Desolate Devouring Art

Chapter 27 - Tearing The Marriage Certificate

Liu Wuxie could feel a terrifying power enveloping the entire Xu Clan before he even got close.

A powerhouse! Liu Wuxie noted in his heart. The powerful aura came from the main hall, frightening many people. Over the past few days, the servants had been polite to Liu Wuxie, but they were acting weird today and hurried past quietly.

“Young Master, Master wants you in the main hall,” the butler ran over and said. He had been searching for Liu Wuxie and couldn’t find him anywhere until now.

As Liu Wuxie followed the butler into the main hall, he immediately felt several gazes upon him, one of which was sharp and hostile. A powerful aura soon swept over him, attempting to suppress him in a clear act of provocation at the soul level.

Ordinary people would’ve lost their bowels under this soul suppression, but Liu Wuxie was calm and composed. No one was more skilled than him in wielding the power of the soul.

“I pay my respects to you, Father-in-law!” When he came in, Liu Wuxie saw three people in the main hall: Xu Yilin, Xu Lingxue, and a middle-aged woman.

The sharp gaze was from the middle-aged woman, who looked at him with hostility. This made Liu Wuxie baffled because he didn’t know this woman. He had never met her before, so where did her hostility come from?

“Wuxie, you’re here. Quickly, pay your respects to Senior Baili Qing,” said Xu Yilin, his expression respectful as he urged Liu Wuxie to show his deference.

Baili Qing?

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Liu Wuxie frowned. He recognized her as Xu Lingxue’s master and the Vice-Dean of the Imperial Academy. Rumors of her cold demeanor proved true upon meeting her in person.

“There’s no need. I summoned you here for one purpose: to annul Lingxue’s marriage to you. I arrived just in time as Lingxue still remains a virgin,” said Baili Qing, who had hurried over upon learning of Xu Lingxue’s marriage. She was relieved to find that Xu Lingxue was still untouched. According to their agreement, Xu Lingxue was to attend the Imperial Academy’s assessment at the end of the year, so Baili Qing had come ahead of schedule.

“Senior Baili, I don’t think this is appropriate!” Xu Yilin protested. He was the one who arranged the marriage, and it was an agreement between the two clans back then. They agreed that their clans' children would marry at eighteen, so how could they break it up?

“There’s nothing inappropriate about it, and it’s decided. Lingxue has high talent, and her physique is suitable for practicing the Jade Maiden Heart Sutra of the Imperial Academy. I cannot allow her future to be hindered by a trash like him,” said Baili Qing, who had already investigated Liu Wuxie’s identity before arriving and learned of his reputation as a notorious wastrel in Azure Billow City.

Baili Qing openly derided Liu Wuxie as unworthy of being Xu Lingxue’s husband, mercilessly mocking him as trash and even seeking to break them apart.

Right from the beginning, Liu Wuxie didn’t say a word, and he roughly understood what Baili Qing meant. She probably looked down on him and thought he would hold her back. He turned to look at Xu Lingxue and wanted to know if it was her idea or Baili Qing’s, which was important to him.

“Is that what you think as well?” Liu Wuxie looked at Xu Lingxue and waited for her reply.

Xu Lingxue’s face turned pale at her master’s words. She had never expected her to speak so harshly, nor had she ever denied that Liu Wuxie was her husband. The thought of their marriage being annulled had never crossed her mind. She was content with the current arrangement: her father could keep his promise, her cultivation would not be hindered, and she and Liu Wuxie maintained a balanced relationship, each minding their own affairs.

“T-That’s not what I want...” Xu Lingxue’s heart was in turmoil. She didn’t dare to look Liu Wuxie in the eyes because his gaze bewildered her.

This reply was within Liu Wuxie’s expectations. This must be the idea of this middle-aged woman, and she was the one who wanted to interfere in their marriage forcibly.

“No need to ask Lingxue about it. From today onwards, you two are no longer husband and wife.” A marriage certificate materialized in Baili Qing’s hand, which she promptly tore into countless pieces that scattered on the ground.

“Master, no...” Xu Lingxue wanted to stop Baili Qing, but it was already too late as tears rolled down her cheeks.

Liu Wuxie clenched his fists and tried his best to restrain his emotions, looking at the vicious woman tearing apart the marriage certificate between him and Xu Lingxue. They might not have consummated their marriage, but they were still husband and wife in name. So Baili Qing’s action was tantamount to trampling his dignity. Even if they had to dissolve their marriage, Xu Lingxue should propose it, not Baili Qing.

Everything happened too quickly, and Xu Yilin was still stumped. Baili Qing was in the pinnacle Marrow Cleansing Realm, and her powerful aura swept out, which sent Liu Wuxie flying away.

“You disgusting witch. I will make you kneel before me one day and beg me for forgiveness!” Liu Wuxie knelt on the ground, blood dripping from his lips. He was filled with self-loathing for his powerlessness, unable to even protect a simple marriage certificate. Though he may not have had strong feelings for Xu Lingxue, he could not bear to have his dignity trampled in such a manner.

“What audacity! Do you believe that I’ll kill you right now?” Killing someone in the Houtian Realm was no different from trampling an ant to death for her. A mighty gale condensed into a palm above Liu Wuxie, and it would claim Liu Wuxie’s life if it descended.

