What was worse than trash in this world?

A genius who had fallen… and become trash.

With the doctor's words, everyone present was already convinced—

He was crippled.

(Good!)

Bai Zihan thought calmly.

This is perfect.

Previously, no matter how much of a "trash" he had been, he could still cultivate.

And he still had his status as the heir of the strongest clan of the Desolate Heaven Empire.

Because of that, even with his poor reputation and lowly talent in the past, the Chu Clan had never shown open dissatisfaction.

Chu Ziyan herself had also agreed to the engagement—out of convenience.

But now?

Now he was different.

A cripple.

Someone no different from a mortal.

Even Chu Ziyan—who had once insisted on the engagement for practical reasons—would surely hesitate.

The Chu Clan would definitely push to dissolve it once they heard the news.

And the Bai Clan?

They would have little reason to object.

After all, Bai Xueqing had once broken an engagement herself.

If the Bai Clan protested too much, it would only make them look unreasonable.

Not to mention, Bai Zihan had already planned to persuade his father.

Bai Zihan's lips curved faintly.

(A perfect excuse.)

A clean dissolution of the engagement.

No loss of face.

No grudges.

No one would feel guilty.

But that wasn't the main reason.

It wasn't as if the engagement to Chu Ziyan truly affected his life. Whether it existed or not changed nothing for him.

He had no interest in other women, and his status as being engaged didn't bother him.

And he had to admit that because he was engaged, his parents didn't bother him about marriage—which they surely would have if he wasn't.

What mattered more… was what came after.

Being seen as crippled had its advantages.

Many of his enemies would finally breathe easy. Once they believed he posed no threat, they would stop watching him so closely.

Of course, some might see this as an opportunity to exact revenge—but those people were insignificant.

If Bai Zihan were still viewed as a threat, the ones sent after him wouldn't be petty weaklings.

They would be Immortal Realm experts.

After all, during the war against the Demonic Forces, everyone had seen it clearly—

He was capable of handling Great Ascension Realm cultivators.

To eliminate someone like that, Immortal Elders would have to move.

And they would surely plan extensively to assassinate him.

But if they found out that he had become crippled?

Many of them wouldn't even bother sending assassins, as they would still need to deal with the Bai Clan.

And those who sent assassins out of grudge or other reasons would surely let their guard down.

"I'm crippled!"

Bai Zihan said.

With that Bai Tianheng and others atleast confirmed that Bai Zihan knew what had happened to him.

Yet he was so calm to an almost impossible degree.

Bai Zihan turned his head slightly, his gaze settling on Chu Ziyan.

(Come on…)

Bai Zihan thought silently.

(Break it off like a heroine. Don't worry—I won't hold any grudges like some petty protagonist.)

He waited for Chu Ziyan to denounce the engagement.

Surely, she wouldn't feel good having a cripple as her husband.

But what came next… was none of that.

"Bai Zihan…"

Chu Ziyan stepped forward, her brows tightly furrowed.

Her eyes weren't cold.

They weren't calculating.

They were full of worry.

"Is your body alright?"

She asked softly.

Bai Zihan froze.

"…Huh?"

Chu Ziyan came closer and checked for any injuries that had yet to heal.

"Arg—I'm fine!"

Bai Zihan answered.

Seeing Chu Ziyan genuinely worry about him, Bai Zihan felt a twinge of guilt inside.

She was worried, and here he was trying to trick her.

He frowned inwardly.

(This isn't how it's supposed to go!)

She should be looking at him with pity.

Or distance.

Not concerned after hearing the news about him being a cripple.

Bai Zihan waited.

Perhaps she was just being mindful of the Bai Clan's status.

Perhaps it was because Bai Xueqing—her best friend—was his sister.

Yes.

That had to be it.

There was no way she would actually want to stay engaged to a cripple.

So he waited.

But nothing changed.

Along with Chu Ziyan, others also made small talk, trying to ease his worries and telling him not to worry about what the doctor had said.

Bai Ren even boasted that he knew an Alchemist who could create a pill that could completely heal his body.

Others said that there was no need to worry and that he was still the heir of the Bai Clan.

Only Bai Xueqing remained silent, her eyes and expression wasn't like that of others.

Whether it was because she didn't care about him, or because she didn't believe he had truly become crippled, Bai Zihan couldn't tell.

He thought it was most likely the former.

Eventually, it was time to leave.

