Faced with Ancestor Xiao Xuan's question, Xiao Zhan explained the matter.
Xiao Zhan said, "Ancestor, this Ge Ye is a steward of the Misty Cloud Sect. I met him a few times in my younger days, so we're acquaintances.
"As for Nalan Yanran, she is one of the Nalan Family's younger generation."
"In fact, Nalan Yanran is engaged to my son, Xiao Yan."
Since the subject had come up, Xiao Zhan went ahead and explained the engagement with the Nalan Family.
"Back in the previous generation, my father, Xiao Lin, was close friends with the Nalan Family's patriarch, the Lionheart Marshal, Nalan Jie.
"My father once saved Nalan Jie's life, and the two became friends who had faced life and death together. As it happened, Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran were born around the same time.
"The two elders agreed on the spot that if one was a boy and the other a girl, they would arrange an engagement to bind the two families in friendship."
"However, when the engagement was arranged, the Xiao Clan was still in the imperial capital and possessed considerable strength. Later, my father died in battle, and the Xiao Clan declined. We were forced to move to Wutan City, and the gap between our families' standing grew wider and wider."
Speaking of this, Xiao Zhan could not help feeling desolate.
Over the years, the Xiao Clan's decline had only accelerated. They had not even been in contact with the Nalan Family, with whom they had once arranged an engagement, for many years.
Xiao Zhan had only met Nalan Yanran once, when she was little.
The two families had not interacted in years. Now that Nalan Yanran had suddenly arrived with people from the Misty Cloud Sect, Xiao Zhan had an uneasy feeling, vaguely sensing that something was wrong.
While Xiao Zhan was speaking with Xiao Xuan, the Xiao Clan's guards brought Ge Ye, Nalan Yanran, and Chu Hong inside.
Ge Ye was quite courteous when he first greeted Xiao Zhan.
"Clan Head Xiao, it's been ten years. Have you been well?"
Ge Ye approached warmly, and Xiao Zhan rose to greet him.
"Thanks to your blessings, Steward Ge, all has been well these past ten years."
Then Xiao Zhan arranged seats for Ge Ye and the others.
After the servants served tea and everyone had drunk three rounds, Xiao Zhan got straight to the point.
"Steward Ge, is there a reason for your sudden visit today?"
Xiao Zhan still could not tell what medicine Ge Ye was selling in his gourd.
Although they had known each other in their younger days, they had only met a few times and were no more than nodding acquaintances. Their friendship was hardly deep; otherwise, they would not have gone ten years without any contact.
He must have had a reason for arriving so suddenly today.
Xiao Zhan wondered whether it concerned the Misty Cloud Sect. Could the sect be planning to expand into Wutan City?
Since Xiao Zhan had asked, Ge Ye decided not to conceal it any longer.
Ge Ye glanced around. Seeing that nearly all the Xiao Clan's elders were present, he said, "Clan Head Xiao, do you recognize her?"
Ge Ye pointed to Nalan Yanran.
Xiao Zhan looked at Nalan Yanran. The guards had already announced her identity, so he nodded. "The Nalan Family's young lady. You must be Nalan Yanran, then? I only met you once when you were little. To think you've grown so much already."
Nalan Yanran rose and said, "Uncle Xiao, I have never come to pay my respects. Please forgive me."
"Hehe, my dear niece, I heard some time ago that Lady Yun Yun had taken you as her disciple. I thought it was only a rumor, but it turns out to be true. You truly have remarkable talent," Xiao Zhan praised with a smile.
Nalan Yanran said, "I was merely fortunate."
She smiled faintly. Somewhat overwhelmed by Xiao Zhan's warmth, Nalan Yanran reached beneath the table and gently tugged at Ge Ye beside her.
"Hehe, Xiao Clan Leader, the matter that brings me here today concerns Yanran. Moreover, the sect master herself has requested it."
Ge Ye chuckled, his expression turning slightly solemn when he mentioned the sect master.
Xiao Zhan's expression also grew serious.
It concerns the Misty Cloud Sect's sect master? She's a Dou Huang expert.
Xiao Zhan asked, "Steward Ge, what exactly is the matter?"
Ge Ye seemed to be looking for someone. He asked, "May I ask whether your son, Xiao Yan, is at home?"
Xiao Zhan said, "Yan'er is cultivating in his courtyard. What do you need him for?"
Ge Ye said, "Hehe, why don't you send for Xiao Yan as well? This matter concerns him too. I think we should wait until he arrives before discussing it."
With Ge Ye having put it that way, Xiao Zhan nodded and sent someone to fetch Xiao Yan.
Before long, Xiao Yan and Xun'er arrived together.
He had been cultivating in seclusion and had just broken through another minor realm, reaching the Four-Star Dou Zhe level. He had also begun learning alchemy from Yao Lao.
