Heaven is Unfair

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Chapter 5: Heaven is Unfair

If Xiao Yan is unable to defeat Nalan Yanran three years later, he must comply with Nalan Yanran's wishes and marry her.

On the other hand, if Nalan Yanran loses to Xiao Yan, the engagement will be annulled. However, it will also prove that Xiao Yan is worthy of her, and if Nalan Yanran seeks him again at that time, Xiao Yan cannot use this as an excuse to decline.

In other words, whether she wins or loses, Nalan Yanran will not suffer any loss.

Moreover, to ensure she can marry Xiao Yan, Nalan Yanran will undoubtedly train even harder to guarantee her victory over him, which is also beneficial for the Yunlan Sect.

Everyone understood the reasoning.

But why does it feel so odd?

Xiao Zhan and the three elders frowned deeply, their brows showing a hint of suspicion.

Logically, there was nothing wrong, but why did it feel strangely unsettling?

Was Nalan Yanran so determined to marry Xiao Yan from the bottom of her heart?

As Xiao Yan's father, Xiao Zhan furrowed his brows tightly. He knew his son was outstanding, but was he truly outstanding enough for the young mistress of the Yunlan Sect to insist on marrying him?

Moreover, Xiao Yan's Dou Qi had inexplicably stagnated and showed no signs of growth. No one could guarantee it would improve in the future. If Xiao Yan truly lost to Nalan Yanran, wouldn't she be marrying a useless husband? Did she not care about this at all?

Meanwhile, Xiao Yan quietly looked at Nalan Yanran, his heart sinking slightly.

After weighing the pros and cons, Xiao Yan clasped his hands again and responded solemnly:

"I accept this three-year agreement."

"Huh?! Why are you accepting?!" Xiao Yan had just finished speaking when Xiao Mei immediately exploded. "She's obviously so shameless! Why should... Mmph!"

"Can you say a little less?!"

Xiao Ning quickly used his crutch to hobble over to Xiao Mei and covered her mouth with one hand, stopping her from speaking further.

Nalan Yanran ignored Xiao Mei and turned to look at Ge Ye.

"Elder Ge Ye, leave the gift here. Xiao Yan might find it useful in the future."

After speaking, Nalan Yanran turned and left the reception hall, glancing deeply at Xiao Xun'er as she departed.

In their exchange of looks, both saw the flames of a formidable rival in the other's eyes.

Nalan Yanran understood deeply that the impulsive and brainless Xiao Mei was nothing more than a noisy little girl. Xiao Xun'er was her true formidable opponent.

"Miss Nalan, Elder Ge Ye, take care!"

Xiao Zhan and the three elders stood up to see their guests off. Just like that, the Yunlan Sect left Wutan City in grand fashion, and the city returned to its usual tranquility.

After the Yunlan Sect departed, everyone returned to the reception hall. Xiao Ning let go of Xiao Mei, only to be stomped hard on the foot by her heel.

"Xiao! Ning! How dare you stop me?!"

Xiao Mei grabbed Xiao Ning by the collar and yelled angrily. Second Elder, unable to bear it, intervened.

"Let go! What kind of behavior is this?!"

"Tch!"

Seeing her grandfather truly angry, Xiao Mei reluctantly released Xiao Ning, then pouted and approached Xiao Yan with a look of discontent.

"Cousin Xiao Yan! How could you agree to her terms? With your current state, there's no way you can defeat her in three years!"

"If you don't speak, no one will mistake you for a mute!"

Finally unable to endure it, Xiao Xun'er slammed her fist down on Xiao Mei's head. This straightforward girl always blurted out whatever came to mind, essentially calling Xiao Yan useless.

"But... but..." Xiao Mei clutched her head, looking aggrieved. "If Cousin Xiao Yan really loses three years later, he'll be taken away by that Nalan Yanran!"

After speaking, Xiao Mei directly jumped into Xiao Yan's arms, clinging to him tightly like a koala, and began wailing.

"Waaa! No! I don't want Cousin Xiao Yan to leave!"

"Ahaha..."

Seeing Xiao Mei so attached to him, Xiao Yan could only smile helplessly as he pried her off. Xiao Zhan, however, looked at his son with guilt in his eyes.

Regardless of Xiao Yan's own wishes, whether the engagement was broken or fulfilled was entirely at the whim of the other party. As a father, this made Xiao Zhan feel indescribably pained.

Nalan Yanran did indeed want to marry Xiao Yan. On the surface, it seemed like the Xiao family was climbing up the social ladder—a joyous event.

But Nalan Yanran's attitude made it clear that the Xiao family's wishes were utterly insignificant.

Climbing up the social ladder?

If it meant lowering their dignity so much that they couldn't hold their heads high, the Xiao family would rather not climb at all!

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"Sorry, Yan'er." Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly under his sleeves. "If the Xiao family hadn't fallen to this state, you wouldn't have been forced to accept this."

Nalan Yanran had indeed asked if Xiao Yan dared to accept, but under those circumstances, could he refuse?

