Three-Year Pact

The Xiao Family's Reception Hall was dead silent.

Ge Ye stared blankly at the resolute Nalan Yanran, his mind unable to process what was happening.

One had to know that Sect Master Yun Yun had been deeply opposed to Nalan Yanran coming here to break off the engagement. If not for this Personal Disciple's relentless pleading, Yun Yun would never have sent him to support Nalan Yanran.

Yet now that they had arrived, just as Ge Ye was ready to speak, Nalan Yanran suddenly pulled this stunt.

My Young Sect Master?

I found the man, prepared the gifts, and was ready to throw away this old face of mine.

And now you changed your mind just like that?

It was not only Ge Ye who was dumbfounded; Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders had not reacted either.

Anyone with eyes could tell that Nalan Yanran's original purpose in coming here had been to break off the engagement. There was no doubt about it.

Yet after seeing Xiao Yan, her attitude had taken a complete one-eighty, so abrupt it nearly snapped her neck.

Not only did she no longer mention breaking off the engagement, she even demanded that they marry immediately?

Outside the hall, Xiao Ning and the other two saw this as well. Xiao Ning slowly came back to his senses.

"Looks like Cousin Xiao Yan knows that Nalan Yanran. After seeing him, she stopped mentioning the engagement entirely. Right, Xun'er—uh!"

Xiao Ning's voice abruptly caught in his throat. He looked in terror at Xiao Xun'er, whose face still wore a smile even as her expression had darkened like an abyss.

"Ehh~~~ Brother Xiao Yan is quite popular, isn't he~"

Hearing Xiao Xun'er's utterly resentful words, Xiao Ning's body began trembling uncontrollably, and he could not help swallowing.

Clearly, Nalan Yanran's words had hit this little grandmother's sore spot!

Xiao Xun'er could barely maintain her composure, but Xiao Mei could not endure it any longer. She barged straight into the Reception Hall.

"I object!"

Xiao Mei's objection brought everyone in the Reception Hall out of their daze. The Second Elder immediately Glowered At his own granddaughter.

"Mei'er, leave! This has nothing to do with you!"

"How does it have nothing to do with me? Cousin Xiao Yan's business is my business!" Xiao Mei stopped caring about her grandfather's expression, turned to Glower At Nalan Yanran, and pointed at her without any courtesy. "Hey! You came here today to break off the engagement, didn't you? If you want to break it off, I fully support it! Our Xiao Family is not worthy of your Nalan Family! Cousin Xiao Yan is not worthy of you either! Once you break it off, go be your Young Sect Master! No one is stopping you!"

After Xiao Mei finished speaking, Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders' expressions became especially unpleasant.

It was an objective fact that the Xiao Family could not compare to the Nalan Family, and it was also an objective fact that Xiao Yan was currently unworthy of Nalan Yanran.

But as a member of the Xiao Family, she could not say that! Was she not slapping her own family in the face?

Though they knew why Xiao Mei had said it, her words had undoubtedly humiliated the Xiao Family to the utmost degree.

Especially the Second Elder. If outsiders had not been present, he truly would have rushed over and given his beloved granddaughter's backside a fierce spanking!

Outside the door, Xiao Ning covered his face with a headache-filled expression.

My cousin Xiao Mei... I understand how you feel, but you just trampled both the Xiao Family and Xiao Yan into the dirt.

At that moment, Xiao Xun'er also entered the Reception Hall.

Ge Ye noticed sharply that the instant Xiao Xun'er entered, the anger of the Three Elders and Xiao Zhan vanished completely. Deep reverence even showed in their pupils, causing Ge Ye to frown deeply.

What was Xiao Xun'er's identity?

Xiao Xun'er stood in front of Xiao Mei, gently lowered Xiao Mei's hand that was pointing at Nalan Yanran, and cupped her hands toward Xiao Zhan.

"Clan Leader, Three Elders." Xiao Xun'er's expression remained calm, her ethereal voice reaching everyone in the hall. "Although Xiao Mei's words were overly blunt, there is nothing wrong with her reasoning. In marriage, one should naturally seek a match of equal standing."

After speaking, Xiao Xun'er turned to Nalan Yanran and stared at her solemnly.

"Now that the Nalan Family stands at the height of its prosperity, and Young Lady Nalan Yanran is both talented and intelligent, having been accepted by the Misty Cloud Sect Leader as a Personal Disciple, Xun'er believes that forcing the two families into marriage would likely not be a good choice for either side."

