Chapter 4: This Is a Good Thing

Meng Manor, Mirror Lake, Study.

After practicing saber techniques all day, although mentally exhilarated, Meng Chuan's true qi was depleted and his body was fatigued, so he had to rest. He came to the study to begin his daily ritual: painting.

A paperweight held down the paper, and beside it lay a delicate palette filled with high-quality pigments. Meng Chuan painted with full concentration.

Meng Chuan had loved painting since childhood. Perhaps it was because his mother was skilled at painting and taught her son. It was his favorite activity as a young boy; a three or four-year-old child could paint for three or four hours straight, forgetting to eat, never tiring, and even covered in paint, still smiling happily. His mother used to say, "My son's talent is extraordinary; he is destined to become the finest painter in the world, and a single painting of his will be worth a thousand gold."

Born into the Meng family with doting parents, he lived a carefree life. However, when he was six years old… during that catastrophe, over a hundred thousand people died, and his mother also passed away.

He escaped back to Dongning Prefecture under the desperate protection of his parents. From then on, he dedicated himself to cultivation, but still spent an hour painting every day. While painting, he would forget the fatigue of his training, feeling as though he was a child again, with his mother guiding him. His mind would become incredibly peaceful.

He was fifteen years old. After painting for over a decade and studying under several masters, he had long surpassed his teachers. His mother was right; his talent was indeed exceptional, at least greater than his aptitude for saber techniques. But what was the use of it? Could even the greatest painter kill demons?

"Knock, knock, knock." A slightly urgent knock came from outside the study.

"Hmm?" Meng Chuan looked out, puzzled. "No one usually disturbs me when I'm painting. What's going on?"

He put down his brush and opened the door. His father, Meng Dajiang, stood outside. Usually jovial, his expression today was rather serious.

"Chuan'er, come with me to the ancestral residence immediately," Meng Dajiang said.

"All right." Meng Chuan didn't hesitate, immediately following his father out. "Father, why have you been going to the ancestral residence so often these past few days?"

"Nothing," Meng Dajiang replied, offering no further explanation.

"Then why am I going to the ancestral residence now? Is something happening?" Meng Chuan asked again. As a junior, he only visited the ancestral residence three to five times a year.

Meng Dajiang glanced at his son and finally said, "It's about your engagement to Yun Qingping. The Yun family and Meng family have discussed it and decided to break off the engagement."

"Break off the engagement?" Meng Chuan was surprised. "Father, why the sudden change?"

"Are you reluctant?" Meng Dajiang looked at his son.

"No," Meng Chuan shook his head repeatedly. "Yun Qingping and I only see each other every few months, and our personalities don't mesh. Breaking off the engagement is actually good for me."

Meng Chuan, only fifteen years old this year, didn't understand love. He viewed Yun Qingping as nothing more than a somewhat familiar, slightly willful younger sister, and that was all.

"It's good that you think that way. This matter has been agreed upon by both the Yun family and our Meng family to terminate the engagement," Meng Dajiang said. "Once we're at the ancestral residence, just listen and speak little."

"Understood," Meng Chuan nodded in response.

The Meng ancestral residence, located in the west of Dongning City, occupied a vast area, housing over two thousand clan members. Walking along the central axis from south to north covered a distance of a *li*. Naturally, the Meng family's foundation lay in the countryside. Due to the threat of demons, rural populations formed fortified strongholds for self-preservation. Each stronghold housed thousands of people, and it was common for an entire clan to reside within a single one. Over a millennium of reproduction, the Meng family had established three large strongholds, totaling over ten thousand clan members. In Dongning Prefecture, there were many such large families.

What made the Meng family special was the presence of a Divine Demon. This naturally made them one of the five most prestigious Divine Demon families in Dongning Prefecture.

"Elder.""Elder."

Within the ancestral residence, order prevailed. Patrol members, upon seeing Meng Dajiang and his son, respectfully bowed to Meng Dajiang, addressing him as 'Elder'. Meng Dajiang was among the top three strongest individuals in the Meng family. Still relatively young, he held a glimmer of hope of becoming a Divine Demon. He was the family's designated next patriarch.

"Hmm?" Meng Chuan followed his father into the reception hall. Many people were already seated on both sides of the hall, Meng family members on one side, Yun family members on the other. However, the atmosphere was clearly amiss. Meng Chuan could tell at a glance that most of his own elders' expressions were grim.

"Brother Dajiang has arrived," Yun Fuan said, rising with a smile. "You've brought the marriage contract, haven't you?"

"I have," Meng Dajiang nodded slightly.

Yun Fuan smiled, "The other elders have no objections to breaking off the engagement. Brother Dajiang, I presume you don't either?"

Standing there, Meng Dajiang said with a slight smile, "If both families are willing, marriage is a good thing. Since there's no intention, it's better to dissolve the engagement sooner. Here is the marriage contract." With that, he took a scroll from his embrace and handed it to Yun Fuan with both hands.

Yun Fuan took it, unrolled it, and examined it carefully. Seeing the names and handwriting, he nodded slightly; it was indeed the original marriage contract. The handwriting of the two ancestors could not be imitated.

"Yun Fuan, please tear up the marriage contract right here," a bald, gaunt elder from the Meng family spoke.

"Haha, are you worried I'll take it back and use it at a crucial moment to force Meng Chuan to marry my daughter?" Yun Fuan laughed. "Rest assured, I wouldn't do anything so shameless!" Saying "Rip!" Yun Fuan directly tore the marriage contract in his hand. "I've torn the marriage contract, and you've all seen it clearly. Are you relieved now?" Yun Fuan smiled, sweeping his gaze across the Meng family elders present. "Then I won't stay any longer." With that, he began to walk out, followed by the other Yun family members.

