Chapter 186 Returning the "betrothal gifts" should be returned.

The emperor of the Great Yong Dynasty awoke.

This was the news Jiang Yuhuo heard in Xidu City when he was investigating the twelve people who had come to Bishui Pond the night before.

The news spread like wildfire throughout the city, but the people were not greatly alarmed. The grand ceremony between the royal family and the immortal sects convinced them that the Great Zhou Dynasty was being protected by the immortals.

The bustling and lively atmosphere of the past vanished, replaced by a tense and solemn atmosphere in the lead-up to war.

Jiang Yuhuo has been in the city these past few days and has seen these changes very clearly.

She tested the blood of all twelve people, except for the prime minister who was far away on the front lines, without alerting the enemy.

The result was that none of the eleven people had that kind of aura in their blood, which made her doubt her own guess.

The weather grew colder day by day, and that night it was unbearably cold, with snow about to fall but not yet.

Jiang Yuhuo returned to the palace in Xidu City on such a cold night, not because she was afraid of the cold, but because there would be a banquet in the palace the next day.

The Qilin horn will be obtained by the Great Yong, which is suppressing the immortal sects. With the deliberate promotion of the Great Zhou, this news quickly spread throughout the mortal realm and the immortal sects.

As expected, the various immortal sects couldn't sit still any longer and gathered in the Western Capital to either verify the truth or discuss countermeasures. The emperor set a date for their joint discussion, at which time the court's key ministers would return from the front lines. Jiang Yuhuo only needed to return to the palace to meet the prime minister at the banquet and complete the final verification.

The progress between the Great Zhou and the Immortal Sect has been even smoother than Jiang Yuhuo had imagined. The only problem is that Qin Yuqi woke up too quickly.

She hadn't yet severed her contract with Li Mengbai, and the other forces within the immortal sects hadn't yet taken over the Li family's responsibilities. If Qin Yuqi were to order a war, the Great Zhou might not be able to cope in such a hasty situation.

With her thoughts in turmoil, Jiang Yuhuo returned to the Princess's bedchamber.

The palace servants on night watch used charcoal fires to warm the entire room, ostensibly to await the master's return at any time, but in reality, it became a place for many palace servants to stay at night. Compared to their accommodations without charcoal fires, staying here at least made their nights much more comfortable.

Such disrespectful behavior was something the palace servants only dared to do in this secluded and deserted princess's bedroom.

Hearing the many even breaths coming from inside the hall, Jiang Yuhu hesitated for a moment before quickly realizing what was happening. Then, she silently flew up to the roof.

Those who cultivate themselves are no longer bothered by the scorching heat or bitter cold; it's the same for her wherever she is. She was just glad that she hadn't woken anyone, otherwise she would have disturbed their warm night.

Jiang Yuhuo originally planned to meditate and cultivate on the rooftop for a night, but unexpectedly encountered an unexpected person there.

Jingzhe, one of Li Mengbai's subordinates, had been waiting for her there, saying that Li Mengbai had instructed him to take her to break the contract with him.

Jiang Yuhuo couldn't help but wonder, would Li Mengbai agree so readily? What kind of trick was this?

Seeing that she didn't believe him, Jingzhe looked at her with a disappointed expression. "Young Madam, you don't know, Young Master..." He paused, as if thinking about how to phrase it, "Young Master seems to... not remember you anymore."

*

Xidu City, the Li family's stronghold.

Li Mengbai sat under the lamp, frowning as he looked at the line between his fingers.

News arrived on the day of Jingzhe: the woman had returned and would soon come to break the bond with him. His expression remained calm, but inwardly he was anxiously counting the water clock's ticks. Why was this woman so slow?!

Hurry up and come over here to break the contract with him!

Once this damned contract is broken, his mind and his memories will be back on track.

In the days since he woke up, he has been extremely irritable, and the source of his irritability was the so-called amnesia that the people around him claimed.

He didn't think he had amnesia. He remembered the past clearly in his mind. He even remembered that those two old bastards, Li Shichuan and Li Yanluo, finally died, killing each other in the ancestral mausoleum. The Li family was finally his. But these things were told by a different logic in their mouths.

Everyone told him that he had a fiancée, and that he had gone to great lengths to secure their marriage. They even said that he had come here specifically to try and keep that woman from leaving… Li Mengbai almost burst out laughing when he heard this.

Is he crazy, or are they crazy?

How could he not remember that there were people in this world worth going to great lengths to get?

