Three Year Agreement

"You... you dare repudiate me?"

Staring at the Blood Hand Contract on the table, Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief.

"Isn't it perfectly normal for him to repudiate you?"

Suddenly, an unfamiliar yet pleasant voice rang through the vast reception hall.

A fragrant breeze swept in, and everyone's hearts tightened.

"Miss Wan?"

Hearing the voice, Xiao Yan froze briefly before turning to search for its source.

"Behind you, idiot."

Yao Wan sighed softly, then grabbed Xiao Yan's bleeding hand.

No medicine was needed. A bluish-green flame crept from her fingertips up his wrist, and the wound in his palm vanished at a visibly rapid pace.

Ge Ye was greatly shocked. He... could not see through this person's cultivation?!

If she was not a Da Dou Shi, then she had to be at an even higher realm. But when had the Xiao Family gained such a figure to watch over them?

Nalan Yanran looked at the graceful figure. She wore a plain dress, but a Bamboo Hat concealed her face completely.

Who was she?

Yao Wan slowly raised her head. The first thing her beautiful eyes saw through the black veil was the Dou Zhe youth still pointing his sword at Xiao Yan.

"Move that toothpick away from me."

The youth's heart jolted. Before he could withdraw his hand, the finely forged steel sword in his grip snapped into several pieces with a crack.

"Please calm your anger, Senior!"

Ge Ye hurriedly stepped forward and spoke.

This woman's cultivation was unfathomable. She even gave him the intense pressure of facing the sect leader herself. Ge Ye did not dare show the slightest negligence; the urgent matter was to ask this mysterious figure for mercy.

Seeing Ge Ye, who had been indulging Nalan Yanran's bullying through the Misty Cloud Sect's power just moments ago, instantly change his tune, the Xiao Family members shook their heads. It seemed the Misty Cloud Sect was nothing special after all.

"...Calm my anger?"

Seeing Xiao Yan's wound heal, Yao Wan released his wrist. Yet upon hearing Ge Ye's rather amusing plea, a trace of laughter entered her voice.

"You ask me to calm down? When did I ever say I was angry?"

Unlike Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran earlier, Yao Wan's tone carried not a hint of condescension, as though she were merely making a joke.

"Why would I need to calm down? If I were truly angry, do you think the three of you would still be alive to see me?"

Yao Wan shook her head. Taking lives was no more than a thought to her. She had only said it to see how the three of them would react and amuse herself.

Ge Ye grew even more terrified. He could only bow and say, "Senior, the three of us are from the Misty—"

"The Misty Cloud Sect. You already said that. There's no need to bring Yun Yun out to pressure me. She's only a Dou Emperor, yet you mention her every day. Does your Misty Cloud Sect have no other living people?"

Yao Wan said with a smile, teasing him.

"Do not insult my teacher!"

Nalan Yanran naturally could not endure others speaking ill of her teacher behind her back. In a rush of anger, she stepped forward.

"Insult? I merely mentioned Yun Yun, and you got angry? Then why did you show no mercy at all to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan just now?"

Yao Wan smiled and sat in the seat Xiao Yan had occupied moments earlier.

"The strong prevail over the weak. Just now, you could bully them by relying on the Misty Cloud Sect. So why have you gone meek now? Isn't it because you can't defeat me, and I don't care about the Misty Cloud Sect? The balance of strength has simply shifted."

As she spoke, Yao Wan shook her head.

"Still, this Three Year Agreement is rather interesting. Since Xiao Yan has accepted it, it will be a fine bit of entertainment for me."

"...But remember this, little sister."

With that, Yao Wan rose from her seat and slowly approached Nalan Yanran.

Nalan Yanran froze, then instinctively backed away.

But how could a Dou Zhe possibly escape a Dou Wang's control, no matter how she tried?

Yao Wan merely lifted her hand lightly and pinched Nalan Yanran's chin, forcing her head up.

"Gah..."

Having a mysterious expert come so close was hardly a relaxing experience.

The black veil was right before her eyes. Yet because they were so close, with the light of the hall shining through it, Nalan Yanran could vaguely make out the outline beneath the veil, as well as those autumn-water eyes that reflected a sea of stars.

Nalan Yanran could not tell whether she felt more shocked or more afraid.

"There are countless existences in this world far greater than you, Yun Yun, or the Misty Cloud Sect. Don't think so highly of yourself."

"And... wait patiently. Watch how that boy defeats you in three years."

After saying that, Yao Wan released Nalan Yanran.

"Go on. As an outsider, it would not be appropriate for me to throw guests out. But I doubt the Xiao Family welcomes any of you now, do they?"

As soon as Yao Wan finished speaking, Ge Ye hastily cupped his fists and fled in panic with Nalan Yanran and the youth.

The Misty Cloud Sect's guests had left, and the Xiao Family members' gazes naturally fell upon Yao Wan.

"...I did something unnecessary for Uncle today. I hope Uncle will not blame me."

Yao Wan turned back, returning to her usual calm and composed manner.

Xiao Zhan shook his head. "What are you saying, Miss Wan? If Miss Wan had not been here today, my Xiao Family would have lost all face."

Yao Wan shook her head, then subconsciously looked at Xiao Yan.

"If I had not been here today, I imagine Xiao Yan could have resolved this trouble himself, couldn't he?"

"By that reasoning, I suppose I stole Xiao Yan's moment to shine."

"What are you saying, Miss Wan?"

Xiao Yan calmed himself, then subconsciously glanced at his palm. The unscarred hand suddenly gave him the dazed feeling that this had all been a dream.

He gently shook his head, then stepped forward to stand beside Yao Wan.

"If not for Miss Wan, the Xiao Family truly could not have held back those people from the Misty Cloud Sect."

"So, on behalf of my father and the Xiao Family, Xiao Yan must thank Miss Wan for now."

"There is no need to thank me. I said it just now—the Three Year Agreement is also a fine amusement to me. I am not as noble as you think."

Yao Wan spoke blandly.

"But didn't Miss Wan still choose to stand with the Xiao Family?"

"In this world, one judges deeds, not intentions. Miss Wan has already done the Xiao Family a great favor today."

Seeing the serious, earnest look in Xiao Yan's eyes, Yao Wan did not refuse any further.

"...Very well."

Yao Wan neither confirmed nor denied it, but she no longer insisted otherwise.

As Xiao Zhan watched the young man and woman chatting and laughing before him, his eyes could not help but grow dazed. Yet he could only shake his head and force such thoughts from his mind.

Even a Nalan Yanran could now bully the Xiao Family for having no one to defend them, relying on the Misty Cloud Sect behind her to forcefully break off the engagement. And this Miss Wan, who surpassed Nalan Yanran by who knew how much...

If Yan'er had feelings for her, the pressure of this Three Year Agreement would likely pale in comparison.