It was the same spacious hall, but this time, there were not nearly as many people.
Only Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan sat at the head of the hall. Across from them sat Nalan Jie, with his grandson standing beside him-Xiao Zhan's nephew and Xiao Yan's former fiancé, Nalan Yan.
Nalan Jie was a tall, imposing old man with graying hair and a face that commanded respect even without anger. Even seated, he held himself perfectly straight, his presence overshadowing Xiao Zhan's by more than a little.
However, there was a dark cast between his brows, as though something was wrong with his health, though Xiao Yan paid it little mind.
In fact, not only Xiao Yan but even Xiao Zhan was rather surprised by Nalan Jie's sudden visit. Still, he observed the proper courtesies and exchanged polite conversation with him.
Three of the four were seated. Nalan Yan stood beside Nalan Jie, his head lowered, looking rather embarrassed.
Xiao Yan reckoned Nalan Jie would leave Nalan Yan standing there for quite a while. Out of courtesy, she rose and poured tea for Nalan Jie and Xiao Zhan, then stood to one side rather than sitting down again.
With the Xiao Clan now far inferior to the Nalan Family, they still had to show Old Master Nalan Jie sufficient respect.
As a junior, addressing Nalan Jie as "Old Master" showed respect, and offering him a cup of tea fulfilled the courtesies.
Anything beyond that... heh, that would be giving him too much face. Keeping up appearances was enough.
Seeing this, Nalan Jie admired Xiao Yan even more. He glanced at his grandson, then at the well-mannered Xiao Yan, and could not help heaving a heavy sigh.
He had come to the Xiao Clan this time to clean up the mess left by Nalan Yan's discourteous behavior back then.
In truth, if Xiao Yan's talent had not recovered, there would have been no need for him to make this trip.
But who could have known beforehand that Xiao Yan would show him what she could do, while Nalan Yan would... show him how badly he could blunder?
However, the engagement had already been dissolved, and in such an undignified manner at that. Nalan Jie did not have the face to keep asking Xiao Yan to renew her engagement to Nalan Yan.
Especially since... Xiao Yan might not be willing. Now that her talent had recovered, she might not even think Nalan Yan worthy of her.
And so, Nalan Jie could only do his best to "make amends."
Surely he could not, merely out of fear that Xiao Yan might "retaliate" against or "resent" the Nalan Family once she grew powerful, or threaten the family's standing, preemptively...
Assassinate Xiao Yan and wipe out the Xiao Clan to eliminate that potential "hidden danger" ahead of time?
He, Nalan Jie, was not that sort of person, was he?
Nalan Jie praised Xiao Yan a couple more times to Xiao Zhan, then said no more on the subject and accompanied Xiao Zhan to Xiao Lin's grave.
Before Xiao Lin-or rather, his gravestone-Nalan Jie promised Xiao Zhan that he would look after the Xiao Clan. He also gave Xiao Zhan a mid-level Xuan-tier fire-attribute cultivation method and a fourth-grade pill, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill.
The mid-level Xuan-tier fire-attribute cultivation method was clearly an "apology gift" intended for Xiao Yan, while the fourth-grade pill was presumably for Xiao Zhan. It could allow a Da Dou Shi to advance by one star without any "aftereffects."
Though both were fourth-grade pills, the Purple Heart Barrier-Breaking Pill was worth several times as much as Qi Gathering Powder.
After all, although both required a fourth-grade alchemist to refine them, the two pills were on entirely different levels, whether in the value of their ingredients or their effects.
This "apology gift" carried considerable weight, and both items were things Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan could use. It was quite a sincere gesture.
Though it was not enough to hurt Nalan Jie's foundations, it was worth a considerable fortune to the Xiao Clan.
If Nalan Jie brought out anything too precious, the Xiao Clan would not dare accept it.
After tending his old friend's grave and presenting his apology gifts, Nalan Jie exchanged a few more pleasantries with Xiao Zhan, then raised a matter he was rather concerned about-the "three-year agreement."
