Nalan Yanran's invitation

"Why?"

Xiao Qian did not burst into wild joy as everyone had expected, nor did he immediately kneel and bow. Instead, his expression remained as calm as still water, and he simply asked a question in return.

His reaction made the younger clan members, who knew nothing of his and Xiao Xun'er's unusual backgrounds, twitch in disbelief.

Had it been them, they would probably have fallen to their knees and kowtowed, overwhelmed by the honor. This was an olive branch from the Misty Cloud Sect!

"Your talent is outstanding. You're exactly the kind of genius our Misty Cloud Sect seeks."

Nalan Yanran's lovely brows furrowed slightly, and a flicker of displeasure crossed her eyes. Clearly, she was deeply dissatisfied with Xiao Qian's indifferent response.

"Young lady of the Nalan Family, I don't think he'll go with you."

Just then, the girl beside Xiao Qian slowly rose.

Her voice was clear and cool as spring water, like a stream murmuring through the mountains, yet her words left the younger clan members stunned. It was as though a pebble had fallen into a tranquil lake and raised a thousand waves.

Heavens, someone would actually refuse an invitation from the Misty Cloud Sect? This was simply unbelievable!

"What?"

This time, confusion was written across Nalan Yanran's face.

As she looked at the simply dressed, elegant girl before her, a flash of admiration involuntarily crossed her eyes.

She had never imagined she would encounter a girl blessed with such grace and beauty in this remote backwater.

When it came to beauty, she had always been confident. Yet the girl's air of an orchid blooming in a secluded valley, while not enough to make her feel ashamed of herself, still put considerable pressure on her.

She instinctively straightened, unconsciously revealing her own youthful charm as she tried to match the other girl.

For a moment, the hall seemed filled with spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums vying in beauty. Two utterly different yet equally captivating presences intertwined, leaving everyone dazzled.

"Because I said so." A golden gleam slowly kindled in Xiao Xun'er's eyes, noble and overbearing, like the majesty of an emperor.

As that aura gradually spread, Nalan Yanran felt her heart suddenly seize, as though a mountain were bearing down on her, leaving her struggling for breath.

Ge Ye beside her was even more terrified. He seemed to have suddenly recalled certain utterly horrifying legends. His face turned deathly pale, and he wished he could seize Nalan Yanran and flee at once.

"But..." Nalan Yanran had barely freed herself from that powerful intimidation and begun to speak when Ge Ye abruptly interrupted her.

"Miss, if you say he isn't coming, then he isn't coming. We have no objections whatsoever." Cold sweat rained down Ge Ye's forehead. Tugging at Nalan Yanran while repeatedly signaling her with his eyes, he used nearly every ounce of his strength to drag her back to her seat.

"Hmph." Xiao Xun'er's anger had yet to subside. Her cold snort seemed to carry tangible force, frightening Ge Ye into another shudder. His entire body trembled like chaff in a sieve.

Seeing this, Xiao Zhan and the three clan chiefs felt their faces twitch uncontrollably.

They had never imagined that guests the Xiao Clan normally had to entertain with the utmost care would be reduced to such a sorry state before Xiao Xun'er.

For a moment, the scene sank into unbearable awkwardness, and even the air seemed to freeze.

"Martial Uncle Ge, what's wrong with you? I have to do this. Why are you stopping me?!" Nalan Yanran complained quietly, her eyes filled with confusion and dissatisfaction.

"Yanran, listen to my advice. Whatever you do, don't provoke that girl in the purple dress. We cannot afford to offend her." Ge Ye wiped the sweat continually beading on his forehead as he spoke anxiously.

Nalan Yanran knitted her willow-leaf brows. She wanted to argue, but seeing the lingering terror on Ge Ye's face, she swallowed the words on her tongue.

"Phew..."

She drew a deep breath to steady her emotions, then urged him, "Then stop wasting words and get to the real business with the Xiao Clan!"

"Yes, yes, of course." Relieved that she was willing to listen, Ge Ye hurriedly turned to Xiao Zhan. "Xiao Clan Chief, may I ask whether your son Xiao Yan is here?"

Xiao Zhan froze. Glancing at Nalan Yanran's impatient expression, he felt his heart tighten as an ominous premonition rose within him.

"Yan, he..."

"Father, I'm here."

At that very moment, Xiao Yan happened to step across the threshold of the clan hall and slowly walk inside.

The younger clan members turned their gazes toward him, most of their eyes filled with mockery.

Nowadays, taking a jab at this former genius whenever the chance arose seemed to have become a "hobby" for many of them.

Yet Xiao Yan's face remained indifferent. He seemed oblivious to their mocking stares, as though his soul had risen above such worldly judgments.

Before he could find a seat, Ge Ye, eager to finish his task and escape the Xiao Clan, spoke rapidly. "Good, you're here. In truth, we came today with the sect master's permission, hoping that the Xiao Clan Chief would agree to dissolve the engagement between Xiao Yan and Yanran..."

