Annulling the engagement and finding a new husband!
Although there were several figures in front of the bamboo house, everyone in the Xiao family was instantly captivated by one of them.
Before the bamboo grove, green bamboo leaves danced in the air, creating a picturesque scene. The ethereal young man stood there quietly.
Faced with the girl's affectionate gaze and persistent advances, he could only smile helplessly.
Because of his presence, a faint glow appeared on both sides of the mountain stream; because of his presence, it was as if one were in a fairyland.
Even the old man with his hair in a bun couldn't help but sigh: "There is such an otherworldly person in the world! Truly a born immortal, wandering among mortals!"
The eldest elder of the Xiao family was stunned at first glance. He slapped his thigh and suddenly realized,
"So what Yu'er said back then was true! It wasn't a dream! There really is such a peerless young man in this Fallen Immortal Valley!"
"Oh my god! Back then, I even advised her to stop dreaming, focus on cultivation, and stop being so lustful. If I had known this, I should have come myself to help her find her dream lover!"
"If Yu'er could marry this young man and have children for the family, then my direct lineage and looks would surely reach unprecedented heights, enough to crush all the other direct lineages!"
"What a pity! What a pity!"
The old man pounded his butt and sighed, spreading his left hand and stamping his right foot, his white hair and withered face filled with regret for his past foolishness.
"Hmm? Isn't that Xun'er?"
"And Xiao Yan, what's that kid doing here? I knew he was always nowhere to be seen, turns out he sneaked off here."
"Yan'er, what's wrong? You've actually made friends with such an outstanding young master, yet you won't introduce him to your father? There's definitely a rift between us, father and son, it truly breaks my heart!"
Seeing Xiao Yan present, and seemingly on good terms with the otherworldly youth, Xiao Zhan strode forward.
He patted Xiao Yan's shoulder, letting out a deep sigh—a true actor's performance.
Seeing his father and several elders of the Xiao family arrive, Xiao Yan was startled.
Back then, when he met Su Qingyun, he resolved to follow Brother Qingyun, and they agreed that without Su Qingyun's permission, he wouldn't reveal Su Qingyun's existence or any information, nor would he bring anyone else here.
If his father came to cause trouble, Xiao Yan truly felt he had failed Su Qingyun, and felt like dying.
"Father, what brings you here?"
"What? Only you, Xiao Yan, can come, but we elders of the family can't? You're a low-level cultivator, but you've got a lot of tricks up your sleeve."
The short-tempered Third Elder of the Xiao family glared at Xiao Yan and said irritably.
"That's right, it's one thing for you to be a good-for-nothing, but to get acquainted with such a peerless immortal spirit and not introduce him to the family is really too much of a presumptuous act. My First Elder has decided that this celestial young master will henceforth be honored as a high-ranking official of the Xiao family!"
The First Elder also spoke up. The Xiao family elders were all eager to win over Su Qingyun. In their eyes, even if Su Qingyun wasn't the disciple of that mysterious powerhouse, he was definitely someone very important to them, far from ordinary!
Seeing these elders trying to get information out of him, Xiao Yan could only manage a wry smile.
In the past three years, these elders had never patted him on the shoulder so intimately, speaking to him like close friends.
To be honest, because Xiao Yan's cultivation level had plummeted and his future was uncertain, his status in the Xiao family was currently quite low.
It's not that the Xiao family is cold-hearted, but in this dog-eat-dog world of fantasy cultivation, talent and strength are a person's most important foundation. Survival of the fittest, the victor reigns supreme—this is the truth in most families and sects.
At this moment, the conversation of the Xiao family elders reached Nalan Yanran's ears. The name 'Xiao Yan' made her tremble, her expression instantly changing.
Xiao Yan?
She couldn't have misheard, could she?
Third stage of Dou Qi—yes, before she came, she had heard that Xiao Yan's cultivation seemed to have regressed to the third stage of Dou Qi.
