The Fiancée Who Came to Break Off the Engagement Was Someone I Knew? Me: I Couldn't Hold Back and Used a Sword to Teach Her Not to Cry!

Just as An Yi was questioning his life, Xiao Zhan entrusted the three elders with settling the Misty Cloud Sect guests. Then, with a complicated look in his eyes, he glanced at Xiao Yan in the corner. "Yan'er, stay behind. Your father... has something to say to you. Everyone else, leave first."

Ge Ye tactfully rose to his feet as well and led the silent, downcast Nalan Yanran out of the hall.

Though Xiao Yan was full of doubts, he could only obediently remain where he was.

As for An Yi, he could only put away his little folding stool with a constipated expression and blend into the crowd as he left the hall.

As they walked down the corridor, Xiao Xun'er followed beside An Yi and poked his arm with a slender, fair finger.

"Brother An Yi, what are you staring at? Your eyes are practically falling out."

An Yi rubbed his chin, his gaze fixed on the back of the pink-haired girl walking ahead behind Ge Ye. Suspiciously, he said, "That's strange. Why does she look a little familiar?"

Xiao Xun'er pouted slightly at that, a trace of sour jealousy entering her voice. "Hmph, you probably think every pretty girl looks familiar."

"No, no. I really think she looks familiar, like I've seen her somewhere before..."

Perhaps An Yi had muttered a little too loudly. Nalan Yanran, walking ahead, instinctively turned around and glanced in their direction.

Their eyes met.

Nalan Yanran froze.

An Yi froze too.

For several breaths, the air seemed to solidify.

The next moment, Nalan Yanran's swollen red eyes flew open, and she cried out, "Little white-haired boy?!"

An Yi's eye twitched wildly as he blurted out, "Little pink-haired girl?!"

Damn! It couldn't possibly be this much of a coincidence, could it?!

That cry left the surrounding Xiao Household disciples, Ge Ye, and the other Misty Cloud Sect members utterly baffled. Everyone stopped walking and stared blankly at An Yi, then at Nalan Yanran.

Ge Ye asked dazedly, "Yanran, you... know this young master of the Xiao Household?"

Nalan Yanran bit her red lip and nodded. "I do. I met him in the Imperial Capital three years ago. But I didn't know then that he was actually from the Xiao Household..."

Xiao Xun'er was even more confused. Unable to help herself, she tugged on An Yi's sleeve. "Brother An Yi, what exactly is going on?"

An Yi scratched his head and coughed twice. "Ahem... Didn't I tell you? Three years ago, I went to the Holy City of Jia Ma with Sister Ya Fei for a trip. I saw her in the Imperial Capital back then, but how was I supposed to know she was Nalan Yanran?!"

Three years ago, when Xiao Yan was still the number one genius of the Jia Ma Empire, Ya Fei had just been transferred to the Mittel Auction House in Wutan City as its chief auctioneer.

By then, An Yi had already secretly broken through to the Dou Zhe realm.

To cultivate the White Tiger Bloodline and Geng Metal Qi, he urgently needed to absorb the energy of Metal-Element Magic Cores.

But Magic Cores were ridiculously expensive. How could an unfavored adopted son in name afford them?

So, with a turn of his mind, he simply snuck into the Magic Beast Mountain Range and relied on his monstrous strength to tear apart ordinary first-tier magic beasts with his bare hands.

On one hand, it served as practical combat training. On the other, he could gather all sorts of mixed-element Magic Cores, bring them to the auction house, and ask Ya Fei to exchange them for Metal-Element Magic Cores. He could even make a little pocket money on the side.

Before long, a mysterious, wealthy, and ridiculously adorable white-haired genius boy naturally caught Ya Fei's interest.

The two quickly became familiar with each other.

Three years ago, one month before Xiao Yan's talent vanished, Ya Fei had to return to the Mittel main branch in the Holy City of Jia Ma for her annual report.

An Yi felt that he had been cooped up in Wutan City for years and was getting bored, so he shamelessly begged Ya Fei to take him to the Imperial Capital to broaden his horizons.