Boom!

Those words exploded in the hall like a massive bomb.

Although Xiao Zhan had already anticipated something of the sort, he had not expected them to announce it so bluntly before everyone. Now there was no turning back. His dignity and Xiao Yan's had been brutally trampled underfoot.

"Xiao Zhan!" the Great Elder and Second Elder shouted sternly in unison, jolting Xiao Zhan out of his shock.

Across from them, Ge Ye's expression was equally grave. Dou Qi surged throughout his body like raging ocean waves, as though he were preparing for a possible clash.

"Niece Nalan, what fine methods you have. Fine methods indeed..."

Xiao Zhan forcibly suppressed the Dou Qi throughout his body and collapsed back into his chair as though all his strength had deserted him. His expression was bleak, and he seemed to have aged many years in an instant.

"Uncle Xiao, I'm very sorry about this as well, but these are my teacher's wishes. Please dissolve the engagement."

Nalan Yanran showed no fear whatsoever, nor did she care about the mocking gazes directed at Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.

To her, she could never accept someone else arranging her fate, no matter what-even if that person was her own grandfather!

"Heh heh heh, ha ha ha..."

A chilling laugh suddenly rang through the hall, filled with anger, defiance, and humiliation.

Everyone turned to look. Xiao Yan strode forward, his face flushed crimson with fury and blazing rage burning in his eyes. "Nalan Yanran! Have you ever considered how my father is supposed to lead the clan after what you've done?!"

He clenched his fists tightly, his nails digging deep into his palms. Blood slowly seeped out, but he seemed not to notice. "You're trying to make me, Xiao Yan, the laughingstock of the entire continent, unable to lift my head for the rest of my life!"

Already in a foul mood because her task had not gone smoothly, Nalan Yanran grew even more impatient. She spoke disdainfully. "Xiao Yan, you're nothing but a useless cripple who can't cultivate. The gap between us will only grow wider. If you're still a man, stop clinging to me!"

"I really want to slaughter you!"

The young man's dark eyes held an intense killing intent that surged toward her as though it had taken physical form.

Nalan Yanran involuntarily retreated a step, then flew into a rage out of humiliation. "Acting like this will only make me despise you even more!"

"I won't agree to you breaking off the engagement." Xiao Yan suddenly began to laugh softly, but his laughter was filled with boundless desolation. "However, I don't want to marry a woman like you either..."

He abruptly strode over to stand before Xiao Zhan, took a sheet of paper from the table, and picked up a brush. He quickly wrote one large word on the paper, then slammed his bleeding hand onto it.

"Nalan Yanran, remember this! You're not the one breaking off the engagement. I, Xiao Yan, have no use for a heaven-favored girl like you, and I'm casting you out of the Xiao Clan's doors!"

Nalan Yanran numbly caught the paper he tossed at her. The word "Repudiated," marked with a bloody handprint, pierced her heart like a sharp blade, turning her face deathly pale.

"You useless cripple, how... how dare you..."

"Father, what happened today has brought shame upon you, but your son won't remain a useless cripple forever." Xiao Yan abruptly dropped to his knees before Xiao Zhan and cried at the top of his lungs, "Three years from now, I'll go to the Misty Cloud Sect myself and avenge this humiliation, for both you and me!"

Tears filled Xiao Zhan's eyes, and his voice choked. "Good, good. I believe my son won't disappoint me!"

Xiao Yan kowtowed heavily, then resolutely turned and strode away.

As he passed Nalan Yanran, his voice burst out like the roar of a young lion. "Thirty years east of the river, thirty years west! Don't bully a young man because he's poor!"

Everyone stared blankly as he left. The entire hall fell silent, as though time itself had stopped. Only Xiao Yan's departing footsteps echoed through the spacious hall, each one seeming to tread upon their hearts.

"Niece Nalan, you have your wish. From this day forward, you have no further ties to our Xiao Clan. Forgive me for not seeing you out!" Xiao Zhan swept his hand and turned his back, making his dismissal unmistakable. His departing silhouette conveyed boundless weariness and resolve.

Nalan Yanran was silent for a moment. In the end, she bowed, her expression conflicted. "Uncle Xiao, I had no intention of humiliating the Xiao Clan. Perhaps... perhaps I didn't think this through..."

"Let's go." Ge Ye shook his head helplessly and cupped his hands toward Xiao Zhan's back before hurriedly leading the others away. As he passed Xiao Xun'er, he instinctively quickened his pace, as though some terrifying beast were chasing him.

But just as she was about to leave, Nalan Yanran suddenly stopped.

"Xiao Qian, I'll come visit you again another day."

"Don't bother. If everyone in the Misty Cloud Sect is the likes of you, I have no interest whatsoever."

Xiao Qian's expression was cold, and his tone carried undisguised disgust.