As he passed Meng Chuan, Yun Fuan stopped and smiled at him. "Nephew Meng, remember clearly: from now on, you and my daughter Qingping will have no further connection."

"Yes, no further connection," Meng Chuan replied.

Only then did Yun Fuan nod and lead his group away.

Meng Dajiang watched Yun Fuan leave, his brow slightly furrowed, and calmly instructed, "Chuan'er, the engagement is dissolved. You should go back first. I still have matters to attend to here."

"Understood," Meng Chuan glanced at the elders and obediently departed.

The hall doors closed, and the great hall remained brightly lit by the thick, arm-sized candles.

"Too much! This is too much!" The bald, gaunt elder angrily slammed his cane on the ground, the sound jarring.

"They claim they consulted us, but in reality, we had no choice. Are we supposed to shamelessly force a marriage alliance?" A dark-skinned elder sneered. "If we dared to cause trouble at the Yun family, we'd probably be slapped to death by the Yun family's old ancestor!"

"Breaking off the engagement is a good thing. If we really used the contract to force the Yun family into marriage, would it be useful for the two juniors? It would only make the Yun family resentful. Marriage alliances are meant to be mutually beneficial; if they lead to enmity, there's no point. In fact, for our Meng family, this engagement is a minor matter. Sister San's injury is the major issue that shakes the foundation of our Meng family!" An elegant elder looked at the plump elder at the head of the table. "Patriarch, can Sister San's injury truly not be healed?"

The plump elder frowned. "Sister San will return to Dongning within the next two days. We'll discuss it then." Meng Dajiang listened from the side, his brows tightly furrowed.

The Meng family's pillar of support was crumbling, and all the Meng family elders were worried. The Meng family kept the news confidential, known only to the elders. After all, if it spread, the ten thousand clan members would be in a panic, leading to many additional troubles.

Currently… The high-ranking members of the other four Divine Demon families were mostly aware of the news, but they also did not spread it, fearing that some reckless junior might truly provoke the Meng family. After all, 'Immortal Aunt Meng' was not dead yet! Even if Immortal Aunt Meng were to die, she still had Divine Demon friends. However, as long as things weren't taken too far, those Divine Demon friends wouldn't intervene. After all, without a Divine Demon, the Meng family would be unable to bear many crucial responsibilities. Unable to bear these responsibilities, they naturally could not enjoy numerous privileges. Responsibility and power were commensurate.

In the current world, from ordinary mortals to Divine Demons, no one could evade responsibility. Any mortal who reached the Marrow Cleansing Realm, regardless of gender, had to serve five years in the military at the age of twenty! Barely half of them returned alive. Yet people still desired to reach the Marrow Cleansing Realm, because if they were too weak, they wouldn't even be deemed worthy of military service, and according to imperial regulations, many professions were forbidden to those who did not serve. They would be relegated to the lowest social strata, living the most miserable lives. As for Divine Demons, they were the backbone of humanity. Every Divine Demon spent their entire life fighting and defending, and even when they returned home to rest, they had to guard their hometown cities. Thus, a Divine Demon was brilliant and revered, and their family could also flourish and prosper. But if a Divine Demon died and could no longer bear heavy responsibilities, their family would naturally have to step down from important positions.

Meng Chuan returned home, and it was almost dark.

"A'Chuan, quickly sit down and eat with me. I heard you and Uncle Meng went to the ancestral residence, and I thought you wouldn't be back for dinner tonight." Liu Qiyue was sitting there, drinking porridge and eating flatbread. Meng Chuan sat down opposite her, and a maidservant brought him a bowl of porridge. As Meng Chuan drank, his mind wandered.

"Why are you so quiet since you got back? What happened?" Liu Qiyue asked.

"Oh." Meng Chuan snapped back to attention and said casually, "The Yun family and our Meng family discussed it and decided to break off my engagement with Yun Qingping."

"Break off the engagement?" Liu Qiyue's eyes lit up.

"Yes, just now, the marriage contract was torn up on the spot," Meng Chuan nodded.

Liu Qiyue observed Meng Chuan closely. "What, are you sad about the broken engagement? You're even spaced out while drinking porridge?"

"No," Meng Chuan shook his head repeatedly. "Yun Qingping and I don't get along, as you know. Breaking off the engagement makes her happy. And I feel relieved. It's a good thing for both of us, so why would I be sad?"

"Then why are you spaced out?" Liu Qiyue pressed.

"I just feel like something isn't right," Meng Chuan frowned. "The engagement was personally set by our two ancestors. Even if they came to dissolve it, the Yun family should have sent at least their 'Three Yun Heroes' together. That would be the most basic respect for our Meng family. But this time, only Yun Fuan, the fifth and most useless of them, came alone. It feels like they're looking down on our Meng family. That's the first point of suspicion."

"Secondly, inside the hall, the patriarch and the elders had very grim expressions. Yet, they restrained themselves from beginning to end. When did the patriarch and the others become so good-tempered?"

"Thirdly, Yun Fuan usually acts very ingratiating and humble around my father and the others. But today, he was much more presumptuous. Where did he get such confidence?"

"Crucially, there must be a reason behind breaking off an engagement. What exact reason led to the dissolution of an engagement set by two ancestors?"

Meng Chuan looked at Liu Qiyue. "I suspect either the Yun family has found a powerful backer, or it's due to an issue with our Meng family."

Liu Qiyue listened, a little astonished. "A'Chuan, I didn't realize you could think of so much?"

"Just some wild guesses. Since Father hasn't told me, he naturally has his reasons," Meng Chuan smiled.

"You're still smiling even after having your engagement broken off. Hurry up and eat your flatbread," Liu Qiyue urged, laughing.

"Eating flatbread, eating flatbread," Meng Chuan immediately picked up a flatbread and began to eat heartily.