Chapter 284: No One Understands Like My Xun'er
Xiao Zhan struggled to suppress the anger within him. His Dou Qi, belonging to a Great Dou Master, was released uncontrollably, his gaze fierce and no longer filled with the warmth and friendliness from before. He never expected the visitor to be here to break the engagement!
He had been so enthusiastic earlier...
Cough~ The elder dressed in a silver robe lightly coughed, slowly stood up, and released his own Great Dou Master-level Dou Qi to block Xiao Zhan's anger, his face slightly awkward. He said, "Patriarch Xiao, I know this might seem a bit forceful, but the Sect Master has already promised Nalan Yanran... to dissolve the engagement. I hope the Xiao family can show respect to the Yun Lan Sect."
Although his tone was awkward, his stance was still strong. Given the power of Yun Lan Sect, they didn't really need to care about a small family like the Xiao family. If this issue hadn't been unjust, he wouldn't even have come.
However, Nalan Yanran was the direct disciple of the Sect Master, and the little sect leader of Yun Lan Sect. The Sect Master had verbally promised this, so they had no choice but to act.
Xiao Zhan's expression changed slightly upon hearing this, and the three Great Elders of the Xiao family also looked grim, all understanding that the visitor was using the influence of Yun Lan Sect to pressure the Xiao family. The Xiao family didn't have the ability to withstand such pressure. Yun Lan Sect was a giant in the Jia Ma Empire, and compared to it, the Xiao family was insignificant. Just one elder from Yun Lan Sect could easily make the Xiao family struggle.
Facing the pressure from Yun Lan Sect's elder, Ge Ye, Xiao Zhan wanted to erupt, but his rationality forced him to hold back. He was not only Xiao Yan's father but also the patriarch of the Xiao family.
"I want to ask, what does this have to do with Yun Lan Sect?!" Xiao Yan, who had been sitting on the side, finally spoke. He abruptly stood up, releasing his five-star Dou Shi aura, his gaze icy as he fixed his eyes on Ge Ye and the young woman behind him.
"My engagement with Nalan Yanran was arranged by my grandfather's generation. If the engagement is to be dissolved, it should be a matter between the Nalan family and the Xiao family. What does it have to do with Yun Lan Sect? Are they trying to use their power to pressure us?!"
"Five-star Dou Shi?!"
Upon sensing Xiao Yan's aura, Ge Ye's expression changed slightly. He had heard of Xiao Yan's genius reputation, but he hadn't expected him to be such a prodigy. At just fifteen years old, he had reached the level of a five-star Dou Shi. This kind of talent far surpassed Nalan Yanran's.
For a moment, Ge Ye felt bitter. He was merely an elder of Yun Lan Sect responsible for external matters, a position that was almost like retirement. He had come this time simply to do a favor for Nalan Yanran. In the future, if she became the Sect Master, he might be able to rise in position.
But offending a genius like Xiao Yan was not something to be happy about.
Nalan Yanran, who was of similar age to Xiao Yan, was even more beautiful and delicate in appearance than Xiao Mei. She exuded an aristocratic, cold, and aloof aura. When she looked at Xiao Yan's cold eyes, she furrowed her brows but didn't care much because she was confident she could catch up to him and even surpass him in the future.
The path of cultivation was not about who progressed faster. Some may advance quickly in the early stages but fall behind later, while others accumulate slowly but achieve great success.
Looking at Xiao Yan's cold eyes, Nalan Yanran's gaze was no less proud. She lifted her delicate chin and said proudly, "I am the little sect leader of Yun Lan Sect. In the future, I will inherit the sect from my master and become the Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect. It's impossible for me to marry. I hope you understand!"
Although Xiao Yan was talented, Nalan Yanran would not lower her head to him. She was not moved by him, because the Dou Qi continent was vast, and there were many geniuses like Xiao Yan.
She had met a true prodigy in her youth!
Compared to that person, Xiao Yan's genius was nothing.
She was confident she could catch up to him and even surpass him in no more than three years, she would have him under her foot!
"Understand your mother…" Xiao Yan cursed inwardly. If Nalan Yanran had privately discussed the matter with him, he wouldn't have been so furious. He would have agreed to the annulment and cooperated with her. But she had come openly into the Xiao family, breaking off the engagement in front of everyone, even using Yun Lan Sect's name to pressure his father. This was a slap in the face of the Xiao family and embarrassed his father!
If it were just about him, he wouldn't care, but he couldn't let his father suffer such humiliation!
"You're the same age as me, but you're only a three-star Dou Shi. With such talent, you managed to become the little sect leader of Yun Lan Sect? Looks like not joining Yun Lan Sect was the right choice for me!" Xiao Yan sneered and launched a verbal attack.
"You…" Nalan Yanran's face turned red with anger. She stamped her foot in frustration, retorting angrily, "You're just a country bumpkin. If my master hadn't spent years nurturing my body, I would never be worse than you!"
"I, Xiao Yan, don't rely on anyone, unlike you, who only knows how to use others' strength!" Xiao Yan snorted, disdainfully saying.
