When Chen Anlin strode into the Zhao household, stepping over the shattered door, the jovial expressions of the Zhao family instantly vanished.

Zhao Bao, the head of the family, was livid. This boy has no manners. Coming to his future father-in-law’s house like this?

"Zhao family…" Chen Anlin surveyed the room, his gaze dripping with disdain. He had heard every word they said while waiting outside.

So they think I’m playing hard-to-get? Still pining for Zhao Yao? These people must be affected by the classic ‘protagonist aura’ lowering their intelligence.

"Chen Anlin, what’s the meaning of this?" Zhao Yao’s voice trembled with anger.

"Meaning?" Chen Anlin crossed his arms and replied nonchalantly, "I told you yesterday. I’m here to call off the engagement. Return my betrothal gifts. What part of that was unclear?"

"Bang!"

Zhao Bao slammed the table. His face darkened. "Young man, watch your words. Do you want me to inform your parents of this insolence?"

Chen Anlin smirked. "Oh, come now, Uncle Zhao. What’s your status compared to my family? If I hadn’t proposed to your daughter, do you think my parents would even bother acknowledging you?"

The Zhao family members flushed with indignation. He’s not wrong… but did he have to say it out loud?

"Chen Anlin, mind your manners!" Zhao Bao tried to salvage the situation. "If you want to mend things with Yao’er, you’d better drop that attitude."

Other Zhao family members chimed in:

"Yao’er won’t forgive you if you keep this up!"

"If you really care about her, start acting properly!"

"You’ve always been so smitten with Yao’er. Don’t ruin your chances now!"

Chen Anlin rolled his eyes. These people have truly convinced themselves I’m still groveling for their approval.

Zhao Bao sighed and tried to mediate, offering Chen Anlin a way out. "If you’re serious about calling off the engagement, we can discuss it civilly. There’s no need for hostility."

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But Chen Anlin scoffed. "You’re still not getting it, are you? I’m not here to negotiate. I’m here to take back what’s mine."

The Zhao family froze. Is he serious?

Zhao Yao panicked. "You’re despicable, Chen Anlin! Those gifts were freely given. They belong to us now!"

Zhao Bao chimed in: "Exactly. You were the one who proposed. You can’t just take everything back now."

Zhao Yao’s suitor, Xiao Chen, sneered. "Threatening us like this will only tarnish your reputation. Is that what you want?"

Chen Anlin remained calm. "So, to clarify—you’re refusing to return the betrothal gifts?"

Zhao Bao nodded. "It was your decision to end the engagement."

Xiao Chen added smugly, "I can testify to that."

Chen Anlin’s lips curled into a cold smile. "Xiao Chen, I’ve been waiting to deal with you."

Before anyone could react, Yang Dou, the empress’s personal guard, stepped forward. Her overwhelming aura suffused the room, sending a chill down everyone’s spines.

Zhao Bao leapt to his feet, ready to confront her. As long as they make the first move, we’ll have the moral high ground.

"Stop this!" Zhao Bao roared, channeling his sixth-rank cultivation energy. But Yang Dou unleashed a third-rank force that utterly crushed his defenses.

"Slap him," Chen Anlin commanded coolly.

A spectral hand materialized and delivered a powerful strike to Zhao Bao, sending him sprawling.

"You’re… third rank…" Zhao Bao gasped, fear and disbelief etched across his face.

The room descended into chaos. Xiao Chen struggled to his feet, bloodied but defiant. "Chen Anlin! If you’re a man, face me in single combat!"

Chen Anlin glanced at him disdainfully. "You? Not worth my time."

Ding! Suppressed protagonist Xiao Chen. Gained 300 luck points.

Ding! Suppressed Zhao family, supporters of Xiao Chen. Gained 200 luck points.

Chen Anlin smiled inwardly. Harvesting luck points is easier than I thought.

He turned to Yang Dou. "Deal with him."

"Wait!" Zhao Yao cried, rushing forward. "Don’t hurt Xiao Chen! I’ll call off the engagement, okay? Just stop this!"

Chen Anlin stared at her blankly. "You’re calling off the engagement? Aren’t you a little confused about who’s in control here?"

"I… I forgive you, okay?" Zhao Yao stammered. "Let’s forget this ever happened. You don’t have to apologize anymore…"

Slap!

Chen Anlin silenced her with a backhanded strike, sending her spinning through the air.

"First time someone’s ever begged for that," he remarked dryly.

Zhao Bao finally conceded. "We’ll return the gifts. Please, just leave my family alone."

Shortly after, Zhao Bao reluctantly brought out the gifts, handing them over to Chen Anlin.

Xiao Chen seethed as the treasures were taken away. How dare he take what’s rightfully mine? I’ll make him pay for this humiliation someday.

But before he could act, Chen Anlin pointed to Xiao Chen’s green ring. "By the way, Xiao Chen, I hear you’ve been consorting with demons. That ring of yours houses one, doesn’t it?"

Xiao Chen’s heart sank. He knows…

Demons were universally feared and despised in the Great Zhou Dynasty. Their influence had caused countless tragedies. Anyone found associating with them faced immediate execution.

"I…" Xiao Chen stammered, his mind

racing for a way out.

But Chen Anlin’s cold smile told him there would be no escape. "Take him away."