Wang Zhi had fled, and by the time Ye Fan caught up, he had vanished.
But Wang Zhi's cultivation was low, and Ye Fan eventually caught up to him.
However, although Ye Fan caught up to him, he was stopped by someone in the backyard of the Wang family.
The one blocking him was an old man holding a broom. The old man was sweeping when Ye Fan arrived.
The old man was dressed plainly, like any ordinary elder.
But as soon as Ye Fan approached, his aura changed, becoming profound and unfathomable.
At this moment, the old man's eyes seemed to see through everything, giving off a sense of peace yet also danger.
However, the youth was consumed by rage and could no longer care about that. No matter what kind of look the old man gave him, it was useless.
"Those who block me die!" the youth shouted hoarsely, like a wild beast's growl.
The old man sweeping the ground shook his head and sighed, "Young man, your eyes are clouded by hatred. Let it go. Lay down your butcher's knife and become a Buddha!"
Wang Zhi also yelled from behind, "That's right, let it go. As long as you are willing to let it go, I can give you a hundred thousand taels of gold, and a hundred beauties for you to choose from. Think about your future life!"
The old man sweeping the ground lowered his eyebrows, his expression always calm. Wang Zhi's words did not stir a ripple in his ears.
It was as if nothing in the world was worth his attention. Anyone else who saw this detached demeanor would surely exclaim that he was an otherworldly expert.
But the youth was already losing his mind. All he could think of now was revenge.
No other thought was worth his attention.
Hearing this, the youth thought of his deceased relatives, his face contorted into a ferocious expression, and he charged forward with a roar.
"You killed my entire family! How can I let it go? What would their spirits in heaven think of me? With my enemies before my eyes, how can I not kill them?"
"Old man, why are you so biased? Do you have any principles? Any sense of justice?"
"Let go? Heh, I'll let go after I kill Wang Zhi!"
"Those who block me die!"
The old man looked up and stood in front of Wang Zhi, intending to kill Wang Zhi only after passing him.
"You're seeking death!" Ye Fan roared and charged forward.
He wanted to kill this old man, and then kill Wang Zhi, to avenge his parents!
"Die!"
He threw a punch, and the sound exploded like muffled thunder.
The old man raised his hand and threw a punch in return.
The collision of the two produced a tremendous sound.
Boom!
The youth was no match and was sent flying by the old man's punch, soaring a hundred meters away and crashing through many structures.
The old man, however, stood as still as a mountain, calm and collected, not even breaking a sweat, as if it were a simple task for him.
He looked at the fallen Ye Fan with a hint of surprise.
He had used only thirty percent of his strength in that punch, but the youth had been able to withstand it, which astonished him. The youth's cultivation was not high, but his strength was terrifying.
Interesting. This must be the legendary monstrous genius!
He looked at the youth, his eyes filled with a profound meaning.
"Young man, your malevolent spirit is too heavy. Let go of your obsessions. Hatred will only make you lose hope. Only by letting go will you see hope and go further. Let it go, you need to be an awakened one!"
The old man remained steady, maintaining his benevolent and compassionate demeanor, as if he were truly concerned for the youth.
His posture even made Wang Zhi sigh in admiration.
He secretly thought, "As expected of the Old Ancestor, the pillar of the clan! With just a few words, he can calm one's heart and extinguish any anger."
Tap, tap, tap. He took a few steps forward, reaching Ye Fan and looking down at the injured youth, extending a hand.
"Let it go, young man. You are still young and have a bright future ahead. Anger is destroying your path!"
The old man's voice echoed in the youth's ears, making him feel dizzy. The old man's voice seemed to have a purifying effect, gradually dispelling the anger from his body.
As the anger receded, his eyes also became clearer.
However, the moment he thought of his family's death and Wang Zhi's actions regarding Miss Liu, he became enraged again.
Seeing his renewed anger, the old man spoke again. His peculiar voice purified his rage, and he felt a sense of enlightenment.
"Yes, everyone is born to die. Whether it's old age or being killed by someone, the outcome is the same. Dying earlier means less suffering in life. Wang Zhi killing my parents is not a crime, they just died a little earlier! I should thank Wang Zhi for killing them, saving them from further suffering."
"I finally understand!"
"I've comprehended it!"
Ye Fan muttered to himself, showing an expression of complete enlightenment.
Seeing this, the old man narrowed his eyes and smiled.
"Congratulations, you have comprehended the ultimate truth of life. Come, child, let us guard the Wang family together! Your home is gone, so make the Wang family your home!"
The old man's voice was too captivating. Without thinking, the youth nodded in agreement.
"Okay, I will guard the Wang family. The Wang family is my home!"
"Very good. You have achieved great enlightenment. Let's celebrate!"
At this moment.
Wang Zhi was stunned.
What kind of technique was this?
It possessed such powerful brainwashing capabilities.
Thinking of this, he suddenly felt scared, afraid that this ability would be used on him.
In reality, he was overthinking. This ability could not be used easily, and the old man would naturally not use it on a mediocrity like Wang Zhi.
