“What business is it of yours?” Wu Xutian glared at Chao Chen, his eyes filled with disgust. “Do you still want to frame Ling Yue?”
Chao Chen tilted his chin slightly, a faint smirk curving his lips. “Frame her? A fifth level Qi refiner? Does she even deserve that much attention from me?”
Wu Xutian’s face darkened. “Chao Chen, don’t get too full of yourself!”
Chao Lingyue tugged at Wu Xutian’s sleeve, her eyes lowered, her teeth gently biting her lip. She looked as though she had suffered a great injustice. “Forget it,” she whispered. “I’m used to it.”
Her pitiful tone only fanned Wu Xutian’s anger. “Chao Chen! You bullied her back in the Chao family and now that she’s left home you’re still after her? Do you think that just because your cultivation is higher than everyone else’s, you can do whatever you want?”
Chao Chen frowned deeply. What was wrong with this man? He hadn’t even done anything!
The surrounding crowd began to murmur.
“They say Young Master Chao is ruthless and cruel, that he’d even sacrifice his own blood relatives to increase his cultivation. Seems like it’s true after all.”
“He looks decent enough but who would’ve guessed he’s this kind of person?”
A glint of satisfaction flickered in Chao Lingyue’s eyes.
Wu Bufan rose to his feet and pressed down on Wu Xutian’s pointing hand. “Cousin, Young Master Chao hasn’t done anything. You’re overreacting.”
The onlookers blinked, startled. Now that he mentioned it, Wu Bufan was right. Chao Chen hadn’t done a single thing from start to finish.
It was Wu Xutian who had been barking and fuming as though someone had desecrated his ancestors’ graves.
Chao Lingyue hadn’t expected Wu Bufan to speak up for Chao Chen. She raised her eyes to look at him in surprise, only to see sincere calm on his face, no trace of mockery or malice.
Chao Chen looked a little uncomfortable and muttered under his breath, “You’re not entirely stupid after all.”
The only reason he defended Wu Bufan at times was because he felt they were both people out of place, misunderstood by everyone around them.
Wu Xutian shook off Wu Bufan’s hold and snapped, “Do you even know what kind of person you’re defending? He’s no longer the genius of Lingchuan Town. He’s the rat everyone in Xichuan Town wants dead. He refined his own mother to boost his cultivation!”
Chao Chen’s eyes turned red. “I didn’t!”
He still remembered that day vividly. He had just woken up to see his mother standing beside his bed, only for her to suddenly self detonate before he could even speak.
The explosion nearly killed him, leaving him gravely wounded and unconscious. When he woke again, everyone was already saying he’d used his own mother as a sacrifice for demonic cultivation, that all his power was built from human blood.
No matter how he tried to explain, no one believed him.
Wu Bufan frowned. “Was the demon testing stone ever used?”
Wu Xutian’s gaze darted aside. “Activating it costs a thousand gold coins. Why would we waste that on someone like him?”
Wu Bufan hesitated. “Has the Chao family fallen so low that they can’t even afford that?”
The crowd exchanged uneasy glances.
He was right. Young Master Chao was the legitimate son of the Chao family. For something this serious, how could they not use a demon testing stone?
“Enough.” Chao Lingyue’s voice trembled with tears. “Mother is already dead. Let’s not bring this up again.”
Faces around them changed.
If Chao Chen hadn’t turned demonic, how could Madam Chao have died? Everyone saw her self destruct that day. How could that be fake?
Chao Chen’s expression darkened. “You know better than I do why she died.”
He had long suspected something was wrong with Chao Lingyue but every time he tried to warn others, they dismissed him as jealous.
Chao Lingyue’s body trembled, her eyes reddening with unshed tears. “Brother, please, don’t make any more mistakes.”
Her fragile, sorrowful look stirred the sympathy of everyone present and soon almost all of them were standing on her side, condemning Chao Chen.
Wu Bufan’s eyes grew deep and troubled. This was getting out of hand. If this went on, Chao Chen would only suffer more.
He sighed softly and turned to Chao Lingyue, speaking in a gentle tone. “Don’t cry anymore. If your eyes get swollen, you won’t look good at your wedding.”
Chao Chen blinked in surprise.
Chao Lingyue’s sobs faltered. Wu Xutian’s face twisted, while the crowd looked bewildered.
After a long pause, Chao Lingyue whispered, “I don’t want to marry so soon.”
Wu Bufan, who was usually mild, suddenly frowned. “How can that be? We agreed that we’d marry once you turned eighteen. That promise cannot be delayed.”
When they went to the Xichuan Secret Realm, she was seventeen. Now a year had passed and her coming of age ceremony was already over.
Chao Lingyue bit her lip hard. “You disappeared for a whole year. I thought you… you had died.”
Wu Bufan answered matter of factly, “But I’m alive.”
