A loud slap noise was heard across the main hall of a mansion. It was the Polarmis Household. Ian was kneeling on the floor with a bright red cheek and a cut lip. Before him was an old man in his late seventies. His eyes were small, and his body looked fragile, but his hits were strong like a hammer. There was a piece of paper in his hand that caused him to shake with anger.

YESTERDAY

"My dear grandson, how was my daughter in law?" ask the old man.

Ian held his hand with a smile, "She's fine grandpa. Scarlet will be coming for a visit soon."

His grandfather chuckles at the news, "Good, good. As long as she is fine."

"Well then, Grandpa I'll be resting in my room," said Ian.

"Oh? So soon?"

He smirks at him, "You may get a great grandchild soon since I've been working very hard for it."

"What?!" His grandfather said with bright eyes, "Scarlet is pregnant?"

He chuckles at him, "Not yet, but I will need my rest for that to happen. She did do a workout on me."

Unable to listen to it any longer, his grandfather told him to quickly leave

Ian chuckles at him as he leaves. His grandfather was extremely excited and happy at the news. If Scarlet does become pregnant, it will be the most wonderful new ever.

Ian's grandfather, James, was the old master of the Polarmis Household. He was at upper5 and was very famous. He was known for his fairness and wisdom. When he heard about Scarlet's father's achievement and behavior, he was deeply interested in him. As soon as he found out that he has a daughter of the same age as his grandson, James didn't hesitate to have them engaged.

There were two reasons for this. James was told by a very famous and well known fortune teller that his family's glory will end the moment he passes on. In order for his family to stay well after he was gone, he needed to wed his grandson to someone that had the Phoenix Destiny. These were the reasons why he wanted his grandson and Scarlet to wed.

The second reason was because Scarlet was a good person. She knew what was right from wrong, and even though her cultivation level was low, she did not discriminate against those of different backgrounds. A very good quality for those who are to wed into the Polarmis family.

When he heard that Scarlet had to go to war for the honor of the Ashegrey family, he was frightened to death. A sweet child like her fighting in a chaotic and mad place such as war may be too much on her. He was relieved when he heard that his grandson was going with her. He was even more happy when he heard that she had returned.

His family and her well being was safe. The anxiety in his heart disappeared. Even if he was to pass, he could leave it to someone worthy and capable.

James shakes his head, "When she comes, remember to welcome her gloriously, our family's name depends on her."

No one but James one how important Scarlet was to the Polarmis Household. James is wise for a reason. He knows that most of the family in his household are not good people. He knows that the moment they find out that she is the one who can save their family, they will not hesitate to use her. James could not bear that to happen to such a sweet child.

And if it was not meant to be, then he will not keep the engagement. But, he hopes inside his heart that his family would not choose their greed over a girl's life.

NEXT DAY, EARLY MORNING

"My lord, a letter sent to you by Miss Scarlet," said a servant as he gave the letter to James.

His eyes brighten at the servants words. Scarlet had never sent a letter to him unless it was urgent. Such as, anything concerning Ian and how to make Ian love her more. James was very supportive about having them together, so he didn't hesitate to help her. He quickly opens the letter with a warm smile.

Soon, that warm smile turned bitter with a quiet anger. The servant from earlier was the one who always received the letter from Scarlet and handed them to James. Each time James read that letter, it made him smile causing the servant to smile as well. However, this time a chill was sent down to his spin. A smile was a frown, the frown was not any kind of frown anyone would like to see on another person's face.

The servant quickly kneel as though he did something wrong. James slowly puts the letter away. His voice though quiet was filled with rage, "Call Ian to come here, right now."

The servant nod and quickly left. The pressure in the air was heavy, so heavy the servant wanted to leave as soon as possible. He has never seen James so angry like this before, and hope that it would be the last.

A knock came at Ian's door causing him to awake. He yawns out, "Who is it?"

"Young master, old master wishes to speak to you as soon as possible," said the servant.

"Right now? This early in the morning?" Ian yawns out.

"Yes."

He groans out irritably before getting out of his bed. It was so early in the morning that none beside his grandfather was awake. Just what could be so important, his grandfather would wake him up like this.

When they arrived at his grandfather's house, James had his back turn, but the air in the room was heavy. Concern was written all over Ian's face. He bows a greeting to him, "Greeting to Grandfather."

"Kneel."

"Pardon?"

"KNEEL."

Ian's whole body shook as he fell straight on his knee.

<What's going on...?!>

"You unfilial child!"

"Grandfather? What's going on? Why are you yelling at me saying that I'm an unfilial child?" Ian asked, shocked.

James throws the letter in his face. Ian looks at the paper and reads the contents. His whole face was speechless. James grit his teeth at him, "Explain yourself! Your reasoning better be a good one or else, I'll turn you until a cripple right here right now!"

Ian was baffled by the contents of the letter. It was written by Scarlet stating that she will be visiting James in the next few days and wants to cancel the engagement. When the engagement was made, the only way to cancel it was to have a duel between the two. Though engaged, they were still cultivators, and how cultivators settle things was through a duel. However, it will only come to this if one of them felt wrong or offended by the other party.

Old master James knows Scarlet well and understands that she wouldn't take such action unless Ian had done something wrong to her. She was a sweet child who disliked fighting. Everyone says that she was weak, wordless, and unless but that's not true. Scarlet only takes on the best course to take action and only necessary action that will benefit her Household. She also follows the etiquette and rules heavily. These were one of the many reasons why James wants her in his family. And yet, what has his grandson done to her for her request such a thing. The very possibilities angered him greatly.

Ian also knew about this condition in the cancellation of the engagement. He purposely told Scarlet that she needed his parents permission to scare her off. He thought that she wouldn't so much as to dare challenge him with her measly lower2 cultivation. He also didn't think that she would send a letter to his grandfather, the one with the most influences in the Polarmis Household.

"I did not want to say it to you as it would cause you headaches, Grandfather," said Ian as he nailed his head to the floor, "But during the engagement event, Scarlet did ask for me to cancel the engagement."

"Why?" James asked with a calm but chilling tone.

Ian cups his hand together, "I do not know. I believe that something must have happened to her during the war for her to act like this."

James gripped his fist tightly as he said, "You also went to the same war as her. You were at her camp, how could you not know what it is that made her want to cancel the engagement!"

Ian shivers at the pressure of James' tone, "Please forgive me, Grandfather. Before the war ended, Scarlet took her 5,000 brothers in arms with her to capture the border town of the Huns, but only she returned. I asked her multiple times what happened, but she never told me. It's possible that something happened there for her to do this."

James was looking at Ian dangerously. He could tell what Ian was about to say next but he anticipated that Ian wouldn't say it. He was wrong.

"...She could have lost her vir-"

Just before Ian could finish, James slapped his left cheek hard. So hard, it cut his mouth causing blood to drip out. He had such high expectations for this grandson of his, the one that could save his family. James may dote on his family members greatly to the point he was blind of their real personality but he was not a fool.

He shook with anger as he took the paper back and said, "So be it. A duel she shall have."

To Be Continue