"I'm afraid the news they bring won't be good."
When the Nalan Family suddenly sent a messenger, all the high-ranking members of the Xiao Family, including Xiao Zhan, felt it couldn't be good news.
After all, Xiao Yan had been a cripple for three years, while Nalan Yanran had become the direct disciple of a Dou Emperor Expert and the future Young Sect Master of what would be the top sect within the Jia Ma Empire. Their statuses and achievements were completely mismatched.
Terminating the marriage engagement was an inevitable step; it was just a matter of how both sides would handle it to minimize the impact and preserve everyone's dignity.
Ultimately, the engagement had been initiated by Nalan Jie back then, out of gratitude for Xiao Lin's life-saving favor, not something the Xiao Family had begged for.
Whether Nalan Jie was honoring his promise or merely saving face, he would have to give the Xiao Family an explanation to resolve this matter.
"I just hope the Nalan Family won't go too far. After all, our Xiao Family has declined. I once thought Yan'er had a chance to lead the family's resurgence." Xiao Zhan sighed inwardly, then spoke aloud: "Bring them in."
"Yes!" a guard's voice responded from outside the door.
Several elders exchanged glances, and the Third Elder took the initiative to ask: "Clan Leader, if the Nalan Family intends to break off the engagement, what should we do?"
His tone seemed to carry a hint of schadenfreude, completely forgetting that the family rises and falls together.
"Circumstances force our hand. What else can we do but accept it?" The Great Elder answered on Xiao Zhan's behalf. "I just hope the Third Young Master won't be too devastated when he hears the news."
"I wonder if the Nalan Family will offer any compensation for taking the initiative to break the engagement."
These words made Xiao Zhan instinctively clench his fists.
Back when the direct lineage of the Xiao Family had gone to the capital to develop, only the branch families with strength reaching the Dou Grand Master level or above had been sent.
Twelve years ago, after the family returned to Wu Tan City and the Dou Spirit expert was severely injured and perished, these branch family elders had still shown respect to him as Clan Leader, especially after Xiao Yan displayed his talent, they were even more obedient.
But as Xiao Yan became a cripple, and all the family resources invested over the years were wasted, each of them had started harboring their own selfish thoughts.
With divided loyalties, the team was hard to lead; they actually enjoyed watching their own people suffer.
"Clan Leader, the messenger is here."
Soon after, the messenger from the Nalan Family was brought in.
Seeing the badge on his chest, he was actually a Seven-Star Dou Master, which made all the elders straighten their expressions.
"Greetings, Clan Leader Xiao Zhan. I am Nalan Zhuo. I have here a letter written personally by our Family Head. Please review it."
Nalan Zhuo's demeanor was arrogant. He took a letter from his Storage Ring and handed it to a waiting guard.
"An honored guest arrives, and I failed to greet you properly. Please, have a seat." Xiao Zhan forced a smile and gestured for Nalan Zhuo to sit.
"No need," Nalan Zhuo refused directly. "Once I confirm Clan Leader Xiao has read the letter, I must return to report."
Xiao Zhan's right hand, hidden beneath his robe, clenched instinctively, but his face remained impassive as he said, "Then I won't insist."
With that, he reached out and took the letter the guard presented.
He opened the envelope, took out the letter, and read it carefully.
Reading the beginning, Xiao Zhan's brow furrowed tightly, and anger gathered in his heart.
But when he reached the middle, his expression relaxed, and a hint of joy even appeared in his eyes.
After finishing the entire letter, he carefully put the envelope away and laughed heartily: "I have finished reading the letter. You may return and report to Brother Nalan that tomorrow, my Xiao Family will prepare to welcome him warmly."
"Farewell." Nalan Zhuo gave a symbolic cupped-fist salute before turning to leave.
Once he had departed the main hall, the Grand Elder couldn't resist asking: "Family Head, is this good news?"
"One could say so." Xiao Zhan smiled faintly and handed the letter to the Grand Elder.
It began with some pleasantries, then mentioned that Nalan Yanran had been accepted into the Cloud Mist Sect and designated as the Young Sect Master. Matters of marriage would no longer be decided by the Nalan Family alone. The Cloud Mist Sect had also compensated the Nalan Family for Nalan Yanran.
No wonder Xiao Zhan had shown anger earlier - he had just declared the Nalan Family wouldn't break faith, yet now they sent a letter saying the marriage agreement between the Xiao and Nalan families was void.
But when the Grand Elder read further, his eyes widened in surprise.
The Nalan Family wasn't actually breaking off the engagement, but rather proposing a substitution.
The replacement bride was also a granddaughter of Elder Nalan Jie, whose talent had once surpassed even Nalan Yanran's. Unfortunately, she had been poisoned by unknown parties, preventing any further cultivation progress. Still, she remained a one-star Dou Fighter under fifteen years old.
