Chapter 17: Chapter 16: Argument
’What I saw last night must have been real. Tang Yi must have had some kind of unimaginable, fortuitous encounter. That’s the only explanation for such a drastic change.’
If it were the Tang Yi of the past, Tang Haotian would have definitely agreed the moment they presented their first item. After all, without strength, he wouldn’t have been able to protect his son’s happiness even if he wanted to.
But now that he knew Tang Yi was qualified to cultivate—and was likely extremely powerful—how could Tang Haotian not back his son to the very end with that kind of Talent?
’What’s a Cyan Cloud Pill?’
’Without a Cyan Cloud Pill, didn’t his son Tang Yi still manage to cultivate to a Nine-Star Battle Disciple all the same?’
’What’s an Earth Tier Treasure Sword!’
’His son Tang Yi might even possess a rare Exotic Fire!’
’If he were to sacrifice his son’s dignity for such a paltry, immediate gain, could he still call himself a father?’
Therefore, Tang Haotian naturally looked down on those two items. No matter how good or powerful they were, he wasn’t impressed.
Of course, Tang Haotian didn’t know that Tang Yi was no longer a Nine-Star Battle Disciple. Overnight, he had advanced from a Nine-Star Battle Disciple to a Five-Star Battle Master. And he didn’t just have an Exotic Fire; he also had an Earth Tier Martial Technique, an Ice Sword more formidable than an Earth-tier Weapon, and even a Finishing Move!
And a super-powerful system!
"My name is Situ Qingfeng, Chief Disciple of a Peak Master from the Twelve Peaks of the Purple Cloud Sect’s Inner Sect." Situ Qingfeng introduced himself, his head held high with extreme pride.
"What an impressive Inner Sect Disciple. If I heard you correctly, were you just threatening our Tang Family?" Tang Hao said coolly, his gaze toward Situ Qingfeng exceptionally cold.
Although he knew the other party was stronger than him, if it came to a fight over his son’s marriage, as a father, he would not back down!
"Heh heh." Situ Qingfeng smiled faintly and didn’t reply. Instead, he turned to Tang Yi and said, "So this is the Tang Yi who’s engaged to Junior Sister Siyu? A piece of trash who can’t cultivate. You clearly know you’re not good enough for Junior Sister Siyu, yet you cling to her relentlessly. What kind of logic is that? A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh?"
"Let me be blunt. Our Master Zi will not agree to this marriage. This engagement will be annulled, whether you like it or not. While we’re still being civil, your Tang Family had better know what’s good for you and accept. Otherwise, when the Elders from my sect arrive, the terms won’t be so generous, and they won’t be as pleasant to deal with as we are!"
"Senior Brother Qingfeng, do not be rude!" Shangguan Siyu snapped coldly.
’The two families have been friends for generations. Even if we have to annul the engagement, we should do it honorably and openly. If word gets out that we used our power to bully them, how could the Purple Cloud Sect show its face? How could the Shangguan Family show its face in the future? How could she, Shangguan Siyu, ever show her face?’
’This Situ Qingfeng is being too reckless!’
Shangguan Siyu’s willow-like brows twitched, showing her extreme dissatisfaction with Situ Qingfeng’s recent actions.
"Hmph." With a cold snort, Situ Qingfeng turned his face away and said no more.
Seeing Situ Qingfeng quiet down, Shangguan Siyu quickly turned to Tang Haotian. She put on a sweet smile and apologized, "Uncle Tang, my Senior Brother is just a little blunt. He doesn’t actually mean any harm. Please, be the bigger person and don’t lower yourself to his level."
"I wouldn’t dare. How could I dare to lower myself to the level of a genius disciple from the Purple Cloud Sect? Besides, Miss Siyu, your Talent is extraordinary. You’re already a disciple of the Purple Cloud Sect’s Sect Leader. With such a status, if you still call me ’Uncle,’ I, Tang, truly cannot bear such an honor. I think you should just call me Clan Leader Tang, or you can call me Tang Haotian directly," Tang Haotian’s voice was slightly hoarse, and he couldn’t hide the anger on his face.
