The sight of Liang Hutu ruthlessly killing Lan Tiankui had thoroughly intimidated the members of the various great families in Jiangnan City.
"Cough, cough."
"Well... it's getting late. We should be going. Patriarch Lan, Master Ling... we'll take our leave!"
The members of the great families in Jiangnan City were extremely uneasy, feeling as if they were sitting on pins and needles. They dared not stay in the Lan family for another moment.
"Hmph!"
A group of Lan family members gave these people cold glares.
They remembered very clearly how these people had gloated and even kicked them while they were down at the time.
"Wait, did I say you could leave?"
Ling Fan suddenly said calmly.
His voice was not loud, but it sent a shiver down the spines of those people, making their legs tremble and their bodies feel unresponsive.
The figures of the strong individuals from Jiangnan City froze in place.
Their necks felt as if they had rusted, and they turned around with difficulty, their faces looking a million times uglier than if they were crying.
"Mas- Master Ling, what other instructions do you have?"
Their gazes towards Ling Fan were filled with deep apprehension and fear.
Although Ling Fan was a young man not yet twenty years old, and he looked quite refined, they knew just how terrifying the power hidden beneath his seemingly harmless appearance was!
Even a top expert like Liang Hutu had been tortured to death by him, only to surrender obediently in the end. What hope did they have?
Even if they had a hundred lives, they probably wouldn't be enough for Ling Fan to burn.
Moreover, Ling Fan didn't even need to act himself now.
With just a word from him, Liang Hutu would readily carry out the task.
Killing them would be as easy as killing chicks.
"Didn't you all wish for my death earlier? What, you don't want me dead now, and you're just going to leave?"
Ling Fan looked at them with a half-smile.
The strong individuals from Jiangnan City turned pale with fright and repeatedly shook their heads in denial.
Especially Elder Tan Hui and Young Master Tan Tianyang of the Tan family, and Wu Tong of the Wu family, they were all filled with panic.
"Mas- Master Ling is joking. How could we dare? We sincerely wish Master Ling a long life... no, eternal life! Long live, long live, long, long live!"
"We were intimidated by the might of Mountain Master Liang at the time, so we might have said some things against our will. That was not our true intention. We actually wanted to help the Lan family, but our strength was too weak. Master Ling, please see the truth."
The strong individuals from the various major forces in Jiangnan City forced smiles onto their faces, their tongues wagging like flowers, desperately explaining themselves.
"Oh, so you're saying I've wronged you?"
Ling Fan's half-smile deepened.
"Yes, yes, yes! Master Ling, you truly misunderstood us. With your peerless talent and your various divine and invincible techniques, how could we mere mortals dare to oppose you? We wouldn't dare even if you gave us ten times the courage."
"Don't worry, I will report back to our family head immediately. From now on, our family will follow the Lan family's lead. If Master Ling has any commands, we will obey them even unto death!"
The strong individuals from Jiangnan City spoke more and more fluently.
As they spoke, they almost started to believe their own words.
They pounded their chests with all their might, putting on a show of utmost sincerity.
The members of the Lan family were stunned by their shamelessness.
They all stared at them, dumbfounded.
These people could change their tune faster than flipping a book.
It would be a waste of their talent if they didn't become actors.
"Son-in-law, don't be fooled by them. These people have no good intentions!"
The Lan family members said urgently, fearing that Ling Fan would be deceived by them.
Ling Fan waved his hand, signaling them to be quiet.
Ling Fan looked at the strong individuals from Jiangnan City and said, "Didn't you just say that if I had any commands, you would obey them even unto death? Is that true?"
"It's true!"
"Of course, it's true! Master Ling, please believe in our sincerity."
"Master Ling, what you're saying is an insult to us. Don't worry, if you say go east, we would never dare to go west. If you say go north, we would never dare to go south!"
Ling Fan nodded repeatedly, appearing to believe them completely.
The strong individuals from Jiangnan City immediately felt their hearts relax and secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
They thought that although Ling Fan's strength was terrifying, he was still young at heart. A few words of flattery had made him float, and they were still playing him like a fiddle.
However, before their smugness could fully settle in,
Ling Fan's next sentence made their faces change drastically.
Ling Fan said, "Then I want you to die now, are you willing?"
The strong individuals were instantly struck with grief as if they had lost their parents, their faces looking as ugly as they could be.
"Mas- Master Ling, please don't joke with us like this. We are timid and can't handle scares..."
"Who says I'm joking with you? Do I look like someone who jokes?"
Ling Fan sneered slightly.
As soon as he finished speaking, Liang Hutu, who stood behind him, widened his single eye, his face filled with killing intent, looking as if he was ready to strike at any moment.
The strong individuals from Jiangnan City felt their hearts tighten, and they quickly knelt before Ling Fan with thuds.
"Master Ling, spare our lives!"
Thump, thump, thump.
For a moment, these people kowtowed frantically, like pounding garlic.
Only one person remained standing.
Amidst the kneeling crowd, he stood out conspicuously.
It was the Xuan Gang realm commander from the City Lord's Mansion, Li Qi.
His face was extremely grim as he said, "Ling Fan, you've gone too far! You should know that it's best to forgive when possible. Although you are young and impetuous, you should also know when to stop, and not push the situation to a point where you can't handle it."
He then said proudly, "You must know, no matter how strong you are, Jiangnan City is ultimately not surnamed Ling, nor is it surnamed Lan. Jiangnan City is still surnamed Li! The Li of the Li family in the City Lord's Mansion."
As soon as Li Qi spoke, Lan Tianxiong and the other Lan family members' expressions turned solemn.
Even though the Lan family was currently on the rise, they had to admit that the Li family of the City Lord's Mansion was still a mountain that stood in front of their Lan family.
Ling Fan, however, was not swayed by his words.
He smiled faintly and said, "Are you teaching me how to do things? What City Lord's Mansion, what Li family or Wang family, anyone who dares to block my way, Ling Fan, will be swept aside!"
"Utterly arrogant!"
Li Qi was furious.
"Ling Fan, I warn you, acting like this will bring great disaster upon the Lan family and yourself."
"Oh? I'd like to see who can bring disaster upon me!" Ling Fan clasped his hands behind his back, his words indifferent but filled with an air of looking down on everyone.
"As for you, since you are not convinced, then die."
As soon as Ling Fan finished speaking, Liang Hutu attacked with a sinister grin.
Boom!
A terrifying martial aura erupted from Liang Hutu's body. Although his strength had been significantly reduced by Ling Fan's Demonic Fire Red Lotus, he was still not someone that a mere early-stage Xuan Gang realm expert could contend with.
Bang!
Li Qi was no match for Liang Hutu. In a single exchange, he was suppressed by Liang Hutu's ferocious power and was slammed heavily against the main hall, creating a human-shaped indentation in the steel-forged hall.
Li Qi was filled with horror.
He never imagined that Ling Fan would actually dare to lay a hand on him.
But it was too late for him to think further. Liang Hutu's fierce attacks descended upon him, and he could only passively endure them, soon falling into a desperate situation.
"Mountain Master Liang, I am from the Li family of the City Lord's Mansion. You dare to help him kill me! Aren't you afraid of our City Lord seeking trouble with you?"
Li Qi said angrily.