The guards and servants were all that remained after the others had left.
With a wave of her hand, Ashdai dismissed them as well.
"Second Granduncle."
Ashdai spoke again, "I want to ask, where are Aunt Kelly and Uncle Anan..."
These were the old Varmos' most trusted subordinates.
But they had all disappeared.
"I don't know."
Old Tius didn't even turn his head.
Deep within his eyes, a profound malice and hatred festered.
His survival today was entirely due to the Red Cardinal wanting to observe Ashdai's capabilities.
No matter how shameless he was, the outcome would have been death. Even if Ashdai hadn't killed him, the Angelic Council would not have let him go.
But he was unwilling.
Having finally gained a moment of respite, he felt he still had a chance to turn things around.
...
Ashdai looked intently at Old Tius's retreating back, saying nothing.
"Let's go,"
Chen Fan spoke, "No need to worry about your grandfather's body. I've already stabilized it with my power. It won't decay even if left for a year."
As Ashdai's gaze fell upon Old Tius and his companions, unseen by them, it was filled with intense hatred.
When she turned to look at Chen Fan, it instantly morphed into a smile.
She nodded obediently, "I'll show you around the estate, sir."
"Good."
Before they left, Ashdai summoned several guards and commanded, "No one is to stand up without my explicit order. If anyone disobeys, I will expel them from the family. You four, stand guard here. Inform me immediately of any unusual activity."
"Yes."
Eager to prove their worth, the guards stood at their posts with utmost diligence.
They could fidget, but they were forbidden to stand.
...
Unexpectedly, the moment Ashdai left, someone stood up.
"Damn it, that little bastard has actually gained some power."
The one who cursed and stood up was Old Tius's son. He then moved to help Old Tius up.
As he was about to act, he saw a guard pull out a walkie-talkie.
Before long, the person who stood up was thrown out of the estate. Simultaneously, a message spread through all the Varmos family's businesses.
"Varmos Ti Yu Nuo, for disobeying the family head's orders, is hereby expelled from the family and forbidden to ever return. No Varmos family business or partner shall provide assistance. Any violation will be severely punished."
It was too fast; many hadn't even had time to react.
As for Varmos Ti Yu Nuo, he stood outside the estate, dumbfounded.
"Scram."
A guard barked, "Leave the vicinity of Varmos Estate immediately, or I'll kill you right here."
"You..."
Ti Yu Nuo was about to curse the guard but saw him draw the long saber from his waist.
Sensing the killing intent, Ti Yu Nuo turned and fled.
...
"Impressive methods."
Chen Fan, sipping expensive red wine, looked at Ashdai with satisfaction. "But, you're just going to let them go like this?"
"Of course not."
The current Ashdai was brimming with confidence.
However, in front of Chen Fan, she still acted demurely, not acting as if her status as family head made her superior.
She personally poured Chen Fan a glass of red wine before saying, "These people are the chief culprits responsible for grandfather's death. I will make them kneel before grandfather until they die. Anyone who dares to stand will be killed."
"Then that person just now..."
"No rush."
Ashdai said coldly, "Let Ti Yu Nuo experience life first. In the end, he will still die."
"Mm."
Chen Fan nodded, saying no more.
It seemed Ashdai's methods were adequate.
For the next few days, Chen Fan remained at the Varmos estate.
Finding Western food unpalatable, Ashdai specially hired a chef skilled in Eastern cuisine to serve Chen Fan exclusively.
During these days, Chen Fan didn't cultivate much.
At his current level, cultivation was no longer as crucial. What he needed was enlightenment.
Perhaps a rare moment of epiphany, or obtaining the divine artifact from the Holy Emperor, would allow him to break through to the Divine Realm in one go.
In these days, Ashdai had taken complete control of the Varmos family with swift and decisive actions.
However, she still hadn't found the few confidantes of old Varmos.
Meanwhile, Tius and the others had been kneeling before old Varmos's coffin for three full days.
They were provided with food and drink, and had to remain kneeling except for when using the restroom. They even had to sleep kneeling.
Originally twenty people, only eleven remained.
The others, unable to bear it, had stood up and were expelled from the Varmos family.
...
In a five-star hotel not far from the Varmos estate, the Red Cardinal gazed down at the Varmos estate.
After a long while, he chuckled, "Little girl, not bad."
Behind him, the White Cardinal nodded, "It seems she doesn't plan on letting any of them off."
"Good."
The Red Cardinal was very pleased. "Only this way can she thoroughly control the Varmos family and be worthy of being the family head. It seems the Varmos family won't need to change its head. The little girl is quite capable."
"Mm."
The White Cardinal was also satisfied.
"By the way."
As if remembering something, the White Cardinal said, "That Eastern person... seems unusual."
When Chen Fan was mentioned, the atmosphere became considerably more serious.
"Have you investigated?"
"No."
The White Cardinal shook his head. "Those we sent out died mysteriously before they even set foot in that mysterious Eastern land."
"Sigh."
The Red Cardinal rubbed his temples with a headache. "Mysterious East. It only allows people out, but not in. Truly troublesome."
Mentioning the East, both felt a sense of unease.
...