110: The main branch of the Fang family was almost wiped out?

"Suit yourself. Also, change rooms; pick an empty bedroom to stay in." Ling Xian didn't intend to make things difficult for Zhang Xuelan.

"Hmm? You'd be so kind?" Zhang Xuelan looked at Ling Xian suspiciously, trying to find a catch.

But she couldn't see any problem at all.

"Believe it or not. Go cook for yourself." Ling Xian waved his hand and turned to leave... Inside the room.

A message popped up.

It was from Ling Tianshi, regarding the Old Master.

That dignified elder, a man whose image was very blurry in his memory.

[Little Xian, this is the Old Master's wish. Come back and take a look, and also see the birthday gift the Old Master has prepared.]

At that moment, Ling Xian realized that his birthday was coming up soon.

He had forgotten it himself.

"Birthday? It feels a bit unfamiliar."

[Alright, I'll return to Zhongzhou in a few days.]

Putting down his phone, Ling Xian felt a bit of a headache. He hadn't finished dealing with those old fogies in Jiangnan, and now he had to run off to Zhongzhou.

"Forget it, we'll cross that bridge when we come to it." Ling Xian shook his head and stopped thinking about it.

"However, before that, I'll give those old fogies a warning.

Lest they recklessly come looking for trouble!"

The corners of Ling Xian's mouth curled up, and his gaze became sharp.

"Let's start with the Zhao Family!"

That night.

Inside the Jiangnan Zhao Family manor.

Zhao Wanshan was reading in his study by the dim candlelight, as was his custom.

This was one of the habits he had developed over the years.

Instead of using electric lights, he relied on candlelight and moonlight.

Another point was that the Twenty-Four Histories in this study hid the secrets of his Zhao Family.

This was the backing that the Zhao Family relied on for survival.

Every book concealed the contact information of a backer.

Just as he was flipping through the books by the dim candlelight, the flame flickered.

Zhao Wanshan frowned slightly and looked up. "What's going on today? Why is the candlelight so unstable?"

The next moment, Ling Xian's figure quietly appeared in his study.

"You... you... how did you get in?" Zhao Wanshan was panicking and shocked, thinking he had encountered a ghost.

"Hehe, Old Man Zhao, don't be nervous. You've been moving against my Ling Corporation in the shadows, and we haven't even met yet?" Ling Xian sat on the desk and smiled. "Today is a good time for a chat."

"Speak then, what shall we talk about?" Zhao Wanshan, truly an old fox, quickly regained his composure and scrutinized Ling Xian.

"Those Hidden Families behind you can't protect you. If you dare to be reckless again, I don't mind wiping out the entire Zhao Family." Ling Xian threatened indifferently, like a tiger eyeing its prey, his gaze as if looking at a toy.

"Of course, you can also test whether those families behind you would dare to move against me for the sake of your Zhao Family."

At these words, Zhao Wanshan's expression changed drastically—not because of Ling Xian's threat, but because Ling Xian knew he was a spokesperson.

The so-called 'one room, one boat.'

He was nothing more than a lackey.

"Mr. Ling must be joking. I think there's been some misunderstanding; perhaps one of my subordinates was ignorant and caused offense."

Even at this point, Zhao Wanshan was still unwilling to admit defeat or show any weakness.

Unfortunately, this world doesn't necessarily require evidence or so-called logic.

Sometimes, brute force is more effective!

A spark of Undead Divine Fire ignited behind Zhao Wanshan, instantly torturing his soul.

"Ahhh..." Zhao Wanshan screamed. Although he was drenched in cold sweat, he quickly gritted his teeth and endured it, no longer wailing loudly.

He was afraid his son would worry and cause even more trouble if he came over.

Ling Xian was also somewhat surprised. He had seen many people tortured by the Undead Divine Fire, and every single one of them had wailed and begged for mercy without exception.

Tonight, he had encountered an exception: Zhao Wanshan.

