Faced with powerful Soul perception, Xiao Linger had nowhere to hide.
In a blink of an eye, Xiao Feng appeared before her.
Xiao Linger, who was in a daze, was startled, and her Dou Qi instantly condensed into a ball in her hand, ready to strike at any moment.
When she saw who it was, the expression on her face grew even gloomier, and her tone was incredibly cold, "What are you doing here? Are you looking for death?!"
Xiao Feng looked at the fierce Xiao Linger and was about to playfully pat her head when Dou Qi suddenly converged around him, striking towards his chest in an instant.
Resolving the attack with a single palm, Xiao Feng glanced at Xiao Linger. After a few years, she had actually reached the Great Dou Master cultivation. Her progress was truly fast. He smiled and said, "Work hard, and I won't come to see you anymore."
Xiao Linger's face was sullen, her expression as cold as frost, watching Xiao Feng disappear before her eyes step by step... It didn't take many days to travel from Mercenary Town to Wutan City.
As soon as he entered the city, he heard everyone discussing Nalan Yanran's impending visit.
"Oh? This matter, I caught up?" Xiao Feng was stunned.
Thinking of Nalan Yanran, who often regretted things, Xiao Feng had a plan in mind.
In his opinion, if Huo Huo could marry Nalan Yanran, then the Jia Ma Empire would essentially fall into the Xiao Family's hands.
"Younger Brothers Wife, this time, I'll give you one more choice."
With this thought, Xiao Feng turned and walked out of the city.
Outside Wutan City was not a smooth road; many places were rugged, and carriages could barely pass.
In a narrow canyon, a luxurious carriage slowly passed. The carriage was painted with stars and moons, and also had cloud and silver sword designs, with wind chimes hanging from its four corners, ringing clearly and pleasantly as it swayed.
Seeing the iconic Cloud Sword pattern, Xiao Feng grinned and floated down from the cliff onto the carriage roof.
At this moment, conversation could still be heard from inside the carriage.
"Yanran, whether you succeed or not this trip, I'm afraid it won't be easy to explain to the Old fellow, right?" Ge Ye was a bit uneasy.
"Uncle Ge, with Teacher backing me, I'm not afraid, so what are you afraid of?" Nalan Yanran's tone carried a hint of arrogance.
Outside the carriage, the young man driving it couldn't help but beam with joy upon hearing this, as if Nalan Yanran would marry him after canceling the engagement.
Xiao Feng didn't continue listening. He chuckled softly, and the three people, each with their own thoughts, felt as if struck by lightning. The next second, Ge Ye grabbed Nalan Yanran and rushed out of the carriage, fleeing into the distance.
"We're just chatting, what are you afraid of?"
Xiao Feng wore a smile. With a grab, Ge Ye, who had fled far away, was pulled back at an even faster speed.
"The Xiao Family's path isn't easy to walk. Come in and chat?" Xiao Feng sat by the carriage, making a 'please' gesture with his left hand towards the curtain.
Ge Ye's gaze lowered, seemingly still unwilling, his peripheral vision still scanning both sides.
Xiao Feng's smile remained unchanged. With a light tap of his foot, the carriage suddenly sank, and his body leaped into mid-air.
Whoosh!
Huge wings formed by Dou Qi supported the young man's body as he hovered above the canyon. He looked down at the three people again, "Chat?"
"Dou King!"
Ge Ye looked panicked. How could he still have any thought of escaping?
Nalan Yanran's face also turned pale. She had heard clearly earlier when the other party said, "The Xiao Family's path isn't easy to walk," and instantly thought of murder and corpse disposal. Her breathing became rapid.
Facing a Dou King expert, the two of them could no longer harbor other thoughts and resignedly walked back into the carriage.
The young man driving the carriage also prepared to climb in, but Xiao Feng grabbed him, "A character without even a name can stay up there for now."
Xiao Feng threw the young man onto the cliff, and with a flash, entered the carriage.
It wasn't spacious inside, but there were many layers of fox fur blankets and white rugs, soft and very comfortable to sit on.
"Quite good at enjoying life," Xiao Feng remarked.
Ge Ye quickly spoke, "If Your Excellency likes it, please take it."
Xiao Feng shook his head, glanced at the green jade pendant hanging from the girl's earlobe, and slowly spoke, "Are you two Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran?"