He had not expected someone from the Xiao Clan to suddenly summon him here.
He happened to run into Xun'er on the way, so they came together to see what was happening.
Xiao Yan said, "Father, what is it?"
Seeing Xiao Yan arrive, Ge Ye nodded to him. "You must be Xiao Yan?"
Xiao Yan nodded.
"You certainly are a fine-looking young man." Ge Ye offered a casual compliment.
However, when Chu Hong beside him heard Ge Ye's polite praise of Xiao Yan, he displayed a complete lack of tact, snorting in displeasure.
"Hmph, what good are looks? He's still trash. I've long heard that the Xiao Clan has a useless brat who spent three years cultivating Dou Qi and is still at the third stage of Dou Qi. So he's a pretty boy, too."
Xiao Yan was indeed much better-looking than Chu Hong. Already jealous of his engagement to Senior Sister Nalan, Chu Hong grew even more envious upon seeing how handsome he was. Spoiled since childhood by his father, a Dou Wang elder of the Misty Cloud Sect, he had always spoken without restraint. Now, he blurted out everything on his mind.
The instant Chu Hong spoke, Xiao Zhan's expression changed.
Xiao Yan had always been his reverse scale, the one sore spot no one could touch. Now a junior had called his son trash right to his face. How could he, as a father, not be furious?
Xiao Zhan slammed the table. "Insolent brat!" "Steward Ge, who is this? The person you brought is far too loose with his tongue.
"The Xiao Clan may not compare to the Misty Cloud Sect, but we are not here for anyone to trample upon."
Ge Ye had not expected Chu Hong to speak so recklessly either. Seeing the situation turn sour, he hurried to smooth things over. "Please don't be angry, Clan Head Xiao. This is the son of the Misty Cloud Sect's second elder. He's been spoiled since childhood."
"Chu Hong, if you keep spouting nonsense, get out."
Ge Ye and his companions had indeed come to break off the engagement, but they had not come to fight the Xiao Clan or make enemies of them.
Chu Hong was doing nothing but causing trouble for him.
Chu Hong knew Steward Ge was angry. Moreover, the aura Xiao Zhan was releasing was unmistakably at the Da Dou Shi level.
He was not at the Misty Cloud Sect now, nor was his father beside him. If Xiao Zhan really attacked, Chu Hong knew he would take a beating.
Thus, Chu Hong dared not say anything more. He sat back down and fell silent.
Xiao Zhan snorted coldly, reined in his aura, and sat down again.
Only then did Ge Ye realize how much Xiao Zhan's strength had advanced in the ten years since they last met.
Judging by the aura he had just revealed, if Ge Ye was not mistaken, Xiao Zhan had probably already become a Nine-Star Great Dou Master. He was not far from advancing to Dou Ling.
Ge Ye had originally thought that, with all the resources he had enjoyed at the Misty Cloud Sect over the years, his cultivation would surely surpass Xiao Zhan's. Yet Xiao Zhan's performance today surprised him.
Still, although Xiao Zhan's cultivation was unexpected, he remained below Dou Ling. And even if he advanced to Dou Ling, what difference would it make?
Compared to the Misty Cloud Sect, he was still merely an ant crawling on the ground.
Ge Ye took a deep breath and, before Xiao Yan and Xiao Zhan, stated the purpose of his visit as planned.
"Xiao Clan Leader, as you know, the Misty Cloud Sect has strict rules. The sect master also has very high hopes for Yanran. By now, she is essentially being groomed as the sect's next master.
"And because of certain special rules, the sect master's successor cannot become entangled with a man before formally assuming the position."
"After asking Yanran, the sect master learned that she was engaged to someone from the Xiao Clan. So... so the sect master would like to ask you to dissolve this engagement."
"So, Xiao Clan Leader, what do you think...?"
As soon as Ge Ye said this,
Xiao Zhan's expression changed completely in an instant.
Not only Xiao Zhan, but all the Xiao Clan elders present instantly wore ugly expressions.
The only person present whose expression brightened was Chu Hong.
Chu Hong gloated. He had come along on this trip precisely to witness this scene.
In his view, the insignificant Xiao Clan of Wutan City was a toad lusting after swan meat. They deserved to be humiliated today.
Watching the Xiao Clan members' expressions change dramatically, Ge Ye found nothing unexpected.
What he had not anticipated, however, was that another person was sitting among the Xiao Clan today.
That person was Xiao Xuan, who had been sitting to the side drinking tea all this time.
Upon hearing that Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran had come to break off an engagement with his Xiao Clan, Xiao Xuan finally set down his teacup and raised his head.
Then Xiao Xuan looked toward Nalan Yanran, who had taken the initiative to come and break off the engagement.
"You want to break off your engagement with my Xiao Clan? How interesting."
Xiao Xuan felt that things were beginning to get interesting.
Before you continue