"Interesting!" Ling Xian extinguished the Undead Divine Fire and smiled.

"What do you want? Money, power, beauties, or for my Zhao Family to be your dog?" Zhao Wanshan didn't show fear or beg for mercy; instead, he spoke bluntly to negotiate terms.

"No wonder those people made you their spokesperson. You have guts and charisma; I like it!" Ling Xian nodded in appreciation.

"I don't lack dogs. Just stop moving against the Ling Corporation," Ling Xian said indifferently.

The next moment, Ling Xian vanished.

While Zhao Wanshan breathed a great sigh of relief, the head of the Zhao Family, Zhao Sihai, hurried over.

"Dad, what happened?" Zhao Sihai also sensed something unusual.

Ignoring the rules Zhao Wanshan had set, he burst straight into the study.

"Sihai, you are relatively clever. If the future of the Zhao Family looks grim, then cut off a limb to survive. Remember, survival is the priority!" Zhao Wanshan gripped Zhao Sihai's arm tightly and urged him.

"Only by living is there hope! The one who survives is the winner!"

Zhao Sihai was stunned for a moment, then nodded in agreement.

"Yes, Dad!"

Zhao Wanshan nodded with satisfaction. He didn't choose to hand over the contact information for the Hidden Families, nor did he intend to let Zhao Sihai have contact with them.

The current situation of the Zhao Family was very awkward.

To the Hidden Families, they were just cannon fodder to be used against the Ling Corporation.

To the Ling Corporation, they were also mere ants, nothing to be feared.

In a game between two giants, one must often learn how to survive in the cracks.

As for trying to please both sides, that usually leads to a faster death.

Ling Xian didn't choose to make Zhao Wanshan his dog, nor did he choose to wipe him out.

A dog that might bite at any time—keeping it might result in it biting those Hidden Families back.

As for him dying, another spokesperson would just appear.

Compared to the Zhao Family where nothing seemed to have happened, the Fang Family was in total chaos.

Overnight, except for Fang Zichuan who had left the Fang Family with Su Ran, everyone in the Fang Family's main branch died suddenly of a severe illness.

Su Ran rushed back, but he couldn't find the cause of the illness no matter how hard he tried.

Because it wasn't a disease; it came from Gu insects.

This wasn't Ling Xian's doing, but he certainly knew about it in advance.

Subsequently, Class Monitor, a member of a side branch, suddenly displayed astonishing strength and business acumen. Within a few days, he gained the support of the other side branches and took control of the Fang Family.

Fang Zichuan's face was gloomy as he looked at Class Monitor.

"Class Monitor, was it you who did something to Grandpa?"

"Brother Zichuan, what are you talking about?" Class Monitor looked innocent. "It was clearly Su Ran who did it!"

"Before Su Ran arrived, you didn't have any symptoms, and the main branch was perfectly fine.

But as soon as he came, our Fang Family fell into chaos."

Class Monitor's words were met with agreement from everyone; after all, Old Master Fang treated Su Ran even better than the younger generation of the Fang Family.

This was clearly using the Fang Family's resources to support an outsider.

Fang Zichuan hesitated for a moment but then spoke up: "You are slandering Brother Su Ran."

"Let's go, Brother Su Ran. There's no point in staying in this Fang Family."

Su Ran really wanted to curse. What he needed was the support of the Fang Family's resources; otherwise, what was a single Fang Zichuan worth?

"I'm impressed. That Old Man Fang said he hadn't provoked the Ten Thousand Poisons Alliance, yet with such a large-scale Gu formation, it would take at least a Grandmaster."

At this point, looking back at the Fang Family, Su Ran had nothing left to miss.

This place might have been targeted long ago.

"Let's go!"

However, Su Ran didn't know that the hidden expert wasn't after the Fang Family's assets, but rather Old Man Fang's blood descendants.

And Fang Zichuan was the next target.