Chao Lingyue was momentarily speechless.
Wu Xutian couldn’t hold back any longer. “Bufan, Lingyue broke through from the fourth to the fifth level of Qi refinement in a year. Her talent now far surpasses yours. You two are no longer suited for each other.”
Wu Bufan staggered back a step, as though struck. His eyes trembled as he looked at Chao Lingyue. “Lingyue, is that what you think too? After all I’ve done for you… I nearly lost my life for you.”
The crowd sighed softly.
Chao Lingyue shook her head, tears streaming down her face. “Bufan, I’m sorry. I have no feelings for you.”
Her weeping face was delicate and pitiful, enough to move anyone’s heart. “Please don’t blame me.”
Chao Chen barked coldly, “If you had no feelings for him, why didn’t you say so earlier? Why wait until after Wu Rongyang died? Do you take people for fools?”
The onlookers exchanged looks. As much as they pitied Chao Lingyue, they had to admit Chao Chen had a point.
Chao Lingyue’s tears fell harder, as though she were the one being wronged.
The light in Wu Bufan’s eyes dimmed until only emptiness remained. “Enough,” he said hoarsely. “Enough……”
He gripped the table to steady himself. “Since you have no affection for me, I won’t force you.”
Drawing a deep breath as if to steady his heart, he took out a jade pendant. “This is the token we exchanged when our families arranged our engagement. Once we return the tokens, the engagement is over.”
He clenched his jaw tightly, as if suppressing deep pain. “So be it.”
Chao Lingyue froze.
The Chao family had given the Wu family a yellow grade defensive pendant, while the Wu family’s token was an ungraded earring. The earring brimmed with spiritual energy and the appraisers believed it was at least a mid tier earth grade artifact, though its exact power was unknown.
Her instincts told her it was extremely valuable, which was why she had always worn it, hoping one day she might unlock its power. She absolutely did not want to give it up.
Wu Bufan noticed her hesitation and a hopeful light appeared in his eyes. “Lingyue, you hesitate because you don’t truly want to end our engagement, do you?”
He began to pull the jade pendant back, speaking eagerly. “I’ll talk to Uncle Chao later about setting our wedding date. Don’t worry, I won’t let you suffer. I’ll even offer three Spirit Nourishing Herbs as a betrothal gift.”
Chao Lingyue’s mind went blank.
Three Spirit Nourishing Herbs, barely worth thirty gold coins and he thought that was enough to marry her? Ridiculous!
Wu Xutian grew anxious as well. He grabbed Wu Bufan’s hand and urged Chao Lingyue, “What are you waiting for, Lingyue? Take off the earring!”
He had long been infatuated with her. But because she always said her engagement to Wu Bufan was still in effect, their meetings had to be kept secret. He’d been stifled by the situation for too long.
If the Chao family initiated the break off, it would look like they were the ones at fault. But if Wu Bufan did it himself, that was a different story altogether.
What a perfect opportunity, he wouldn’t let it slip away.
Chao Lingyue bit her lip until it almost bled, her hand trembling as she reached up to her ear. Yet she hesitated, unwilling to remove it.
The onlookers grew restless, watching anxiously.
Suddenly, a pale hand shot out from the side and tore the earring off with a sharp motion.
It was Chao Chen, impatient with her endless stalling.
Chao Lingyue’s pupils contracted sharply. The moment the earring was snatched away, she lunged forward to grab it back. But another hand was faster, Wu Bufan’s.
As he caught the earring, whether by chance or intent, he placed himself protectively in front of Chao Chen.
Chao Lingyue’s heart twisted painfully. Her eyes locked on the earring. “Bufan, I’ve worn this earring for so long… I’ve grown attached to it.”
Something deep inside her screamed that she must not give it up.
Wu Bufan looked at her and cut her off coldly. “You were the one who wanted to dissolve the engagement. I’m merely granting your wish. Please, Miss Chao, stop saying such misleading things.”
He took out the engagement documents, wordlessly signaling her to do the same.
Chao Lingyue pressed her lips together and finally drew out her own copy.
Wu Bufan stacked the two marriage contracts together and tore them apart on the spot.
As the papers ripped, both the jade pendant and the earring flashed with a brief light, their bond severed. The engagement was no more.
Wu Bufan felt an invisible weight lift from his shoulders, as though a binding shackle had suddenly vanished.
Chao Lingyue’s face twisted as she watched him tuck the earring into his storage pouch. Rage surged up in her chest. “Brother, why would you harm me like this?”
Her earlobe was still bleeding but for cultivators, such pain meant nothing.
Chao Chen gave a lazy chuckle. “Because I felt like it.”
Wu Bufan sighed inwardly.
This foolish young man, why admit to crimes he never committed? No wonder he’d been framed so easily before.
