The Fiancée Who Came to Break Off the Engagement Was Someone I Knew? I Couldn't Help Teaching Her Not to Cry with a Sword!

Just as An Yi was beginning to question his life, Xiao Zhan entrusted the task of accommodating the Cloud Mist Sect guests to the three elders. Then, with a complicated look in his eyes, he turned to Xiao Yan in the corner. "Yan'er, stay behind. Your father... has something to tell you. Everyone else, leave first."

Ge Ye tactfully rose to his feet as well and headed out of the hall with Nalan Yanran, who kept her head lowered in silence.

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 fair, tender finger.

"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 seem kind of familiar?"

At that, Xiao Xun'er's little mouth pouted slightly, and a trace of sour jealousy seeped into her voice. "Hmph. You think every pretty girl looks familiar, don't you?"

"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, who was walking ahead, subconsciously turned around and glanced over.

Their eyes met.

Nalan Yanran froze.

An Yi froze too.

For several breaths, the air seemed to solidify.

The next second, Nalan Yanran abruptly widened her swollen red eyes and cried out, "Little white-haired brat?!"

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

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

That shout left the surrounding Xiao Household disciples, Ge Ye, and the others from the Cloud Mist Sect utterly baffled. Everyone stopped in their tracks and stared blankly from An Yi to Nalan Yanran.

Ge Ye asked in a daze, "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 resist, she tugged on An Yi's sleeve. "An Yi, what exactly is going on?"

An Yi scratched his head and gave a dry cough. "Ahem... Didn't I tell you before? Three years ago, I went to the Holy City of Jia Ma with Sister Ya Fei for a trip. I met 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 Gama Empire's number one genius, 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 Practitioner realm.

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

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

So, with a quick turn of thought, he secretly slipped 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 collected all kinds of miscellaneous Magic Cores, brought them to the auction house for Ya Fei to exchange into Metal-Element Magic Cores, and earned a bit of pocket money along the way.

Before long, that mysterious, wealthy, ridiculously adorable white-haired prodigy naturally caught Ya Fei's attention.

The two quickly became familiar with each other.

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

An Yi found it rather boring to have been cooped up in Wutan City for so many years, 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 a pleasing 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 come to know her?"

Xiao Xun'er's autumn-water eyes were filled with curiosity.

An Yi glanced at the Xiao Household members around them, all of whom had pricked up their ears in preparation for gossip, and awkwardly waved his hand. "There are too many people here. It's not convenient to talk."

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

Nalan Yanran nodded.

So An Yi grabbed one girl in each hand and took off in a flash with the two breathtaking beauties, leaving 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 possibly entertain guests?" An Yi replied righteously. "Besides, I don't even have snacks there to fill anyone's stomach! I'm borrowing your young miss territory. Consider it the venue fee for letting you hear this gossip today."

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

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

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

He sat down by the stone table in the courtyard, unceremoniously slapped the tabletop, and called out to Xiao Xun'er.

"Quick, quick, quick! Bring out some good food and drinks! What fun is listening to gossip on an empty stomach? If you don't give me something to wet my throat, I can't even open my mouth."

Xiao Xun'er rolled her eyes at him irritably, though she found it rather amusing.

She turned and went inside. Before long, she returned with several plates of delicate 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 before he finally began his story at an unhurried pace.

"Didn't I just say it? 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. Just then, I ran into Nalan Yanran, who had run away from home."

"At the time, Xiao Yan was the Gama Empire's famous number one genius. The Nalan Family was probably discussing Nalan Yanran and Xiao Yan's marriage with great enthusiasm too."

An Yi pointed at the pink-haired girl across from him and chuckled. "But this young miss here was a wild, freedom-loving sort. The moment she learned she had a betrothed fiancé she had never even met, she immediately exploded. 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 emperor himself, she still wouldn't marry him!"

"Well, you can imagine what happened next."

"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 at the time and was looking around for someone to ask directions. Then I saw her wipe away her tears as she shot past me in a flash. I don't know what came over me, but I subconsciously ran after her."

"After running 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 put up with that injustice?! I was a dignified seven-foot man! I went right in with a grappling move, disarmed her on the spot, 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, crying her heart out," An Yi said helplessly, spreading his hands.

"You know me. I've always been softhearted, and I can't stand seeing girls cry. So..."

An Yi lifted his cup and took a sip of fruit wine. "So I put her sword directly 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 being "softhearted"?!