I Am a Rune Engraver, Carrying a Knife Makes Perfect Sense-Chapter 58 - A "Cancel the Engagement" Drama?

—

The moment Xu Shen heard the words “cancel the engagement,” he almost lost his composure. Internally, he couldn’t help but exclaim, Oh, good heavens.

So this is one of those “cancel the engagement” tropes?

Is Xiao Yun about to become the protagonist of some cliché novel?

Xu Shen’s curiosity was piqued as he motioned for Dong Tianming and Xu Guang to follow him quietly. They crept closer to observe the situation.

Xu Shen glanced at Xiao Yun’s hands.

Hmm, no rings.

No old grandpa hiding in a ring either.

The group involved in the argument hadn’t noticed the three nosy spectators lurking nearby. They continued to glare at each other with intensity.

—

Facing Xiao Yun and his group was a tall, heavily made-up woman. Upon closer inspection, her natural features were quite attractive beneath the layers of cosmetics.

Beside her stood a man with his arm wrapped around her waist. His hair had streaks of gray, and he spoke with a faint smirk.

“Xiao Yun, I’ve heard about you,” the man began.

“You’re the only son of the Xiao family in the capital, nephew to one of the current Flame Pillars. But you’re too arrogant to mingle with other family heirs, aren’t you?”

His words caused a ripple of shock among Xiao Yun’s companions, including Xuexue and Tang Liang. They knew Xiao Yun came from a prominent family, but they hadn’t realized he was an only son—and that his aunt was a current Flame Pillar.

No wonder Xiao Yun never elaborated on his background.

—

“And who are you?” Xiao Yun asked, frowning at the man.

“Li Tian,” the man replied curtly.

“The Li family, huh...” Xiao Yun chuckled coldly. “What do you want from me?”

“Go home and have your family cancel your engagement to Xiao Zhi,” Li Tian said bluntly.

“You’re someone who refuses to integrate into our social circles. Do you really think Xiao Zhi would ever be interested in you?” he added with a mocking smile.

—

Xuexue glanced at Xiao Yun, her expression complicated. She seemed deep in thought as she observed his stoic demeanor.

“I left home precisely because of this engagement,” Xiao Yun said stiffly. “If you want it canceled, go handle it yourselves. Why bother coming to me?”

“While the Xiao family isn’t as powerful as it once was, it’s still a respected household,” Li Tian replied coolly. “It would be too disrespectful to approach them directly.”

“Naturally, you should be the one to bring it up.”

Xiao Zhi snorted disdainfully and cast a jealous glance at Xuexue, who stood beside Xiao Yun like a celestial beauty.

—

From his hiding spot, Xu Shen raised an eyebrow in surprise. This Xiao Zhi has some brains after all, he thought. At least she knows not to embarrass the Xiao family outright.

“I’ve already said—I left my family behind. Whatever nonsense marriage they arranged has nothing to do with me,” Xiao Yun said firmly. “Now move aside!”

He stepped forward, and flames flickered briefly in his eyes.

—

“What’s there to be so arrogant about, Xiao Yun?” Li Tian sneered. “Do you think you’re special?”

“Let me tell you—associating with these low-class people won’t do you any good.”

“But if you listen to us, we might even consider being friends.”

Li Tian released his grip on Xiao Zhi’s waist and took a step forward as well.

—

“I don’t like what I’m hearing,” Tang Liang interjected with a cold smile. “Are you saying my Tang family is low-class?”

“The Tang family? From Sichuan?” Xiao Zhi asked with a slight frown.

“That’s right,” Tang Liang replied casually. “Should I let my family know that we’ve been labeled as low-class today?”

“We’re all citizens of Xia Nation—what makes you so superior?” he added with a smirk.

—

“The Tang family should stay out of capital affairs,” Li Tian said dismissively. “While your family isn’t weak, it’s nothing compared to mine.”

His arrogance was palpable.

From their hiding spot, Xu Shen felt a headache coming on. What’s with all these families and their nonsense? Do they all think they’re invincible?

Dong Tianming quietly explained through spiritual transmission: “These families hold significant influence across Xia Nation. As our nation’s territory continues to expand, their power and resources have grown steadily.”

“If not for them and some sects bolstering our defenses, Xinhuo Guard alone wouldn’t be able to protect all of Xia Nation.”

—

Suddenly, ghostly energy surged as tensions reached a boiling point. Li Tian, Xiao Yun, and Tang Liang’s auras flared up simultaneously.

“If you’re going to fight, take it somewhere else,” Xu Shen said as he stepped out of the shadows.

The three combatants froze mid-motion, startled by the sudden appearance of someone wearing a gray mask.

Especially Li Tian and Xiao Zhi—they instinctively took a step back before quickly regaining their composure.

Li Tian’s face darkened as he realized how foolish he must’ve looked. He sneered coldly and said, “Who do you think you are? Get lost!”

“And if you say another word, I’ll break your legs!”

—

Hearing this, Xu Guang nearly burst out laughing. This guy is doomed, he thought gleefully.

Dong Tianming shook his head in silent disapproval. These spoiled brats may have cultivation levels, but they probably haven’t even fought ghouls before.

And now he’s picking a fight with Xu Shen? He’s asking for it.

Tang Liang and the others exchanged knowing looks as if they were watching an idiot dig his own grave.

—

“What are you all looking at?” Li Tian snapped at them. “Do you think some trash Core Solidification cultivator can intimidate me?”