This was no longer a matter of whether Xiao Yan wanted to accept—it was a matter of him having no choice but to accept.

The three-year agreement was already a compromise from Nalan Yanran.

If Xiao Yan refused, Nalan Yanran would likely stay and force him to marry her.

Such a situation would be disadvantageous to both the Xiao family and the Yunlan Sect.

For the esteemed young mistress of the Nalan family and the future sect master of the Yunlan Sect to linger in Wutan City, forcing a useless man to marry her, would cause irreparable damage to their reputation.

For the Nalan family, it wouldn't matter much since there was already a marriage agreement. However, the Yunlan Sect's reputation would take a significant hit.

As for the Xiao family, it would be even worse. Those who understood the situation might think the Xiao family was ungrateful, while those who didn't would consider the Xiao family shameless and ignorant. Either way, they'd lose face.

Nalan Yanran's proposal of a three-year agreement left Xiao Yan with no real choice.

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"Cousin Xiao Yan, just now I might have overstepped, but from my perspective, you really lucked out." Xiao Ning hobbled over with his crutch, slinging an arm around Xiao Yan's shoulder and grinning. "The Nalan family has a great status, Nalan Yanran is a genius, she's beautiful, and she's the future sect leader of the Yunlan Sect. No matter how you look at it, you're not losing out."

"Hmm, I think Cousin Xiao Ning makes a lot of sense."

Xiao Yan nodded seriously and then grabbed Xiao Ning by the shoulders, turning him around to face Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, both of whom were glaring darkly and radiating Dou Qi.

"Then next, you'll be the one facing the wrath of your two sisters."

Ignoring the screams from Xiao Ning behind him, Xiao Yan turned back to Xiao Zhan.

He clasped his hands together and spoke solemnly:

"Father, please do not blame yourself. The rise and fall of a family is not determined in a single day. Every member of the Xiao family, myself included, has benefited greatly from the family's protection. Compared to ordinary families, we are already much better off. There is no need for you to feel guilt over this."

Hearing Xiao Yan's words, the three elders nodded repeatedly, while Xiao Zhan's eyes were filled with deep relief.

This son of his was far too understanding.

So understanding that it made one's heart ache.

At this moment, Xiao Zhan looked toward the gifts Nalan Yanran and Ge Ye had left behind. Among them, a small box caught his eye. He opened it and gasped sharply.

"This is... a Qi-Gathering Pill?!"

Seeing the dragon-eye-sized, jade-green pill inside, the three elders' eyes also lit up.

In their little Xiao family, years could pass without a single high-quality pill being produced.

"As expected of the Yunlan Sect, such generosity," the Grand Elder stroked his beard and remarked.

The Second Elder spoke softly, "Since it's a gift for Xiao Yan, let the patriarch keep it for now."

Hearing this, the Grand and Third Elders nodded in agreement.

In the past, when Xiao Yan was still a genius, he had often shared philosophies such as "family harmony leads to prosperity" with the younger generation of the Xiao family, concepts that went against the typical "survival of the fittest" mindset.

Over time, these ideas reached the ears of the three elders.

Initially, they dismissed his words as naive, but given Xiao Yan's status as a prodigy at the time, they didn't openly object and let him continue spreading his beliefs.

Over time, however, as the family's cohesion improved and the relationships among the younger generation grew closer, the three elders' perspectives began to shift.

Eventually, they came to see the wisdom in his words.

Indeed, life is short. Why spend it scheming against one's own family?

Now, the Xiao family might not be wealthy or powerful, but living peacefully in Wutan City, surrounded by harmony, wasn't that enough?

From that point on, the three elders' ambitions dwindled, and they became more focused on fostering familial bonds. Even after Xiao Yan's downfall, they maintained this outlook.

As the saying goes, "Harmony within the family leads to prosperity."

And for this, they owed it all to Xiao Yan.

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"Three elders, given my current state, I am unworthy of such an expensive item. It should be given to another promising member of the family. Favoritism toward me, as the patriarch's son, could breed resentment among the younger generation and disrupt the family's harmony."

Xiao Yan's firm refusal stunned the three elders, leaving them slightly helpless.

"I doubt anyone would object," the Grand Elder finally said.

Indeed, no one in the Xiao family would object to Xiao Yan receiving such a gift.

However, Xiao Yan shook his head. "Their acceptance stems from their broad-mindedness, but I must not exploit their tolerance for personal gain. Therefore, I cannot accept this Qi-Gathering Pill."

Without giving the elders a chance to argue, he bowed and continued:

"Father, three elders, the training of the younger generation is still ongoing. I will take my leave to oversee their progress."

"Wait for me, Cousin Xiao Yan!"

With that, Xiao Yan left the reception hall, followed closely by Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er.

Watching Xiao Yan's departing figure, the three elders let out long sighs.

"Heaven... is unfair."

Xiao Zhan clenched his fists tightly, his eyes brimming with sorrow.

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At the entrance of the hall, Xiao Ning, who had been beaten by Xiao Mei and Xiao Xun'er, lay in a pitiful heap, ignored by everyone.

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(End of Chapter)

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