"But if even Lord Gu He can't cure your strange illness, then that illness of yours can pretty much be sentenced to death.
When that happens, our Nalan Family will give you money and cultivation resources as compensation for your Xiao Clan, and both sides can part on good terms."
Nalan Sheng said somewhat helplessly, "But we never expected Clan Leader Xiao to disregard the rules so shamelessly. We waited in the imperial capital for three whole years, yet he never brought you to our door to dissolve the engagement.
So we could only assume that your Xiao Clan intended to use your engagement to Yanran to cling to our Nalan Family for the rest of your lives.
Naturally, our Nalan Family couldn't swallow such a bitter loss. That is why we came today to break off the engagement in public-to demand an explanation from Clan Leader Xiao."
"Uh..."
Xiao Yan, who had been brimming with fury, faltered slightly at those words and instinctively turned to look at Xiao Zhan.
If Xiao Zhan really had disregarded the rules and deliberately refused to take him to the Nalan Family to dissolve the engagement, then his father did bear some responsibility for today's situation.
???
Faced with Xiao Yan's questioning gaze, Xiao Zhan looked utterly bewildered.
Were there really unwritten rules like that for marriages between great families?
I had no idea!
[Ding! The host has hoodwinked the destined male protagonist and his father into questioning their lives. Reward: 20 villain points!]
"Our Nalan Family has always respected the rules. Even if we're forced to burn bridges with your Xiao Clan today, we'll still leave you one last shred of dignity."
Hearing the system notification ring in his ears, Nalan Sheng's lips curved slightly. He continued to strike while the iron was hot. "Elder Ge Ye, bring out the Qi Gathering Powder!"
"Oh."
Seeing Nalan Sheng transform himself from the aggressor into the victim with just a few words, Ge Ye felt as naive as a raw recruit. He hurriedly took a palm-sized box made of ancient jade from his Storage Ring.
As Ge Ye opened the jade box, a rich medicinal fragrance immediately spread through the hall, refreshing everyone who breathed it in.
"I'm sure you've all heard of the renowned Qi Gathering Powder?"
Pointing at the emerald-green pill in the box, Nalan Sheng said, "This Qi Gathering Powder is a fourth-tier pill personally refined by Lord Gu He. Anyone at the Ninth Stage of Dou Qi who takes it is guaranteed to condense a dou qi vortex. Its market price is at least two or three hundred thousand gold coins.
Please accept this Qi Gathering Powder as our apology to the Xiao Clan for coming to break off the engagement today!"
A glint of greed flashed in the eyes of the Xiao Clan's Three Great Elders. They all wished they could accept on Xiao Zhan's behalf.
After all, all the businesses under the Xiao Clan combined brought in only around a hundred thousand gold coins in annual net profit.
This single Qi Gathering Powder was worth two or three years of the Xiao Clan's income. Ordinarily, the Xiao Clan's Three Great Elders could never afford such an expensive pill.
"Please put the Qi Gathering Powder away, Elder Ge!"
Xiao Yan suddenly spoke. "Our Xiao Clan will not agree to this matter today."
Although the Qi Gathering Powder was indeed precious, it was of no use whatsoever to Xiao Yan in his current condition.
Naturally, Xiao Yan would never let his father, who loved him so dearly, suffer utter humiliation over a useless pill.
"Xiao Yan, is it your place to speak here? Shut your mouth!"
"Xiao Yan, I know you're upset, but we will make the decisions here."
"Xiao Yan, stand down!"
Before Nalan Yanran could even lose her temper, the Xiao Clan's Three Great Elders could no longer restrain themselves and began reprimanding Xiao Yan.
Given Xiao Yan's current condition, he certainly couldn't take the Qi Gathering Powder.
That meant the pill would naturally go to another Xiao Clan disciple, most likely one of the Three Great Elders' descendants. That was why they reacted so strongly.
"Elders, if it were your sons or grandsons having their engagements broken off in public today, could you still stand there talking so easily, without feeling the pain yourselves?"
Anger flashed in Xiao Yan's eyes as a mocking smile curled his lips.
Originally, Xiao Yan hadn't wanted to fall out with the Three Great Elders in front of outsiders and expose the discord within the Xiao Clan.
But the Three Great Elders hadn't even prepared a seat for him, deliberately humiliating him in public. Naturally, he no longer needed to spare those three old geezers' dignity.
"You..."
"Elders, Brother Xiao Yan is right. Outsiders should stay out of this. Let him resolve it himself as the person directly involved!"
Just as the Three Great Elders were about to retort, Xiao Xun'er suddenly spoke up in public support of Xiao Yan.
Although the Three Great Elders didn't know Xiao Xun'er's exact origins, they knew the power behind her was one the Xiao Clan could never afford to offend. They could only shut their mouths in frustration.
Seeing this, Xiao Yan first gave Xiao Xun'er a grateful look, then turned to Nalan Sheng and asked, "Young Master Nalan, may I ask whether Old Master Nalan approved your coming here today to break off the engagement?"
"Enough!"
Before Nalan Sheng could answer, Nalan Yanran sprang to her feet with a sharp cry. "Xiao Yan, what's the point of clinging to this so desperately? My grandfather didn't agree to break off the engagement, but this is my business. It has nothing to do with him."
"Since Old Master Nalan hasn't agreed, our Xiao Clan naturally won't agree either."
Ignoring Nalan Yanran's reaction, Xiao Yan glanced at the Three Great Elders and said, "This marriage was arranged by Old Master Nalan and my grandfather. Now that my grandfather has passed away, Old Master Nalan must personally speak if this engagement is to be dissolved.
Otherwise, it would be desecrating the memory of our departed elders. Surely no one in our Xiao Clan would dare commit such an act of defiance."
"You..."
Nalan Yanran had always hated the marriage her grandfather had arranged before she was even born. Now that Xiao Yan was using her grandfather to pressure her, the spoiled young lady's temper, indulged for years, erupted completely. Her face filled with disgust. "Enough! You're just a worthless piece of trash, so stop pretending to be so high-minded. You just think the compensation isn't enough, don't you?
If you agree to dissolve the engagement, I can give you three more Qi Gathering Powders and let you join the Misty Cloud Sect to study advanced cultivation methods and Dou Techniques. Surely that's enough?"
At Nalan Yanran's words, the Three Great Elders' breathing grew somewhat rapid.
At that moment, the Three Great Elders truly wished Xiao Yan were their own son or grandson.
After all, the compensation Nalan Yanran offered was far too generous. Compared to that, losing a little face hardly mattered.
But over the past three years, Xiao Yan had endured all manner of sneers and mockery, and his heart had long since begun to brim
with pent-up resentment.
Now, Nalan Yanran's lofty attitude, as though she were bestowing charity, became the final straw that broke the camel's back.
"..."
Xiao Yan trembled slightly, his fists clenched tight. His once delicate features twisted into a savage grimace as he ground his teeth. "Nalan Yanran, right now, I really want to kill you!"
Before you continue