Chapter 31: Righteousness and Emotions

"Uncle Xiao, Yanran came to visit suddenly today. I hope you don't feel disturbed," said Nalan Yanran solemnly to Xiao Zhan in the reception hall of the Xiao Clan. 

Xiao Zhan smiled lightly and waved his hand.

"There's no need to feel disturbed. Just next time, it would be better to let us know in advance so that we can prepare to receive you properly."

Clearly, compared to the last time Nalan Yanran visited, Xiao Zhan's attitude towards her had undoubtedly improved significantly.

Nalan Yanran was already a proud daughter of heaven, with a much greater family background than the Xiao Clan. 

She was also the Young Mistress of the Yun Lan Sect. 

At a time when everyone considered Xiao Yan as a waste, Nalan Yanran begged to marry into the Xiao Clan. 

If Xiao Zhan's attitude remained unkind, he would truly be ignorant of what is good for him.

"Uncle Xiao, there's no need to be so polite to Yanran. Yanran will eventually marry into the Xiao Clan. You can already treat me as your daughter-in-law, so feel free to talk normally with me," Nalan Yanran said with a smile, covering her lips. 

At this moment, a discordant voice suddenly interrupted.

"Tch! You're daydreaming, the marriage hasn't been settled yet!"

Upon hearing these words, Nalan Yanran looked in the direction of the voice and saw that Xiao Mei's face was showing undisguised displeasure.

"Mei'er!"

Just as the second elder was about to reprimand his own granddaughter, Xiao Yu, who was standing beside him, spoke sternly to her cousin first and slapped the back of her head.

No matter what, Nalan Yanran was a guest of their clan, and even if she was unhappy, she shouldn't show it so obviously!

"Hmph!"

"You, you..."

Xiao Mei held her head in pain, while Xiao Yan looked at Nalan Yanran with embarrassment.

"I'm sorry, Miss Nalan. My sister is still young. Please bear with her."

"It's okay. It doesn't matter. Having such a lively sister is a joy to me," Nalan Yanran whispered and looked at Xiao Mei. "Sister Xiao Mei, if you have any dissatisfaction with me in the future, feel free to let me know. I will try my best to correct it as your future sister-in-law."

"You little bit—Waaah!!!"

As soon as Xiao Mei heard Nalan Yanran's words, she instantly lost control. 

She was about to stand up and vent her vulgar language at Nalan Yanran, but Xiao Yu, who had reacted early, covered her mouth and stopped her.

Xiao Ning leaned his elbow against the armrest of the chair, looking quite helpless at the scene.

To be honest, with Xiao Mei's temperament, only Xiao Yan could handle her.

Xiao Xun'er also reacted to Nalan Yanran's words. 

Black aura appeared on her face, and she smiled softly and said, "Miss Nalan, after all, you are not yet married to Xiao Yan. Please don't make such jokes. It might cause unnecessary damage to your reputation if it gets out."

"Let others say whatever they want. As long as I'm happy," Nalan Yanran responded softly, her gaze fixed on Xiao Xun'er. "Let's get along well in the future, my future sister-in-law."

Snap!

The armrest of the chair that Xiao Xun'er was sitting on suddenly shattered without any warning. 

Although the smile on Xiao Xun'er's face did not fade, the temperature in the entire reception hall suddenly turned cold, and there was a faint flicker of electricity in the eye contact between Nalan Yanran and Xiao Xun'er.

Even the people present could sense a hidden sense of danger in the air!

This wasn't just a reception hall, it was practically a battlefield!

Xiao Yan was feeling overwhelmed, his eyes filled with conflict, unsure of whose side to support.

Should he support Xun'er? After all, Nalan Yanran was a guest and his future fiancée. It would be disrespectful to make her lose face.

Should he support Nalan Yanran? Xun'er was unlikely to direct her anger towards him; she would only silently bear the grievances in her heart, and it was because of this that Xiao Yan couldn't accept it.

Just as everyone didn't know how to resolve the situation, a young member of the Xiao Clan suddenly entered from outside and looked at Xiao Yan.

"Xiao Yan, everything is ready."

"Oh!"

Xiao Yan immediately responded, stood up, and pulled Xun'er, who was confronting Nalan Yanran. 

He looked apologetically at Nalan Yanran.

