Shangguan Siyu didn't care about the Li Clan's internal bickering. She only cared about one thing: whether or not this marriage could be withdrawn.
So when Li Wei openly refused, her brows tightened in annoyance. Judging from Li Gengxin's expression, the choice was indeed being handed to Li Wei.
"We didn't come here to cause trouble," she said coldly. "My master, the Master of Heaven's Gate, gave the order personally. If we don't resolve this today, he will send others. And when that happens, they won't bring elixirs or swords as a courtesy. They will simply tear up the marriage contract and be done with it."
She glanced across the room, and her voice became more cutting. "Our two families have been close for generations. I'm showing goodwill, yet you refuse to appreciate it."
Her gaze then snapped to Li Wei.
"And you, Li Wei… You truly don't understand reality. I know you'd like to marry a woman as good as me, any man would, but reality is cruel. You're a waste who can't cultivate. I'm a Six-Star Elite. The gap between us is like heaven and earth. There is no possibility between us. Letting go is the best choice for you."
Li Wei lifted his eyes, the corner of his mouth curling with disdain. "Six-Star Elite, you say? Then tell me, Miss Shangguan, what kind of man do you think is worthy of you?"
"Huh?" Shangguan Siyu didn't expect that. She thought for a moment and replied matter-of-factly, "Someone stronger than me, with a status equal to mine."
As those words fell, Li Wei's disgust deepened.
So it wasn't just Heaven's Gate's order. This woman simply couldn't stand the idea of marrying someone "beneath" her. A pretty face hiding the heart of a shallow, materialistic woman.
He had heard this kind of logic on Earth: Rather cry in a BMW than laugh on a bicycle.
Vulgar. Completely vulgar.
Li Wei glanced toward Li Xue, and his expression softened at once. Compared to Shangguan Siyu, Li Xue was a thousand times better.
"Fine," Li Wei said at last. "I agree to withdraw the marriage. But, I have one condition."
Shangguan Siyu's eyes brightened instantly. "What condition?"
"Give me half a year. In six months, I will personally go to Heaven's Gate. You and I will fight. If I lose, then I will withdraw the marriage publicly and declare myself unworthy of you."
He paused for a second and said. "But if you lose..."
But, before he finished, Shangguan Siyu eagerly cut in, "If I lose, I'll agree to any conditions you set."
She was completely confident. In her mind, Li Wei couldn't beat even a gatekeeper at Heaven's Gate. Even if he suddenly learned to cultivate, how strong could he become in just half a year?
It was already a predetermined victory in her head, and Li Wei was trying to save his face, trying to postpone the inevitable so that some miracle could happen in his life.
Meanwhile, around the hall, scoffs erupted from all sides.
"Li Wei must be crazy!"
"He wants to challenge Shangguan Siyu?"
"He just wanted a way to save face. Still a coward in the end."
"He calls this a condition? It's basically agreeing! A trash will never catch up to a Heaven's Gate disciple."
Even Master Yuda sighed in relief. The Li Clan finally found a step down. If things had escalated, the conflict between the families might have shattered completely, and the Li clan could never have survived Heaven's Gate's pressure.
As for Situ Qingfeng, he sneered openly. A joke was still a joke in the end.
Shangguan Siyu then turned eagerly to Li Gengxin. "Uncle… Patriarch Li… is this acceptable?"
Her excitement showed she believed the outcome was certain.
Li Gengxin nodded slowly. "This is Wei'er's marriage. Everything shall be decided by him alone."
Before Li Wei spoke earlier, Li Gengxin had been worried whether the situation would become too uncontrollable. But once he heard the condition, everything made sense. He even smiled faintly.
This was the dignity of a man.
If Li Wei lost, he lost on his own. If he won, he reclaimed his pride with his own hands. As a father, how could he object?
He had seen Li Wei's strength last night. He had seen the hidden awaken of new power. In half a year, who knew what his son might achieve?
Shangguan Siyu nodded. "Good. Half a year later, Li Wei and I will have our match. If he wins, I accept his terms. If I win, I will tear up the engagement myself, and the Li Clan will never bring it up again."
Li Wei watched her, turning his gaze cold. Her arrogance, her eagerness to sever all ties, her certainty that victory was guaranteed, only strengthened the fire in his chest.
If only he were strong enough, he could slap all three of these people out of the hall right now.
But strength… his strength was still lacking.
He needed power, desperately and immediately.
"Six months," Li Wei said quietly, deadly calm. "Half a year from now, I will come to Heaven's Gate to find you."
As soon as he muttered those words, under his breath, a sharp chime echoed in his head.
"Ding! Main mission received: Six months later, travel to Heaven's Gate and defeat Shangguan Siyu in public."
The system's voice faded just as Li Gengxin's cold voice filled the hall behind him.
"Since your purpose is achieved, you may leave. The Li Clan will not be seeing you off."
The last shred of courtesy between the Li clan and the Shangguan clan was officially snapped. There was no need for pretense anymore.
