A Different Three Year Agreement

Xiao Yan had lived two lives and possessed the experience of an adult, along with the keen perception granted by his powerful soul.

He could tell that Nalan Yanran and Zhang Yuan had known each other for a long time, and that Nalan Yanran clearly had feelings for his cousin.

If the marriage agreement were transferred to Zhang Yuan and Nalan Yanran, the Xiao Clan and the Nalan family could preserve their dignity instead of becoming enemies. Not to mention that Nalan Yanran had the Misty Cloud Sect and a Dou Emperor master behind her.

With Zhang Yuan's talent, he was more than worthy of Nalan Yanran. The Misty Cloud Sect and the Nalan family certainly would not object.

Everyone would be happy, and only he, a cripple who had lost all his talent, would lose face completely.

But over the past three years, the Xiao Clan and Zhang Yuan had spent countless resources on him, this worthless cripple, without ever voicing a complaint. If he made a small sacrifice now, what did it matter?

"Don't talk nonsense." Zhang Yuan flicked Xiao Yan on the forehead with a roasted chestnut.

If he dared agree now, setting aside how difficult it would become to win over a certain queenly wife and virtuous helper, there was also a certain poisonous woman he would have trouble explaining things to. Xun Er would probably be the first to go berserk.

He had accidentally flirted his way into the heart of one of the top rich, beautiful, and powerful young women on the Dou Qi Continent when they were children. There was no reason to give her up, was there?

"How could a marriage agreement between great families be treated as a joke?" Finding a high-sounding excuse, Zhang Yuan said sternly, "Nalan Yanran arrived with such fanfare that this matter cannot possibly be kept secret."

"How about this? You will both be eighteen in three years. At that time, you can fight at the Nalan family residence in the Imperial Capital."

"If Nalan Yanran wins, the marriage agreement will naturally be dissolved, but she must also compensate the Xiao Clan for today's rash actions."

"If Little Yan wins, it will wash away today's humiliation. Nalan Yanran will have to compensate the Xiao Clan double."

"What do you think?"

Afraid that Xiao Yan would say something else that would land him in a love-triangle disaster, Zhang Yuan could only take matters into his own hands.

"Wait!"

Before Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran could speak, Ge Ye spoke first. "Young friend, Miss Yan Ran is ultimately a disciple of our Misty Cloud Sect, so—"

"So what?" Zhang Yuan interrupted before Ge Ye could finish. "The Jia Ma Empire is not surnamed Yun. No matter how powerful your Misty Cloud Sect is, you are only an affiliated sect within the empire."

"Though the Xiao Clan has declined, it was once a Dou Wang clan. The Misty Cloud Sect had no part in the marriage alliance between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan family, and you have no right to interfere in the affairs of these two families now. It is not as though we are demanding Nalan Yanran's life."

Zhang Yuan had long been thinking of ways to resolve the conflict between the Misty Cloud Sect and the Xiao Clan, avoiding an irreconcilable enmity and losses on his side.

The Soul Hall behind the Misty Cloud Sect would be easy to handle. As long as Yun Shan learned that he had been exploited, he would immediately turn hostile.

Of course, just in case, Zhang Yuan needed to gather some support. That was why he had joined the Jia Ma Empire's military.

At the very least, the imperial family was still the master of this empire.

"But..." Ge Ye wanted to say more, but Nalan Yanran interrupted him. "Fine, I agree to this. I was indeed rash today. Brother Zhang's proposal has no problems, and this matter truly has nothing to do with the Misty Cloud Sect. We will duel at the Nalan family residence when the time comes. Win or lose, I will offer compensation."

Since the person involved had said so herself, Ge Ye could not say anything further.

With his strength and status, he was not qualified to say anything anyway.

"Wait, I object." Xiao Yan raised his hand and said helplessly, "cousin, I think you're trying to get me killed. With my current condition, how am I supposed to beat her in three years?"

Because of Zhang Yuan's involvement, many things had changed. Xiao Yan had not been angered to the point of shouting, "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river!"

He understood his own circumstances, so naturally he would not make such a wild boast in a moment of impulsiveness.

"You dare say that about me? Be careful, or I'll beat you up like I did when we were kids," Zhang Yuan said irritably.

Flame Emperor, Little Yan—I had to beat him from childhood so he would not rebel against me later.

"I'm only telling the truth," Xiao Yan argued.

"Do you think I would issue this challenge for you if I were not confident that I could cure your inability to cultivate?" Zhang Yuan asked.

Crack!

Xiao Zhan crushed the armrest of his chair and asked with undisguised excitement, "Yuan'er, y-you can cure Yan'er?"

Several Xiao Clan elders and the younger generation all looked at Zhang Yuan with hopeful eyes. Xiao Yan himself was trembling with excitement.

"Before I returned, I only had a thirty percent chance. Now, I would say ninety percent." Zhang Yuan smiled. "I came back precisely for this matter. I did not expect to catch such a lively scene."

"Fine, I accept the Three Year Agreement." Xiao Yan spoke, then grabbed Zhang Yuan's wrist. "Cousin, let's go."

As an Earth transmigrator who had been reborn with his memories, he desired cultivation more than ordinary people did, especially when it offered a chance to gain power for himself.

He had long had enough of living as a cripple.

