Breaking Off the Engagement

Breaking Off the Engagement

Among the younger generation of the Xiao Clan, the only one who could rival Nalan Yanran in looks was that eldest young miss of the Gu Clan, Xiao Xun'er.

Perhaps because Xiao Xun'er was long used to the attention of others, she did not even raise her head in the face of Nalan Sheng's gaze, merely quietly turning the pages of the book in her hands.

Just as Nalan Sheng was sizing up Xiao Xun'er with great interest, an old man in a green robe who looked like a steward also walked into the reception hall, bringing with him a youth in black.

He was a short-haired youth around Nalan Sheng's age, though his appearance could only be considered refined; there was still quite a gap between him and a great handsome man like Nalan Sheng.

"Father, Three Great Elders!"

The youth in black swept a glance over Nalan Sheng and the others, then immediately cupped his fists in a salute toward Xiao Zhan and the Three Great Elders.

"Yan'er, you're here~"

Seeing that Xiao Yan had arrived, Xiao Zhan instantly halted his conversation with Ge Ye, nodded at him, and said, "Take a seat quickly!"

Xiao Yan smiled and nodded, treating it as if he hadn't seen the expressions of extreme impatience and disgust plastered across the faces of the Three Great Elders.

Yet just as Xiao Yan subconsciously wanted to find a seat to sit down, he discovered that there were simply no spare chairs in the hall.

Sigh~ It seems my status in the family is truly getting lower and lower. These three old immortals actually make things embarrassing for me in front of outsiders, and they don't even care about losing face...

Xiao Yan's expression changed slightly, and he couldn't help but shake his head in self-mockery.

Watching Xiao Yan standing motionless on the spot, the younger clansmen in the hall not only failed to show the slightest trace of sympathy, but instead all revealed expressions of gloating misfortune.

Naturally, Xiao Zhan had also perceived Xiao Yan's awkward predicament. A flash of anger crossed his tiger-like eyes, and he abruptly turned his head to look at the Second Elder, who was responsible for arranging the seating.

"Oh my!"

The yellow-robed old man glared at by Xiao Zhan put on a pretense of self-reproach. "My memory really is failing as I age; I actually forgot about the Third Young Master's seat. I'll have someone go prepare one right now."

"Brother Xiao Yan, come sit on my side!"

An ethereal and melodious voice suddenly rang out, breaking the somewhat awkward atmosphere in the hall.

Nalan Sheng looked in the direction the voice came from, only to see that Xiao Xun'er, who had been reading a book a moment ago, was now wearing a cute smile and blinking her watery eyes at Xiao Yan.

Seeing this, Xiao Yan rubbed his nose with a somewhat sheepish expression, then walked over and sat down beside Xiao Xun'er amidst the jealous gazes of many youths.

"Thanks, Xun'er. You helped me out of a tight spot again."

Inhaling the faint natural fragrance emanating from Xiao Xun'er's body, Xiao Yan lowered his voice and laughed.

To be able to have such a childhood sweetheart accompany him, this fellow is truly enviable~

Nalan Sheng narrowed his eyes, inwardly muttering in slander: However, those who flaunt their affection die fast. I hate you normies the most. Xiao Yan, prepare to receive the wrath of a single dog!

At the same time, seeing that Ge Ye and Xiao Zhan kept beating around the bush and delayed getting to the main point, Nalan Yanran couldn't help but secretly pull on his sleeve.

"Ahem!"

Faced with Nalan Yanran's urging, Ge Ye could only give a dry cough to interrupt Xiao Zhan's words, immediately followed by rising to his feet, cupping his fists, and saying, "Clan Head Xiao, old man, I have come to the Xiao Clan today actually with a favor to ask."

"Mr. Ge, just speak plainly if you have a matter. As long as it is within our power, the Xiao Clan will certainly not refuse."

Instead of directly answering Xiao Zhan's words, Ge Ye pointed at Nalan Sheng and the others, asking in return, "Clan Head Xiao, do you recognize these two?"

