This Play Had Potential

"Since the old master of the Nalan Family has not spoken, please forgive us, but my father will not agree to your request. This marriage was personally arranged by the old masters of both families. My father will not dissolve it lightly, or it would be disrespectful to our deceased elders."

In the Xiao Clan Hall, Xiao Yan finally turned his gaze to the three elders who had previously been tempted. He stared at them coldly and added, "I believe no one in our clan would dare commit such an act of defiance, would they?"

"Uh..."

The Three Great Elders felt their hearts tighten and exchanged glances.

Now that Xiao Yan had put it that way, if they agreed to dissolve the engagement, they would be disrespecting their deceased elders. Such a matter could cost them their positions as elders outright.

"You..." After being shut down by Xiao Yan like that, Nalan Yanran could not think of any words to strike back. She stamped her feet in anger.

"Clan Brother Xiao Yan, that is not quite right!"

Just as the hall fell silent, Xiao Han suddenly stepped forward.

Xiao Han met Xiao Yan's gaze and asked, "Love between a man and a woman should be mutual and affectionate. Forcing two people who do not love each other together is not happiness, but suffering."

Xiao Yan's expression turned grave. No matter how he heard it, it sounded as if Xiao Han had come to undermine him. Still, Xiao Yan retorted, "This was decided by our deceased elders. Since ancient times, major matters such as marriage have always been decided by one's parents. Even if it is painful, one can only swallow it whole."

"Clan Brother Xiao Yan." Xiao Han smiled faintly and asked again, "Before you say that, let me ask you this. If Nalan Yanran were hideously ugly and promiscuous, would you still insist on maintaining the engagement?"

"I..."

"I want the truth. You should know that Nalan Yanran is still unmarried and young. Anything is possible." Seeing Xiao Yan about to answer, Xiao Han interrupted him, reminding him that Nalan Yanran might become promiscuous in the future.

Xiao Yan had originally wanted to say that he naturally would not despise her. Then he glanced at Nalan Yanran.

With how aggressively Nalan Yanran had come today, it was not impossible that Nalan Yaran might really fool around with other men.

Seeing that Xiao Yan did not answer, Xiao Han looked at Xiao Zhan and asked, "Clan Head, would you still want a daughter-in-law like that, one who would bring shame upon our clan?"

Xiao Zhan's face darkened. He secretly thought that Xiao Han, as a member of the Xiao Clan, was helping outsiders instead. Naturally, Xiao Zhan would not want such a daughter-in-law. But he could not answer that question either. He barked, "Xiao Han, this is not your place to speak. Get back to your seat at once!"

"Wait." Ge Ye smiled at Xiao Han. Though he did not know what had gone wrong in Xiao Han's head for him to help outsiders like them, he instinctively felt that Xiao Han's words were truly useful.

Ge Ye could not say that Nalan Yanran was promiscuous, and Nalan Yanran herself could say it even less. But Xiao Han, an outsider, could say it. Ge Ye's instincts told him that this play had potential.

Seeing Xiao Zhan rebuke Xiao Han, how could Ge Ye let Xiao Zhan have his way? He defended him, saying, "Clan Head Xiao, this young man's words are not without reason. Please answer his question."

"Hmph!" Xiao Zhan snorted heavily and replied, "In the grand Xiao Clan, someone who brings shame to our household naturally cannot be kept!"

"Well said, Clan Head." Xiao Han looked at Ge Ye, walked to his side, and whispered in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Ge Ye, if I help you dissolve this engagement, what benefit do you intend to give me?"

To gain experience, Xiao Han was working hard to sabotage the engagement Storyline.

But he could not help them for nothing.

Ge Ye smiled faintly, secretly thinking that this kid Xiao Han was rather interesting.

This engagement contract was written in black and white, and it had been arranged by old master Nalan Su and the old master of the Xiao Clan. The key was that the old master of the Xiao Clan was already dead. Just as Xiao Yan had said, no one in the Xiao Clan dared disrespect their deceased elders. No one dared dissolve this engagement.

With the Misty Cloud Sect's strength, they naturally did not regard a mere Xiao Clan as anything significant. But if they forcibly dissolved the engagement, it would invite criticism and accusations against the Misty Cloud Sect. It would also leave a wound on Nalan Yanran's heart.

For cultivators, purity of heart was extremely important. As one's cultivation rose, a single misstep could plant an Inner Demon forever.

If Xiao Han had a way to dissolve the engagement, it would naturally be a tremendous blessing.

Ge Ye smiled and said calmly in a voice only the two of them could hear, "If you can persuade them to dissolve this engagement, I can give you one Qi Gathering Powder as a reward."

"One is not enough. I want three!" Xiao Han raised the price on the spot.

"Three?" Ge Ye froze slightly.

One Qi Gathering Powder was worth several hundred thousand gold coins. Since it had been refined by Pill King Gu He, its price could be multiplied several times over. Three Qi Gathering Powders were worth at least a million gold coins.

"Hehe... I do not have that many on hand!" Ge Ye replied with a vague smile, trying to brush him off.

"Cut it out." Xiao Han smiled faintly. "You came here to break off the engagement. I do not believe you brought only one Qi Gathering Powder. If I am not mistaken, you have three Qi Gathering Powders on you right now."

"Uh..."

Ge Ye's smile stiffened. He indeed had three Qi Gathering Powders on him. Before they descended the mountain, Sect Leader Yun Yun had set that as their final offer. Yun Yun had instructed that if the Xiao Clan still refused, then for Nalan Yanran's happiness, they could only forcefully break off the engagement.

Not even Nalan Yanran knew about this. Ge Ye secretly wondered how Xiao Han knew.

"Fine. As long as you can persuade them to break off the engagement, I am willing to give you three Qi Gathering Powders."

"Three are not enough. I am very dissatisfied with your dishonesty and your bargaining. On top of that, you must give me one hundred thousand gold coins as a service fee." Xiao Han smiled at Ge Ye. Seeing Ge Ye about to fly into a rage, he immediately added, "Trust me. I can help you dissolve this engagement perfectly."

"Uh..." Ge Ye stared at Xiao Han's ever-confident smile and froze slightly. He had wanted to get angry, but he suppressed the impulse. This broken engagement was extremely troublesome; if mishandled, it would invite criticism.

Dissolve this engagement perfectly!

At the very least, Ge Ye had no solution.

Ge Ye was curious about what method Xiao Han had. With that thought, he nodded. "Fine. If you can dissolve this engagement perfectly, then in addition to the three Qi Gathering Powders, I will give you one hundred thousand gold coins as a service fee."

One hundred thousand gold coins was not a small amount to Ge Ye, but neither was it very much.

"What are you two whispering about? Han Er, get back to your seat already."

Third Elder Xiao Family, seated in the place of honor, could no longer sit still.

As the Third Elder Xiao Family, he feared that his grandson Xiao Han would do something to betray the Xiao Clan. Though one Qi Gathering Powder was tempting, as the Third Elder Xiao Family, he did not dare dissolve the engagement and disrespect their deceased elders.