"Hehe, who would have thought Miss Ye still remembers me so vividly?" Li Yi said with a light smile. Ye Qingwu stomped her foot, clearly harboring a grudge over the events in Wanchao City to this day. However, it seemed she thought better of it and merely sat down in a huff, sending a murderous glare at Li Yi sharp enough to kill. Miao Ke, sitting beside Ye Qingwu, wore an odd expression before finally smiling lightly, saying, "Truly, a hero emerges from youth. It's only been half a month, and Master Li Yi's cultivation has seen significant progress!"
Li Yi replied modestly, "This is thanks to Elder Miao Ke and Miss Ye's blessings..." After saying this, Li Yi bowed slightly and then, ignoring the strange looks from others, stood up and smiled faintly at Nalan Tianzhe, saying, "Nephew Li Yi, greets Uncle Nalan."
"Li Yi?" Nalan Tianzhe looked at him strangely for a moment before sizing him up incredulously, saying, "You are the brother of Li Han?"
Nalan Tianzhe's expression made Li Yi feel quite odd, but he nodded and said, "Exactly, Li Yi from Wanchao City!"
"Ha ha ha, truly a hero from youth! Excellent! Excellent! Brother Li Han must be very proud to have a son like you!" Nalan Tianzhe laughed heartily. "Come to think of it, I met you in Wanchao City several years ago. I wouldn't have imagined you've grown so much in these few years. Truly, appearances can be deceiving!"
Nalan Tianzhe shook his head in disbelief, seemingly unable to believe that Li Yi, once deemed a failure, had become so formidable now. However, Nalan Tianzhe's enthusiasm made Li Yi quite embarrassed; he had anticipated many things, but not Nalan Tianzhe's overwhelming warmth.
After all, it's hard to strike someone who extends a hand in friendship. Nalan Tianzhe's demeanor, like that of a father or brother, made it awkward for Li Yi to take any offensive action. The others in the hall also looked at Li Yi strangely, especially Nalan Lin, who seemed unable to believe that this fearsome individual was the same notorious failure.
"By the way," Nalan Tianzhe suddenly stopped laughing, looked Li Yi up and down with a playful gaze, then glanced at Gong Wushuang behind Li Yi and asked lightly, "And who might this be beside you, nephew Li Yi?"
Li Yi responded lightly, "This person can be considered a bodyguard I hired along the way. She likes to be mysterious, so I've learned to be odd and mysterious as well, hehe..."
Everyone in the hall rolled their eyes at this, clearly not buying his explanation.
"I see," Nalan Tianzhe nodded lightly and then chuckled, "As the saying goes, one does not visit a temple without a cause. Although Yunshui City and Wanchao City are not far apart, the Naga Mountain Range lies between them, making travel difficult... I just wonder, what urgent matter brings my nephew all the way to Yunshui City? Hehe, it couldn't be just to wish the old man a happy birthday, could it?"
Li Yi's expression darkened slightly, feeling somewhat awkward, but thinking of Li Bing's pitiful state, his face took on a rare seriousness as he bowed slightly and said, "Uncle Nalan, my visit this time is indeed not to wish the elder a happy birthday... but to make an uncomfortable request, hoping Uncle Nalan will agree."
Seeing Li Yi's expression, Nalan Tianzhe felt quite puzzled, wondering what request a young man could have. He smiled slightly and said, "You may speak freely, nephew."
Li Yi clenched his teeth for a moment before saying, "I've heard that Second Young Master Nalan He and my cousin Li Bing have an engagement!"
Nalan Tianzhe nodded slightly, glanced at Nalan He, who seemed surprised, and said lightly, "Indeed, Bing'er's parents were quite close to me. Before their passing, they betrothed Bing'er to my son He... According to the schedule, He is to marry Bing'er after the ancestral birthday celebration. Is... there a problem?"
"No problem," Li Yi said gravely, "it's just that... cousin Li Bing personally disagrees with this marriage. Thus, my visit this time is to request Uncle Nalan to annul this engagement!"
The tea cup Nalan Tianzhe casually held was crushed into powder in an instant. The already strange atmosphere in the hall turned even more peculiar, with everyone's gaze landing on Li Yi in a bizarre manner. For both Nalan Ba and Nalan Tianzhe, their greatest love in life was their reputation... Now, even a junior dared to request an annulment, which was akin to disrespecting them publicly.
Nalan Tianzhe's facial muscles twitched for a moment before he looked at Li Yi with disbelief and said word by word, "What did you just say? Say it again!"
Li Yi took a deep breath and said calmly, "I hope the Nalan family will agree to annul the marriage engagement with our Li family."
"How presumptuous!" Nalan Tianzhe slammed his hand onto the stone table beside him, causing it to crack and eventually collapse.
"Li Yi! For calling me Uncle Nalan, if you retract your words now, I'll pretend this never happened... Otherwise, even if you were Li Han's son, or even Li Han himself! Hmph!" His face turned ashen, his previous warmth completely gone, now only staring coldly at Li Yi... However, Li Yi was less afraid of his anger than his warmth. Now that Nalan Tianzhe had turned hostile, Li Yi was not particularly intimidated. He simply rubbed his forehead and said slowly, "Patriarch Nalan, I know my request is difficult, but... marriage is not child's play; it's for a lifetime... If my cousin liked your son, I would have nothing to say, but she herself refuses this marriage. As her cousin, naturally, I must stand up for her! Please consider my father's face and dissolve the engagement..."
