"Everyone wants to rise up. I want a day when I can shine too," Yan Chun said seriously. "I know being a good steward helps me, but that is not enough. I want to be a noble person."
Yan Chun had nothing left to hide. He said everything.
Yan Aohan nodded, showing he understood. Then he said, "I am usually balanced. But I cannot tolerate betrayal. Even if I expected it, I do not want the traitor to be from my Yan family mansion. Especially you, the steward. You disappointed me."
"I am sorry, Master," Yan Chun said. He had no excuses. His fault was clear.
Yan Aohan waved his hand lightly. "No need to apologize. It is unnecessary." He did not look at Yan Chun again. He walked to Yan Jiahua. "You cooperated with the Zheng family. They never thought I knew their every move."
"Master, I was wrong. Please spare me," Yan Jiahua pleaded. He knew Yan Aohan’s power. His end would be terrible.
Yan Aohan raised an eyebrow. "I hate betrayal. Since you chose to betray, you must face the result."
Yan Aohan walked past each traitor. He spoke a word or two to each. He was calm. He showed no anger.
This calmness made people more afraid.
Zhu Yanyi’s grilled snake ribs were almost done. She started eating while grilling. Eating grilled food is best with beer.
Zhu Yanyi took out a box of beer. Sikong Xuran opened the bottles quickly. They each took one.
They were far away. Yan Aohan’s actions did not disturb them.
Yan Aohan said softly, "The Yan family has guarded this place. First, to protect this country. Second, to protect this planet. Third, to protect the divine souls under the Tianshui River. Sadly, you did not know your duty. From now on, this has nothing to do with you."
The Second Elder’s eyes showed disbelief. "I knew the Yan family had a mission. But guarding the planet and souls? I did not know."
"So what if you knew? You cannot be a savior," Yan Aohan said calmly. "Since you betrayed us, your souls can be thrown into the Tianshui River. They will become nutrients."
Yan Aohan smiled strangely. "You wanted to know why I became Master? This is the Yan family’s biggest secret. You will know soon."
Yan Aohan stretched out his hand. Everyone in the Second Elder’s branch, except Zhu Yanyi’s group eating snake ribs, saw their bodies fall to the ground. They felt like they had become souls.
The Second Elder tried to struggle.
Yan Aohan said softly, "I have always been the master here. I have always watched you. Your ambition is just a clown’s trick in my eyes."
The Second Elder stopped struggling. He felt only despair. He never thought his efforts were just a joke to others. He never knew Yan Aohan was like a god. If he had known, he would never have let his ambition grow.
Yan Aohan looked at the souls in his hand. He said nothing. He waved his hand. The souls flew far into the Tianshui River. None escaped their fate.
They became nutrients for the river. Their minds went from clear to dull, then empty.
Yan Aohan finished everything. He snapped his fingers. The bodies turned into smoke.
Zhu Yanyi saw this. "Your method is good. It works better than my medicine."
"These people broke my rules. So I punish them my way. Your medicine is not suitable," Yan Aohan said. He walked over, took a piece of snake rib, and accepted a beer from Sikong Xuran. He drank the beer and bit the rib. It seemed like nothing had happened.
"What about Yan Zuo and the others?" Yan Zuo was not there because it was unnecessary. He followed Yan Aohan’s orders.
Yan Aohan said softly, "I will change Yan Zuo’s memories slightly. Some will stay here to guard. Some will follow Yu Qingyun outside. They will handle matters in other planes."
Zhu Yanyi nodded slightly. Yan Aohan had his own plan. She would not say more.
If someone else did this, Zhu Yanyi might think it was too cruel. Changing memories is harsh. But because Yan Aohan did it, she thought it was normal. As she said, she helps people she likes, not just those who are right.
To an outsider, Zhu Yanyi was not perfect. She had selfishness. But in Yan Aohan’s eyes, her selfishness was perfect.
Sikong Xuran and the others did not care. But they thought about the future. Yan Aohan finished here, so they had to handle other things. They were not happy. "We will go back soon. If you give us the Yan family now, it is hard for us to manage things back and forth."
Yan Aohan glanced at Sikong Xuran. "What you can think of, I can also think of." He took out four jade pendants. They were black jade. The front had the character 'Yan'. The back had the characters for Gold, Water, Fire, and Earth.
"Why are there four? According to the Five Elements, there should be one for Wood too," Ouyang Tianyun said.
"There is one for Wood. Ani needs to find the person for it," Yan Aohan said with a smile.
"Why do I have to find it? Why not me?" Zhu Yanyi teased.
"You can use it too. But your cultivation improves so fast. If you bind this Yan family identity token, you might leave this plane before finishing things," Yan Aohan said with a smile. "I think you need an assistant to guard here. So you decide who gets the Wood token. I trust you."
Yan Aohan was direct and straightforward.
But Zhu Yanyi knew things were not simple just because Yan Aohan was direct. Being a Yan family member was not easy. Look at Sikong Xuran, Yi Yunfei, Ouyang Tianyun, and Yu Qingyun.