"Heh, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan, there's no need to be so solemn. Whatever else we might say about today's matter, we're all family discussing it behind closed doors.
This is mainly for everyone's benefit, so why not hear us out?"
Han Chen spoke to Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan with a smile, hoping to ease the tension first.
At Han Chen's words, Xiao Zhan raised an eyebrow and shifted his posture to face him.
"Go on, nephew."
"To put it bluntly, we're here for an amicable separation."
Han Chen wasted no words and went straight to the point. In truth, Xiao Zhan and the others knew perfectly well why they had come today. Breaking off the engagement was only a matter of time.
Moreover, Han Chen had called it an amicable separation. Although Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran were not married, only engaged,
the term clearly sounded better than breaking off the engagement. It also preserved the Xiao Clan's dignity, rather than grinding their faces into the dirt as in the original story.
So why had Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan been so furious in the original story, to the point that the three-year agreement became a fight to the death?
The main reason was that both sides had handled the issue badly. Xiao Zhan and his son were not opposed to ending the engagement; they objected to Nalan Yanran making such a public spectacle of it.
The Xiao Clan already had a difficult time in Wutan City. The broken engagement had damaged their reputation even further, and that was what angered them.
Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran had broken off the engagement without considering the consequences or thinking everything through. She believed she had covered every detail, when in fact her approach was riddled with holes.
Yet she was proud and prickly, utterly unwilling to lower her head and admit her mistakes. Xiao Yan was stubborn too. Once the two dug in their heels, things had turned out the way they did.
When Han Chen opened with an amicable separation, Xiao Zhan's hand clenched sharply, but he did not erupt. The phrase was still unpleasant to hear, but it was far better than breaking off the engagement.
"An amicable separation?"
Xiao Zhan rested his hand on the armrest and tapped it repeatedly. Finally, he sighed, provisionally accepting Han Chen's wording.
"Father, may I handle this myself?"
At that moment, Xiao Yan, who had been sitting beside Xiao Xun'er, stood up and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan.
Looking at his son, Xiao Zhan ultimately decided to trust him and nodded.
"Go ahead, Yan'er. Think things through carefully as you handle this."
Xiao Yan nodded, then approached Han Chen and cupped his hands.
"I am Xiao Yan. Brother Han, you can discuss whatever you need directly with me."
"All right. This isn't actually complicated. I'd like to ask Young Master Xiao Yan three questions. Once I've finished, you can decide for yourself whether to agree to an amicable separation."
"Please do."
Seeing that Xiao Yan's emotions were fairly steady, Han Chen could not help marveling inwardly. Those three years of Yao Lao absorbing his Dou Qi really had not been for nothing.
Still, he knew the matter at hand came first. He needed to explain everything to Xiao Yan quickly so he could check in and claim his reward.
"First, there's affection. As the saying goes, one day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of devotion. If you're going to spend your lives together, you naturally can't choose carelessly.
Everyone wants to find someone they like, rather than a stranger they've never met-just like Young Master Xiao Yan and that young lady."
As he spoke, Han Chen pointed at Xiao Xun'er, who appeared to be reading but was actually focused entirely on Xiao Yan.
At those words, Xiao Yan glanced at Xiao Xun'er and scratched his head a little sheepishly.
Han Chen was right. Although Nalan Yanran was beautiful, compared with Xiao Xun'er, whom he spent every day with, he really felt nothing for her.
"Second, there are practical benefits. The marriage alliance between the Xiao Clan and the Nalan Family was arranged for their mutual benefit. That is an indisputable fact.
Over the years, the Xiao Clan has indeed benefited from the Nalan Family's influence.
But Nalan Yanran has not. The Mist Cloud Sect's internal structure is complicated, and its expectations of her are extremely strict.
Even the tiniest flaw will be magnified without limit. Besides, Yanran isn't someone content to remain ordinary or accept things as they are.
That is why she wants to change all this. On that point, I hope you can understand, Brother Xiao."
"I understand."
