Just as Qin Tianhai was about to strike—
A figure appeared in the sky.
A middle-aged man in a black robe embroidered with golden threads descended, raising a hand to stop him.
"Old Qin," the man said calmly, "you know the rules—no killing in the city."
Qin Tianhai remained composed, as if he'd expected this.
With a wave of his sleeve, the dozens of hovering sword-lights vanished instantly.
"I wasn't going to kill him," he said casually. "Just a warning."
The man exhaled in relief and gave a slight bow. "Good… that's good."
Then, turning toward Su Yuanshan, his expression turned sharp.
"Su Yuanshan, you know the law. Elders are forbidden to use force against the younger generation—especially not to suppress or threaten them."
"I—I understand, Pavilion Master Zhang," Su Yuanshan stammered, bowing his head like a scolded child.
"See that it doesn't happen again," Zhang said meaningfully. "Next time, I won't be able to shield you."
He gave a respectful nod to Qin Tianhai, then disappeared into the air.
"Hahh… hahh…"
Su Yuanshan let out a shaky breath, patting his chest. He had truly felt death closing in just moments ago. Had Pavilion Master Zhang not intervened, he might have been torn to shreds on the spot.
Qin Yuan watched all of this with an unreadable gaze.
Truthfully, he hadn't planned to kill Su Yuanshan here—not because he didn't want to.
If he had, the system would have likely given him a significant reward. But people like Su Yuanshan couldn't be touched yet. Not unless they gave him the perfect excuse.
After all, the Human Race Domain wasn't exactly peaceful.
The continent was shared by three major races—humans, demons, and monsters. And though they'd coexisted for centuries, the tension was thick, and war had been brewing for the past few hundred years.
To maintain internal stability, the human race's upper echelon had enacted strict rules.
Unless absolutely necessary, cultivators at or above the Golden Core Realm were forbidden from engaging in life-or-death battles within city limits.
That included Tongtian Realm cultivators like Su Yuanshan.
That's why Qin Tianhai was stopped just now.
Out in the wild, in secret realms or places without enforcement? You could kill whoever you pleased.
But in the city, everything was watched.
…
Qin Tianhai gave Su Yuanshan one final glare. "I'm sparing your life this time. Next time, even if a whole garrison tries to stop me—I will kill you."
Then he turned to Qin Yuan, gave a nod of approval, and left without another word.
As soon as he vanished, Qin Yuan's smile faded.
His gaze locked back onto Su Yuanshan, cold and impassive.
He wasn't here to play games anymore.
"I'll make this clear," Qin Yuan said. His voice echoed through the square, silencing everything.
"I didn't come to win Su Mengyao back."
"I came to break off the engagement."
The words landed like a thunderclap.
"What…?" Su Yuanshan blinked, like he had just been struck in the head.
"Cancel… the engagement?" he repeated, his voice hollow.
Su Mengyao, standing nearby, covered her mouth in shock.
"No," she whispered. "That's… impossible… right?"
Yu Ying comforted Su Mingyao.
Meanwhile, Lin Yun lit up with excitement.
"Great! Mengyao's mine now!" he muttered under his breath, grinning like a fool.
Everyone reacted differently—but the mood shifted fast.
Su Yuanshan finally broke the silence. "Qin… Qin Xiaoyou…"
He was about to call him by name but corrected himself with a forced smile. His voice had lost all arrogance.
"Did something… happen between you and Yao'er? If she did something wrong, I'll have her apologize immediately. There's no need to cancel the engagement. Let's be reasonable—"
Qin Yuan cut him off coldly.
"You know exactly what happened," he said. "Ask anyone and they'll tell you. I'm not here to rehash the past."
"I'm only here for one thing and that's ending this engagement."
Su Yuanshan's face twitched. His mouth opened but no words came.
He had genuinely thought Qin Yuan had come to patch things up. That's why he had greeted him with so much bravado—he wanted to squeeze more cultivation resources out of him.
But now? Now Qin Yuan was pulling the plug. Without hesitation.
This stupid girl…
Su Yuanshan's temples throbbed with rage. He really wanted to slap Su Mengyao right then and there.
He knew better than anyone: without Qin Yuan's support, the Su family wouldn't have risen as far as it had.
And if Qin Yuan took everything back…
They were done.
Still, on the surface, he kept his expression neutral. He needed to exit this gracefully.
"Fine," he said finally, face stiff. "Then I agree. The engagement is cancelled."
"It's just as well—I've already chosen a new son-in-law. Someone with far greater prospects than you."
"You? You're nothing. Weak. Timid. And not worthy of my daughter."
His voice was laced with ridicule.
But the irony? Qin Yuan wasn't weak. Not even close.
His current cultivation and strength were unrivaled among his peers. He had only appeared unremarkable because the original Qin Yuan had wasted all his time chasing after Su Mengyao like a simp.
And now, everyone knew who the "chosen son-in-law" was supposed to be.
Lin Yun smirked proudly. He didn't even try to hide it.
Su Mengyao and Yu Ying, on the other hand, looked like their world had just collapsed.
Su Mengyao especially—her face had turned pale. Why? Why was he really breaking up with her? Didn't he love her?
But Qin Yuan had already turned to leave.
"Good," he said. "From today on, the Su family has nothing to do with me."
"Then you may leave," Su Yuanshan said coolly. Hands clasped behind his back, he turned to walk back toward the hall.
But he didn't get far.
Qin Yuan spoke again—louder this time, his tone sharp as a blade.
"One last thing."
Su Yuanshan froze mid-step.
"Since the engagement is officially cancelled… all resources the Qin family gave you over the years must be returned. In full."
"So I suggest you prepare for that, Patriarch Su."
The courtyard fell dead silent.
"…What?"
Su Yuanshan turned around slowly, like he couldn't believe what he'd just heard.
His lips trembled.
Resources…
He knew how much had been given over the years—pills, weapons, cultivation manuals, spirit stones, defensive arrays.
If Qin Yuan reclaimed it all…
The Su family would collapse within a month.
…