**Breaking off the engagement?**
In the halls of the Ye family.
The familiar chamber was suffused with an unusually tense atmosphere. Ye Tian's parents sat in their chairs, their expressions grim as they faced a striking woman in a red dress, who was handing them a piece of animal hide.
"Breaking off the engagement?"
Ye Tian's father, Ye Meng, clenched the animal hide in his fist, rising to his feet with a face as pale as death. He glared at the alluring woman before him and exclaimed, "Lin Jiao, this marriage was agreed upon by your father himself! How can the esteemed village chief dare to go back on his word?"
Beside him, Ye Tian's mother, Lin Mei, glared furiously at Lin Jiao.
They had already learned of their son's lack of a martial soul. If they were to face the additional blow of a broken engagement at this moment, it would surely spell the end of their lives. As Ye Tian's parents, their anger was entirely justified.
"Oh, Uncle Meng, don't say it like that! My father would never break the engagement, or else I wouldn't be the only one here today," Lin Jiao replied coyly. There was no denying her allure; her delicate figure and stunning beauty exuded an irresistible charm.
Upon hearing her words, Ye Meng and Lin Mei let out a sigh of relief and sat back down. It was Lin Mei who spoke first, looking at Lin Jiao and asking slowly, "If that's the case, what does this mean?" She pointed at the animal hide, which was a letter of annulment.
Ye Meng also turned to Lin Jiao, eager to hear her explanation.
"The contents are clearly stated here," Lin Jiao said, her beautiful eyes shimmering. "Although my father hasn't explicitly mentioned breaking the engagement, news of Ye Tian's lack of a martial soul has spread throughout Lin Family Village. My sister is known as one of the most beautiful women there; suitors line up from Lin Family Village to Ye Family Village to win her affection. If Ye Tian were still the genius he once was, no one would dare challenge him. But now…"
As she spoke, the faces of Ye Meng and Lin Mei darkened, as they began to piece together the troubling implications.
Lin Jiao looked at them coldly and continued, "Today, dozens of young men from Lin Family Village came to my house, pressuring my father to refuse this marriage."
"Boom!"
At her words, Ye Meng slammed his hand on the table, his gaze fixed on Lin Jiao. "Does your father, a mere village chief, really allow himself to be bullied by a bunch of hot-headed youngsters?"
Lin Mei's expression was equally grim; they both recognized this as merely a ruse of Lin Jiao's.
"You can't say that! The fathers of those young men are all formidable figures in the village, wielding significant influence. While my father is the village chief, he cannot offend everyone. Besides, why should Ye Tian, lacking a martial soul, think he can marry my sister?" Lin Jiao sneered.
"Spare me your nonsense! The only reason for this broken engagement is that my son lacks a martial soul, hmpf!" Ye Meng retorted, his fury unabated.
"Ha! You know the truth, then. My father values relationships and sent me here to annul the engagement privately, to avoid embarrassment for everyone!" Lin Jiao said, her demeanor carefree, showing no concern for Ye Meng and Lin Mei's dark expressions.
"I suspect he's more afraid of being labeled a man of broken promises!" Ye Meng scoffed.
"Whether the engagement is annulled or not, my son is steadfast; even without a martial soul, he deserves respect!" Lin Mei exclaimed, startling Ye Meng with her fierce defense. It was clear she was deeply upset.
"If that's the case, what about this marriage contract…" Lin Jiao began, but her words were cut short when the door swung open, revealing a cold-faced young man.
"I'll sign!"
The youth was none other than Ye Tian, who had just returned. He coldly took the animal hide, swiftly signed his name, and tossed it back to Lin Jiao.
"Tian'er…" Lin Mei looked on with concern, while Ye Meng trembled, unsure of how to respond.
Seeing his worried parents warmed Ye Tian's heart. In his past life, he had been an orphan, never knowing the love of parents. In this life, however, fate had smiled upon him, granting him a pair of loving guardians.
"In this life, I have no regrets!" Ye Tian mused internally, then turned to Lin Jiao, his expression turning icy as he declared, "Get out. You are not welcome here."
"Hmph! Do you think I wanted to be here? A worthless boy without a martial soul thinks he can marry my sister? Such delusions! You'll always remain a nobody!" Lin Jiao scoffed dismissively and turned to leave.
"You…" Ye Meng erupted in anger, ready to confront Lin Jiao, but was stopped by Ye Tian.
"Father, let it go. There's no need to stoop to her level!" Ye Tian shook his head calmly, though a glint of coldness flickered in his dark eyes.
"Tian'er…" Lin Mei approached, worry etched on her face.
"Don't fret. Who cares if I lack a martial soul? With you both by my side, no one would dare bully me!" Ye Meng boasted, clapping Ye Tian on the shoulder.
