The next day came quickly. Xiao Fan had barely stepped out of his room when he heard everyone outside talking about the distinguished guests visiting the Xiao Clan that day.
Xiao Fan did not even need to guess. They had to be people from the Misty Cloud Sect, here to break off the engagement.
Xiao Fan walked into the main hall. Xiao Yan had not arrived yet, and Xiao Fan looked toward the three strangers seated in the guest seats.
Among them was an old man in moon-white robes. His face was wreathed in smiles, and he looked full of vigor, though sharp glints occasionally flashed through his rather narrow eyes. A pale silver crescent was embroidered on the chest of his robe, surrounded by seven glittering golden stars.
This had to be Ge Ye of the Misty Cloud Sect, the mastermind who had brought Nalan Yanran here to break off the engagement behind Yun Yun's back.
The girl sitting beside Ge Ye was Nalan Yanran, the central figure in this attempt to break off the engagement.
Xiao Fan had to admit that Nalan Yanran was beautiful. Not only was she the young mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect, she was also the granddaughter of Nalan Jie, the Jia Ma Empire's Lionheart Marshal, with countless people doting on her. Her only ornament was an emerald-green jade pendant dangling from her ear, yet it perfectly brought out her ethereal, fairy-like grace. Of all the people Xiao Fan had seen so far, probably none could compare to Nalan Yanran except Xiao Xun'er.
Xiao Fan could understand Nalan Yanran's thinking. She was truly a favored daughter of heaven, already a Five-Star Dou Zhe, with advantages that ranked among the very best in the entire Jia Ma Empire. Had Xiao Yan remained the genius he once was, he would certainly have been worthy of her, but now he had become a good-for-nothing.
His former talent had not returned in three years. Naturally, she wanted to leap out of this pit of fire.
Looking at Nalan Yanran, Xiao Fan smiled inwardly. What a pity. It's precisely because of your provocation that Xiao Yan will finally embark on the path of the strong.
Just then, Xiao Yan arrived in the hall. After greeting Xiao Zhan and the elders, he discovered that there was no seat for him. His expression darkened, and Xiao Zhan's face looked grim as well. Making things difficult for the clan leader's son in front of guests-was that not putting the clan's internal discord on display for outsiders?
Seeing Xiao Yan's expression, Xiao Fan rose and said, "Xiao Yan, come sit here," getting to his feet as he spoke.
Seeing Xiao Fan offer him his seat, Xiao Yan felt even more grateful to him. "Thank you."
The others were surprised to see Xiao Fan give up his seat to Xiao Yan. Because of Xiao Fan's background and talent, the other youths in the clan rarely dared to trouble him, and no one had heard of any friendship between him and Xiao Yan.
Ignoring what the others thought, Xiao Fan stood behind the chair. Xiao Yan nodded to him in gratitude and sat down.
From farther away, Xiao Xun'er saw Xiao Fan rescue Xiao Yan from his predicament. Her lips curved slightly as she studied Xiao Fan, a gleam of gold flashing through her eyes.
As though sensing something, Xiao Fan looked in her direction and found Xiao Xun'er watching him. He gave her a friendly nod, then paid her no further attention.
Xiao Xun'er paused briefly, then chuckled softly. "This Xiao Fan is rather interesting."
The people in the hall soon stopped paying attention to this little interlude. Xiao Zhan glanced at Xiao Fan, who had helped his son out, and nodded before resuming his conversation with the people from the Misty Cloud Sect.
Before long, Ge Ye, who led the group, gave a light cough. He rose, cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan, and said with a smile, "Clan Leader Xiao, we have come to your esteemed clan today mainly to ask a favor!"
Xiao Zhan dared not slight Ge Ye. He hurriedly stood and replied politely, "Haha, Mr. Ge Ye, please speak freely. If it is within our power, the Xiao Clan certainly will not refuse."
Ge Ye gestured toward the girl beside him and asked Xiao Zhan, "Clan Leader Xiao, do you recognize her?"
Xiao Zhan looked at the girl beside Ge Ye, then shook his head awkwardly. "Er... forgive my poor eye. This young lady is...?"