"Uh..."

Hearing this, Xiao Zhan stared at Nalan Sheng and the others for a moment, shook his head with some embarrassment, and said, "Forgive Xiao's poor eyesight, I do not know which two young friends these are..."

"This is the eldest young master of the Nalan Family, Nalan Sheng."

Ge Ye first pointed at Nalan Sheng to introduce him, and then pointed at Nalan Yanran beside him, saying, "As for this, it is his twin sister, the Second Young Miss of the Nalan Family, Nalan Yanran."

"So it's Sage Nephew and Niece Yanran. Uncle Xiao hasn't met with you two in many years; don't blame uncle for having poor eyesight."

Upon learning the identities of Nalan Sheng and the others, Xiao Zhan's eyes instantly lit up, and the smile on his face grew even more enthusiastic.

Nalan Sheng wore a smile as he cupped his fists. "Uncle Xiao is too polite. On the contrary, it is we juniors who have never come to pay a visit. We should be the ones apologizing."

"Sage Nephew jests."

Xiao Zhan glanced at the single star pattern embroidered on Nalan Sheng's robe and couldn't help praising, "I didn't expect that after only ten years apart, Sage Nephew is already a One-Star Dou Zhe. You truly live up to being the Prodigy of the Nalan Family."

"Uncle Xiao flatters me. Compared to Yanran, my cultivation talent can only be considered average."

"Sage Nephew is too modest."

Xiao Zhan smiled and waved his hand, immediately shifting the conversation. "However, Niece Yanran's talent is truly astonishing. I've long since heard the news of her being taken as a personal disciple by Sect Master Yun."

"Yanran was just lucky!"

Nalan Yanran smiled faintly. Finding herself truly unable to handle Xiao Zhan's enthusiasm, she secretly tugged on Ge Ye's sleeve once more.

"Ahem! That..."

Ge Ye cupped his fists toward Xiao Zhan and said, "Clan Head Xiao, the matter old man is requesting today concerns Yanran, and this matter was personally spoken of by Lord Sect Master herself."

Upon hearing these words, the smile on Xiao Zhan's face also gradually faded, giving rise to a somewhat ominous pretense of a hunch.

After all, Xiao Zhan was no fool. He certainly didn't believe that he, a mere Da Dou Shi, could actually be of help to a Dou Huang expert like Yun Yun, unless...

Xiao Zhan forcibly suppressed the anger in his heart, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke, "Elder Ge, if you have anything to say, just speak it straight!"

"Clan Head Xiao, you also know that the Misty Cloud Sect has strict rules, and Lord Sect Master holds extremely high expectations for Yanran, completely grooming her as the next Sect Master."

Ge Ye spoke somewhat awkwardly, "Because of certain special rules, the Sect Master's successor cannot become entangled with men before officially ascending as Sect Master.

Upon learning that Yanran still had a marriage engagement with the Xiao Clan, Lord Sect Master was very troubled by it. Therefore, she specifically had me bring Yanran to the Xiao Clan, hoping that Clan Head Xiao can dissolve this marriage alliance."

"Bang!!!"

The moment Ge Ye's voice fell, the jade cup in Xiao Zhan's hand shattered into a cloud of fine powder with a resounding crash.

Hearing this, the people in the hall could not help but freeze slightly.

Yet the members of the Xiao Clan, led by the Three Great Elders, felt no excessive anger toward this; instead, they felt a sense of schadenfreude.

Over the years, in order to cure the strange illness on Xiao Yan's body, Xiao Zhan had wasted no small amount of the clan's resources, long since provoking the dissatisfaction of the Xiao Clan members.

Otherwise, in the absence of a conflict of interests, even if Xiao Yan had turned into a useless person, he was still the clan head's son after all. Who would risk offending the clan head just to mock him?

Now that Nalan Yanran was publicly coming to break off the marriage, although the Xiao Clan would lose face along with it, the ones who would lose face the most were still father and son Xiao Zhan and Xiao Yan.