Drawing the Sword, He Looked Around in Despair

Yun Shenwei knew this could not go on, so he pulled Nalan Yanran to her feet. The two held hands tightly, their fingers interlaced.

The three elders were all past fifty, each one shrewd and worldly. How could they fail to see what was going on? Yet after exchanging glances, they nodded in tacit understanding.

Seeing through it without exposing it!

Who had not been young and reckless once?

Had they not all lived through the age of flying into a rage for a beauty?

"Speak freely. This Sect Master and the three elders will stand up for you."

Yun Yun had roughly guessed what was going on. She had also seen the movements of the two below, but her position as Sect Master made it inconvenient for her to ask too much.

"Reporting to Sect Master, this disciple, Yun Shenwei, has come today to make only one request."

Yun Shenwei looked at the girl beside him. Her face was filled with determination, and happiness shone in her eyes. At that moment, Yun Shenwei no longer had any reservations and said bluntly, "This disciple and Junior Sister Nalan Yanran are in love. Although we are still young and not yet of marriageable age, this disciple is unwilling to watch the woman he loves marry a stranger she has never met.

"Therefore, this disciple begs the Sect Master to consider my exceptional talent and immense potential, as well as the fact that Junior Sister Nalan Yanran is your personal disciple, and allow Nalan Yanran and me to become Dao Companions once we come of age. I also ask that you permit Nalan Yanran to go to the Xiao Family in Wu Tan City and break off the engagement!"

As he spoke, Yun Shenwei took Nalan Yanran's hand and knelt down with her once more.

Though Nalan Yanran did not say a single word at this moment, every one of her actions showed that she and Yun Shenwei stood together through thick and thin.

"You insolent brat! At such a young age, instead of cultivating diligently, you are already thinking about marriage? How can you speak of such matters so casually? This is simply ridiculous!"

Before Yun Yun could speak, Great Elder Yun Ling took the lead in rebuking them, looking as though he might strike at any moment.

"Calm your anger, Great Elder. This old man believes Yun Shenwei and Nalan Yanran are not joking. When have you ever seen such deep affection and loyalty called childish play?"

Beside him, Second Elder Yun Li, his head full of white hair, voiced the opposing view.

As for Third Elder Yun Heng, he said nothing. Clearly, he was taking neither side and maintaining a neutral stance.

"Yun Shenwei, this Sect Master must remind you that marriage is no trifling matter. Furthermore, Nalan Yanran already has a childhood betrothal. You must understand that marriages are decided by one's parents and arranged through matchmakers. What is more, this engagement was set by her grandfather, Nalan Jie, and Xiao Yan's grandfather, Xiao Lin."

Yun Yun held a position of great authority. How could she possibly be unaware of her beloved disciple's marriage arrangements?

When she had brought Nalan Yanran out of the Nalan Family, she had heard Nalan Jie speak of the matter. Back then, when Nalan Jie mentioned the betrothal made before the two children were born, his face had been full of pride. Yun Yun had not forgotten it to this day.

After bringing Nalan Yanran to the Yun Lan Sect, she had also made inquiries into her beloved disciple's fiancé and his family.

The Xiao Family was renowned in Wu Tan City. Together with the other two great families of Wu Tan City, they were known as the Three Great Families of Wu Tan City.

Xiao Yan was the son of the current Xiao Family Patriarch, the grandson of the previous patriarch Xiao Lin, and a genius youth the Xiao Family saw perhaps once in a century.

"Master, Yanran does not want to marry a stranger she has never met!"

At this moment, Nalan Yanran, who had been silent for quite some time, suddenly spoke with determination. "Ever since Yanran came to the Yun Lan Sect, she has cultivated diligently. Whenever Yanran was in a bad mood, it was always Shenwei Senior Brother who patiently comforted her!

"Master, do you still remember when Yanran was nine and caught a virus?

"During the days after Yanran recovered from her illness, everyone else avoided Yanran. Only Shenwei Senior Brother was not afraid of being infected and guarded Yanran every day.

"Master, do you still remember when Yanran was ten and secretly went to the Yun Lan Mountain Range with several senior and junior sisters to play?

