After I stopped trying, a rich woman trained me into a demon emperor.

Zhou Ran's gaze fell on Wu De.

His eyes held only a detached indifference, as if looking down upon ants.

Wu De's blood froze instantly, and an uncontrollable tremor rose from the depths of his soul.

The image of the Zhao family father and son being burned to ashes by the demonic fire appeared uncontrollably in my mind.

He thought he was going to die.

However, Zhou Ran did not make a move. Instead, he walked to a perfectly good single sofa and sat down casually.

"Qin San, bring the tea."

"Okay! Coming right away!"

Master Qin personally went to brew tea, his movements as swift as a waiter's.

Zhou Ran took the teacup, her fingertips gently tracing the warm rim of the cup.

He blew on the tea leaves before turning his gaze back to Wu De, who was slumped on the ground.

"Wu De, tell me, who's in charge of the Wu family now?"

He tumbled off the wreckage of the wheelchair and sprawled on the ground, slamming his forehead against the cold, hard marble floor with a series of dull thuds.

"It's Master Zhou! From this day forward, the entire Wu family will only obey Master Zhou's orders!"

"I, Wu De, was blind and foolish; I beg you, Lord Zhou, spare my life!"

"I am willing to offer up all the assets of the Wu family!"

Wu De was an extremely intelligent man.

Money is gone, but you can earn it back.

If you lose your life, you really lose everything.

The one in front of me is not human, he is a demon!

I won't kill you.

Those four words, like heavenly music, instantly lifted Wu De from hell back to heaven.

His eyes blazed with the wild joy of surviving a disaster, and he began to kowtow frantically.

"Thank you, Lord Zhou, for sparing my life! Thank you, Lord Zhou!"

"but."

Zhou Ran's tone suddenly changed, and he stopped knocking. The air in the hall instantly dropped to freezing point.

"He may be spared the death penalty, but he cannot escape punishment."

"The Wu family has been entrenched in Jiangcheng for many years and is deeply rooted. Killing them all would make the mess much more difficult to clean up later."

His voice was soft, yet carried an undeniable authority.

"So, I want you to be my dog."

Naked humiliation.

However, at this moment, Wu De felt a surge of ecstasy.

Be a dog?

What's wrong with being a dog!

Didn't you see that old man Qin San is wagging his tail so hard it's almost broken?

I do!

I, Wu De, am willing!

Wu De kowtowed even louder.

"From now on, I will be the most loyal dog under Master Zhou's feet!"

"Whoever Master Zhou tells me to bite, I'll bite!"

Wu De raised his head, and a hint of smugness appeared in his eyes as he looked at Qin San.

"Words are no proof."

Zhou Ran stretched out his right hand, and a drop of bright red blood slowly condensed at the tip of his index finger.

Within that drop of blood, it seemed as if millions of howling, vengeful souls were imprisoned, emanating a terrifying and violent aura.

Open your mouth.

Upon hearing this, Wu De trembled violently, but he knew he had no choice.

Zhou Ran flicked his finger.

The blood droplet transformed into a red thread and disappeared into Wu De's mouth.

"Well……"

Wu De clutched his chest, his face contorted in pain, as if an invisible hand were squeezing his heart.

"This is the 'Blood Curse'."

Zhou Ran's voice remained indifferent.

"Submit to me, and it will protect your heart and even help you live a long life."

"But if you dare to harbor even the slightest disloyalty..."

Zhou Ran's mind stirred slightly.

"ah--!"

Wu De let out a scream that sounded inhuman, and curled up like a boiled shrimp.

Cold sweat instantly soaked through his clothes; he felt as if his soul was about to be crushed by that invisible hand!

Just one second.

The pain disappeared.

But for Wu De, that brief second felt longer than a century.

"Do you understand?"

Zhou Ran looked down at him.

"Understood! I understand!"

Wu De lay prostrate on the ground, no longer harboring any rebellious intentions towards Zhou Ran, only a deep-seated awe remained.

