"Our engagement is hereby annulled!"
The words struck like a bolt from the blue, leaving Jiang Lang's face completely drained of color.
Before Jiang Lang could speak, Lin Yayin continued, "During the ten days you were away, I awakened the Heaven Grade bloodline, becoming a one-in-a-million bloodline martial artist, and have been personally chosen by the Tianyan Sacred Sect as an inner disciple."
"Ten days from now, I will officially join the Tianyan Sacred Sect and transform into a dragon soaring through the clouds."
"And you? Your cultivation has been crippled, a total good-for-nothing."
"Do you really think you're worthy of being my husband?!"
Every single word fell like a sharp blade, fiercely slashing at Jiang Lang's heart.
With a dark and gloomy expression, still refusing to accept reality, he forced himself to speak, "Everything I've sacrificed for you..."
Lin Yayin gave a cold laugh. "I never asked you to sacrifice anything. Is it possible that you were just high on your own self-righteous devotion?"
Right at that moment, the lavishly dressed young man standing behind Lin Yayin suddenly burst into laughter. "Turns out he's nothing more than a bootlicker. Brother, take my advice—a bootlicker licks and licks until he ends up with nothing. Just let it go, stop debasing yourself."
Looking at the richly dressed youth with deep affection and a hint of worry, Lin Yayin asked, "Young Master Li, I was once engaged to him. Does that really not bother you?"
The young master chuckled lightly. "How could it? With Lady Lin's beauty, isn't it only normal to have a few hangers-on? I, Li Muxian, am not a man without magnanimity."
As soon as he said this, an uproar erupted among everyone all around!
"Gasp!"
"He's actually Li Muxian!"
"The Holy Son of the Tianyan Sacred Sect!"
"One of the top ten on the Prodigy Rankings!"
"To think the Lin Family has managed to latch onto Holy Son Li; soaring to greatness is just around the corner!"
"No wonder she's dumping Jiang Lang. The difference in status between these two is literally like a lowly ant compared to a true dragon!"
"Indeed. Now that Miss Lin has awakened a one-in-a-million bloodline, she and Young Master Li are a match made in heaven. Jiang Lang really shouldn't hold back Miss Lin's future."
"If it were me, I'd choose Young Master Li too..."
...
Hearing the crowd discussion, Jiang Lang's heart finally died completely.
Years of deep devotion shattered in a single moment; today, I finally know who I truly am.
Let's just consider all that sincerity fed to the dogs!
With this thought, he felt no more attachment and prepared to leave the Lin Family estate.
Just then, a voice called out, "Nephew Jiang, please stay."
Jiang Lang looked up and saw a plump, smiling man—none other than the Lin Clan Head, Lin Wei.
Jiang Lang replied coldly, "Does the Lin Clan Head still need something?"
Lin Wei smiled. "Nephew Jiang, why call me Clan Head? Doesn't that sound rather distant?"
Jiang Lang stated flatly, "Lin Yayin and I have already broken off our engagement, and I have no further ties to the Lin Family."
Lin Wei stepped forward, grabbed Jiang Lang's hand, and said with a smile, "Things simply didn't work out between you and Xiaoyin, and that can't be helped. But the Lin Family doesn't only have one daughter. Since Xiaoyin won't marry you, I'll let Xiaorou marry you instead. In any case, the engagement must be honored; otherwise, wouldn't the Lin Family be branded as faithless and treacherous?"
Jiang Lang saw through it instantly.
Back then, this marriage had been personally pushed by the Lin Family Patriarch. If Lin Yayin broke off the engagement unilaterally, Lin Wei wouldn't be able to face the Patriarch.
Being called faithless was a minor issue, but if the Lin Family Patriarch decided to investigate, Lin Wei would be in deep trouble!
The "Xiaorou" he mentioned was Lin Yayin's half-sister, Lin Qingrou.
Jiang Lang said coldly, "I'm not worthy of marrying into such a high family as yours!"
With that, he turned and walked away.
Lin Wei's eyes narrowed, a sharp, intimidating flash of coldness passing through them, yet he still smiled warmly as he spoke. "Nephew Jiang, what kind of nonsense is that? A wife is a wife, whoever she may be. Xiaorou is a fine girl too. Surely you aren't looking down on her just because her looks don't match Xiaoyin's?"