"Fine." Zhang Yuan knew how bitterly Xiao Yan had endured it and did not refuse. Instead, he said to Xiao Zhan, "Uncle, I'll leave things here to you."

"Go on. Your uncle will handle matters here." Xiao Zhan immediately nodded.

Zhang Yuan then turned and met Xun Er's gaze. After nodding to her, he followed Xiao Yan out.

"Everyone, our Xiao Clan is small, so we will not keep you for a simple meal."

After Zhang Yuan and Xiao Yan left, Xiao Zhan directly ordered the Misty Cloud Sect group to leave.

They had already bullied their way to his doorstep. He did not even want to pretend to be polite.

As Zhang Yuan had said, normal people observed courtesy before resorting to force, but the Misty Cloud Sect had acted with force first and courtesy afterward. Their arrogance was plain to see.

This Jia Ma Empire was not surnamed Yun.

"Uncle Xiao, I apologize for what happened today. In three years, I will come visit again with the compensation I owe." Nalan Yanran bowed to Xiao Zhan.

Xiao Zhan had wanted to say something harsh, but what Xiao Yan could see could naturally not be hidden from him either.

Thinking of Zhang Yuan, he merely closed his eyes and chose to ignore it.

Seeing this, Nalan Yanran bowed once more, then called Ge Ye and the others over and headed lightly toward the entrance.

She had indeed acted rashly today because of her youth, but at least she had achieved her goal and seen the person she had missed for half a year.

Three years later, once she regained her freedom, she could pursue the life she wanted.

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan was eagerly gossiping with Zhang Yuan. "Cousin, what is your relationship with that Nalan Yanran?"

Zhang Yuan glanced at him and said calmly, "After leaving the Xiao Clan two years ago, my eldest brother and second brother went to Stone Desert City to establish a mercenary group. They thought that if you never recovered your talent, they could still build a foundation for you to rely on."

"After training in several places, I chose to join the empire's military. It was the best place to temper oneself, and as long as I earned enough military merit, I could exchange it for cultivation techniques, medicinal pills, and everything else I wanted."

Upon hearing that, Xiao Yan immediately thought of the Second-grade Alchemist who had come to examine his condition half a year ago, and his heart was filled with emotion.

He was an Earthling reborn with his memories. At first, he had viewed this world with scrutiny and caution.

But his father Xiao Zhan, his biological brothers Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, and his cousin Zhang Yuan had warmed him with familial affection and made him begin to accept this world.

Especially after he became a cripple, the four of them treated him even better. Their warmth filled his heart, and he resolved to repay them with everything he had.

Perhaps before, he could only think about it. But if his talent could be restored, he would definitely become the strongest step by step, then bring his family to greatness with him!

Zhang Yuan did not know what Xiao Yan was thinking and continued, "Half a year ago, Greenstone Town near the Magical Beast Mountain Range encountered a Beast Tide. I was ordered to lead people to clear out a branch of it, and during that time, I helped several Misty Cloud Sect disciples who had come out to train."

"The leader of those disciples was called Yun Yan. Though she was the weakest among them, she was their leader. Later, she followed my commands for a time under my command. That Yun Yan was Nalan Yanran."

Hearing this, Xiao Yan waggled his brows. "A hero saving a beauty? Did anything happen between you two?"

"No." Zhang Yuan shook his head.

At the time, he had been busy growing stronger and had no interest in chasing girls.

As for whether Nalan Yanran had any special thoughts, that had nothing to do with him.

"Cousin, you really don't understand romance. In my opinion, Nalan Yanran is eighty percent interested in you. Just look at how nervous she was earlier." Xiao Yan smiled. "Don't worry. In three years, I'll go easy on her and make sure she doesn't lose too badly."

Zhang Yuan: "..."

As expected of you, you show-off. Your talent has not even recovered, yet you are already putting on airs before me.

"Then perhaps I should wait another three years before helping you solve your physical problem, so you will not need to go easy on Nalan Yanran," Zhang Yuan teased.

"Cousin~" Xiao Yan deliberately dragged out his voice.

Zhang Yuan shuddered inwardly, thinking that he should carry a Recording Stone with him in the future and record all the embarrassing history of the future Flame Emperor.

"Stop disgusting me. Close the door, and we'll begin resolving your problem," Zhang Yuan said.

He and Xiao Yan had already arrived at a secret chamber, a Training Room built by the Xiao Clan. Naturally, Zhang Yuan was qualified to use it.

"Understood." Xiao Yan's expression turned solemn as he closed the secret chamber door.

Then he sat opposite Zhang Yuan and waited for him to act.

But Zhang Yuan did not do anything. Instead, he said, "Throw away the ring Aunt left you."

Xiao Yan froze, but out of trust in Zhang Yuan, he immediately did as told and threw the ring far away.

Standing in front of Xiao Yan, Zhang Yuan said to the ring, "You skulking fellow, you have absorbed my cousin's Dou Qi for three years. Are you still not coming out?"

Xiao Yan hid behind Zhang Yuan and stared warily at the Ancient Ring.

"Interesting."

The Ancient Ring slowly floated into the air, and a transparent, elderly figure appeared within it, smiling faintly.

Xiao Yan's pupils contracted as he cursed, "Holy shit, is this a ghost story? I actually raised a ghost! And not even a beautiful ghost, but an old ghost! I'm tainted now!"

Zhang Yuan: "..."

Yao Chen: "..."

(End of Chapter)