"very good."

Zhou Ran stood up and surveyed the messy villa.

"I want to see the accounts of all of the Wu family's liquid assets before dawn."

"In addition, shut down all your shady businesses."

I don't want my dog ​​to poop and pee anywhere in Jiangcheng and dirty my territory.

"Yes! Yes! We will definitely do it!"

Wu De readily agreed.

Just then, Su Xiaoxiao, who had been forgotten in the corner, finally came to her senses from extreme terror.

She looked at the man who seemed like a god or demon, her eyes filled with an extremely complex expression.

Fear, regret, resentment, and fanaticism...

She struggled to break free of her restraints, ripped the gag out of her mouth, and scrambled toward Zhou Ran, tears streaming down her face.

"Zhou Ran! Zhou Ran, look at me!"

"I am Xiaoxiao!"

We were together for three years, have you forgotten all that?

I know I was wrong!

I really know I was wrong!

Please, give me another chance, okay?

I don't mind if you have other women!

Whether it's Chen Ya or Xiao Hongli, I don't mind!

"As long as I can stay by your side, I'm willing to be your slave, even without any official status!"

After witnessing Zhou Ran's extraordinary abilities to manipulate events at will, Su Xiaoxiao's vain heart was completely ignited.

This is the man she's always dreamed of!

This is the man who can make her stand at the top of the world!

Zhou Ran stopped walking, but did not turn around.

He only glanced at the disheveled woman out of the corner of his eye.

"Qin San".

"exist!"

"Throw her out."

Zhou Ran's voice was completely calm.

"I don't want to see this face in Jiangcheng again."

"yes!"

With a wave of his hand, Master Qin sent two men forward to lift Su Xiaoxiao up like a dead dog.

"No! Zhou Ran, you can't do this to me!"

You'll regret this!

You'll definitely regret it!

I love you the most!

Su Xiaoxiao's piercing screams faded into the night and eventually disappeared completely.

Zhou Ran walked out of the villa. The night breeze was cool, dispelling the last traces of blood in the air.

Tonight, the harvest is plentiful.

Not only did they sever the ties of the past, but they also subdued the Wu family, this local tyrant.

More importantly, from the ghost's memories, he glimpsed a tremendous opportunity that would allow him to break through to the Foundation Establishment stage!

"Mr. Zhou, where to next?"

Third Master Qin bowed respectfully and asked.

"Back to the Xiao family."

Zhou Ran got into the car and closed his eyes.

"We will report back once the location of the Ganoderma lucidum is confirmed."

The Song family and the Wuji Sect have suffered such a great loss, they will never let it go.

He had to return to the Xiao family and make a long-term plan.

If nothing unexpected happens, the next one to cause trouble will be a terrestrial deity.

……

It was already three in the morning when they returned to the Xiao family manor.

But the mansion atop the mountain was still brightly lit.

Security levels inside and outside the manor have been increased several times over, with elite bodyguards leading wolfhounds, vigilantly patrolling every corner.

Upon seeing Zhou Ran's convoy, the gate slid open silently.

As soon as Zhou Ran got out of the car, two beautiful figures, enveloped in a fragrant breeze, came to greet him.

"You're back!"

Chen Ya practically ran over, her captivating peach blossom eyes now filled with bloodshot veins and a sense of relief.

Seeing that Zhou Ran was safe and sound, her nerves, which had been tense all night, finally relaxed, and her eyes instantly reddened.

Xiao Hongli followed behind, her steps still steady, but her clear, cold phoenix eyes were fixed on Zhou Ran without blinking, scrutinizing him closely.

When she saw a scorch mark on the hem of his clothes, her delicate eyebrows furrowed involuntarily.

"Are you alright?"

"Just a few noisy flies, I swatted them dead."

Zhou Ran smiled, and that calm and collected demeanor instantly soothed all the anxiety in the two women's hearts.

Upon entering the hall, Zhou Ran didn't waste any time and placed a few items on the coffee table.