Looking at the youth who had fallen into a state of complete enlightenment, the old man nodded with satisfaction. This youth was a genius, possessing the strength of a Grandmaster at such a young age.
He intended to nurture him well, to make him a guardian of the Wang family, and to dedicate his life to the Wang family.
As for Wang Zhi killing the youth's entire family, it was a minor matter in his eyes. He would make the youth understand that killing his family was for their own good, and that he should be grateful instead of resentful.
Anger was wrong; gratitude was right.
In the shadows.
The enraged Demon God watched this scene and let out a cold laugh.
"Playing tricks of manipulation in front of this Demon God? You're still too green!"
"However, let the bullets fly for a while longer. I will let Ye Fan wake up later. If he knows he has been manipulated and is now supposed to guard the Wang family, who killed his entire family, he will completely go mad with rage!"
"Haha!"
At this moment.
Ye Fan was indeed manipulated and became somewhat dazed.
The old man had been instilling new ideas into him, intending to expel all of the youth's original concepts from his mind and turn him into his tool.
Time flew by, and soon night fell.
The old man finally completed his masterpiece. Looking at the thoroughly brainwashed youth, he nodded with satisfaction. "My skills have become rusty with time, but in the end, the masterpiece is complete!"
"Ye Fan, from now on, you will change your surname. You will be called Wang Fan, and you will protect the Wang family well!"
"With a genius like you, even if I leave, the Wang family will remain safe and sound!"
He glanced out the window, a look of emotion on his face.
In the shadows, the enraged Demon God laughed, "It's almost time!"
The next morning.
Ye Fan was brought to the re-held banquet.
When everyone saw Ye Fan, they were astonished into silence.
They looked at the youth, who was loyal and devoted to protecting the Wang family, and found it unbelievable. Yesterday they were fighting to the death, and today he had become their guard.
Your entire family was killed, and you're not seeking revenge?
You came to seek revenge, and yet you became a guard for the Wang family. What a dreamlike ending, utterly absurd.
Everyone was speechless, their very perception of reality shattering.
Moreover, Ye Fan had announced he would change his surname.
In this era, surnames were of utmost importance. Changing one's surname was akin to betraying one's ancestors and was considered great rebellion!
Who would change their surname unless absolutely necessary?
This was too abnormal, something a normal person would not do. It gave everyone a chilling feeling.
"Everyone, I feel something is not right. What happened to Ye Fan? It's as if he's possessed by a ghost."
"Could he have truly been possessed?"
"Only you believe in possession. We cultivate martial arts, and only with our own bodies can we reach the peak. Taking over another's body only leads to an earlier death and hinders cultivation. I feel he's been manipulated."
"The Wang family has such ruthless methods! They killed his entire family, then manipulated him into guarding the Wang family, and even made him change his surname to Wang. This is more cruel than killing his spirit!"
"Keep your voice down. Be careful someone overhears and retaliates against you. The Wang family is known for being petty."
"..............."
The banquet was lively, as if yesterday's farce was a minor incident.
Wang Zhi triumphantly celebrated his successful proposal, and everyone came to congratulate him.
Wang Zhi looked at the loyal Ye Fan beside him, thought of the old man, and shivered. The power to manipulate minds was too terrifying.
As the banquet reached its climax.
The old man sweeping the ground also arrived in the banquet hall.
Suddenly.
A subtle energy fluctuation swept through the air. The old man seemed to see something in a daze, but the fluctuation quickly disappeared, and he suspected it was his imagination.
"Was that my imagination? Why did I feel a bit restless just now?"
"Impossible!"
"I am already at the Land Immortal realm. No one can influence me!"
He quickly dismissed the feeling.
He believed it must have been his imagination.
In this remote area, it was unlikely that there was anyone stronger than him.
Hoo!
He took a deep breath to calm himself.
Suddenly, he noticed the commotion in front.
What happened?
"This is bad! Young Master is dead, killed by Ye Fan!"
"He was faking it, it was all an act, he killed the Young Master."
"Damn it, quickly capture him, don't let him escape!"
The old man's face changed drastically. His aura shifted, and a pressure only a Land Immortal possessed instantly enveloped the entire Wang mansion.
Everyone was shocked by this aura, their faces filled with horror.
They all scattered, looking at the plainly dressed old man.
The old man's face was contorted with rage, his expression like a ferocious demon ready to devour.
Having lost face, he revealed his true demeanor.
"Ye Fan, you were faking it all along?"
He pointed at the youth enveloped in ten meters of furious flames.
The youth silently recited the 'Raging God Art,' regaining a sliver of his reason and channeling the flames on his body into an energy armor that covered him entirely.
He turned to face the old man. The moment he saw the old man, his rage surged even more.
It was this old man who told him to let go of his hatred, and even made him a dog of the Wang family. Most infuriatingly, he made him change his surname.
This was more infuriating than killing his spirit!
Fortunately, he had the Raging God Art, and with a sudden flash of inspiration today, he had regained his senses.
But then came even greater rage.
"I will kill you!"