Ge Ye nodded honestly. Nalan Yanran also knew that now was not the time to rely on power. She lowered her head and huddled beside Ge Ye, not even speaking.
Xiao Feng looked at Nalan Yanran and said gently, "Speaking of which, I should call you Younger Brothers Wife. Don't be afraid, call me Big Brother and let me hear it."
Ge Ye's eyes widened, his head buzzing. He had too many questions and didn't know where to start.
Nalan Yanran also looked up in shock. She looked at Xiao Feng, whether it was due to being intimidated by his strength or because her brain had paused due to extreme shock, she inexplicably called out, "Big Brother..."
"Ah!" Xiao Feng laughed, "Younger Brothers Wife, there's no need to panic. Your Big Brother is a Dou Huang expert, so no one would dare bully you."
At these words, the two dared not speak even more.
Finally, Ge Ye asked in a low voice, "Your Excellency... did Your Excellency hear what we were discussing earlier?"
Xiao Feng narrowed his eyes, "Yes, I heard someone was coming to break off an engagement, so I'm worried about that Younger Brother. He has a rather stubborn temper. But I also feared the stimulation wouldn't be enough, so I had to discuss it with you first."
The two were utterly confused and looked at Xiao Feng with puzzled expressions, completely baffled: What did he mean, the stimulation wasn't enough? Was this something an older brother would say?
"Younger Brothers Wife, I know you're here to break off the engagement. I want to ask, what's the reason? Is it because of the title of 'waste'?" Xiao Feng became serious.
Ge Ye wanted to speak but was stopped by a look from Xiao Feng.
Nalan Yanran was extremely nervous. Her hands were tightly clasped, and she dared not speak.
"It's alright, I'm only here to talk today. I won't harm a single hair on your heads," Xiao Feng solemnly promised.
Nalan Yanran swallowed, then spoke, "If it were a man I truly loved, even if he were a waste, I wouldn't care. But I don't want to be dictated by a marriage contract. My future love should be fought for by myself. This is my lifelong affair, so why should it be decided by a single word from my grandfather! We haven't even met, and we were even betrothed before we were born. How ridiculous! I am unwilling!"
The more the girl spoke, the angrier she became. She no longer cared about her fear of the person in front of her, only wanting to vent all the grievances in her heart, even if it meant death.
After speaking, she lifted her chin and looked at Xiao Feng, adopting a posture that said, 'do with me as you please'.
Xiao Feng smiled and tapped her head, "Younger Brothers Wife, your idea is very correct, I completely agree. Marriage is a big deal, a lifelong matter, why should an old man decide it with a single word? If you ask me, whoever arranged the marriage should be the one to get married. Isn't that causing trouble?"
Nalan Yanran's eyes grew brighter and brighter, even revealing a hint of a smile, "Big Brother, you think so too?"
Xiao Feng teased, "Since you call me Big Brother, then you've accepted this engagement."
"I haven't!" Nalan Yanran raised her eyebrows, startling Ge Ye beside her, who was afraid of displeasing the hero in front of them, fearing they might just vanish from the world.
Oh, no, three people... the third person's presence was too low... "So what do you plan to do?" Xiao Feng asked again.
Nalan Yanran pondered for a moment and recounted her actions from the original story.
"But have you considered that the direct result of doing so is that the two Families will no longer have any contact, becoming enemies from then on?" Xiao Feng spread his hands, pointing to himself, "You already know that our Family has a Dou Huang expert."
"But..." Nalan Yanran's brows furrowed tightly, eventually revealing a look of despair. The Family would definitely use her marriage to gain the friendship of a Dou Huang expert.
"Ge Ye, is it? You go out for a bit. I have some things to discuss with Younger Brothers Wife alone." Xiao Feng waved his hand, shooing Ge Ye out.
Ge Ye looked worried. He was extremely reluctant, looking back three times with each step as he walked out of the carriage.
"What could I possibly do to my Younger Brothers Wife!" Xiao Feng's face darkened, and with a push of Dou Qi from his palm, he sent the Old fellow far away.
"Yanran, there are some things you might not have considered. In the Jia Ma Empire, which families do you hold in high regard?" Xiao Feng asked.
Nalan Yanran didn't understand why Xiao Feng was asking this, but she answered without hesitation, "The Imperial Family, the Mu Family, the Mittel Family, and then there's my Nalan Family and my Cloud Mist Sect."
