"Second Elder, the Clan Leader wants you to hurry to the hall. Our honored guests have arrived."
Just then, Xiao Tian had barely left the Dou Qi Pavilion when he saw the old steward walking toward him. The man spoke respectfully.
Hearing this, Xiao Tian remembered that Xiao Zhan had told him yesterday that honored guests would be visiting the Xiao Family today and that they needed to be welcomed.
Now that he had become the youngest elder in the Xiao Clan, he was naturally qualified to represent the Xiao Family in welcoming their guests!
Xiao Tian immediately nodded and followed the steward to the Xiao Family's main hall.
The hall was extremely spacious and now filled with many clan members. Apart from Xiao Zhan, seated at the head, and the two elders, there were many of the Xiao Clan's senior members, along with some younger juniors. The scene looked quite grand.
When Xiao Tian appeared, the First Elder and Third Elder on the raised platform both let out a cold snort, their faces full of displeasure.
After all, someone as young as Xiao Tian had suddenly become the Xiao Clan's Second Elder. He could sit as an equal with senior members of the family like them, and his influence even seemed to surpass theirs. Naturally, they were very unhappy with this Second Elder who had appeared out of nowhere.
Xiao Tian pursed his lips but didn't bother to argue. He walked straight to the raised platform and plopped down in the empty seat beside Xiao Zhan.
The abrupt move didn't surprise the Xiao Family members below too much. After all, they had learned the day before that Xiao Tian had become the Second Elder, and their perception of him had already changed completely.
However, the few honored guests below, dressed in moon-white robes, were now staring in shock.
They had been in the Xiao Family's main hall for a short while. At first, they hadn't paid any attention to the empty elder's seat beside Xiao Zhan. But when they suddenly saw such a young man sitting there, they froze, their eyes filled with astonishment.
"When did the Xiao Family get an elder this young...?"
Though they were surprised, the honored guests didn't ask any questions.
Only after taking his seat up high did Xiao Tian turn his gaze toward the guests the Xiao Family was welcoming with such ceremony.
Besides the old man, two young people, a man and a woman, sat beside him.
The man was handsome and graceful, holding a folding fan. A hint of arrogance seemed to appear naturally on his face, and many young women of the Xiao Clan were already utterly captivated by him.
What surprised Xiao Tian was the other young woman. She had exquisite features and skin as smooth as jade. She wore a moon-white dress, her waist slender, and her whole bearing exuded an air of elegance and nobility.
The presence of this peerless beauty had already drawn enamored looks from many members of the Xiao Family. Several young men of the Xiao Clan in particular gazed at her with fervent admiration.
There was no denying it: this woman was a beauty capable of captivating an entire nation.
Xiao Tian glanced over the group, then let his gaze settle on Xun'er and Xiao Yan, seated on the right side below the raised platform.
Just then, among the honored guests in moon-white robes, the old man suddenly stood and said with a beaming smile,
"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, we were delayed on the way to the Xiao Family, but fortunately we've finally arrived. To be frank, we've come here today to ask for your help with an important matter." The old man looked at Xiao Zhan and cupped his hands slightly.
"Mr. Ge Ye, you're too kind. If it's within the Xiao Family's power, we certainly won't refuse." Hearing this, Xiao Zhan hurried to his feet and replied with a smile.
Xiao Zhan didn't dare neglect this old man or the two young people beside him. After all, they were from the Misty Cloud Sect.
The Misty Cloud Sect was no ordinary power that the Xiao Family could compare with. If the Xiao Family was the ruler of Wutan City, then the Misty Cloud Sect was a supreme power across the entire Jia Ma Empire. The two simply couldn't be mentioned in the same breath.
Therefore, even though Xiao Zhan was the Clan Leader of the Xiao Family, he had to show the Misty Cloud Sect's people due respect.
"Clan Leader Xiao, I imagine you don't know who she is yet?" Ge Ye said with a smile, pointing to the beautiful young woman beside him.
Xiao Zhan frowned slightly and looked at the incomparable beauty in confusion. "Oh? May I ask who this young lady is?"
Hearing Xiao Zhan's question, the peerless beauty beside him pressed her lips together, a trace of bitterness appearing on her lovely face. She spoke up,
"Uncle Xiao, so many years have passed, and I've never come to the Xiao Family to pay my respects. I hope you won't blame me, Uncle Xiao!"
At her words, Xiao Zhan's heart jolted. Delight surged across his face, and he blurted out,
"You are... Old Master Nalan's granddaughter, Nalan Yanran! So it's you, my niece Yanran. I was too blind to recognize you!"
Back then, Xiao Zhan's father and Nalan Jie, Nalan Yanran's grandfather, had been close friends. As fate would have it, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran were born at the same time, so the two old men had arranged a marriage between the babies on the spot.
However, as time passed and the two old men died, the relationship between the families gradually grew distant. Later, when Nalan Yanran was ten, Yun Yun accepted her into the Misty Cloud Sect.
So many years had passed, and she had changed beyond recognition as she grew into a woman. Naturally, Xiao Zhan couldn't recognize her at a glance.
"That's right. Yanran pays her respects to Uncle Xiao." Nalan Yanran gave a shallow curtsy.
Looking at the niece he hadn't seen in so many years, Xiao Zhan was overcome with emotion, but his heart was sincerely glad.
"Ahem!"
Just then, Ge Ye cleared his throat, interrupting their conversation. He looked at Xiao Zhan and said with a faint smile,
"Clan Leader Xiao, to be frank, the important matter that brought us to the Xiao Family is related to Yanran. And the Sect Master takes this matter very seriously!"
As he said the words "Sect Master," Ge Ye deliberately raised his voice and fixed his gaze on Xiao Zhan, as if hoping to find some clue in his reaction.
Sure enough, Xiao Zhan's expression shifted. Ge Ye didn't miss it.
"Oh? Please go on, Mr. Ge Ye." Xiao Zhan frowned, pondered for a moment, and then asked.
As soon as Xiao Zhan finished speaking, the bitterness on Nalan Yanran's face deepened. She bit her red lip, her eyes filled with sorrow.
Ge Ye glanced at Nalan Yanran and drew a deep breath. In the end, he gritted his teeth and spoke,
"Clan Leader Xiao, the situation is this... The rules of our Misty Cloud Sect are extremely strict. A future sect master may not become involved with any man before officially taking over as sect master. Yanran is the best candidate to become the next sect master, so the Sect Master specifically sent us here to... to annul the engagement with the Xiao Family!"
After speaking, Ge Ye gazed at Xiao Zhan with hopeful eyes, hoping to find a trace of understanding on his face.
Yet before Xiao Zhan could react, a cold voice rang out from the elders' seats beside him:
"What is the Misty Cloud Sect? How could it possibly be worthy of an alliance through marriage with the Xiao Family?"
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