Chapter 3 Break Off The Engagement

"Mr. Marcus, Mr. Thorne has requested your immediate presence in the main hall!" A voice called urgently from outside the door. "What's the matter?" Marcus frowned, his displeasure evident. He had been in the middle of cultivating. What could be so urgent that it required his immediate attention? "Uh… we have visitors. Mr. Thorne has asked for you to come right away," the person outside replied hesitantly. "Alright, I got it. I'll be there shortly," Marcus responded. Reluctantly, he paused his cultivation session. After changing into a clean set of clothes, Marcus headed toward the main hall. "Mr. Marcus!" Before he could step inside, a young man was already waiting at the entrance. "Raphael? What's going on?" Marcus asked, surprised to see his loyal follower, Raphael Thorne, looking visibly anxious. Despite its many members, the Thorne Family was known for its unity. Marcus, as a generous heir, had earned widespread respect among his peers, even with his mediocre cultivation base. "Mr. Marcus, this is outrageous. You need to see for yourself," Raphael said through gritted teeth, his frustration barely contained. "Alright, let's see what's going on." Marcus strode confidently into the main hall and immediately took in the scene. Inside, a man in a white robe occupied the central seat, exuding an air of authority. Beside him was a young woman in blue, one leg crossed over the other. Her expression oozed disdain as her gaze swept arrogantly across the room. The rest of the Thorne Family, including the family head, Frederick, stood respectfully before the pair. Despite their formal stance, flashes of frustration flickered in their eyes. "Father, I'm here. What's going on?" Marcus asked as he entered. When Frederick saw his son arrive, a flicker of guilt crossed his face. "Marcus, this is Mr. Xander from the Jade Swords Guild. He is also the master of Mandy Boly," Frederick began in a low voice. Marcus paused for a moment, his thoughts scrambling to remember details about Mandy. "Mandy Boly? The Boly Family of Cloudwater City… my fiancée? My gosh, don't tell me this is… " An ominous feeling gripped his heart. Before he could respond, Mandy stood up from her chair. "Marcus, I'll get straight to the point. Last month, I broke through to the Qi Cultivation Realm and even awakened an Astral Vision. Mr. Xander has recognized my potential and accepted me as his personal disciple." "Our engagement was nothing but the outdated meddling of the older generation. Now that I'm one of the Jade Swords Guild's most promising talents, do you really think someone like you, who hasn't even broken through the first stage of the Body Refining Realm, is worthy of me?" Her gaze was filled with mockery as she stared at Marcus. The Thorne Family members' faces darkened at her humiliating words, their frustration plain to see. But Marcus, the one directly insulted, remained calm and unbothered. "Oh, so you're here to break off the engagement? No big deal. I agree. Do you need it in writing? Should I compensate you for emotional trauma or wasted youth? Just name your price," Marcus replied casually. "Huh?" Mandy was caught completely off guard. She had arrived fully prepared to end the engagement, even taunting him in public. This should have been humiliating for him. Why was he agreeing so easily? What Mandy didn't realize was that Marcus' mindset was shaped by modern ideals, remnants of his past life on Earth. To him, arranged marriages were outdated and absurd. Even if Mandy hadn't come to break off the engagement, he would have found a way to dissolve it himself. Her actions only saved him the trouble. All Marcus wanted now was to settle the matter quickly and see her off. He still had several codices pending for cultivation, and he didn't want to waste time bickering with her. At that moment, a voice rang out from the crowd. "Haha! Mr. Marcus truly has an admirable temperament. Such composure and magnanimity are worthy of respect!" Raphael exclaimed. "Exactly! The ability to endure and adapt is the mark of a true gentleman!" An elder of the Thorne Family stroked his beard and nodded in agreement. "Our family is fortunate to have such a young master," another member chimed in. "Uh… I… " Marcus' expression froze with embarrassment. He simply disliked Mandy and the idea of an arranged marriage, yet everyone seemed to be wildly overanalyzing his actions. Meanwhile, Mandy's expression darkened with a mix of shame and irritation as she noticed the shift in the room's mood. "Mr. Xander!" She turned to Madison Xander, her eyes pleading and full of grievance. Madison narrowed his eyes, a glimmer of killing intent flickering within them. "Marcus, don't tell me you're planning to endure this humiliation now, only to seek revenge on Mandy after you achieve success in your cultivation," he said coldly. "What? Of course not!" Marcus replied, startled by the accusation. "Humph! Don't try to fool me! I've traveled the world for decades. What kind of person haven't I encountered? You may be skilled at hiding your intentions, but I can see through you," Madison sneered.