Chapter 33: Winds of Change, Cloudtop Corporation-Na noite de núpcias, você subiu na cama da minha paixão, e daí se eu exterminar sua família?(Bolinhos de arroz recheados com feijão-de-soja)

After settling his sister into bed, Ye Fan went to the ancestral shrine alone.

He lit incense and candles for his ancestors and knelt before them. Gazing at the inscribed tablets of the illustrious and loyal generals, he reflected on the current plight of the Ye family. After bowing three times, he looked up and declared, "I, your descendant Ye Fan, pay my respects to the ancestors of the Ye family. I swear that I will spare no effort to recover our family's sacred treasure and restore the glory of the Ye house."

Following his solemn prayer, Ye Fan stood up, found a clean cloth, and began to wipe the ancestral tablets.

At that moment, his thoughts turned to the Ye family’s ancestral relic, the Yin-Yang Cauldron. He had asked his sister about it, but she knew nothing. He then pulled out the list he had obtained from Xu Fei. His eyes bloodshot as he stared at the first name, Liu Chenghu, he muttered, "Liu Chenghu, my family treated you well and once saved your clan from ruin, yet you conspired with them to destroy us. You are next."

After finishing his task and standing in the shrine for a long while, Ye Fan finally left to return to his room.

It was deep into the night, yet the study of the Liu family in Yunzhou remained brightly lit. Liu Chenghu was gathered with ten others—all people whose names appeared on the list. They wore grave expressions, discussing the destruction of the Xu family and Ye Fan’s return to the old estate.

"Everyone, the Xu family was wiped out overnight. Could it be related to Ye Fan returning to the old estate?"

"Unlikely. Whether in the open or in the shadows, the Xu family’s power was far beyond what Ye Fan could contend with. He is no match for them."

"Exactly. The Xu family’s top bodyguard, Shan Liang, is a Martial Venerable. A man who just woke up from a vegetative state like Ye Fan could never defeat him."

Liu Chenghu nodded slowly and said, "I agree. We were the ones who had him reduced to a vegetable; even if he has recovered, he cannot possibly stand against a Martial Venerable. Whoever killed Shan Liang and destroyed the Xu family must be connected to the Ye family’s hidden strength."

Liu Chenghu continued, "Regardless, we must not be careless. We should investigate in secret to identify the culprit. Furthermore, our superiors are pressing us to find the Yin-Yang Cauldron. Since Ye Fan has returned to the old estate, I think we should target him to track down the relic."

The group reached a consensus and departed.

The next morning, Ye Fan took his sister to the Yunding Company, which had been gifted to him by Xiao Yun, the richest man in the capital. In the executive office, the general manager, Qin Chuan, and the deputy manager, Zhang Ming, had just received a call from Ye Fan and were filled with sudden, profound terror as they discussed how to welcome their new boss.

In the hallway outside, a provocatively dressed woman was waving at a young man. This woman was Manager Deng Li, who had called the previous day to announce that Ye Xiaoya was fired. The man she was signaling was Luo Lin, the nephew of the deputy manager, Zhang Ming.

"That skirt is tight," Luo Lin said, reaching out to touch her as he approached. Deng Li didn’t mind; she spun around, striking a sultry pose, and purred, "Is it sexy?" Seeing him drooling, she leaned in, her hand brushing his chest, and whispered, "My office, at noon. I’ll show you heaven."

She sashayed away toward the lobby. Upon arrival, she spotted Ye Xiaoya and marched over, sneering, "Ye Xiaoya, pack your things and get out. Don't be an eyesore."

"You think you’re qualified to make my sister leave?" Ye Fan, who had been following behind, stepped forward with a stern voice.

Seeing it was Ye Fan, Deng Li grew even more arrogant. "I thought some big shot had arrived, but it’s just you, the disgraced Ye family reject! So, you don’t like me bullying your sister? I am bullying her—what are you going to do about it?"

*Slap!*

Before she could react, Ye Fan struck her across the face. "If you dare bully my sister, I will hit you until you shut up."

"What?" Deng Li clutched her stinging cheek, roaring in fury, "Ye Fan, how dare you! Do you think you’re still the young master of the Ye family who ruled over Yunzhou? You dare hit me?"

*Slap! Slap!*

Ye Fan didn't hesitate, striking her twice more. "If I don't hit you for bullying my sister, am I supposed to keep you for the holidays? My sister once saved you, and this is how you repay kindness with cruelty? You act like a dog relying on its master’s power, showing nothing but ingratitude!"

*Slap!* "This is for your ungratefulness!"
*Slap!* "This is for your arrogance!"
*Slap!* "This is for your abuse of power!"

With every blow, Ye Fan delivered a reprimand. Deng Li, her face swollen and bleeding, trembled with rage and pain. She pulled out her phone and dialed Luo Lin. "Brother Luo, come to the lobby! Someone hit me! Save me!"

"What? In Yunding Company? You have the nerve to hit her? I'm coming down right now!"

Hanging up, Deng Li glared at Ye Fan. "You ignorant fool, did you hear that? My Brother Luo is coming, and you’re finished!"

*Boom!*

Before she could finish, Ye Fan kicked her to the floor. His voice was cold as ice: "If you dare bully my sister, I don't care if it's a deputy manager's nephew or the King of Heaven himself—what of it?"

Before Deng Li could respond, a roar echoed from behind them: "What a big mouth you have! How dare you show no respect for the deputy manager's nephew? I want to see who you think you are!"

Hearing Luo Lin’s voice, Deng Li scrambled to her feet, pointing at Ye Fan. "You’re dead, you hear me? My Brother Luo is here, and you are about to face catastrophe!"