C19 Extreme Humiliation

Chapter Nineteen: The Ultimate Humiliation

Aside from the sweat-drenched disciples of the Mysterious Immortal Sect, the only ones standing tall and composed were the influential figures of the Royal Capital.

These dignitaries were well-acquainted with the Fourth Princess and fully aware of her relationship with Liu Xingchang, not to mention the Li Family's advantageous connection with the esteemed Dragon Saliva Sect.

At this juncture, the man at the Fourth Princess's side could be none other than Zhao Qinglong, the Young Sect Master of the Dragon Saliva Sect.

Under normal circumstances, such a pairing would be overlooked, as the Liu Family's fortunes had waned, and the Dragon Saliva Sect stood as a lofty and formidable power. The Fourth Princess and the young sect master together seemed like a perfect union. However, the situation had changed.

It was beyond anyone's expectations that the venerable patriarch of the Liu Family, once a formidable force on the battlefield and in the Royal Capital, had returned even more powerful than before. He had ascended to the Heavenly Path Realm, surpassing the Great Pine Kingdom's most formidable, Mr. Lan. The mood in the arena turned eerily tense in an instant.

What decision would the Emperor make?

What choice would the Fourth Princess make?

And what about Liu Xingchang?

The Emperor was the first to shatter the uneasy silence. He appeared oblivious to the Fourth Princess and Zhao Qinglong's intimate gestures, greeting Liu Jitai with unbridled excitement: "My dear subject, to think you are still alive! Your return is a tremendous blessing for our kingdom! Should the barbarians at the frontier hear of it, they would surely retreat tens of thousands of miles in fear."

Liu Jitai gazed at the Emperor, a man he had shared many a toast with, and was flooded with emotions.

Having learned from Liu Shuile about the Liu Family's recent tribulations, Liu Jitai harbored some resentment towards the Emperor.

He had sacrificed so much for the nation, yet after his death, the Emperor had failed to protect his kin. Was this not a betrayal?

Liu Jitai had contemplated causing an uproar in the throne room, but now, face-to-face with the Emperor, his indignation dissolved into a profound sigh.

"If there were a way to redress the grievances and heal the wounds that the sons and daughters of the Liu Family have endured over the past decade, if my second son and daughter-in-law could be brought back to life, then what would it matter if I sacrificed all of my life's cultivation?"

Those around him sighed deeply.

Ten years had passed, and though Liu Jitai had gained much, he had lost just as much.

Which was greater, his gains or his losses? Opinions varied among those who pondered this question.

Mr. Lan, gripping his wooden sword, stepped forward and inquired, "Earlier, I sensed a terrifying presence within the palace. Did it emanate from you, Brother Liu?"

Liu Jitai remained silent, simply allowing his cultivation aura to emanate forth.

Mr. Lan was taken aback and exclaimed, "The Heavenly Path Realm? Brother Liu, have you truly ascended to the Heavenly Path Realm?"

The emperor, equally astonished, remarked, "Mr. Lan, you yourself are only at the Sixth Stage of the Spirit Origin Realm, yet you now possess such formidable strength!"

Lee Yan, wiping the blood from his lips and dusting off his clothes, looked on with a malevolent glare and said, "He's not just powerful; he also destroyed the foundation of the Mysterious Immortal Sect's formation and killed both the Great Elder and the Sect Master!"

The emperor, upon hearing this, turned his gaze sharply toward the surface of Emerald Lake. Indeed, the lake stretched out vast and uninterrupted, with no sign of the once-massive structure.

In amazement, the emperor asked, "Your Excellency, did you truly destroy the Mysterious Immortal Sect?"

Liu Jitai replied coolly, "Yes."

Lee Yan bellowed, "Your Majesty! The Mysterious Immortal Sect is one of the three great sects of the Great Pine Kingdom. Yet Liu Jitai has resorted to brute force, committing acts that outrage both heaven and man. How can he still be fit to serve as the General of the Great Pine Kingdom?"

Before the emperor could respond, Liu Jitai's piercing gaze fixed on Lee Yan.

Liu Jitai's eyes blazed like lightning, striking fear into Lee Yan, who felt as if he had been scorched on the outside and left raw within, paralyzed with fear.

Struggling for breath, Lee Yan's voice trembled as he said, "Liu Jitai, with the emperor present, would you dare to strike at the emperor's kin? Remember, I am the brother of Consort Hong!"

Liu Jitai's eyes narrowed, his body motionless, but his gaze brimmed with irrepressible scorn as he spoke, "You, Lee Yan, are as easy to kill as reaching into a bag. And who would dare to stop me? They'd be unworthy of my effort! As for the mere title of General of the Nation... I don't even want it! Without it, would you dare to insult and deceive me?"

