My Brother's the Protagonist? Good Thing I Awakened My System!

Chapter 206 Shadows Of The Past

Chapter 206  Shadows Of The Past

Feng Yun didn't want to admit it, but the root of the problem wasn't Ling Meiyu; it was the fact that he was too weak.

Otherwise, even if the engagement had been canceled, his and his clan's reputation wouldn't have been affected if he were stronger and more talented than Ling Meiyu.

Their enemies wouldn't have been able to do anything, even if they had known about the broken engagement between the Feng Clan and the Ling Clan. If they had been strong enough, their enemies wouldn't have dared to act.

Of course, canceling the engagement on his brother's birthday was something he couldn't forgive Ling Meiyu for, but that wasn't enough to be called hatred strong enough to kill her.

However, he also felt like he couldn't forgive Ling Meiyu because she had brought trouble to the Feng Clan, whether indirectly or directly.

However, in the end, that didn't matter because it turned out that his brother had everything under control, and they were the ones who benefited from the attacks of other Major Families.

If asked this same question three years ago, he would have definitely felt hatred for Ling Meiyu at the mere mention of her name.

But now, he only knew her as an opponent he needed to defeat to make up for the humiliation of his clan and to prove that he, Feng Yun, was no longer the trash that he used to be.

Feng Chen turned his head slightly, studying his younger brother.

"You've matured, Yun'er!"

He said with a faint smile.

Feng Yun had suffered as 'TRASH' since he was little, and this only worsened with the cancellation of his engagement.

Some called him a toad wishing to eat swan's meat, and many other things, despite the engagement not being his decision.

The humiliation he endured wasn't something one could imagine, and it wasn't something he could control either.

Over the years, his reputation had changed, and it could be said that people no longer looked down upon him, except for those who couldn't accept reality.

It could also be said that it was because of Ling Meiyu that Feng Yun had come this far. Otherwise, even with his and the System's help, perhaps Feng Yun would have been stuck in the Grand Qi Condensation Realm.

"Yun'er, tomorrow, whatever decision you make, make the one you won't regret."

Feng Chen said.

"I will support your decision no matter what it is."

Feng Yun nodded, and the two of them stared at the sky together in silence.

Sigh!

Feng Chen couldn't help but sigh. Their parents had made the engagement in hopes that the two clans could become close just like them.

Having their children marry each other would have made them relatives and further strengthened the bond.

( If Father and Mother were here, what would they think? )

Feng Chen wondered.

They would be devastated and blame themselves for the decision.

But the engagement might not have even broken down in the first place if they were still around.

( What about Ling Jian? )

Feng Chen also wondered about Ling Meiyu's father, who was close to his parents.

He had heard that he was injured but didn't know the full details.

In the three years since he would have recovered if it were just a little injury, but if not, then there was a possibility that it wasn't as small as Ling Meiyu had said.

In any case, he wasn't in a state to stop Ling Meiyu, and perhaps he was in agreement with her.

However, in the end, nothing mattered as Ling Meiyu and Feng Yun had both made their decision.

Meanwhile, in the Icy Veil Sect's temporary residence, Ling Meiyu sat beneath a flowering plum tree, her gaze fixed on the full moon hanging high above.

The silvery light bathed the courtyard in a serene glow, but her heart was far from tranquil.

( Three years have passed, and now it all comes down to tomorrow! )

She thought, her fingers absently brushing against the hilt of her sword.

Her mind wandered back to the day she had broken the engagement with Feng Yun.

She could still see him standing there, his shoulders stiff, his fists clenched at his sides. His eyes, however, burned with defiance.

His words had been bold, almost laughable. At the time, Ling Meiyu had dismissed them as the empty boasts of a powerless boy.

After all, Feng Yun had been nothing more than a Qi Gathering Stage cultivator at the age of 15—a level so low it was considered shameful.

By then, she herself had already broken through to the Grand Qi Condensation Realm, her talent shining brightly among her peers.

