Chapter 8: The So-Called Honored Guest
The next day, in the reception hall.
After being cornered by the three Elders, Xiao Yan sat distractedly beside Xun Er, listening to her chattering whispers:
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge, it's been three years since you and Xun Er sat alone together, hasn't it?"
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge, have you read the book Xun Er sent you earlier?"
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge..."
Seeing that the other party was only responding half-heartedly, Xun Er's small face showed deep resentment. She couldn't help but reach out her tender hand and quickly poked the soft flesh at Xiao Yan's waist.
"Hiss, you Ni Zi!"
Suddenly, Xiao Yan came back to his senses as if waking from a dream, sucking in a cold breath through his teeth. Seeing that the people around them weren't looking in their direction, he finally felt a little relieved.
He whispered, "Xun Er, what are you doing?"
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge, do you have something on your mind?" Xun Er pouted and said wistfully, "Yesterday during the Family test, Xiao Yan Ge Ge didn't even wait for Xun Er and left by himself, making Xun Er search everywhere for you."
Hearing this, Xiao Yan's expression stiffened slightly, and he let out a few dry laughs.
"Uh, now Xun Er is a Genius in the Family. Isn't it easy for her to find someone to accompany her? Why bother with me?"
"Xun Er doesn't need them to accompany her." Xun Er's clear, black-and-white eyes darted around. Knowing that the other party probably had something on his mind, she stopped dwelling on the topic and said softly,
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge, are you thinking about the identities of those people on the platform?"
"...Mm."
From Xiao Yan's observations just now, the leader among the three was probably not the powerful Great Dou Shi, but the cold and beautiful Young Miss with a green earring, who was seated to the old man's right.
In the center of the hall, the three Elders and Xiao Zhan were conversing very enthusiastically with the old man. However, the old man seemed to have some unspeakable difficulty; his words, whenever they were about to come out, suddenly and stiffly changed to other topics, making his speech somewhat disjointed.
This comical scene made Xiao Yan feel quite absurd. The delicate Young Miss, who was leading the group beside him, even gave the old man a somewhat chiding glare.
Once or twice was fine, but when the old man repeatedly changed the subject, Xiao Yan lost his interest in watching the show. Instead, he kept recalling his conversation with the mysterious Young Miss from yesterday, which led to his earlier distraction.
Hearing that Xiao Yan was finally willing to continue their conversation, Xun Er closed the ancient book she had been holding in her hand. Her eyes were clear, and she smiled, "Xiao Yan Ge Ge, do you want to know their identities?"
"You know?" Xiao Yan turned his head in surprise and asked.
"Look at the glowing accessories on their sleeves."
"Oh?" With a stir in his heart, Xiao Yan's gaze fell on the sleeves of the three. Sure enough, each had a small silver sword in the shape of a cloud, shimmering and sparkling under the reflection of the light.
"Cloud-shaped silver sword... So they are from the Yunlan Sect. What are they doing at our Family?"
"Perhaps... it's related to Xiao Yan Ge Ge..."
"Me? How could I have any connection with them...?"
The Xiao Family, where Xiao Yan belonged, was considered a local overlord in Utan City. However, the Yunlan Sect could be called the overlord of the entire Gama Empire.
The gap between them was like a chasm, so it was no wonder he didn't think he would have any dealings with them.
Though he said so, recalling the mysterious Young Miss's enigmatic words from yesterday, Xiao Yan's chest felt as if a huge rock was lodged within it, and an indescribable sense of oppression filled his heart.
"A special matter? Could it be referring to this Yunlan Sect?"
Seeing the young man's face turn somewhat gloomy, Xun Er subtly glanced at the delicate Young Miss seated on the platform and said softly, "Her name is Nalan Yanran. Xiao Yan Ge Ge should understand now, right?"
"Nalan Yanran..."
"Five years ago, this Nalan Yanran was accepted as a Personal Disciple by Yun Yun, the Yun Lan Sect Leader. Her performance did not disappoint Yun Yun's expectations; her excellent Cultivation talent made Yun Yun dote on her endlessly. And her only connection with Xiao Yan Ge Ge is..."
"Xun Er."
Xiao Yan waved his hand, his voice trembling uncontrollably, "No need to say more."
That tremor was not fear, but rage brewed to its extreme.
Evidently, Nalan Yanran's purpose in coming here was only one: to annul the engagement, the engagement with this disgraced Xiao Family waste, which she regarded as a thorn in her side!
In fact, Xiao Yan had never once hoped for a beautiful marriage with the other party. Setting aside the disparity in status for now, how much affection could he expect from a fiancée he hadn't met in fifteen years?
He didn't think he possessed that kind of charm.
If the other party had simply acted as if this matter never existed, Xiao Yan wouldn't have said anything... But if she demanded to dissolve the engagement in front of everyone, not only would he himself be disgraced, but even his father, as the Clan Chief, would lose face completely.
At this moment, his face was ashen, and he finally understood the meaning of last night's riddle—
That delicate mysterious Young Miss who called him Third Young Master, through some unknown means, had already learned of this matter and had deliberately planted deep doubts in his heart beforehand. Her purpose was obvious: to wait for this moment.
Such calculation made Xiao Yan's heart feel somewhat cold.
"Xiao Yan Ge Ge..."
The young man lowered his head in thought, making it difficult for Xun Er to clearly see his expression. Her normally calm, tender, pretty face also showed a trace of worry.
Just as Xiao Yan's mind was filled with countless thoughts, Ge Ye, in the center of the hall, finally couldn't sit still.
He stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Xiao Clan Chief, we have come this time mainly to ask for something."
"Heh heh, Mister Ge Ye, please speak freely. If it is within my power, I, Xiao, should not refuse," Xiao Zhan said very politely, not daring to be negligent.
However, since he didn't know what the other party was asking for, Xiao Zhan didn't make a complete promise.
"Xiao Clan Chief, do you recognize her?" Ge Ye chuckled twice, pointing to the Young Miss beside him and asking.
"Uh, pardon my poor eyesight, this Young Miss..." Xiao Zhan was stunned, looked the Young Miss up and down, and then shook his head awkwardly.
"Cough, her name is Nalan Yanran."
"Nalan Yanran? Old Master Nalan's granddaughter?" Xiao Zhan paused, then his face broke into a wide smile, presumably recalling events from years ago: "So it's Niece Nalan. Uncle Xiao hasn't seen you for many years. Please don't blame Uncle for my poor eyesight."
"Uncle Xiao, your niece has not come to pay her respects all these years. It is I who should apologize."
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran politely nodded, returning a slightly stiff smile to Xiao Zhan.
Ge Ye's face was wreathed in smiles: "Heh heh, Xiao Clan Chief, you may not know, but the matter we seek today is related to Yanran, and furthermore, this matter was personally brought up by the Yun Lan Sect Leader..."
"Yun Lan Sect Leader?"
As a transcendent figure in the Gama Empire, what could the Yun Lan Sect Leader possibly ask of him, a mere Clan Chief?
Thinking of a certain possibility, Xiao Zhan's mouth twitched sharply a few times, and his thick palm couldn't help but tremble slightly.
Seeing the smile on Xiao Zhan's face freeze, Ge Ye simply stopped hiding and said, steeling himself, "Xiao Clan Chief, our Yunlan Sect has always forbidden the Sect Master's successor from having entanglements with the opposite sex before becoming the official Sect Master. So, could I ask you to... annul this engagement?"