Xiao Yan: The Damn Three-Year Agreement Was Still Chasing Me

"This is my marriage, not Grandpa's. Why would I need his permission?" Nalan Yanran's brows drew together in indignation.

Her eyes reddened as she glared at the expressionless Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, if you're a man, step forward! Do you agree to break off the engagement or not?"

Not bad. Even now, at least she hasn't thrown the Misty Cloud Sect's weight around.

Xiao Yan sighed and stepped forward. "Nalan Yanran, I don't approve of this engagement arranged before our birth either. But breaking an engagement and repudiating a wife are two very different things."

"I know you're the Nalan Family's eldest daughter. You've been gifted since childhood, joined the Misty Cloud Sect to train, and become a disciple of the Misty Cloud Sect Master. You've lived a sheltered life and don't understand how these things work, but..."

Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran, who seemed slightly taken aback, and said calmly, "If you break off the engagement, do you know what people will think of the Xiao Clan?"

"It's just a broken engagement. What's the big deal?" Nalan Yanran muttered.

"Then what if I repudiated you?" Xiao Yan asked.

When he saw her expression change, he continued. "Breaking off the engagement would be like throwing the Xiao Clan's dignity to the ground and grinding it underfoot. What if you were the one who had lost her cultivation, and I went to the Nalan Family to repudiate you?"

Even Ge Ye found himself nodding inwardly. If the boy had not lost all his cultivation overnight, his bearing and shrewdness would surely have made him a force to be reckoned with someday. What a pity.

"Is... is it really that serious?" Nalan Yanran looked stunned. She glanced at the furious Xiao Zhan and the others, and some of her earlier arrogance faded.

"I'm willing to end this engagement. I have no intention of using that marriage contract to tie you down. But you've gone about it the wrong way and acted too hastily. Why not wait? Once your strength reaches a certain level, no one in the empire will dare bring up this so-called engagement again. The contract will be nothing but a scrap of paper."

He didn't want trouble for no reason. Besides, Nalan Yanran was fairly kind when it came down to it. She wasn't some evil villainess, just a rebellious teenage girl at worst. There was no need for a huge scene with everyone at each other's throats.

Let's keep things friendly. Friendly is good...

Xiao Yan's tone never wavered, but everyone around him listened in stunned silence.

Even Xiao Zhan was dumbfounded.

Wait... You're the one being dumped, you silly boy.

How are you not angry at all? How can you be so calm?

"R-really?" Nalan Yanran looked even more bewildered as she glanced at the marriage contract.

"Really." Xiao Yan smiled.

He breathed a quiet sigh of relief. Cultivation mattered, and the old man mattered even more. There were plenty of beautiful women on this continent. Why pine after just one?

But just as he was feeling quite pleased and preparing to leave,

he caught sight of Xiao Ning and the others out of the corner of his eye. Their eyes were red with fury. Xiao Yan's heart sank. He was about to stop them, but several young members of the Xiao Clan led by Xiao Ning—people he had always gotten along with—stepped forward.

"Fortunes change! Never look down on a young man just because he's poor!" Xiao Ning roared, pointing at Nalan Yanran.

"What gives you the right to look down on my friend?"

The room fell silent.

Xiao Ning snatched up the bottle of Qi Gathering Pills and tossed it to Ge Ye. "The Xiao Clan has its pride too. Take your precious pills back!"

Then he turned to the dumbstruck Nalan Yanran and declared, "In three years, you and Xiao Yan can fight right here! If you win, the Xiao Clan will accept the broken engagement. If you lose... he repudiates you!"

Xiao Yan: "..."

You absolute...

I finally managed to get rid of this damned main quest, and you picked it right back up for me?!

Why is this damn Three-Year Agreement still chasing me?

"Don't worry, Cousin Xiao Yan. With me here, there's no way I'll let you lose face!" Xiao Ning turned to him with a broad, toothy grin.

Xiao Yan's eye twitched. Through gritted teeth, he said,

"Thanks a lot, Cousin..."

"Fine. I, Nalan Yanran, accept!"

Before Xiao Yan could react,

Nalan Yanran gave a slight nod. When she looked at Xiao Yan again, there was less disdain in her eyes and more respect. "In three years, at the Misty Cloud Sect. If I lose, I'll serve you as a slave or a maid. Do with me as you please."

With that, she walked out without looking back.

Ge Ye cupped his fists. "Brother Xiao, farewell."

Then he hurried after her.

Xiao Yan sighed helplessly and looked at Xiao Zhan. "Father, I'll see them out."

"Ah..."

Xiao Zhan waved a hand. Watching Xiao Yan leave the hall, he burst into tears. "Yan'er has sacrificed so much for the Xiao Clan."

The elders looked grief-stricken too, beating their chests in frustration. "Damn us old fools for being so useless. A child has to suffer this humiliation because of us."

The Grand Elder patted Xiao Ning's shoulder. "Ning'er, you did well. Little Yanzi must have been willing to endure this humiliation for the sake of the clan. But the Xiao Clan won't lie down and let others trample us. Even a rabbit bites when cornered. When the Three-Year Agreement comes around, we'll risk everything to make the Nalan suffer dearly!"

Every member of the Xiao Clan there was filled with righteous anger.

Only Xiao Xun'er looked somewhat puzzled.

Of everyone present, she seemed to understand Xiao Yan best. She knew Brother Xiao Yan truly wasn't angry.

Anyone else would have been red-faced with rage over this broken engagement, perhaps even ready to kill. But...

At the Xiao Clan Gate.

Xiao Yan still wanted to persuade Nalan Yanran not to make a decision out of anger.

The Three-Year Agreement was a real nuisance, after all. It would take time and effort, and he would even have to travel to a specific place to complete the quest.

But Nalan Yanran misunderstood. She studied Xiao Yan with complicated feelings she could not hide. "Brother Xiao... do you truly not hate me?"

Only after he had laid everything bare did Nalan Yanran understand how much humiliation the young man had endured. If she were in his place, she probably would have drawn her sword already.

"We've only just met. Why would I hate you?" Xiao Yan smiled wryly, still trying to salvage the situation. "Besides, my cousin only proposed that Three-Year Agreement in the heat of the moment. You don't have to take it seriously."

"No!" Nalan Yanran stared at him earnestly. "When the time comes, whatever your cultivation level is, I can suppress mine and fight you on equal footing."

"You can rest assured of that, Brother Xiao."

"Farewell!"

"I'll see you at the Misty Cloud Sect in three years!"

"..."

With that, Nalan Yanran climbed into the carriage and left with Ge Ye.

Xiao Yan was left standing there, utterly defeated.

Do I really have to go through with this main quest?

"Little Yanzi, don't worry. She's just one woman. What's the big deal? Jia Nan Academy's break is coming up. When my sister gets here, I'll introduce you!"

Xiao Ning slung an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulders and spoke with easy confidence.

"That's not what I mean." Xiao Yan's eye twitched wildly.

"Oh, quit playing dumb with me... Mmff!" Xiao Ning got halfway through his sentence before Xiao Yan clamped a hand over his mouth.

Only then did Xiao Ning notice Xiao Xun'er behind him, radiating murderous intent.