Chapter 1599: Zhang Xuan Cancels the Engagement

"Young Master Zhang, President Wang Ying, do you intend to make enemies of our Luo family?" the Luo family head gritted his teeth.

"We don't care about grudges or grievances, but anyone who dares to harm our teacher will have to step over my dead body!" Zheng Yang declared, stepping forward, his gaze as sharp as lightning."Anyone who seeks to harm our teacher is an enemy of ours!" Wang Ying and Lu Chong stepped forward simultaneously.The three released their auras, immense and imposing like mountains. The Luo family elders, who had been contemplating action just moments before, now froze, not daring to move. They might not care about or be able to intervene in the feud between the Zhang and Luo families, but harming their teacher was a different matter entirely.

"Well said!" Sword Saint Meng also took a step forward, her long sword held aloft like a war god. "I support my son in whatever he does. Anyone who tries to harm him, I will kill!"

"You..." The Luo family head's face turned ashen. He turned to Sword Saint Xing, who stood to the side. "Is this your intention as well?""I..." Sword Saint Xing was speechless. What was supposed to be a joyous occasion, a happy union between two families, had unexpectedly devolved into this tense confrontation.

"You, Zhang," Sword Saint Meng roared, seeing his hesitation, "you abandoned your son once before. If you dare let him suffer any more grievances this time, believe me, I will immediately take our son and leave the Zhang family, and you will never find us again!""This..." Sword Saint Xing was filled with embarrassment. He bowed and clasped his fists. "My apologies, Head of the Luo family, but I must protect my son!" After speaking, he moved swiftly to stand beside Sword Saint Meng. It wasn't that he was afraid of his wife; rather, he felt he owed his son too much.

"Very well, very well. It seems you intend to sever ties between the Zhang and Luo families completely!" The Luo family head gritted his teeth, nearly exploding with rage. "In that case, all elders, heed my command! Lock down the space! Do not let anyone from the Zhang family escape!""Yes!"With a whoosh, numerous elders received the command simultaneously and acted. In an instant, the surrounding space was sealed, rendering teleportation arrays and other spatial techniques useless."Zhang family disciples, prepare yourselves! Protect our clan head to the death!" Seeing their opponents make a move, a Zhang family elder immediately shouted in response. Since the two families had turned hostile, there was no need for pretense; the confrontation was about to begin.

"This...""If only we had known, we shouldn't have come..."No one had expected that two families, once seemingly as sweet as honey, would turn so hostile in the blink of an eye. The other prestigious clans and families present trembled, unsure how to choose a side. Helping the Luo family meant offending the Zhang family, and helping the Zhang family meant offending the Luo family. It seemed impossible to resolve the situation today.

"Everyone, stop!" Just as the battle was about to erupt, a voice rang out. Immediately, the Luo family's young princess, Luo Qiqi, slowly stepped forward. A spherical bead flew from her forehead and vibrated gently in the air. The surrounding sealed space instantly shattered, returning to its original state.It was the Tranquil Space Orb, the Luo family's treasured artifact. Its mere appearance caused rifts in the fabric of the world, exuding an oppressive aura that no one dared to meet directly."Xiao Qi..." The Luo family head was filled with anxiety, surprised by his daughter's intervention."Sister..." Luo Xuanqing was baffled, unsure why his sister was doing this.

"Father, brother, esteemed elders, I hope to resolve this matter myself..." Luo Qiqi's eyes reddened as she clasped her fists."This..." Seeing the earnest plea in his daughter's eyes, the Luo family head's rage softened into tenderness. "Alright! If you are wronged, tell your father. Although your father hasn't made much progress these past few years, he won't stand idly by while someone bullies his daughter!""Thank you, Father!" Luo Qiqi nodded, then looked at Zhang Xuan again, her eyes filled with sorrow. "Teacher, you once said that if anyone bullied me, you would stand up for me... Does that promise still hold true?"

"I..." Zhang Xuan froze, unsure how to respond. Back in Qingyuan City, when they parted ways, the girl had asked him what she should do if someone bullied her. His answer had been, "Your teacher will stand up for you..." Those words still echoed in his ears, yet the scene before him had become this. The one who had wronged her was himself. If he were to stand up for her, how could he?"I'm sorry. From today onwards, the engagement between the Zhang and Luo families is canceled. You... will no longer be bound by this engagement and can live freely..." Zhang Xuan paused, then said. He truly couldn't stand up for the girl now. The only thing he could do was to annul the engagement and grant her freedom.

"Annul the engagement?" Luo Qiqi shook her head, her gaze distant and unfocused, a faint bitter smile on her lips. "Things you love aren't always meant to be kept forever, just like that broken item from before. No matter what means you use, it can never be the same again... Annulment brings freedom, but... the person I love would truly be gone, never to return. I'm quite stubborn; I don't agree to the annulment!"

"You... why make it so difficult?" Zhang Xuan's face showed helplessness. "If you announce the annulment, at least the Luo family can save face!""I know, but... I don't want to," Luo Qiqi replied. If she were to propose the annulment, today's events, though embarrassing, would at least preserve the Luo family's dignity and prevent too much humiliation. However, doing so would completely sever all ties with her teacher, leaving no possibility of them ever being together again. This was the outcome for the person she loved with all her heart, and she couldn't, wouldn't accept it.

"You... you should know that I'm definitely going to annul it!" Zhang Xuan stated. Since Luo Ruoxi was the one he truly acknowledged, this engagement had to be called off; otherwise, it would be irresponsible. He also didn't want the person he loved to suffer any grievances.

"Then... Teacher, you do it..." Luo Qiqi murmured."Very well!" Knowing the girl would not take the initiative, Zhang Xuan gritted his teeth. He flipped his palm, and the Zhang family's clan head token appeared in the air. "I, Zhang Xuan, as the head of the Zhang family, hereby announce the annulment of my engagement with the Luo family's young princess! It is due to my own shortcomings; I am unworthy of marrying her as my wife. I have failed her!" His voice echoed, causing the air to hum with the resonance.

"Xiao Qi..." Hearing his words, the Luo family head clenched his fists. Luo Xuanqing also glared at Zhang Xuan, as if he were a sworn enemy. Although Zhang Xuan claimed he had failed her, everyone understood that the Luo family had utterly lost face, a fact that was now undeniable."Hall Master Ren, the matter has been decided. I hope the Master Teacher Pavilion can transmit this news word-for-word throughout the world!" Zhang Xuan said, retrieving his clan head token and cupping his hands towards Ren Qingyuan. The Master Teacher Pavilion was the only way to spread the news across the world quickly."Alright!" Ren Qingyuan nodded. In matters of mutual affection, it was impossible to say who was right or wrong.

"Qiqi, take care!" Having said this, Zhang Xuan looked at the girl before him one last time, gritted his teeth, and turned to walk away. The Luo family elders wanted to stop him, but seeing the Tranquil Space Orb hovering in the air, they ultimately suppressed their anger and held back."Teacher..." After only a few steps, the girl's voice called out again.Zhang Xuan stopped and slowly turned. He saw the hopeful glimmer in Luo Qiqi's hazy eyes, full of love and reluctance. After a long moment, her voice finally emerged:"Teacher, in the future... will you still teach me alchemy?""Yes!" Zhang Xuan nodded. "Whenever you wish to learn, I will teach you!"