The latter half of her sentence carried pride, but she quickly added dejectedly, "In the near future, there should also be the Xiao Family."
Xiao Feng smiled, "What does your Old fellow think about rebellion?"
Nalan Yanran raised an eyebrow, "My grandfather is the Empire's Lionheart Marshal! How could he possibly rebel!"
"Indeed, so what does it mean that the Cloud Mist Sect Sect Master took you as a Disciple, and then began to separate the Family forces that were friendly with your Nalan Family?" Xiao Feng slowly said.
Of course, this was just his speculation from reading comments in the book back then; everything was uncertain. However, with the Hall of Souls lurking behind the Cloud Mist Sect, such a possibility was indeed very high.
Nalan Yanran vehemently denied, "That's impossible!"
But after speaking, she herself fell into doubt.
"Let's not talk about that for now, let's discuss your engagement annulment." Xiao Feng brought the topic back, "Your grand gesture of annulling the engagement will completely push my Brother Yan to be against your Cloud Mist Sect and the Nalan Family. Perhaps you won't care now, but have you ever considered that my Brother Yan might just be the one destined for you?"
"How is that possible!" Nalan Yanran raised her eyebrows, seemingly wanting to say more, but ultimately closed her mouth.
"Well then, let's make a bet."
"What kind of bet?"
"I bet you'll fall in love with him, and that's without my interference."
"The stakes?"
"I won't interfere with your engagement annulment, but if in the future you find yourself truly in love with him, you must marry him," Xiao Feng said.
In the original work, Huo Huo helped Nalan Yanran several times, and Xiao Feng didn't believe it was all because of Yun Yun, so he decided to play matchmaker.
"Alright, it's a deal then!"
"Wait a moment, before that, you have to help me put on a show."
"What kind of show?"
...A powerful palm shattered the carriage, leaving Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran inside bewildered and uneasy.
"Who dares block my Cloud Mist Sect's carriage? Please show yourself!" Ge Ye drew his sword to protect Nalan Yanran.
At this moment, Xiao Feng walked out from the shadows, looking coldly at the two, "What are you Cloud Mist Sect people doing at my Xiao Family?"
"Hello, Sir, I am Nalan Yanran." The girl walked forward, "I heard my fiancé had some health issues. I hadn't visited before, fearing he might have other thoughts... Today, I happened to obtain a Qi Gathering Powder from my teacher, and I specifically came to the Xiao Family to deliver the medicine. May I ask which member of the Xiao Family you are, Sir?"
Xiao Feng sneered, "Putting on an act! Nalan Yanran, I only ask you one thing: my Brother Yan's reputation as a Genius is no more. He is no longer worthy of you. You're probably here to break off the engagement today, aren't you?"
Nalan Yanran gently shook her head, "A marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers. He didn't abandon me when he soared to greatness, so how can I abandon him now?"
Xiao Feng burst out laughing, "I don't care what you think, this engagement, you will break it today, whether you want to or not!"
With that, he struck out with a palm. Nalan Yanran coughed blood and staggered back. Her face was pale, but she still stood there stubbornly, "Who exactly are you, Your Excellency! Why are you making things so difficult for me and my fiancé!"
Xiao Feng shook his head and took a few steps forward. With a flick of his hand, a long sword rested at Nalan Yanran's neck, "My Brother Yan's mentality isn't steady enough; he lacks tempering. This engagement annulment is perfect for tempering him. When he knows about it in the future, he'll understand my difficulties. I only ask you, do you agree or not!"
Tears rolled down Nalan Yanran's eyes, "To be abandoned after falling into misfortune, how sad will my fiancé be? I don't agree!"
"Is that so? It's fine if you don't agree." With that, Xiao Feng spread his wings, "With my Dou Huang strength, I will kill one of your blood relatives each day until you agree!"
Nalan Yanran's face turned ashen, and she murmured, "How could this be..."
"I'll give you ten seconds to think. Let's start with your father!" Xiao Feng's voice was icy, as if he had truly harbored killing intent.
Nalan Yanran gave a desolate smile, like a broken flower in a pool of blood. Her eyes lost their luster, and all her strength seemed to drain away.
Finally, when Xiao Feng counted to ten, she said, "I agree..."