Nalan Yanran's Troubles, Yun Yun Emerges from Seclusion

After returning to the imperial capital with Nalan Jie and the others, Nalan Yanran went back to the Misty Cloud Sect alone, saying she needed to train.

Nalan Jie and Nalan Su were still basking in the joy of such a fine marriage arrangement. Neither noticed that something was wrong with her.

Back at the Misty Cloud Sect, Nalan Yanran sat cross-legged as usual and closed her eyes to cultivate.

But this time, she could not quiet her mind, though it usually took her only moments.

Thoughts of the engagement grew like weeds. The moment she closed her eyes, they crowded in.

As she walked through the Misty Cloud Sect, many fellow disciples envied her for being engaged to a peerless genius like Xiao Yan.

Only Nalan Yanran knew that she had no interest in this genius fiancé she had never truly known, nor did she see anything fortunate about the engagement.

Several months later, Yun Yun finally emerged from seclusion.

When she arrived at the sect, she spotted her disciple at once. A single glance told her something was wrong with Nalan Yanran.

Master and disciple had spent years together. Yun Yun knew her temperament better than anyone.

That distracted look told her Nalan Yanran was carrying a burden.

She walked to Nalan Yanran's side and gently stroked her soft pink hair. "Yanran, is something troubling you? If you'd like, tell me about it."

Nalan Yanran had been pretending to be strong, but the moment she heard Yun Yun's voice, she could no longer hold back her hurt. She threw herself into her teacher's arms and poured out every frustration she had endured.

"An engagement?" Yun Yun paused, puzzled.

Only now did she learn that the disciple she had raised since childhood had such an old arrangement hanging over