"Bringing a child with her to break off the engagement?"
"A little punk?"
Hearing what Qi Yan'er said, Nalan Yanran was full of doubt.
"What does 'little punk' mean?"
Qi Yaner's big eyes blinked with innocent confusion.
"My daddy said a little punk is a boy who harbors evil intentions toward me!"
"..."
She got it!
Ge Ye, currently in the "driver's seat," indicated that he got it.
He certainly wasn't a little punk—he was an old monster!
Wutan City.
This was a very inconspicuous little town in the Jia Ma Empire.
The three of them traveled on a flying magical beast and quickly landed outside the city.
"Wow! Is this a city? It's so big!"
Gazing at the magnificent city, Qi Yan'er's eyes were filled with excitement.
Hearing this, Ge Ye exchanged a bewildered look with Nalan Yanran.
This child... has never been inside a city before?
Nalan Yanran shrugged, feeling even more helpless inwardly toward Yan'er's daddy.
Wasn't this going a bit—nay, a whole lot—overboard with protecting a child?
Yan'er was seven years old, after all, yet she had never even set foot in a city.
"Let's go, to the Xiao Clan!"
Amidst the many envious gazes outside the city, the three of them slowly walked toward the city gate.
"Whoa, did you guys see that? That was a private flying magical beast just now!"
"Of course I saw it, but keep your voice down. Anyone who can arrive in Wutan City on a flying magical beast must have an extraordinary background!"
"You guys are missing the point entirely!"
"What? Did you notice something, big brother?"
"Are you all idiots? Didn't you see what clothes they were wearing?"
"Hiss—"
Everyone hurriedly looked toward the departing trio, and upon catching sight of those cloud-and-moon robes, they all drew in a sharp breath.
"The Misty Cloud Sect?!"
"Shh!"
The news of the Misty Cloud Sect's arrival in Wutan City quickly spread through the intelligence agents of various households to the ears of the three major clans in the city.
The Xiao Clan.
"What did you say? People from the Misty Cloud Sect are here?"
Upon hearing his subordinate's report, Patriarch Xiao Zhan immediately stood up in shock.
"Patriarch, the Misty Cloud Sect coming to Wutan City must have something to do with our Xiao Clan," the First Elder said with a gloomy expression.
The Second Elder's eyes flashed with deep thought.
"It seems they come with ill intentions. The Patriarch should prepare accordingly."
The Third Elder chimed in, "The First Elder and Second Elder are right!"
Although the tone of these three old fellows was quite nervous, sounding as if they cared about the Xiao Clan, Xiao Zhan was the head of the clan. How could he fail to hear that these three old fogies were simply hoping to watch a good show without fearing things would get too chaotic?
"Pass down the order: summon everyone in the Xiao Clan to the assembly hall."
Xiao Zhan gave the order, then looked at the three elders. "I must ask the three elders to accompany me to welcome our honored guests."
"Naturally."
The three old men hastily stood up, actually stepping out the threshold ahead of Xiao Zhan.
Judging by their eagerness, they looked as though they would miss out on a chance to butter someone up if they didn't hurry.
"Sigh—"
Xiao Zhan let out a helpless sigh behind them.
Back when his father was still alive, their Xiao Clan was considered one of the four great clans of the Jia Ma Empire, stationed right in the Imperial Capital.
But now...
"Steward Mo, go and call my third son over as well."
"Understood, Patriarch."
Steward Mo bowed respectfully and withdrew from the room.
Inside the city.
Qi Yan'er and Nalan Yanran had already arrived at the bustling street.
To her puzzlement, however, although there were quite a few people on the street, they all gave them a wide berth!
Her little head spun, and Qi Yan'er understood instantly.
It was because of the dress her Sister Yanran was wearing!
The Misty Cloud Sect was a sacred land for cultivation in the Jia Ma Empire.
Everyone considered it an honor to join the Misty Cloud Sect.
Even just being able to step inside for a visit was something one could brag about for a lifetime.
Therefore, once the people of Wutan City discovered the identities of Ge Ye and Nalan Yanran, they felt a mixture of awe and fear!
Ignoring the attention, Qi Yan'er skipped along, looking left and right. "Ooh! Candied haws! Sister Yanran, I want to eat that!"
"Alright~" Nalan Yanran replied softly.
Then, taking Qi Yan'er's small hand in hers, she walked over.
