Blame that Nalan Yanran. You could have stayed in the family to train and then entered Canaan Academy step by step," Xiao Yu murmured, her voice low and sullen.
"This world is harsh," he added, "but I have the potential to become strong.
That alone makes me luckier than most, so I must strive forward."
Xiao Yu fell silent, hearing the weight in his words. His maturity, at such a young age, tugged at her heart.
He had only just passed the coming-of-age ceremony and yet bore the future of the family on his shoulders.
"If you get tired, come back to me," Xiao Yu whispered near his ear.
"Mm." Xiao Jian nodded slightly, smiling softly.
Hearing his calm reply, Xiao Yu finally let go of him.
Xiao Jian released her, waved lightly, and turned to leave.
The morning sun stretched his shadow long across the courtyard.
Yet even the longest shadow eventually shortens with the passing of time, until it vanishes entirely.
Watching him go, Xiao Yu rubbed her tired eyes and turned back toward the estate.
She too needed to train harder.
Imperial Capital, Nalan Mansion
Nalan Su dodged desperately as his father, Nalan Jie, thundered behind him with a cane.
Nalan Jie's face was twisted with fury, tinged with an unnatural gray-black, as he chased his son relentlessly.
Nalan Su could only sigh. He had merely led troops to the Empire's western territories for a year, yet his audacious daughter had dared to break off the marriage arranged by the elder himself.
Though nothing too scandalous had happened in Wu Tan City, everyone in the Imperial Capital now knew why Nalan Yanran had gone to the Xiao family.
And Nalan Jie, ever proud, could not allow such a thing to go unpunished.
Adding insult to injury, recent intelligence reported that Xiao Jian was no longer powerless.
In less than a year and a half, he had advanced to a four-star Dou Master....a terrifying aptitude even the Nalan family had to take seriously.
Rumors of the broken engagement had already become the talk of the city, stoking Nalan Jie's fury.
Had his body not been in poor condition, he would have stormed straight to Yunlan Mountain himself.
"Father, please stop hitting me! Take care of your body.
I'll go to Yunlan Mountain to clarify things with Yanran," Nalan Su said quickly, seeing his father's weak state.
"Clarify what? If Yanran didn't lie about what happened with the Xiao family, the Nalan family is completely ruined! She foolishly thinks she got her way, but in reality, that Xiao boy was smarter than her, giving her the illusion of victory!" Nalan Jie roared, veins throbbing in his forehead.
"Father, isn't that too harsh?" Nalan Su frowned.
"Questioning me? Think about it....if you were broken off, could you remain calm and smooth over things to minimize losses? No one in Wu Tan City knows Xiao Jian was rejected.
But now, everyone in the Imperial Capital thinks the Nalan family is petty.
Even if Yanran reconciles with Xiao Jian later, it only proves the Nalan family's prideful nature!"
Nalan Jie was so enraged he shook Nalan Su violently, his frail body trembling.
"So what now?" Nalan Su asked, speechless.
"How should I know? I won't live much longer. Yanran is now a disciple of Yun Yun and the junior sect master of Yunlan Sect.
She no longer regards the Nalan family. Your daughter.....deal with it yourself!"
Exhausted, Nalan Jie dropped his cane and staggered away.
"sigh…" Nalan Su muttered, staring after him. Between the stubborn old man and his headstrong daughter, he felt trapped.
"Prepare the horses!" he decided. He had to speak with Nalan Yanran directly. She was the daughter of a four-star Dou Master, after all.
Meanwhile, Xiao Jian was riding swiftly along the road.
It wasn't to practice Dou Qi Mounting per se. He simply didn't want to waste time walking. Riding preserved his Dou Qi, even if it wasn't faster than running.
Moreover, he had just advanced to a five-star Dou Master.
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