FBPRN 06

Chapter 6: Gods

What did one million gold coins mean?

Across both the Northern and Southern Continents, the standard currencies were copper, silver, and gold coins, all based on a decimal hundred system.

One gold coin equaled one hundred silver coins. One silver coin equaled one hundred copper coins.

In terms of purchasing power, a single copper coin was roughly equivalent to one yuan, while one gold coin was worth close to ten thousand.

An ordinary citizen of Goldamber City earned less than a gold coin a month. Someone doing relatively well might make one or two.

Which meant that one million gold coins was an astronomical fortune.

Su Cheng calmly continued reading from the contract.

“Both parties acknowledge that after the engagement is dissolved, neither side shall bear any property disputes or financial obligations toward the other…”

Bang!

Elder Li smashed another table apart with his palm.

“One million gold coins? You certainly have quite the appetite.”

“Hm?” Su Cheng looked up at him. “That’s the penalty fee. If I break the contract, I’ll have to pay too. Or do you think Murong Yue is the only one taking on risk here? What, are you worried he’ll run around telling everyone we’re still engaged? That doesn’t sound right. Weren’t you the ones begging me to cancel the engagement? Shouldn’t you be happy to see a contract like this?”

Elder Li’s expression darkened further as he glanced toward Murong Yue.

Murong Yue frowned slightly. “One million gold coins is excessive. If you intend to use this method…”

Su Cheng laughed softly.

“Mr. Murong, I know you sincerely want to break off this engagement. But what exactly was your original plan? Either negotiate with me using various conditions, or provoke me by belittling me until my so-called ‘pride’ and ‘self-respect’ drove me to hate you enough to call it off myself.”

Which method he chose probably depended on her personality.

“But no matter which route you took, in the end I’d still be the one standing against your father when he came looking for me. You don’t dare oppose him directly, so you wanted me to do it for you.”

Truthfully, she doubted Old Master Murong cared that much about this marriage anymore.

Now that his son had risen so high, he probably believed Murong Yue deserved someone better.

Still, appearances had to be maintained. Otherwise people would accuse the Murong family of breaking their promises.

Su Cheng didn’t care about any of that. She just wanted the matter settled cleanly. Either leave no future trouble behind, or at least gain something from it.

“Honestly, your father is probably thinking the same thing. When the time comes, you can both tell the outside world that it wasn’t the Murong family abandoning the engagement. It was me who refused. Then your family stays spotless from beginning to end.” She smiled faintly. “Meanwhile, I’m the one carrying all the pressure, so asking for compensation is only fair, isn’t it?”

“Miss Su.” Murong Yue’s eyes turned cold. “Watch your words.”

“Hm? I thought we’d already reached the part where everyone drops the act and starts telling the truth. Not yet?”

Su Cheng sighed dramatically.

“So do you actually want to cancel the engagement or not? If you do, then sign it already. Hesitating like this makes me wonder whether you don’t truly want to break it off at all. Maybe you’re just trying to play hard to get and attract my attention.”

Murong Yue closed his eyes briefly.

Forget it.

Since she already understood everything so clearly, there was no point explaining further.

At least with this contract in hand, he would have something to say to his father.

“You!”

Elder Li’s face twisted with anger as he glared at Su Cheng with undisguised disgust.

“You’re young, yet utterly lacking in manners, reeking of greed and vulgarity. Just what you’d expect from the daughter of lowborn merchants.”

Lin Zhen’s expression immediately darkened as well, though he still didn’t dare speak back.

Su Cheng casually waved the contract in her hand.

“Some people come here to cancel an engagement, then make someone else write the contract for them. Fine, maybe gratitude is too much to expect, but after all that, they still nitpick and complain about everything.” She smiled brightly. “I won’t say who I mean. They should reflect on themselves.”

Elder Li glared furiously. “You—!”

Su Cheng wasn’t afraid in the slightest.

Lin Yun had spoken far more harshly than she ever had, and behaved far more outrageously too. Nobody had hit him.

Murong Yue sighed.

“Elder Li, please don’t say such things. Her father once saved my father’s life.”

“She’s the one who doesn’t know what’s good for her!”

Originally, Elder Li had believed this matter would be resolved effortlessly with their status.

Whether it was the Lin family or the girl surnamed Su, they should have been bowing respectfully from beginning to end.

Who could have imagined things turning out like this?

The Lin family was insignificant. Lin Zhen was already advanced in age, yet merely a fifth-rank warrior and vice president of Goldamber City’s Chamber of Commerce.

A nobody.

In the imperial capital, people of his standing wouldn’t even qualify to offer their daughters to him as concubines.

As for Lin Zhen’s orphaned niece? So what if she was a mage? At her age, reaching second-rank would already be impressive.

“Miss Su.” Elder Li sneered coldly. “You’ve probably spent your whole life cultivating magic at home and never experienced the outside world. It’s a dangerous place out there. One careless mistake and you might encounter bloody disaster.”

Su Cheng blinked.

Was that a threat?

Even Murong Yue froze slightly.

He didn’t believe in arranged engagements to begin with. Since nobody had ever asked his opinion back then, he felt no obligation to accept it now.

