Contrary to Nal an's expectations, the boy before her trembled violently after her words. Int a raised his head, his youthful face contorted with a fury that bordered on terrifying.
For three years, int a had endured relentless mockery, but he held a line of dignity deep within his heart. Nal an's high-handed, almost charitable offer to dissolve the engagement trampled that fragile pride.
"Agh…" Startled by his fierce expression, Nal an stepped back. The young man beside her, clad in moon-white robes, swiftly drew a sleek blade, its edge glinting with cold binary pulses, aimed at int a.
"I… really want to dereference you right now!" Int a's teeth chattered with barely contained rage, his clenched fists trembling, his dark eyes blazing with fury.
"Int a, mind your manners!" Const int* elder's voice boomed from the head of the hall, alarmed by his son's outburst. The int family could ill afford to offend the Cloud Code Sect.
Int a's fists tightened, his nails digging into his palms. After a moment, he lowered his head, and the fiery anger in his eyes cooled into an eerie calm.
Three years of scorn had forged in him a resilience beyond his years. Nal an was the Cloud Code Sect's prized disciple. Any reckless move against her would bring endless trouble to his father. He had no choice but to endure.
Byte Ge and Nal an exchanged uneasy glances, a chill creeping into their hearts at the boy's sudden composure.
"This variable… if he remains a failure, fine. But if he regains his strength, he'll be a force to fear," Byte Ge thought grimly.
"Int a, I don't know why my request angers you so, but… please, dissolve the engagement," Nal an said, regaining her composure, her tone firm.
"Please understand, I'm here on Sect Leader Yun Code's orders!" She tilted her head, her voice tinged with reluctance. "You may see this as coercion, but you know the reality. The gap between us is vast. We…"
"There's no hope for us," she concluded softly.
Her words, delivered like a compiler's verdict, drew a cold laugh from int a. "Miss Nal an, you know that a public dissolution by the woman's side brings shame to the man's family in the Code Continent. I can handle the humiliation, but my father is the village elder. If he agrees to this, how can he maintain his authority in Zhan District? How can he stand in Stack City?"
Nal an frowned, glancing at const int* elder, whose weathered face seemed to age further. A pang of guilt stirred within her. Biting her lip, she hesitated before speaking softly. "Today's request was rash. I'll withdraw the demand for now, but I propose a challenge."
"What challenge?" Int a's brows furrowed.
"I'll delay the dissolution for three years. In three years, come to the Cloud Code Sect and challenge me. If you lose, I'll publicly dissolve the engagement. By then, you'll have completed the village's coming-of-age ceremony, so the shame won't fall as heavily on your father. Do you dare accept?" Nal an's voice was calm, her eyes steady.
Int a's heart twisted with bitter laughter. "If I lose then, my father's honor might be spared, but I'll carry the shame of defeat for life. This woman… she's ruthless."
"Miss Nal an, you know my condition. What could I possibly use to challenge you? Is humiliating me like this amusing?" Const int* elder slammed the table, rising in anger.
"Elder int, dissolving an engagement requires someone to bear the cost. If not for your reputation, I'd end it now and announce it to the world!" Nal an's patience wore thin, and she turned to int a, her voice sharp. "If you care about your father's honor, accept the challenge! Three years from now, or today—what's your choice?"
"Nal an, spare me your lofty attitude. You want to end this because you think I, int a, am a useless variable unworthy of a prodigy like you. Let me be blunt: aside from your beauty, I find nothing about you worth wanting! The Cloud Code Sect is powerful, but I'm young, and I have time. At twelve, I condensed a Core Binary Cyclone, becoming a Pointer Knight. What were you at twelve, Nal an? Eight bits of internal force? Yes, I'm a failure now, but I created a miracle before. What makes you think I can't rise again?" Int a's voice erupted like a crashing stack, his cold words stunning the hall. Who could have imagined the quiet boy held such fire?
Nal an's lips quivered, her face paling with anger, but she couldn't refute him. His past achievement—becoming a Pointer Knight at twelve—was undeniable, while she had only reached eight bits then.
"Miss Nal an, heed my advice, for Marshal Bitwise's sake: thirty years east, thirty years west—don't underestimate a young variable's potential!" Int a's words made Nal an tremble.
"Well said! Thirty years east, thirty years west! My son is no ordinary variable!" Const int* elder's eyes gleamed, his hands slamming the table, splashing tea.
Gritting her teeth, Nal an glared at the smirking boy. Pampered her whole life, she'd never been so challenged by a peer. Her voice sharp, she retorted, "You dare lecture me? Fine, you were a genius once, but now you're nothing! I, Nal an, will wait for you to surpass me. I'll hold off on dissolving the engagement, but in three years, come to the Cloud Code Sect. If you defeat me, I'll serve you for life! But if you're still this weak, you'd better hand over the dissolution contract without a fuss!"
Int a laughed coldly. "Three years? I've no interest in you even now." Ignoring her icy glare, he strode to the table, seizing a stylus and parchment.
The stylus danced, ink flowing swiftly.
Int a drew a short blade from his sleeve, slicing his palm. Blood dripped onto the parchment, leaving a stark red print.
Grabbing the contract, he sneered and slammed it onto the table before Nal an. "Don't think I, int a, care for some prodigy fiancée. This isn't a dissolution contract—it's a declaration that I, int a, sever you from the int family! From this moment, you, Nal an, have no ties to us!"
"You… you dare break me off?" Nal an's eyes widened, disbelief etched on her face. With her beauty, talent, and backing, to be cast aside by a village failure? It felt unreal.
Int a turned, dropping to one knee before const int* elder, his head bowing deeply. His lips pressed tight, he said nothing, his silence heavy with resolve.
He knew that, despite his bold act, the world would see this as Nal an forcing the int family to yield, her status and power overshadowing his. His father would face endless ridicule.
Seeing his son's guilt, const int* elder smiled faintly. "I believe my son won't remain a failure forever. Rumors will fade before your future deeds."
"Father, in three years, I'll go to the Cloud Code Sect and wash away today's shame!" Int a's eyes glistened, and he bowed once more before rising and striding out.
As he passed Nal an, he paused, his voice cold. "Three years from now, I'll find you."
His silhouette stretched long in the sunlight, lonely yet resolute.
Nal an stared at the fading figure, the bloodied contract heavy in her hands.
(To be continued)