Chapter 1938: Humiliation

"Perform swordplay."

Shan Xiaotian was utterly bewildered that Brother Zhang would make such a request. "You don't understand cultivation. Even if I perform swordplay, you won't be able to comprehend it."

"Just now, I observed Brother Shan's swordplay; his strength was limited, and he seemed hesitant to advance. I'd like to observe it again. Perhaps I can find a way to help. If there's a chance to improve within three days, becoming a disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion isn't impossible," Zhang Xuan said with a smile. When the other party performed his swordplay earlier, Zhang Xuan, with his discernment, had already noticed some issues. Now, he wanted him to perform again to test if the Library of Heaven's Path could be used in this "Upper Realm."

"Brother Zhang understands swordplay?" Shan Xiaotian frowned.

"I know a little," Zhang Xuan nodded.

"Alright then. As for becoming a disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, I haven't really considered it." Shan Xiaotian glanced at his injured left leg, then shook his head. "However, if Brother Zhang understands swordplay, a discussion would be welcome. Ever since I became unable to cultivate, I've been fumbling on my own and have never had anyone to discuss it with." Due to his low self-esteem and inability to cultivate, his so-called swordplay was merely a personal pastime. He had never displayed it to anyone, let alone competed. Since the person before him understood swordplay, there was no harm in exchanging ideas.

With a flick of his wrist, Shan Xiaotian's longsword danced with flourishes as he thrust it forward. A thought sparked in Zhang Xuan's mind, and a book appeared. Opening the book and reading its contents, Zhang Xuan breathed a sigh of relief. It seemed that even in the Upper Realm, the Library of Heaven's Path was usable. This confirmed his previous guess: after Luo Ruoxi placed the Spring and Autumn Great Codex within it, the library had undergone a significant upgrade, allowing it to easily observe the Heavenly Dao of the Upper Realm.

"How truly ridiculous, Shan Xiaotian. You're practicing swordplay? What, do you still think the Lingyun Sword Pavilion will accept you as a disciple?" As Zhang Xuan was deep in thought, a sneer echoed from outside, followed by two figures striding in. The first was a girl of fifteen or sixteen, dressed in a light yellow gown, her eyes filled with obvious pride, her chin slightly raised like a princess. The sneering words had come from her. Behind her was a middle-aged man in his forties, clad in a hemp robe with dark eyebrows. A longsword was tied to his waist, and even from a distance, he exuded an oppressive sword aura.

"Third Young Master!" Old Yi rushed over from behind, filled with guilt and unwillingness. "I couldn't stop them!"

Halting his sword, Shan Xiaotian looked at the girl before him, his lips stuttering slightly from nervousness. "Xue... Xue Qin!"

"Enough!" A hint of disgust flashed in the girl's eyes as she waved her hand. "What, you clearly knew why I was coming, but you didn't come out yourself? Did you think sending a servant to deliver the engagement contract would be enough to fool me?"

"You wanted to annul the engagement, and I've already given you the contract. What more do you want?" Shan Xiaotian's face flushed crimson.

"Not 'not much,' it's quite simple. I want you to publicly announce to the entire city that *you* are unworthy of me and *you* actively requested to annul the engagement, and that my City Lord's Manor reluctantly agreed after much persuasion, ultimately respecting your wishes. Otherwise, if you simply produced the engagement contract, are you trying to tell everyone that I, Xue Qin, don't want to marry you, and invite everyone to point fingers at the City Lord's Manor?" Xue Qin scoffed. If people knew that she was annulling the engagement with Shan Xiaotian because she had become a disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, it would undoubtedly stir up considerable public opinion, greatly disadvantaging her. However, if he initiated the annulment, her reputation would remain intact, without any blemish.

"How ruthless," Zhang Xuan muttered from the side, shaking his head. Annulment itself was humiliating enough, but giving back the contract wasn't sufficient; he also had to announce it city-wide. The crucial point was that she wanted to annul the engagement *and* still look good. It was like wanting to be a harlot and still have a memorial arch erected for virtue. Shan Xiaotian's face turned pale, and his fists clenched tightly. Zhang Xuan instantly understood the situation, and as the person involved, Shan Xiaotian naturally understood it even more deeply. A profound sense of humiliation surged through his entire body. It was a slap in the face, not just once, but from both sides. Yet, he was powerless to resist.

"Alright, I'm not here to discuss with you this time, but to issue an order. Within three days, you must announce the outcome to the entire city, or you'll face the consequences." The previously silent middle-aged man looked over with an indifferent expression.

"Who are you?" Shan Xiaotian looked at him, like a wounded alpha wolf.

"I am Second Young Lady's sword instructor, Xue Chen," the middle-aged man stated calmly.

"Xue Chen? I know you." Shan Xiaotian's face showed a self-mocking expression, as if he had heard the name before. "To send the City Lord's Manor's chief sword instructor to deliver this message in person, it certainly carries weight. I just wonder what these 'consequences' entail." This Xue Chen was indeed the chief instructor of the City Lord's Manor, a powerful expert at the Ancient Sage Triple Realm.

"Not agreeing is also quite simple," Xue Chen said expressionlessly. "The Shan family has offended many people over the years. Without their marriage alliance with the City Lord's Manor, and considering you're a good-for-nothing yourself, your family should have been annihilated long ago."

Shan Xiaotian remained silent. What the other party said was true. If it weren't for him, his inability to cultivate, and his engagement with the City Lord's Manor, how could his family have survived until now? Countless past enemies would have surely rushed over and razed this place to the ground long ago.

"If those people decide to act, can you two, master and servant, possibly stop them?" Xue Chen continued.

Shan Xiaotian trembled uncontrollably. "Are you trying to silence us by killing us? Are you not afraid of public opinion?"

"Public opinion?" Xue Chen raised an eyebrow. "After your deaths, the City Lord will be heartbroken and will personally send people to avenge you. Then, the Young Lady will weep for many days, eventually leaving this place in sorrow to enter the Lingyun Sword Pavilion."

*Grinding noises.* His heart felt like it was about to explode, and Shan Xiaotian could no longer speak. He knew that if things unfolded this way, the City Lord's Manor's reputation would not only remain untarnished but would also appear even more righteous and compassionate. Miss Xue Qin, too, would gain even more respect. To think she was already a menial disciple of the Lingyun Sword Pavilion, yet she still hadn't annulled the engagement and was even grieving!

"Alright, alright, I agree!" His fingernails dug into his flesh, turning his knuckles stark white. Though filled with unwillingness, Shan Xiaotian had no other choice. The strong prey on the weak; that was the law of survival.

"That's more like it." Seeing his agreement, Xue Qin nodded in satisfaction. With a gesture, Xue Chen took a document from his pocket and handed it over. "This is the reason for your annulment and the public announcement. Sign it, and everyone in the city will know by today. You won't need to say anything more."

Receiving the document, Shan Xiaotian read it. The reason was simple: it stated that he was injured, not only unable to cultivate but also unable to perform sexually—a complete cripple. He didn't want to hold the other party back, so he was canceling the engagement and hoped for understanding. It claimed that because he had stated this many times, the City Lord's Manor, out of consideration for their bond, had repeatedly refused. Only as a last resort, to inform the entire city in advance, did they hope for their forbearance.

"Unable to perform sexually."

"A complete cripple."

Such intense humiliation made Shan Xiaotian sway, and blood instantly rushed to his head, feeling as if it might explode.