When Li Tao warned Ye Feng about not looking at her fiancée, Lin Bingxue subconsciously assumed she was the center of the conflict.
Lin Bingxue took all this as a fight between this new person and Li Tao for her. She puffed her chest and declared,
"I will decide my own life."
"No one can use my marriage as a bargaining chip."
then she walked towards the inner area.
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[Ding! Detecting that the Host is facing off with Hero and Heroine #1 for the first time. Issuing temporary mission.]
[Description: Damage the relationship between the Hero and Heroine #1 and break their mentality.]
[Rewards will be based on damage caused.]
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"Dumb B!tch." Li Tao said without lowering his voice.
The word wasn't loud.
But it landed heavier than a slap.
Lin Bingxue lost her balance and fell after hearing this.
Ye Feng ran forward to help her up, but she brushed his hand away and got herself up on her own.
"What! Did! You! Say?!!" Lin Bingxue said word by word as if trying to give him the chance to reorganize his language but sadly she was mistaken about his affection towards her.
He is no longer the 'Li Tao' who was madly in love with her.
He ignored her and talked to Lin Baitian instead, "Mr. Lin, I am here today to talk about business matters."
Mr. and Mrs. Lin felt a thump in their heart.
Lin Bingxue wanted to come forward and fight but she decided to listen as well.
Ye Feng was relieved seeing it was a business partner and not a love rival. His original plan for the dissolution of the engagement was already flushed by him.
"Did we do anything wrong, Young Master Li?" Father Lin asked with concern.
"None, consider the past as my willfulness. I am no longer the lone wolf I used to be. After learning the reality, I woke up." He said with melancholy.
He took hold of Murong Qing's hand and said, "Now I have a fiancée. I have obligations towards her. So I cannot leave ambiguity in my life."
Lin Bingxue felt inferior when she saw Murong Qing. Her narcissistic self roared inside which translated into her actions.
A faint tremor of humiliation flashed through Lin Bingxue's heart.
She could tolerate being ignored.
But not being replaced.
She stepped forward to slap Li Tao in the face. But how could a normal person slap a half-step grandmaster in the presence of all these people?
Not to mention, Murong Qing herself was a cultivator who was far superior to practitioners when it came to senses and reactions.
She got up and captured Lin Bingxue's hand. Then she pushed it off, causing her to stagger back.
But her hero 'Ye Feng' was prepared and caught her in time.
"Miss Lin, please have some respect. I do not want to blame you for misleading my husband in the past, but now that I am here, know your boundaries." She declared her sovereignty.
Lin Bingxue was confused. How can a man change so much in just a week after meeting him?
"When did I mislead him? I never accepted his advances." She retorted.
Li Tao let out a short laugh, tapping his temple lightly.
As if restraining something.
Murong Qing turned towards the other Family members present and questioned, "Why not ask your family about this? I am sure they will choose to tell the truth this time, with all the parties involved present in the scene. Right? Patriarch Lin?"
Lin Bingxue was confused. She pushed Ye Feng away and asked her parents, "What is she talking about, Mom and Dad?"
Lin Baitian and Mrs. Lin were aware of the fact but they chose silence. Lin Zhengtian was ashamed as well.
Ye Feng straightened his clothes slowly.
His expression was gentle—
but there was confidence behind it.
As if everything was already arranged in his favor.
"Hello Miss Lin, I am Ye Feng. I am the closing disciple of Divine Doctor Xiao. I have another identity."
"I am also your fiancée. My master and Patriarch Lin set this matter when we were little." There was a smile on his face.
Lin Bingxue felt the world spinning. She could never have imagined this would be the truth.
She looked at Li Tao like she was wronged but he did not even bother to take a look. He was busy coaxing Murong Qing beside him. As if all this has nothing to do with him.
Lin Zhengtian had to take care of both sides, he still needed Ye Feng to treat him and he also wanted to bind him using Lin Bingxue.
"Xue'er, What this lady said is true. When you were young, I was severely injured by my enemy. It was Divine Doctor Xiao who saved me. He told me that he and I have destiny so... we decided the engagement."
He apologized, "I am sorry for not telling you all this but it is true."
