Ling Fan couldn't help but smile.
This Chu Tiange fellow was quite interesting.
He knew how to bend and stretch.
He had previously boasted about teaching Ling Fan a lesson.
Now, realizing he couldn't afford to offend Ling Fan, he immediately knelt and begged to be taken in as a subordinate.
Most people wouldn't do such a thing.
After a moment's thought, Ling Fan said, "Get up!"
"Ah! You've agreed to take me as a subordinate, hahaha, thank you, Big Brother! From now on, you are my biological elder brother, no, even closer than my biological elder brother!"
Dark lines appeared on Ling Fan's forehead.
"You're not qualified to be my subordinate. If you can reach the Giant Spirit Realm before the age of twenty-five, then you might have a sliver of a chance."
Chu Tiange was immediately disappointed, but then he said sternly, "Mr. Ling, rest assured, I will work hard!"
"Mm. While you're not qualified to be my subordinate, I can help you recognize an elder sister!"
"Ah! Really! Is this elder sister you speak of half as powerful as you are?" Chu Tiange asked in surprise.
Ling Fan pulled Liu Xiran to his side, pointed at her, and said to Chu Tiange, "This is the elder sister I've found for you."
As soon as he said this.
Everyone's jaws dropped.
Liu Xiran herself was also stunned.
Chu Tiange said with a wry face, "Mr. Ling, are you joking? This little girl is younger than my sister, yet you want me to recognize her as my elder sister!"
Ling Fan said calmly, "What, you're unwilling?"
Chu Tiange looked at Liu Xiran, his mind racing.
Soon, he seemed to realize something and said, "Willing, willing! As long as I can forge this good relationship with you, Mr. Ling, I'd even recognize her as my mother!"
Everyone present was dumbfounded!
Liu Xiran felt even more flustered.
To be the elder sister of the Seventh Young Master of the Governor's Mansion made her feel very uneasy.
Ling Fan rubbed her little head, signaling her to relax.
He surveyed the surroundings and said, "I'm about to return to Jiangnan City. Before I leave, there are a few matters I need to attend to."
As soon as he said this.
The hearts of all the powerful figures in Xingsha City, especially the Xiong father and son, the officials of the City Lord's Mansion, and the Liu Yubei and Liu Xiwei father and daughter, leaped into their throats.
Ling Fan then said, "The Xiong family of the City Lord's Mansion has repeatedly offended me. I have already crippled Xiong Kuang's arms. Now, I will also strip the Xiong family of their position as City Lord. Do any of you have any objections?"
Shock flashed in everyone's eyes, and many looked at the Xiong father and son and the officials of the City Lord's Mansion with sympathy.
The Xiong family was truly out of luck this time!
Previously, at the Xingsha City Martial Arts Tournament, Liang Hutu had beheaded two Xuan Gang realm experts.
Now, their position as City Lord had been abolished by Ling Fan's words. It was impossible to describe their plight.
Upon hearing this, Xiong Kuang almost fell to the ground, his face filled with extreme bitterness. He lowered his head and bowed, "Thank you, Mr. Ling, for your magnanimity in sparing my Xiong family. Xiong Kuang knows his sins are deep and that he brought this upon himself. To have such an outcome is already satisfying."
Xiong Fei, Xiong Daying, and others knelt trembling behind Xiong Kuang, not daring to breathe.
Ling Fan then asked, "Where is the owner of Tianxin Tower?"
"I'm here, I'm here! Mr. Ling, I'm right here! What are your orders!"
From the crowd, a stout middle-aged merchant squeezed out, panting. He was the owner of Tianxin Tower, Mei Youqian.
Ling Fan said, "I stayed at your Tianxin Tower once and didn't pay. I, Ling, cannot take advantage of others. Therefore, from now on, you shall be the City Lord of Xingsha City!"
"Boom!"
Everyone was in an uproar.
Ling Fan was actually appointing a merchant as the City Lord of Xingsha City.
And it was simply because he had stayed at Tianxin Tower once!
Countless powerful figures in Xingsha City looked at Mei Youqian with envious, jealous, and hateful eyes.
They thought this fellow had struck it incredibly lucky.
Mei Youqian was stunned for a moment, then his heart was filled with ecstasy!
He never expected Ling Fan to give him such a grand return gift!
This deal was incredibly profitable.
This was probably the most worthwhile business transaction he had ever made in his life.
However, he also felt a bit troubled.
Although Tianxin Tower was not small, it was far from comparable to the various forces in Xingsha City. Once Ling Fan left, could he safely hold onto his position as the City Lord of Xingsha City?
As if sensing his concern, Ling Fan said to Chu Tiange, "Your Governor's Mansion oversees all the martial cities below. Issue him an appointment and send some strong individuals to assist him."
Chu Tiange, without hesitation, respectfully replied, "Mr. Ling's words are like imperial decrees. I will handle this matter immediately. Please rest assured!"
"Second matter. I consider Ranran my sister. From now on, anyone who dares to harm her in the slightest, no matter who it is, I will crush their entire family! Do you understand?"
"We absolutely dare not, absolutely dare not!"
Everyone thought that with Ling Fan as Liu Xiran's backer, who would be so tired of living as to provoke her.
Ling Fan then looked towards the Liu family.
"I warn you, Liu family, do not think that just because Ranran shares the surname Liu, you can use her based on blood ties. My protection of her has nothing to do with your Liu family. If I find out you dare to exploit her, I will unhesitatingly crush your Liu family."
Liu Yubei lowered his head and said, "As you command! The Liu family will naturally abide by its duties and dare not act presumptuously."
After saying this, Liu Yubei looked as if he had aged several years, his face filled with bitterness.
Liu Xiwei trembled all over, her fingernails digging into her palms.
She no longer held her slender, swan-like neck high as she used to.
Instead, she lowered her head deeply.
She felt more humiliated and regretful than ever before in her life!
Many people felt a sense of schadenfreude.
The Liu family had ruined a perfectly good hand.
And they couldn't blame anyone else.
It was all their own doing.
Ling Fan ignored the humiliation and regret of the Liu Yubei and Liu Xiwei father and daughter.
He said to Chu Tiange, "Ranran has good cultivation talent. Take her back to Tianchu Province and find a good teacher to instruct her. Make sure she doesn't suffer any bullying, or I won't let you off."
Chu Tiange readily agreed, "Mr. Ling, please rest assured. Miss Ranran is now my elder sister. How could I let her be bullied! Wouldn't that be an insult to me, the Seventh Young Master of the Governor's Mansion?"
Ling Fan nodded and looked at Liu Xiran, "Ranran, are you willing to go to the Governor's Mansion of Tianchu Province?"
A struggle appeared in Liu Xiran's eyes.
On one hand, the Governor's Mansion was the martial arts holy land of the entire Tianchu Province, and all geniuses yearned to enter it and soar to the heavens.
Having practiced martial arts since childhood, she was no exception.
However, she was only thirteen or fourteen years old, and leaving home at such a young age made her hesitant to make the decision.
At this moment, Liu Ke stepped forward and cupped his hands towards Ling Fan, "Mr. Ling, may I accompany my sister to Tianchu City? My sister has never traveled far at her age. I can accompany her for care and support."
Ling Fan thought for a moment and nodded, then said to Chu Tiange, "Add one more person. Do you have any objections?"