Chris Sullivan had only one daughter, Yvonne Sullivan, who was the reincarnation of the Heavenly Phoenix, possessing an unimaginably gifted bloodline. She succeeded in cleansing her marrow at a very young age, and at twelve, traveled far south to the Holy Maiden Peak to study the Heavenly Scriptures. It is said that she has now broken through to the Sitting Illumination realm, her fame spreading far and wide, beloved by all, and regarded as the undisputed candidate for the next Holy Maiden of the Church of Light.

A girl whose background, bloodline, and sect were all nearly perfect naturally attracted many admirers. It was rumored that even the legendary bloodthirsty young lord of the demon clan was her fervent worshipper. Yet whenever people discussed who Yvonne Sullivan might eventually choose, only one name was ever mentioned—a name equally dazzling.

Owen Carter.

The Qiushan family was the greatest clan in the south, and in this generation, they produced an extraordinarily talented young man named Owen Carter. He was said to be the reincarnation of the Divine Dragon, the chief disciple of the Longevity Sect, the leader of the Seven Laws of the Divine Kingdom, and had cultivated under the elders of the southern sects. At eighteen, he was widely recognized as the most likely candidate to become the strongest person on the Eastern Continent in centuries to come.

Heavenly Phoenix and Divine Dragon—Owen Carter and Yvonne Sullivan, these fellow disciples, were truly the most dazzling pair of the younger generation; there simply was no third person of their caliber.

Everyone in the world knew that Owen Carter had always admired Yvonne Sullivan, quietly waiting for her to grow up. The elders and disciples of the Longevity Sect, the people of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and the Qiushan family all believed they were a match made in heaven. Even Miss Megan Reed in the imperial palace of the Great Zhou had said that even the Holy Empress herself favored this beautiful union.

However, suddenly, a young Daoist arrived at the general’s residence with a marriage contract.

He claimed to be Yvonne Sullivan’s fiancé.

If this matter were to spread...

Perhaps the entire continent would be shocked.

……

……

The courtyard was silent, with bamboo leaves blown by the wind past the stone archway.

“Now you know.” Emily looked at Ethan Brooks and said, “You are just an ordinary person, separated from my lady’s world by a vast sea of stars. You will never be able to cross it. For your own sake, it’s best to forget about this.”

Ethan Brooks truly hadn’t expected that the girl he was engaged to would be such an extraordinary person. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Why didn’t Madam tell me this earlier?”

Emily said, “Because Madam didn’t want you to make more demands after learning these things.”

He looked up at her and asked, “Why are you telling me?”

Emily said, “Because my lady mentioned you in her letter. She is a kind-hearted person. Although she will not marry you, she also wouldn’t want to see you die inexplicably. And... I think you should be a smart person. After knowing these things, you should have enough self-awareness to make the only correct decision.”

Ethan Brooks said, “I understand.”

After saying this, he walked toward the archway, his shoes rustling on the bamboo leaves.

Emily was stunned, wondering what was going on.

Suddenly, Ethan Brooks stopped, turned, and looked at her.

Emily breathed a sigh of relief, her small hand gently pressing her chest, waiting for his decision.

Ethan Brooks looked at her and asked, “I want to leave. Which way should I go?”

Chapter 3: It’s a Common Name, But It’s My Name

It took a while for Emily to come back to her senses.

She could tell that this young Daoist was not deliberately mocking or teasing her, but truly hadn’t taken her words to heart. Seeing his earnest and calm expression, she didn’t know why, but grew even angrier.

She said bitterly, “You will die.”

Ethan Brooks opened his eyes wide and said, “Everyone will die.”

Emily said, “You know that’s not what I mean.”

Ethan Brooks said very seriously, “Thank you for telling me all this.”

Emily’s face looked terrible as she said, “Madam wants to break off the engagement. If you agree, there will be a reward. Why insist on being stubborn and say you came to break off the engagement? Do you think that will save some face? If that’s really the case, so be it, but why change your mind in the end? This kind of indecisiveness is really not attractive.”

“Actually... I really did come to break off the engagement. Whether you believe it or not doesn’t matter. It’s just that now, I really don’t want to.”

“Why?”

Ethan Brooks tilted his head and thought seriously for a moment. A smile gradually appeared on his youthful face, because he had found a reason that convinced himself. He said, “Because... you never asked my name.”

Emily didn’t understand.

“From the moment I entered the residence until now, neither Madam nor you have asked my name.”

Ethan Brooks looked at her and said seriously, “My name is Ethan Brooks. I know it’s a common name, but my master hoped I could live a long life, so it’s always been this one.”

As he spoke, his eyes were very bright and his expression very earnest.

Suddenly, Emily felt that this seemingly ordinary young Daoist radiated a certain glow—perhaps it was that earnest quality? She understood his reason, and for some unknown reason, felt a sense of shame.