Chapter 1916: Humiliation

"Perform a sword technique?"

Unexpectedly, this Brother Zhang made such a request. Shan Xiaotian was utterly puzzled.

You don't even practice cultivation; even if I perform a sword technique, you wouldn't understand it!

"I just watched Brother Shan's sword technique. Your power is restricted, and you're stuck. I want to observe it again; perhaps I can find a way. In three days, if there's a chance to improve, becoming a disciple of Lingyun Sword Pavilion isn't hopeless!"

Zhang Xuan smiled.

When the other had performed his sword technique earlier, with his insight, Zhang Xuan had already spotted some issues. Now he wanted the other to perform again to test whether the Library could be used in this Upper Firmament.

"Brother Zhang... understands sword techniques?" Shan Xiaotian frowned.

"I know a little."

Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright! I never thought about becoming a disciple of Lingyun Sword Pavilion..."

Glancing at his crippled left leg, Shan Xiaotian shook his head and said, "But if Brother Zhang understands sword techniques, we can exchange ideas! Since I couldn't cultivate, I've been exploring on my own, never discussing with anyone..."

Because of his inferiority complex and inability to cultivate, his so-called sword techniques were merely self-amusement; he had never shown them to anyone, let alone sparred.

Since the man before him understood sword techniques, exchanging ideas wouldn't hurt.

Whoosh!

With a flick of his wrist, the long sword traced a blossom of sword light and thrust forward.

Hum!

A book appeared in Zhang Xuan's mind.

Opening the book and reading its contents, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed that even in the Upper Firmament, the Library could still be used. As he had guessed earlier, after Luo Ruoxi placed the Spring and Autumn Canon inside it, the Library had greatly advanced, allowing it to spy on the Upper Firmament's Heavenly Dao without any pressure.

"How ridiculous! Shan Xiaotian, you practice swordsmanship too? What, do you still think Lingyun Sword Pavilion would accept you as a disciple?"

As he was pondering, a cold laugh sounded from outside, and two figures strode in.

The first was a fifteen- or sixteen-year-old girl in a pale yellow dress, her eyes brimming with arrogance, her chin slightly raised like a princess. The words had just come from her mouth.

Behind her was a middle-aged man in his forties, dressed in linen, with thick black eyebrows and a long sword at his waist. Even before he approached, he exuded a sense of sword pressure.

"Third Young Master..."

Old Yi hurried in from behind, full of guilt and reluctance: "I couldn't stop them..."

Lowering his sword, Shan Xiaotian looked at the girl before him, his lips stammering with nervousness: "Xue, Xue Qin?"

"Enough!"

A trace of disgust flickering in her eyes, the girl waved her hand: "You know why I'm here. Instead of coming out yourself, you sent a servant to return the betrothal contract. Did you think that would fool me?"

"You want to break off the engagement. I've already returned the contract... What more do you want?"

Shan Xiaotian's face flushed red.

"Nothing much. It's simple: I want you to announce to the whole city that you're not worthy of me and that you're the one requesting to break off the engagement. My City Lord's Mansion declined repeatedly, then respected your wishes and ended the engagement. Otherwise, by returning the contract directly, you're telling everyone that I, Xue Qin, don't want to marry you? You want everyone to point fingers at the City Lord's Mansion?"

Xue Qin snorted.

If others found out that she broke off the engagement because she became a disciple of Lingyun Sword Pavilion, it would inevitably cause a lot of gossip and be very disadvantageous to her. But if he broke it off first, her reputation would be preserved, spotless.

"How ruthless..."

Zhang Xuan, standing to the side, couldn't help shaking his head.

Breaking off the engagement was already humiliating enough, but returning the contract wasn't enough; he had to announce it to the whole city. Not only did she want to break it off, she wanted to play the good guy!

It was like being a whore and wanting to erect a chastity arch.

His face pale, Shan Xiaotian clenched his fists.

Zhang Xuan could figure it out instantly, and as the person involved, Shan Xiaotian understood even more clearly. A strong sense of humiliation surged through his entire body.

Humiliation!

A slap in the face, and a double slap at that!

But he... had no strength to resist!

"Alright, I'm not here to negotiate this time, but to give an order. Within three days, you must announce it to the whole city and get a result. Otherwise, you'll bear the consequences!"

The middle-aged man, who had been silent, looked over with an indifferent expression.

"Who are you?"

Shan Xiaotian looked back, like a wounded wolf.

"I am the Second Miss's sword arts teacher, Xue Chen!" the middle-aged man said flatly.

"Xue Chen? I know you..."

Seeming to have heard the name, Shan Xiaotian's face twisted into a self-mocking expression: "Having the City Lord's Mansion's chief sword instructor come in person to say this indeed carries weight... But what exactly are the so-called consequences?"

This Xue Chen was the chief instructor of the City Lord's Mansion, a powerhouse at the third level of the Ancient Sage realm!

"If you don't agree, it's simple."

Xue Chen's face was expressionless: "The Shan family has offended many people over the years. Without the marriage alliance with the City Lord's Mansion, and given that you're a cripple, you should have been wiped out long ago..."

Shan Xiaotian said nothing.

What the other said was true.

If it weren't for the fact that he couldn't cultivate and had a marriage contract with the City Lord's Mansion, how could he have survived until now!

All his former enemies would have long since charged in and razed this place to the ground.

"If these people want to strike, can you and your servant stop them?" Xue Chen continued.

Shan Xiaotian trembled uncontrollably: "Are you trying to kill us and silence us? Aren't you afraid of public opinion?"

"Public opinion?"

Xue Chen raised an eyebrow: "After you die, the City Lord will be grief-stricken and personally send people to avenge you. The Miss will weep bitterly for many days, then leave this place heartbroken and enter Lingyun Sword Pavilion..."

Creak! Creak!

His heart about to explode, Shan Xiaotian could no longer speak.

He knew that if that happened, the City Lord's Mansion's reputation would not only be unharmed but would become even more loyal and righteous. Miss Xue Qin would also be more respected.

She was already a menial disciple of Lingyun Sword Pavilion, yet she hadn't broken off the engagement and was still heartbroken...

"Fine, fine, I... agree!"

His nails digging into his flesh, all his knuckles turning white, Shan Xiaotian, though full of resentment, had no other choice.

The strong prey on the weak—that was the law of survival.

"That's more like it!" Seeing him agree, Xue Qin nodded with satisfaction. With a gesture, Xue Chen took a document from his bosom and handed it over: "This is your reason for breaking off the engagement and the public announcement. Sign it, and the whole city will know by today. You don't need to say anything."

Taking the document, Shan Xiaotian looked at it.

The reason was very simple: it said that due to his injury, he could not only not cultivate but was also impotent, a complete cripple. Not wanting to delay her, he was thus calling off the engagement and hoped for her understanding. Because he had mentioned it many times, and the City Lord's Mansion, out of consideration for their friendship, had always disagreed, he had to resort to this extreme measure, informing the whole city in advance and begging for their forgiveness...

Impotent?

Complete cripple?

The intense humiliation made Shan Xiaotian's body sway. Blood rushed to his head, threatening to explode.