Chapter Fifteen: Breaking Off the Engagement—It Must Be Done Quickly

Listening to his sister’s lively chatter, Xiao Nan finally understood what had happened.

Xiao Zhenjiang and Qin Shuang’s father, Qin Yong’an, were close friends in their youth, their bond so strong it was as if they wore the same pair of trousers. Though the Qin family had centuries of history and deep roots in Yuanjiang Prefecture, Xiao Zhenjiang, a lone wolf, was not to be underestimated. He had never attended a prestigious academy nor inherited any remarkable legacy, yet through piecing together various martial arts and sword techniques, and relying solely on his own efforts, he managed to cultivate his strength to the sixth rank. Such rapid progress seemed almost miraculous.

Xiao Zhenjiang spent years battling in the wild, often venturing alone into interdimensional passages and returning unscathed. He was known for his bold and forthright nature, making friends wherever he went, and his reputation was considerable.

Qin Yong’an, by contrast, was not as strong nor as gifted, but during one of his expeditions, he met Xiao Zhenjiang. They became sworn brothers, bound by life and death, and Qin Yong’an deeply admired his friend. Thus, it was not surprising that the Xiao and Qin families arranged a marriage between their children. Perhaps it began as a jest between friends, or perhaps they truly held high hopes for their offspring.

Ten years ago, the empire launched its second expedition, mobilizing eighty thousand martial artists and a million auxiliary troops from both military and civilian ranks to cross the spatial passage and explore new frontiers. At first, their advance was unstoppable, capturing vast territories. But soon, the situation changed abruptly—enemy deities intervened, their overwhelming might and bizarre methods left the imperial army helpless, forcing them to retreat a thousand miles. Ultimately, defeat was swift and complete. The imperial expeditionary force suffered heavy casualties, withdrew from the spatial passage, and adopted a defensive stance.

It is worth noting that, due to the interaction of laws between worlds, modern electronic devices malfunctioned in the other realm, and the power of firearms waned; conversely, when enemies invaded this world, their magic and divine arts lost much of their potency. The current situation is one of stalemate: both sides can defend, but neither can effectively attack.

Since then, large-scale wars have ceased, but small skirmishes occur daily and monthly. Invasion and counter-invasion, attack and defense—plots, espionage, and assassinations abound. This is precisely why the status of martial artists has risen so dramatically. The logic is simple: without martial prowess, if enemy experts infiltrate the city, millions of civilians would be at the mercy of the invaders. No matter how clever the mind or wealthy the family, without strength, everything is but a castle in the air, a mirage.

Xiao Zhenjiang and Qin Yong’an both disappeared during the expedition and never returned. Although many in the Qin family now disapprove of the marriage agreement and wish to annul it, Qin Shuang and her mother, Su Yuqing, have always insisted on honoring it. There are profound reasons for this: it is both a tribute to the past and a stand against internal power struggles within the family.

Regarding the internal strife within the Qin family, Xiao Nan could only speculate, as his younger sister Xiao Bei was too young to explain it clearly. She only knew that Aunt Su Yuqing was very powerful and, despite being a daughter-in-law of the Qin family, held great authority, suppressing the second branch and other collateral relatives. Sister Qin Shuang treated her brother kindly, often visiting him. It was clear that the mother and daughter both supported the marriage.

Xiao Bei even had a peculiar suspicion: the weaker her brother was, the more they seemed to like him—it was truly strange.

Xiao Nan gazed up at the sky, feeling a sudden urge to weep. If things continued in this direction, marrying into the Qin family would become inevitable. He felt a bit embarrassed and did not wish to discuss the topic any further. With his current lack of strength, anything he said was meaningless. If he could not even defeat his future wife, no matter how outstanding or beautiful Qin Shuang was, he could not marry her. If an argument broke out and she slapped him, leaving him unable to resist or dodge, and ended up beaten like a pig, his dignity as a husband would be utterly shattered.

Thinking of this, he shivered inwardly. He had to call off the engagement—quickly. But then he realized his current situation was precarious, and he still needed the Qin family’s backing; the idea of breaking off the engagement was not realistic at all. It was somewhat shameless, really.

Perhaps it would be better to break through in spirit, awaken his blood to temper his body, and become stronger than that girl. Then, whether advancing or retreating, the engagement would become irrelevant.

The only comfort was that, after activating the divine mist space, Xiao Nan felt his spiritual realm was constantly improving. He had not yet tested it concretely, but his heightened senses were already evident. Perhaps the divine attribute he had inadvertently acquired could truly propel him to a higher level—maybe even surpass Qin Shuang?

Of course, this was just a hopeful dream. In reality, when he was in the hospital and Qin Shuang dispelled Gu Junwu’s mental attack with her full moon technique, he understood—her admission to the top academy in the imperial capital was not merely luck. The height of one’s spirit determines the development of potential and the strength of the body. The empire’s martial cultivation system was exceedingly clear on this, and Xiao Nan understood it instinctively.

In his previous life, he practiced hard qigong and impact training, honing his body through harsh conditions and pushing his physical potential to the limit. He had even begun to explore the mysterious realm of the spirit, but unfortunately, he never found his own path.

Initially, as long as nutrition was adequate, progress was possible. But after reaching a certain level, improvement stalled. If he did not maintain his condition, his blood and energy would decline, and his strength would wane. Experts in both science and theology had analyzed this problem.

To achieve a breakthrough, one cannot focus solely on the body; it is better to approach from the perspective of mysticism. Studying Daoist and Buddhist classics might yield methods to break the limits of the human body and revive legends.

Xiao Nan once wondered if this theory was correct or simply another dead end, but now he was certain: the principle was right, but implementation was difficult. That world lacked one crucial element—the dense energy that exists everywhere between heaven and earth.

He looked around; the courtyard’s plants flourished, sunlight warmed his body, and he felt comfortable. Taking a deep breath, he sensed the vitality surging in his lungs, silently appreciating the boundless life force nurturing all things in the world, moved to his core.

It did not matter if his body’s talent was poor or his limbs uncoordinated. With such an external environment, he was confident he could surpass his previous life’s limits and reach unimaginable heights.

At this moment, he had no desire to discuss his fiancée with his sister. The sympathetic, pitying look in the little girl’s eyes was nothing short of irritating.

"By the way, Xiao Bei, haven’t you always wanted to learn the sword techniques from Four Seasons Sword Hall? Today I mastered a new move, ‘Slanting Rain.’ Do you want to see it?" Xiao Nan changed the subject.

Much like the various extracurricular classes on Earth, Four Seasons Sword Hall was an after-school martial academy, offering supplemental instruction. Although the fees were exorbitant, it was very popular among middle and high school students.

Yuanjiang First High was a martial arts school with decent faculty, but it only taught mental visualization, basic body tempering, and elementary sword techniques. Lethal combat skills were generally not taught due to their dangerous nature.

Young people are impulsive; once they learn a little, they tend to get into fights. Not only does this disrupt their foundational training, but it also leads to trouble.

Of course, some parents disagreed with the school's approach, believing their children had exceptional energy and self-control, so they enrolled them in various extracurricular programs.

Thus, just like piano or art classes on Earth, martial arts gyms and sword clubs were always in high demand.

Xiao Nan was also entrusted with high hopes by Tan Qiuyi, taking up extracurricular study at Four Seasons Sword Hall. No one expected him to become a master; the goal was simply to broaden his horizons, hoping it would aid his academic progress.

It was well known that martial arts colleges had extremely strict admission requirements; selectivity was their guiding principle. In the assessment process, spiritual realm and physical vitality were paramount, but the ability to grasp and apply techniques also accounted for a significant portion.