"Zihan'er needs rest," Bai Tianheng said quietly. "Everyone, give him some time."

Bai Tianheng thought that with so many people present, Bai Zihan wasn't able to show his true emotions.

So they should let him be for the time being and give him space to process what had happened to his body.

The Grand Elders nodded.

One by one, they turned to leave.

Chu Ziyan hesitated… then slowly followed.

That was when Bai Zihan spoke.

"Wait!"

Everyone stopped.

Bai Tianheng turned back, surprised.

"Zihan, do you need something?"

Bai Tianheng asked.

Bai Zihan took a slow breath.

"Father… about my engagement with Chu Ziyan."

The tent went quiet again.

Bai Tianheng's expression stiffened.

Bai Zihan continued, as if speaking for Chu Ziyan's sake.

"With my condition," he said slowly, "the Chu Clan shouldn't have to accept a cripple as their future son-in-law."

He glanced at Chu Ziyan.

"Chu Ziyan deserves better."

Bai Tianheng said nothing.

He simply looked at his son.

In his eyes, he saw not calculation—but resignation.

The once arrogant, confident Bai Zihan…

Seemed to have lost faith in himself.

And that realization hurt far more than any battlefield wound.

Normally, he would have said that Bai Zihan needn't worry about such things.

He was still his son and the heir of the Bai Clan. There was no way he would let a once-decided engagement be broken.

But he didn't dare argue against Bai Zihan, who seemed to have given up.

He didn't want to force things and decided to let Bai Zihan make his own choice.

Bai Tianheng let out a quiet breath and slowly nodded.

He wanted to say that if this was his wish, then he wouldn't object—but before he could speak, Chu Ziyan's voice cut him off.

"There is no need."

Chu Ziyan declared.

Bai Zihan stiffened.

Chu Ziyan stepped forward.

Her back was straight and her gaze unwavering.

"Whether crippled or not," she said clearly, each word firm and steady, "the engagement still stands."

The air went completely still.

Bai Zihan's mind blanked.

"…What?"

Chu Ziyan turned to look at him directly.

"There seems to be a misunderstanding," she continued calmly.

"In the first place, I did not agree to this engagement because of your cultivation talent."

True—before the engagement, Bai Zihan had been hailed as someone with trash-tier talent and no hope.

Though she didn't agree to the engagement because of love either, it was definitely not because of his cultivation.

Murmurs rippled through the tent.

The Bai Clan's Grand Elders exchanged glances.

Bai Yuie nodded approvingly.

"Well said," she said with a faint smile.

"To remain steadfast in times of prosperity is common. But to remain loyal in adversity…"

Her gaze shifted to Chu Ziyan.

"That is the bearing of a true Lady of the Bai Clan."

Bai Ruhong laughed softly.

"Haha! Indeed. Such resolve is rare among the younger generation."

"Unshaken by gain or loss—this loyalty will surely not go unrewarded."

Even Bai Ren nodded in agreement.

Bai Tianheng stared at Chu Ziyan for a long moment.

Then… a complicated smile surfaced on his face.

This daughter-in-law…

She really is the best.

Only one person felt none of that.

Bai Zihan.

(…This isn't how things were supposed to go.)

His world felt like it had tilted.

No—

It felt like it had collapsed outright.

Chu Ziyan's ears reddened faintly under the gazes of the Immortal Grand Elders.

Even she was not immune to such praise.

"I… I will do my best," she said softly, lowering her head for a brief moment.

Her voice was steady, but the blush betrayed her.

The Grand Elders smiled, clearly satisfied.

Only Bai Zihan felt a sharp twitch at the corner of his mouth.

(…Do her best?)

Best at what, exactly?

Best at becoming his wife?

Best at ruining his carefully laid plans?

Then—perhaps sensing his gaze—Chu Ziyan looked up.

Their eyes met.

Her expression softened, the worry from earlier still there, but now mixed with something firm.

Resolute.

Almost… reassuring.

"So," Chu Ziyan said, looking straight at him, "there is no need for you to worry."

Bai Zihan's heart skipped—not in anticipation, but in alarm.

"You will definitely get married to me."

Silence!

The words hung in the air like a sacred vow.

To everyone else, it sounded romantic.

To the Grand Elders, it was loyalty.

To Bai Tianheng, it was relief—no, more than that. Gratitude.

But to Bai Zihan—

Those words rang like a death sentence.

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