“Young Master Chao only helped you because you seemed unable to take it off yourself,” Wu Bufan said evenly. “How is that harming you? He was assisting you. Miss Chao, please don’t twist his intentions. Anyone hearing you would think you’re deliberately smearing his name.”
Chao Lingyue stared at him in disbelief.
She felt as though she had been deceived, her carefully spun web collapsing all at once.
Chao Chen stood still, dazed, watching the figure of Wu Bufan before him.
From the very start, Wu Bufan had shielded him again and again, as though afraid he might get hurt. Even bringing up the engagement just now seemed like a deliberate attempt to divert everyone’s attention, so the scorn and accusations wouldn’t keep falling on him.
Wu Xutian, however, thought Wu Bufan was merely lashing out after being rejected. “Even if your engagement is broken, you were friends once. How could you ruin Miss Chao’s reputation like this?”
Wu Bufan’s expression hardened. “So Miss Chao’s reputation matters but Young Master Chao’s doesn’t? You people are being absurd.”
He took Chao Chen’s hand firmly. “Let’s go. There’s no point arguing with those who’ve already decided we’re guilty.”
Chao Chen blinked, then nodded. “Alright.”
The crowd watched in stunned silence.
Wu Bufan’s attitude had changed so quickly they could hardly process it.
Chao Lingyue’s beautiful face twisted with fury.
How dare Wu Bufan treat her like this? Hadn’t he once been willing to die for her?
Wu Xutian’s face darkened, his chest filled with bitter frustration. Somehow, he had managed to lose an argument and lose face to Wu Bufan at that.
✦ ✧ ✦
[Translator]
☕ A LITTLE SOMETHING FOR THE TRANSLATOR
The translator has been bribed with exactly zero coffees so far. Fix this. 😭
☕ BUY THEM A COFFEE →
✧ (づ｡•ㅅ•｡)づ ☕ ✧
✦ thank you for reading ✦
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ChaptersChapter 1 · Dream to RealityChapter 2 · Those who survive a great calamity are destined for good fortuneChapter 3 · Retrieve the tokenChapter 4 · Top-tier alchemistChapter 5 · A cooperative treasure hunt?Chapter 6 · Thousand mile Thundercloud LeopardChapter 7 · Chaotic Strange EntityChapter 8 · Back to Xichuan TownChapter 9 · How could Wu Bufan be stronger than him!Chapter 10 · Wu Bufan possess so many top-grade pills?Chapter 11 · This time, she will not let anyone take what is hers away againChapter 12 · Seize the luckChapter 13 · Mutant Purple Thunder BeastChapter 14 · I’m afraid he’ll get angryChapter 15 · PumiceChapter 16 · Enemies meet on a narrow roadChapter 17 · Becoming Daoist CouplesChapter 18 · Top-grade Calamity-Breaking PillChapter 19 · The amazing effects of top-grade pillsChapter 20 · Basic Body ForgingChapter 21 · One world cannot contain two chosen ones.Chapter 22 · PuppetChapter 23 · AuctionChapter 24 · Space FoundationChapter 25 · Top-grade Foundation Building PillChapter 26 · Increased space areaChapter 27 · The competition BeginChapter 28 · RobbedChapter 29 · Turn Defeat into Victory!Chapter 30 · The Death of Wu KeyuanChapter 31 · BetChapter 32 · Even the way Chao Chen talks is so cuteChapter 33 · Avenge Wu KeyuanChapter 34 · Finding Bodhi Wood at a BargainChapter 35 · Little PuppetChapter 36 · Explosive PillsChapter 37 · I’ll concedeChapter 38 · You are a genius, so your Daoist partner must also be a genius.Chapter 39 · The Third Elder was refused a disciple.Chapter 40 · Has the floating marrow stone secret been exposed?Chapter 41 · How Could There Be Such a Sinister Human!Chapter 42 · The Mutated Mugwort FoxChapter 43 · Wandering the JianghuChapter 44 · Ancient ElixirChapter 45 · I feel like I’m about to be struck by lightning!Chapter 46 · Earth-level Secret RealmChapter 47 · The spot is practically yours.Chapter 48 · His Daoist partner is truly amazing!Chapter 49 · The legacy in the libraryChapter 50 · Dual cultivation techniquesChapter 51 · First genius Ji Pu RanChapter 52 · Shifting the blame eastwardChapter 53 · The little puppet went to run errandsChapter 54 · The Explosive Pill once again demonstrated its power.Chapter 55 · Chao Lingyue’s cultivation levelChapter 56 · Little Money-GrubberChapter 57 · What a venomous mouth!Chapter 58 · Enter the secret realmChapter 59 · A huge windfall fell from the sky.Chapter 60 · The birth of a rare treasureChapter 61 · This alchemy furnace is quite uniqueChapter 62 · The alchemy furnace that walked right into the trapChapter 63 · Xiao Zi’s Self-Rescue GuideChapter 64 · Spirit Field Micro RealmChapter 65 · Someone Planning to Reap the Benefits?Chapter 66 · Are You Lost?Chapter 