She hadn't expected that all the people she had come to Wutan City to find were here.
Perfect, everyone could finally speak frankly!
"Brother Qingyun, there's an obstacle blocking our way, but I'll clear it!"
Nalan Yanran smiled gently at Su Qingyun, then turned to Xiao Yan and said bluntly,
"So your name is Xiao Yan? Alright, are these all elders of the Xiao family? They can be witnesses."
"Esteemed uncles and elders of the Xiao family, I, Nalan Yanran, have come to the Xiao family this time to ask for a favor."
"As you can see, I fell in love with Brother Qingyun at first sight. We are mutually attracted, so I wish to annul my engagement with Xiao Yan and arrange another marriage to fulfill my relationship with Brother Qingyun!"
"Of course, I won't treat the Xiao family unfairly. These herbs and treasures are gifts I prepared for the Xiao family. If Xiao Yan is willing, I can even recommend him to become a disciple of the Yunlan Sect."
...
Nalan Yanran's words
shocked everyone present.
Su Qingyun's pupils dilated, and he covered his face, speechless.
"No, fine, you can annul the engagement, but it's a great achievement for the Dou Qi Continent. It will ignite the fighting spirit of our Flame Emperor, allowing him to grow rapidly and ultimately thwart the Great Boss Soul Emperor's millennium-long plan.
But what the hell is this 'exchange of marriage'? Why am I being dragged into this?
What do you mean by 'mutual affection'? When did this happen?!
How did it become 'fulfilling our wish'?
We've only known each other for less than an hour! There's no romantic development at all!
How did we suddenly become so deeply in love?!
Could you be any more hasty?!"
Xun'er's cherry lips parted slightly, her pretty face already blazing with barely suppressed anger.
This is outrageous! Absolutely outrageous!
This Nalan Yanran, she's practically taking advantage of any opportunity she gets her way!
The Dou Qi vortex within Xun'er's body was already spinning at high speed, unable to control herself!
Although Xun'er's displayed cultivation level was one or two stars lower than Nalan Yanran's, she could easily crush Nalan Yanran in a matter of minutes.
"Nalan Yanran? You're Nalan Yanran?"
"Niece Yanran, you want to annul the engagement? Do your father and the others know about this?"
Nalan Yanran's sudden revelation was like a bucket of cold water poured on Xiao Zhan and the Xiao family patriarch, gradually bringing them back to reality from their initial amazement and excitement at seeing Su Qingyun.
They all looked at Nalan Yanran.
Seeing that Nalan Yanran had directly brought up the matter of annuling the engagement, Ge Ye immediately echoed her sentiments, taking out Qi-gathering powder and many precious herbs, placing them before the Xiao family elders.
These items were indeed very valuable in Wutan City.
But these were for annuling the engagement, and the Xiao family elders, including Xiao Zhan, instantly turned pale.
Even Xiao Yan, after a moment of stunned silence, felt a surge of anger well up inside him.
How could a young man full of youthful vigor tolerate being forcibly annulted by his fiancée?
This time, however, Xiao Yan's anger didn't erupt. In his moment of fury, he glanced back at Su Qingyun, and seeing her ethereal face and composed demeanor, he immediately calmed down. He bowed to Su Qingyun and said,
"Brother Qingyun, my marriage to Nalan Yanran was an agreement made by our ancestors, but she came to annul the engagement without consulting our elders. This is a disgrace to our Xiao family.
I have no feelings for her, and this matter involves Brother Qingyun. If you truly have feelings for her, then I am willing to accept the annulment. Seeing you happy is my heart's desire. But if not, I won't be so easily swayed!"
At the lowest point in his life, Su Qingyun had guided him. Moreover, the young man was so handsome and refined; Xiao Yan had long regarded Su Qingyun as his mentor and the person he trusted most.
If Su Qingyun wanted him, he would gladly give up his fiancée, or even himself!
In an instant, all eyes were once again focused on Su Qingyun.
(End of Chapter)