Chapter 404 - 214: This Marriage Isn’t Worth It

Chapter 404: Chapter 214: This Marriage Isn’t Worth It

"And what if I am not willing to break things off?"

Chen Sheng repeated, his voice calm, yet it carried an unyielding resolve that left no room for compromise.

Nie Xiangjun’s frigid gaze clashed with Chen Sheng’s composed one, as if invisible sparks flew between them. After a long moment, the last trace of warmth faded from her beautiful eyes, and her voice became devoid of emotion.

"If you insist, then you have only two paths. Either we call off this marriage alliance, and our two families will pretend this was never discussed.

Or... the marriage alliance proceeds, but you will be wed to an ordinary legitimate daughter of the Nie Family. The difference in resources, status, and future support this would bring you is like that between heaven and earth.

Chen Sheng, you had better think this through very carefully."

Standing to the side, Nie Xuanfeng’s brow was tightly furrowed. He couldn’t stop shooting anxious glances at Chen Sheng.

He had exhausted every means, mediating on multiple fronts, just to elevate Chen Sheng to a position where the family would consider marrying one of the Three Beauties to him.

If Chen Sheng were to refuse now over some romantic entanglement, all of Nie Xuanfeng’s hard work would be for naught.

More importantly, if Chen Sheng managed to marry one of the Three Beauties, the status of Nie Xuanfeng’s own branch within the family would rise with the tide.

Sun Yuzhi was even more frantic, her heart burning with anxiety. She sent a stream of voice transmissions, practically begging Chen Sheng to agree at once.

Chen Sheng took a deep breath and slowly rose to his feet.

Meeting Nie Xiangjun’s icy gaze, Chen Sheng smiled.

"Daoist Nie, if the Nie Family believes that bestowing one of your noble daughters upon me is some great fortune of mine, or even an act of charity..."

"...then it would be better not to form this alliance at all."

"I may not be some perfectly upright gentleman, but I am certainly no faithless scoundrel. My bond with Vice Envoy Sun and my ties to Miss Wang are things I will not sever. And... cannot sever."

"Do you have any idea what you’re saying?"

Nie Xiangjun’s expression turned frigid in an instant. The temperature in the hall seemed to plummet as an invisible pressure, heavy as a mountain, crashed down.

"I am perfectly aware."

Chen Sheng stated, word by word, without a hint of retreat:

"This marriage alliance ends here."

"Farewell!"

With that said, Chen Sheng didn’t spare Nie Xiangjun another glance. He turned without hesitation and walked toward the main doors of the Government Office Hall.

"Stop!"

Nie Xiangjun’s cold cry rang out as an even more tyrannical pressure descended with a roar, sweeping over Chen Sheng like an icy tide. It instantly enveloped him, carrying an undisguised, biting chill and a warning.

"Chen Sheng, think carefully! Without the Nie Family’s protection, the Vast Sea Sect will surely make a comeback, and they won’t rest until one of you is destroyed! Do you really think you alone, with the paltry support of the Ning’an Jingwu Bureau, can stand against a top-tier Major Sect in Yunzhou?"

"Don’t be naive enough to think the Government Office can offer you much support. The Nie Family’s influence runs far deeper than you can imagine. The Jingwu Bureau, the Military Preparation Army, the State Government Office... we have our people in all of them.

Even with your heaven-defying talent, without immense resources and a powerful backer, you’ll end up as nothing more than a pearl gathering dust. Or worse... you’ll invite a fatal disaster!

If you walk out that door today, your future is over!"

Chen Sheng didn’t stop walking. His voice, calm yet filled with resilience, drifted back to them.

"As long as I wish to walk, a path... will form beneath my feet!"

Upon reaching the threshold, Chen Sheng paused for a moment.

Nie Xiangjun’s eyes flickered; she thought he was finally having regrets.

But instead, Chen Sheng merely turned halfway back and gave a slight, formal bow toward the hall.

"Regarding the earlier matter at the White Tiger Hall, I did indeed receive a favor from the Nie Family. I will remember this debt of gratitude and will surely repay it in the future, should the opportunity arise."

As his voice faded, Chen Sheng hesitated no more. He strode over the threshold with a powerful gait, his figure quickly disappearing around a corner in the corridor.

Nie Xiangjun remained seated, her expression as tranquil as still water. Only her beautiful eyes held a biting, bottomless chill.

Seeing this, Sun Yuzhi, whose heart was in turmoil over Chen Sheng’s decision—a mix of deep emotion and grave concern—dared not delay.

She hastily rose, gave a hurried, apologetic bow to Nie Xiangjun at the head of the hall, and quickly rushed out after him, hoping to reason with him further.

Inside the Government Office Hall, only Nie Xiangjun and Nie Xuanfeng were left, and the atmosphere was frozen solid.

After a moment of silence, Nie Xuanfeng braced himself, stepped forward, and bowed.

"Zhenren, please quell your anger. Chen Sheng is young and impetuous; he failed to appreciate your kind intentions. His words were offensive, and I hope you will be magnanimous. As for the marriage alliance... please allow me to try persuading him again.

Even if... even if the marriage ultimately falls through, I hope the Nie Family will not hold this against him. That young man, Chen Sheng, has a resolute will and extraordinary potential. Even if he cannot be our kin, there is no need to make him our enemy."

’He knew Chen Sheng all too well.’

’He appeared modest on the outside but possessed a core of unyielding pride. Once he made a decision, it was nearly impossible for him to go back on it.’

’Besides, Nie Xiangjun’s condescending attitude just now—a mixture of charity and threats—had likely triggered Chen Sheng’s deepest aversion.’

He couldn’t help but sigh to himself.

’For a great man to have several wives and concubines was perfectly normal.’

’Given the talent and potential Chen Sheng had demonstrated, the Nie Family should have been magnanimous enough to accommodate him.’

’So why did they have to send the proud Nie Xiangjun, a woman who couldn’t tolerate the slightest speck of dust in her eye?’

’If they had sent an elder who was more flexible and pragmatic, the outcome might have been completely different.’

He had already made up his mind. He would immediately write a letter detailing the day’s events and clearly explaining the stakes to the clan.

Just then, a soft laugh came from the head of the hall. ℯℯ𝑙.

Nie Xuanfeng looked up, stunned. The chill on Nie Xiangjun’s face was gone, replaced once more by her usual languid expression. There was even a hint of amusement in her eyes. She lifted her wine cup, took a sip, and furrowed her delicate brows as if muttering to herself:

"That brat... he couldn’t have seen through my test and put on this act just for me, could he?"

"Huh?"

Nie Xuanfeng froze, almost certain he had misheard.