Chapter 125: Three Years and This Is All You've Got

"Nalan Barrier, it was him yesterday..." Ling Lin hid behind Nalan Yanran, whispering a little report.

The moment she saw Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran roughly guessed that the one bold enough to strike so ruthlessly could only be Xiao Yan. Even a direct disciple of Yun Lan Sect's Sect Master had two fingers broken just the same.

Xiao Yan simply didn't know how to cherish a beauty.

Xiao Yan naturally heard what Ling Lin said. After a sidelong glance, he said casually, "Someone threw the first punch. Not actually hitting back was already giving her face."

"You!"

"Hm?!" Xiao Yan's brow furrowed, instantly scaring Ling Lin into shrinking back, not daring to make a sound.

"Junior Sister Yanran, my apologies. The clan has had much to attend to these past two days; I nearly neglected our honored guests." Just then, a clear, bright laugh suddenly rang out from beyond the main gate. Immediately after, a rather handsome-looking young man strode in beaming, addressing Nalan Yanran with an affectionate smile.

Looking at the young man's grinning appearance, Xiao Yan guessed this was probably one of Nalan Yanran's suitors.

"Senior Brother Mo Li, you're too kind." Nalan Yanran nodded, her smile reserved, not softening in the slightest at the burning look in the young man's eyes.

Seeing Nalan Yanran's lukewarm smile, a flash of disappointment swiftly crossed the eyes of the young man called Mo Li.

Several years of association, and she still seemed to have no such feelings for him. This truly left him somewhat dispirited.

Mo Li smiled and said, "Junior Sister Yanran, come with me to the Mo Family later. It happens to be on the way."

Hearing this, Nalan Yanran hesitated slightly, glanced at Ge Ye, then took a deep look at Xiao Yan, and promptly nodded.

Noticing Nalan Yanran's gaze, Mo Li looked at Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong and asked, "Who might these two be?"

Ge Ye hurriedly said, "They're friends of mine and Yanran's, also here to offer birthday congratulations."

"Oh, I see, then by all means come along." Mo Li invited.

Hai Bodong instantly felt something was off. One had to know that Xiao Yan hadn't come today to offer birthday congratulations—he was here to burn incense for Mo Cheng!

Could this count as letting the wolf into the fold?

However, Xiao Yan did not refuse. Since someone was willing to lead him into the Mo Family, he couldn't be bothered to sneak in himself.

Before long, the group rode by carriage and arrived at the Mo Family headquarters.

True to its reputation as the most powerful faction in the eastern provinces of the Jia Ma Empire, the Mo Family's heavily fortified stronghold alone must have cost an untold fortune to build.

Xiao Yan used his Soul Force to sweep roughly over the top of the stronghold. In the airspace above, there were at least a dozen overlapping lines of sight sealing off every angle. Anyone attempting to enter from the sky would immediately be shot full of arrows by the countless bolts hidden in the shadows, turned into a porcupine.

"Good thing I didn't think about flying in."

Following Nalan Yanran and the others, Xiao Yan and Hai Bodong entered the Mo Family with great ease.

Upon reaching the Hall, Xiao Yan exchanged a look with Hai Bodong. Xiao Yan remained in the Hall while Hai Bodong secretly infiltrated the Mo Family to search for traces of Qing Lin.

"Haha, Nalan niece! I didn't expect you to come in person today. Your presence truly brings glory to our entire Mo Family!" Seeing Nalan Yanran arrive, Mo Cheng—as the host of this occasion—beamed even more broadly, stepping forward to address her with great warmth and a loud laugh.

Xiao Yan casually found a seat, his eyes locked on Mo Cheng, particularly staring into Mo Cheng's eyes. Only after confirming Mo Cheng's eyes were not the Qi San Hua Tong did Xiao Yan finally breathe a complete sigh of relief—at least this confirmed Qing Lin was still safe.

Listening to Mo Cheng chattering away in the hall about alliances and mergers, Xiao Yan felt nothing but boredom. Once Hai Bodong found Qing Lin, Xiao Yan would immediately make Mo Cheng pay the price for what he had done. He had no time to bother with any Mo Alliance.

It was unclear how long Mo Cheng had been speaking when suddenly Hai Bodong appeared behind Xiao Yan. Seeing that Qing Lin was not beside Hai Bodong, Xiao Yan asked in confusion, "Hai Lao, did something happen? Where is Qing Lin?"

Just last night, Xiao Yan had even drawn a portrait of Qing Lin from memory. With Qing Lin's emerald-green hair, she should have been easy to find.

Hai Bodong shook his head and said, "I searched every single room in the entire Mo Family and didn't find the girl you mentioned. She's probably hidden in a secret chamber."

Xiao Yan sighed inwardly, slowly raised his head to look at the triumphant Mo Cheng in the hall, and said calmly, "Too bad. If he'd let me rescue Qing Lin smoothly, perhaps he could have still paid some blood money to buy back his life."