By now, Xiao Yan had thought everything through. Nalan Yanran's arrival had been inevitable. Given that, parting with dignity was the best choice. The Nalan Family had already shown them plenty of respect.
"As for the third point, it's the principle that possessing a precious jade can itself become a crime. In the eyes of those in the imperial capital, the Nalan Family is no longer what it once was. More and more people will seek to work with them in the future.
The Xiao Clan, meanwhile, has long since fallen far below its former standing. If you cling to such a fat piece of meat as this marriage alliance without overwhelming strength, sooner or later, someone will come to settle the score."
Hearing Han Chen lay out the dangers awaiting the Xiao Clan, not only Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan but the other clan members as well fell silent.
Indeed, what right did the Xiao Clan, now barely clinging to life in Wutan City, have to monopolize the Nalan Family's benefits? Doing so would only invite a fatal disaster, just as when they had been forced to leave the imperial capital all those years ago.
Now everyone else turned their eyes toward Xiao Yan, because Xiao Zhan had just said that the decision was his to make.
Besides, Xiao Yan was the one directly involved in this amicable separation. What happened next was entirely up to him. They also wanted to see how the former genius would face this ordeal.
Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran, who sat watching the two of them intently, and a bitter smile appeared on his face.
"So, is this what you want?"
At Xiao Yan's question, Nalan Yanran was briefly startled. Her attention had been entirely on Han Chen, but she quickly recovered and nodded.
"That's right. Chen's words express exactly what I mean."
Seeing this, Xiao Yan first lowered his head in silence for a moment, then asked Nalan Yanran,
"If-and I mean if-my talent hadn't disappeared, would you and the Nalan Family still have come to break off the engagement?"
Determination filled Nalan Yanran's eyes. This time, she did not hesitate, and her voice was firm.
"The Nalan Family wouldn't, but I certainly would! I am my own person, never anyone else's appendage. I will walk my own path!"
Everyone present was somewhat surprised by Nalan Yanran's words. In particular, Xiao Xun'er, who had always been unversed in worldly affairs, looked at her with a new glimmer of admiration.
Such an extraordinary woman is rare in the Southwestern Region. If she doesn't fall along the way, she'll surely become another legend in her own right. And there's... him. The Southwestern Region really does have quite a few hidden dragons.
After hearing Nalan Yanran's declaration, a gleam appeared in Xiao Yan's eyes as well.
"Is that so... In that case, I agree to an amicable separation. But I have one request, and I hope you'll both agree."
As he spoke, Xiao Yan cupped his hands toward them.
Seeing that the most troublesome matter, breaking off the engagement, had been resolved, Nalan Yanran's mood immediately brightened, and she nodded to him.
"Go ahead. If it's about compensation, I'll fulfill your request as long as it's within my power."
Han Chen, meanwhile, was entirely unconcerned. The matter between Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran had been perfectly resolved. Even if Yun Ling courted death in the future, he presumably would not drag the Mist Cloud Sect into the grave with him. In a way, this also fulfilled Yun Yun's wish to preserve the Mist Cloud Sect.
So, as far as what came next was concerned, he would slack off wherever he could. Unless necessary, there was no reason to grow extra branches on this already tangled matter.
"I'm not interested in that compensation. I want to make a wager with you!"
"A wager?"
"That's right. Although we decided on this separation together, I can't accept it just like that. Whatever you call it, having your engagement broken off still leaves a bitter taste.
Besides, you said it yourself: you want to live your own life. I won't resign myself to being a failure for the rest of mine.
So I want to make a three-year agreement with you! Three years from now, at the summit of Misty Cloud Mountain, let us bring this chapter of our youth to a close!"
"You won't regret it? Even if your cultivation recovers, three years won't be enough for you to catch up to me."
"I was a genius once, and I will be one again. Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west-don't bully a young man just because he's poor!"
At those words, Nalan Yanran could not help looking at Han Chen, who stood off to the side, a speechless look in her eyes.
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