Li Mengbai's smile vanished when he saw the binding thread between his fingers. No one could tie this thing for him unless he did so willingly.

He really forgot some things.

Later he learned it was a marriage of convenience. He knew it; how could he have entered into the marriage without ulterior motives? The old man must have pressured him too much, forcing him to put on an act that fooled everyone around him. But now that the old man was dead, whether he lived or died was no longer important to him. A declining royal princess wasn't worth him offering himself up.

He has always disliked arranged marriages.

Of course, he would agree if the other party could offer him enough benefits. But clearly, he has lost his value.

He was certain that he wanted to break the contract.

Upon returning to the Li family's stronghold, Li Mengbai instructed Jingzhe, "Go to her palace and keep watch. Make sure to bring her here as soon as possible and tell her that I want to break off our engagement."

He would occasionally see the faintly glowing gold line on his left middle finger, which he found very irritating.

Jingzhe stared wide-eyed at him in disbelief. "Young Master, you mustn't act rashly! You've only lost your memory for now. Once you regain it, you'll regret it, and it will be too late!"

"Tch, when have you ever seen me regret anything?"

Jingzhe was so anxious she almost jumped up and down. "No, this is different. The contract is the only thing you can use to bind the young mistress now."

Li Mengbai was annoyed by that form of address. "Shut up! I'm asking you to do something, why all the nonsense!"

"Young Master, you will regret this," Jingzhe couldn't help but add before leaving.

"Bang—" Li Mengbai smashed the brass lamp next to him, "Get out!"

They dared to underestimate him just because he had amnesia! He only lost his memory, not his mind!

Once the contract is broken, he can completely eliminate this confusion.

Li Mengbai was absolutely certain of this, after all, all his memories were clear and distinct, without any gaps or blanks, and everything matched up except for this person.

If it weren't for the clues he had, he would have no doubt that the people around him were conspiring to deceive him. He almost killed someone, but luckily he saw the evidence in time.

But when the woman appeared in front of him, he almost doubted it was a scam again.

He had originally thought that the person he would form a bond with would at least be a beautiful woman who would catch his eye, but the person in front of him was extremely plain-looking, with only a red mole on her forehead that was quite nice, but to him she was still just average-looking.

How could he possibly be so madly infatuated with someone like that, as Jingzhe claimed?

Because he found it too absurd, Li Mengbai smiled when he first saw her.

Jiang Yuhuo had almost never seen that arrogant and mocking gaze in Li Mengbai's eyes. Had he truly lost his memory?

Jiang Yuhuo said calmly, "I heard you agreed to dissolve the contract."

This woman was indeed cold even in her speech, and she even carried the chill of the outside world with her.

Li Mengbai sized up the newcomer without restraint, a mocking smile playing on his lips. "I didn't agree, but I tricked you into coming here because I wanted to see you."

Jiang Yuhuo's expression suddenly hardened, and his dark, bright eyes flashed with murderous intent almost instantly.

Li Mengbai's expression changed even faster than hers. "Nonsense, otherwise why would I have called you here?" He looked impatient and reached out to grab Jiang Yuhuo's hand. "Untie her now!"

Jiang Yuhuo was pulled to sit down opposite him at the table, with only a candle burning between them.

With their hands clasped together, the woman stared intently at him, her gaze burning, as if trying to ascertain whether his words were true or false.

You can't even tell the difference between such straightforward words, what an idiot.

For some inexplicable reason, he felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, as if something was itchy, like he had been tickled by feathers. Li Mengbai noticed that her hands were quite warm, even though she had just come from the cold night. Her palms had some thin calluses, and they weren't even as smooth as his. If she applied some balm every day, they would probably feel a little better.

"Do you really not remember me?" Jiang Yuhuo carefully observed his facial expression, still somewhat doubtful.

Li Mengbai scoffed and retorted, "Are you that important?"

"It doesn't matter." She closed her eyes. "Let's break the bond."

That cold and calm tone made Li Mengbai unconsciously want to submit. Recalling what the people around him had said to him, he suddenly asked, as if possessed, "Ji Hongyu, won't you regret breaking the contract with me?"

Upon hearing this address, Jiang Yuhuo opened her eyes and glanced at the person opposite her. Li Mengbai remained calm, awaiting her answer.

She had been deceived by him too many times, and only now could she finally be sure that what Jingzhe said was true, that he really didn't remember her.

Jiang Yuhuo chuckled softly, "No regrets."