Li Tian laughed mockingly. Ever since breaking through to Flame Mastery, his arrogance had reached new heights.

“You’d better watch your mouth!” Tang Liang warned coldly. “This is Brother Ming—if you keep talking nonsense, I’ll make sure you can’t walk out of here!”

“Brother Ming? What kind of joke is that?” Li Tian scoffed. “Wearing a mask like some clown—what is this, cosplay?”

Xiao Zhi clung to Li Tian’s arm and sneered as well. “Tian-ge, these people are just nobodies—they’re no match for you.”

—

“I’ll say it one last time,” Xu Shen said calmly. “If you want to fight, take it somewhere else.”

His tone remained indifferent, but there was a hint of amusement in his eyes.

Li Tian laughed arrogantly. “I’m staying right here! None of you are leaving until I say so!”

“And you—what’s with the mask? Trying to play mysterious? What are you—”

BAM!

Before he could finish his sentence, Xu Shen’s fist connected with his face.

Li Tian’s vision went black as he crumpled to the ground.

—

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Xu Shen didn’t stop there. He rained down punches like falling trains, each one slamming into Li Tian with unrelenting force.

Li Tian couldn’t even muster the strength to resist.

Xiao Yun, Tang Liang, and the others stood frozen in shock.

What just happened?

One moment Brother Ming was standing still—the next moment he was pummeling Li Tian into the dirt!

—

“You’ve got guts acting so arrogant on my turf,” Xu Shen said with a faint smile as he delivered another punch.

“Who’s trash now?”

BAM!

“Who’s playing cosplay?”

BAM!

His voice remained calm and almost playful as he continued his assault.

—

“YOU—!” Li Tian roared as he tried to activate his Flame Mastery aura and rise to his feet.

But before he could fully stand up, another punch sent him crashing back down.

“What kind of garbage Flame Mastery cultivator are you?” Xu Shen asked mockingly before stomping on Li Tian’s leg.

CRACK!

“AAAAHHHHH!!!”

Li Tian screamed in agony as his leg broke under Xu Shen’s foot.

—

“Stop screaming—it’s annoying,” Xu Shen muttered before stomping on Li Tian’s other leg.

CRACK!

Li Tian fell silent, trembling as cold sweat drenched his body. Fear gripped him as he looked into Xu Shen’s eyes—eyes filled with killing intent.

Was this masked man going to kill him?

—

Seeing that Li Tian had finally shut up, Xu Shen grabbed him by the hair and lifted him slightly off the ground. He crouched down so their eyes were level.

“This Flame Mastery level of yours... is fake, isn’t it?” Xu Shen asked casually.

“I’m actually a very reasonable person—you know that?” he continued with a faint smile.

Li Tian nodded frantically, too terrified to speak.

Tang Liang and the others were utterly dumbfounded. Reasonable? You just broke both his legs!

—

“I told you to take your fight elsewhere,” Xu Shen said calmly. “But instead, you insulted me—so I hit you.”

“Fair enough?”

“Mmm... Mmm...” Li Tian mumbled through broken teeth, nodding vigorously.

“Good boy,” Xu Shen said with a satisfied nod before turning to Xiao Zhi. “Take him to the hospital—his legs can still be fixed if you hurry.”

His tone was almost cheerful—but that only made him seem more terrifying.

—

Xiao Zhi hesitated for a moment before glaring at Xu Shen defiantly. “You’re dead! Tian-ge is from the Li fami—”

SLAP!

Xu Shen cut her off with a backhand slap that sent her flying several feet away.

“Why so chatty? Still trying to threaten me?” he muttered as he watched her struggle to get up.

Li Tian cursed her silently in his mind. Idiot! Can’t you see we’re already screwed? Why provoke him further?!

—

With her face swollen from the slap, Xiao Zhi finally helped Li Tian up and hurriedly fled with him in tow. But as she turned away, Xu Shen caught a glimpse of hatred flashing in her eyes.

He narrowed his gaze slightly but ultimately decided against pursuing them further.

They don’t know who I really am, he thought. Let them go for now.

If they caused trouble again later... well, that would be their problem—not his.

—

Turning back to Xiao Yun and the others, Xu Shen saw them trembling slightly under his gaze.

“You guys should leave too,” he said flatly. “Don’t cause any more trouble.”

Relieved that they weren’t about to get beaten up themselves, they quickly nodded and left without another word.

—

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Back inside the house, Xu Guang burst out laughing.

“The moment that guy opened his mouth, I knew he was doomed!” he cackled. “Reminds me of how I used to be—haha!”

Xu Shen ignored him and turned to Dong Tianming instead.

“What do you think? Will that guy come back for revenge? Should I just sneak out tonight and finish him off?”

Dong Tianming’s eye twitched as he quickly intervened. “Don’t even think about it! This is the capital—the Li family’s home turf.”

“Beating him up is one thing—but killing him would cause major problems.”

Even Xinhuo Guard would have trouble smoothing things over if that happened.

—

“So... it could still be smoothed over?” Xu Shen asked thoughtfully before noticing Dong Tianming’s exasperated expression.

He chuckled nervously and dropped the subject—for now.

“What if they try something underhanded against me later?” Xu Shen asked after a moment of silence.

“Now you’re thinking about consequences?” Dong Tianming teased with a smirk before reassuring him:

“You’re a Xinhuo Guard engraver now.”

“Unless they have a death wish... they won’t dare touch you.”