"In the Xiao Family Hall,"
Lou King walked forward and approached Nalan Yanran. He stood there, observing her intently. Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye were also looking back at Lou King. Seeing them staring, Lou King looked at them and said, "You can call me Lou King."
When Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye heard Lou King's words, they were shocked. They had heard of his name before. Because of the connection regarding Xiao Yan and Nalan Yanran's engagement, they were well-aware of the geniuses of the family. They knew of the genius who had reached the level of Dou Zhe at the age of only 12, but for some unknown reason, had been unable to progress further. This was why they recognized who Lou King was.
Lou King looked at Nalan Yanran and asked, "Nalan Yanran, may I ask-who exactly has come here to the Xiao family to break this engagement? Is it the Young Lady of the Nalan family, or is it the Young Successor of the Misty Cloud Sect (Yun Lan Sect), or is it simply a genius girl who wants to break her own engagement?"
Upon hearing Lou King's words, everyone shifted their gaze toward him. Then, all eyes turned toward Nalan Yanran. She felt a heavy pressure wash over her-not a pressure of magical power, but the suffocating weight of everyone's expectations and judgment. Gathering her courage, Nalan Yanran spoke: "Lou King, what do you mean by that?"
Lou King looked at her and replied, "Nalan Yanran, you should know this: if you are here as the Young Lady of the Nalan family to cancel this bond, then your family heads-Nalan Jie or Nalan Su-should be the ones here to dissolve it. If you are here as the Young Successor of the Misty Cloud Sect, then your Sect Master should have accompanied you to officially call off the engagement. But if you are just a 'genius girl' standing here alone to break the engagement, then your own strength is simply not enough to do so."
Listening to Lou King's words, Nalan Yanran was unable to say anything. He could only clench his fists tightly, pressing his nails into his palms.
Lou King gestured toward Xiao Yan. Xiao Yan immediately understood Lou King's intent; he rose from his seat and walked over to stand beside Lou King and Nalan Yanran.
Lou King raised his hand and placed it firmly on Xiao Yan's shoulder.
Looking at him, Lou King asked, "Xiao Yan, would you like to say something regarding this matter?"
"Thanks Brother Lou King "
"Mr. Ge Ye, it would be better if you kept this pill with you. We might not accept your request!"
The entire main hall fell silent, and every gaze fixed upon Xiao Yan's innocent face.
"Xiao Yan, you have no right to speak right now. Be quiet!" the face of one elder turned dark with rage as he shouted at Xiao Yan.
"Xiao Yan, stay calm. I know you aren't happy about this, but we will decide what happens!" another much older elder said to him.
"Three elders, if the marriages of your sons or grandsons were being broken today, would you still say the same?" Xiao Yan looked toward the elders with a mocking smile on his lips. Since it was clear the three elders were treating him with such disdain, why should he show them any respect?
"You..." After hearing Xiao Yan's words, the three elders had no answer. The hot-tempered third elder even began to release his Dou Qi in anger.
"Three elders, Xiao Yan ge-ge is not wrong. He is the victim of this incident, so you cannot make the decision for him." Lou King's clear voice echoed through the hall.
Upon hearing Lou King's voice, the elders' arrogance wavered. After looking at each other in distress, they nodded and sat back down; because what had been said was absolutely true, they could do nothing.
As Lou King finished speaking, Xiao Yan stepped forward quickly and bowed respectfully before his father, Xiao Zhan. Then, he turned toward Nalan Yanran. Taking a deep breath, he asked: "Lady Nalan, I wish to ask a question. Regarding your arrival here to break this engagement-did Grandfather Nalan give his permission for this?"
Nalan Yanran had been feeling uncomfortable ever since Xiao Yan stepped out from his corner. Now, hearing his question, her brows furrowed. 'This boy... at first I thought he was decent, but he is actually quite shameless. Does he really want to embarrass me?'
While criticizing Xiao Yan in her mind, Nalan Yanran never considered how much embarrassment and anger this cancellation would cause Xiao Yan and his father.
Standing up and glaring at her betrothed, Nalan Yanran said: "Grandfather has not given permission. However! This is my own matter and has nothing to do with him."
"Since Grandfather has said nothing, then I hope you will forgive my father for not accepting your request. Our marriage was fixed by both our grandfathers, and until one of them speaks of breaking this bond, this marriage remains intact. Otherwise, those who attempt to break this union are insulting their ancestors! I do not think there is anyone in our clan so worthless as to commit such a shameful act." Xiao Yan tilted his head and looked directly at the three elders.
By using such a derogatory label, Xiao Yan forced the elders into silence. In this strict clan, insulting one's ancestors was such a grave sin that they could even lose their positions as elders.
