819: Chapter 808: Teaching Huo Zhanyuan a Lesson 819: Chapter 808: Teaching Huo Zhanyuan a Lesson Ning Fan didn’t care about the situation in Jiangcheng or the current state of the Shangguan Family.
Without the Yunteng Family as their backer, the Shangguan Family’s decline was entirely to be expected.
Therefore, Ning Fan hadn’t paid much attention to the matter.
What he knew about Jiangcheng and the Shangguan Family later came from that kid, Huo Zhanyuan.
After Huo Zhanyuan approached Ning Fan, he laid out the entire situation concerning Jiangcheng and the Shangguan Family.
Upon hearing about the current pitiful state of the Shangguan Family, Ning Fan showed no particular reaction, as if it had absolutely nothing to do with him.
In truth, Ning Fan had stopped paying any attention to the Shangguan Family ever since he seized the Holy Medicine that time.
His focus had long shifted to the Yunteng Family and the Umbrella.
To him, the Shangguan Family was nothing but a bunch of clowns, utterly unworthy of being considered as his enemies.
In the end, it came down to one truth: Ning Fan simply didn’t have the time to care about the life or death of the Shangguan Family.
“The Shangguan Family still has a final breath left in them.
Brother-in-law, you should stay cautious.
There’s a good chance they might lash out in desperation!”
Huo Zhanyuan said worriedly, as if he were genuinely concerned that something troublesome might happen to Ning Fan.
But Ning Fan knew full well that this kid hadn’t come here with pure intentions.
“You brat, whatever it is, just spit it out.
Don’t keep it bottled up; you’re not good at hiding things anyway!”
Ning Fan said impatiently.
Among the Huo Family, aside from his woman, Huo Qiuran, Huo Zhanyuan was the only person Ning Fan could somewhat tolerate.
At least this kid still had a shred of conscience left in him.
Unlike Huo Yuanshan, who would probably sell out his own mother for profit.
Ning Fan had nothing but contempt for people like Huo Yuanshan.
After being called out directly by Ning Fan, Huo Zhanyuan scratched his head awkwardly and forced out a laugh.
“Brother-in-law truly lives up to his name—you saw right through me, I’m impressed!”
The art of flattery was something Huo Zhanyuan excelled at, though it had little to no effect on Ning Fan.
“Enough, enough.
Just say what you’re here for.
I don’t have the time to waste on idle chatter.
And stop calling me brother-in-law—I haven’t acknowledged you as my brother-in-law yet!”
Ning Fan replied mercilessly, clearly unmoved.
Huo Zhanyuan’s face immediately soured, looking as though he’d swallowed a fly.
Ning Fan’s refusal to acknowledge him had always been a considerable source of frustration for Huo Zhanyuan.
Perhaps it was just as Ning Fan said: as long as Huo Zhanyuan couldn’t earn his sister Huo Qiuran’s forgiveness, he shouldn’t even dream of getting into Ning Fan’s good graces.
Sighing inwardly, Huo Zhanyuan had thought about sincerely apologizing to Huo Qiuran, hoping to earn her forgiveness.
Yet, every time he worked up the courage to do it, an inexplicable fear would creep over him…
What exactly was the reason?
Huo Zhanyuan didn’t know, nor did he have the time to dwell on it.
For now, he had to focus on completing the task Huo Yuanshan had assigned him.
Indeed, the reason Huo Zhanyuan had come to Ning Fan today was because of Huo Yuanshan.
Huo Zhanyuan still hadn’t summoned the courage to defy his father.
“Here’s the thing: the Shangguan Family is already at the end of their rope.
But if left unchecked, they could still pose a problem.
My father said that if you’re willing, brother-in-law, just give the word, and our Huo Family can help you eliminate the Shangguan Family once and for all!”
Huo Zhanyuan said with a fawning tone, though his heart was pounding.
Every word he uttered had been taught to him by Huo Yuanshan, and he had no idea how Ning Fan would react.
If Ning Fan ended up despising him even more because of this, all the progress he’d made in repairing his image would be undone, and there’d be nowhere for Huo Zhanyuan to voice his regret or grievances.
Upon hearing this, Ning Fan let out a cold laugh.
“Did you come up with that yourself, or did your father put you up to it?”
“Uh… my father told me to say it…”
Under Ning Fan’s intense gaze, Huo Zhanyuan didn’t dare to lie and immediately sold out Huo Yuanshan.
After all, he was merely the messenger here.
Whatever the Huo Family intended to do had nothing to do with him, and lately, Huo Zhanyuan had stopped caring much for the family’s affairs at all.
Life in Zhonghai had been going quite well for him—that is, if only Huo Yuanshan weren’t constantly manipulating him from afar, which frustrated him to no end.
Still, Huo Zhanyuan didn’t yet have the courage to openly defy his father.
“Your father has really mastered the art of scheming.
Ever heard the saying, ‘The greedy snake swallows the elephant’?”
Ning Fan asked with a cold smile, his laughter as chilling as a winter wind, devoid of any warmth.
Huo Zhanyuan instinctively gulped.
In the next moment, he realized Ning Fan’s disdain wasn’t directed at him but at his father’s insatiable greed.
In Jiangcheng, the downfall of the Shangguan Family was a foregone conclusion, beyond doubt.
What remained of the Shangguan Family’s assets would naturally be divided among the major families.
Thanks to Ning Fan, the Huo Family was fortunate enough to claim a share of the spoils.
If not for Ning Fan’s influence, there was no way the other families would have allowed the Huo Family to get involved.
This was about showing respect to Ning Fan, not because Huo Yuanshan’s face carried any weight anymore—what little respect he had left was long gone.
Now, with Ning Fan having subdued the Yunteng Family—though Teng Feiyue hadn’t publicly declared Ning Fan’s name—anyone paying attention could easily connect the dots and recognize the Yunteng Family now answered to Ning Fan.
This accomplishment alone was enough to intimidate all the families in Jiangcheng.
At a glance, Huo Yuanshan was only asking Ning Fan for a single word.
But that single word hid enormous potential benefits.
If Ning Fan actually agreed to let the Huo Family handle the Shangguan Family, Huo Yuanshan would be laughing himself awake in his sleep.
In that case, the Huo Family wouldn’t just be splitting the pie—they might rise to dominate Jiangcheng.
At least, in Jiangcheng’s context, this was a real possibility.
“Your father’s schemes are endless.
Go back and tell him to know his place.
Does he really think he’s my father-in-law?
He should look at himself in the mirror to see who he is.
Shameless!”
With a cold snort, Ning Fan dismissed Huo Yuanshan’s ploys.
He wasn’t going to fall for this trap.
Seeing Ning Fan’s displeasure, Huo Zhanyuan felt a pang of frustration.
He understood too well that this all stemmed from Huo Yuanshan’s excessive greed.
Now, his only fear was that Ning Fan would take his anger out on him—which would leave Huo Zhanyuan with no way to defend himself.
“Yes, yes, I understand completely.
I’ll go back and make everything clear.
Leave this matter to me!”
Huo Zhanyuan dared not linger and quickly turned to leave.
As he walked away, his mind churned with various excuses, pondering how to best relay this to Huo Yuanshan.