Chapter 207: Truly Deranged
The internal affairs of the Xiao Family were now more or less settled.
All that remained were the people outside.
Xiao Ye contacted the various families and had the people released.
An hour later.
The sun was setting outside.
The rest of the Xiao Family members finally returned.
The moment they stepped through the door, they sensed something was wrong.
Entering the main hall, they immediately saw Xiao Ye sitting in the seat of honor!
"It's you!"
"What are you doing here?"
"You can't sit there! Get down!"
Xiao Ye watched their aggressive display, smiled, and picked up his teacup. "Ah, yes. Since you've just returned, there are a few things I should tell you."
"Starting today, I am the new Patriarch of the Xiao Family."
"As for Liu Loulan and Xiao Ming, one is a traitor to the Xiao Family who murdered the previous Patriarch, Xiao Ling. I have conclusive proof."
"The other is a bastard with no Xiao Family blood in him. He is unworthy of being a member of the Xiao Family."
"One is in the dungeon, and the other has been driven out by me. Do you have any objections?"
The newly returned group exchanged glances.
"Of course we have objections! Who are you? How can you prove your identity?"
"The position of Xiao Family Patriarch is no child's play. You think you can become Patriarch just by saying so?"
"Get down from there at once! I do not consent to this!"
"That's right, I don't consent either!"
'Xiao Ye knew they had ulterior motives!'
After all, these people had followed Liu Loulan, and some of them had even been involved in Xiao Ling's murder.
They would never willingly let Xiao Ling's son sit in that position.
Xiao Ye had anticipated this and had someone bring out a DNA test report.
"This proves that I am Xiao Ling's biological son—his only son."
When Xiao Ling first had Xiao Ye, he had sent a lock of his baby hair to a large temple to be blessed.
And the DNA from that hair was a match for Xiao Ye's.
This alone was enough to prove his identity.
In truth, everyone present already knew. He and Xiao Ling were practically carved from the same mold, after all.
No one would believe they weren't father and son.
"Even if you are Xiao Ling's son, that doesn't mean you can become the Patriarch of the Xiao Family!"
"The position of Xiao Family Patriarch has always gone to the most capable, it's not a hereditary title! You didn't grow up in the Xiao Family; you're nothing but a country bumpkin."
"You are not fit for this position! We can't just stand by and watch you destroy the Xiao Family!"
'Such sanctimonious excuses!'
Xiao Ye rose and walked over to the man who had spoken.
He suddenly shot out a hand, grabbed the man by the neck, and lifted him clean off the ground.
The others were shocked by this display.
"What do you think you're doing?! Let go of him now!"
"Let him go! Are you trying to commit murder?"
"This is the Xiao Family estate, not your village! You think you can solve everything with brute force?"
'Brute force alone wouldn't solve it, but Xiao Ye needed to make an example of someone!'
Someone tried to step forward and intervene, but was instantly sent flying with a kick!
A circle of Death Warriors and Xiao Family bodyguards now surrounded Xiao Ye.
They all followed the orders of whoever held the dark token, regardless of the person's identity!
"You... How audacious!"
Xiao Ye smiled faintly and looked at the crowd. The chilling aura emanating from his deep, dark eyes made them shiver involuntarily.
"Since you're unwilling to have me as your Patriarch."
"There's only one way this can end. Either you get rid of me, or I get rid of you."
"But from the looks of it, I doubt you have what it takes to get rid of me. So that leaves me to get rid of you."
"Men!"
The men behind Xiao Ye moved at once.
"For disrespecting the Patriarch, in accordance with family law, beat them!"
"Thirty strikes with the paddle for each of them!"
"Begin!"
"What are you doing?! Let me go!"
"Xiao Ye, you can't do this to us! We are your elders!"
THWACK!
"AH! Stop it!"
Screams of agony rose and fell.
Xiao Ye released the man in his grasp, who had already passed out.
He wasn't dead, but after being deprived of oxygen for so long, even if he could be saved, he would likely be a vegetable.
Xiao Ye sat back down in the seat of honor, enjoying the sight of the crowd being beaten.
Meanwhile, the younger generation, who had also just been released, heard the screams the moment they entered.
They rushed over to find their elders being beaten!
"Stop! All of you, stop! Don't hit them!"
"Dad! Who told you to hit my dad?! How dare you! Stop at once, or I'll kill you!"
Xiao Ye watched their frantic desperation with amusement.
But it was a pity. This younger generation were all weaklings, completely unable to stop anything.
Only when the thirty strikes were finished did Xiao Ye speak.
"The beating is done. Now, I ask you: have you been convinced? Do you agree to me being the Patriarch?"
Only then did the younger generation notice that someone was sitting up front!
Xiao Ye noticed the particularly vicious glares from a few of them; they had likely figured out who he was.
'In that case, there's no more need to be polite.'
He pointed directly at them. "You! Seize them!"
"I hear the overseas branches are short-staffed. Let's have them go."
"And to ensure their safety, remember to send bodyguards along with them."
The bodyguards weren't for protection, but for surveillance.
Xiao Ye gave them no chance to refuse, and the few from the younger generation were dragged out directly.
They would be put on the Xiao Family's private jet and sent abroad.
They would only be allowed to return when they had genuinely submitted to Xiao Ye and harbored no other intentions.
Until then, they could just stay abroad!
"Xiao Ye! You..." One of the Xiao Family members spoke, forcing the words through his pain. "You're despicable! Bring my son back at once!"
"Impossible. How well your son lives abroad depends entirely on you."
Xiao Ye tilted his head slightly, propping it up with one hand as he watched the man with leisurely calm. "If you were to do something... untoward."
"I will determine your son's living conditions based on the consequences of your actions."
"If the problem isn't serious, he might just have a smaller monthly allowance. If it's serious... he might be missing an arm or a leg."
After speaking, Xiao Ye looked at the others.
"I imagine none of you want to be separated from your wives and children at your age, do you?"
"If you want your families to live well, then you will do as I say."
"I don't care what you're thinking in your hearts. As long as you don't cause trouble, everything is negotiable."
"You... you're utterly insane! We are all members of the Xiao Family, your elders! They are your brothers! How can you do this?!"
"You can't be Xiao Ling's son! Xiao Ling would never do something like this!"
"You're not fit to be one of the Xiao Family, and we will never agree to you being our Patriarch!"
Xiao Ye's expression darkened abruptly. "It seems you won't cry until you're staring at your own coffins!"
"I was planning on being a bit gentler. But since you only remember the feasts and not the beatings, don't blame me for what comes next!"