Three-Year Agreement Begins

"The Three-Year Agreement? There was something like that?"

Hai Bodong clicked his tongue in amazement. He had secluded himself in the desert for too long and had not known of such an amusing incident involving the Misty Cloud Sect.

"Who is this Xiao Yan? What rising force in the Jia Ma Empire does the Xiao Family belong to?"

Hai Bodong asked Mittel Tengshan.

"I'm afraid Elder Hai will be disappointed. The Xiao Family of Wutan City is merely a small family whose strongest member is only a Da Dou Shi."

Mittel Tengshan replied awkwardly.

Hai Bodong looked astonished. "Then where did this Xiao Yan get the courage to challenge the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect?"

Su Yun took a light sip of tea and said calmly, "Youthful Arrogance is something that cannot be regenerated. It is a powerful force beyond the imagination of ordinary people.

Driven by that force, people could always accomplish all manner of things that seemed unbelievable to outsiders. Though the Misty Cloud Sect was strong, ever since Venerable Yun Potian, each generation had been worse than the last.

Hai Bodong, you have met this Xiao Yan before."

"Who do you mean, my lord?"

Hai Bodong frowned deeply. This was indeed the first time he had heard that name.

Su Yun chuckled. "You remember the person who took half of your Fragmented Map that day, don't you?"

Hai Bodong slapped his hand against his palm in realization. "So it was him!"

"Let's go. Let us see what kind of miracle this young man can create... This Sect Master has grown old as well."

Ding!

Your lie has made Hai Bodong and Mittel Tengshan believe it completely. It has been judged as baseless nonsense. You have gained 100 Truth Points.

Remaining Truth Points: 42304.

Misty Cloud Mountain towered into the clouds, its sheer cliffs piercing the sky. It stood majestically outside the Imperial Capital, and the Misty Cloud Sect had established itself here. It usually turned away all outside visitors, yet today, the major forces of the Imperial Capital had gathered here.

Nalan Jie, Mu Chen, Fa Ma... even the eldest princess, Yao Ye, had come under the protection of Imperial Family experts.

Yao Ye wore a black brocade robe, her dark hair tied high into a single ponytail that fell to her waist. She was tall and slender, with a cold, beautiful face and an heroic bearing, yet weariness and sorrow showed between her brows.

Ever since Jia Xing Tian had been driven to Black Sky City to resist the Three Great Empires, the Imperial Family had declined with each passing day.

The Mite'er Family had continually encroached upon the Imperial Family's interests, while the Misty Cloud Sect and other Dou Wang factions had followed close behind... The Imperial Family needed to build its strength. They did not dare speak of striking back; they only hoped to preserve what little room for survival remained.

Yao Ye had come today to assess Xiao Yan's potential. If he proved to be worth cultivating, she would extend an olive branch and recruit him.

If not, she would simply treat it as having come to lend the Misty Cloud Sect support.

On the Misty Cloud Sect's martial arena, Nalan Yanran stood with a sword in one hand, dressed in a moon-white fitted outfit. Her eyes were closed as she regulated her breathing. Su Yun and the others took their seats on the high platform, quietly awaiting Xiao Yan's arrival.

"Senior Su."

Yun Yun rose and cupped her fist in salute.

"Mm."

Su Yun nodded.

Because of certain changes he had brought about, Yun Yun would be in the Misty Cloud Sect this time to witness the match between her treasured disciple and Xiao Yan.

Fa Ma said, "Will Xiao Yan really come?

After all, that agreement was made in a moment of youthful anger and impulse. He might have regretted it the next day, let alone after three years."

Mu Chen smiled. "If he doesn't come, wouldn't we have made this trip for nothing?"

"Isn't that so? The Misty Cloud Sect is making such a grand spectacle of this merely to build up Nalan Yanran's reputation and prove that she would honor the agreement she made back then.

