Chapter 13

"D-D-Dig it out?"

Qi Yan'er's words left Xiao Yan stunned. For a moment, his mind went completely blank as to what she meant by digging something out! Was she telling him to dig up... his grandfather?

"Insolence!" Before Xiao Yan could fly into a rage, the First Elder of the Xiao Clan roared indignantly, "Little girl, don't think that just because you have a—" "You're the insolent one!" Xiao Zhan roared, cutting the First Elder off mid-sentence. "First Elder, you must remember that you are the First Elder of my Xiao Clan!" "..." The First Elder was momentarily dazed. Why did this phrasing sound so familiar? Wasn't that just how *he* had "reminded" Xiao Zhan a moment ago? Well played, Xiao Zhan! So you're turning coward, are you? A little girl is threatening to exhorted your ancestral graves, and you're still swallowing it! Fine! Then this old man... will swallow it too!

Seeing that the elders kept their silence, Xiao Zhan turned to Xiao Yan. "Yan'er, this young lady actually makes a fair point. Your grandfather passed away long ago. Now, as long as Elder Nalan nods in agreement, this matter can be settled once and for all."

As he spoke, Xiao Zhan shot a pointed look at his "good son." *My good old son! Please, I'm begging you, stop causing trouble. As long as you don't rock the boat, you can be my father, for crying out loud!*

Hearing this, Xiao Yan understood his father's intent. Yet if he agreed... Not only would the Xiao Clan be humiliated, but he would be as well! Having spent three years enduring his family's ostracism and cold mockery, he had had enough. Now Xun'er ignored him, and his father couldn't protect him—what was left to fear? At this moment, Xiao Yan was on the verge of madness. His gaze shifted, sweeping past Qi Yan'er to land on Nalan Yanran. "Miss Nalan, you brought a child here to break off an engagement. Have you ever considered your reputation in the future?" "I have. So what?" Nalan Yanran couldn't care less. If she could really have a daughter like Qi Yan'er, it would be a blessing! Feeling a wave of irritation, she laid her cards on the table. "Xiao Yan, what will it take for you to call off this engagement? Can you stop being such a nuisance? Do you think the compensation is too little? Fine, I can have my teacher give you three more Qi Gathering Powder pills. What's more, if you're willing, you are entirely welcome to enter the Misty Cloud Sect to cultivate advanced Dou Qi methods. Is that enough?"

Hearing the string of alluring conditions tumbling from Nalan Yanran's lips, the three elders—along with the younger generation of the Xiao Clan—saw their breathing turn ragged. Four Qi Gathering Powder pills! Doesn't that mean everyone could get a share? Not to mention the chance for Xiao Yan to enter the Misty Cloud Sect to cultivate! Good heavens! This was something countless people dreamed of!

Having laid out these terms, Nalan Yanran waited proudly for Xiao Yan's answer. In her mind, with conditions this tempting—plus the "daughter" being present—Xiao Yan was bound to agree. Unless... he was just exceptionally fond of the color green!

"You..." As Nalan Yanran's voice trailed off, Xiao Yan's body shook violently as he slowly raised his head. At that moment, his somewhat delicate face had twisted into a terrifying scowl, resembling a cornered dog driven to madness. "I... I really want to butcher you!" Through chattering teeth, Xiao Yan let slip a sentence dripping with murderous intent. Xiao Yan was enraged; he was truly enraged!

"Ah..." Startled by the sudden change in Xiao Yan's expression, Nalan Yanran jumped back. *So he really does like green! Even after all this, he still won't agree!*

"Brat, have you a death wish?" Seeing Xiao Yan's reaction, Ge Ye summoned a blade of sword qi to his palm once more! "Yan'er, none of that!" Terrified by Xiao Yan's sudden move, Xiao Zhan leapt up from his seat. His shout was laced with a faint tremor. After all, the current Xiao Clan could not afford to offend the Misty Cloud Sect! "Yes, Father!" Clenching his fists tightly, Xiao Yan forcibly swallowed his anger, enduring the humiliation. His hideous, terrifying expression gradually faded back into calm.

Looking at the youth before him who had reined in his inner emotions almost instantly, Ge Ye frowned slightly. This Xiao Yan was not to be underestimated either! If his talent were to recover in the future, he would surely become a formidable rival for Yanran!

"Sister Yanran, it looks like he won't give up easily. Shall I handle it?" Seeing Nalan Yanran look somewhat at a loss, Qi Yan'er offered with a sweet smile, taking the task upon herself. "Yan'er, you... very well!" Though she doubted Qi Yan'er could handle this disgusting and vexing Xiao Yan, she had no other choice left.

Pouting her lips slightly, Qi Yan'er looked up at Xiao Yan. "Hey! Blondie Xiao, why are you so utterly shameless?" "You..." Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, the sound of grinding bones echoing as he held back his fury.

Acting as if she hadn't seen Xiao Yan's rage, Qi Yan'er planted one hand on her hip, pointed a finger at him, and continued: "My Sister Yanran is already my daddy's woman. You have zero hope left, so why are you still clinging on? Is your true form a simp?"

"Pfft—hahahaha!" As Yan'er's words finished, uncontrollable laughter broke out across the hall. *Simp!* There was simply no more fitting description.

"You..." Having endured three years of cold mockery, Xiao Yan's skin had grown exceptionally thick and his temperament steady. Yet the word "simp" still drove him to snap: "This is a matter between me and your mother. What do you, a little brat, understand?"

"Heh~" Qi Yan'er's small face turned frosty. "Blondie Xiao, you call me a child, but I see your behavior right now is far worse than a child's. Sister Yanran came to break off the engagement with the explicit consent of both my daddy and the Sect Master of the Misty Cloud Sect. If you keep pestering her, I think you already know who'll be coming to the Xiao Clan next time!"

A threat! Crushing people with sheer power! Qi Yan'er's crystal-clear, logical words left everyone present dumbstruck. The little girl before them was an absolute monster! Was this really something that could come out of the mouth of a mere seven-year-old?

Hearing Qi Yan'er's words, Xiao Yan wore a look of desolation. He had to admit that this oppressive display of power left him completely unable to breathe. Yet a cold smirk still curled the corner of his mouth. "Fine! I can agree to break off the engagement, but the two of you must know how disastrous it looks for a woman to abandon her betrothed on the Dou Qi Continent. It doesn't matter much if I, Xiao Yan, am thick-skinned—but what about my father? He is the head of a clan! If he agrees to this today, how is he supposed to manage the Xiao Clan in the future? How can he keep his footing in Wutan City?"

"..." Hearing this, Xiao Zhan nearly fainted from sheer fury. *How did I end up with such a "son"? Why on earth did you have to drag your old man into this?! If you hadn't spoken up, these three old fossils in the family wouldn't dare target me out of fear for the Misty Cloud Sect and Qi Yan'er's terrifying father. But now that you've blurted it out, half a day won't pass before this news spreads through the entire Wutan City. By then, I really won't be able to keep my position as Clan Head!*

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran glanced up at Xiao Zhan, who seemed to have aged considerably in an instant, and felt a pang of guilt. "Yan'er..." "Sigh." Qi Yan'er pouted, sighing like an adult. "Sister Yanran, you're just too kind-hearted. You can't compare to my daddy at all. Didn't you see that this Blondie Xiao was just using his father to play the pity card?"

Xiao Zhan: (⊙o⊙)! *Yan'er is using me!*

Qi Yan'er's bright eyes rolled playfully as she waved her little hand. "Whatever, I'll give you a chance, Blondie Xiao. Spar with me! As long as you can defeat me, we can drop this whole business of breaking off the engagement!" "What? A spar?"