The Xiao Clan's main hall was thick with tension and suffocating gloom.
Sunlight streamed through the carved lattice windows and fell across the floor, yet it could not dispel the heavy shadows.
Nalan Yanran wore a pale blue dress, its hem embroidered with delicate cloud patterns. She was beautiful, but her face bore a trace of cold pride and resolve.
Behind her followed Ge Ye, an elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, and a Misty Cloud Sect disciple who was a five-star Dou Zhe. Both wore black robes and solemn expressions.
She glided into the hall with light steps, her gaze falling directly on Xiao Zhan, seated in the place of honor.
"Uncle Xiao."
Nalan Yanran bowed slightly in greeting. Her voice was clear, but devoid of warmth.
Xiao Zhan's face darkened as he stared intently at Nalan Yanran and said in a low voice,
"Niece Nalan, what brings you here so suddenly today?"
Nalan Yanran drew a deep breath, raised her head, looked Xiao Zhan in the eye, and said,
"Uncle Xiao, I've come this time to break off my engagement to Xiao Yan."
The moment those words left her mouth, an uproar erupted in the hall. Every member of the Xiao Clan wore an angry expression.
"Outrageous!"
One of the Xiao Clan elders slammed the table in fury.
"My Xiao Clan and your Nalan Family have had an engagement for years. How can you simply break it off whenever you please?"
Nalan Yanran remained unmoved and replied coldly,
"Xiao Yan and I have barely had any contact. We don't even like each other, so how could we become husband and wife? Now that I, Yanran, have been accepted as the Misty Cloud Sect Master's personal disciple, my teacher doesn't want me entrusting my whole life to him either.