Chapter 7: As Long As You Call Off the Engagement, I Will Return Your Money

Su Yun lightly furrowed her brows, then turned to face Xiao Jinghuai, who was staring at her with intense anger. "Your Highness, please mind the occasion."

Xiao Jinghuai, who had originally wanted to lash out at her, was immediately silenced. Someone was indeed watching him, which forced him to swallow back the fury he was about to unleash. The frustration was palpable.

"Your Highness, if you have matters to discuss, please enter. Don’t block the entrance for others," she said, bowing slightly before walking inside. Were it not for his status as a prince, she wouldn’t have bothered with him and would have simply turned and walked away.

After all, she was too weak. Behind him stood the entire royal family, not only powerful but also guarded by a Golden Core cultivator, with several Foundation Establishment cultivators in the palace. Sending just one of them could easily crush someone as insignificant as her. She had no choice but to endure her disgust and interact with him.

Xiao Jinghuai no longer dared to call after her as before. Instead, he strode inside, pretending none of it had happened, as if it were all an illusion.

Once inside, Su Yun felt relieved, knowing he wouldn’t trouble her further out of pride. She found a corner seat by the window and sat down.

Not long after, a young man in black with a high ponytail sat beside her. Unlike others who mocked her, he simply propped his head on one hand and stared straight ahead, never once glancing her way, as if she were a stranger.

This suited her perfectly. No need to confront him or engage in conversation, and it would make focusing on the lesson much easier.

Lost in thought, someone took the seat opposite her and, turning around, coldly asked, "Didn’t you say you wanted to break off the engagement with the prince?"

It was Zhu Shishi, though she spoke quietly, knowing her limits.

Su Yun couldn’t help but feel exasperated, but then an idea struck her. “If I were you, I’d be sitting next to the prince right now. A chaste woman fears a persistent suitor, and vice versa. Especially in public, if you and he are connected, what do you think others would think?”

“They’d think I’m just as desperate as you,” Zhu Shishi frowned, acknowledging the logic but feeling such behavior would be degrading for a woman.

“If it were me, I’d say so. But you don’t have to—your family is the Zhu clan, no one would say a word. In fact, they’d praise you. And one more thing: besides you, Ye Zhaozhao and my two cousins are watching the prince. If you wait too long, you might miss your chance. That’s all I have to say.” Seeing Zhu Shishi’s hesitation, she fueled the fire.

“As for breaking off the engagement, I’ll find a reason. After all, it’s a marriage bestowed by His Majesty, not something I can easily renounce. In my current state, I can’t even meet the family head, let alone discuss breaking the engagement!” She sighed, feeling helpless and a headache forming at the thought.

“I can help you. I’ll visit your home and make you appear in public. You can use that opportunity to bring up the breakup. If it succeeds, I’ll even promise you some money—on the condition that you stay away from the prince!” Zhu Shishi’s excitement was palpable as she rambled on.

Such a good deal? Breaking off the engagement and getting paid for it! Brilliant!

“Alright, after the rest period, I’ll return.” The thought of escaping the disgusting Xiao Jinghuai brought her comfort.

Zhu Shishi smiled in delight, warned her once more, then eagerly went to sit beside Xiao Jinghuai.

Just then, Ye Zhaozhao walked in. Seeing this, she fiercely competed for the seat, and the three of them instantly became the center of attention. Xiao Jinghuai’s face turned ashen. On his first day at the academy, he did not want to become notorious in such a way. It would only leave a bad impression on the elders.

At that moment, Su Yunqi entered. Seeing the scene, his heart skipped a beat. He opened his mouth to say something but noticed an elder following them in, evidently the instructor. Whatever he was about to say died on his lips. Today was truly frustrating.

The murmuring crowd fell silent, even Su Yun kept her eyes fixed without blinking, curious about what would be taught.

“I am Zhang Zheng. You may call me Elder Zhang. I will teach you how to bond with your spirit beasts and help them grow and cultivate,” the elder announced, releasing his spirit beast—a large leopard. The moment it appeared, all eyes were drawn to it.

“Wow! So beautiful!”

“Looks so majestic! It would be great if my spirit beast grows like that.”

Their voices brimmed with envy, but Zhang Zheng was unfazed; he had seen this many times.

“Now, everyone, release your spirit beasts. The first step is to try communicating with them, to understand and connect deeply,” he explained. Since they would fight side by side in the future, high intimacy was crucial. Without loyalty, not only might they not fight wholeheartedly, but if danger or illness struck, the beasts could even turn against their masters.

Everyone hurried outside, releasing their spirit beasts immediately and eagerly awaiting Zhang Zheng’s next instructions.

“Explore on your own for now. Once today’s lesson ends, I’ll teach you how to care for them,” he said, then sat on a stool, watching them interact with their beasts.

Amid the crowd, Zhang Zheng’s gaze fell on Su Yun—not because of her appearance. She was emaciated, her features sunken without flesh to fill them out, except for her striking almond-shaped eyes. In such a crowd, she was nearly invisible.

What caught his attention were her two spirit beasts. One looked sickly, prompting him to rise and approach her. “What’s wrong with your spirit beast? Is it ill?”

He frowned, his impression of her worsening. They had all summoned their beasts just three days ago, and hers was already sick. Clearly, she didn’t take good care of it.

“Elder Zhang, you don’t know. Her spirit beast has been this way since it was summoned. Also, she has a bald crow on her shoulder, which she summoned as well,” someone nearby sneered, mocking Su Yun.

Zhang Zheng’s brow tightened. Su Yun ignored the whispers and fixed her gaze on him. “Elder Zhang, how should I care for it? Is there any way to help in this condition?”

She had already thought about eventually finding a way to save Little Yun. Now that he had approached her, she naturally wanted to ask.

“First, you need to live with them, build a silent…” His words were cut off abruptly as his eyes widened in surprise, staring ahead.