"Uncle Xiao, I am your niece, Nalan Yanran. I apologize for never having come to pay my respects before." Nalan Yanran quickly rose as well and bowed to Xiao Zhan.
"Oh? Haha, so it's Yanran! It's only been a few years, and you've grown so beautiful. They say a girl undergoes eighteen transformations as she grows, but you really have changed tremendously. Has your grandfather been well lately?" Learning that she was Nalan Yanran, Xiao Zhan laughed heartily.
"Uncle Xiao, Grandfather is doing well in every respect." With a faint smile, Nalan Yanran, unable to bear Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm, gently tugged at Ge Ye's sleeve.
Ge Ye quickly said, "Haha, Clan Leader Xiao, the favor I have come to ask today concerns Yanran. Moreover, the Sect Master herself raised this matter..." At the mention of the Sect Master, Ge Ye's expression gradually grew solemn.
Xiao Zhan's expression shifted slightly. He wondered what his little Xiao Clan could possibly do to help the Misty Cloud Sect Master, especially in a matter concerning Nalan Yanran. As a certain possibility occurred to him, his hands began to tremble faintly. Fortunately, his loose robes concealed them, and no one noticed.
Forcing down the anger in his heart, Xiao Zhan said, "Mr. Ge Ye, please continue!"
"Ahem..." A trace of embarrassment appeared on Ge Ye's face, but remembering how dearly the Sect Master cherished Nalan Yanran, he gritted his teeth and said, "Clan Leader Xiao, as you know, the Misty Cloud Sect has strict rules, and the Sect Master has very high expectations for Yanran. She is already grooming her to become the next Sect Master. For certain special reasons, the Sect Master's successor must not become involved with any man before formally assuming that position..."
"After learning that Yanran was already engaged, the Sect Master... the Sect Master wished to ask Clan Leader Xiao to... dissolve this engagement."
Crack! The jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand abruptly shattered into a cloud of powder.
Silence settled over the hall. The Three Elders seated at the front were also shaken by Ge Ye's words, but a moment later, their gazes toward Xiao Zhan filled with mockery and derision.
The clan members in the hall began murmuring among themselves upon hearing this. Their gazes toward Xiao Yan also grew strange.
"That good-for-nothing actually wants to marry the young mistress of the Misty Cloud Sect?"
"If it were me, I'd have found a crack in the ground to crawl into long ago. How does he have the nerve to keep sitting here?"
Xiao Fan looked at Xiao Yan, whose body was trembling slightly before him, then reached out and pressed a hand on his shoulder. "Why should an eagle soaring in the heavens care how the ants on the ground look at it?"
Hearing Xiao Fan's words, Xiao Yan clenched his fists and slowly calmed down. His sharp gaze turned toward the group from the Misty Cloud Sect.
In the middle of the hall, Xiao Zhan and Ge Ye had already squared off. Xiao Zhan activated the Xiao Clan's mid-level Xuan-rank technique, Furious Lion Vajra. An enormous illusory lion's head appeared behind him.
Ge Ye also activated his Misty Cloud Sect Technique and stepped in front of Nalan Yanran.
As their auras surged outward, the people in the hall paled, their chests feeling tight.
Just as their auras grew increasingly fierce, the Three Elders shouted, "Xiao Zhan, stop this at once! Do not forget that you are the Xiao Clan's leader!"
Xiao Zhan's aura faltered, and he dropped back into his chair. Looking coldly at Nalan Yanran, who stood with her head lowered in silence, he said, "My dear niece Nalan, what boldness you have. The Nalan Family truly inspires envy, having a daughter like you."
Nalan Yanran pressed her lips together and bowed to Xiao Zhan. "Uncle Xiao..."
"You had better call me Clan Leader Xiao. As the future Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect, how could someone like me possibly qualify to be your elder?"
Ge Ye stood and said, "I hope Clan Leader Xiao will forgive us. The Sect Master also knows that this request is very discourteous, so she instructed me to bring something as an apology!" As he spoke, a box, green all over, appeared in his hand. When he opened it, a refreshing fragrance spread through the hall.
The Three Elders craned their heads curiously and exclaimed in surprise, "Qi Gathering Powder?"
Before you continue