But he didn’t want anything to happen to Su Cheng either. After all, the engagement wasn’t something she had asked for.

“Elder Li.” Murong Yue frowned. “We shouldn’t—”

“Actually, I’m not too worried about that,” Su Cheng interrupted leisurely. “The tribute we prepared for the Church has already been delivered to the Holy City. Commander Ling even chatted with me about it yesterday. I’m sure plenty of people don’t want anything happening to me. If someone really intends to kill me, then they’re probably heretics. Enemies of the Church.”

The elders from Southriver Academy all changed expressions at once.

The Holy City?

Who exactly could send gifts there?

Commander Ling?

The Church maintained massive forces across the Northern Continent. There were millions of Holy Knights, but only nine legion commanders and seventy division commanders carried the title of commander.

Among all of them, only one bore the surname Ling.

Even the Lin family elders exchanged uncertain glances. They had all seen the dragon descend from the sky yesterday, but none of them knew the details.

Lin Zhen had only mentioned the Church pursuing heretics and nothing more.

Now it seemed they had truly established ties with the Church.

No wonder the girl had such confidence. A mere second-rank mage daring to confront people from Southriver Academy head-on.

“…There were indeed rumors of a dragon appearing nearby,” another instructor quietly said to Elder Li. “And someone descended from it.”

Elder Li’s face became extremely ugly.

If it truly had been Ling Yang, then a powerhouse of that level could inspect every detail within the estate using only spiritual perception from atop the dragon.

If he had personally stepped into the courtyard, it could only mean one thing.

Someone here had been important enough for him to greet in person.

And if Su Cheng truly had presented some valuable tribute and earned the Holy City’s favor, then everything suddenly made sense.

Elder Li took immense pride in Southriver Academy and deeply admired the headmaster. Since Murong Yue was likely to become the headmaster’s student, Elder Li had constantly tried to support him and bolster his reputation.

But deep down, he knew perfectly well that no matter how prestigious an imperial academy might be, before the colossal entity known as the Church…

…it was nothing.

Even the emperor’s coronation had to be performed by the Pope. The entire empire lived beneath the Church’s influence.

What was an academy in comparison?

The others clearly reached the same conclusion, their thoughts spiraling further and further.

That clause demanding one million gold coins…

Was it truly Su Cheng’s own idea?

Or was someone behind her using it as a warning?

The more they thought about it, the colder their sweat became.

They picked up the contract again and reread it carefully, suddenly feeling hidden meaning within every line.

Even the hands holding the scroll began trembling slightly.

Several people exchanged looks before one of the mages coughed awkwardly.

“Miss Su, Mr. Murong had originally intended to offer you compensation as well…”

Su Cheng’s eyes immediately lit up.

“Oh?”

Right.

That had happened in the original story too. Except there, the moment the fiancée brought up compensation, the male lead reacted as though he’d been deeply humiliated, instantly exploding in anger until the two of them started arguing.

Su Cheng quickly picked up her feather pen again.

“I’m adding it into the contract. Give me a moment.”

The elders: “?”

She wrote furiously for a while before finally setting the pen down again.

“How about this?”

Murong Yue lowered his gaze and read aloud.

“‘As the party initiating the dissolution of the engagement, Party A agrees to compensate Party B in the amount of (to be filled) in order to offset the possible emotional and social consequences suffered by Party B due to the termination of the engagement. Party A shall not interfere with Party B’s use of said compensation, including but not limited to usage, gifting, liquidation, or resale. Said compensation shall be paid as a one-time settlement, and Party A may not demand its return through any means, including but not limited to litigation, negotiation, or coercion.’”

The reception hall fell silent once more.

“‘Party A, Party B, their direct relatives, attendants, retainers, and all affiliated parties may not inflict bodily harm upon one another in any form, including but not limited to direct violence, employing third parties, coercion, poisoning, unlawful imprisonment, or other concealed methods that endanger personal safety…’”

Murong Yue’s expression grew darker the further he read.

Part of him wanted to say he would never do such things.

Yet somehow, he couldn’t stop reading.

“‘Hostile conduct occurring during officially sanctioned inter-academy competitions under established regulations shall not constitute a violation of this clause…’”

Su Cheng waited for him to finish before glancing around the room.

“So? What does everyone think? If there are no objections, we’ll finalize it.”

Silence.

Finally, one of the instructors let out a long sigh.

“Show Miss Su the inventory and the gifts.”

Naturally, they hadn’t prepared those items without purpose.

Aside from giving the engagement cancellation a respectable appearance, they had also intended to tempt her with benefits.

After all, she was merely an orphan. The niece of the Lin family head. Someone without real backing or ability. Of course she needed money.

Even if she successfully cultivated battle aura later, a warrior’s training required enormous expenses. Potions, weapons, equipment. The higher the rank, the greater the cost.

The same was true for mages.

Perhaps she believed marrying Murong Yue would bring her greater benefits.

But if Murong Yue simply dragged things out forever, what could she do?

Whereas if she accepted the broken engagement now, the compensation would immediately be hers.