"Back then, it was merely a decision privately made by the two grandfathers, without considering the feelings of the juniors. Given the circumstances, dissolving this engagement would be more reasonable."

"We will break off the engagement, but we will not accept the gifts. From this day onward, I hope Young Lady Nalan Yanran will avoid entanglements with the Xiao Family and pursue an even more outstanding future. That is what you deserve."

Xiao Xun'er's words were neither servile nor overbearing, logical and well-founded. Her meaning was also perfectly clear.

Even if you do not break off this engagement today, we will! Do not even think of entering the Xiao Family's doors as Xiao Yan's wife!

"I never said from the beginning that I came here to break off the engagement."

In response to Xiao Xun'er's words, Nalan Yanran's face turned cold as she looked down arrogantly at Xiao Xun'er.

"You are right. The engagement arranged by our grandfathers was something the juniors could have ignored. But as it happens, I am very satisfied with Xiao Yan. I believe he is worthy of being Nalan Yanran's husband, so I have made up my mind about this engagement!"

Nalan Yanran did not yield in the slightest. Xiao Xun'er looked at her, narrowed her eyes slightly, and revealed a far-from-kind smile.

"So, Young Lady Yanran insists on clinging to Brother Xiao Yan?"

"I am Xiao Yan's fiancée. How is that clinging?" Nalan Yanran frowned slightly, glaring at Xiao Xun'er with displeasure. "In my view, you are the one clinging to my fiancé, aren't you?"

Boom!!!

Golden Battle Qi suddenly erupted from Xiao Xun'er's body. Nalan Yanran refused to give an inch as well, her Battle Qi bursting forth to Contend With Xiao Xun'er's.

Now, things had truly become troublesome!

Seeing this, neither Xiao Zhan, the Xiao Family's Clan Leader, nor Ge Ye, an Elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, knew how this could possibly end.

Of the two, Ge Ye was undoubtedly far more conflicted than Xiao Zhan.

Was this engagement being broken off or not?

"Xun'er, Calm Down."

Xiao Yan lightly patted Xiao Xun'er's shoulder, then Looked Towards Nalan Yanran.

"Little Glutton, put away your Battle Qi too. The elders are all here. We cannot be disrespectful."

"Do not call me Little Glutton again!!!"

Hearing Xiao Yan's form of address, Nalan Yanran's face flushed crimson once more. She stomped her foot and shouted shyly.

"Alright, alright~ I will not call you that anymore."

Xiao Yan smiled and waved his hand. Then his expression turned serious as he cupped his hands toward Nalan Yanran in salute.

"I, Xiao, am honored by Young Lady Nalan's affection. But just as my younger sister said, there is currently a vast disparity between our statuses, and an even greater gap in our strength. If Young Lady Nalan insists on marrying me, Xiao, I fear it would bring shame upon Young Lady Nalan and even the entire Nalan Family."

Hearing those words, Ge Ye unexpectedly began to feel favorably toward Xiao Yan.

Neither servile nor overbearing, neither arrogant nor impetuous. If not for this child's lack of achievement in cultivation, he would surely become someone remarkable in the future.

"I am who I am! I decide my own life! It has nothing to do with the Nalan Family!" The instant Xiao Yan finished speaking, Nalan Yanran pressed a hand to her chest and declared sternly, "I have already chosen you! The only husband I will ever have is you! No matter who anyone else is, I will never acknowledge them!"

Nalan Yanran's attitude today was extremely resolute. She absolutely would not break off this engagement! Absolutely not!

At last, Ge Ye could not sit still. If he allowed his Young Sect Master to keep making a scene like this, there would truly be no end to it.

"Young Lady Yanran, how about this—"

Ge Ye Leaned Towards Nalan Yanran and whispered into her ear. Nalan Yanran's emotions visibly calmed.

After Ge Ye finished, Nalan Yanran Breathed a Sigh of Relief.

"Very well. We shall do as Elder Ge Ye suggests." Nalan Yanran then pointed at Xiao Yan and declared sternly, "Xiao Yan! I propose the Three-Year Pact! Three years from now, you and I will fight at the Misty Cloud Sect. If I win, we will marry immediately! If I lose, the engagement between us will be officially dissolved!"

"Do you dare accept?!"