Calling Off the Engagement

"Cough."

The white-robed elder gave a light cough, rose to his feet, and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan with a smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come to your clan today mainly to ask a favor!"

"Hehe, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely. If it is within our capabilities, the Xiao Family will certainly not refuse."

Xiao Zhan did not dare slight this elder. He hurriedly stood and replied politely. However, since he did not know what the other party wanted, he did not dare make any sweeping promises.

"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 is?"

Xiao Zhan froze at his words. He sized up the girl from head to toe, then shook his head with slight embarrassment.

"Cough, her name is Nalan Yanran."

Xiao Zhan smiled and praised her.

Crack—

The instant his words fell, the teacup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered, turning to powder in his grasp.

Hearing this, Ge Ye was overjoyed. He smiled apologetically at Xiao Zhan. "Clan Leader Xiao, the Sect Master knows that today's request is rather impolite, so she specifically had me bring an item as an apology!"

At this thought, when they looked at the three guests from the Misty Cloud Sect, their faces carried a trace of indescribable... pity.

When they had first met that mysterious Miss Wan half a year ago, she had casually gifted them Shi Ling Pills, which could benefit even Da Dou Shi and Dou Ling immensely. With the help of a Shi Ling Pill, Xiao Zhan had risen two stars in half a year, becoming a Seven Star Great Dou Shi. He even had hopes of reaching the Dou Ling realm in the future.

"...Ju Qi San?"

"Hehe, just call me Clan Leader Xiao. I cannot bear the title of uncle. You are the future Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, a figure who will stir the winds and clouds of the Dou Qi Continent. My Yan is merely of mediocre talent. Indeed, he is not worthy of you."

Xiao Zhan's expression shifted slightly as his smile faded. The Misty Cloud Sect's Sect Master, Yun Yun, was a great figure in the Jia Ma Empire. As the leader of a small clan, he could not afford to provoke her in the slightest. Yet with her strength and influence, what could she possibly need the Xiao Family's help with? Ge Ye said it concerned Nalan's niece. Could it be...?

Xiao Zhan frowned slightly, suppressing a surge of anger in his heart, but he did not immediately erupt.

He had thought the Misty Cloud Sect, which dominated the Jia Ma Empire, was some formidable overlord. Yet now that he saw them...

He did not know whether it was appropriate to say so, but they seemed rather shabby.

The three elders looked at one another, exchanging glances. Yet they all understood what Xiao Zhan meant.

An awkward look suddenly appeared on Ge Ye's face. But thinking of the Sect Master's affection for Nalan Yanran, he could only grit his teeth and say,

"Clan Leader Xiao, you also know that the Misty Cloud Sect's rules are strict, and the Sect Master holds great expectations for Yanran. She is now practically being groomed as the next Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect... And because of certain special rules, the Sect Master's successor cannot have entanglements with men before officially becoming the Sect Master."

Miss Wan had casually given away twelve Shi Ling Pills, treasures that people in the Jia Ma Empire would fight bloody battles over. Yet the Misty Cloud Sect's compensation for breaking off an engagement was merely one Ju Qi San?

"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao."

"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, the matter I have come to request today concerns Yanran, and it was personally raised by the Sect Master."

The members of the Xiao Family who had attended the clan assembly half a year ago found their gazes toward the three Misty Cloud Sect guests growing increasingly strange.

The entire reception hall fell into dead silence.

Over the past half year, the arrival of that mysterious honored guest had brought tremendous changes to the Xiao Family, directly changing the fortunes of Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

Xiao Zhan merely glanced at it, then looked toward the three elders. Suddenly, he laughed, and even the chill on his face faded somewhat.

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly as she stammered, "Uncle Xiao..."

Xiao Zhan waved his hand faintly, his tone cold.

Nalan Yanran lowered her head, while Ge Ye, knowing himself to be in the wrong, could only smile awkwardly.

Ge Ye also sensed that the atmosphere was not quite what he had expected. He gave an awkward laugh and explained, "Hehe, this was personally refined by our sect's honorary elder, Alchemist King Gu He. I am sure all of you have heard of his esteemed name?"

After the silence, Xiao Zhan stared indifferently at the bowed and silent Nalan Yanran. His voice was somewhat hoarse. "Niece Nalan, what courage. Nalan Su truly has an enviable daughter in you!"

"After the Sect Master asked Yanran, she learned that Yanran still had an engagement with the Xiao Family, so... so the Sect Master wishes to ask Clan Leader Xiao to... to dissolve this engagement."

"Hehe, Niece Nalan, I had long heard that you had been accepted under Lady Yun Yun's tutelage. I thought it was merely a rumor, but I never expected it to be true. You truly have exceptional talent."

Nalan Yanran smiled awkwardly and tugged at Ge Ye's sleeve beneath the table, urging him to get to the point.

Still, such compensation alone would probably not be enough to make the clan leader and his son agree.

There was no real gloating on many faces. They simply wanted to see these guests suffer embarrassment when they were slapped in the face later.

Xiao Zhan was first stunned, then his face filled with delight. He must have recalled what had happened back then. At once, he gave the girl a warm smile.

"Mr. Ge Ye, please speak without hesitation."

"Yanran was merely fortunate..."

Ge Ye carefully opened the box, and an exotic fragrance immediately spread through the hall, refreshing everyone who smelled it.

"Nalan Yanran? Nalan Old Master's granddaughter, Nalan Yanran?"

As he spoke, Ge Ye swept a hand over his Storage Ring, and an ancient jade box glowing green appeared out of thin air in his hand.

Ge Ye gave a light laugh. When he mentioned the words "Sect Master," the expression on his face became slightly solemn.

The Xiao Family members in the hall could not help casting strange looks at the guests.

The three elders could not bring themselves to gloat either. After all, Xiao Zhan's family now had a powerful benefactor supporting them, and their future was boundless.

People always saw only the very best and never noticed what was merely a little inferior.

Upon hearing that the pill had been refined by Alchemist King Gu He, the renowned sixth-tier alchemist of the Jia Ma Empire, the expressions of the Xiao Family members eased slightly.

"So it is Niece Nalan. Uncle Xiao has not seen you for many years. Do not blame me for failing to recognize you."

"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.

As if responding to the thoughts in many people's hearts, Xiao Yan spoke up. "Elder Ge Ye, please take this Ju Qi San back. We cannot agree to this annulment of engagement."

As he spoke, Xiao Yan gave his father a meaningful glance.

Xiao Zhan paused, understood his son's meaning, and took a small jade vial from his robes.