After exchanging greetings that seemed warm but were actually awkward, Yun Yun asked gently, "Dear children, what are your names?"
Swallowing his embarrassment, Xiao Yan replied, "Master's wife, your disciple is named Xiao Yan.
"This is my sworn sister, Xiao Yi Xian."
Yun Yun froze for a moment when she heard Xiao Yan's name.
Then her expression changed. "You're Xiao Yan? The Xiao Yan from Wutan City who was betrothed to Yanran?"
Xiao Yan looked resigned. He had known there was no getting past this.
"Master's wife, I am that Xiao Yan."
Yun Yun's expression shifted uncertainly.
It seemed that her disciple and Mister Li's disciple were not on good terms.
What was more, Yanran's decision to break off the engagement had received her own approval.
Well, all that effort to draw closer just now was wasted.
Who knew how much this child hated me right now!
After hesitating for a moment, Yun Yun decided not to dwell on the broken engagement.
Matters of the heart were far too personal.
Even her own were a tangled mess. How could she presume to meddle in anyone else's?
Still, breaking off the engagement had wronged the Xiao Clan. Should she find some way to make amends?
After some thought, Yun Yun said, "Yan'er, Yanran handled the broken engagement poorly. I apologize to you on her behalf.
"I would also like to make it up to you. Is there anything you want?"
At first, Xiao Yan inwardly scoffed at her words.
If apologies worked, what would we need Dou Qi for?
You think one hollow apology can erase the humiliation my father and clan suffered?
That would be far too easy!
But when he heard the words "make it up to you," Xiao Yan found himself unable to walk away.
Passing up a free benefit was not his style!
His mind began racing.
He was not short of money, cultivation techniques, or Dou Techniques.
Nor would it be appropriate to ask for the treasures in Yun Yun's ring.
What other benefit could he seek?
A thought flashed through his mind, and Xiao Yan hit upon something suitable.
Back in his grandfather's day, the Xiao Clan had still been established in the imperial capital. Otherwise, they could never have become acquainted with Nalan Yanran's grandfather.
The older generation of the Xiao Clan, including his father, Xiao Zhan, had never stopped longing to return to the imperial capital.
This had come to mind because, over the past few days, he had been pondering a question.
With his current connection to Yun Yun, how exactly should he deal with the Misty Cloud Sect?
His original plan had been to cause a huge uproar at the three-year agreement, drag the Misty Cloud Sect's reputation through the dirt, and wash away his past humiliation.
If the Misty Cloud Sect dared to fight back, and he was strong enough, he would simply wipe them out.
Now, however, Yun Yun had given him pause.
Destroying his cultivation partner's family was hardly appropriate.
But even if he could not destroy them, he could still be the cuckoo that took over the magpie's nest!
He could bring the Xiao Clan into the imperial capital, then nurture a few Dou Wangs among them, or even Dou Emperors.
Once the Xiao Clan took control of the Misty Cloud Sect and became the power behind the throne of the Jia Ma Empire, would that not be perfect?
Then he could head to Jia Nan Academy and the Central Plains without worrying about what he left behind.
Xiao Yan had even decided whom he would nurture.
His elder brothers, Xiao Ding and Xiao Li, along with Xiao Mei and Xiao Yu, were all talented members of the Xiao Clan.
As for whether he had the ability to raise Dou Emperors for the Xiao Clan?
Xiao Yan was extremely confident.
His soul power had progressed splendidly over the years, so his alchemist tier had always exceeded his cultivation level.
By the time of the three-year agreement two years from now, he was confident that not only would his cultivation reach Dou Emperor, but he would also become a Tier Seven Alchemist.
After all, even the Emperor's Extreme Pill, which increased a Dou Emperor's strength, was only a tier-six pill.
As a Tier Seven Alchemist, he could easily feed someone enough pills to produce a pill-stuffed Dou Emperor.
His father, Xiao Zhan, had ordinary cultivation talent and little room left for improvement.
He intended to force-feed his father enough pills to make him a Dou Emperor, allowing him to uphold the Xiao Clan's prestige for the time being.
