Breaking the Engagement

Breaking the Engagement

"Ahem."

The old man in white robes gave a light cough, rose to his feet, cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan, and said with a smile, "Clan Leader Xiao, our main reason for coming to your clan this time is to ask a favor!"

"Heh heh, Mr. Ge Ye, if there is something, please say it. If it is within our ability, the Xiao Clan should not refuse."

Xiao Zhan did not dare neglect this old man. He hurriedly stood and replied politely. However, since he did not know exactly what the other party was asking for, he did not dare speak too absolutely.

"Heh heh, Clan Leader Xiao, do you recognize her?"

Ge Ye smiled faintly and pointed at the young girl beside him as he asked with a smile.

"Er... forgive Xiao Zhan's poor eyes. This young lady is?"

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan was taken aback. He looked the young girl up and down, then shook his head with slight embarrassment.

"Ahem, her name is Nalan Yanran."

"Nalan Yanran? Old Master Nalan's granddaughter, Nalan Yanran?"

Xiao Zhan was startled at first, then his face filled with great joy. He had clearly remembered that matter from back then, and at once, he hurriedly gave the young girl a warm smile.

"So it's niece Nalan. Uncle Xiao hasn't seen you for many years. Don't blame your uncle for having poor eyesight."

"Uncle Xiao, your niece has never come to pay her respects. The one who should apologize is me. How could I dare blame Uncle Xiao?"

Nalan Yanran smiled sweetly.

"Heh heh, niece Nalan, I heard long ago that you had been accepted under Lady Yun Yun's wing. At the time, I thought it was only a rumor. I didn't expect it to actually be true. Niece, you really do have fine talent."

Xiao Zhan praised with a smile.

"Yanran was only lucky..."

Nalan Yanran smiled awkwardly. Beneath the table, her hand tugged at Ge Ye, telling him to get to the point.

"Heh heh, Clan Leader Xiao, the matter I have come to request today is related to Yanran. Moreover, this matter was personally brought up by the Sect Master."

Ge Ye chuckled lightly. When he mentioned the words Sect Master, the expression on his face became slightly solemn.

Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly, and he also put away his smile. Yun Lan Sect Master Yun Yun was a major figure in the Gama Empire. A mere clan leader like him could not afford to offend her in the slightest. But with her strength and influence, what matter could she need the Xiao Clan's help with? Ge Ye said it was related to niece Nalan. Could it be...?

Xiao Zhan frowned faintly. A surge of anger pressed down in his heart, but he did not flare up immediately.

"Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely."

An embarrassed look suddenly appeared on Ge Ye's face. However, thinking of the Sect Master's affection for Nalan Yanran, he could only grit his teeth and say:

"Clan Leader Xiao, you also know that the Yun Lan Sect's rules are strict, and the Sect Master has very high expectations for Yanran. Right now, she is basically already being nurtured as the Yun Lan Sect's next Sect Master... and because of certain special rules, before the Sect Master's successor officially becomes Sect Master, she cannot have entanglements with a man."

"After the Sect Master asked Yanran about it, she learned that Yanran still had an engagement with the Xiao Clan, so... so the Sect Master wished to ask Clan Leader Xiao whether you could... could dissolve this marriage agreement."

Crack—

The moment his words fell, the teacup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered, turning to powder in his palm.

The entire Guest Hall also fell into dead silence.

Nalan Yanran lowered her head, while Ge Ye, knowing he was in the wrong, could only smile awkwardly.

The people of the Xiao Clan in the hall could not help but look at these guests with strange gazes.

The Three Elders could not really take pleasure in his misfortune either. After all, Xiao Zhan's family now had a noble person's help and a boundless future.

At that thought, when they looked toward the three guests from the Yun Lan Sect, their faces also carried a trace of strange... pity.

After the awkward silence, Xiao Zhan looked at the silent, head-lowered Nalan Yanran with an indifferent expression. His voice was somewhat hoarse as he said, "Niece Nalan, what courage. Nalan Su having a daughter like you truly makes one envious!"

Her delicate body trembled faintly. Nalan Yanran murmured, "Uncle Xiao..."

"Heh heh, just call me Clan Leader Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future Sect Master of the Yun Lan Sect, and in the future, you will also be a figure who stirs the winds and clouds of the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely someone of mediocre aptitude. He indeed is not worthy of you."

Xiao Zhan waved his hand faintly, his tone cold and detached.

"Many thanks for Clan Leader Xiao's understanding."

Hearing this, Ge Ye, at the side, was overjoyed. He smiled apologetically at Xiao Zhan and said, "Clan Leader Xiao, the Sect Master knew that today's request was rather impolite, so she specially had me bring something. Please consider it an apology gift!"

As he spoke, Ge Ye reached out and brushed his Storage Ring. An ancient jade box, green all over, appeared out of thin air in his hand.

He carefully opened the box, and a strange fragrance instantly filled the hall. Everyone who smelled it felt their spirits lift.

"...Qi Gathering Powder?"

Xiao Zhan merely swept a glance over it, then looked toward the Three Elders of the clan. Suddenly, he smiled. Even the coldness on his face faded a little.

The Three Elders looked at one another, exchanging glances, yet they all understood what Xiao Zhan meant.

People, after all, would always only see the very best, and not see what was just slightly inferior.

Half a year ago, when they first met that mysterious Wan Guniang, with one raise of her hand, she had given Shi Ling Pills that even Da Dou Shi and Dou Ling could benefit from endlessly. Xiao Zhan had even borrowed the help of the Shi Ling Pill to jump two stars in half a year and become a Seven Star Da Dou Shi. In the future, even Dou Ling was within reach.

Wan Guniang had made a move with twelve Shi Ling Pills, treasures that would cause people in the Gama Empire to fight until their heads bled. Yet now, the Yun Lan Sect's thank you gift for breaking off the engagement was actually just one Qi Gathering Powder?

All the Xiao Clan members who had attended the clan meeting half a year ago looked at these three guests from the Yun Lan Sect with increasingly strange eyes.

They had originally thought that the Yun Lan Sect, which dominated the Gama Empire, was some kind of overlord. But now that they had seen it...

Although saying this might not be quite right... it seemed rather shabby.

Ge Ye also sensed that the atmosphere was somehow not quite what he had expected. He gave a dry laugh, then explained, "Heh heh, this was personally refined by our sect's Honorary Elder, Lord Gu He. I imagine everyone has heard his venerable name, yes?"

Only when they heard that this was a medicinal pill refined by Pill King Gu He, a Rank 6 Alchemist renowned throughout the Gama Empire, did the expressions of the Xiao Clan's people ease slightly.

However, with merely such an apology gift, the Clan Leader and his son probably might not agree.

Over the past half year, because of the arrival of that mysterious honored guest, the changes to the Xiao Clan had been far too great. She had even directly changed the direction of the wind around Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

There was not much taking pleasure in misfortune on many people's faces. They simply wanted to see these guests lose face and be put in an awkward spot later.

And as if responding to the thoughts deep in many people's hearts, Xiao Yan then spoke up, "Old Mr. Ge Ye, please take this Qi Gathering Powder back. We cannot agree to breaking off this engagement."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan gave his father a meaningful look.

Xiao Zhan paused, understood his son's meaning, and then took a small jade bottle from his robes.