Heaven Is Unfair

Nalan Yanran's proposal of this Three-Year Pact had naturally been Ge Ye's idea.

If Xiao Yan failed to defeat Nalan Yanran three years from now, then Nalan Yanran would get her wish and be able to marry Xiao Yan.

And if Nalan Yanran lost to Xiao Yan, the engagement would be dissolved, but it would also prove that Xiao Yan was worthy of her. If Nalan Yanran pursued him again then, Xiao Yan could no longer use this as an excuse to refuse her.

In other words, whether she won or lost, Nalan Yanran would not lose out.

Not only that, in order to ensure that she could marry Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran would certainly cultivate even more diligently to make sure she could defeat him. That would also be a good thing for the Misty Cloud Sect.

Everyone understood the reasoning.

But why did it feel so strange?

Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders furrowed their brows, suspicion written across their faces.

There was nothing wrong with the logic, but why did it feel so indescribably bizarre?

So Nalan Yanran had truly set her heart on Xiao Yan?

As Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan knitted his brows tightly. He knew his son was exceptional, but could he truly be so exceptional that the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect had to marry him no matter what?

Moreover, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had somehow remained stagnant and refused to grow. No one could guarantee that it would be resolved in the future. If Xiao Yan truly lost to Nalan Yanran then, Nalan Yanran would be marrying a useless husband. Did she not even care about that?

Xiao Yan quietly watched Nalan Yanran, his heart sinking slightly.

After weighing the gains and losses, Xiao Yan clasped his hands once more and replied solemnly.

"I, Xiao, accept this Three-Year Pact."

"Hah?! Why did you accept it?!" The moment Xiao Yan finished speaking, Xiao Mei exploded. "She's the one shamelessly clinging to you, so why should you? Mmph, mmph, mmph!!!"

"Can you talk less?!!!"

Quick-eyed and nimble-handed, Xiao Ning hobbled behind Xiao Mei on his crutch and covered her mouth with one hand, preventing her from talking nonsense again.

Nalan Yanran ignored Xiao Mei and glanced sideways at Ge Ye.

"Elder Ge Ye, leave the gifts behind. Xiao Yan may be able to use them in the future."

After saying that, Nalan Yanran turned and left the reception hall. As she departed, she cast a sideways glance and locked eyes deeply with Xiao Xun'er.

Both of them saw flames called a formidable enemy in the other's eyes.

Nalan Yanran knew full well that Xiao Mei was merely a brainless little girl with an impulsive temperament. This Xiao Xun'er was her true great enemy.

"Niece Nalan, Elder Ge Ye, take care!"

Xiao Zhan and the Three Elders rose to see their guests off. Thus, the mighty procession of the Misty Cloud Sect left Wutan City, and Wutan City returned to its usual tranquility.

After the Misty Cloud Sect departed, everyone returned to the reception hall. Xiao Ning released his hand from Xiao Mei's mouth, only for her to viciously stomp on his foot with her heel.

"XIAO! NING! Have you eaten a bear's heart and leopard's guts?! How dare you stop your grandma?!"

Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Ning by the collar and shouted furiously. The Second Elder at the side truly could not bear to watch any longer.

"Let go! What kind of behavior is this?!!"

"Tch!"

Seeing that her grandfather was truly angry, Xiao Mei flung away the sheepishly smiling Xiao Ning, then went to Xiao Yan's side and looked at him reproachfully.

"Cousin Xiao Yan! How could you agree to her? In your current state, you definitely won't be able to beat her three years from now!"

"No one will think you're mute if you keep quiet!"

Xiao Xun'er finally could not hold back any longer and smacked Xiao Mei on the head. This Little Girl really said whatever came to her mind. Wasn't she plainly calling Xiao Yan useless?

"B-but..." Xiao Mei held her head, her face full of grievance. "If Cousin Xiao Yan really loses three years from now, that Nalan Yanran will snatch him away!"

After saying that, Xiao Mei rushed straight into Xiao Yan's arms, clinging tightly to him like a koala as she began to sob.

"Waaah!!! No! I don't want Cousin Xiao Yan to leave!!!"

"Ahahaha..."

Seeing Xiao Mei cling to him like this, Xiao Yan smiled helplessly and lifted her off himself. Meanwhile, Xiao Zhan looked at his son with guilt in his eyes.

Regardless of Xiao Yan's own wishes, whether the engagement was broken or the marriage went through was entirely up to the other party. As a father, Xiao Zhan felt incomparably miserable.

Nalan Yanran wanted to marry Xiao Yan, that was true. It sounded like the Xiao Family was marrying above its station, a joyous occasion indeed.

But Nalan Yanran's attitude undoubtedly implied that the Xiao Family's wishes were utterly insignificant.

Marrying above their station?

If they had to lower themselves so much that they could not even lift their heads, the Xiao Family would rather not marry above their station!

"I'm sorry, Yan'er." Xiao Zhan clenched his hands tightly beneath his sleeves. "If the Xiao Family had not fallen to this state, you would not have been forced to agree."

Nalan Yanran had asked whether Xiao Yan dared to accept, but could he have refused in that situation?

It was no longer a matter of whether Xiao Yan wanted to accept.

He had to accept.

The Three-Year Pact was already the result of Nalan Yanran taking a step back.

If Xiao Yan had refused, Nalan Yanran would certainly have remained here and forcibly pressured him into marrying her.

Such a situation would have been extremely unfavorable to both the Xiao Family and the Misty Cloud Sect.