If Xiao Yan does not come, wouldn't that suit Nalan Yanran perfectly? That marriage contract could then be dissolved with full justification."

Almost no one thought highly of Xiao Yan. Compared with the young sect master of the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Yan was nothing more than an unknown minor figure.

The discussions reached Nalan Jie's ears, leaving him deeply uncomfortable.

"I've wronged Xiao Lin..."

"He's here."

Suddenly, Su Yun spoke calmly. Everyone turned to look, their gazes shifting toward the entrance of the martial arena.

Steady footsteps rang across the bluestone ground. The figure of a youth carrying a Great Ruler on his back gradually came into view. He wore a black fitted outfit, his brows sharp as swords, while what seemed like blazing flames burned in his eyes!

Hai Bodong's eyes widened. "It really is him!"

Mu Chen asked, "Elder Hai, you know him?"

Hai Bodong answered in a low voice, "Mm. We have met once."

Interest flashed through Fa Ma's eyes. "What do you think? Does this child stand any chance of winning?"

Hai Bodong pondered for a moment before saying, "I don't know."

The others were intrigued as well, and began speculating about the outcome of the match. Yet no one believed Xiao Yan would win. At most, they guessed how many moves he could withstand against Nalan Yanran.

After all, three years ago, Xiao Yan had possessed merely three stages of Dou Qi. Even if his talent had returned, how much could he have grown in three years?

Some even tried to strike up a conversation with Su Yun, asking ingratiatingly, "Lord Su, who do you think will win?"

Su Yun rested his elbow against the armrest, his palm loosely supporting his chin, and said softly, "Nalan Yanran... will definitely lose."

The air around them froze at those words, and everyone exchanged glances.

At the same time, the match was about to begin. On the martial arena, the morning breeze suddenly ceased.

Xiao Yan slowly raised his eyes. The Black Heavy Ruler crashed onto the bluestone ground, its sound like thunder. "Xiao Family, Xiao Yan!"

He had changed...

Nalan Yanran's expression was complicated. The worthless man from back then now stood before her openly and proudly. This bearing alone was enough to earn her recognition.

Perhaps she had been young and ignorant back then, and perhaps the way she handled things had been improper. But what was done could not be undone. She would not admit fault, because she had done nothing wrong!

Today, for the sake of the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation, and to completely tear apart that absurd marriage contract, she had to win!

"Nalan Family, Nalan Yanran!"

The Misty Cloud Sect's Great Elder, Yun Leng, stood at the edge of the martial arena. He said, "This Three-Year Agreement shall be overseen by this old man. This match is meant as a friendly exchange. Stop at the—"

"Life and death will be left to fate."

Xiao Yan said in a deep voice.

The moment those words fell, everyone present was startled. Thinking of Su Yun's earlier judgment, they could not help reassessing Xiao Yan.

Did this youth truly possess the strength to defeat Nalan Yanran?

Yun Leng frowned, displeasure flashing through his eyes. "Since you insist on this, then have it your way. If you die in the Misty Cloud Sect, you will have only yourself to blame."

Xiao Yan ignored him, his gaze fixed on Nalan Yanran. "I have come as promised for the Three-Year Agreement. Return the humiliation you brought upon my Xiao Family that day!"

"I do not believe I did anything wrong back then. I had the right to decide my own fate. Perhaps, when making that choice, some of my actions were improper and caused you distress...

But if time were turned back, I would still do the same!"

"Improper actions..."

Xiao Yan sneered.

Was a single phrase, "improper actions," enough to let it all pass so lightly?

In his previous life, Nalan Yanran's actions were no different from the groom's family inviting all their relatives and friends over for the New Year because they knew their future daughter-in-law was coming to visit, showing the bride's side every possible courtesy and respect.

But what had happened? The bride's side opened by demanding to break off the engagement, even choosing to announce it grandly before everyone!

That humiliation and shame had been enough to make his father unable to hold his head up in the Xiao Family!

"The match begins!"