The pairing of one tall girl and one small girl added a stunning flash of color to the street.
"I want this one..."
Nalan Yanran followed the little hand with her gaze, looking somewhat bewildered. Then she skillfully scooped Qi Yan'er up into her arms. "Is this the one you want?"
"Mm~"
While they were buying the candied haws, Ge Ye had already spotted a group of people waiting respectfully nearby.
These people were none other than representatives from the three major clans of the Jia Ma Empire.
"Hahaha—"
Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa stepped forward with broad, ingratiating smiles. "Esteemed sir..."
"I have come to Wutan City, and it is not for the likes of you."
With a look of utter disdain, Ge Ye interrupted them mid-sentence, shifting his gaze instead to Xiao Zhan. "You must be Patriarch Xiao Zhan, I presume?"
"Indeed I am."
Not daring to be negligent, Xiao Zhan stepped forward.
Ge Ye stated bluntly, "My name is Ge Ye, serving as an executive of the Misty Cloud Sect. My trip to Wutan City this time is to discuss some matters with your Xiao Clan."
Thump!
As soon as Ge Ye uttered these words, the hearts of Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa trembled.
In Wutan City, the Xiao Clan, the Jialie Clan, and the Aoba Clan formed a tripartite stalemate, neither able to overcome the others.
Yet now, they discovered that the Xiao Clan actually had such a formidable backing as the Misty Cloud Sect!
Did this not mean their own clans were doomed?
Even knowing this, however, they did not dare to speak up again. The mountain that was the Misty Cloud Sect was simply too high!
"It is an honor for my Xiao Clan that you could come, sir. Please!" Xiao Zhan said, making a respectful gesture with his hand.
Ge Ye waved a hand, his gaze falling upon the two girls who were busy shopping. "No need to rush, let's wait for them..."
Wait... for them?
Hearing this, everyone turned their gazes toward the two girls, who were full of zest and showed no signs of fatigue from shopping.
These two "little ancestors"!
One never left the seclusion of the Misty Cloud Sect, and the other had never even left her village.
Now that they were out, they were like two wild horses with broken reins, having the time of their lives.
Looking at them, Ge Ye's eyes were filled with doting affection.
*My old heart... is melting away~*
*If I had a daughter like that, how happy would I be!*
"..."
Jialie Bi and Aoba Pa exchanged a glance.
Both saw the bitterness in each other's eyes. Should they leave?
They didn't dare!
Should they stay?
They could only stand there and watch in such agony!
What miserable suffering this was!
Thus, the three major clans of Wutan City, along with the onlookers, stood frozen in place, watching with eager eyes as the two girls went shopping.
Xiao Zhan frowned deeply, looking at the girl who was about the same age as his own little Yaner, a suspicion already forming in his mind.
However...
Where on earth did this little one come from?
Meanwhile.
"Third Young Master, we have honored guests at the estate. The Patriarch asks you to come to the main hall!"
Outside the door, Steward Mo's voice rang out.
"Oh."
A casual response came from inside the room, followed by the appearance of a decadent youth with pitch-black eyes.
This youth was none other than Xiao Yan, who was suffering the miserable fate of having lost his Dou Qi!
Looking at Steward Mo with a hint of curiosity, Xiao Yan asked, "Usually Father doesn't call for me no matter what happens. Could it be that today's honored guest is someone special?"
"Sigh—"
Steward Mo let out a long sigh.
He was quite advanced in years and saw through certain matters very clearly.
The ties between the Xiao Clan and the Misty Cloud Sect hung by a mere thread!
It didn't take much imagination to figure out why someone from the Misty Cloud Sect had come.
"Third Young Master, have you ever heard of Nalan Yanran?"
Ordinarily, Steward Mo shouldn't have said too much.
However, considering that this young master had treated him quite well in the past, he stepped across the line to offer a warning.
"Nalan Yanran?"
Xiao Yan's face was plastered with utter astonishment. "Isn't she that fiancée of mine whom I've never even met? What is she doing here?"
Steward Mo shook his head helplessly.
"What else could she be here for, other than... Not only is she here, but I heard she's even bringing a little girl with her!"
"What?!"
Xiao Yan's face drained of color in utter shock as he cried out, "Uncle Mo, you don't mean... Nalan Yanran is bringing a child here to break off the engagement?!"