He bowed deeply, prostrating himself completely.
"Master, Liang Hutou submits! I am willing to serve you wholeheartedly!"
Ling Fan nodded indifferently.
His face showed no trace of joy or excitement from subduing a late-stage Xuan Gang realm expert.
This unfathomable composure made Liang Hutou even more awestruck.
Ling Fan waved his hand casually, as if dusting off a speck of dirt.
The terrifying demonic flames on Liang Hutou's body immediately retracted, finally transforming into a red lotus mark that entered Liang Hutou's body.
"I hate betrayal more than anything. I have planted demonic fire within you. From now on, your life and death are in my hands, not yours. Do you understand?"
Ling Fan's eyes flashed. The red lotus mark disappeared, and his expression returned to its usual calm, as he looked down at Liang Hutou and said faintly.
Feeling the demonic fire enter his body and lie dormant, Liang Hutou trembled. Any lingering hope he had was now completely extinguished.
Ling Fan's methods were truly unfathomable, making him utterly submit.
"Thank you, Master, for sparing my life. Hutou will serve you with all his heart and dare not act presumptuously."
Liang Hutou bowed deeply at Ling Fan's feet.
"Hurry and untie my father-in-law and the others."
Ling Fan said indifferently.
Liang Hutou quickly got up, hunched his back, and respectfully untied Lan Tianxiong, Li Huimei, and the other members of the Lan family.
He kept apologizing as he did so.
"Patriarch Lan, I have offended you greatly. It was Hutou's fault. Please do not blame me."
"Crack."
"Crack."
Liang Hutou broke the thick chains one by one, which clanged onto the ground.
This submissive and obsequious demeanor immediately caused an uproar throughout the hall.
Liang Hutou's subordinates were all stunned and filled with dread.
The guests from Jiangnan City were also deeply shocked.
This was a top expert in the late Xuan Gang realm, a super formidable figure who could stand shoulder to shoulder with the city lords of the major martial cities.
Yet, he had been so easily subdued by Ling Fan.
In contrast to their shock and fear, all the Lan family members were now cheering and extremely excited!
Their son-in-law had actually subdued a late-stage Xuan Gang realm expert!
Before this, their strongest patriarch, Lan Tianxiong, was only in the early Xuan Gang realm and couldn't even withstand a casual blow from Liang Hutou.
They had already despaired, thinking the Lan family was doomed today.
But now, Liang Hutou had become their Lan family's servant!
This meant their Lan family now had a top-tier combat force, and who in the Jiangnan City region would dare provoke them in the future?
If anyone displeased them, they could bring Liang Hutou, this super thug, and confront them.
Moreover, they had a son-in-law who was practically omnipotent.
Even the late-stage Xuan Gang realm expert Liang Hutou was obediently subdued by their son-in-law, so how powerful must their son-in-law be!
However, not all Lan family members were filled with excitement and joy.
One person was an exception.
That person was Lan Tiankui!
At this moment, Lan Tiankui's face was filled with extreme fear, his legs trembling. He regretted it immensely.
He wished he could slap himself a few times.
How could he have been so foolish and unlucky?
He thought that by betraying the Lan family and defecting to Liang Hutou, he would soar to prosperity, perhaps even helping Liang Hutou take over the Lan family's assets.
But who knew that Ling Fan would appear halfway through.
Not only did he kill Tiangou, but he also subdued Liang Hutou.
This made his previous act of betrayal a complete joke.
Given Ling Fan's decisive and ruthless nature, he couldn't tolerate even a speck of dust in his eyes. How could he let him go?
Thinking of this, Lan Tiankui had the urge to flee. He wanted to slip away while Ling Fan and the others weren't paying attention.
Just as Lan Tiankui was tiptoeing, preparing to escape.
His vision flashed.
The Lan family members had already seen through his intentions and blocked his path.
"You traitorous dog, you beast!"
"Where do you think you're going!"
Everyone shouted angrily.
They didn't harbor as much hatred for Liang Hutou.