"You..." After being cut off by Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran was left without an argument. Her face turned pale, and her pride flared as she stomped her foot in frustration. Looking at the youth with hatred, she snapped: "On what conditions will you break this engagement? Was the compensation not enough? Fine, I can ask my teacher to give you three more 'Qi Gathering Powders.' Furthermore, if you wish, I can help you join the 'Faction of Misty Clouds' and learn the best Dou Qi training. Is that enough?"
Hearing Nalan Yanran's attractive terms, the breathing of the three elders quickened. The youths present in the hall gulped. Joining the 'Faction of Misty Clouds'? Heavens, that was the dream of countless people...
After laying out all these conditions, Nalan Yanran raised her chin like a princess speaking to a servant. She waited for Xiao Yan's answer, fully confident that these terms were enough to drive any young man mad.
Xiao Yan became furious upon hearing Nalan Yanran's words. He clenched his fists so tightly that Nalan Yanran grew frightened and Ge Ye immediately became alert. The young man standing beside her drew his sword and pointed it toward Xiao Yan. This only fueled Xiao Yan's rage, but before he could act, Lou King placed a hand on his shoulder to calm him down. Xiao Yan composed himself; having endured so much hardship already, his mind was strong enough to understand the situation. Seeing Xiao Yan step back, Ge Ye also relaxed his stance, and the young man lowered his sword.
Observing Nalan Yanran's silence, Lou King stepped forward and spoke: "It seems Miss Nalan Yanran does not wish to speak about this, or perhaps there is another reason. Let us leave that question aside; I have another for you."
"Miss Nalan Yanran, I wish to ask: why exactly do you want to break this engagement?"
Nalan Yanran remained silent, unable to provide an answer.
Lou King continued, "Miss Nalan, if you consider Xiao Yan useless or a failure, let me inform you for your own knowledge: Xiao Yan has already reached the level of a One-Star Dou Zhe. Furthermore, as you can see, he is both handsome and distinguished."
A dead silence fell over the entire hall. No one could believe that Xiao Yan could reach the level of a One-Star Dou Zhe so quickly. Only a few days ago, he was at the Ninth Stage of Dou Zhi Qi. How could he have achieved a breakthrough so rapidly?
Upon hearing Lou King's words, Nalan Yanran, Ge Ye, Xiao Zhan, and the Elders were all left in shock. Xiao Zhan was overcome with joy, while the Elders' faces turned pale with dismay.
Ge Ye was deeply troubled. A fifteen-year-old who has already reached the Dou Zhe level could eventually reach the rank of Dou Ling or even Dou Wang. Such a person would command immense respect in the Jia Ma Empire. He realized they shouldn't have offended him, but it was now too late to turn back.
Nalan Yanran was equally stunned and anxious. She had assumed Xiao Yan was a talentless loser and that breaking the engagement would cause no stir. Now, she could no longer claim that Xiao Yan was "unworthy" of her.
Lou King, seeing Nalan Yanran lost in thought, smiled and asked another question: "Miss Nalan, is it perhaps that you are in love with someone else, and that is why you have come to break this engagement?"
Hearing this, Nalan Yanran lifted her head, shook it in denial, and replied, "No, there is no such reason."
Lou King looked toward Nalan Yanran and said, "Miss Nalan Yanran, I believe you want to break this engagement because it was arranged without your consent, and you wish to make your own choices in life. I can understand that; my own engagement to Xiao Yu was decided without her knowledge, and it took me twelve years of effort and enduring a great deal to finally win her over."
Hearing Lou King's words, Nalan Yanran nodded in agreement. She then looked toward Xiao Yu, who was currently glaring intensely at Lou King.
Lou King felt her gaze and looked back at Xiao Yu. He felt a sudden chill and a sense of dread. The look in Xiao Yu's eyes made her thoughts crystal clear: "Wait until we meet this evening; I'll deal with you then."
Lou King turned his attention back to Nalan Yanran. "Miss Nalan Yanran, does this mean you acted without thinking? By causing such a commotion and arriving in Wutan City with such a high profile to confront the Xiao family... do you have any idea what our family will have to endure because of this?"
As Lou King spoke, his voice grew heavy and laced with suppressed anger. His expression turned deadly serious. Suddenly, an immense pressure radiated through the entire hall.
Those below the level of Dou Shi felt as if a massive boulder had been placed upon them, crushing them down. Even those at the peak of the Dou Shi level felt that a single mistake now could mean their death. An icy chill spread through the hall, beginning to freeze the very Dou Qi within everyone's bodies. Ge Ye, Xiao Zhan, and the Elders could all feel their energy turning to ice.
"Dou Shi, One-Star... Ice Source Annihilator!"
[ja mare first novel hai toh esma agar story keca tana wale ja boring or lambe lagte hai ja or kuch kame lagte hai to apa loga comment me bata skta hai]
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