Lin Bingxue felt betrayed but she held back her tears.
The truth had no mercy.
It didn't argue.
It simply stood there—unchanging.
She looked at Li Tao and asked, "Did you stop pursuing me because of this?"
There was a trace of hope in her voice.
Small.
Fragile.
And already breaking.
"No, I don't like you anymore," he replied emotionlessly.
No hesitation.
No explanation.
As if what he discarded… had never mattered.
"You are lying!" she did not believe his words.
She looked at her parents who were still looking down, Ye Feng who was smiling at her but his gaze lingered a little too long, and her Grandfather standing there with a pleading posture.
She saw no hope here. Her eyes were red from sadness, realizing that all her life was a lie. She thought she was the pearl of the family, but turned into a commodity to earn and return favors.
Her strength finally collapsed.
Without another word, she turned and ran back toward her room.
Sometimes the smallest things do the greatest damage. The feeling of being alone is not easy to handle.
Li Tao was satisfied with the outcome so he took his leave after saying a few words that he would discuss the separation of operations with CEO Lin. Let her visit the Li Family Business in a few days.
....
After Li Tao left, Ye Feng lost his targets so he started playing hero again. He assured the Lin Family that he would help them when needed.
He even helped Lin Zhengtian suppress his old disease to show his goodwill. After having lunch he left as well.
He had stabilized the situation for now—
but the foundation beneath it was already cracking.
....
On the way back, Li Tao received a call from A'Qian (his subordinate), "Young Master, We found the shop with the sword you mentioned. We negotiated the price down to 10 million RMB, should we proceed?"
"Go ahead and leave the sword at the 'First Palace' when you're done." Li Tao ordered him and disconnected the call.
Murong Qing was staring at him for an explanation.
He came close to her and whispered in her ear, "It is a surprise for you. hehe." then pecked her cheeks.
Murong Qing blushed and started hitting him, but there was no strength behind these blows.
Aunt Ling turned sour after watching all this from the rearview mirror. She vowed to increase the intensity of her training with her husband 10 fold.
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[Ding! Temporary Mission complete, Settling the rewards]
[Ding! The host's relationship with their partner has progressed further to a new level thanks to clearing his relationship with Lin Bingxue. Relationship +7, rewards will be combined with temporary mission.]
[Rewarding the Host with 9,000 points*, 30 middle-grade spirit stones(Shards), Compendium of Medicine (Enhanced Version)
_________________________________
Li Tao looked at the system window quietly.
"This is how the world works."
'Stats'
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Host: Li Tao
Level: External energy peak (Half-step Grandmaster)
Technique: Destiny Slashing Art - Peak of Proficient
Cultivation: Second Level of Qi Condensation realm
Items: Earth Immortal Dan (Sealed)*1, Dan Forging Pill*30, Marrow Washing Pill*5, and Other pills.
Points: 11000
Abilities: Compendium of Medicine, Breath Concealment art, Villain Domain, Eye of Data, etc.
Thread of Destiny - Level 4, 4/8 times feedback from partner/protagonist.
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Li Tao and the party sped towards the 'First Palace' to meet with A'Qian.
.....
When they arrived, A'Qian and the party were waiting for them in front of the entrance. Seeing Young Master arriving, they opened the doors for them and respectfully stood by for any instructions.
Li Tao nodded and entered the building.
Murong Qing, Aunt Ling, and A'Qian followed.
A'Qian was holding a big bag in his hand. The sword Li Tao wanted was in it.
They entered the hall on the third floor and servants served the tea.
After the waiters left, A'Qian respectfully offered the bag to Li Tao.
Li Tao took it, placed it on the table, and opened it. The inside of the suitcase was messed up with slight cuts on the inner lining.
A'Qian felt it was his mistake but Li Tao told him it was ok.
Li Tao could sense a slight domineering Qi around the sword. A normal person would feel his eyes being stabbed if he looked at this sword for long.
This is a sword that has drunk blood in breakfast, lunch and dinner. The killing intent gathered around it is enough to cause harm to normal humans.
This sword had no name.
Not because it lacked one—
but because every name it once carried had been buried with its victims.
And in the original timeline…
it belonged to Ye Feng.