Nalan Jie's meaning was quite simple-
Yan had made this "three-year agreement" in a moment of youthful foolishness. Why not cancel it for the sake of the relationship between their two families?
"Old Master," Xiao Yan said, stepping forward before Xiao Zhan could speak. She first cupped her hands in a polite salute, but her words did not follow Nalan Jie's wishes:
"It would be better to leave the matter between Young Master Nalan and me for us juniors to resolve ourselves."
As she spoke, Xiao Yan turned to Nalan Yan. "Back then, Young Master Nalan, you made a three-year agreement with me before everyone in my Xiao Clan. Are you now intending to break that agreement?"
"Yan, don't be rude!" Xiao Zhan lightly slapped the table and rebuked her. But since he had called her "Yan," it meant the reprimand was not serious.
In truth, Xiao Zhan also harbored some anger.
What, when Yan was a useless cripple, Nalan Yan arrogantly laid down that three-year agreement, and you, Nalan Jie, didn't so much as let out a fart.
Now that Yan's talent had recovered, you suddenly thought the "three-year agreement" might damage the friendship between our families?
You could fight over this three-year agreement whenever you wanted, then call it off whenever you didn't?
Only after the child had died did you think to feed it milk? What were you doing before?
Moreover, half a year had passed since the engagement was broken. Nalan Yan had merely advanced from a Three-Star Dou Zhe to four stars, while Xiao Yan had risen from three-stage Dou Qi to seven-stage peak Dou Qi.
In another two and a half years, there was no telling who would lose!
Thus, Xiao Zhan had no intention of interfering in this matter. He left the decision to Xiao Yan.
Nalan Jie, too, had grown shrewd with age and soon understood what Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan meant.
He let out a lingering sigh. "Ah, very well. This old man won't meddle in the children's affairs..."
Even if Nalan Yan lost in the end, it would only cost him some face. Surely that was better than earning the resentment of a future Dou Emperor.
This time, their Nalan Family had truly lost the bride and the army too...
Xiao Yan once again apologized to Nalan Jie for her discourtesy, but offered nothing further. As for Nalan Yan, he could no longer bring himself to speak of "breaking the agreement."
...Hmph, so what if her talent had recovered? Couldn't it disappear again? Besides, I could cultivate the profound Dou Techniques of the Misty Cloud Sect. Wasn't that better than someone fumbling along an unorthodox path?
After bolstering his courage inwardly, Nalan Yan likewise refused to swallow his pride and "withdraw" the three-year agreement.
Then, with nearly everything worth discussing already covered, Nalan Jie declined Xiao Zhan's polite offer to "stay a few more days" and left with Nalan Yan.
Xiao Zhan took Xiao Yan along to see the two out of the city. Watching their retreating figures from afar, he said, "Yan, let's head back..."
"Father," Xiao Yan said softly, "why don't we buy the Jia Lie Family's market district?"
Xiao Zhan's mind went blank. He could barely keep up with Xiao Yan's train of thought, and it took him quite a while to react.
He looked at Xiao Yan and said solemnly, "Yan, although Old Master Nalan Jie promised to look after our Xiao Clan, we can't casually invoke his name. Otherwise, what little goodwill remains between us will be exhausted after a use or two."
Why waste it when we could use it? If you didn't turn goodwill into something tangible, how was it any different from a fart?
Xiao Yan grumbled inwardly, but her outward manner softened considerably. "That goodwill will run out eventually."
Xiao Zhan opened his mouth to say something, but then recalled that Nalan Yan had already come to their door to break the engagement. He would not care much about the Xiao Clan in the future, either.
Besides, Nalan Jie was old.
More importantly, he did not actually value the Xiao Clan all that much. What he cared about was merely his reputation.
If Xiao Yan's talent had not been enough to warrant Nalan Jie's attention, he probably would never have come to Wutan City.
After thinking all this through, Xiao Zhan let out a long sigh. "All right. Tomorrow, I'll visit the Jia Lie Family with a few of the elders..."
Before you continue