Seeing his parents gave him a sense of comfort, and his previous despair dissipated significantly. He nodded and reassured them, "Don't worry, I'm fine."
"It's poor Tingting, though; she's probably locked away, preventing you from seeing her!" Lin Mei lamented.
At this, Ye Tian recalled a petite figure and his gaze dimmed. He shook his head, saying, "It's best to let it go. In this life, we are fated to be apart. I wish her the best in finding someone better than me. What Lin Jiao said is true; without a martial soul, I indeed don't deserve her."
"Tian'er…" Lin Mei immediately realized her mistake and looked apologetic.
"Don't worry, Mother. I won't do anything foolish. In this world, I still have you two!" Ye Tian reassured her.
"Right! A man shouldn't fret over a woman. Your father will certainly find you a good wife!" Ye Meng grinned broadly, realizing that his son hadn't been defeated by the setbacks.
"Yes, I will keep an eye out as well. Tomorrow, I'll ask some aunts to help introduce a girl!" Lin Mei nodded seriously.
Upon hearing this, Ye Tian felt overwhelmed. He smiled bitterly and said, "Father, Mother, please don't worry about this. I'm still young; settling down is far too soon."
"You can't say that! Think of your father and me; we were…" Ye Meng rambled on, but Ye Tian quickly made his escape.
"Father, Mother, I'm going to rest now. Call me for dinner!" Before he could finish, Ye Tian dashed away.
"That boy…" Lin Mei shook her head, her face softening into a warm smile.
Inside Ye Tian's room.
Upon entering, Ye Tian forcefully slammed the door shut and sat on his bed with a sullen expression, his furious gaze fixated on the setting sun outside the window.
His show of strength was merely a facade for his parents, intended to spare them from worry.
Human emotions are tender; after years of companionship, severing ties is not as simple as it seems. Even with Ye Tian's resolute nature, he could not remain unscathed.
"Why am I devoid of a martial soul?" Ye Tian's voice rose in a low howl, his eyes aflame with indignation.
Martial souls—if only he possessed one, even the most basic crimson variant, he would not have faced such humiliating rejection.
"I refuse to believe that a lack of a martial soul precludes one from becoming a warrior!"
Ye Tian closed his eyes, sitting cross-legged on the bed, his fingers reaching skyward as he attempted to commune with the celestial energies.
However, after a considerable wait, he felt nothing.
Without a martial soul, he could not perceive the ethereal forces of the world, rendering him unable to absorb or refine them. Without refining the energies, he could not attain true qi, nor could he unblock his meridians to become a warrior.
With a heavy heart, Ye Tian opened his eyes, despair evident within them—indeed, without a martial soul, he could never become a warrior.
"Meow…" A sudden meow broke through his thoughts, drawing Ye Tian's attention. Turning, he saw the little white tiger he had brought back nudging his leg.
"Are you hungry, little one?"
Seeing the adorable creature, Ye Tian couldn't help but smile. He picked up the little white tiger, discovering a parchment beneath it—the very "reward" bestowed upon him by the deceased elder white tiger.
"Meow!" The little white tiger, lifted into the air, extended its tongue to lick Ye Tian's cheek.
"Ha ha!" Ye Tian erupted in laughter.
"Just wait, little buddy; I'll find you something to eat!" With the little white tiger cradled in his arms, Ye Tian stepped out, fetching some beast milk from his mother to feed the tiny creature.
"This child, where did you find this little white kitten? Quite adorable!" Lin Mei gazed at Ye Tian with a kind smile as he returned with the little white tiger.
"Grow up quickly, little one! Your mother is so powerful; you'll surely be strong as well. Though I may never become a warrior, if you thrive, I can still make a name for myself in Baiyun Town!"
Inside the room, Ye Tian placed the well-fed and sleeping little white tiger in the corner of the bed, pondering quietly.
With its mother being a warrior, the little white tiger possessed immense potential. If he raised it well, it would be akin to having a warrior-level beast by his side, which would be nearly as advantageous as becoming a warrior himself.
After all, in the vicinity of Baiyun Town, there was only one warrior-level expert; should he have a warrior-level little white tiger, who would dare to underestimate him?
As he contemplated the grand endeavor of raising the little white tiger, Ye Tian casually picked up the parchment, curious to examine it.
"How strange to receive such a tattered beast hide as a reward; do they consider parchment precious in their eyes?" Puzzled, he scanned the hide and his expression sharpened as he noticed inscriptions.
"Ah, the script of the Divine Continent; judging by its age, it's quite antiquated…"
Ye Tian examined it intently. Although the script was somewhat worn, it remained legible, emanating an ancient aura.
"I, the ancient sorcerer Barata, was born without a martial soul…"
Oh! A sorcerer!
Ye Tian's expression shifted, curiosity igniting further as he continued to study the parchment earnestly.