Celestial Demon Starting from Attribute Points-Chapter 41: Breaking Off the Engagement?

The spring breeze was warm, blowing over a multitude of flowers and grasses.

But as it reached Li Xuan, he couldn’t help but shiver.

He had expected that General Yuan would suffer intense retaliation, but he hadn’t thought... it would be so fast, so ruthless, so absolute.

Had General Yuan not considered the possibility of retaliation?

It’s impossible that he hadn’t considered it.

Precautions were naturally taken.

But even so, his entire household was still slaughtered.

Li Xuan heard the news just after saying farewell to Zuo Hong and returning to the Hundred Flowers Mansion. At this time, everyone on the streets within the inner city of the Hundred Flowers Mansion was discussing this matter, making it hard for him not to hear.

The carriage wheels creaked as they rolled over the stone street. In the darkness, Li Xuan’s throat moved; he took a deep breath and spoke softly, "Xiaoyao, go to the Cao Mansion."

He needed to get closer, to take another look.

...

...

Cao Mansion.

Li Xuan was a familiar guest here, especially with the Sparrow Feather Sword given by Cao Shuda hanging from his waist. The gatekeepers were thus more enthusiastic, quickly going to report his arrival.

In no time, Cao Wen strode out from inside and called from afar: "Brother Li."

Li Xuan also approached directly, greeting him, "Brother Cao."

Cao Wen said, "My father is busy, so he likely won’t have time to see you."

Li Xuan sighed, "I’ve heard, I never expected such a thing to happen."

After expressing his regret, he changed the subject, "Brother Cao, today I came to bid farewell to my mentor."

Cao Wen replied, "Are you returning to Xiongshan County? If you are, why not wait a few more days, as Mr. Su is also heading the same way."

Seeing Li Xuan’s puzzled look, Cao Wen smiled and said, "Mr. Su is the newly appointed Magistrate of Xiongshan County."

Li Xuan was stunned, showing a look of surprised delight on his face, "I’ve long heard that Mr. Su is a highly respected elder. When is he setting off?"

Cao Wen whispered, "Mr. Su is truly injured; he needs to recuperate first. And now, since demons are running rampant, even if he wished to leave, my father temporarily forbids him from doing so."

Li Xuan understood immediately.

Those evil spirits from the Luoshi Sect were likely targeting Su Cangyuan, after all, Su Cangyuan was a Martial Artist of Secret Martial Arts.

And a Martial Artist of Secret Martial Arts was likely in need of "demon flesh and blood."

The two sides were naturally mortal enemies.

Lin Jieniu being an evil spirit was certainly known to Su Cangyuan, so he must know that the real killer of Lin Jieniu was not General Yuan, but the demons from the Luoshi Sect.

Previously, Su Cangyuan was always in hiding, the demons couldn’t find him, but now, being pressured by Yuan Guan, Su Cangyuan had been forced into the spotlight, and the evil spirits naturally came looking.

This incident redirected the hatred originally focused on General Yuan to Su Cangyuan.

Li Xuan didn’t know exactly what happened on the day of General Yuan’s massacre, but he guessed it likely involved a three-way battle, or perhaps the third party was lurking behind, one of them being the evil spirits.

This might also explain why the Prefect was indeed able to capture and execute several evil spirits.

Countless thoughts flashed through Li Xuan’s mind, and after a sigh, he spoke again, "It seems I am not destined to return alongside Mr. Su."

Cao Wen seemed to know what he was about to say, patted his shoulder and said, "It’s alright."

Li Xuan apologized, "In the end, I’ve let Sister Yi’s intentions down."

Cao Wen laughed, "If you broke off an engagement just to agree to Sister Yi, that would truly be losing your integrity, bringing disdain upon yourself."

Li Xuan pursed his lips, nodded, and said, "Thank you," then asked, "Where is Sister Yi?"

Before Cao Wen could answer, they saw a stranger emerging from the distance, hands behind his back.

The man wore a proud expression, disdainful eyes, a sword at his waist, and when he approached, he directly scrutinized Li Xuan with a measuring gaze.

Li Xuan gave him a slight nod in greeting.

The man just sneered.

Li Xuan looked at Cao Wen and asked, "Brother Cao, who is this?"

The man stared at him as if he were a beast filled with aggressive intent, suddenly beckoning with his finger, "Li Xuan, young Grandmaster, skilled in swordsmanship.

And I happen to be skilled in swordsmanship as well.

Come... let’s have a fight.

If you lose, do not pester Sister Yi."

Having said this, without waiting for Li Xuan’s answer, the man arrogantly took two steps forward, his entire demeanor brimming with excitement. With a snort, two streams of fiery breath spurted out like the boiling steam from a kettle.

"Brother Cao?"

Li Xuan again asked Cao Wen.

Only then did Cao Wen introduce, "Du Tianlin, Mr. Su’s prized pupil, is ordered by him to stay at my Cao Mansion to protect my Cao family."

After speaking, he stepped forward, "Brother Du, you must be mistaken."

Li Xuan looked in that direction again and saw several shadowy figures emerging from further away.