Beside Lin Wei, a still-charming matron also chimed in, "Nephew Jiang, you can't behave like this. The Lin Family has treated you well; are you trying to put our family in an unrighteous position? Whether you want to or not, you are going to marry Lin Qingrou. You have no choice."
This woman was Lin Yayin's biological mother, Xu Yunyun.
Hearing this, Jiang Lang felt sick enough to vomit.
Treated him well?
Over the years, the Lin Family had treated him like an ox or a horse, and now they were trying to bind him with moral blackmail. Truly disgusting!
Without a second thought, he snapped, "I won't marry her. What can you do to me?"
A flicker of chilling murder flashed in Lin Wei's eyes.
Just as he was about to speak, a timid voice rang out, "Young Master Jiang, I beg you, please marry me."
With those words, a frail young woman walked out from the Lin residence.
She looked to be about seventeen or eighteen. Although she was a young miss of the Lin Family, she was dressed extremely simply, her rough hempen clothes even bearing a few patches. Compared to Lin Yayin's luxurious attire, she looked more like a maid.
Her temperament was gentle, her gaze clear. Just looking into those eyes would melt any man in their tender depths.
It was a pity that a tattoo marred her face, looking like a crack running across a flawless piece of jade.
This woman was the eldest daughter of the Lin Family, Lin Qingrou.
Hearing her words, Jiang Lang was momentarily stunned.
Begging him to marry her?
What on earth?
Lin Qingrou looked at Jiang Lang, blinking as if she had something to say, and then spoke again, "Young Master Jiang, I beg you, please marry me."
Jiang Lang was utterly bewildered.
Right at that moment, Lin Yayin burst into laughter, her voice full of mockery. "Ha... I get it now, Lin Qingrou. Are you afraid you won't be able to find a husband, so you're begging Jiang Lang to marry you?"
"Even though Jiang Lang is a good-for-nothing, he at least has decent looks. Of course you're dying to marry him."
"Heh... This trash I threw away, I gift him to you. Two losers together—a truly perfect match!"
Jiang Lang's gaze darkened. "You fucking see—"
Before he could finish, Lin Qingrou grabbed Jiang Lang's hand, cutting him off. Looking straight into his eyes, she said softly, "Young Master Jiang, are you willing to marry me?"
For a moment, Jiang Lang didn't know what to say.
Right then, he felt Lin Qingrou tracing something in his palm: "I am saving you."
Saving me?
Jiang Lang was even more confused.
At that moment, Xu Yunyun chimed in, "Jiang Lang, you aren't seriously turning her down just because she's ugly, are you? But you're a good-for-nothing yourself. Marrying Lin Qingrou means you can marry into the Lin Family as a dependent son-in-law, letting you coast through life. Strictly speaking, you'd be getting a free ride."
A free ride?!
With teeth as strong as mine, do I need a free ride?!
Jiang Lang furrowed his brows deeply, wanting to refuse, but Lin Qingrou gave a slight shake of her head, her eyes filled with earnest entreaty.
For a moment, Jiang Lang's heart softened.
Having spent years in the Lin Family, he knew Lin Qingrou possessed a kind nature and would never harm him.
With that thought, he spoke up, "Alright, I agree to marry Miss Qingrou."
Lin Wei instantly breathed a sigh of relief. "That's more like it... Without further ado, you two will be wed in three days."
Lin Qingrou said softly, "I have no objections." After a slight pause, she added, "Young Master Jiang, please come with me so we can discuss the wedding arrangements."
Lin Yayin sneered, "Can't even wait a moment, huh? Heh... Jiang Lang, Lin Qingrou actually has a pretty decent figure—curves in all the right places. Even I'm jealous. Once the lights are out at night, it's all the same anyway."
"If you really can't stand it, you can just pretend she's me. I don't mind at all."
With that, she rode off triumphantly on her horse.
Jiang Lang clenched his fists tightly, watching Lin Yayin until she vanished from sight.
At that moment, his expression was gloomy, his thoughts unreadable.
Lin Qingrou took Jiang Lang's hand and led him straight to her bedchamber.
Calling it a bedchamber was generous; it was actually a dilapidated woodshed.
Ensuring no one was around, Lin Qingrou spoke up, "Young Master Jiang, I'm sorry. Begging you to marry me was truly a last resort. I only wanted to save you."