Except…

She looked even more eager to end the engagement than they were.

“This is the inventory list. The gifts are all placed outside in the courtyard…”

A young man stepped forward and handed her a scroll.

He was also a student of Southriver Academy, and the admiration in his eyes when he looked at her was impossible to hide.

“…Thank you.”

Su Cheng skimmed through the contents with a single glance.

“I’ll register everything on my side. Uncle, could you help me inspect the items?” She smiled casually. “Not that I distrust everyone here. I’m just inexperienced. If anything’s wrong, it’s better to clarify it now.”

She handed the list to Lin Zhen.

Lin Zhen looked at her helplessly but said nothing, taking the scroll and heading outside.

The hall fell silent again, filled only with the soft scratching of pen against paper.

Su Cheng finished writing quickly. By the time she looked up again, Lin Zhen had returned and was nodding toward her, clearly indicating there were no problems with the compensation gifts outside.

She handed the contract back to Murong Yue and asked whether he had any objections.

Murong Yue looked at her quietly.

The girl still wore a serious expression. Her amber eyes were bright and clear, so transparent she genuinely resembled some innocent child untouched by the world.

Murong Yue knew it was all an illusion.

“…No objections.”

Su Cheng smiled in satisfaction.

Lin Zhen had already summoned a professional scribe. The woman carefully copied the contract draft onto preservation-grade scrolls.

As vice president of Goldamber City’s Chamber of Commerce, Lin Zhen knew many skilled professionals.

The scribe’s handwriting was beautiful and precise, every stroke clean and flawless.

Su Cheng thanked her as well. Then she filled in both parties’ names and information before signing her own name at the bottom and handing the scroll to Murong Yue.

This time, he merely glanced over it briefly before silently signing.

Lin Zhen and another academy elder signed as witnesses.

According to convention, both parties would keep one copy.

Su Cheng stared at her contract with immense satisfaction.

Not only had she regained the glorious freedom of being single again, she’d also received a fortune that practically fell from the sky.

The more she looked at the scroll, the happier she became.

Then she noticed the ugly expressions on the Southriver Academy instructors’ faces and suddenly felt tempted to keep performing.

After all, they already believed she had backing from the Church.

Su Cheng cleared her throat lightly and raised the contract in her hand.

“By my name, I swear before the God of Law and the God of Contracts that I shall uphold every clause within this agreement.”

Her sweet voice echoed through the reception hall.

Everyone stared at her uncertainly.

Elder Li frowned.

A merchant-born mage influenced by Church culture naturally liked invoking the names of gods at every opportunity.

No one knew exactly what relationship Su Cheng had with the Church. If she was merely borrowing the tiger’s skin to intimidate others, then with Murong Yue’s background, violating the contract in the future likely wouldn’t matter much anyway.

And even if that little bitch tried to sue using the contract, she’d first need to find a judge willing to accept the case.

…Though the empire’s current Minister of Justice was famously impartial. As one favored by the gods, she certainly wouldn’t care about the Murong family’s influence.

Still, ever since stepping down as Supreme Judge, she no longer personally presided over trials.

Several thoughts flashed through Elder Li’s mind before he sneered coldly.

“You don’t need to put on this hypocritical act. Truly incapable of appearing on a proper stage—”

The next instant, brilliant light exploded across the reception hall.

Radiant golden light burst from the contract scroll.

The glare was so intense everyone instinctively shut their eyes.

An overwhelming pressure descended upon the hall.

Two towering figures materialized in midair.

The figure on the left had his eyes closed. Dark golden curls cascaded all the way to his waist, framing a handsome and solemn face as calm as still water.

His powerful body beneath the snow-white robes was broad and imposing, both pale muscular arms exposed and wrapped tightly in thorn-covered chains.

Beneath the serpent-like golden chains, his muscles rose like mountain ridges.

The chain ends circled his wrists like bracelets, appearing both ornamental and restraining at once.

In one hand he held a war hammer carved with endless runes.

In the other rested a heavy tome.

Blood seeped from between its pages, gathering into a crimson waterfall suspended in the air.

The second figure possessed black hair and dark skin, his handsome face carrying a warm smile that instinctively inspired trust.

His physique was equally tall and powerful. His upper body remained bare, chest muscles full and sculpted like bronze beneath sunlight.

Sharp abdominal lines disappeared beneath an ornate golden waist chain.

His arms consisted of countless layered contract scrolls made from silk, leather, fibers, and stone tablets, all threaded through by innumerable strands of golden light.

Then laughter echoed through the radiance.

“This contract is hereby established. Let it be enforced accordingly.”

The voice was gentle and pleasant, yet carried terrifying authority that slammed directly into the minds of everyone present.

Those with weaker cultivation fainted instantly.

The rest fared little better.

Even Murong Yue pressed a hand to his forehead.

Enduring the pain, he forced himself to look up toward that ocean of flowing golden light, only for sharper agony to stab through his mind.

It felt as though countless unseen eyes lurked within the radiance.

And all of them were watching this place.

Then another voice rang out from the light.

“Blasphemer—”

The deep, majestic voice reverberated through the hall.