With a fierce shout, Liu Jitai sent shivers down Lee Yan's spine. His lips quivered, but he was unable to utter a single word.

Then, Liu Jitai, pointing at Zhao Qinglong, raised his bushy eyebrows and said, "Lee Yan, you disregard my grandson's betrothal for his sake, don't you?"

Upon the mention of Zhao Qinglong, Lee Yan, previously trembling and hesitant, suddenly sparked to life, his body surging with vigor as he retorted sharply, "Yes, what of it? Liu Jitai, do you realize who this man is? He is none other than the young sect master of the Dragon Saliva Sect, Zhao Qinglong! Do you think your grandson, Liu Xingchang, stands a chance against him?"

Liu Jitai turned to the emperor, his eyebrows lifting slightly in a dispassionate gesture, and asked, "Is this the reason for your actions?"

It was clear to all what Liu Jitai was implying, and the emperor was no exception.

With a heavy sigh, the emperor responded, "Brother Liu, the Great Pine Kingdom has been stagnant for many years. I hope... you can appreciate my desire."

Liu Jitai fixed his gaze on the emperor for an extended moment.

Suddenly, Liu Jitai burst into a laugh, a sound heavy with desolation and fury, "Qingli, do you truly believe that by this means of strengthening our nation, you can honor the legacy of the Great Pine Kingdom's forebears?"

The emperor stood with his hands clasped behind him, his eyes conveying an ineffable resolve as he declared, "Each person has their own life's pursuit. This is mine, and it is my destiny."

"A destiny indeed!"

Liu Jitai then turned to Liu Xingchang and demanded, "Xingchang, my grandson, how will you handle this situation?"

Liu Xingchang did not respond at once, instead, his gaze shifted between the Fourth Princess and Zhao Qinglong.

Zhao Qinglong was clad in a flowing green robe, his sleeves billowing as if caught in a gentle breeze. His striking features and the sly curve of his smile lent him an air of irresistible charm. Indeed, he was a rare find among handsome men, with a devilish allure that was hard to ignore.

The Fourth Princess, too, lived up to her reputation as the most prideful among the Royal Capital's three great beauties. She held her head high, her delicate features set off by a touch of haughty grace, reminiscent of a regal phoenix surveying all from her lofty perch.

Liu Xingchang spoke with a detached tone, "Everyone has the right to choose whom they love. The Fourth Princess has no affection for me, and I hold no interest in her. She fancies the young master of the Dragon Saliva Sect, and I've had my own entanglements with Yu Qiuer. Thus, there's no contention over dissolving our engagement—I wholeheartedly concur. However..."

"What is it?" the Fourth Princess interjected.

Liu Xingchang continued, "The issue is that the Liu Family must still maintain its presence in the Royal Capital, and our members must face society with dignity. If I, as the head of the Liu Family, am unilaterally forced into annulling an engagement, it would leave our family without a shred of honor. Moreover, with my grandfather's recent return, I cannot in good conscience tarnish his esteemed reputation. Therefore, as the Fourth Princess takes the liberty of breaking off our engagement, I ask that you also accept this decree of divorce I offer. You relinquish your betrothed, and I release my betrothed wife. It's the epitome of fairness and justice."

This proposal, though somewhat radical, was nonetheless a viable solution. However, upon hearing this, the Fourth Princess immediately cried out in revulsion, "Liu Xingchang! I am the esteemed Fourth Princess of the Great Pine Kingdom. By what right do you presume to divorce me?"

Narrowing his eyes, Liu Xingchang replied, "Every faction in the Royal Capital values their reputation. Is the Liu Family to be an exception? I may be an unremarkable man, but as the patriarch of the Liu Family, I stand for all of us. My sister is yet to be wed, and my brother has a long journey ahead. I can bear the disgrace, but why should the entire Liu Family be dragged down with me? Is the dignity of the Fourth Princess the only dignity that matters, while that of the Liu Family counts for nothing?"

The Fourth Princess was seething with rage as she lashed out, "Liu Xingchang! You are nothing but a worthless, despicable, shameless wretch!"

Her fury was palpable, yet the humiliation from Liu Xingchang was only a fraction of the cause. The crux of her anger lay in the possibility that if Liu Xingchang were to issue a letter of divorce, could a woman who had been cast aside still be deemed worthy of marrying into the Dragon Saliva Sect?

To soar to loftier heights and transform into an even more splendid phoenix had always been the Fourth Princess's deepest desire. She was determined to achieve this at any cost, clearing away any obstacle in her path. Even Qiu'er had been strategically introduced to Liu Xingchang by her design.

Her plan was to have Liu Xingchang err first, allowing her to seize the moral high ground to chastise and then forgive him, ultimately annulling their engagement. She aimed to enter the Dragon Saliva Sect with an aura of sanctity and flawlessness.

