A moment later, outside the academy gates.
"You again?" the academy's gatekeepers were already impatient.
Zhu Kai was a repeat offender; they’d recognize him even if he were ashes.
"What's your problem? Have you no shame? With your status, why would our instructor Zhu Yu take a liking to you?"
"Exactly, exactly! Coming here once a week, calling her your fiancée, have you no self-awareness? Do you even deserve her?"
The two guards alternated their barrage of insults at Zhu Kai.
In the past, Zhu Kai would have retorted.
In his words, this was love.
But this time, Zhu Kai was surprisingly silent.
After the two guards finished their tirade, Zhu Kai spoke again.
"Can I see Zhu Yu? I have something to ask of her."
"No," one of the guards waved him away.
"Get lost! If you don't leave, don't blame us for being impolite!" The other guard had already rolled up his sleeves, ready to act.
"My good sirs, please, just let me see Zhu Yu. I promise I won't mention the engagement."
"You dare mention it again? I think you're asking for a beating." The guard even stepped forward and pushed Zhu Kai.
Zhu Kai didn't fight back. After a long while, he clenched his fists, as if undergoing an internal struggle.
"Tell her, I'm here to break off the engagement."
"What?"
The two guards blinked, momentarily stunned.
"What did you just say? Say it again?"
"I said I'm here to break off the engagement!" Zhu Kai gritted his teeth. "Now can you go and inform her?"
The guard who had just pushed Zhu Kai started laughing.
"Heh, you said it yourself. No backing out?"
"I will never go back on my word."
The guard remained skeptical. "Why should we believe you? What if you're lying? I know you too well. You're pinning your hopes on this engagement to become a phoenix from a crow. Would you willingly break it off?"
"I brought the marriage contract. Is that enough?" Zhu Kai asked, carefully pulling out a red paper from his chest.
The guard reached out to take it, but Zhu Kai blocked him.
"This is the marriage contract. Outsiders are not allowed to see it."
"What if it's fake?"
"Believe it or not. If you're unwilling to inform her, I'll leave now, and today's events will be as if they never happened."
Hearing Zhu Kai's words, the guard became anxious.
Zhu Yu had always disliked this engagement. Now that there was an opportunity to dissolve it, if Zhu Kai left, this chance would be missed, and she might blame them. Then they’d lose their jobs, which wouldn't be worth it.
"Alright, alright, I'm afraid of you. Wait here, I'll go in now. Don't you run off!" The guard watched Zhu Kai nervously.
Before, he'd wished Zhu Kai would disappear immediately. This was the first time he was afraid of Zhu Kai leaving his sight.
"Buddy, keep an eye on him. I'll be right back!"
The other guard, who was somewhat gentler, nodded.
Not long after, only Zhu Kai and one guard remained at the entrance.
Zhu Kai looked at the red paper in his hand and sighed helplessly.
The guard didn't speak to him, but his eyes, looking at Zhu Kai, were filled with sympathy.
Engagement contracts in this world held significant value and were not easily dissolved. Even if dissolved, a large sum of money had to be paid to the other party.
If Zhu Kai hadn't done this, even if he didn't end up with Zhu Yu, he would have received considerable compensation.
But Zhu Kai had acted foolishly, for what reason?
Was it for dignity?
Impossible!
What was dignity worth?
Just then, a figure appeared behind Zhu Kai.
The figure patted Zhu Kai's shoulder. Zhu Kai turned his head and saw Lin Xiao Tian.
"Why are you here?"
"What are you doing here?" Lin Xiao Tian signed.
"Brother is going to do something he's always wanted to do."
"What is it?"
"I'm breaking off the engagement."
Lin Xiao Tian glanced at Zhu Kai and calmly asked, "Are you using this to make the academy use its power to find Xiao Luo?"
"Haha, you understand me."
"There's no need. Isn't this engagement very important to you?"
"I told you, brothers are like limbs, women are like clothes. Besides, I've wanted to give up this engagement for a long time. It was going to happen sooner or later anyway." Zhu Kai said with a wry smile.
The guard beside them couldn't help but laugh.
"Brother, why are you deceiving yourself? Wanted to give up long ago? You didn't seem like it before."
Zhu Kai ignored him.
"Xu Hao, don't worry, Xiao Luo will be found."
Lin Xiao Tian didn't reply, but stayed with him at the gate, waiting. The guard ahead looked at the two of them, speechless.
Soon after, Zhu Yu, dressed in a white dress, came out.
Zhu Kai looked at Zhu Yu and, for a moment, couldn't speak.
He had forgotten how long it had been since he last saw Zhu Yu.
"You've become even more beautiful," Zhu Kai stared at her intently.
Zhu Yu's gaze was calm, and her eyes fell on the red paper in Zhu Kai's hand.
"Are you here to break off the engagement?"
Zhu Kai struggled on the spot, his heart in turmoil. He had prepared this sentence in his mind for a long time, but when it was time to speak, he found he couldn't.
At this moment, a voice suddenly came.
"I would like to ask the academy for a favor."
Zhu Kai was stunned because he suddenly realized the speaker was Lin Xiao Tian.
"You, you, you..."
Before Zhu Kai could recover from his shock, Lin Xiao Tian continued to speak to Zhu Yu. "Instructor Zhu, I'd like to ask the academy to use its authority to help find someone using the grand array."
Zhu Yu was also very surprised by Lin Xiao Tian's sudden speech, but she wasn't as shocked as Zhu Kai and quickly composed herself.
"As a physician, you can seek help from the empire."
"The empire's procedures are too slow, and I'm in a hurry. I know that in such a remote place, the academy's response speed is faster than the empire's."
Zhu Yu smiled. "The academy can indeed do what you say, but we don't casually use such authority unless it's for an academy faculty member."
"Then, if I join the academy now, is there still a chance?"
"You want to join the academy?"
Zhu Yu looked at Lin Xiao Tian in disbelief.
After all, physicians joining the academy received far better treatment than running their own practice. The academy only offered superior treatment to senior physicians and junior alchemists compared to the other two factions.
"A gentleman's word is his bond," Lin Xiao Tian said calmly. "Instructor Zhu Yu, do I have a chance?"
Zhu Yu pondered for a moment. "If you join our academy, you must serve for at least five years before you can leave. If you leave before then, you will face a hefty compensation. Are you sure you want to join?"
Lin Xiao Tian nodded.
"Alright, come with me to see the dean. Once the procedures are completed, you will be considered part of the academy."
"Then, my request?"
"Once you become a faculty member, you can use that authority independently."