Chapter 220
Let's break off the engagement!
Lin Xia's gaze swept over the most important people and partners in his life, and a warm feeling welled up in his heart. He said aloud:
"Teachers, senior students, homeroom teacher, we're entrusting Geng Jincheng to you! We're leaving now!"
He took Zhu Zhuqing's hand, and the two turned around and stepped onto the streamlined, luxurious soul-guided carriage, cast entirely from special alloys, engraved with energy patterns, and heading towards the Heaven Dou Empire.
The car door slid shut silently, blocking everyone's view.
The carriage started smoothly and quickly gained speed. Outside the window, the iconic steel forest and dazzling neon lights of Gengjin City rushed past, gradually shrinking until they disappeared into the horizon, replaced by vast plains and continuous mountain ranges.
Lin Xia leaned back comfortably on the sofa, gazing at the scenery rushing past the window, and let out a long sigh of relief.
A sense of relief, as if a heavy burden had been lifted, was intertwined with anticipation for the unknown journey ahead.
"Phew... finally out."
He remarked with a long-lost, pure and relaxed smile.
"Having been in this world for so long, I've either been desperately cultivating or racing against time to build things, scheming and plotting. I haven't really stopped to see what this continent is really like."
Zhu Zhuqing sat opposite him, her posture elegant, her beautiful face appearing particularly captivating in the flowing light and shadow.
Seeing Lin Xia's relaxed expression, a slight smile appeared on her lips.
Lin Xia turned her head, her gaze gently falling on Zhu Zhuqing's face, and asked earnestly.
"Zhuqing, the matter with Geng Jincheng is over. What are your plans now? Or is there anything you particularly want to do?"
He knew what she was thinking, but he wanted to hear her say it herself.
Upon hearing this, Zhu Zhuqing's body tensed slightly, her long eyelashes drooping down to conceal the complex emotions in her eyes.
A brief silence fell over the carriage, broken only by the low rumble of the engine as it sped along.
After a long while, she finally raised her head. Her eyes, which were originally as cold as a deep pool, now clearly reflected determination, as well as a hint of barely perceptible pleading.
She looked at Lin Xia and spoke clearly and slowly, word by word.
"Brother Lin Xia, I want to break off the engagement."
She paused, as if gathering her courage, her voice carrying a resolute determination to sever ties with the past:
“I don’t want to be called ‘Dai Mubai’s fiancée’ anymore, nor do I want to be forever branded with the marks of the Star Luo royal family and the Zhu family. This engagement… has never been an honor for me, but a shackle, a sword hanging over my head, constantly reminding me of my fate of failure and the shadow of being abandoned.”
"Now... I just want to be myself, Zhu Zhuqing, not someone's appendage, much less a pawn in the cruel game of the Star Luo Royal Family."
After she finished speaking, she fixed her gaze on Lin Xia, waiting for a response.
She knew the weight of this request.
Challenging the ironclad rule of marriage between the Xingluo royal family and the Zhu family, and tearing up the contract of political marriage between the empire, is by no means an easy task.
This involves the face of the royal family, the core interests of the Zhu family, and the rules that have been in place for thousands of years.
She was even mentally prepared for Lin Xia to persuade her to reconsider, or for her to have to pay an unimaginable price.
However, Lin Xia's reaction was completely unexpected.
Almost the instant she finished speaking, Lin Xia's face showed no surprise, difficulty, or hesitation. He simply nodded calmly, his deep eyes filled with a reassuring gentleness and an undeniable firmness.
"it is good."
His voice was steady and clear, without the slightest hesitation, as if he were only agreeing to a trivial matter.
"I promise you. Leave this to me. Let's break off the engagement."
This overly decisive and nonchalant answer stunned Zhu Zhuqing. Her beautiful eyes widened, filled with disbelief and shock.
She had imagined that Lin Xia would support her, but she never expected his support to be so...easy.
It was as if he were dealing not with a top-tier power, but with an ordinary household chore.
"Brother Lin Xia..."
Zhu Zhuqing's voice trembled slightly, her heart filled with immense emotion and a sense of unreality.
"This...this will be extremely difficult! That's the royal family of the Star Luo Empire, it's the Zhu family's principle...The Dai family won't agree easily, and the Zhu family will see it as a great humiliation! They will definitely demand unimaginable compensation, and might even..."
She dared not think about the consequences of failure, which might implicate Lin Xia and Geng Jincheng.
Lin Xia looked at the worry and shock in her eyes, smiled slightly, and that smile contained a calm and powerful confidence that was in control of everything.
He stood up, walked over and sat down next to Zhu Zhuqing, naturally extending his warm hand to gently stroke her smooth, silky hair, the gesture full of comforting intent.
"Silly girl."
His voice was deep and magnetic, with a convincing power.
"There's nothing difficult about it. So-called principles, rules, and face are all flexible, even reshapeable, in the face of absolute power and sufficient benefits. Don't forget who I am? I am the city lord of Gengjin City."
His tone was relaxed, yet it contained a strong sense of confidence:
"We have the card of deep cooperation with the Spirit Hall, the bargaining chip of the alliance that the Heaven Dou Empire is eager to sign, and the trump card of more than 90% of the blacksmiths and soul guidance technology on the entire continent."
"As for the Star Luo Empire... His Majesty Dai Tianxing is a smart man. He is well aware of the importance of Gengjin City to them—the key to the Western Border Defense System, the upgrading of military equipment, and the enhancement of national strength all lie here."
"He knows exactly what he's doing: his good-for-nothing son abandons a fiancée he doesn't cherish and who even ran away from the wedding in exchange for a stable and long-term partnership with Geng Jincheng."
"As for the Zhu family?"
Lin Xia's lips curled into a smile.
"Is it more important to follow their rules, or to obtain core technology support from Gengjin City, allowing their Netherworld Cat Martial Soul to possess a more powerful soul-guided collaborative combat capability?"
"If they can't see this, then I don't mind letting the other noble families of the Star Luo Empire see the opportunity to replace the Zhu family and cooperate with us. The world is bustling with people, all for profit. That's the rule of the game."
He looked at Zhu Zhuqing with an extremely serious expression.
"So don't worry about the difficulties. To me, this is nothing more than a carefully planned exchange of interests and a game of bargaining chips. Most importantly, it's your wish. Once you've made up your mind, I'll help you achieve it."
These words, like a warm torrent, completely washed away all of Zhu Zhuqing's worries and anxieties.
Overwhelmed with emotion, she felt a lump in her throat and her eyes reddened slightly.
Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she leaned forward, stretched out her arms, and hugged Lin Xia tightly.
She buried her face in Lin Xia's neck, her voice tinged with a sob.
"Um... thank you, Brother Lin Xia... really... thank you..."
Lin Xia felt the girl in his arms trembling slightly and her complete trust, and his heart softened.
He reached out and gently encircled her slender yet strong waist, saying softly:
“Then let’s deal with this now. Dai Mubai… if nothing unexpected happens, he should still be in Soto City right now.”
Zhu Zhuqing raised her head, her eyes still glistening with tears, but her expression was now resolute.
"Okay! Brother Lin Xia, let's go to Soto City!" (End of Chapter)