Nalan Yanran proposed this three-year bet, which was naturally the idea of Ge Ye.

If Xiao Yan couldn't defeat Nalan Yanran after three years, then Nalan Yanran's wish would be fulfilled and she could marry Xiao Yan.

If Nalan Yanran lost to Xiao Yan, the engagement would be canceled, but it would also prove that Xiao Yan was worthy of Nalan Yanran. If Nalan Yanran pursued him again at that time, Xiao Yan could not use this as an excuse to refuse.

In other words, Nalan Yanran would not lose in any case.

Moreover, in order to ensure that she could marry Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran would certainly practice harder to ensure that she could defeat Xiao Yan, which was also a good thing for the Yunlan Sect.

Everyone understood the reason.

But why did it feel strange?

Xiao Zhan and the three elders frowned, showing suspicion between their brows.

There was nothing wrong with the logic, but why did it feel... weird?

Did Nalan Yanran really fall in love with Xiao Yan?

Xiao Zhan, who was Xiao Yan's father, frowned. He knew his son was excellent, but was he really so excellent that the future sect leader of the Yunlan Sect would marry him no matter what?

Moreover, Xiao Yan's Dao Qi had been stagnating for some reason, and no one could guarantee that they could solve this problem. If Xiao Yan really lost to Nalan Yanran, she would end up marrying a useless husband. Did she not care about that?

Xiao Yan quietly looked at Nalan Yanran, feeling slightly uneasy.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yan once again clasped his fists and solemnly replied, "I accept this three-year agreement."

"What?! Why did you accept?!" As soon as Xiao Yan finished speaking, Xiao Mei exploded. "She's the one who begged and pleaded to marry you, why... wah wah wah!!!"

"Can you please keep your mouth shut?!"

Xiao Ning quickly came behind Xiao Mei with his crutch and covered her mouth with one hand to prevent her from speaking recklessly.

Nalan Yanran ignored Xiao Mei and looked at Ge Ye.

"Elder Ge Ye, please put the gift down, Xiao Yan may need it in the future."

After speaking, Nalan Yanran turned and left the reception hall, glancing at Xiao Xun'er deeply before departing.

Both of them saw the flames of a formidable rival in each other's gaze.

Nalan Yanran knew that the impulsive and brainless little girl, Xiao Mei, was not her true enemy, but rather Xiao Xun'er with her cold calculation was.

"Niece Nalan, Elder Ge Ye, please take care on your way back!"

Xiao Zhan and the three elders stood up to see their guests off. And so, Yunlan Sect left Wutan City in a grand and imposing manner, leaving the city to return to its former calmness.

After Yunlan Sect had left, everyone returned to the reception hall. Xiao Ning also released his hand covering Xiao Mei's mouth, only to be met with a hard heel stomp on his foot.

"Xiao Ning! Have you no manners?! How dare you stop me, your aunt?!"

Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Ning's collar and angrily reprimanded him. The second elder, who was standing by, couldn't bear to watch any longer.

"Let go! Do you know how much disgrace you have done?!!"

"Tsk!"

Seeing her grandfather really getting angry, Xiao Mei let go of Xiao Ning, who was grinning awkwardly, and came to Xiao Yan's side, scolding him.

"Cousin Xiao Yan! How could you agree to her? You won't be able to beat her in three years looking like this!"

"Can't you be silent like a mute for a minute!"

Xiao Xun'er finally couldn't hold it in any longer and hit Xiao Mei on the head with a hammer. This little girl spoke whatever was on her mind, wasn't she just saying that Xiao Yan was useless?

"But, but..." Xiao Mei covered her head and looked aggrieved. "If cousin Xiao Yan really loses in three years, he'll be taken away by Nalan Yanran!"

After speaking, Xiao Mei ran straight into Xiao Yan's arms and hugged him tightly like a koala, crying.

"Waaaaa!!! Don't go! I don't want cousin Xiao Yan to leave!!!"

"Ahaha..."

Looking at Xiao Mei clinging to him like this, Xiao Yan smiled wryly and lifted her off of him, while Xiao Zhan looked at his son with guilt.

Regardless of Xiao Yan's own wishes, whether it was breaking off the engagement or getting married, it was all up to the other party's whim. This made Xiao Zhan, as a father, feel extremely uncomfortable.

It was true that Nalan Yanran wanted to marry Xiao Yan, and it sounded like a happy occasion with the Xiao Clan making a great match.

But Nalan Yanran's attitude undoubtedly metaphorized that the will of the Xiao Clan is insignificant, even is that's not her intention.

"Sorry, Yan'er." Xiao Zhan's hand under his sleeve tightened into a fist. "If the Xiao Clan wasn't so down an, you wouldn't have been forced to agree."

Just now, Nalan Yanran asked if Xiao Yan dared to accept, but could he refuse?

It was no longer a matter of whether Xiao Yan wanted to accept it or not, but he had to accept it.

The three-year agreement was the result of Nalan Yanran taking the initiative to compromise.

If Xiao Yan didn't accept it, Nalan Yanran would definitely stay here and force him to marry her.

Such a situation would be detrimental to both the Xiao Clan and the Yunlan Sect.