"That time, we encountered the Tier Three magical beast, the Earth Demon Ape. By chance, Shenwei Senior Brother was patrolling the mountain range that day. He risked his life to buy us the chance to escape.

"Master, do you still remember the night before Yanran broke through to Dou Zhe?

"Before Yanran's breakthrough, several senior brothers in the sect had failed their breakthroughs, and one senior sister had even suffered cultivation deviation, exploded, and died.

"It was Shenwei Senior Brother again. He took the initiative to tell Yanran about his experience breaking through to Dou Zhe, and even told many jokes to cheer Yanran up. Before leaving, Senior Brother also encouraged Yanran.

"All these things were major events in Yanran's short life of little more than ten years. Perhaps Master and the three elders may find them insignificant after hearing them, but Shenwei Senior Brother is very important to Yanran. He has always been by Yanran's side, never leaving her nor abandoning her."

The more Nalan Yanran spoke, the more agitated she became. Her lovely face was flushed red, and within moments, tears poured down like rain.

Second Elder Yun Li and Third Elder Yun Heng awkwardly looked away, while Sect Master Yun Yun understood perfectly well, for everything Nalan Yanran had said was true.

"Crying, all you know how to do is cry! Look at that pathetic state of yours. And here I thought you were the next-generation heir to the Yun Lan Sect Master's position. How can such a tiny matter move you to tears of gratitude? Is it not only natural for a senior brother to look after his junior sister? If you do not believe it, ask your Second Elder and Third Elder. Which one of them did not look after Junior Sister Yun Yun?"

Only Great Elder Yun Ling snorted coldly and spoke impatiently. "Even now that your Master Yun Yun has become Sect Master, whenever she needs us, she is still that little junior sister from back then, barely learning to speak and needing her senior brothers' careful companionship!"

As Great Elder Yun Ling spoke, he deliberately glanced at Yun Yun. She nodded in agreement as well.

"Yanran, affection between senior brothers and junior sisters is perfectly normal. Even if senior brothers and junior sisters become Dao Companions, it should only be after both have achieved something. If you were not bound by this engagement, Master would also be very willing to see you and your Shenwei Senior Brother become a couple in the future."

Yun Yun pondered for a long while before bringing this matter to a close. "But you must understand that you have a marriage arranged by your parents and matchmakers. Marriage is not something a child like you can do as you please. If there is nothing else, then go back. Cultivate properly from now on, and stop thinking about useless things all day. This is not something you should be considering right now!"

After speaking, Yun Yun gave the three elders below a slight signal. Great Elder Yun Ling immediately understood. "Yun Shenwei, what are you still standing there for? Hurry back!

"Do not think that having a little talent for cultivation means you can act however you please. Nalan Yanran is the heir to the next Sect Master. Though you have talent, you have no background. Before you grow into a true powerhouse and possess absolute strength, do not speak of this matter again, and do not pester your Junior Sister Yanran.

"If this old man sees or hears that you are not striving to improve and have nothing but romantic nonsense on your mind, then do not blame this old man for dealing with you according to sect rules!"

As he spoke, Great Elder Yun Ling impatiently waved his hand. His meaning could not have been clearer.

"Enough, hurry back now. We will treat today's matter as if it never happened. We treated you as we did before, and we will continue to do so in the future. We will not hold this matter against you."

Second Elder Yun Li remained kind and gentle, afraid that the two children would be deeply affected by the matter.

"Since I, Yun Shenwei, have come here today, I must have a solution. I will absolutely not accept Junior Sister Yanran marrying someone she has never even met in the future!"

Yun Shenwei suddenly rose to his feet, his entire body radiating sharp intent. As he spoke, he pulled the Azure Cloud Sword from his waist. With a sharp ring, the blade was already pressed to his neck, faint streaks of crimson spreading across it.

The youth's sudden action was utterly unexpected. The three elders' eyes widened as they cried out in alarm at once:

"Yun Shenwei, calm down! Do not act rashly!"

"Put down the sword first. We can talk this over!"

"You must not act on impulse!"