Mo Cheng had missed his best chance.

Xiao Yan crossed his leg, gently stirred the tea leaves in his teacup, and his voice, carrying Dou Qi, spread throughout the entire Hall: "Mo Cheng, where is the girl you abducted from Shimo City a few days ago?"

!!!!!!!!

The Hall, which had been somewhat noisy a moment ago, fell silent in an instant. Everyone turned to look at Xiao Yan; every word he had just said had been heard clearly by all.

"The Grand Elder abducted a girl?"

"Speaking of which, who is this young man? How dare he question the Grand Elder in public like this!"

Upon hearing Xiao Yan's words, Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye were struck as if by a bolt from a clear sky. They finally understood the reason Xiao Yan had come to Yan City! He was here to take someone back! It was over—they had let the wolf into the fold!

Mo Cheng's face instantly darkened. He said coldly, "Who might you be?"

Xiao Yan looked up at Mo Cheng and said, "Xiao Yan."

Xiao Yan felt not the slightest fear of the Mo Family, too lazy even to use a false name.

"Xiao Yan!! You're Yanran's betrothed!!" Mo Li, seated beside Nalan Yanran, shot to his feet! As Nalan Yanran's suitor, he naturally knew of Xiao Yan, and even knew of the Three-Year Agreement Nalan Yanran had made with Xiao Yan!

Hai Bodong and everyone present looked at Xiao Yan, then at Nalan Yanran. Well, well! So these two were a pair!!

Mo Cheng also recalled such a figure as Xiao Yan. He gave a cold laugh and said, "Heh, although you are indeed Nalan niece's betrothed, I heard you've already been cast off, and something about a Three-Year Agreement. If you think you can cause trouble in my Mo Family on the strength of that identity, you are gravely mistaken."

Back then, the young Nalan Yanran had a betrothal and wished to break it off. This matter was no small thing even within Yun Lan Sect. After Ge Ye returned, he concealed the fact that Nalan Yanran had been defeated, instead reporting that the two sides had failed to reach an agreement and had arranged to decide the betrothal through a duel three years later.

Once Ge Ye put it that way, everyone naturally assumed Xiao Yan was unwilling to accept it and was trying to cling on stubbornly.

But no one could have expected the truth was the exact opposite.

Mo Cheng gave Mo Li a look. Mo Li immediately understood, stepped in front of Nalan Yanran, drew his long sword, and said, "Xiao Yan, you have no right to challenge Yanran!"

"I'm challenging her?" Has the rumor really spread this far now? Are you still half-asleep, or did you Transmigrate?

With a hum, Mo Li circulated his Dou Qi. In an instant, Dou Qi armored his entire body, and the Spiritual Pressure of a Three-Star Great Dou Shi erupted. He pointed his sword at Xiao Yan and said, "My strength is on par with Yanran's. If you want to challenge her, you'll have to get past me first!"

Xiao Yan raised an eyebrow and looked toward Nalan Yanran. Because something on Nalan Yanran's body blocked Soul Force Perception, Xiao Yan had no idea what her exact Cultivation Realm was.

"You're on par with her?"

"Exactly!"

"Interesting."

Xiao Yan stroked his chin, looked at Mo Cheng, and said, "Don't say I didn't give you a chance. Before I find things getting boring, if you bring Qing Lin here, I'll spare your Mo Family. Otherwise, today's joyous occasion at the Mo Family will become a funeral."

Mo Cheng's eyes turned cold, and he said darkly, "No matter who you are, the Mo Family is not a place you can run wild!"

Xiao Yan shook his head. It seemed this man was the type who wouldn't shed tears until he saw his own coffin.

Slowly sitting back down, Xiao Yan picked up the hot tea on the table and sipped it unhurriedly, saying calmly, "Before the tea cools is the Mo Family's last chance."

Seeing Xiao Yan had completely ignored him, a flash of killing intent crossed Mo Li's eyes. Whether Xiao Yan had been cast off or not, the title of Nalan Yanran's betrothed kindled fury in his heart, as if he himself had been cuckolded.

"You will pay the price! Qing Mu Sword Art!!"

Mo Li's figure exploded forward, the longsword in his hand transforming into a streak of green light that thrust straight at Xiao Yan's throat. He had no intention of sparring at all—he meant to kill Xiao Yan!

"It's the Yun Lan Sect Profound Class Dou Technique, Qing Mu Sword Art!"

"Mo Li truly is a genius on par with Nalan Yanran—he's actually cultivated the Qing Mu Sword Art to Great Completion!"

*Pa*—under the stunned expressions of everyone present, a wisp of blood-red flame surfaced at Xiao Yan's fingertip, gently pressing against the tip of Mo Li's sword.

Xiao Yan's brows knit tightly. He turned his head to look at Nalan Yanran behind Mo Li and asked in a tone tinged with a trace of doubt: "In three years, this is all you've chased after?"

(End of this chapter)