Inside the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan's stronghold, Qin Longhan stood in the main hall, looking outside and contemplating some matters. Next, they would wait for the Ceasefire Order to pass. After its expiration, the competition between the Sacred Clans would immediately begin, and a storm of blood was imminent.
"Long Xuan, notify everyone that we will not make a move until the Ceasefire Order is completely lifted! If we only compete with those below the King Realm, our five-tier forces are still fewer than those of the White Tiger Sacred Clan and the Blazing Thunder Sacred Clan," Qin Longhan instructed Qin Longxuan, who was also contemplating matters in the hall.
"Understood, I'll issue the order now," Qin Longxuan nodded and then left the main hall.
After a period of thought, Qin Longhan had someone call Qin Lingxi.
"Father, do you need something from your daughter?" Qin Lingxi, who was arranging troop deployments, arrived at the main hall.
"Go and bring Qin Chu back. His engagement with the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan cannot be left hanging like this. We are the male party; we should actively resolve this matter. If we don't, others might think we are using the engagement to bind them!" Qin Longhan said.
Qin Lingxi nodded and left the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan's stronghold. She also felt that Qin Chu's engagement should be resolved. Qin Chu was an adult, and if there was a suitable woman, he should marry and continue the lineage of the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan.
In the Alchemist Guild's small courtyard, upon seeing Qin Lingxi and hearing her words, Qin Chu nodded, "Then let's resolve it quickly. From now on, bridges are bridges, roads are roads; we won't be entangled with each other!"
Following Qin Lingxi back to the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan's stronghold, after meeting Qin Longhan, Qin Chu first bowed in greeting before sitting down.
"You would be fiercely targeted by the White Tiger Sacred Clan if you held the White Tiger Sacred Armor, so Grandfather will keep it for now. As for the Vermilion Bird Soft Armor, it's a bit damaged and needs repair. It will be given to you once it's fixed," Qin Longhan said to Qin Chu. Both precious armors were brought back by Qin Chu, so Qin Longhan couldn't just take them without saying anything.
"Qin Chu doesn't need any precious armor at the moment. Grandfather can arrange it as he sees fit," Qin Chu said.
"Rest well today. Tomorrow morning, Grandfather will take you to Azure Dragon Castle to resolve the engagement issue," Qin Longhan said to Qin Chu.
"Understood. Although breaking off the engagement might disappoint my parents' careful arrangements, it's ultimately not suitable," Qin Chu said.
After Cultivating all night, Qin Chu tidied himself up and came to the main hall.
In the main hall, Qin Chu saw Qin Longhan, as well as Qin Lingxi and Qin Longxuan.
"Third Uncle, Aunt, are you two coming as well?" Qin Chu asked Qin Longxuan and Qin Lingxi. "We'll accompany you. The engagement between the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan and the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan was very grand back then. By having more of us go today, it shows respect," Qin Longxuan said.
Subsequently, the group left the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan's stronghold and arrived at the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan's castle by beast carriage.
Before Qin Longhan could ask someone to announce their arrival, the main gate of Azure Dragon Castle opened. In the past, Azure Dragon Castle always used a side gate, but this time the main gate was wide open. After the main gate opened, Shangshu Tianye and Zhen Han appeared.
"Clan Chief Shangshu, we apologize for our unannounced visit!" Qin Longhan said.
"You're too kind. Clan Chief Qin is a distinguished guest who is hard to invite. Please, come in!" Shangshu Tianye said.
The group entered Azure Dragon Castle, then went to the reception hall, and sat down as guests and hosts.
"Nearly thirty years have passed in a flash!" Shangshu Tianye said, looking at Qin Longhan.
"Indeed. Originally, twenty years ago, I should have personally gone to the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan to attend your clan's Crown Prince's wedding, but I was tied up with other matters and could only send the Zhanye couple," Qin Longhan said.
Shangshu Tianye shook his head, "That couple… they are very good. I greatly approve of them, which is why the engagement was set."
"Times have changed, and some things are no longer suitable. The Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan is about to go to war, so let's dissolve the engagement! I hope Clan Chief Shangshu can understand," Qin Longhan brought the conversation to the main topic.
Shangshu Tianye fell silent. He knew why Qin Longhan and the others had come: to dissolve the engagement.
After a brief silence, Shangshu Tianye looked at Qin Chu, "You brat, you want to break off the engagement?"
"There's no talk of breaking off the engagement; it's just not quite suitable. We'll communicate and dissolve the engagement," Qin Chu stood up, cupped his fists, and said to Shangshu Tianye.
Shangshu Tianye reached out and pointed at Qin Chu, "You scoundrel, aren't you going to meet her first before saying anything?"
"Meet her... that's fine. Qin Chu will apologize to the Princess in person!" Qin Chu hadn't wanted to meet, thinking it would be awkward. He wouldn't change his decision based on the other party's figure or appearance, but he remembered Shangshu Yu's words.
Zhen Han spoke to a maid beside her, asking her to invite the Princess over.
In a separate courtyard behind Azure Dragon Castle, Shangshu Yu kicked over a chair. She knew the people from the Vermilion Bird Sacred Clan had arrived, and remembering Qin Chu's coldness at the end, she was very angry.
"Yu'er, don't be so impetuous. See what the Clan Chief and Madam say," Granny Yu said to Shangshu Yu.
"That damned fellow, he doesn't know anything and just blames me!" Shangshu Yu cursed.
As soon as Shangshu Yu finished cursing, Zhen Han's maid arrived in the small courtyard, "Princess, the Clan Chief and Madam request your presence."
Shangshu Yu nodded, "I'll be right there. I want to see what he has to say!"
"Yu'er, aren't you going to tidy up? That's disrespectful to them!" Granny Yu pulled the angry Shangshu Yu into the inner room, re-combed her hair, put on a golden Phoenix hairpin, and added earrings and other hair ornaments.
Once she was ready, Granny Yu led Shangshu Yu out of the small courtyard.
"Yu'er, do you want to wear a veil and first hear what that little scoundrel has to say?" Granny Yu's words carried a smile. She was certain that when Qin Chu discovered his fiancée was Shangshu Yu, he would definitely stutter, likely unable to speak coherently.
Shangshu Yu nodded, then took out a silk scarf, covering her delicate face. Only then did she and Granny Yu arrive at the main hall.
Upon entering the main hall, Shangshu Yu first bowed slightly to her parents, then greeted Qin Longhan and Qin Longxuan before standing beside her mother.
Qin Chu noticed the eyes of the woman who entered the main hall; they seemed somewhat familiar. He then shook his head, thinking none of this concerned him.
Standing up, Qin Chu cupped his fists at Shangshu Yu, "Qin Chu greets the Princess. The engagement from twenty years ago is no longer quite suitable for the present. Therefore, Qin Chu and his elders have come, hoping to communicate with everyone from the Azure Dragon Sacred Clan to resolve this matter, so as not to delay the Princess's life."
Qin Chu didn't look up; he just spoke with his head down. The woman in front of him was graceful and elegant, but what did that matter?
"What about your life then?" Shangshu Yu spoke.
Why did Qin Chu find her voice familiar? He scratched his ear with one hand, shook his head, "My life, I don't know. In any case, it's good as long as I don't delay the Princess's life!"
"You mean you want to break off the engagement, don't you?" Shangshu Yu got angry, lifted her leg, and kicked Qin Chu directly on his thigh, because Qin Chu hadn't even looked up, just kept talking to himself.