67 · Chao Chen, Corrupted by the Big Handsome PotChapter 68 · Is Your phoenix Fish Sect Collecting Trash?Chapter 69 · The Death of Hui SipingChapter 70 · No, Junior Brother Chao, Where’s Your Backbone…Chapter 71 · Has His Identity Been Exposed?Chapter 72 · This Child Is Far Too ShrewdChapter 73 · Young people are wonderful. They fall asleep the moment they lie downChapter 74 · Sparrow Alchemist Chao Lingyue?Chapter 75 · The Silver Tongued Chao ChenChapter 76 · What’s the rush? I have moreChapter 77 · Leave the sectChapter 78 · Showing Off on a Grand ScaleChapter 79 · The Sparrow Alchemist Returns to the Martial WorldChapter 80 · Does Junior Brother Chao know about this?Chapter 81 · The Mantis Stalks the Cicada, Unaware of the Oriole BehindChapter 82 · So FierceChapter 83 · They’ve been targeted by the local bulliesChapter 84 · The Kid Is Missing?Chapter 85 · A Thing from the Void: SilkChapter 86 · Chao Chen became famousChapter 87 · The Devil MentorChapter 88 · The four little ones went out to gain experienceChapter 89 · The Students Who Were Truly ConvincedChapter 90 · What a Bountiful Harvest!Chapter 91 · No Random KissingChapter 92 · Detoxification PillChapter 93 · Master Wu, your Daoist partner has disappearedChapter 94 · The Demonic ThiefChapter 95 · Fellow Daoist, are you selling this sparrow?Chapter 96 · Unexpected disaster, nothing moreChapter 97 · My Daoist partner was born in the Year of the PigChapter 98 · The Undying Devil ChildChapter 99 · Exotic Treasure! Buddha Flame Glazed Light!Chapter 100 · We stole the Beast Taming Sect’s treasure vaultChapter 101 · Waaaaah… Why is this strange fire so gay?Chapter 102 · The Mysterious Pill – Flower in the MirrorChapter 103 Part 1 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 103 Part 2 · As Expected, You Can’t Produce Different Dreams from the Same Bed…Chapter 104 Part 1 · Separation and ReunionChapter 104 Part 2 · Separation and ReunionChapter 105 Part 1 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 105 Part 2 · Renowned throughout the continent!Chapter 106 · Chao Chen’s RevengeChapter 107 · The Death of Chao LingyueChapter 108 · A Narcissistic Man or a Great Beauty?Chapter 109 · This Person Has No MannersChapter 110 · The Ancient Spirit Botanical GardenChapter 111 · Thousand-Thread Poison WomanChapter 112 · I am not kindChapter 113 · Are you the most handsome man here?Chapter 114 Part 1 · ReunionChapter 114 Part 2 · ReunionChapter 115 Part 1 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 115 Part 2 · Diandian said that you got it into someone’s stomach yourselfChapter 116 · Central ContinentChapter 116 Part 1 · Central ContinentChapter 117 Part 1 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 117 Part 2 · The Ancient Dao Companion ContractChapter 118 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 118 Part 1 · Heaven Above, Dust BelowChapter 119 · Xiao Chen will also be embarrassedChapter 120 · The moon is so bright tonightChapter 121 Part 1 · Treasure ArrayChapter 121 Part 2 · Treasure ArrayChapter 122 Part 1 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 122 Part 2 · Poisonous MushroomChapter 123 Part 1 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 123 Part 2 · Turmoil at the AuctionChapter 124 Part 1 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 124 Part 2 · Advancement! A Nascent Soul Cultivator Reaches the Divine Transformation Realm!…Chapter 125 Part 1 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 125 Part 2 · Xiao Chen Displays His Great Divine Might: Wu Bufan…Chapter 126 · Ice spirit tower has explodedChapter 127 Part 1 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 2 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 127 Part 3 · Meeting an Old Acquaintance AgainChapter 128 Part 1 · Being Followed?Chapter 128 Part 2 · Being Followed?Chapter 129 · Magical ArtifactChapter 131 · A Declaration of WarChapter 132 · A chaotic war of words: Friend or foe indistinguishable…Chapter 133 Part 1 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 133 Part 2 · The Royal Grand CompetitionChapter 134 Part 1 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 134 Part 2 · Adults Don’t Make Choices, I’ll Take Them All…Chapter 135 Part 1 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 135 Part 2 · Little Daddy Takes a Bite, Big Daddy’s Form…Chapter 136 Part 1 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 2 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left BehindChapter 136 Part 3 · Where the Wild Geese Fly, Not a Single Feather Left Behind