Chapter 283: Diminished Family

Translator: Tim Editor: Fish Creek

Ye Mo looked at Zang Jiayan and Fang Nan, nodded, and said, “Okay, Fang Nan, you need to listen more to Jiayan from now on. We’re doing business, not running a gang. Getting money by collecting protection payments and robbing others isn’t sustainable. Flowing Snake is just the start. I believe our business will grow. We need people to buy our products regardless of price, just because they’re from Flowing Snake.”

Zang Jiayan’s eyes gleamed. Though Ye Mo hadn’t outlined a grand scheme, he had no doubt in Ye Mo’s abilities.

“Ye brother, are we starting a company?” Fang Nan wasn’t stupid; he sensed Ye Mo’s ambition.

Ye Mo nodded. “The first step is to start a company. Let’s call it…”

“Let’s call it Luo Yue,” Ye Mo said, remembering his origin on the Luo Yue continent.

Seeing Fang Nan’s gangster demeanor, Ye Mo chuckled, but reminded him, “Fang Nan, we’re doing legitimate business now. Don’t resort to your old ways. I want Flowing Snake to be a place of order, a real city. Jiayan will understand; you should listen to him.”

Jiayan nodded. “I understand, but what will our first product be? We can’t keep selling illegal products.”

Ye Mo knew this. He wanted Luo Yue to accumulate wealth and help him acquire herbs worldwide, ultimately aiding his cultivation.

“Luo Yue will be pharmaceutical. Our main purpose is to collect precious herbs. I have a detailed list with images. Jiayan can manage this; he’ll manage Luo Yue.” Ye Mo produced a list and gave it to Zang Jiayan.

“What about me, Ye brother?” Fang Nan asked hesitantly.

“You’ll be responsible for the company’s safety. Once we make money, people will be jealous. Your job is to keep Luo Yue secure,” Ye Mo said.

Fang Nan didn’t care about titles; he blindly followed Ye Mo. He immediately promised, patting his chest.

Ye Mo then said to Zang Jiayan, “I have two disciples at Luo Cang. They’ll manage the products. When you have time, bring them here. You can also enlist the Yuan siblings.”

Ye Mo had already taught Erhu about the Heart Improvement Serum and Beauty Pill; with enough materials, Erhu could produce them.

Ye Mo transferred all his bank funds to Zang Jiayan and left Flowing Snake. He’d established his followers and believed Luo Yue would accumulate the herbs he needed, becoming a world-renowned business tycoon.

…

Fall was harvest time, but not for all.

The Song family was diminished, but that wasn’t the biggest news. The Xuan Jiang Qiao family was massacred overnight. As the third largest family in China, powerful in both Beijing and Xuan Jiang, they commanded respect. Their annihilation sent the Beijing Qiao family into a tailspin, threatening their place among the five great families.

The Song family was diminished; the Ye family was far from its former glory; the Qiao family suffered a devastating blow. Only the Zhang and Li families remained among the five great families.

The Xuan Jiang Qiao family’s annihilation served as a stark warning to other major families: they were far from invincible.

Qiao Gang was one of three survivors. He’d heeded Ye Mo’s warning but was rebuked by his grandfather. However, Qiao Gang believed Ye Mo was extraordinary and felt he was above the families. He didn’t believe Ye Mo would warn him without reason. Despite his grandfather’s rebuke, he secretly installed cameras and left Xuan Jiang.

He returned to Beijing and told his second grandfather, Qiao Xin, about Ye Mo’s warning. Qiao Xin planned to contact Qiao Zhen immediately, but then received news of the Xuan Jiang Qiao family’s annihilation.

In Xuan Jiang, he found all surveillance destroyed except for the three cameras Qiao Gang had installed. Qiao Xin watched the footage and sighed; the Qiao family lacked foresight. Had they listened to Qiao Gang, the disaster could have been avoided.

The footage showed two short, black-clothed men who were merciless killers. Though the cameras didn’t capture everything, Qiao Xin was shaken by their cruelty.

“Second grandfather, why? Why kill everyone? They could have just taken the blood coral,” Qiao Gang cried, bewildered.

Qiao Xin sighed, turned off the video, and stared at Qiao Gang. “How do you know Ye Mo didn’t do it?”

Qiao Gang was surprised but immediately replied, “I feel he isn’t that kind of person. If he were, he wouldn’t have warned me. And those men were much shorter than him.”

Qiao Xin nodded. “Tell me exactly what Ye Mo said.”

Qiao Gang recounted, “He said that if the Cha family took the blood coral, they’d be fine, but not other families. He said the Cha family was semi-hidden and could contact hidden sects, then asked where the blood coral was found.”

Qiao Xin stood, then sat slowly, murmuring, “The Cha family is a semi-hidden sect. No wonder. We have no way to avenge this…”

“Second grandfather, let’s give the tape to the police…” Qiao Gang began, but was interrupted.

“Xiao Gang, don’t mention the tape or the Cha family. If they’re truly a semi-hidden family, handing over the tape is suicide. They could annihilate our Beijing branch,” Qiao Xin said gravely.

Qiao Gang was stunned. “Second grandfather, are we just going to let it go?”

“Let it go?” Qiao Xin murmured, staring at Qiao Gang. “Xiao Gang, do you know which family is truly the biggest in China?”

Before Qiao Gang could answer, he continued, “Sometimes, political power isn’t everything. The Zhang family is the biggest. They supposedly have an extremely powerful master, but he rarely appears, so people forget. The Song family is second. They hide their power well. People suspect the Zhang family’s master, but the Song family definitely has yellow-level masters, and not just one. We’re third, but actually last among the five great families.”

“Why, grandfather?” Qiao Gang asked, confused.

Qiao Xin shook his head. “The Song and Ye families clashed for years, but the Song family didn’t attack the Ye family. Why? Because the Ye family had Huang Yue, whose swordsmanship was invincible. The Ye family destroyed themselves by expelling Ye Mo, almost leading to their annihilation. Had the Song family not also offended Ye Mo, the Ye family would have been devoured long ago.”

Qiao Xin looked at Qiao Gang. “Do you understand?”

Qiao Gang, though from a wealthy family, was intelligent and understood. He asked, “Second grandfather, you mean the Ye and Song families were stronger than ours, but diminished because of Ye brother?”

Qiao Xin nodded with satisfaction. “Not bad. Ye Mo told you that giving him the blood coral would protect the Qiao family. He didn’t care about the Earth Fiend people, yet could annihilate the Song family. This means he’s much stronger than he lets on. Ye Mo is a terrifying person.”

Qiao Gang was shocked. Ye Mo was just one man, while the Qiao family was vast.

Qiao Xin continued, “After the race, I checked the recordings. Both Cha family cars exploded. Coincidence? I suspect it’s related to Ye Mo. I don’t know the details, but the Qiao and Cha families are now bitter enemies. The Cha family is semi-hidden. If we want revenge, we need Ye Mo.”

Qiao Gang understood. “Second grandfather, you want me to find Ye Mo?”