Then he would have the younger generation-Xiao Ding, Xiao Li, Xiao Mei, and Xiao Yu-build solid foundations and slowly advance to Dou Emperor.
Once the new generation took over from the old, the Xiao Clan could gain complete control of the Misty Cloud Sect and hold sway over the Jia Ma Empire.
Returning to the present, Xiao Yan looked at Yun Yun.
Then I'll use your help to bring the Xiao Clan into the imperial capital with a proper, legitimate reason.
Even if the Xiao Clan takes control of the Misty Cloud Sect someday, I won't treat you poorly.
Having made up his mind, Xiao Yan suppressed his embarrassment and said to Yun Yun, "Master's wife, your disciple does have a presumptuous request."
Yun Yun smiled. "Go ahead. As long as it is within my power, I will do my best to grant it."
Xiao Yan gathered his words. "Ever since the engagement was broken off, our Xiao Clan has been ostracized in Wutan City, and our businesses have struggled at every step.
"My father has always hoped to return to the imperial capital to develop the clan, but after so many years away, our foundations and connections there have vanished. That is why we have been unable to make the move.
"Your disciple would like you to use the Misty Cloud Sect's name to secure a future for our Xiao Clan in the imperial capital."
When Yun Yun heard this request, she was practically overjoyed!
News of the broken engagement had spread widely through the imperial capital.
Quite a few people had been saying unpleasant things about the Misty Cloud Sect behind its back.
Yet the Misty Cloud Sect was indeed in the wrong, so it could hardly take a heavy-handed approach to silencing that gossip.
The Misty Cloud Sect's reputation in the imperial capital had consequently been put on the defensive.
But if the Xiao Clan returned to the imperial capital and its Clan Leader received the title of Misty Cloud Sect elder...
Then the entire nature of the matter would change.
An external conflict would become an internal one.
The three-year agreement would become an internal contest.
And the barrier between her and Mister Li's disciple would disappear.
Every thorny problem would yield to the blade!
It would kill several birds with one stone. Wonderful!
After only a moment's thought, Yun Yun immediately nodded. "No problem! Leave this to me!
"I will make the arrangements as soon as I return and guarantee that the Xiao Clan can settle safely and securely in the imperial capital!"
Having secured that benefit, a thoroughly satisfied Xiao Yan prepared to leave with Xiao Yi Xian.
But unexpectedly, when Yun Yun happened to glance at Xiao Yi Xian again, her expression changed dramatically!
"Dou Shi... Nine-Star Dou Shi?!"
Yun Yun's eyes widened, her face filled with disbelief!
She had been so unsettled earlier that, although she had noticed Xiao Yi Xian, she had only admired her courage and concern for Xiao Yan.
She had not thought about anything else.
Now, after casually probing her aura, she realized with astonishment that this girl, who looked even younger than Xiao Yan, was actually a Nine-Star Dou Shi!
What terrifying talent was this?
After all, she herself had become a Three-Star Dou Emperor at twenty-seven, a Nine-Star Dou Wang at twenty-four, a Nine-Star Dou Ling at twenty-one, a Nine-Star Great Dou Master at nineteen, and a Nine-Star Dou Shi at seventeen.
Her teacher had already called that the greatest talent in the Jia Ma Empire's history.
Yet the girl before her was even more talented than she was!
Yanran was now over sixteen and an Eight-Star Dou Zhe. Beside this girl, she looked positively mediocre!
Seeing Xiao Yi Xian's extraordinary talent, Yun Yun instantly felt the urge to nurture such a gifted child, and an idea rose naturally in her mind.
If she could bring her into the Misty Cloud Sect and carefully nurture her, her future achievements would be limitless!
First, however, she had to ask whether the girl already had a master.
She might already be Mister Li's disciple, in which case Yun Yun could hardly draw her blade and steal his cherished pupil.
With that thought, Yun Yun gazed tenderly at Xiao Yi Xian and asked softly, "Child, how old are you this year? Have you taken a master?"
Before you continue