Naturally, Ya Fei had no reason to refuse bringing such an easy-on-the-eyes little brother along to keep her company on the road.

That was how An Yi's trip to the Imperial Capital came about.

"You went to the Imperial Capital... so how did you meet her?"

Xiao Xun'er's limpid eyes brimmed with curiosity.

An Yi glanced at the Xiao Household members around them, all of whom had perked up their ears to listen to the gossip. His expression turned a little awkward as he waved his hand. "There are too many people here. It's not convenient to talk."

Seeing Nalan Yanran's hesitant expression, Ge Ye understandingly stroked his beard. "Since you are acquainted friends, Yanran, go catch up with him. This old man will come find you later."

Nalan Yanran nodded.

And so, An Yi grabbed one girl in each hand and ran off in a flash with the two breathtaking beauties who would make countless people green with envy.

Looking at the direction An Yi was leading them, Xiao Xun'er asked in confusion, "Why aren't we going to your courtyard?"

"Could my shabby little courtyard entertain guests?" An Yi said righteously. "Besides, I don't even have snacks there to fill our stomachs! I'm borrowing your young lady's territory. Consider it the venue fee for the gossip you're hearing today."

As they spoke, the three had already arrived at Xiao Xun'er's private courtyard.

The surroundings were serene and elegant, with a faint floral fragrance lingering in the air.

An Yi took a deep breath, filled with emotion. It had been over ten years since he had stepped through this gate! Ever since that thief-catching incident, this place had practically become a military restricted zone to him.

He sat down beside the stone table in the courtyard, slapped the tabletop without the slightest courtesy, and shouted at Xiao Xun'er:

"Quick, quick, quick! Bring out something good to eat and drink! What fun is listening to gossip dry-mouthed? If you don't give me something to wet my throat, I can't even open my mouth."

Xiao Xun'er shot him an annoyed look, though she found it rather amusing too.

She turned and went inside. Before long, she returned with several plates of exquisite pastries, two pots of fresh fruit juice, and a small pot of fruit wine.

The three sat around the small table in the pavilion.

An Yi first stuffed two pastries into his mouth and gulped down some fruit juice. Only then did he leisurely begin his tale.

"Didn't I just say that? Three years ago, I went to the Imperial Capital with Sister Ya Fei. One day, I was wandering around the streets of the Holy City of Jia Ma and accidentally got lost. Then, by sheer coincidence, I ran into Nalan Yanran, who had run away from home."

"At that time, Xiao Yan was the famed number one genius of the Jia Ma Empire. The Nalan Family was probably also busily discussing the marriage between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan."

An Yi pointed at the pink-haired girl across from him and chuckled. "But this young lady here was a free spirit who loved freedom. The moment she heard that she had a betrothed fiancé she'd never even met, she blew up on the spot. She had a huge fight with her family, declaring that she wanted to break off the engagement and that she wouldn't marry him! Even if Xiao Yan were the Heavenly King himself, she still wouldn't marry him!"

"As for what happened next, you can imagine it."

"Her grandfather, old master Nalan Jie, gave her a fierce scolding, and she ran out of the house crying."

"I was lost on the street then and was asking around for directions. I saw her wiping her tears as she dashed past me. I don't know what I was thinking at the time, but I instinctively ran after her."

"But after we ran for a while, she suddenly stopped, drew her sword, and tried to slash me! She said I was following her!"

An Yi slapped his thigh, his face full of righteous indignation. "How could I possibly accept that kind of injustice?! As a dignified man, I went right up and used a grappling move, disarmed her, and pinned her to the ground!"

Xiao Xun'er's expression turned strange as she imagined the scene. "...And then?"

"Then she burst into tears, and she cried miserably." An Yi spread his hands helplessly.

"You know me. I've always had a soft heart, and I can't stand seeing girls cry. So..."

An Yi picked up his cup and took a sip of fruit wine. "So I put her sword right against her neck and told her to quiet down."

"..."

Xiao Xun'er's eye twitched violently.

He put a sword to a girl's neck to stop her from crying?

That was his idea of having a "soft heart"?!