"Bullshit! Give Li Han face?" Nalan Tianzhe's face turned cold. "For such a matter, not to mention Li Han, even the King of Heaven wouldn't be afforded face! Li Yi, take my advice and leave while I'm still considering past affections. Otherwise, don't blame me for being rude!"
Li Yi smiled lightly, "Patriarch Nalan, you might be going a bit too far. I believe... even if we set aside everything else, perhaps your son might not agree either? If both parties disagree, calling off the marriage would be best for everyone, don't you think? After all, my cousin has absolutely no interest in your son!"
"Bullshit! Bing'er and I have been close since childhood, perfectly matched in heart and spirit! How can you say there are no feelings? We've returned from Roland Academy just for this marriage!" Nalan He suddenly spoke up, "Master Li Yi, I know Bing'er is charming and attractive, and it's normal for you to be moved by her... I've often heard her praise how you, her cousin, are so and so... I didn't expect that she thinks so highly of you, yet you harbor such intentions! To take it upon yourself to sabotage our marriage! If she finds out, how will you explain yourself? I advise you, don't ruin the longstanding friendship between our families over a woman... To put it bluntly, your Li family is nothing in the eyes of our Nalan family!"
"What a statement, 'nothing at all'..." Li Yi suddenly laughed, "If it was before, I would have had to be somewhat polite considering the relationship between our two families! Since Young Master Nalan has spoken, then don't blame me for being impolite! Today, this marriage must be called off, whether you like it or not! Otherwise, I won't mind making the Nalan family disappear from Yunshui City!"
"Arrogant! Presumptuous! You don't know the height of heaven and the depth of earth!" Nalan Tianzhe slammed the armrest of his chair, standing up furiously. "Li Yi, don't think we are afraid of you just because you have a Fighter with you! Our Nalan family has dominated the northwest for so many years, who haven't we faced? Not to mention your Li family, even if ten Fighters passed by here, they would have to show respect! Li Yi, you don't really think that having a Fighter with you can do whatever you want, do you?"
As Nalan Tianzhe spoke, his aura flashed with intent to attack. However, Nalan He remained calm, his gaze on Li Yi sharp as a snake's. The killing intent in the surroundings seemed to hint that the Nalan family's preparations were about to be activated.
Li Yi chuckled, "Patriarch Nalan... I, Li Yi, am not a fool. Naturally, I wouldn't rely solely on a Fighter to achieve something. Since I've spoken up, it means I have the capability to do so... Would you like to try?"
As he spoke, Li Yi stepped forward, his aura flickering. Although not overly aggressive, it seemed capable of contending with Nalan Tianzhe. The hall was filled with a tense killing intent, drawing everyone's attention.
Nalan Qing remained silent, not uttering a word. Nalan Lin looked incredulous, seemingly shocked at Li Yi's audacity. Hong Yu had an amused look, Ye Qingwu was surprised, seemingly not expecting Li Yi to be so bold. Only Miao Ke's expression changed slightly; unlike Nalan Tianzhe, he knew Li Yi had a terrifyingly powerful master behind him, possibly on par with the Sect Master of the Beidou Sect. Li Yi's so-called guard was likely just a protector sent by his master. Whether Li Yi could dismantle the Nalan family or not, if anything happened to him here, given the temperaments of those old monsters, everyone present might be implicated.
With this thought, Miao Ke stood up, blocking between the two, smiling lightly, "Patriarch Nalan, young friend Li Yi... Both families are old acquaintances, there's no need to escalate matters to this extent. If neither of you mind, I have a suggestion that might satisfy both parties."
Nalan Tianzhe's mouth twitched, but he stepped back, conceding. He could ignore Miao Ke, but not the face of the Beidou Sect.
As for Li Yi, he was somewhat optional. He just smiled lightly, "Elder Miao Ke, please speak freely..."
Miao Ke chuckled, "This marriage arrangement, although made by the previous generation, is now a matter for you young people... However, we're unclear about the ins and outs of it. But facing such unclear matters, we in the Beidou Sect have always had a way to resolve them, which I think is quite suitable for this occasion. Fair, yet harmonious!"
Nalan Tianzhe frowned, "Elder Miao, just say your solution. Why so much talk, do you think this is your Beidou Sect?"
Hearing Nalan Tianzhe's somewhat angry words, Miao Ke was not upset, merely glancing meaningfully at Li Yi and then at Nalan He before saying lightly, "The solution is simple: let young friend Li Yi and Young Master Nalan He have a fair fight... If Young Master Nalan He wins, everything remains as it is. But if Master Li Yi wins... then the engagement is called off. How about it?"
"And I, representing the Beidou Sect, will witness this matter... If there are regrets afterwards, it would mean can't get along with the Beidou Sect, how about it?"