The Heaven's Proud Daughter of the Nalan Family and the Young Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect lingering in the tiny Xiao Family of Wutan City, forcing a useless man to marry her.

If word got out, the Nalan Family would be fine. After all, they already had an engagement with the Xiao Family, so it could be justified. But the Misty Cloud Sect would have nowhere to put its face.

It would be even more unfavorable for the Xiao Family. Those who knew the truth would think the Xiao Family did not know what was good for them, while those who did not would think the Xiao Family lacked self-awareness. They would be in the wrong no matter what.

Nalan Yanran's Three-Year Pact had not given Xiao Yan any room to choose.

"Cousin Xiao Yan, it was wrong of me to interrupt just now, but from your brother's point of view, you can still accept this." Xiao Ning came over, threw an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder, and grinned. "The Nalan Family has a great background, Nalan Yanran is a Heaven's Proud Daughter, she's quite pretty, and she's even the future Misty Cloud Sect Leader. No matter how you look at it, you're not losing out~"

"Mm, I think Cousin Xiao Ning makes a lot of sense."

Xiao Yan nodded seriously. Then he grabbed Xiao Ning's shoulders and turned him around, letting him see Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, their faces dark and Dou Qi radiating from their bodies.

"Next, you should endure the monstrous fury of your two sisters."

Afterward, Xiao Yan ignored Xiao Ning's endless screams behind him and turned back to Xiao Zhan.

He clasped his hands and replied solemnly.

"Father, please do not blame yourself so much. How could the Clan's decline be the fault of a single day? A Clan's rise and fall are ordinary matters. Besides, Xiao Family Disciples, myself included, have received countless benefits from the Xiao Family and already live far better than ordinary people. Why should you feel guilty over this?"

After Listening to Xiao Yan's words of comfort, the Three Elders nodded repeatedly, while deep relief appeared in Xiao Zhan's eyes.

His son was truly too sensible.

So sensible that it made people's hearts ache.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan looked towards the gifts Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye had left behind. One small square box was particularly eye-catching. He reached out, picked it up, opened it, and immediately sucked in a cold breath.

"This is... Qi Gathering Powder?!"

Seeing the jade-green pill in the box, the size of a longan, the Three Elders' eyes widened as well.

In their tiny Xiao Family, they might not even get their hands on a proper medicinal pill once in several years.

"As expected of the Misty Cloud Sect. Their gifts are truly generous."

The Great Elder stroked his beard lightly, while the Second Elder beside him spoke softly.

"Since it was given to Xiao Yan, the Clan Leader should keep it for him first."

Upon hearing the Second Elder's words, the Great Elder and the Second Elder both nodded in agreement.

Back when Xiao Yan had not yet fallen from grace, he often taught Xiao Family Disciples in the training hall many principles, such as family harmony bringing prosperity, which ran completely contrary to the law of the jungle.

Gradually, these principles reached the ears of the Three Elders as well.

At first, the Three Elders had scoffed at Xiao Yan's ideas. But Xiao Yan had been the Clan's genius youth then, so they could not openly refute him and merely allowed him to spread his beliefs.

During this time, as the Clan's unity grew stronger and the relationships among Xiao Family Disciples became better and better, the Three Elders' way of thinking was gradually changed without them realizing it.

In the end, they came to understand.

That was right. A person only lived so long. Why spend every day scheming and fighting to the death with one's own family? What was the point?

Wasn't it better to have several generations under one roof, with the younger members helping and respecting one another, while everyone lived peacefully?

Besides, with the talent they possessed, they knew perfectly well how far they could climb. Wouldn't they just end up as someone else's stepping stones?

Though the Xiao Family could not be called wealthy or powerful now, they lived comfortably in this little Wutan City. What was wrong with that?

Thus, from then on, the Three Elders became far less driven by self-interest. In their dealings with others, they leaned more toward human sentiment. They often felt the warmth brought by family, and even after Xiao Yan fell from grace, they retained this mindset.

As the saying went, family harmony brought prosperity!

And all of this was thanks to Xiao Yan.

"Three Elders, Xiao Yan is already in such a state. Such a precious item should be given to the Clan's rising talents. It cannot be that I receive special favor merely because I am the Clan Leader's son. If that happened, it would certainly cause dissatisfaction among the other Xiao Family Disciples and disrupt the Xiao Family's harmony."

Yet Xiao Yan sternly declined, causing the Three Elders to pause in slight surprise, helplessness appearing on their faces.

"I don't think anyone else would object."

That was true. No one else would object.

The Xiao Family Disciples all regarded Xiao Yan as their leader. Even if Xiao Yan monopolized the favor, no one would feel dissatisfied.

Moreover, it had originally been given to Xiao Yan. He had the right to keep it all for himself.

"Everyone's lack of objection comes from their broad-minded tolerance, but I cannot grow arrogant and push my luck because of it. Therefore, Xiao Yan cannot accept this Qi Gathering Powder." Xiao Yan gave the Three Elders no chance to argue and continued, "Father, Three Elders, the training of the Clan's disciples has not yet ended. Xiao Yan will take his leave first and go supervise them."

"Cousin Xiao Yan! Wait for me!"

After saying that, Xiao Yan turned and left the reception hall. Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er hurriedly followed him.

Watching Xiao Yan leave, the Three Elders all let out long sighs.

"Heaven... is unfair."

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly, infinite sorrow showing in his eyes.

Yet not a single person, including the Great Elder, Xiao Ning's own grandfather, paid any attention to the lump of Xiao Ning at the entrance of the reception hall, who had suffered a combined beating from Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er.

There was no helping it. His mouth was asking for it!