“Ahem.” The white-robed elder cleared his throat and rose to his feet. He clasped his hands together and smiled. “Clan Leader Wei Zhan. The reason for our visit today is to ask for your assistance in a certain matter.” “Of course, Ge Yong. Please, tell me what troubles you. If it is within my power to help, I will certainly not refuse.” Wei Zhan’s reply to the visiting elder was polite but noncommittal, making no promises until he knew the nature of the request. “Heh,” Ge Yong chuckled lightly, gesturing to the young woman beside him. “Leader Wei, do you recognize her?” “Hmm… Forgive me, but this young lady is…” Wei Zhan studied the girl for a moment before shaking his head in polite apology. When Nalan Yanran had become Yun Zhi’s disciple, she was only eight years old. Five years of study within the Faction of Misty Clouds had changed her immensely. The child he remembered had blossomed into a poised young woman. “Ah… Her name is Nalan Yanran.” “Uncle Wei, it has been a long time. It is my fault you do not recognize me,” Nalan Yanran said, her voice sweet. “Heh, Yanran, so it is you. I heard you had been accepted as a disciple by Yun Zhi herself. I thought it was just a baseless rumor, but to see it is true… You must possess an incredible talent,” Wei Zhan complimented. “I was merely fortunate…” Nalan Yanran smiled faintly, but a clear discomfort settled upon her. Beneath the table, she gave Ge Yong’s robe a subtle tug. “Heh, Leader Wei, my request does, in fact, concern Yanran. Furthermore, it comes at the behest of our faction leader…” Ge Yong’s smile remained, but at the mention of the faction leader, it tightened, his expression growing serious. Wei Zhan’s own smile vanished. The leader of the Faction of Misty Clouds was one of the most powerful figures in the Da Lang Empire. He, a minor clan leader, would not dare to offend her. But what could someone of her stature possibly need from the Wei Clan? Ge Yong had said it was related to Yanran… could it be? A dreadful thought flickered through Wei Zhan’s mind. The corner of his mouth twitched, and his steady hand began to tremble, thankfully hidden within the folds of his long sleeve. Forcing the thought down, he asked in a strained voice, “Mister Ge Yong, please tell me the faction’s request.” “Err…” Ge Yong hesitated, but a vision of how highly the faction leader regarded Yanran flashed in his mind, and he steeled himself. “Leader Wei, you know how strict the rules of our faction are. The faction leader holds Yanran in very high esteem; she is being groomed as the next successor. However, a special rule dictates that a future faction leader cannot have any ties to a man before she officially takes her position…” Taking a shallow breath, Ge Yong pressed on. “When our leader inquired about this, she learned of the marriage engagement between Yanran and the Wei Clan. Therefore, the faction leader asks… that you cancel this marriage.” With a faint crack, the jade cup in Wei Zhan’s hand dissolved into a fine powder. A dead silence fell over the main hall. The three clan elders, at first shocked by Ge Yong’s words, soon shot glances at Wei Zhan, their expressions a mixture of undisguised glee and ridicule. Heh, how will you get out of this one? the three of them thought. The younger clan members, who knew nothing of the engagement between Wei Lang and Nalan Yanran, whispered amongst themselves. As their parents explained, their faces lit up with understanding, and their gazes toward Wei Lang filled with contempt and mockery. Seeing Wei Zhan’s thunderous expression, Nalan Yanran lowered her head, nervously twisting her fingers in her lap. “Leader Wei, I know this is an outrageous request, but it is the faction leader’s will. Please, for all our sakes, annul the engagement…” Ge Yong let out a helpless breath, his voice dropping to a low whisper. Wei Zhan’s hands curled into fists at his sides. A faint, green Dou Qi began to seep from his body, coalescing before him into the roaring, ethereal head of a lion. Wei Clan’s secret Qi Method: Furious Lion’s Rage! Level: Middle Xuan! Ge Yong’s face grew stern at Wei Zhan’s reaction. He shifted, placing Yanran behind him as a viridian Dou Qi gathered in his eagle-claw-like hands, shimmering with the sharp, illusory forms of tiny swords. Faction of Misty Cloud’s Qi Method: Green Wood Sword! Level: Low Xuan! As the two masters released their Dou Qi, the younger, weaker members in the hall grew pale, a heavy pressure tightening their chests. Just as Wei Zhan’s breathing grew ragged with fury, the three elders roared as one. Their voices cracked like thunder through the hall: “Wei Zhan, STOP! Do you forget your position as Clan Leader?!” Wei Zhan went rigid. Slowly, painstakingly, the Dou Qi around him dissipated. He collapsed back into his chair, his gaze falling upon the lowered head of Yanran, his expression devoid of emotion. At last, he spoke, his voice a dry rasp. “Nalan, you have courage. Nalan Cheng must be truly proud to have such a daughter.” Nalan Yanran flinched. “Uncle Wei…” “No. You will call me Clan Leader Wei from now on. I am not worthy of the title ‘Uncle.’ You are the future leader of the Faction of Misty Clouds, destined to be one of the most powerful figures on the Dou Qi continent. My Wei Lang is a boy of modest talent. He does not deserve you.” “Thank you, Clan Leader Wei.” A wave of relief washed over Ge Yong’s face. He bowed apologetically. “Clan Leader Wei, our faction leader understands that today’s request is a great imposition. Therefore, she has sent a gift. Please accept it as an apology.” Ge Yong touched a simple ring on his finger, and a box carved from a single piece of luminous green jade appeared in his hand. He carefully opened the lid, and an intoxicating fragrance suffused the entire hall. All who breathed it in felt their spirits instantly refreshed. Overcome with curiosity, the three elders craned their necks to see the contents. Their eyes widened. “Qi Gathering Powder?”

Chapter 5: An unwelcome proposition