Li Mengbai stared blankly at the fleeting smile on her lips for a moment, but he quickly became angry. Her answer was so straightforward; did she really want to break off the contract with him so easily? Even if he had approached her and entered into marriage with her because of the divine aura, how could she have no attachment to this engagement at all? Everyone around him believed that he would regret it, but fortunately, he was just pretending. It would be ridiculous for him to regret it for a woman like that!

Li Mengbai snorted coldly, "Undo it! Undo it now!" Don't ever come crying to him begging for reconciliation later!

Eyes closed, fingers interlocked. The incantation to release the bond was recited simultaneously, and two golden rays of light appeared around their middle fingers, swirling and turning. Golden threads circled their fingers several times, reluctant to part, but ultimately, with the recitation of the incantation, the golden threads vanished without a trace.

The marriage contract was dissolved.

Li Mengbai stared blankly at his middle finger, now devoid of the gold thread. He felt no joy as he had expected; instead, a strange emptiness settled over him.

Seeing the relieved look on the other person's face, Li Mengbai was furious again. Why was she so happy?

"And this one, let's solve it together too."

She stretched out her fair, slender wrist in front of him, and he recognized the tracking mark on her wrist at a glance. It was his own creation, and no one else in the world knew how to do it.

Why would he mark her like that? Is he afraid she'll run away?

The marriage contract has been dissolved, so there's no point in keeping it. It would make him seem like he still cares about her, which is unnecessary.

Li Meng waved her hand dismissively, her face stern, and defused the situation.

A sense of emptiness washed over him, which he then filled with anger. He clearly found her smile irritating, yet he couldn't look away until she produced something.

"As agreed, this is yours."

A diamond-shaped token was placed in front of him, and his bloodline almost immediately responded. It was the token of the Li family patriarch, and no outsider could forge it.

How did it end up in her hands?

But Li Mengbai soon realized a more serious problem.

"You mean... this is the benefit of my breaking the bond with you?" He stared incredulously at the family head's token he had always dreamed of. "And I... didn't agree before?"

She didn't answer, but it was almost self-evident.

A nameless fear crept into Li Mengbai's heart, making his heart pound, as if he had personally lost something he had worked so hard to obtain... But he quickly suppressed this unease.

What's truly important is the family head's decree! It's just a small marriage contract; if he really wants to get married in the future, he can marry her then.

The woman walked away without looking back.

Li Mengbai watched her retreating figure, his gaze unconsciously filled with anger. He knew her predicament; it wouldn't be long before she came begging to him! Those guys who came with their own agendas and schemes were nothing but a rabble; what could they possibly do for this country? Soon she would realize that only he could truly save her!

He was waiting for her to come and beg him.

They hadn't gone far when the tall, dark figure suddenly stopped.

Li Mengbai was slightly taken aback, her eyes filled with a joy she herself was unaware of; she was back.

Before the sarcastic words could be uttered, she pulled out another item.

"I almost forgot, here's yours."

The moment Li Mengbai saw the object in her palm, he almost fell backward to the ground in terror. An immense fear gripped him, leaving him staring blankly at the all-too-familiar object, speechless for a long time.

The jade, pure white and lustrous, was carved into the shape of a butterfly, with pure and abundant spiritual energy contained within. This was not some rare spiritual jade from heaven and earth, but a talisman formed from the spiritual blood he had gathered from countless breakthroughs in his cultivation journey. He knew he had many enemies, and to be on the safe side, he would allocate a portion of his spirit and blood each time he broke through a level. If one day he was unfortunately ambushed, as long as his soul remained, he could rely on this talisman to rebuild his body.

This was practically his second life.

How could someone like him give up his life?

In his memory, this jade disc had always been on him. Was his memory lying, or were these people lying?

He felt like he was out of control, suspecting that someone had secretly taken over his body and was doing these things behind his back.

That's right! Someone must be sabotaging us in the dark!

He didn't believe it. Wasn't he just acting? How could he really fall in love with someone?

Seeing that he didn't take it for a long time, Jiang Yuhuo placed the jade directly on the table and said succinctly, "The betrothal gift should be returned."

As her figure gradually disappeared into the cold night, Li Mengbai could no longer help but chase after her, asking, "Who, who exactly are you?"

She didn't answer, nor did she turn around, disappearing completely into the impenetrable darkness.

A biting wind blew in and chilled him to the bone, and Li Mengbai actually felt a chill.

He turned around, and the room was pitch black; the candle on the table had gone out.