Three-Year Pact

"Hehe, Clan Leader Xiao, the matter I have come to request today concerns Yanran. Moreover, it was personally raised by the Sect Master..." Just as Xiao Zhan was about to respond, Ge Ye spoke up and interrupted him.

Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly, and his smile gradually faded. Yun Yun, the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, was an important figure in the Jia Ma Empire. As the leader of such a small clan, he could not afford to offend her in the slightest. But with her strength and influence, what could she possibly need help from the Xiao Clan with? Ge Ye said it concerned Nalan's niece—could it be?

Thinking of a certain possibility, Xiao Zhan's lips twitched uncontrollably. His massive palms trembled slightly, though they were concealed by his sleeves and went unnoticed. Forcefully suppressing the rage in his heart, he said in a trembling, grave voice, "Mr. Ge Ye, please speak!"

"Cough..." An awkward look suddenly appeared on Ge Ye's face. But when he thought of the Sect Master's affection for Nalan Yanran, he could only grit his teeth and smile. "Clan Leader Xiao, you know that the Misty Cloud Sect's rules are strict, and the Sect Master has high expectations for Yanran. She is now essentially being groomed as the next Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect... And because of certain special rules, the Sect Master's successor cannot become involved with any man before officially becoming Sect Master..."

Looking at Xiao Zhan's gloomy expression, Nalan Yanran took a deep breath and said heavily, "Uncle Xiao, I know this request is rather difficult, but I do not want to be bound by this so-called marriage agreement. I do not want to be with someone I do not like. Please, Uncle Xiao, dissolve the engagement."

Ge Ye immediately echoed, "Clan Leader Xiao, for the Sect Master's sake, please dissolve this engagement."

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists, green battle qi covering his body and gathering around his face into the phantom image of a lion's head.

Seeing Xiao Zhan's reaction, Ge Ye's expression immediately turned solemn as well. He stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, his eagle-claw-like hands abruptly curling as green battle qi gathered within them, emitting fine yet razor-sharp sword qi.

As the two men's auras erupted, the weaker youths in the hall suddenly turned pale, their chests tightening.

Just as Xiao Zhan's breathing grew more and more rapid, the stern shouts of the three elders rang through the hall like thunder. "Xiao Zhan, stop at once! Do not forget that you are the Xiao Clan's leader!"

Upon hearing this, the battle qi around Xiao Zhan's body slowly faded. He dropped back into his chair and looked at Nalan Yanran below him, saying coldly, "Niece Nalan, what nerve you have. When you were little, you and Xiao Yan used to play together. Yet in the blink of an eye, you have forgotten everything and come here to break off the engagement. Nalan Su truly has an enviable daughter in you!"

Nalan Yanran's delicate body trembled slightly. "Uncle Xiao..."

"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 and will one day be a prominent figure on the Battle Qi Continent. My Yan'er is merely of ordinary talent and indeed is not worthy of you..." Xiao Zhan waved a hand lightly, his tone cold and indifferent.

"Thank you for your understanding, Clan Leader Xiao." 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 discourteous, so she specifically asked me to bring something as an apology!"

As he spoke, Ge Ye brushed the ring on his finger, and an ancient jade box glowing green appeared in his hand out of thin air...

Carefully opening the box, a strange fragrance immediately spread through the hall, refreshing everyone who smelled it.

The three elders curiously leaned forward to look inside the jade box. Their bodies suddenly shook as they cried out in shock, "Qi-Gathering Powder?"

The three elders beamed at the Qi-Gathering Powder inside the jade box. If the clan obtained this Qi-Gathering Powder, it might be able to produce another young Dou Zhe.

Just as the three elders were considering how to obtain the pill for their own grandsons, a youth's calm voice, suppressing its anger, suddenly rang out in the hall.

"Elder Ge Ye, you should take that pill back. We may not agree to today's matter!"

The hall fell deathly silent as every gaze abruptly shifted to Xiao Yan, who stood in the corner with his handsome face raised.

"Xiao Yan, what right do you have to speak here? Shut your mouth!" One elder's expression darkened as he roared.

"Isn't it just a mere Fourth-Grade Pill, Qi-Gathering Powder? I have plenty of them." Xiao Yao stood up and took three jade bottles from the Soul Storage Ring on his right hand, placing them before the others.

The three elders each opened a bottle. An even richer strange fragrance immediately filled the hall. Inside each jade bottle was a jade-green pill, covered in intersecting pill patterns.

Ge Ye immediately exclaimed, "You refined these? Their quality is even better than the one I brought!"

"Elders, leave this matter to Xiao Yan. Do you have any objections?" A powerful Soul Force swept over them like a raging storm, enveloping their bodies. The three elders were unable to resist that overwhelming Soul Force.

They felt an immense pressure descend upon them, as though an invisible mountain were pressing against their chests, leaving them unable to breathe.

After hearing Xiao Yao's words, the three elders' arrogance instantly vanished. They sighed helplessly and said, "Fine. Let you young people decide it yourselves."

Xiao Yao looked at Ge Ye and said forcefully, "Elder Ge Ye, what do you think?" Even stronger spiritual pressure descended upon him, and he immediately felt incomparable strain.

