Chapter Sixteen: Xiao Yan’s Humiliation and Fury

"Is this all you have to offer? Aren’t you ashamed to show it, afraid of being laughed at?"
Xun’er could no longer bear it and stepped forward, ready to defend Xiao Yan.
It was simply intolerable that the family elders had joined forces with outsiders to bully Xiao Yan.
Lin An glanced at Xun’er. At this moment, as she stood up for Xiao Yan, Lin An was fully prepared for such a situation.
"As far as I know, the Cloud Mist Sect possesses a ground-level martial skill called 'Sunset Radiance of the Wind.' If you can produce this skill, perhaps I might convince Brother Xiao Yan to agree to the annulment!"
Xun'er's words made it clear to everyone: to annul the engagement? Pure wishful thinking.
Given her identity and background, she had never really regarded the Cloud Mist Sect as anything significant.
"Do you think Xiao Yan could compare to a ground-level martial skill?"
Lin An’s sarcasm was unmistakable.
"In my heart, even an earth-level martial skill could never compare to Brother Xiao Yan!" Xun’er replied firmly.
"Unfortunately... your words do not represent Xiao Yan."
"I believe that after three years of humiliation, Xiao Yan must be weary. He longs for strength, to regain his former talent. As long as there’s a sliver of hope, he will never give up. Am I right?"
Lin An ignored Xun’er and looked directly at Xiao Yan.
"You’re not wrong, but if you expect me to forsake my dignity and the honor of my family, you underestimate me, Xiao Yan!"
After a moment of struggle, Xiao Yan spoke these words.
"I can understand that. But what if I insist that this marriage must be annulled today?" Lin An stood before Nalan Yanran, as if declaring his dominance.
Even Nalan Yanran's gaze toward Lin An began to change.
She had brought her junior disciple along mainly as a tool, not expecting anything from him—just his presence at her side sufficed.
Yet, she hadn’t expected he would speak so forcefully for her sake.
"This is the prepared annulment letter. If you sign it, you’ll not only receive these items, but I can also help you regain your former cultivation talent. With these resources, you’ll advance rapidly in a short time!"
Lin An took the annulment letter from Nalan Yanran and handed it to Xiao Yan.
It was clear that Lin An’s actions gave no regard to Xiao Yan or the Xiao family’s dignity.
"Men die for wealth, birds for food. Surely you, Xiao Yan, understand this principle?"
After all, Xiao Yan was a young man of the twenty-first century; he couldn’t possibly be ignorant of such truths.

Xiao Yan clenched his fists tightly, fury blazing in his heart. To be humiliated in such a manner—anyone would find it intolerable. Yet he truly needed those resources; for the sake of becoming stronger, he was willing to do whatever it took.
"I wish I could kill you!"
Xiao Yan gritted his teeth, his murderous intent laid bare, making it seem as if he might act at any moment.
Nalan Yanran, standing behind Lin An, was startled by Xiao Yan’s resentful stare and involuntarily stepped back.
A loud slap suddenly echoed through the hall. Xiao Yan’s body flipped through the air several times before crashing heavily to the floor, cracking the tiles beneath him.
The unexpected scene stunned everyone present; no one had anticipated such a turn in the next instant.
Xiao Yan’s head spun as he dazedly held his swollen face. The abruptness of it left not only Xiao Yan, but even Nalan Yanran and Elder Ge Ye, bewildered.
Who would have thought that Lin An would deliver such a resounding slap simply because of the fierce look in Xiao Yan’s eyes?
"Lin An, what do you think you’re doing?" Ge Ye asked awkwardly.
Xiao Zhan abruptly rose from the patriarch’s seat, fighting energy surging around him. Seeing his son so humiliated, he was both powerless and furious, but for the family’s sake, he could only endure.
Yet Lin An’s merciless slap ignited Xiao Zhan’s rage, though Lin An was but a junior; if Xiao Zhan acted, Elder Ge Ye would surely intervene.
Some family elders even whispered warnings in Xiao Zhan’s ear.
Xun’er’s body radiated noble golden light; her gaze was cold, as if Lin An had touched her very limits.
"Do you think that, just because you’re from the Cloud Mist Sect, Yun Yun’s disciple, you can do whatever you please before me?"
"Today, I’ll show you that even if Yun Shan himself were here, he couldn’t protect you."
Though young, Xun’er’s palm faintly formed a small golden seal, releasing a power that sent chills through the hall.
Meanwhile, an elder from the Gu clan, who had long watched over Xun’er, silently appeared outside the hall, keeping a close eye on the situation.
Clearly, if a fight broke out inside, he would not hesitate to intervene.
"Xun’er, this is my affair. Step back!"
Just as the tension threatened to erupt, Xiao Yan spoke up.
"Brother Xiao Yan, let me teach these arrogant fools a lesson!" Xun'er said.
"I said, this is mine to handle!"

Xiao Yan climbed to his feet, wiped the blood from his lips, and slowly approached Lin An.
"I can agree to sign the annulment letter."
"You promised you could help me regain my cultivation talent, correct?"
"That’s right."
"Good, that is one condition!"
"And I want to make a wager with you: three years from now, I will personally come to the Cloud Mist Sect and return today’s humiliation—yours and Nalan Yanran’s—back to you both!"
Xiao Yan spoke each word with deliberate emphasis, clearly deeply provoked by Lin An’s slap.
"As you wish," Lin An replied coolly.
He hadn’t expected the slap to provoke Xiao Yan so greatly, turning the original three-year promise between him and Nalan Yanran into a new challenge between himself and Xiao Yan.
This was beyond Lin An’s expectations.
"Hand me your ring. Within half a day, I’ll restore your cultivation talent!" Lin An said calmly.
Xiao Yan was somewhat doubtful, surprised that the possibility of regaining his talent could be connected to his ring.
"Rest assured, I have no interest in your ring. I’ll return it to you in due time," Lin An said with disdain.
Still uncertain, Xiao Yan handed over the ring.
Though the ring was his mother’s keepsake, it seemed utterly unremarkable; he couldn’t believe that anyone from the Cloud Mist Sect would covet such an unknown item.
Besides, if there were anything unusual about it, his father, Xiao Zhan, would surely have noticed.
Lin An took the ring from Xiao Yan, his face expressionless, but inwardly he was elated.
With the ring in his possession, his primary objective for this visit was now accomplished.