C7 Excluding the Marriage

The reason was somewhat difficult for him to accept. It wasn't he who had desperately sought out a marriage; rather, it was the other party who had initiated the arrangement through a matchmaker. Now, they were considering calling off the engagement, and such fickleness was utterly contemptible.

"Dad, rest assured, I've got this under control. Didn't you always teach me when I was young that a man may be poor but should never lose his dignity? Truth be told, even if they didn't want to call off the marriage, I would. It's just a matter of pride that they're the ones bringing it up. What happiness could there be with someone who looks down on you? If a person can't find someone with whom they truly connect, it's better to be alone. What's the point of a loveless marriage?"

In the past, Yun Jie would have certainly intervened upon hearing his son's words. But in this moment, he remained silent, acknowledging the truth in Buhui's words. Marriage should be the sweet culmination of two people's affection for each other. Without the foundation of love, how could it possibly endure or bring joy?

"You've grown up and developed your own convictions. It's good that you can make your own decisions," Yun Jie finally said with a sigh, offering no further objections.

"As for me, I think Feiyan is quite a catch. Maybe you should consider her; I get the feeling she's taken a liking to you," Xue Ruyin chimed in at that moment.

"Oh, Mom, please, no more. Feiyan is a great girl, but we're just friends. And even if we weren't, dealing with her father is more than I can handle," Buhui replied. At the mention of Dr. Hu, his parents fell silent, knowing all too well the difficulties that would arise from such an alliance.

Yun Buhui's decision to break off the engagement was one he had pondered for a long time. In fact, he had entertained the thought during his very first visit to the Chu family. People say that a son-in-law is often nervous and out of his element, but Buhui found that for him, things were quite different.

Within the Chu family, Yun Buhui couldn't feel even a trace of warmth. It wasn't just Chu Yuvlin who was distant; his own betrothed, Chu Piaoling, was consistently cold and dismissive towards him.

On the occasions they walked together along a narrow path, their most frequent exchange was, "You can go; I'm heading home." From that point, Yun Buhui realized that they simply weren't meant to be in the same world. His upbringing echoed in his mind, a constant reminder that breaking off an engagement was not an option. But now, Yun Buhui could no longer bear it.

As he resolved to take action, coincidentally, Chu Yuvlin called once more. Staring at the incoming call, Yun Buhui inhaled deeply before answering.

"Yun Buhui, have you prepared the money? Today marks the first day. You have two more days. If you fail, don't accuse me of being dishonorable."

Initially anxious, Yun Buhui couldn't help but chuckle upon hearing this. He responded calmly, "Uncle Chu, I've come to realize that Piaoling and I are incompatible. Therefore, let's call off the wedding. You won't be seen as dishonorable; I've decided to break off the engagement myself. After all, there's no financial entanglement between our families—it's simply a matter of speaking it into existence. You've looked after me and pushed me to do better, for which I'm grateful. Should fortunes improve, I'll be sure to visit."

"Piaoling is a wonderful person, but she would only face hardship with me. She deserves to find greater happiness, and she has my blessings." After Yun Buhui finished, there was an unexpected silence from Chu Yuvlin. Only after a considerable pause did a sigh resonate from the other end of the line.

"Buhui, don't hold any resentment towards me. One day, when you're a parent, you'll understand my actions. I only wish for my daughter's happiness. Since you've made your decision, so be it. Remember, though we may not be bound by marriage, you and Piaoling remain friends. Feel free to visit us whenever you wish."

It seemed the person on the other end of the line had more to say, but ultimately, with a heavy sigh, they hung up. In that moment, Yun Buhui felt an inexplicable sense of relief wash over him, as if a heavy shackle had been lifted from his shoulders. It was then that he realized how deeply he had internalized this constraint as his greatest burden.

After a quick meal with his parents, Yun Buhui grabbed his hoe and set out for the fields. With over ten acres of land to tend to and his parents' health on the decline, they could no longer manage the farm work. Although early autumn typically meant less fieldwork, Yun Buhui's land lay fallow, overrun with weeds. Without clearing them, the crops would stand no chance.

As he made his way to the fields, hoe in hand, he noticed butterflies and bees occasionally flitting around him. Initially indifferent, he became curious when they persisted in following him. Upon closer inspection, he discovered that he was intermittently emitting a subtle scent, something he wouldn't have noticed if not for the insects' attention. Puzzled by this odd occurrence, Yun Buhui pulled out his phone and launched the Almighty Immortal Cultivation App. "Almighty Immortal Cultivation System, are you there?"

"Hello, host. I am here. In the future, if you need me, just call me Xiaoling," the system responded.

"Alright, Xiaoling. I need to know why I'm emitting a faint aura that attracts butterflies and bees to me constantly. What's happening?" Yun Buhui inquired, turning to the Almighty Immortal Cultivation System for answers. While others might turn to search engines with their questions, he had the Almighty at his fingertips.

"Host, the answer is quite simple. Your current form is that of a mortal. You haven't yet cultivated to the level of a Leakless True Immortal. Hence, your body's Spiritual Qi is prone to intense fluctuations during physical exertion, emotional upheaval, or even through perspiration. Once your body attains the state of a Leakless True Immortal, such phenomena will cease to occur."

"Is there a way to stop this aura from escaping? It's quite bothersome to have butterflies and bees tailing me everywhere I go." Yun Buhui couldn't help but feel a headache at the thought of being constantly swarmed by these insects, regardless of his location.