Ge Ye endured the pressure, his body trembling slightly as he said in a low voice, "Fine. Let the two of them handle it themselves."

Xiao Yao looked at them, a cold smile curling across his lips. As he turned away, the Soul Force dissipated as well.

Xiao Yao walked over to Xiao Yan and lightly patted his shoulder. Then he said, "Little Flame, I'll leave the rest for you to handle."

Xiao Yan strode forward, first respectfully bowing to Xiao Zhan. Then he turned to face Nalan Yanran, took a deep breath, and calmly asked, "Miss Nalan, may I ask whether Elder Nalan agreed to this matter of breaking off the engagement?"

When Nalan Yanran had seen Xiao Yan suddenly step forward to interfere, she had already felt somewhat displeased. Now that she heard his question, her delicate brows furrowed slightly. This person had seemed decent enough when they were children. How had he become such an annoyingly persistent person after only a few years apart? Did he not know the gap between them?

As she inwardly blamed Xiao Yan, she never considered the humiliation and rage that her public attempt to break off the engagement had brought upon Xiao Yan and his father.

Standing up, she gazed at the youth before her, who should have become her husband, and said in a gentle, indifferent voice, "Grandfather did not agree, but this is my matter. It has nothing to do with him."

"Since Elder Nalan has not spoken, then forgive us, but my father will not agree to your request either. The marriage was personally arranged by the elders of both families. Since neither of them has spoken to dissolve it, no one dares dissolve it. Otherwise, it would be disrespecting our deceased elders!

"I believe no one in our clan would commit such an unfilial act, would they?" Xiao Yan sneered at Nalan Yanran, then added, "Tsk, tsk. I wonder who used to lean against my shoulder and listen to me tell stories. I never expected that after growing up, you would become someone who looks down on others like this."

"You..." Nalan Yanran was stunned by Xiao Yan's sharp retort and could find no words to refute him. Her pretty face turned slightly green with anger. She stomped her foot heavily, took a breath, and the spoiled temper she had developed over the years flared up. She stared at the youth before her with obvious disgust.

Irritated, she simply laid everything bare. "What exactly will it take for you to agree to dissolve the engagement? Do you think the compensation is too little? Fine, I can ask my teacher to give you three more Qi-Gathering Powders. In addition, if you are willing, I can even have you enter the Misty Cloud Sect to study profound battle qi techniques. Is that enough?"

Xiao Yan's lips curled slightly as he looked at Nalan Yanran's raised snow-white chin and her princess-like pride. He sneered, "Do you think I lack such trifles? Your Qi-Gathering Powder is not even as good as Brother Yao's. What trash do you think you are showing off?"

"You... Since you refuse to dissolve the engagement, then accept a challenge! In three years, you and I will fight. Do you dare?"

"Nalan Yanran, you do not need to put on such a domineering act. You want to break off the engagement only because you think I, Xiao Yan, am unworthy of you, a favored daughter of heaven.

"The Misty Cloud Sect is indeed powerful, but I am still young. I have all the time in the world. Since I could become a Battle Master at eleven, I will certainly create even greater miracles in the future. Can you? Look at yourself. At fifteen, you have not even reached the Battle Master level.

"Though I have suffered Dou Qi Regression these past three years, that does not mean it will continue in the future. Remember this: thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river. Do not bully the poor young man."

Nalan Yanran's lips moved. Though Xiao Yan's assessment of her had angered her until her pretty face turned green, she could not argue back.

"I can postpone today's request for three years. Three years from now, you may come to the Misty Cloud Sect and challenge me. If you lose, I will publicly dissolve the engagement. I, Nalan Yanran, will be your servant for the rest of my life, and you may do as you please.

"By then, you will presumably have undergone your clan's coming-of-age ceremony. So even if you lose, Uncle Xiao will not lose too much face. Do you dare accept?" Nalan Yanran said coolly.

"Hehe, if I lose then, it certainly will not further damage Father's reputation. But I may have to bear the shameful name of failure for the rest of my life. This woman... she is truly ruthless!" Xiao Yan laughed bitterly in his heart, his face full of mockery.

Hearing this, Xiao Yan looked at the girl whose face had turned green and mocked, "No need for three years. I have no interest in you right now."

After saying that, he ignored Nalan Yanran's icy expression, abruptly turned around, strode to the table, and began writing furiously!

The ink fell, and the brush stopped!

Xiao Yan suddenly drew the short sword from the table with his right hand. Its sharp blade sliced a bloody gash across his left palm...

His bloodstained palm left a glaring crimson print upon the white paper!

Xiao Yan lightly picked up the document and let out a cold laugh. As he passed before Nalan Yanran, he slammed it heavily onto the table.

"Do not think I, Xiao Yan, care so much about a so-called genius wife like you. This is not a contract to dissolve the engagement. It is a letter of repudiation, expelling you from the Xiao Clan! From this day onward, you, Nalan Yanran, have nothing whatsoever to do with my Xiao Clan!"

"You... you dare repudiate me?" Looking at the bloodied palm-print document on the table, Nalan Yanran's beautiful eyes widened in disbelief. With her beauty, talent, and background, she had actually been directly repudiated by a worthless nobody from a small clan? This sudden turn of events felt utterly unreal to her.