn’t it be his responsibility to protect me from such problems?)
Chu Ziyan began to get angry as she remembered Bai Zihan, who had seemed to disappear after that conversation with her.
If he were present, he could at least deter these people from casually approaching her.
With his reputation as a bully and someone who doesn’t care about the rules, he was the kind of person other members of the Bai Clan didn’t want to deal with.
(Is he intentionally avoiding me?)
Chu Ziyan thought.
After all, she knew Bai Zihan didn’t want to be engaged to her.
It would make sense that Bai Zihan wouldn’t interfere with Bai Jian and the others if they were doing something he desired.
He might even encourage these Bai Clan members to pester her more, in order to cancel the engagement.
Just thinking about that, Chu Ziyan’s anger grew.
Not only because she, someone admired by many, was willingly getting engaged to him, but he also dared to think of her as some kind of burden.
Many boys would be willing to do anything to marry someone as beautiful as her, and she had thought Bai Zihan would be no different.
Who would have thought that he was actually planning to cancel the engagement, rather than begging her to stay?
Bai Jian continued to pester her, relentlessly trying to convince Chu Ziyan to dissolve the engagement.
Chu Ziyan grew increasingly annoyed and thought that maybe it was time to take more drastic action to make them stop bothering her.
Just then, a voice echoed in the Bai Clan’s garden.
“What the hell are you all doing here?”
It was Bai Zihan’s voice!