Elder Wu opened his mouth to speak but stopped midway. His face showed hesitation. The air inside the Wang Clan’s grand hall turned quiet and heavy.

  Seeing his hesitation, Elder Shen from the Radiant Cloud Sect stood up. His long blue robe swayed as he spoke in a calm but firm voice. “Patriarch Wang, our sect’s higher-ups have received news that the engagement between Miss Wu Ruolan and your Wang Clan is still valid. We came here to settle this matter.”

  Wang Tian and the elders of the Wang Clan looked at one another, confused. Before Wang Tian could ask, Elder Shen continued seriously, “We hope the Wang Clan can cancel the marriage contract with Wu Ruolan.”

  The words hit like a thunderclap. The entire hall fell silent.

  Wang Tian’s face darkened. Although he had guessed this might be the reason for their visit, hearing it directly made him angry. His fists slowly clenched. He had read stories where clans broke engagements before but never thought he would face it himself.

  If the Wang Clan agreed, their reputation would suffer greatly. Even worse, his younger brother, Wang Jian, who already had a bad reputation due to his weak talent, would become the joke of the entire region.

  Wang Tian took a deep breath, forcing down the anger rising inside him. His heart felt heavy, but his eyes stayed calm and sharp. He looked directly at Wu Ruolan, his voice steady and cold as he spoke, “Miss Wu, is this what you want too?”

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  It was a small change in words, but everyone in the hall felt the shift. Once, he had called her “Sister Ruolan,” a name filled with warmth, old memories, and closeness from their childhood bond. Now, he called her “Miss Wu”—formal, distant, filled with coldness. The change was small, but the meaning was clear. The bond between the two families, and between him and her, was now broken beyond repair.

  Wu Ruolan bit her lip lightly, her eyes showing hesitation, but she slowly nodded after a moment of silence. “Yes, I want to end this marriage agreement.”

  “Good,” Wang Tian said loudly, his voice filled with anger. “Very good.”

  The elders beside him quickly stepped forward to calm him down. “Nephew, please control yourself,” one of the older men whispered. “They are from the Radiant Cloud Sect. If you offend them, the clan will face disaster.”

  The Radiant Cloud Sect was the strongest sect in the Empire. It had many Nascent Soul experts and even Soul Formation masters. They could destroy the Wang Clan in moments if they wished.

  Wu Ruolan felt guilty, but she stayed firm. (No one can decide who I marry. My fate belongs to me.) she thought to herself.

  Wang Tian looked at her coldly. “Very well. Wu Lei has raised a capable daughter. I truly envy him,” he said with sarcasm.

  Wu Ruolan’s heart ached at his words. “Brother Tian…” she whispered.

  But Wang Tian shook his head sharply. “No. Call me Patriarch Wang. I don’t deserve to be called brother by Miss Wu. You are the Wu Family’s young lady and the Radiant Cloud Sect’s favored disciple. My younger brother surely doesn’t deserve a ‘phoenix’ like you.”

  The hall turned silent. The tension was thick, and no one dared to speak.

  Wang Tian looked calm on the outside, but inside, anger burned like fire. He didn’t strike or shout again—that alone was his greatest restraint. He would never forget this moment.