"I won't argue with you. So, do you agree to the annulment of our engagement or not?" Nalan Yanran was getting impatient. She didn't like to argue, especially with this rude boy.
"I don't accept your annulment!" Xiao Yan took a deep breath and glared at Nalan Yanran, coldly saying, "If you want to end this engagement, fine, but it can only be me, Xiao Yan, who calls off the marriage!"
Nalan Yanran looked at him in disbelief, a bit stunned, "You want to divorce me?"
She, the proud little sect leader of Yun Lan Sect, beloved by everyone, was actually going to be divorced by a boy from a small family? If this got out to the imperial capital, it would cause quite a stir. Even Yun Lan Sect might be shaken.
"You came to my Xiao family to break off the engagement, don't you know how embarrassing this is for the Xiao family? Since you look down on me, Xiao Yan, well, I don't look at you either. Today, I will write the annulment letter. From now on, there is no relationship between Nalan Yanran and me, Xiao Yan!" Xiao Yan said, striding towards the nearby desk, ready to write the annulment letter and put an end to this matter.
"You have no right to annul our engagement! This matter was decided by my master, the Sect Master of Yun Lan Sect! Do you dare defy the Sect Master's orders?!" Nalan Yanran seemed to have lost her composure, directly bringing up her master.
Having been pampered by her master since childhood, never having suffered any hardship or humiliation, she couldn't stand the thought of being divorced and leaving a stain on her reputation!
Ge Ye and the three Great Elders of the Xiao family's expressions all changed. Given Nalan Yanran's status, her words somewhat represented the intentions of Yun Lan Sect. If Xiao Yan really wrote the annulment letter today, it would undoubtedly mean making an enemy of Yun Lan Sect.
The Xiao family couldn't afford that.
"This woman really has no sense of humility!" Gu Xun'er whispered from her position by the window.
Yao Yan smiled. He found the drama unfolding before him amusing. Xiao Yan's pen, which had been about to drop, froze at Nalan Yanran's words. It was clear that the name Yun Lan Sect was too heavy for the Xiao family to handle. Even Xiao Yan, no matter how rational, knew that the Xiao family couldn't afford to offend Yun Lan Sect.
He didn't forget to tease Gu Xun'er, leaning in closer and whispering in her ear, "It's true, no one understands like my Xun'er."
Gu Xun'er shivered, a strange electric current sweeping through her body. She wasn't too sure, but she knew she shouldn't be too close to the man. Instinctively, she tried to pull her hand away, but found it tightly held by Yao Yan. There was no escape.
"Who is yours? Our marriage hasn't even been agreed upon yet... be careful, I might follow her example and go to your Hun Clan to break off the engagement!" she pouted, lightly huffing, though her words lacked any real threat, filled only with the innocence and cuteness a young girl should have.
Yao Yan took in her words, observing her.
"What's wrong?" Gu Xun'er, uncomfortable under his gaze, furrowed her brows and asked.
"You're quite adorable," Yao Yan said after a brief pause, choosing his words carefully.
Gu Xun'er froze, her breath catching. She wasn't sure if he was praising her, but she couldn't find any evidence to support it, feeling inexplicably angry. She turned her head away, deciding to ignore her annoying fiancée. As for whether the engagement would be called off… it seemed like it really couldn't be.
Did he just say she was silly?
She only understood what Yao Yan meant after a moment, her teeth clenched in frustration. Seeing his attention shift back to the scene inside, she slyly reached over and pinched him hard on the waist.
Then, quickly pulling her hand back, pretending as though nothing happened, she stood quietly, watching the 'drama' unfold.
But her peripheral vision kept sneaking peeks at Yao Yan, wondering if he'd feel the pinch.
Yao Yan didn't react at all. Gu Xun'er realized her mistake. He was about to reach the level of a Dou Saint; how could she possibly hurt him? At this moment, the thought of working harder to improve her cultivation grew stronger.
"Such thick skin~" Gu Xun'er muttered quietly, unsure if she was referring to Yao Yan's face or his body.
"I'm a man, my skin naturally isn't as soft as Xun'er's," Yao Yan said casually, his fingers lightly brushing over her hand.
Gu Xun'er felt an electric shock sweep through her body, her pale face turning red. She instinctively pulled her hand back, but he held it firmly, leaving her with no choice but to give up. She couldn't help but realize that the more she spoke and acted, the deeper she fell into this situation. It seemed like she was always the one who ended up losing.
She realized she really wasn't Yao Yan's match, in every sense of the word!
It seemed like she was being held in his grasp.
...
In the Xiao family's hall, Xiao Yan's pen paused. He slowly turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran, his expression calm as if all his emotions had been suppressed. Meanwhile, Nalan Yanran looked at him proudly, her chin lifted like a peacock, and with a light snort, she said, "This is the difference between us. But if you agree to the annulment, I can offer you compensation, even provide some resources for the Xiao family through Yun Lan Sect."
After speaking, she waited arrogantly for Xiao Yan's response, as if bestowing him a favor.
"Alright, I agree to the annulment!" Xiao Yan replied coldly, his expression calm with not a hint of anger, his voice unnervingly calm. (END CHAPTER)
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