Chapter 1
1798 Words
The system had told him: “Win over Liu Ruyan for three years, and you can activate the system, attain unmatched enlightenment, and conquer the world!”
For this goal, Jiang Yunhao had abandoned all dignity, humbled himself, and fawned over Liu Ruyan like a lowly dog.
Yet Liu Ruyan only said that wealth and treasures insulted her sense of refinement.
So every time she accepted his gifts, she wore a mask of reluctant nobility—pretending to scorn his efforts while secretly showing off to her friends. She took his devotion without giving him a shred of genuine affection.
She claimed she wasn’t frivolous, yet flirted with countless young masters, leaving ambiguous feelings everywhere.
Reasonable? Not at all.
Jiang Yunhao endured it all for the system. But now… the system said it had made a mistake.
“I’ve been groveling for this woman for three years,” he fumed, “and now you tell me it was wrong?”
The system stammered, warning of malfunctions. He groaned, exasperated. Then came a chime:
“Ding! System rebooted. To compensate the host, activation can proceed without completing any tasks. Countdown: 10, 9, 8…”
Finally, things were back to normal.
Jiang Yunhao leapt to his feet. No more ridiculous tasks! As for Liu Ruyan, let whoever wants her go grovel.
For three years, he had been seen as a pathetic sycophant, a wasteful heir, a laughingstock. Even his position in the Jiang family teetered on the brink.
Enough. First, he would secure his power within the family. Once he grew strong enough, everything he desired would be his.
As he plotted, a voice rang outside:
“Jiang Yunhao, I’ve told you, I, Liu Ruyan, am not a woman who pursues vanity!”
“Are you deaf? I’m talking to you!”
It was unmistakably her. Jiang Yunhao knew her too well.
Liu Ruyan, full of pride, walked toward the carriage—only to be blocked by two guards in black armor.
“Miss Ruyan, without the Young Master’s permission, no one may approach him.”
Liu Ruyan froze. Never before had this happened. The old Jiang Yunhao would have jumped down to greet her immediately.
“What nonsense! How dare you block me?!” she shouted, laughing with fury. “Even your master, Jiang Yunhao, never dared speak to me like this!”
“Jiang Yunhao, come out and see me!”
The black guards’ eyes flickered with deadly intent, but they quickly bowed, suppressing their anger. These were elite guards, loyal only to the Young Master—no mere woman could insult them.
Then came Jiang Yunhao’s voice from the carriage:
“Bold enough to insult the Jiang family guards? Throw her out. Don’t block my view.”
He had seen everything and felt nothing but disgust. Spoiled, arrogant, willful—he had no interest in her.
Silence fell. Onlookers stared, mouths agape.
Liu Ruyan froze. “Jiang Yunhao, are you crazy? How dare you speak to me like this? Do you still want to marry me? I’ll break the engagement, just you wait!”
Her chest heaved with anger as she turned to leave.
“Wait,” Jiang Yunhao called.
Liu Ruyan snorted coldly, feeling slighted. “Hmph! Regret it? Trying to stop me? Give up!”
Before she could finish, Jiang Yunhao stepped out of the carriage.
“You don’t need to say anything—I almost forgot. Fine, the engagement is annulled!”
Double joy! He had transmigrated into the respected Young Master of the Jiang family, activated the system, and broken off an arrogant woman’s engagement. Exhilarating.
Liu Ruyan’s steps faltered. She spun around, thinking she must have misheard. The old Jiang Yunhao would have panicked at the mere mention of the engagement, fawning over her like a dog. But today… he was calm.
Before she could react, he continued:
“Since the engagement is annulled, all the treasures I gave you over the past three years—Tianxuan Divine Armor, Qiankun Bracelet, Ten Thousand Gods Sword…”
Jiang Yunhao’s gaze swept over her. Onlookers’ eyes widened in disbelief.
“And not long ago, I gave the Liu family a Celestial Essence as a betrothal gift. I expect it to be returned.”
He extended his hand. “Now, return the treasures you have.”
Silence. A deathly stillness.
Liu Ruyan’s mind raced. Return them? They were betrothal gifts, already hers! How could she possibly give them back?
“Jiang Yunhao, are you crazy? You want your gifts back? Are you even a man?”
Everyone stared, stunned.
A single thought rippled through their minds:
“Shangluo City is about to undergo a massive upheaval!”
However, Liu Ruyan’s words didn’t faze Jiang Yunhao in the slightest. His expression was cold, his gaze calm and deep, like an ancient well with no ripple.
That look struck Liu Ruyan like a thunderbolt. It was as if some ancient monster were staring right at her, and an involuntary shiver ran through her. She instinctively took a few steps back. After all, he was the Young Master of the imperial Jiang family, a man whose fame preceded him.
But Liu Ruyan quickly composed herself.
No—he may be the Young Master, but he’s still Jiang Yunhao. The obedient dog she had toyed with for years—why should she fear him?
