"Has the person arrived?"

An elder walked out, gave Yao Qing a cursory glance, and nodded. "Not bad. In terms of both appearance and education, she at least hasn’t disgraced our Sun Family."

This elder was Sun Yu, the true head of the Sun Family. It was he who decided on this marriage to ward off misfortune for Sun Bie. Standing beside the elder was a middle-aged man dressed as a Taoist, sporting a goatee. He was likely the so-called fortune-teller.

"Master Sun, this is the woman, there’s no mistake," the Taoist said with a smile, stroking his goatee. "As long as she marries into the Sun Family, it will ward off the misfortune. Then, your grandson Sun Bie’s illness will be cured."

"The engagement is today, but when would be an auspicious day for the wedding?" Sun Yu asked the Taoist.

"Three days from now is an auspicious day, suitable for a wedding," the Taoist replied.

Sun Yu waved his hand. "Alright then, the wedding will be in three days. Let’s start the engagement ceremony."

"Yes, Father!" Sun Wanguan nodded, not bothering to seek Yao Qing’s opinion, let alone her second uncle’s and aunt’s.

In their eyes, the engagement and wedding were just formalities. What mattered was warding off misfortune. Everything else was trivial.

The engagement ceremony began. Just as the master of ceremonies was about to speak, a voice suddenly shouted from outside, "This engagement cannot proceed!"

Then, Yao Qing’s parents rushed in. Since they were her parents, the guards at the door hadn’t stopped them, not knowing their intentions.

"Dad, Mom!" Yao Qing was startled. They had agreed her parents wouldn’t come, fearing they would worry and become angry. She never expected them to show up after all.

"We are Yao Qing’s parents, and we do not agree to this engagement!" her parents shouted.

BOOM!

The hall erupted into chaos.

What is this? The bride’s own parents disagree? Is this a forced marriage?

Old Master Sun Yu’s face turned ashen. He had thought everything was settled, only for this wrench to be thrown into the works at the last moment. Damn them!

"Child, you don’t have to sacrifice yourself for us. If you jump into this pit of fire, your parents will never find peace," her parents said, grasping Yao Qing’s hands. "There are so many people here, we don’t have to be afraid. The Sun Family can’t cover up the sky with one hand."

"Dad, Mom!" Yao Qing burst into tears.

After a long moment, she wiped her eyes and said, "I will not marry into the Sun Family. What era is this? Still resorting to this superstition of a marriage to ward off misfortune? I refuse to believe that in this day and age, your Sun Family can still act with such impunity."

"All of you, shut up! Are you trying to get yourselves killed?" Yao Qing’s second uncle and aunt cried out in panic. If this marriage fell through, the money they were promised would vanish, and they could be held accountable—perhaps even beaten to death. They couldn’t let Yao Qing act so recklessly.

Sun Wanguan’s face turned livid, his jowls trembling as he stared daggers at Yao Qing. "Think carefully before you speak. Are you willing to marry my son, Sun Bie, or not?"

"I am not!" Yao Qing gritted her teeth. "You injured my parents and threatened my family, expecting me to compromise? Dream on!" She was putting it all on the line today.

Sun Wanguan’s expression instantly turned horrifyingly grim. "Do you realize what you’re saying? Disgracing my Sun Family in front of all these people! Refusing to get engaged at our own engagement ceremony! What do you take the Sun Family for? You’re courting death!"

"Yao Qing, stop being crazy! We’re already here, you have to marry him whether you want to or not! Are you trying to get your parents killed?" her second aunt shrieked.

"You shut up! Our life and death are none of your concern! We would rather die than push our daughter into a pit of fire!" Yao Qing’s father roared. "Besides, I refuse to believe that in this lawful world, there’s no place for reason!"

"Reason?" Sun Wanguan sneered. "Well, let me tell you something. In this world, paupers like you have no place to talk about reason. Today, you will marry him whether you want to or not. You have to! Even if you kill yourself after the wedding, that’s on you. But right now, you will get engaged. You have no choice!"

"Stop wasting words on them! Throw those two old fools out, restrain that woman, and start the ceremony!" Sun Yu roared, slamming his hand on the table.

The Sun Family’s Martial Artists were about to move.

Just then, a thunderous voice boomed from outside, "The Sun Family of Longjiang Prefecture, what arrogance! Daring to force a marriage in this day and age? You truly have no fear of death!"

BOOM!

A group of men flew in from outside and collapsed on the floor, wailing in agony. They were clearly the guards from the entrance. They had tried to stop Yang Qi, only to be sent flying by him.

"Yang Qi!" Yao Qing stared in shock. She had never dreamed that Yang Qi would find his way here. She could understand her parents coming. But why Yang Qi? Was a woman like her worth him taking such a risk?

"Old squad leader, don’t be afraid. I’m here. No one can force you to do anything," Yang Qi said with a smile as he walked over. "And don’t worry about your parents. They’ll be fine."

He was still dressed in a stark white tracksuit, chewing gum, looking nothing like a wealthy man. He was completely out of place among the guests.

Following behind Yang Qi was Taoist Yiyang, dressed in a Taoist robe, who certainly looked the part of a master. However, he didn’t enter further, instead standing guard at the doorway to clear a path for their eventual departure.

In that instant, the Sun Family felt a crushing sense of humiliation. What was the meaning of this? A strange man showing up at their engagement ceremony, shouting about protecting Yao Qing? What if people got the wrong idea? Did the Sun Family have any face left to lose? This is simply outrageous!

Sun Bie, the groom himself, was so enraged he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his face turning even paler. He felt as though he was being cuckolded; after all, in his eyes, Yao Qing was already his woman. Whatever Yang Qi’s relationship with her was, he found it infuriating. Absolutely infuriating.

"Son! Son, are you all right?" Sun Wanguan and his wife rushed to his side, frantic.

This was utter madness. How could this be happening? One disaster after another at their family’s engagement ceremony. Someone actually dared to storm in and cause trouble. Did this person have a death wish?

"Bastard!" Sun Wanguan roared. Seeing his son cough up blood and grow weaker filled him with a murderous rage. This was absolutely intolerable!

"Who the hell are you? Don’t you know this is the Sun Family’s engagement ceremony?" Sun Wanguan asked, staring coldly at Yang Qi.

"Engagement ceremony?" Yang Qi sneered. "All I see is a girl being forcibly taken against her will. What engagement ceremony?

"An engagement where her parents are nearly beaten to death?

"An engagement where her parents aren’t allowed to attend?

"An engagement where the bride and her parents are both unwilling?

"And you have the audacity to call this an engagement?"

"How dare you!" Sun Wanguan bellowed, stunned that Yang Qi would dare to speak to him in such a manner.