I, the lazy prince, am the darling of the ladies of destiny.

"Lu Xuan," Yunzhi took a small step forward, getting closer to him, her clear, cold voice carrying a subtle meaning that only he could hear.

"The engagement was arranged by the elders of both families; how can it be decided by you alone?"

"Although I, Yunzhi, dislike your past behavior, since the marriage agreement has been made, my Yun family is not a faithless and treacherous family."

But Lu Xuan clearly saw a hint of "revenge" and a deeper... probing in her cold eyes.

Is she trying to test me?

Lü Xuan instantly understood Yunzhi's intention.

This woman isn't here for any marriage agreement or family matters; she's just here to cause trouble!

She came to get revenge for the past three years of harassment and to test my true strength!

He changed too quickly, and the woman noticed something was wrong!

But... this test is too costly, sister! You're pushing me directly to the opposite side of Xiao Dong, and it's a head-on confrontation!

"Miss Yun," Lu Xuan took a deep breath, trying to regain his composure.

"This matter...this matter requires careful consideration. You just said yourself that you dislike my past actions. Forcing things won't work, so why bother..."

"The past is the past," Yunzhi interrupted him, her tone still calm, yet carrying a strange stubbornness. "The engagement is in the present. Besides, Prince Lü seems... different now than before."

Her gaze swept over Lü Xuan's face, which was filled with the desire to survive, and she added, "Perhaps, we can start over."

Starting over?! Starting over with a villain who will be killed by the protagonist in the future?!

Lü Xuan groaned inwardly.

"Yunzhi!"

Ye Qing'er could no longer hold back. She released Lü Xuan's arm, stepped forward, and faced Yun Zhi. Her beautiful face was full of coldness.

"Brother Lü just publicly stated that he wanted to annul the engagement. What is your intention in agreeing now? Could it be that you've changed your mind because someone else is vying for his attention, and now you think Brother Lü is better?"

These words are sharp, directly pointing to Yunzhi's fickle nature.

Yunzhi merely glanced at Ye Qing'er indifferently: "Miss Ye, this matter concerns the marriage agreement between my Yun family and the Lü family, and has nothing to do with you."

"None of my business?" Ye Qing'er sneered. "I already made my feelings clear, and Brother Lü didn't refuse."

"Your interference now is related to me!"

Two women, one as aloof as snow, the other as graceful as a lotus, now faced each other, and the atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Just then, a heavy snow began to fall from the sky.

Looking at the two people below the platform and then at the falling snow, Lü Xuan suddenly remembered a song that was very fitting for the occasion!

Snowflakes fluttered down, the north wind howled, and the world was shrouded in a vast expanse of white...

Seeing this, Lin Yan's anger intensified, and he almost couldn't help but step forward.

Xiao Dong's face was terribly gloomy. He stared intently at Yun Zhi, then looked at Lü Xuan, his eyes filled with undisguised murderous intent.

Lu Xuan felt a chill run down his spine.

Ye Qing'er confesses her love, Yun Zhi agrees to the engagement, Lin Yan is jealous, and Xiao Dong is hostile...

That's a total blast of hatred! My survival plan is completely ruined!

Just then, Lü Cangqiong's voice rang out again, carrying an undeniable authority:

"alright."

He glanced at the crowd below the stage and said slowly, "The marriage agreement is a matter between our two families. How can it be allowed for juniors to exchange it privately, nor can it be subject to the opinions of outsiders?"

"Since Yunzhi has already expressed her opinion, Lü Xuan, your earlier statement about announcing the engagement will be put on hold for now."

"Shelved?!" Lu Xuan almost blurted out.

Lu Cangqiong glanced at him and said calmly, "Today is my birthday, let's end this farce here."

"The matter of the engagement will be discussed again by the elders of both families another day. If there are no further objections, then let's call it a day."

This statement effectively maintains the validity of the engagement for the time being, while leaving room for "further discussion," giving both parties a buffer.

Yunzhi nodded slightly and said nothing more.

Ye Qing'er bit her lip, glanced at Lü Xuan, and ultimately said nothing more.

Lin Yan snorted angrily, turned around and left, his back view filled with raging anger.

Filled with resentment and anger, Xiao Dong turned to leave.

"Xiao Dong, stop right there."

A clear, cold voice came from behind him. It wasn't loud, but it was like an ice line, instantly tightening the nerves of everyone in the room.

Xiao Dong abruptly stopped, turned around, and the flame in his eyes, which had almost been extinguished, suddenly reignited, even more intensely than before.

She called out to me! She still cares about me! She must have her reasons!

However, the way things are often like this: the brighter the hope, the more piercing the cold will be when you fall into the abyss.

"Take your self-delusional look away." Yunzhi met his suddenly bright and expectant gaze with a completely unwavering tone, even carrying a hint of mockery.

She turned slightly to face Lü Cangqiong and the Lü family members on the high platform, her voice carrying clearly:

"The reason I stopped you is because today's events started because of me, Yunzhi, which disrupted the Lu family patriarch's birthday banquet and damaged the Lu family's reputation."

She paused, her gaze sharp as an icy sword, and turned to Xiao Dong:

"The Lu family patriarch will not pursue this matter, but I need to give the Lu family an explanation."

"Xiao Dong."

Yunzhi made a fist with her jade-like hand, and a clear, melodious sword cry suddenly resounded through the night sky!

Clang!

A flash of cold light appeared, and spiritual energy surged forth!

A long sword, its surface gleaming and its blade seemingly adorned with nine illusory wing-like patterns, appeared out of thin air in her hand.

The moment the sword appeared, the surrounding temperature plummeted, and the air seemed to be torn apart by the invisible sharpness.

"The Holy Weapon of Order—the Nine-Winged Sword!" A knowledgeable young person exclaimed in surprise.

What's even more astonishing is the aura that suddenly erupts from Yunzhi's body.

It was no longer the cultivation level he usually concealed, but the unreserved pressure of a peak Foundation Establishment stage cultivator!

Its spiritual energy was pure and abundant, with a faint Daoist aura flowing through it, making it even stronger than the average peak Foundation Establishment cultivator!

She had been hiding her true strength all along!

The color drained from Xiao Dong's face instantly, and the flame of hope that had just ignited in his eyes was completely extinguished by the sudden, cold sword light and powerful aura, leaving only disbelief, astonishment, and pain.

"Yun...Yunzhi?" His voice was dry and trembling. "You...you're going to attack me? Have you forgotten that we fought side by side against the demonic beasts in the Hundred Thousand Mountains..."

"We met by chance, fought side by side, that's all." Yunzhi interrupted him, her words cold and leaving no room for negotiation. "Do you think that with that meager acquaintance, you can make me fall in love with you?"

She slightly raised her chin, her posture aloof and distant.

"Xiao Dong, don't flatter yourself."

"Make your move. Today, I will use the sword in my hand to end this pointless entanglement between us, and also give the Lü family—my fiancé's family—an explanation."

She enunciated the words "fiancé's family" with perfect clarity.

boom!

These words struck like a thunderbolt, reverberating in everyone's hearts once again!

She not only wants to take action against Xiao, but also wants to vindicate the Lü family as the "future daughter-in-law of the Lü family"!

Lu Xuan sat in the audience, his mouth slightly agape, having lost count of how many times he had felt his brain shut down.