Her eyes narrowed, and she fixed her gaze on him.
Playing hot and cold, manipulating me? You’ve got some nerve!
Liu Ruyan thought she understood it all. Jiang Yunhao must have been guided by some master, playing a game of emotional push and pull. But she was well-versed in such matters—after toying with him for three years using the engagement, how could he possibly control her?
“Jiang Yunhao! How shameless of you! You even want the betrothal gifts back? Have you forgotten what you promised me these past three years?”
“You said you loved only me and would never let me suffer!”
“And now? What do you think the world will say about me after this? Where do you place me, Liu Ruyan?”
Her brows furrowed as she scolded him, her voice sharp with indignation.
Jiang Yunhao smirked to himself. This little woman had truly been spoiled beyond reason. He shook his head slightly, then his expression hardened, his gaze ice-cold.
“I am not joking, nor am I negotiating. Whether you return the gifts or not is not up to you.
By this time tomorrow, if the Liu family refuses to hand them over and insists on keeping my betrothal gifts, the Liu family—the entire clan—will be destroyed!”
The words sent shockwaves through everyone present. Faces went pale, jaws dropped.
“Oh my god! Is this really the same Young Master who has been obedient to Liu Ruyan for three years?!”
“This is going to be interesting. Let’s see how the Liu family answers to the Young Master now.”
“Haha, Liu Ruyan has been arrogant for three years under his favor. Now that the engagement is annulled, reclaiming the gifts is only reasonable, right?”
“Exactly! Liu Ruyan is acting all aggrieved, claiming love, love my foot! She only wanted to take without giving—pathetic!”
The taunting voices of the crowd made Liu Ruyan’s pupils contract. Something was wrong—very wrong. The situation had completely escaped her control.
Jiang Yunhao… he was serious?!
The thought of returning the treasures Jiang Yunhao had given her over three years made her heart ache. She couldn’t bear it—especially the Tianxuan Divine Armor, her most treasured life-saving artifact! With it, she could overpower opponents across borders and stand out among the elites of Shangluo City. And now… she had to return it? Impossible!
Her delicate body trembled. She gripped her clothes so tightly her knuckles whitened.
“Jiang Yunhao, you are truly heartless,” she spat.
“But I’ll tell you this: the Jiang family has more than one Young Master. I have already pledged myself to Jiang Lingxiao. He has promised to take me as a follower!”
“By insulting me today, you insult Jiang Lingxiao as well. The Jiang family is not something you can control alone!”
Liu Ruyan had thrown caution to the wind, revealing her cards. Men were fickle, she thought. The Jiang Yunhao of the past would have cowered, clinging to her, begging her not to leave. But now… he was ruthless and domineering.
The imperial Jiang family had eight main branches, each with a Young Master. Liu Ruyan thought Jiang Yunhao’s status was high, but she needn’t fear him. If she gained favor with another Young Master, what could Jiang Yunhao do?
Suddenly, streams of light appeared in the city. Over a dozen black-armored guards, led by a gray-robed elder, descended upon the Luoshui Riverbank.
Seeing them, Liu Ruyan’s eyes brightened as if finding her anchor. She hurried to meet the elder.
“Master Fu~” she whimpered, tears brimming.
The newcomer was also a Jiang family guard, but from Jiang Lingxiao’s branch. Master Fu, their leader, was a formidable god-level protector—a true terror. Today was his patrol day, and he had sensed the disturbance here.
Upon arrival, he froze at the scene. Jiang Yunhao? Of course, he knew him. For three years, everyone knew how he had fawned over Liu Ruyan, embarrassing the Jiang family. Seeing her pitiful expression, it seemed the two were having a dispute. Master Fu could only shake his head—Jiang Yunhao, a genius, turned into a softling around her.
He dared not interfere in the Young Master’s matters. Regretting his swift arrival, he had stumbled upon this mess.
Liu Ruyan, impatient, explained the situation to Master Fu in full.
“Ah? The Young Master has broken the engagement with Liu Ruyan?!”
Fu’s expression turned strange as he glanced at Jiang Yunhao. All along, Jiang Yunhao had only watched calmly, his gaze deep and unreadable.
He no longer cared about Liu Ruyan?!
Fu was bewildered. Liu Ruyan kept chattering, unaware. Jiang Yunhao’s faint frown hinted at impatience, and Fu’s heart shook.
“How dare you! Who gave you the courage to affront the Young Master of the Jiang family?!”
Coming to his senses, Fu slapped Liu Ruyan to the ground.
“Do you think you, an outsider, can judge the Jiang family?” His eyes burned with cold authority.
Then he turned toward Jiang Yunhao, anger replaced instantly by reverence. The Young Master truly no longer cared about this woman. Master Fu knelt, paying homage.
“Your servant pays respects to the Young Master!”
“Your servant pays respects!”
“Your servant pays respects!”
- Writer