Shangguan Siyu bowed with a complicated expression. "Uncle Li… even if you no longer wish to acknowledge me as your own, I still wish to say this: Regardless of my actions, which I stand on them, today's events were still wrong on my part. Please give me a chance to apologize properly in the future."
Master Yuda and Situ Qingfeng followed her out. Before they fully stepped past the doors, Li Gengxin flicked his sleeve, tossing two items toward them.
"Master Yuda, take your Qingyun Dan and your Bai Xue Sword with you."
The treasures arced through the air with dazzling brilliance, landing neatly in Master Yuda's hands.
Master Yuda's heart tightened at the refusal. He hesitated for a moment, but seeing Li Gengxin's stone-cold expression, he sighed, clasped his hands, and left without another word.
Disappointment rippled through the Li Clan as those two items would have elevated their clan tremendously. But no one dared to speak up. They could only curse their trash of an young master in their heads.
*
Later at Li Wei's Residence;
Li Wei had barely sat down when light footsteps rushed inside.
"Wei-Ge, are you okay?" Li Xue's voice trembled with worry.
Li Wei forced a smile. "Of course. Why wouldn't I be okay?"
But inside, he wasn't okay at all.
This was the second time in his life a woman chose status over him. Once on Earth, and now again in this world, even after obtaining the system.
A sour pain gnawed at him. Just for a moment, he regretted not showing off whatever strength he had, back when he was insulted to his face. Perhaps, they would have thought twice.
But then, Li Xue stepped closer and spoke, her gentle voice barely above a whisper. "Wei-Ge, even if the whole world looks down on you… Xue'er never will."
Her face flushed pink, eyes flickering shyly as she spoke those words. It had the innocence of a confession.
Li Wei's chest warmed, hearing them. "Mm." He nodded. "My Xue'er is worth more than a hundred Shangguan Siyas."
Li Xue quietly beamed, bright as spring sunlight, but then it was dimmed, remembering something.
"Brother Li Wei… do you really intend to fight her in six months?" she asked softly.
"I will." Li Wei nodded. "But even if I win, I'm never marrying that kind of woman. If I marry anyone… it'll be someone like my Xue'er."
Li Xue's breath hitched, feeling like her cheeks were burning at the compliment.
But then her worry returned. "She's an Elite realm fighter already… the disciple of the chief of Heaven's Gate… can you really..."
Li Wei patted her head lightly, stroking her soft hair, interrupting her with an assuring smile. "Don't worry. Your brother Wei will beat her down."
Li Xue smiled sweetly. "Then Xue'er will silently cheer for you."
Li Wei felt his mood finally begin to settle.
But before he could savor that warmth, loud footsteps gathered outside.
Then an arrogant shout: "Li Wei! Get out here, you turtle-born coward!"
Li Meiran
"Perfect..." Li Wei's expression immediately changed at that voice. He cracked his knuckles. "I was just thinking about beating someone up to remove my frustration. Look at that, you delivered yourself to my doorstep."
He walked out with big strides.
The Li Clan youths stood behind Li Meiran like a pack of eager dogs. As soon as they saw Li Wei, their lips curled with disdain.
"Li Wei! A shameless disgrace to the Li Clan!" Li Meiran bellowed. "You dare show your face?"
Li Wei only smirked in response. "Why wouldn't I dare? What are you?"
"I... I'm the Seventh Young Master of the Li Clan!" Li Meiran puffed up proudly.
"Ohhh," Li Wei said, nodding as if enlightened. "So you're admitting you're not a thing. Good to know."
"You..." Li Meiran's face twisted. Rage boiled off him. If not for the witnesses, he would have struck already.
"Seven Young Master, don't get angry," one of his followers said. "This trash isn't worth it. Let me teach him a lesson!"
The speaker stepped forward, Li Yong, an eight-star warrior with a bulky frame and a cruel smile.
He cracked his knuckles loudly. "Let me show him what happens when waste forgets its place."
Li Meiran nodded. "Very well. Li Yong, I'm giving you the opportunity. Teach him what real power looks like."
But deep down, Li Meiran was testing something. He had sent Li Wang to kill Li Wei, and the man disappeared while Li Wei returned alive.
Either someone powerful was protecting Li Wei…
Or Li Wei himself was stronger than expected.
Li Wei's attitude change in the hall also made his suspicion increase. All these words he spouted earlier are just to incite a fight with Li Wei and test his true strength.
This would reveal the truth.
Following the order, Li Yong swaggered forward with arrogance dripping from every step. "Trash should have trash awareness. Don't think having the patriarch backing you makes you invincible." He clenched his fists as his aura flared up.
Behind him, the Li Clan youths started making bets.
"Ten punches, I bet."
"Ten? Last time Li Jiu beat him, he went down in sixteen!"
"That was Li Jiu. This is Li Yong. I say three punches."
"You're generous, one punch is enough to break him."
Li Xue, meanwhile, clenched her fists in fear beside the door.
As for Li Wei?
He only smiled.