The few people approached with mocking smiles, surrounded him, and shouted: "Li Xuan, aren’t you a young hero? Aren’t you at the peak of fame? Come, spar with our Senior Brother Du."

A monkey-like man directly held his belly and laughed, looking left and right, saying: "He doesn’t dare, he doesn’t dare, he’s scared, he’s scared."

Another cold-faced man with a shadow in his eyes said coldly: "Miss Cao is the future wife of our Senior Brother Du. You’ve offended her, you’d better run outside the Cao Mansion, kneel and kowtow three times, and shout loudly three times, ’I was wrong.’

Li Xuan had not yet spoken, but Cao Wen was already showing a look of surprised anger, stepping forward and saying: "Everyone, did you misunderstand?

Li Xuan is my father’s student, he’s one of our own!

He didn’t harm Cao Yi that day, why apologize?

Don’t speak so harshly, it’s too much!"

The man named Du Tianlin didn’t even look at Cao Wen, only coldly said: "It’s none of your business."

After speaking, he looked at Li Xuan again and asked: "Dare you or not?"

Li Xuan glanced at this group of people.

This group consisted of four people, just by looking at their temperament, they all had somewhat of Lin Jieniu’s aura.

Obviously, these were a few madmen.

If it weren’t for him calming her down, Wei Yao might have become such a madman too.

While he was thinking of how to respond, hurried footsteps suddenly came from afar, and he saw Cao Yi running over quickly. When she ran close, she glanced at Li Xuan with a complicated expression, then looked at Du Tianlin coldly and said: "When did I ever say I wanted to be your wife?"

Du Tianlin’s eyes showed an aggressive look and said: "My master is Su Cangyuan, your father is Cao Shuda, our union can make our teacher and the Prefect’s relationship even closer, besides... I want you.

I’m so powerful, I can definitely bring you happiness!"

Finishing his words, he licked his lips, emphasizing: "Great happiness!"

"Shameless!" Cao Yi angrily laughed, saying, "I don’t like you, even if I died, I wouldn’t be with you."

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

With just a few words, Li Xuan also understood the situation.

Now Hundred Flowers Mansion was in chaos, Cao Shuda naturally discussed with Su Cangyuan to prevent his family from having an accident, and Su Cangyuan sent his disciples to the Cao Mansion to protect Cao’s family.

However, these disciples who became martial artists mostly had extreme personalities, and Du Tianlin obviously had presumptuously taken a liking to Cao Yi.

But Cao Yi liked a talented and charming youth, how could it be such a madman?

Soon, Du Tianlin didn’t challenge Li Xuan anymore, but began to pester Cao Yi.

Cao Yi was extremely annoyed and stormed off, with Du Tianlin chasing after her.

The group of his junior brothers dispersed as well.

On the road to the Cao Mansion, only Li Xuan and Cao Wen were left again.

Li Xuan showed a bitter smile.

Cao Wen spat, even cursed "What a piece of trash," then patted Li Xuan’s shoulder, saying: "Don’t take it to heart, this group of people is just like that."

Seeing Cao Wen’s demeanor, Li Xuan suddenly understood that this Young Master Cao hadn’t been spared from being upset either, so he laughed brightly and said: "Can you drink?"

Cao Wen was taken aback and said: "Aren’t you going back to the county town?"

Li Xuan smiled and said: "It looks like Brother Cao won’t be able to come to Xiongshan County to attend my wedding banquet, so today being a farewell, I ought to drink heartily with Brother Cao."

Cao Wen was already extremely depressed; Mr. Su’s group of disciples really annoyed him to death. When he heard Li Xuan’s proposal, he naturally said: "Yes, yes, yes, Brother Li understands my heart! Let’s go, today let’s host a banquet at Immortal Gathering Tower, no intoxication, no rest!"

...

...

Immortal Gathering Tower.

Li Xuan and Cao Wen drank into the night and talked about many matters.

Afterward, the drunk Li Xuan escorted the drunk Cao Wen back to the Cao Mansion, watching as the maid supported him into the mansion, then left.

In the night wind, he raised his finger to rub his brow, his eyes no longer held any drunkenness.

"Young Master, where to?" Wei Yao asked.

Li Xuan replied: "Return to Yulan Hall, depart tomorrow morning, head home."

...

...

Not many days were left until June 3rd.

When Li Xuan’s homeland-bound horse hooves were still pounding on the official road, a formal letter was brought to the Tian family by the Li family’s chief steward.

The purpose... was to annul the marriage.

Li Xuan’s aunt, Xu Chenhong, seemed to have expected it, considering that Li Xuan’s fame in Hundred Flowers Mansion was known by everyone in Xiongshan County.

Annulment was not too surprising.

For Master Li, now that his son was useful, it was naturally expected to form alliances with the more powerful families for the benefit of the family, rather than the Tian family, a reason everyone could understand.

Xu Chenhong thought of that annoying little girl, snorted softly and said: "She looks like someone without blessings, can’t possibly become a daughter-in-law of the Li family."

Murmuring to herself, she stood up and walked toward the Tian family’s guest hall.

Along with her was Tian Yuan, who was summoned by the head of the Tian family.