"Mm."
The girl nodded slightly.
"I am Nalan Yanran."
Yun Xiu looked at her. After a few moments of silence, he finally spoke:
"You're very cute."
"Is that… a compliment?"
Nalan Yanran smiled shyly upon hearing his words.
"I suppose it is."Yun Xiu gave a soft nod.
Then his tone shifted slightly.
"You asked me to save you, but as far as I know, that man—Nalan Su—is your father.""Are you sure he means to harm you? That you need saving from him?"
Nalan Su quickly stepped in to echo Yun Xiu's logic:
"Senior speaks the truth. She is my daughter—my only daughter. How could I possibly harm her?"
"No!"
Nalan Yanran shouted in protest, tears welling up.
"You're lying!"
"Yanran, I'm your father!"Nalan Su's expression darkened."Must you speak to me this way? Come here—now."
He understood clearly now:They had run into a strong cultivator with a soft spot for interfering in others' business.
If his daughter said the wrong thing, they might all die on the spot.
This world was ruthless. The weak were prey.How could a young girl like her possibly understand that?
She had never seen the darkness of this world firsthand.At most, she might've read about it in books. That wasn't the same.
Nalan Su didn't want his precious daughter to find out the hard way what cruelty really looked like.
Yet, even as she saw her father's angry expression, Nalan Yanran stood her ground.Though her voice trembled, she shook her head firmly:
"No. I'm not going back.""Unless… you promise to break off the engagement with the Xiao family."
"I don't want my life controlled. My marriage should be my own choice. Please, Father… will you let me choose for myself?""If you agree… I'll come with you."
She began to cry—Tears streamed down her little face, innocent and sincere, utterly heartbreaking.
And after all, she was still a child.A little girl.
Sometimes, her tears could outweigh the greatest troubles in the world.
At least…That's how Nalan Su felt when he saw her crying like this. His heart shattered.
He knew how deeply she resented the marriage agreement.She had always wanted it broken, always wanted to pursue her own happiness.
Even if she was young, she had her own thoughts and dreams.She didn't want to be someone's pawn—especially not in marriage.
But that engagement had been arranged by the old master of the family—her grandfather.
Nalan Su had no say in it.
And asking for the girl's side to break the engagement?That would be a public slap to the boy's family—a complete humiliation.Her grandfather would never allow it.
So he was caught in a dilemma.
"Yanran," Nalan Su said with pained sincerity,"you know this marriage was arranged by your grandfather. I don't have the authority to change it.""Come back with me. We'll discuss it with him—try to work something out. What do you say?"
"No!"
Nalan Yanran sobbed harder, like a rain-soaked blossom.
"If I go back, he'll lock me in the dark room to reflect on my behavior again!""Since no one cares about how I feel, I'll go to the Xiao Clan and break off the engagement myself!""This is my future—we're talking about my happiness!"
"Hero, please save me!"She looked up at Yun Xiu, her tearful eyes full of hope and trust.
"What an interesting little girl," Yun Xiu murmured with a faint smile.
By now, he had understood the situation clearly:
Nalan Yanran had learned of her betrothal and had strongly rejected it.
She had begged her family to break it off, but they refused.
So she ran away.Only to be tracked down and surrounded again.
Yun Xiu had misunderstood, thinking a group was bullying a lone child.
But it turned out to be a family affair.
Still…Looking at her now, she seemed to have completely latched on to him.
Strange… where did this little girl get the courage to trust a complete stranger like me?
"So what exactly do you want me to do?" Yun Xiu asked.
"Take me somewhere far away," she answered quickly, wiping away her tears."Somewhere my father can't catch up. Just drop me off—I'll handle the rest."
"Senior, please forgive her. She's just a child—speaking nonsense. Please don't take it seriously," Nalan Su said hastily, now in full panic.
He knew that if his daughter really left with this mysterious white-robed man,he might never see her again.
"Yanran! Come back, okay? I'll agree to the annulment. Just come back first, alright?"
Nalan Su was nearly in tears.
How could his daughter be so foolish? Willingly leaving with a stranger?
What if he's a bad person?
"I'm not coming back!You're lying again!" Nalan Yanran shook her head fiercely.
Clearly, she'd heard these same words too many times.She no longer believed them.
"Come back… This time, Father isn't lying," Nalan Su pleaded softly, his voice trembling.
And he wasn't lying—not this time.
For once, he was being sincere.
"Huh..."
Hearing his father's tone, Nalan Yanran realized this time might really be different.
She hesitated.
She slowly lifted her foot, beginning to walk toward him—
But then—
Yun Xiu's calm voice cut in:
"Little one, my destination happens to be the Xiao Clan of Wu Tan City.""If you're willing… I can take you there myself."
"Really?"Nalan Yanran looked up at him, her eyes wide with surprise and joy.
"Of course."Yun Xiu nodded slightly.
"So… what do you say?""Will you come with me?"
"Yanran!"
Nalan Su panicked again.He wanted to yell at the masked youth to mind his own business—
But then he remembered…This man rode a sixth-rank magical beast.
A power like that wasn't something the Nalan Clan—or even the entire Jia Ma Empire—could afford to offend.
Nalan Yanran looked back and forth between her father and Yun Xiu—This masked youth with snow-white robes and waist-length black hair.
She hesitated.
And then—
She chose.
"I will go," she said clearly.
"Good."
Yun Xiu nodded. He gently lifted his hand—And the little girl floated up gracefully, landing lightly in front of him on the back of the Grass-Treading Horse.
"Yanran, you…"
Nalan Su was overwhelmed with fear and helplessness.
He wanted to stop her—
But as a mere Dou Ling, he knew:He wouldn't even survive a kick from that magical beast, let alone challenge its master.
Nalan Yanran seemed to sense her father's fear.She looked back at him and spoke softly:
"Don't worry, Father. I'll be fine.""Once I've gone to the Xiao Clan and annulled the engagement, I'll come back home."