Ma Zhiyuan was startled by Ying Chen's ruthless methods.
Trembling, he said, "Master has actually been keeping a mistress outside all these years. She's in her fifties but looks like she's in her thirties. Master likes her very much and often asks me to send her things."
"I call her Aunt Tang, but I don't know her exact origin, only that she comes from the southern mountains. Before that, Master once asked me to send children's clothes and snacks to Aunt Tang's residence."
"So I suspect Master must have hidden the little girl with Aunt Tang."
Upon hearing this, Ying Chen's eyes flickered. "Tell me Aunt Tang's address. If it's confirmed, then the position of the Ma family head will be yours!"
"Ah?" Ma Zhiyuan clearly hadn't expected Ying Chen to actually let him be the Ma family head.
He timidly glanced at the other members of the Ma family.
Although they dared not openly react, the ferocity and sternness in their eyes revealed their true thoughts.
They would never accept a servant like Ma Zhiyuan becoming the Ma family head!
"Perhaps... let's forget it! I'm just a servant, unworthy and incapable of managing the Ma family. I recommend the second young master to be the head. The second young master has both prestige and ability, he will surely..."
Ma Zhiyuan waved his hands repeatedly, saying.
However, before he could finish, Ying Chen interrupted him.
"What, are you questioning my decision?"
Ma Zhiyuan instantly shivered.
"No... I wouldn't dare!"
Ying Chen gave him a calm glance and uttered four words: "There will be no next time."
Ma Zhiyuan's hairs stood on end, feeling a chill creeping around his neck.
Clearly, he had almost said goodbye to this world!
And he finally understood Ying Chen's style of operation, summarized in four words: military orders are like mountains!
Ying Chen's decisions were not to be changed!
If I say you can, you can, even if you can't!
If I say you can't, you can't, even if you can!
The other Ma family members looked on with envy and jealousy, but more than anything, with intense hatred.
They resented that a servant like Ma Zhiyuan had suddenly become their family head.
They had already planned how to outwardly obey and inwardly defy, driving Ma Zhiyuan out of the Ma family!
But their thoughts had barely formed in their minds for a second before Ying Chen shattered them with his next sentence.
"Iron Eagle Warriors!"
"Here!" Four hundred Iron Eagle Warriors saluted in unison.
"You will remain with the Ma family for now, assisting Ma Zhiyuan in managing the family, and await my orders at any time," Ying Chen said.
"Understood!"
Ma Zhiyuan instantly went from having nothing to wielding the power of life and death!
The other members of the Ma family looked on in despair.
No one knew the terror of the Iron Eagle Warriors better than they did, and Ma Zhiyuan's acquisition of this force meant he had truly secured his position as the Ma family head!
No matter what clever schemes or deceptive strategies they had, they were all futile in the face of the Iron Eagle Warriors!
"Ma family's second son, Ma Xingyu, pays respects to the Ancestor, and the Family Head!"
Ma Zhenbang's second son, quick to seize the opportunity, stepped forward and bowed to Ying Chen and Ma Zhiyuan.
"Ma family's third son, Ma Xingkong, pays respects to the Ancestor and the Family Head!"
Seeing his second brother take the lead, Ma Zhenbang's third son quickly bowed in salutation as well.
With even the two young masters having accepted their fate, the remaining Ma family members naturally had no other thoughts.
One by one, they bowed to Ying Chen and Ma Zhiyuan, expressing their submission.
And so, the Ma family completed its succession of the family head in the blink of an eye.
The speed was so fast it was like watching a stage play!
The guests present, while finding it incredible, also extended their congratulations to Ma Zhiyuan with clasped hands.
Acknowledging Ma Zhiyuan's new status as family head.
Why wouldn't they congratulate him?
Refusing to do so would likely lead to the same fate as Ma Zhenbang!
"The remaining matters are yours to handle."
Ying Chen said to Ma Zhiyuan.
Then he looked at Min Ziqiong, "Let's go, it's time to bring your daughter home."
Min Ziqiong had been impatient for a long time and immediately nodded, following Ying Chen as they walked away.
The four hundred Iron Eagle Warriors knelt on one knee in unison, respectfully sending Ying Chen off.
The Ma family members looked at each other, then all knelt down, shouting, "Respectfully seeing off the Ancestor."
Only when Ying Chen's figure completely disappeared did they dare to stand up.
...
Outside the Ma family entrance.
Professor Li, who had been waiting outside without entering, breathed a sigh of relief upon seeing Ying Chen finally emerge.
However, he then asked in surprise, "Where's the child?"
Ying Chen did not answer. Instead, as he had Professor Li start the car, he turned to Min Ziqiong, "I said I could help you seal this memory. Whether to seal it is your choice."
Min Ziqiong initially wanted to shake her head.
After all, no one wanted their memory to be incomplete.
But every time she blinked, a fleeting image of the bloody scene in the side hall and the image of Ma Zhenbang's head exploding at the banquet would surface.
She could no longer bear it and nodded forcefully, "I choose... to seal it!"
"Good." Ying Chen wasted no words and pulled Min Ziqiong closer.
His fingers formed a complex and obscure hand seal, and an invisible force began to generate from the void.
"Seal, Tie Jie!"
"Return to Nothingness!"
Ripples!
A tangible yet formless azure flame burst forth before Min Ziqiong. As Ying Chen pushed his hand seals forward, the flame rapidly surged into Min Ziqiong's head and then disappeared.
Only a faint trace of the residual seal mark could be seen as it slowly faded.
Min Ziqiong, as if she had lost her consciousness, became extremely dazed.
Her eyes were vacant, staring ahead, as if the soul within her had been sealed.
Ying Chen sighed slightly, "This is only using techniques from the 'Earth Spirit Realm,' and I already feel quite strained. It seems that Daoist magic in this era has collapsed to the point of near non-existence. What exactly caused this collapse of Daoist magic?"
"Although the sages severed communication with heaven and earth and cut off the path to ascension before I was suppressed, spiritual energy and Daoist magic still existed. Why, after two thousand years, has it decayed to this extent?"
Ying Chen was filled with questions.
At this moment, Min Ziqiong's eyes moved, and she gradually regained her senses.
She looked at Ying Chen and asked blankly, "Aren't we at the Ma family? Why are we outside?"
Her memory had been cut out, permanently remaining at the moment she followed Ying Chen into the Ma family.
Ying Chen did not answer. Instead, he placed his palm on Min Ziqiong's forehead, concerned that the effect might be poor due to the collapse of Daoist magic, leaving some after-effects.
Fortunately, his worries were unfounded, and Min Ziqiong was not seriously harmed.
Just as Ying Chen was about to withdraw his hand and explain things to Min Ziqiong, he heard the roar of a car engine from afar.
Accompanying it was a man's furious roar, "Do you think you've had enough of living!"
"Let go of my sister!"