With just one palm strike, the attacker had made her unwilling teacher, Yun Yun, cough up blood, forcing her to summon the former sect master, Yun Shan, from his closed-door seclusion.
But it was no use.
For some unknown reason, the mysterious Dou Zong expert thoroughly loathed Patriarch Yun Shan.
A casual blow broke his leg.
Under such overwhelming pressure, Yun Yun could only give up her place as teacher for the sake of the Misty Cloud Sect's future, watching helplessly as her beloved disciple, Nalan Yanran, became the mysterious Dou Zong's student.
Fortunately, to Nalan Yanran's delight,
her new teacher wholeheartedly approved of his plan to break off the engagement.
To that end, the teacher had even specially brought her grandfather along.
Now, standing at the Xiao Clan's gates, grandfather and granddaughter wore different expressions.
Nalan Yanran was happy, while Nalan Jie's happiness carried a trace of embarrassment.
But the thought of the Dou Zong's promise once the engagement was successfully broken instantly drove that embarrassment from his mind.
As for the Xiao Clan, upon learning that Nalan Jie had come in person,
they swiftly threw open the gates, and Xiao Zhan joined the Three Great Elders in welcoming this Dou Wang expert.
"Uncle Nalan, please..."
The Xiao Clan's main hall.
A group of younger direct descendants watched obediently as the clan leader and the Three Great Elders smilingly ushered an old man inside and saw him seated.
The moment he sat down, Xiao Zhan eagerly called toward the younger generation, "Yan'er, come here and greet your Grandpa Nalan."
Hearing his name, Xiao Yan stepped out, utterly bewildered.
He had only just woken up early that morning and was about to cultivate again when the steward hurried into his room, saying there was urgent business and that he absolutely must not delay, but hurry to the main hall and wait.
He had barely taken his place, and the youngsters who disliked him had yet to open their mouths to mock him, when his father arrived with an honored guest and specifically told him to call the man Grandpa.
How come he had never known he had some grandpa?
Though puzzled, Xiao Yan still stepped forward briskly and said, "Greetings, Grandpa Nalan. Greetings, Father. Greetings, Elders."
"Yes, good boy. Sit down."
Seeing how well-mannered Xiao Yan was, Nalan Jie's heart softened for a moment. He felt he had terribly wronged his old friend, but for the sake of his family's future, he had to harden his heart.
"Yes, yes, child, hurry and sit down."
The three elders' expressions changed as well. Their usual impatience and disdain toward Xiao Yan vanished, replaced by the ingratiating smiles they had worn when his talent was still intact, leaving Xiao Yan completely at sea.
Have these three old fellows taken the wrong medicine?
He had lost his talent three years ago. How could he not know what those three old fellows were like?
Usually, seeing him made them want to wash their eyes. When had they ever smiled at him?
Wrong. Something's very wrong!
Muttering inwardly, Xiao Yan found a seat.
The instant he sat down, a cool voice reached his ears.
"You're the Xiao Yan who's engaged to me?"
Xiao Yan abruptly turned his head.
Only then did he notice a girl about his own age, with looks even more exquisite than Xiao Mei's, watching him with an indifferent gaze.
"Engaged?"
Xiao Yan recalled something his father had told him and exclaimed in surprise, "You're Nalan Yanran?"
His voice rang through the entire hall.
"What? She's Nalan Yanran, the one engaged to Xiao Yan?"
"What a waste, pairing such a beautiful girl with that useless Xiao Yan."
"Holy shit, he's Nalan Yanran? Then wouldn't this Grandpa Nalan be the empire's Lionheart Marshal, a Dou Wang expert?!"
Those startled voices drew everyone's eyes toward Nalan Jie.
A Dou Wang expert!
Ordinary people might never see one in their entire lives!
The whispers in the hall brought displeasure to the Three Great Elders' faces. They were busy fawning over Nalan Jie, only for Xiao Yan to pull this and set the whole hall abuzz.
But seeing that Nalan Jie showed no intention of blaming him, they could hardly criticize Xiao Yan. They could only rebuke their own sons and grandsons. "Insolent! We have an honored guest here. No shouting!"
The hall instantly fell silent.
Xiao Zhan gave Nalan Jie an apologetic smile and said, "Yan'er, don't be rude."
"Sorry, Father. I was too excited!" Xiao Yan rose to apologize.
"Good boy, sit down. Grandpa doesn't blame you." Nalan Jie waved a hand, motioning for Xiao Yan to sit.
To everyone else in the hall, however, this scene left a sour taste.
With a Dou Wang expert personally defending him, wasn't Xiao Yan about to fly onto a branch and become a phoenix?
He was already useless. Why should he get this?
That was the thought silently running through everyone's minds.
Xiao Zhan, meanwhile, looked delighted, inwardly praising his father's sworn friend for coming through. After this, he would like to see who still dared look down on his dear son.
He immediately said with a cheerful smile, "Uncle Nalan, have you come about my son's marriage?"
Xiao Zhan could hardly be blamed for thinking so, because apart from this major matter, nothing in the Xiao Clan's present circumstances
could possibly bring a Dou Wang expert to their door in person.
"That's right, Uncle Xiao Zhan. We've come about my marriage to Xiao Yan." With a Dou Zong backing her, Nalan Yanran could not wait to speak, not even letting Nalan Jie open his mouth.
"What? It really is about the marriage?"
"Why should she marry this useless fool?"
Before Xiao Zhan could speak, Nalan Yanran's personal confirmation had set the hall buzzing.
Jealous gazes kept falling on Xiao Yan.
After enduring three years of snide remarks, Xiao Yan broke into a genuine smile, and even his gaze toward Nalan Yanran turned heart-shaped.
Xiao Zhan flew into a rage.
Before Nalan Jie arrived, he could let the youngsters' mockery of Xiao Yan slide; as their elder, it was hard for him to intervene. But with Nalan Jie here, they were still mocking Xiao Yan. Clearly, they had no regard for him as clan leader.
He immediately snapped coldly, "Insolent! Elders, you really ought to discipline them properly."
"Yes, yes, yes."
The three elders nodded repeatedly.
Under another's eaves, one had no choice but to bow one's head.
As a Dou Wang expert's grandson-in-law, Xiao Yan now held an even higher standing than Xiao Zhan.
The hot-tempered second elder immediately rose, strode forward furiously, and slapped his dear grandson. "Shut your mouth! Is Third Young Master Xiao Yan someone you can mock?"
"Grandpa?" The grandson who had been struck looked aggrieved.
"Talk back again, and watch your backside!" After threatening his grandson, the second elder returned to his seat with a smile. Just as he was considering what to say to fawn over Nalan Jie, he heard words that nearly left him unable to breathe.
Xiao Zhan said cheerfully, "As for the children's marriage, how would you like to arrange it, Uncle? I can make preparations on my end at any time. Once Yanran marries into the family, they'll certainly have their own courtyard..."
"Uncle Xiao Zhan, you've misunderstood." Nalan Yanran interrupted Xiao Zhan's happy imaginings.
Xiao Zhan froze. His heart suddenly tightened, an ominous thought rising within him, and he abruptly looked at Nalan Jie.
This Uncle Nalan, who had shown such goodwill toward him and Yan'er just moments earlier, now somewhat avoided Xiao Zhan's bewildered gaze.
But in the end, he sighed and said bluntly, "That's right. Yanran and I came here specifically to break off the engagement."
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