In this world, fate often manifests itself as a cruel and unfeeling tailor, cutting and stitching the fabric of lives with neither care nor precision. For Lin Fan, this day marked one of the roughest stitches in his life's tapestry. He stood within the grand hall of the Lin family estate, his frame slight, his attire neat yet unable to conceal the weariness and humiliation etched into his eyes. Around him, the gathered guests whispered in hushed tones, their murmurs woven with mockery, like a crowd seated in a theatre awaiting the opening act of a tragedy.
"Lin Fan, you are nothing but a worthless wretch, yet you presume to deserve a union with me, Su Xue Rou?" A cold, cutting voice pierced the air. It belonged to a young woman of striking beauty who stood in the center of the hall, her posture regal and her expression disdainful. Su Xue Rou, a prodigy of the prestigious Qing Yun Sect, was famed not only for her unparalleled talent but also for her noble bearing. Yet, her smile now was as sharp as a blade, slicing through Lin Fan's composure.
At her side stood a dashing young man, his aura brimming with confidence and power. This was Shen Hao Ran, another rising star of the Qing Yun Sect, whose accomplishments had already placed him among its elite disciples. With an air of casual superiority, he regarded Lin Fan as one might observe an insect beneath their boot. His lips curled into a faint smile, his tone light yet brimming with derision: "Lin Fan, you should consider yourself fortunate that Xue Rou has deigned to personally end this engagement. For someone of your stature, this arrangement was a joke from the very start."
Lin Fan said nothing. His hands clenched into tight fists, his knuckles white from the force. He had long anticipated this moment, yet no amount of preparation could dull the sting of humiliation that came with it. Since childhood, he had been the outcast of the Lin family, dismissed as a failure due to his inability to cultivate. The family elders had declared his spiritual roots dim and lifeless, sealing his fate as a mortal in a world of cultivators. And now, the woman who had once been promised to him—a peerless genius—was here to sever their bond, trampling on his dignity before a hall full of spectators.
"Miss Su," spoke Lin Zhen Tian, the patriarch of the Lin family and Lin Fan's father. His voice, though steady, carried a hint of unease, as if he were grasping at straws to salvage the situation. "Surely there is no need for such haste. The engagement between our families was arranged by our ancestors and has stood for many years. Perhaps we might—"
"Patriarch Lin," Su Xue Rou interrupted, her tone calm but unyielding, "I am a disciple of the Qing Yun Sect, destined to become one of its pillars. Lin Fan, on the other hand, is a man without talent, unfit to even walk alongside me, let alone stand as my equal. To sever this engagement is not only for my sake but also to spare your family further embarrassment. Surely, you must see this as a kindness."
Her words struck Lin Fan like a thunderclap. He raised his head slightly, his eyes meeting hers with a mixture of pain and defiance. Around him, the whispers grew louder, the laughter sharper, each sneer a dagger to his pride.
"Hahaha!" A loud, mocking laugh broke the tension. The source was Lin Xu, a distant cousin of Lin Fan and a constant thorn in his side. Lin Xu had long taken delight in Lin Fan's misfortunes and now saw this moment as the perfect opportunity to twist the knife. "Lin Fan, do you truly think someone like you is worthy of Su Xue Rou? This engagement was a blessing you never deserved! You should be groveling in gratitude that she even bothered to end it personally!"
The laughter spread like wildfire through the hall, engulfing Lin Fan in a storm of ridicule and scorn. His face turned pale, his chest heaving with suppressed emotion. He could have borne the insults in silence, as he always had, but something within him stirred—a spark of defiance, a flicker of pride that refused to be extinguished.
At last, he spoke, his voice low but steady, carrying an undercurrent of unyielding resolve: "Su Xue Rou, if you wish to end this engagement, so be it. But the humiliation you have dealt me today—I, Lin Fan, will not forget it."
The hall fell into a stunned silence. Then, as if to mock the audacity of his words, the laughter resumed, louder and crueler than before. Lin Xu clutched his sides, his voice dripping with scorn: "Hahaha! Lin Fan, you dare to make such a claim? What will you do—remember it as you live out your days as the worthless wretch you are?"
Su Xue Rou's expression flickered, as though she had not anticipated Lin Fan's defiance. Yet her composure quickly returned, her voice as icy as ever. "Lin Fan, I shall look forward to seeing how you choose to remember this day. Pray that you do not squander the rest of your pitiful life on futile anger."
With that, she turned on her heel, her flowing robes brushing the ground as she walked away. Shen Hao Ran followed her, his gaze lingering on Lin Fan with a trace of amusement, as one might regard an entertaining but ultimately inconsequential performance.
Lin Fan stood motionless, his fists slowly unclenching. Yet within him, the fire of humiliation burned hotter, consuming his weakness and hesitation. It was no longer just anger that fueled him but a newfound resolve—a vow forged in the crucible of disgrace.
"The shame of today shall be repaid a hundredfold."