Chapter 330: Human Desire is Endless
Xiao Ye waited in the study for twenty minutes before he was escorted to the reception hall.
There were already people inside.
The Patriarch of the Zhu family was there, along with his three sons, including Zhu Chen—four people in all.
"Patriarch Xiao." The Zhu Patriarch was the first to rise. "Forgive me for not coming out to greet you."
Xiao Ye raised his hand. "It's fine. Let's sit and talk."
He sat down, facing the four of them. "I've already stated my purpose for this visit."
The Zhu Patriarch nodded, but couldn't help but ask, "Patriarch Xiao, what did you mean by 'great fortune'?"
Xiao Ye didn't answer immediately. Instead, he lifted his teacup, took a sip, and then gave a non-answer. "Why don't you start by divining the Ouyang Family's fate?"
A shiver ran through the Zhu Patriarch.
'The Ouyang Family's fate?'
'What does he mean by that?'
'Is something going to happen to the Ouyang Family?'
But the Ouyang Family was one of the only four Hidden Clans in all of the Dragon Country, the absolute cream of the crop.
Unless something truly extraordinary happened, there was no way they would face any major upheaval.
Because even the higher-ups wouldn't move against them lightly.
But since Xiao Ye had said so, he had Zhu Chen go and fetch the tortoise shell.
He decided to perform the divination himself!
「Ten minutes later.」
The tortoise shell was placed on the table.
The Zhu Patriarch began the process himself.
Xiao Ye raised an eyebrow as he watched. This was his first time seeing the Zhu family perform a divination.
'Outsiders have built up the Zhu family's divination arts into something almost mythical,' he thought. 'I wonder if they're truly deserving of their reputation, or if it's all just empty hype!'
Soon, the Zhu Patriarch began.
His hand gestures and incantations were remarkably rhythmic.
Xiao Ye only had to hear the first few phrases to know what school of divination the Zhu family followed. It was the Tai Sui Ghost Record.
The *Tai Sui Ghost Record* was a secret manual on divination.
Unlike common divination methods like the I Ching or Plum Blossom Numerology, this was an unorthodox path, akin to a heterodox school of thought.
However, as long as it wasn't used for evil, it wasn't considered a forbidden art.
Besides, he had heard that the Tai Sui Ghost Record was exceptionally difficult to master. 'To think the Zhu family has even learned this... they really do have a few tricks up their sleeve.'
「About half an hour later.」
The entire divination ritual of the Tai Sui Ghost Record finally concluded.
The Zhu Patriarch finally opened his eyes.
His expression changed drastically when he saw the hexagram before him.
"The Ouyang Family... their fate has run its course!"
He snapped his head up to look at Xiao Ye. "Every year, I perform a divination for each of the great families. Patriarch Xiao, you should know that a diviner cannot divine their own future."
"Even if it were possible, the cost would be too great. So, I've always read the futures of the other three families to get an indirect reading on my own Zhu family."
"Just at the end of last year, the Ouyang Family's hexagram showed everything was normal. And now, in just two short months..."
The Spring Festival had just passed, so it had only been a month or two.
Not only had the hexagram changed, it was a world-shattering change!
A great, established family was on the verge of collapse in just two months? It was simply impossible!
For a Hidden Clan of their level, a century of prosperity wasn't just empty words.
Unless... there had been an accident!
Or a giant, unseen hand was controlling everything!
Xiao Ye smiled faintly, unsurprised. "This is the great fortune I am offering you."
"The Ouyang Family has crossed a line. They must be eliminated! However, I've already promised the higher-ups I won't completely wipe them out."
"On the surface, the Ouyang Family will continue to exist. But who controls them from the shadows... that's another matter."
Xiao Ye had considered letting the Xiao Family take control.
But he could see that the Xiao Family was no longer as pure as it once was; there were still many dark corners where filth could hide.
If he allowed the Xiao Family's power to grow even more at a time like this, it would not be a good thing.
Human desire is, after all, endless.
But if it were the Zhu family, things might be different.
Unlike the other families, the Zhu family walked the path of divination and best understood the laws of karma and retribution.
Even if they had desires, they would do their utmost to suppress them, unlike the other three families who were prone to going too far.
The Zhu Patriarch was a smart man. His tone grew even more respectful; after all, if Xiao Ye could take care of the Ouyang Clan, he had the power to take care of their Zhu family as well!
"You mean..."
"I will give you control of the Ouyang Family. With one more family under your belt, it will guarantee the Zhu family at least five hundred years of glory!"
The Zhu Patriarch's heart pounded. His three sons didn't even dare to breathe too loudly.
They had never imagined such a huge pie would fall from the sky and land right on their heads.
Zhu Chen suddenly recalled something and said in a low voice, "Father, do you remember the hexagram from the end of the year?"
The Zhu Patriarch remembered. At the time, all the hexagrams he saw had been stable, except for the Xiao Family's, which showed a slight fluctuation.
But it had been faint and indistinct, impossible to see clearly.
He could sense, however, that the fluctuation in that hexagram was related to the Zhu family.
But the Zhu family had always been peaceful and uninvolved in outside affairs, so he hadn't given it much thought.
He never expected it would come to pass today!
Xiao Ye smiled and said, "The Zhu family will take seventy percent of the Ouyang Family's profits. The Xiao Family will only take thirty."
To the Xiao Family, money was just a number.
"Although you will be managing the Ouyang Family from now on, the one truly in charge is me."
"You must report any major developments to me. No need to bother me with the small stuff."
The Zhu Patriarch took a deep breath, concealing his excitement. "But what do you need me to do?"
'There's no such thing as a free lunch in this world!'
It was always easier talking to smart people.
Xiao Ye got straight to the point. "I've already discovered that the Patriarch of the Ouyang Family has an illegitimate son out there named Li Mao. He took his mother's surname and has not yet been brought back into the Ouyang Family."
"The Ouyang Family is currently in the throes of internal conflict. Let them fight amongst themselves, and Li Mao will be the fisherman who reaps the rewards."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
The Zhu Patriarch understood instantly. "I see. We will contact this Li Mao and help him get into the Ouyang Family."
"And ultimately become... the Patriarch of the Ouyang Family!"
Xiao Ye nodded. "Good, as long as you understand. If you handle this matter well, it will save your Zhu family a lot of trouble in the future."
The implication was that whatever the Zhu family wanted to do would proceed more smoothly.
Besides, of the four great families, the Ouyang Family was the most treacherous!
The remaining fifth family was similar to the Zhu family—they both had higher pursuits, so the chaotic affairs of the outside world were less important to them.
"One more thing. I want you to use the Zhu family's intelligence network to investigate the Angel Association."
The Zhu family's intelligence-gathering capabilities were formidable, so it was only natural to make use of them.
The Zhu Patriarch, of course, readily agreed. "No problem. I will do everything in my power to help you!"
「After leaving the Zhu residence.」
Xiao Ye returned to the Xiao Family estate.
He had just entered his study when a knock came from the door.
"Come in."
Lin Chuxing pushed the door open and entered. It was obvious she had deliberately dressed up today, and she was even wearing makeup.
She looked even more like Lin Chuyue. For a fleeting moment, Xiao Ye thought his eyes were deceiving him.