The Uproar Over the Broken Engagement (Part One)

By comparison, everyone found themselves favoring this unfamiliar young girl before them.

Who exactly was she?

"Cough." At that moment, the white-robed old man seated at the head of the room gave a soft cough. Rising to his feet, he clasped his hands toward Xiao Zhan and said with a smile, "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come to your clan this time mainly to ask a favor!"

"Hehe, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak. If it is within our power, the Xiao Family will certainly not refuse." Xiao Zhan did not dare slight this old man. He hurriedly stood and replied politely, though since he did not know what the other party wanted, he did not dare make too firm a promise.

"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, do you recognize her?" Ge Ye smiled faintly and pointed at the girl beside him.

"Uh... forgive my poor eyesight, but this Young Lady..." Xiao Zhan froze at his words. He looked the girl up and down, then shook his head somewhat awkwardly.

Back then, the marriage arrangement between Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family and Nalan Yanran had been made by Old Master Xiao Lin. While Old Master Xiao Lin was still alive, he often traveled through the Magical Beast Forest and maintained close ties with the Nalan Family.

But truthfully, Xiao Zhan had been somewhat unwilling about this marriage.

No matter how far the Xiao Family had declined, every generation of its clan leaders knew that the Xiao Family was an ancient clan of the Dou Qi Continent.

The mere Nalan Family was not worthy of the Xiao Family. It was only that he could not defy Xiao Lin.

Over all these years, Xiao Zhan had never visited the Nalan Family. If both sides had agreed to the marriage, the two families surely would have interacted much more often.

Of course, there was also a reason why the mighty Dou Wang expert, Marshal Lionheart of the Jia Ma Empire, had been willing to marry his own granddaughter into the Xiao Family: he likely knew that the Xiao Family was an ancient clan.

And Xiao Yan of the Xiao Family had not disgraced the name of an ancient clan either. He began cultivating qi at four and became a Dou Zhe at twelve, his name resounding throughout the Jia Ma Empire.

Yet even now, Xiao Yan had never met his fiancée, and Xiao Zhan had never had any dealings with the Nalan Family.

On the other hand, Nalan Jie had never suggested breaking off the engagement, no matter whether the Xiao Family prospered or declined.

Later, Xiao Yan lost his talent and fell into the dust. By then, the Xiao Family no longer had the face to bring up the marriage with the Nalan Family.

Since Xiao Zhan had never met Nalan Yanran, he naturally did not recognize her now.

"Cough... her name is Nalan Yanran."

"Nalan Yanran? Old Master Nalan's granddaughter, Nalan Yanran?" Xiao Zhan was stunned at first, then his face filled with delight. He must have remembered the matter from years ago. He immediately gave the girl a warm smile. "So it is Niece Nalan. Uncle Xiao has never met you before, so do not blame your uncle for failing to recognize you."

This sudden turn of events left everyone slightly stunned. The three elders exchanged glances, their brows involuntarily furrowing...

"Uncle Xiao, I am the one who should apologize for never coming to pay you a visit. How could I dare blame Uncle Xiao?" Nalan Yanran replied with a sweet smile.

"Hehe, Niece Nalan, I heard long ago that Lady Yun Yun had accepted you as her disciple. At the time, I thought it was merely a rumor. I never expected it to be true. Niece, you truly are gifted..." Xiao Zhan praised with a smile.

"Yanran was merely fortunate..." Nalan Yanran smiled faintly, but she could not help feeling somewhat disappointed. Even though she had been accepted by the Cloud Mist Sect, he had still thought it was only a rumor and had never paid her any attention. Was this her so-called fiancé?

A fiancé like this, an in-law family like this—she could do without them!

Nalan Yanran could not quite endure Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm. Beneath the table, she gently tugged at Ge Ye's hand beside her.

"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, the matter I have come to request today concerns Yanran. Moreover, it was raised personally by the Sect Leader..." Ge Ye gave a light laugh, though when he mentioned the words "Sect Leader," his expression became somewhat solemn.

Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly, and he put away his smile. Yun Yun, the Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect, was a major figure in the Jia Ma Empire. As the leader of such a small clan, he could not afford to provoke her in the slightest. But with her strength and influence, what could she possibly need the Xiao Family's help with? Ge Ye said it concerned Niece Nalan—could it be?

Thinking of a certain possibility, the corners of Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched several times. His large hands trembled faintly, though fortunately, his sleeves concealed them from view. Forcefully suppressing the fury in his heart, he said in a trembling, grave voice, "Mr. Ge Ye, please speak!"

"Cough..." An awkward expression suddenly appeared on Ge Ye's face. Yet remembering the Sect Leader's affection for Nalan Yanran, he could only grit his teeth and say with a smile, "Clan Leader Xiao, you also know that the Cloud Mist Sect has strict rules, and the Sect Leader has great expectations for Yanran. She is now essentially being groomed as the next Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect... But due to certain special regulations, the Sect Leader's successor may not become entangled with any man before officially becoming Sect Leader..."

"After asking Yanran, the Sect Leader learned that she still had a marriage arrangement with the Xiao Family, so... so the Sect Leader wishes to ask Clan Leader Xiao to... dissolve this engagement."

Crack! The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand instantly shattered into a cloud of powder.

The Hall fell silent. The three elders above were also shaken by Ge Ye's words, but moments later, when they looked at Xiao Zhan, there was already a hint of ridicule and mockery in their eyes.

Hehe, having someone come to your door and forcibly break off the engagement—what prestige will you, the clan leader, have left to manage the clan?

Seeing Xiao Zhan's incomparably grim expression, Nalan Yanran did not dare raise her head. She lowered it, her fingers nervously twisting together.

After all, she was a girl. When it came to a matter as significant as her lifelong marriage, she could not help feeling shy and embarrassed to speak of it.

"Clan Leader Xiao, I know this request is somewhat unreasonable. But since the Xiao Family and the Nalan Family do not share the bond of marriage, I ask that, for the Sect Leader's sake, you dissolve the engagement..." Ge Ye sighed helplessly and spoke flatly.

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists. Pale green dou qi gradually covered his body, eventually gathering faintly around his face to form the illusionary image of a lion's head.

The Xiao Family's top-tier technique: Raging Lion's Wrath!
Rank: Mysterious Tier Mid Grade!

Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction, Ge Ye's expression immediately turned solemn as well. He stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, his eagle-claw-like hands suddenly curling inward. Green dou qi gathered within them, emitting tiny yet sharp sword qi.

A profound technique of the Cloud Mist Sect: Green Wood Sword Art!
Rank: Mysterious Tier Low Grade!

As the auras of the two men erupted, the weaker youths in the Hall suddenly turned pale, their chests tightening.

Just as Xiao Zhan's breathing grew increasingly ragged, the stern shouts of the three elders rang through the Hall like thunder: "Xiao Zhan, stop at once! Do not forget that you are the clan leader of the Xiao Family!"

Xiao Zhan's body suddenly stiffened. The dou qi surrounding him slowly withdrew, eventually vanishing completely.

He dropped heavily back into his chair. Looking indifferently at the silent, head-bowed Nalan Yanran, Xiao Zhan said in a somewhat hoarse voice, "Niece Nalan, what boldness. Nalan Su is truly enviable to have a daughter like you!"

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. She murmured, "Uncle Xiao, I do not understand what you mean..."

"Hehe, just call me Clan Leader Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future Sect Leader of the Cloud Mist Sect and will one day be a figure of great renown on the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely an ordinary talent; he truly is not worthy of you..." Xiao Zhan waved his hand faintly, his tone cold.

"I think Uncle Xiao overstates the matter. It should be Yanran who is unworthy of the Xiao Family!" Now that the matter had been laid bare, Nalan Yanran relaxed somewhat.

"Niece Nalan has come to break off the engagement, so why say such a thing? The Xiao Family as it is now is far from a match for the Cloud Mist Sect or the Nalan Family!" Xiao Zhan gave a cold laugh.