Moreover, since the Nalan Family was proposing the substitution, they would provide Xiao Yan with certain compensations, and Nalan Yanran's dowry would be substantially increased.
"Incredible!" The Grand Elder's eyes turned envious.
This meant that Xiao Yan, that good-for-nothing, could still become the grandson-in-law of a Dou King expert, and the brother-in-law of the future Cloud Mist Sect Master.
With such connections, even if he remained useless, few in the Jia Ma Empire would dare provoke him.
"Congratulations, Family Head! Congratulations, Third Young Master!"
The Grand Elder passed the letter to the Second Elder and immediately offered his congratulations.
It wasn't too late to repair their relationship now. While it couldn't compare to offering help in times of need, at least they could add flowers to the brocade.
After the elders finished circulating the letter, they too offered their congratulations.
"This is a marriage alliance with the Nalan Family. Once accomplished, the benefits need no explanation." A relieved smile finally appeared on Xiao Zhan's face, sweeping away the gloom of recent years. "The Nalan Family will arrive tomorrow. Don't drop the ball - go prepare immediately."
"Yes!" the elders chorused in acknowledgment.
Realizing this was the best possible outcome for Xiao Yan, Xiao Zhan felt uneasy leaving preparations to others and personally oversaw the family's arrangements.
By the time everything was ready, the moon hung like a silver plate in a sky full of stars.
Xiao Zhan thought to find Xiao Yan, but discovered he wasn't in his courtyard.
"He must have gone there again."
Smiling, Xiao Zhan made his way to the mountaintop behind the Xiao Family compound.
When he arrived, he saw Xiao Yan shouting toward the cliff: "Damn it all!"
"Old Heaven, did you bring me to this world to play the fool?"
"Damn..."
After various outbursts, Xiao Yan raised his hand and looked at the simple black ring on his finger. His mother's somewhat blurred face surfaced in his mind, and a trace of nostalgia appeared in his eyes as he gently stroked the ring. "These past years... I've truly failed Mother's expectations..."
This ring was her memento, the last thing she left him.
Taking a deep breath, Xiao Yan turned slightly, a gentle smile appearing on his face. "Father, you've come?"
Though his cultivation was only at the third stage of Dou Disciple, his soul perception was remarkably strong.
When mentioning his mother, he had keenly sensed movement from the forest.
At this hour, in this location, only Xiao Zhan could approach him so silently while harboring no ill intent.
"Hehe, Yan'er, still awake at this late hour?"
Xiao Zhan strode powerfully to Xiao Yan's side, his rugged face naturally carrying an air of boldness.
"Father, aren't you still awake as well?" Xiao Yan countered with gentle eyes.
"Are you still thinking about this afternoon's test?" Xiao Zhan's tone was filled with concern.
"Haha, what's there to think about? It was expected."
Xiao Yan shook his head with feigned nonchalance, giving off the impression of a youth pretending to be mature.
"Sigh..."
Looking at Xiao Yan's delicate features that bore sixty to seventy percent resemblance to his deceased wife, yet appeared more youthful and carried additional firmness, Xiao Zhan let out a long sigh.
"Yan'er, you're fifteen now, right?" Xiao Zhan seemed to be confirming.
"I just had my birthday a few days ago." Xiao Yan nodded slightly.
"In one more year, you'll participate in the coming-of-age ceremony. You understand the family rules." Xiao Zhan's voice trembled slightly: "As the clan leader, I must be fair and just. When the time comes, you..."
"Father, I understand." Xiao Yan spoke up proactively, his expression serious: "What must be, will be. There's still one year left anyway. I'll strive to break through to the seventh stage of Dou Disciple."
This was rather boastful talk. Even if Xiao Yan's cultivation talent were still intact, it would be impossible to achieve.
But Xiao Zhan didn't question it, instead reaching out to pat Xiao Yan's shoulder: "Let's not talk about this matter for now. It's getting late, you should go back and rest."
"Tomorrow, our family will have an important guest visiting. You'll be the main character then, so maintain good mental and physical condition. Don't be disrespectful."
"An important guest? Who?" Xiao Yan asked curiously.
"You'll know tomorrow." Xiao Zhan kept him in suspense, even joking: "Don't worry, it's good news."
Xiao Yan: "..."
"Father, you might as well not have told me in advance."
Xiao Yan shook his head and followed Xiao Zhan as they departed.
Neither of them noticed that on the surface of the black ancient ring Xiao Yan wore, a faint, eerie glimmer appeared, but it vanished in the blink of an eye.
"Tomorrow, something good will indeed happen."
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