"Sorry, we have some things to attend to at the moment. Miss Nalan, please rest for now."

After saying that, Xiao Yan signaled to Xiao Yu and Xiao Ning, and they nodded slightly. 

They pulled Xiao Mei and left the reception hall together with Xiao Yan, who was holding Xun'er. 

They left that tense place behind.

After leaving the reception room, Xiao Ning, Xiao Yu, and Xiao Yan all heaved a sigh of relief.

The atmosphere just now was too terrifying. 

The three of them were afraid that Nalan Yanran and Xun'er would start fighting on the spot. 

At that time, Xiao Mei, who always enjoyed stirring up trouble, would surely get involved. It would be impossible to resolve the situation.

"Cousin, let me tell you something," Xiao Ning sighed, reached out, and embraced Xiao Yan's shoulder, pulling him to the side. 

He whispered, "Ultimately, this issue is because of you. You have to find a way to resolve it yourself. You can't always stand by and do nothing."

As he spoke, Xiao Ning also gestured towards Xiao Mei and Xun'er with his mouth.

"Look at how these two girls are behaving towards Nalan Yanran. If Nalan Yanran really marries into the Xiao Clan in the future, I'm afraid there will never be peace in the house."

There was actually one thing that Xiao Ning didn't say.

Although he thought it was unlikely, if Xiao Yan really married Nalan Yanran and it caused Xun'er to completely turn dark, then not only the Xiao Clan but even the Nalan family and the Yun Lan Sect would have no peace!

Of course, Xiao Ning didn't want this reason to interfere with Xiao Yan's choice. 

After all, that would be the woman who would accompany him for the rest of his life. 

She shouldn't be influenced by external factors.

Xiao Yan's choice had to be someone he genuinely liked from the bottom of his heart. That would be fair to Xiao Yan.

"Ugh..."

After listening to Xiao Ning's words, Xiao Yan also held his head in pain.

Did Xiao Ning think he didn't know all of this?

But right now, all Xiao Yan wanted was to follow the righteous path and he had deliberately been avoiding matters of the heart.

Or perhaps, Xiao Yan had been consciously avoiding this issue.

Instead of marriage, Xiao Yan now focuses more on how far he can go on his righteous path.

Xiao Yan glanced at Xun'er and Xiao Mei, and let out a deep sigh in his heart.

"Let's not think about these things for now," Xiao Yan scratched his head. "Go hang up the decorations."

After that, Xiao Yan and the four of them returned to the training ground.

With the help of the Xiao Clan members, they placed the lanterns and other decorations they had made in various places in the Xiao Clan courtyard. 

The originally solemn and gloomy courtyard became quite festive with these decorations.

During the process of arranging the decorations, Xiao Mei, Xun'er, and even Xiao Yu were gradually infected by the lively atmosphere, and their moods improved, gradually returning to their usual cheerful selves.

Nalan Yanran, who followed Xiao Zhan and the three elders out of the reception hall, looked at the changes in the courtyard and her gaze turned slightly surprised as she looked at Xiao Zhan.

"Uncle Xiao, is someone in the Xiao Clan getting married?"

It was understandable for Nalan Yanran to ask such a question. 

After all, there were no New Year customs on the Dou Qi continent, and most families only decorated in such a lively manner when someone in the family was getting married.

"Ah, no, Niece Nalan, don't misunderstand," Xiao Zhan lightly laughed and waved his hand, explaining, "This was a suggestion made by Yan'er when he was young. Every New Year's, we stop all the business of the Xiao Clan, and no matter where they are, all the members of the Xiao Clan will rush back and celebrate together with a lively feast."

"I see..."

Nalan Yanran nodded, looking at Xiao Yan, who was standing on a stool and hanging lanterns on the beams, her eyes flickered with dazzling radiance. 

Deep within them, there was a hidden tenderness and memories resurfaced in her mind.

He's such a unique person, just like before.

He's so gentle, able to make the people around him feel warmth, making one want to accompany him forever.

Nalan Yanran couldn't help but clench her fist, her eyes shining with unquestionable determination. 

Her heart was filled with an almost overflowing resolution.

Xiao Yan! In this lifetime, I, Nalan Yanran, have decided to marry you! You won't be able to escape!!!