As the pride of the Nalan family and the young master of the Yunlan Sect, being trapped in a small Xiao Clan in Wutan City and forced to marry a waste would damage both families' reputation.

If this news spread, the Nalan family would be fine, as they had a marriage contract with the Xiao Clan. However, the Yunlan Sect's reputation would be ruined.

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It would be even worse for the Xiao Clan. Those who knew the inside story would think that the Xiao Clan didn't know how to behave, while those who didn't would think that they lacked self-awareness.

Nalan Yanran's three-year agreement left no room for Xiao Yan to choose.

"Cousin Xiao, I shouldn't have interrupted earlier, but I think you can accept it," Xiao Ning said, laughing as he approached and put his arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder. "The Nalan family is wealthy, and Nalan Yanran herself is beautiful, and she's the future young master of the Yunlan Sect. It's a win-win situation, don't you think?"

"Well, I think Cousin Xiao Ning makes a good point."

Xiao Yan nodded seriously, then turned and grabbed Xiao Ning's shoulders with both hands, turning him around to face Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, who were black-faced and emanating Dou Qi.

"So now, you have to face the wrath of your two sisters."

Ignoring Xiao Ning's screams of pain, Xiao Yan turned to Xiao Zhan again.

He clasped his hands together and spoke solemnly.

"Father, please don't blame yourself. The decline of our family is not a one-day event. It's normal for a family to rise and fall. Moreover, including me, the Xiao Clan's descendants have already received so much kindness from the family, far better than ordinary families. Why should you feel guilty about this?"

After hearing Xiao Yan's comforting words, the three elders nodded repeatedly, and Xiao Zhan's eyes were filled with deep relief.

His son was really sensible.

Sensible people are heart-wrenching.

At this point, Xiao Zhan looked at the gifts left by Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye when they left, one of which was a small box that caught his eye. He took it and opened it, then took a deep breath.

"This is... a Qi Gathering Pill?!"

As the three elders looked at the emerald-sized pill in the box, their eyes widened in amazement.

In their small Xiao Clan, it would take years to come across a genuine pill, let alone a pill as precious as this.

"As expected of the Yunlan Sect. They sure know how to make a grand gesture," said the elder stroking his beard, while the second elder spoke softly.

"Since it was given to Xiao Yan, let the clan leader keep it for now."

Upon hearing the second elder's words, both the elder and the second elder nodded in agreement.

Years ago, when Xiao Yan's talent had yet to fall, he often taught the Xiao Clan's children about the many principles that were completely opposite to the law of the jungle in the training room.

Gradually, these teachings also reached the ears of the three elders.

At first, the three elders dismissed Xiao Yan's teachings, but he was still the genius youth of the family at that time, and they didn't want to argue with him, allowing him to advocate his own ideas.

During this period, as the cohesion of the clan grew stronger and the relationships between Xiao Clan's children improved, the three elders' thinking was gradually transformed.

Eventually, they became more open-minded.

It's true, a person only lives for so long, and if you spend all your time fighting with your family members, what's the point?

Isn't it better to live in harmony, helping and respecting each other like they do now, generation after generation?

Moreover, with their talents, they knew that they could only climb so high. What's the point of becoming someone else's stepping stone?

Although the Xiao Clan is not a major force, they are comfortable in the small city of Wutan. What's wrong with that?

Since then, the three elders' desire for gain has greatly decreased, and their approach to dealing with people has become more focused on human relationships. They often feel the warmth brought by their family members, even after Xiao Yan's downfall.

As the saying goes, a harmonious family leads to everything prospering.

And all of this is thanks to Xiao Yan.

"Elders, now that Xiao Yan is like this, such a valuable item should be given to the new talents in the family. It wouldn't be fair if I receive special treatment just because I'm the son of the Xiao Clan head. This would inevitably cause dissatisfaction among other Xiao Clan members and create disharmony in the family."

However, Xiao Yan sternly declined, making the three elders slightly stunned, showing a hint of helplessness on their faces.

"I think other people should not have any objections."

That's right, other people surely won't have any objections.

All of the Xiao Clan members consider Xiao Yan as their leader, and even if he monopolizes favoritism, no one will feel dissatisfied.

Moreover, this was originally a gift given to Xiao Yan, and he has the right to have exclusive access to it.

"Everyone's lack of objections comes from their tolerant and magnanimous hearts. However, I cannot be arrogant and greedy, and take advantage of others. Therefore, this Qi Gathering Pill is too precious for me to accept." Xiao Yan didn't give the three elders a chance to argue, and continued, "Father, elders, the training of the family members is not yet over. Xiao Yan will take his leave first and go supervise them."

"Cousin Xiao Yan! Wait for me!"

After speaking, Xiao Yan turned and left the meeting hall, with Xiao Meier and Xiao Xun'er quickly following.

Looking at Xiao Yan's departure, the three elders all let out a long sigh.

"The heavens... are truly unfair..."

Xiao Zhan tightly clenched his fists, with infinite sadness in his eyes.

However, everyone ignored the sight of Xiao Ning, who was miserably beaten up by Xiao Meier and Xiao Xun'er in front of the meeting hall.

Well, he deserved it for talking too much!