Because in the martial world, the strong preyed on the weak. They were weaker than Liang Hutou, so if the Lan family was eventually taken over by Liang Hutou, they could only blame their own lack of strength.
But Lan Tiankui was different!
This scoundrel was completely worse than an animal.
It was one thing for him to surrender to Liang Hutou.
But to show his loyalty to Liang Hutou, he had sold out all the younger generation of the Lan family.
If not for Ling Fan's terrifying demonic fire turning the tide, their Lan family might have truly become extinct.
Seeing everyone blocking his way, Lan Tiankui's expression trembled, his eyes filled with terror, and his heart was in a panic.
He hurriedly knelt down and begged for mercy, "I know I was wrong, I deserve to die. I am a beast. I don't even know how I was blinded by greed to commit such a foolish act of betraying my ancestors!"
As he spoke, Lan Tiankui didn't forget to slap himself repeatedly.
"Slap."
"Slap."
"Slap."
"Patriarch, everyone, I was just momentarily confused. I truly know I was wrong, and I will never dare to do it again! Please, forgive me this once."
Lan Tianxiong said with deep pain, "If you had committed any other mistake, it would be fine! But you should not have betrayed your clan for personal gain. With what you have done, killing you a thousand times would not be too much!"
"No, I am your own brother. I am of the Lan family's direct bloodline. Can you bear to harm your own kin? Spare me this time, brother!"
Lan Tiankui knelt and took two steps, clinging tightly to Lan Tianxiong's feet and begging.
"Get lost!"
Disgust flashed in Lan Tianxiong's eyes.
He was utterly disappointed with his cousin. He turned away abruptly, no longer looking at him.
The other Lan family members also scoffed at Lan Tiankui's actions.
When he betrayed the Lan family, why didn't he think of himself as a member of the Lan family!
Now that he was cornered, he remembered his identity.
"Xiao Fan, how you deal with him is up to you. Don't consider our feelings. This kind of person is not worthy of being a Lan family member."
Lan Tianxiong said indignantly.
Ling Fan nodded faintly.
He looked at Lan Tiankui.
He had some impression of this person, but it wasn't a good one.
He remembered during the conflict between the Jin and Lan families, when the Jin family had the upper hand, and Jin Wudao said that if the Lan family surrendered Lan Xueyi, they would spare the Lan family, this Lan Tiankui immediately advised Xueyi to sacrifice herself. When Lan Tianxiong refused, he immediately used the family's greater good to pressure Lan Tianxiong and his daughter.
Such a selfish, self-serving, and ancestor-betraying beast was not worthy of living.
"Commit suicide yourself, so as not to dirty my hands."
Ling Fan said coldly.
Lan Tiankui was so frightened that he fell to the ground.
"Alright... Alright! I'll commit suicide. I'll die. I... I'll die outside."
Lan Tiankui said, as he shuffled towards the exit of the hall.
When he reached the entrance of the hall, he suddenly bolted, cursing as he looked back, "You Lan Tianxiong, you actually handed over the power of the Lan family to an outsider bastard, allowing this Ling fellow to persecute me. I curse you to die a terrible death! The Lan family will be finished sooner or later!"
"Damn it, don't let him escape!"
"Damn, this guy is a piece of trash."
"Chase!"
The Lan family members were furious. They had thought that Lan Tiankui's agreement to commit suicide showed a little bit of conscience, but they never expected this person to be beyond redemption.
Just as they were about to chase after him, Ling Fan suddenly ordered, "Kill him."
Liang Hutou immediately bowed and said, "As you command, Master."
"Boom!"
Everyone felt a flash before their eyes. A figure moved so fast it was like an afterimage. He leaped high, then descended with earth-shattering roars.
With a surge of gang qi, Lan Tiankui was blown apart in mid-air before he could even let out a scream.
This scene deeply shocked everyone.
Before they could recover, Liang Hutou had returned to the hall and stood silently behind Ling Fan, like the most loyal bodyguard.