“Master, please don’t kill him!” Xu Lingxue fell to her knees, begging Baili Qing not to kill Liu Wuxie.

“I’ll spare your life today, for Lingxue’s sake, and you can continue to be trash.” The palm disappeared with a wave of Baili Qing’s hand.

Liu Wuxie threw up a mouthful of blood, and his gaze was savage, like an ominous beast. He remembered what happened today and would personally take revenge for it.

“Senior Baili, aren’t you taking it too far?!” Xu Yilin finally couldn’t just keep watching. Xu Lingxue was his daughter, and he had long considered Liu Wuxie to be his son in his heart. So he naturally felt heartache for this matter to develop in this manner.

“Too much?” Baili Qing sneered, “Do you want to see your daughter with a trash for the rest of her life?”

Baili Qing didn’t go easy with her words, even if Xu Yilin was Xu Lingxue’s father. This was Baili Qing, known as the Imperial Academy’s great demon.

“As Lingxue’s master, I should show you respect. But tearing apart their marriage certificate is going too far. This is a matter between them, and they alone should resolve it. We should not interfere in their personal affairs,” said Xu Yilin, speaking the truth. As seniors, they shouldn’t meddle in the affairs of their juniors.

“Are you giving me a lecture?!” A biting chill permeated the hall as Baili Qing only had Xu Lingxue in her eyes. It was just what Xue Yu said. Baili Qing wouldn’t stand up for the Xu Clan even if they were destroyed, and this proved that Xue Yu understood Baili Qing’s personality.

“Father-in-law, say no more. I will avenge the humiliation she has inflicted upon me and show her the folly of her actions,” Liu Wuxie interrupted, stopping Xu Yilin from going any further.

“Let’s just hope I can see that happening,” Baili Qing sneered. In her opinion, anyone who couldn’t reach the Xiantian Realm at eighteen was trash in the Imperial Academy.

The hall fell silent, and no one spoke as Baili Qing returned to her seat.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen,” Xu Lingxue said softly as she walked to Liu Wuxie. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she bit on her lips, trying to hold her tears back.

“It has nothing to do with you. Just go to the Imperial Academy and focus on cultivating. I will look for you soon and let this witch know how wrong she was today!” Liu Wuxie comforted Xu Lingxue, telling her not to take this matter to heart. It was just a marriage certificate, and it didn’t mean their relationship had ended.

At his words, Baili Qing’s murderous intent intensified. She struggled to restrain her urge to kill Liu Wuxie.

“My master is a kind person... please don’t call her a witch,” said Xu Lingxue, who had always been treated well by Baili Qing, unlike her treatment of others.

“Nice?” sneered Liu Wuxie. “Cultivation is about following one’s heart. She believes that by severing her emotions, she can ascend to greater heights. Her very existence is absurd.”

Baili Qing’s cultivation focused on severing her emotions, making her inhumane. Liu Wuxie naturally saw through her with a glance, and his words made Baili Qing turn to look at him like a viper, wondering how he knew about that.

“It’s getting late. Lingxue, go pack your things. You’ll be coming with me to the Imperial Academy ahead of schedule, so your studies won’t be delayed,” said Baili Qing impatiently. She had no desire to linger in Azure Billow City and was eager to return to the Imperial Academy as soon as possible.

“Senior Baili, why don’t you stay in the Xu Clan for a few more days for me to host you?” Xu Yilin still had to establish a good relationship with Baili Qing no matter what since she was Xu Lingxue’s master. There was no doubt that Liu Wuxie was hurt the most today.

“Forget about it. We’ll have an opportunity in the future. Lingxue, go and pack up. I’ll wait for you outside the city gate,” Baili Qing said and disappeared from the main hall, leaving the Xu Clan. With her departure, only three people remained in the main hall. Xu Yilin gave a bitter smile and patted Liu Wuxie’s shoulder sympathetically.

“Father-in-law, I have something to do, and I’ll be going back first!” Liu Wuxie didn’t need anyone to comfort him. An injured wolf would only find a quiet place to lick his wound and make a comeback one day, trampling on everyone who looked down on him.

Xu Yilin sighed as he watched Liu Wuxie’s retreating back. With his wealth of experience, he had easily noticed the changes in Liu Wuxie over the past few days. He said, “Xue’er, Wuxie has changed a lot in the past few days, and his cultivation also improved by leaps and bounds. Don’t forgo your marriage so easily, as time will prove it all.”

“I know, father.” Xu Lingxue nodded. She still couldn’t forget what happened in the colosseum, and she could sense that Liu Wuxie had changed. He had become more composed and wise.

“Focus on cultivating in the Imperial Academy. Don’t disappoint those who have faith in you. You don’t have to worry about the clan, as Wuxie and I will take care of it,” Xu Yilin said.

After returning to his residence, Liu Wuxie briefly fell into a daze in his room before he let out a breath, and a hint of determination flashed across his eyes. He muttered, “Something like this can’t shatter my confidence. I should refine the Pulse Guarding Pill now.”

Liu Wuxie took out the cauldron to refine the Pulse Guarding Pill to treat his injuries and make a breakthrough in the Xiantian Realm.