With a single sentence, he had drawn a clear line between them. A rift had been created, one that could not be bridged.
"Uncle Tang... Clan Leader Tang."
Shangguan Siyu felt a hint of bitterness in her heart. She hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point. ’How am I going to explain this to my grandfather?’
’I originally thought that Tang Yi was just a piece of trash who couldn’t cultivate and was unworthy of me. I came to annul the engagement under the orders of the Purple Cloud Sect. The Tang Family should have jumped at the chance and agreed immediately.’
’But why... why are they unwilling?’
Shangguan Siyu shot a cold glance at Tang Yi from the corner of her eye, cursing him inwardly. ’It’s all this waste’s fault. If it weren’t for my engagement to him, why would I have to come here to annul it? Why would I have to push our two families to the brink of hostility?’
"Miss Siyu, I know that by joining the Purple Cloud Sect, you have become a chosen daughter of the heavens. In the future, you might even take over as the Sect Leader of the Purple Cloud Sect. Meanwhile, my Yi’Er cannot cultivate, making him no different from an ordinary person. He is indeed not good enough for you..." Tang Haotian said faintly after a moment of contemplation.
"Does that mean... Clan Leader Tang has agreed?" Hearing the hint of compromise in Tang Haotian’s words, Master Yuda was delighted and quickly spoke up.
At this moment, everyone in the Tang Family was also waiting for Tang Haotian’s answer, their faces filled with hope that he would agree.
If he agreed, the Cyan Cloud Pill and the White Snow Treasure Sword would belong to their Tang Family!
"No. This engagement, I will not annul it!"
Tang Haotian hadn’t even answered yet when a firm and powerful voice rang out. It was Tang Yi.
"Tang Yi, you!"
"The elders are speaking! This is no place for you to talk!"
"It’s not your decision whether to annul it or not!"
"Take a look at yourself! Do you think you’re worthy of her?!"
The moment Tang Yi spoke, all the disciples of the Tang Family rose up to condemn him.
’It would be so much better to just annul it!’
’If he annuls it, the Top Grade Cyan Cloud Pill and the White Snow Sword will belong to the Tang Family!’
’How can this Tang Yi be so ungrateful and ignorant?’
This was the thought in the hearts of everyone in the Tang Family, with the exception of Tang Haotian, Tang Lian, and Tang Yi himself.
Everyone wanted Tang Yi to annul this engagement.
"Tang Yi, shut your mouth at once! What is your status? Get back here this instant," the Seventh Elder roared furiously.
"Why should I shut up? This is my marriage. Don’t I, the person involved, even have the right to speak?" Tang Yi retorted, dissatisfied.
"You! You brat! This isn’t just your business; it’s the business of our entire Tang Family!" Talked back to by Tang Yi, the Seventh Elder’s lips trembled with rage.
"Tang Yi, you’re getting more and more audacious! Daring to talk back to an Elder again and again, you’re really rebelling!" Tang Fangzhou, who was standing to the side, also pointed at Tang Yi and said, fuming.
"What’s wrong? Am I mistaken? This engagement is with me, not with you, and not with the Seventh Elder. What right do you have to speak on it? And you’re even telling me to shut up? Aren’t you overstepping your bounds? Are you going to manage other people’s wives, too? If this were happening to you, should I also take charge of your wife for a bit?" Tang Yi shot back.
His words left Tang Fangzhou and the Seventh Elder speechless. They could only glare at Tang Yi with vicious eyes, wishing they could flay him and pull out his tendons.
At that moment, both of them were thinking the same thing: ’Once this is over, we’ll find a time to deal with Tang Yi. For a piece of trash who can’t cultivate to be so arrogant... we’ll definitely teach him a lesson he won’t forget!’