The Master Must Have Her Reasons

Outside the Jia Ma Imperial City, inside Misty Cloud Mountain.

Yun Yun had only decided to check on Nalan Yanran's progress in swordsmanship today on a whim.

As the Misty Cloud Sect Master, she is usually very busy with affairs and doesn't have many opportunities to take time to guide her disciples.

Moreover, ever since she parted ways with Qin Yu on the edge of the desert that night, she had been constantly thinking about his reminder to annul the engagement.

The training ground on the back mountain was secluded and surrounded by bamboo forests, which was where Nalan Yanran usually spent her time.

As Yun Yun walked up the stone steps, she saw her apprentice squatting beside a clump of wildflowers, plucking petals in his hand and muttering incantations.

"Retreat... not retreat... retreat... not retreat..."

Yun Yun frowned slightly, tiptoed, and silently approached Nalan Yanran from behind, glancing down at her.

The wildflower had been plucked to pieces by Nalan Yanran, leaving only one petal.

Nalan Yanran held the last petal in her hand, hesitated for a long time, and then suddenly ripped it off, as if she had made up her mind:

"Retreat!"

"Refund what?"

"Ah!!"

The sudden sound behind her startled Nalan Yanran, making her jump up.

When she turned around and saw that the person who came was Yun Yun, her pretty face instantly turned bright red.

"Master... Master?! What brings you here?"

"Let's come and see how your swordsmanship is progressing, but... your mind isn't on the sword today."

Nalan Yanran lowered her head, her toes unconsciously shuffling on the ground, her lips moving slightly, still stubbornly refusing to admit it:

"It's nothing... I was just... having some fun."

Yun Yun didn't expose her, but simply sat quietly to the side.

Just then, a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect jogged up the stone steps, carrying an exquisite jade box in his hands.

"Miss Nalan, Master Gu He sent this gift."

Nalan Yanran quickly stepped forward to take the jade box. Turning around, she found Yun Yun staring at her, and lowered her head in a fluster.

"What is it?"

"It's nothing, just... a little bit of pills."

Nalan Yanran stammered in response, her eyes constantly glancing to the lower left.

Seeing her like this, Yun Yun's doubts deepened, and she suddenly said seriously:

"Yanran."

"Disciple is here."

Nalan Yanran straightened up as if by reflex.

"Are you hiding something from me?"

Nalan Yanran bit her lip, pondered for a moment, then placed the jade box on the stone table and told Yun Yun her thoughts:

"Master, I... I want to annul the engagement."

Yun Yun did not respond, gesturing for her to continue.

Seeing that her master did not reprimand her, Nalan Yanran became bolder and continued:

"I've never even seen Xiao Yan's face, let alone the fact that he's now a cripple who can't cultivate anymore. Why should I have to marry him?"

"My marriage, Nalan Yanran's marriage, should be decided by myself!"

As she spoke, she pointed to the jade box on the table:

"This is Qi-Gathering Powder I obtained from Master Gu He, intended as an apology for breaking off the engagement. I feel it's sufficient."

Yun Yun's gaze fell on the jade box, and she remained silent for a moment.

The Qi-Gathering Powder refined by Gu He is indeed a valuable apology to the now-declining Xiao Household.

It seems this girl is determined to break off the engagement.

"So, how do you plan to tell them?"

Nalan Yanran was taken aback, not expecting Yun Yun not to object to the matter.

Yun Yun didn't object, Nalan Yanran immediately felt confident. She puffed out her chest and said matter-of-factly:

"Of course I'll bring my people to their door and call off the engagement! Let everyone know that I, Nalan Yanran, am not that kind of person!"

After hearing this, Yun Yun felt both helpless and somewhat surprised; Qin Yu had indeed guessed correctly.

This girl really intended to go to their door to annul the engagement in person, and she even brought people with her.

"Yanran."

Yun Yun's tone became more serious, Nalan Yanran's eyes instantly cleared up, becoming very obedient.

"I understand your thoughts, but have you considered the chain reaction this approach might trigger?"

"But... that engagement wasn't my choice in the first place..."

Nalan Yanran lowered her voice, but her tone remained stubborn.

"Of course, it's possible to annul the engagement."

Yun Yun gently patted Nalan Yanran's head, her tone softening slightly:

"But the method needs to be changed."

Nalan Yanran raised her head and looked at Yun Yun.

"I happen to have nothing else to do right now. I'll go with you to discuss annulmenting the engagement."

"Will you come with me, Master?"

Nalan Yanran had complete trust in Yun Yun.

There must be a reason why the master did this.

"Yes, just the two of us will go and talk to the Xiao Household family patriarch and Xiao Yan privately. It would be best if we could resolve this peacefully."

Yun Yun nodded. After investigating the strange occurrences of the Snake-People Tribe, she indeed had nothing else to do during this time.

But who knows what will happen after that?

Luckily I came to check today, otherwise this girl might have really gone and broken off the engagement without telling me.

"What if they disagree?"

Nalan Yanran suddenly interjected.

"It's unlikely. We're already deliberately trying to save face for his family and himself by negotiating privately."

"If they simply feel the compensation is insufficient, then give them more; but if they intend to use your marriage to blackmail the Misty Cloud Sect..."

Yun Yun paused for a moment, Nalan Yanran instantly shivered, feeling that her master had suddenly become so cold.

"Then they have no choice but to agree."

Wow... Master, you're so awesome!

Nalan Yanran chuckled as she hugged Yun Yun, nuzzling her head between the two mountains, her nose filled with the sweet fragrance of the mountains.

"You brat, you never behave properly."

"Let me arrange the affairs within the sect, and then we'll set off at a suitable time."

After saying that, Yun Yun asked another question:

"By the way, Yanran, do you... know someone Qin Yu?"

Nalan Yanran tilted her head and thought for a moment, but the name Qin Yu did not come to mind.

"It seems not, Master. Why are you suddenly asking this?"

During her previous meeting with Qin Yu, he didn't introduce himself at all, so Qin Yu Nalan Yanran naturally couldn't know his name.

"It's nothing. Just tidy up the place. Starting tomorrow, you'll have an extra hour of swordsmanship practice."

"Ah? Master, please don't!"

Nalan Yanran's face fell instantly, but Yun Yun merely tapped her forehead lightly and disappeared in the blink of an eye.

Meanwhile, in Desert City.

When Qin Yu came out of the Ancient Map Shop, it was already broad daylight.

Back in the courtyard, Xiao Yi Xian and the others had already packed their things and were waiting for Qin Yu.

"Is everything packed?"

"Well, there wasn't much to begin with, and besides, I have Storage Ring."

Qin Yu nodded; his belongings were all in his Storage Ring, so there was no need to pack them.

It takes several days to travel from Desert City to Wutan City.

There are still about three months until the next recruitment team from the Jia Nan Academy arrives. At their current pace, they should be able to make it in time.

Let's go.

Qin Yu stepped out of the courtyard first, followed by Xiao Yi Xian, while Qing Lin skipped and hopped at the very back, holding her mother's hand.

The four of them then embarked on their journey back to Wutan City.