Yet, she could never have anticipated Liu Xingchang's sudden ascent, nor could she have foreseen the unexpected return of Old Master Liu.

Life is full of surprises.

The Fourth Princess was nearly beside herself with frustration as she declared furiously, "Liu Xingchang! I'll have you know that this engagement is over! Do you really think you're worthy of me? You're not even fit to be compared to Young Master Long's toe! You belong at my feet, groveling like a dog!"

At her words, a surge of humiliation and anger began to rise in Liu Xingchang's eyes.

Narrowing his eyes, Liu Xingchang challenged, "And what if I refuse?"

"Refuse?" interjected Zhao Qinglong suddenly.

Zhao Qinglong carried himself like a dashing playboy, toying with the world, a devilish smile perpetually playing on his lips. With a more pronounced, mischievous grin, he said, "I'm afraid that's not an option. Kid, you had your chance to save face and you squandered it. Now, you've lost even that small privilege."

He produced a sheet of white paper and continued, "Here's one of your two marriage contracts. Bet you didn't see this coming—your betrothed gave this to me quite some time ago. You, on the other hand, probably safeguard it at home like a sacred edict. Earlier, it was merely your fiancée calling off the engagement, but I'm afraid the stakes have been raised. As her devoted brother, I'm the one who's officially calling off this marriage!"

As Zhao Qinglong spoke, he ripped up the marriage agreement, and in the blink of an eye, it was shredded into strips.

With each tear, it felt as though a sword was being plunged into Liu Xingchang's heart.

A wave of commotion rose from the surrounding crowd.

Even though Liu Xingchang had been reborn, the sting of humiliation was piercingly real, as if it were lodged deep within his heart.

The shame was indescribable, nearly incinerating his entire being to cinders.

Unable to bear it any longer, Liu Xingchang lunged forward in a burst of speed.

He had great confidence in his current abilities, having already bested the Ninth Elder of the Mysterious Immortal Sect.

Yet, as he reached Zhao Qinglong's side, before Zhao Qinglong had even made a move, a slap landed on Liu Xingchang's face, sending him flying.

Liu Xingchang was no match for Zhao Qinglong!

He crashed to the ground with a thud, the pieces of the marriage contract humiliatingly scattering over his face, body, and heart.

Zhao Qinglong looked down at him with contempt. "You've underestimated both the Dragon Saliva Sect and myself. I ascended to the Spirit Origin Realm last year, and within a decade, I'll surely step into the Heavenly Path Realm. The entire Great Pine Kingdom is but an ant before our Dragon Saliva Sect. What makes you think you can challenge me?"

The Fourth Princess approached Liu Xingchang, crouching beside him with a voice meant for his ears alone. "Truth be told, I was the one who orchestrated your meeting with Yu Qiuer. Only by your misstep could I enter the Dragon Saliva Sect with a spotless reputation. Now that you're aware of my machinations, what difference does it make? You're nothing but trash, a loser. In the end, you'll lie at the feet of Zhao Qinglong and me, like a dog, powerless to resist."

With those words, the Fourth Princess rose to her feet, her expression once again radiating with pride as she linked arms with Zhao Qinglong.

Zhao Qinglong's sneer carried across the air. "Next year, on the auspicious day of August 24th, I will take the Fourth Princess as my bride. Be sure to come and toast to our happiness!"

Liu Jitai helped Liu Xingchang to his feet, his brow furrowed in concern. He was about to confront them, but Liu Xingchang grasped his sleeve, holding him back.

Liu Xingchang's face was ashen as he shook his head at Liu Jitai, then clenched his jaw and turned his gaze to the Fourth Princess and Zhao Qinglong. His eyes seemed to hold exploding stars and surging thunder.

How could the Liu Family ever stand up to the Dragon Saliva Sect? Liu Xingchang couldn't allow Old Master Liu to face such peril on his behalf.

Besides, this humiliation had to be resolved by his own hand, or he would find no peace, even in death.

Despite his outwardly calm demeanor, Liu Xingchang was a tempest of emotion inside.

Barely containing his anger, he managed to say, "On the auspicious day of your wedding, Liu Xingchang will surely visit the Dragon Saliva Sect. Just remember your actions today! Zhao Qinglong, then we shall see who tramples whom!"

Zhao Qinglong, with undisguised contempt, responded, "Fine, Liu Xingchang, come on the 24th of August next year, if you dare. I'll take you on! If you win, I'll call off the engagement and expel the Fourth Princess from the Dragon Saliva Sect in front of everyone. But if I win, you'll kneel thrice and kowtow nine times at our wedding as your way of congratulating us, then scurry out of the Dragon Saliva Sect like a dog!"

In that moment, dark flames burst forth from the depths of Liu Xingchang's eyes.

A single thought burned fiercely in his mind—

Become stronger, seek vengeance!

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