( How could someone like him possibly close the gap between us? )

She had thought back then.

Even as she had spoken the words to annul their engagement, she had felt no remorse. To her, it had been a logical decision.

Yet, here they were, three years later, and he had proved her wrong in every possible way.

Feng Yun had not only shattered his reputation as "trash" but had climbed to the semi-finals of the Dragon and Phoenix Competition—a feat that even she hadn't anticipated.

It wasn't just his cultivation that had advanced. His demeanor, his presence—everything about him had transformed.

Ling Meiyu's gaze dropped to the hilt of her sword.

( Three years ago, I thought I had made the right decision. But now… )

She believed what she did was right, but was it?

Couldn't she have handled things differently?

Was it right for her to destroy the relationship with the clan her father had been close friends with for years while he was in a coma?

What would he think when he wakes up and finds out the truth?

A soft rustle behind her broke her thoughts. Turning slightly, she saw her master, Xue Hongxia, approaching with her usual composed demeanor.

"Meiyu," Xue Hongxia began, her voice gentle yet firm, "are you ready for tomorrow?"

Ling Meiyu nodded, though her expression betrayed her inner turmoil.

"I am, Master! I will not dishonor our sect!"

Xue Hongxia studied her disciple carefully, her sharp eyes catching the faint hesitation in Ling Meiyu's tone.

Sigh!

Then, with a faint sigh, she spoke, her tone calm but carrying the weight of authority.

"Meiyu, there's something I must ask of you," Xue Hongxia began, her voice steady and unwavering.

"No matter the result of tomorrow's match, I want you to apologize to Feng Yun."

Ling Meiyu's head snapped up in shock. "Master, I—"

Xue Hongxia raised a hand, silencing her.

"I will also be apologizing with you."

Ling Meiyu's heart sank at her master's words. She had never expected Xue Hongxia, the Sect Master of the Mystic Flame Sect and one of the most respected figures in the Azure Sky Empire, to apologize.

"Master, no!" Ling Meiyu said, her voice rising in protest.

"It's one thing for me to apologize, but you? You've done nothing wrong! This is my mistake, and I'll take responsibility for it. Please don't lower yourself for my actions."

Xue Hongxia shook her head, a faint smile touching her lips.

"Meiyu, I am your master. I guided you, advised you, and ultimately supported the choice to break off the engagement. At the time, I believed it was the right decision for you. But looking back… we caused harm. The Feng Clan suffered because of our actions, and that responsibility does not fall on you alone. It falls on me as well!"

Ling Meiyu's heart sank at her master's words. She had always thought of Xue Hongxia as unshakable, yet here she was, admitting to a mistake and taking responsibility for it.

"Master…" Ling Meiyu's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll do it. I'll apologize to Feng Yun and the Feng Clan. But please, don't involve yourself. You've already done so much for me—this is my responsibility to bear."

Xue Hongxia's gaze remained firm.

"Meiyu, responsibility is not something that can be shifted or divided at will. When I supported you, I shared in the consequences of that decision. It is only right that I face those consequences alongside you. I owe the Feng Clan an apology just as much as you do."

She paused, her expression growing more thoughtful.

"Though, I suspect our apology might come too late. The wounds we caused may have already scarred over, and they may not want or need our words. But that does not absolve us of the need to offer them."

Ling Meiyu's shoulders slumped as her master's words sank in. "Master…" Ling Meiyu's voice was barely a whisper. "I'll do it. I'll apologize to Feng Yun and his clan. But I can't bear the thought of you lowering yourself for my sake."

Xue Hongxia placed a hand on Ling Meiyu's shoulder, her touch firm yet comforting.

"This is not about lowering oneself, Meiyu. It is about doing what is right. Tomorrow, we will face the Feng Clan together. Whether they accept our apology or not, we will have to apologize for the trouble we caused."

Ling Meiyu nodded, though her heart was heavy.

She looked back at the moon, its silvery glow casting long shadows across the courtyard.