A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1028 Joining the War God Castle

Ye Qing-Tian stuck his hand out towards Ye Fan as he sighed.

"You must be Ye Fan. I am Ye Qing-Tian. I meant you no ill will. I was simply trying to find out how powerful the young generation of Chinese grandmasters truly are. You do possess the strength of a grandmaster. With young Chinese folks like you, the future of Chinese martial arts is going to be bright and limitless," said Ye Qing-Tian honestly. One could hear the honest joy in his laughter and see the approval and consolation in his eyes as he looked at Ye Fan. He showed no hint of enmity towards Ye Fan at all.

Ye Fan wasn't a petty person. Upon realizing that Ye Qing-Tian meant him no ill will, he stuck his hand out and shook Ye Qing Tian's.

"You're too kind. I was lucky," said Ye Fan modestly.

"Lucky? No one blocks my punches successfully simply by being lucky," laughed the God of War.

The man invited Ye Fan to his room for a chat.

"Brother Ye, you're a really accomplished martial artist for your age. Your master must be someone extremely reputable. Would you be willing to tell me who he is?" asked Ye Qing Tian as he prepared tea for his guest.

The fragrance of tea leaves filled the air as clouds of steam rose from their teacups.

The two men sipped their tea slowly as they chatted.

Ye Fan shook his head and smiled. "My master is a simple farmer from the village. He's a nobody."

Ye Fan wasn't going to tell Ye Qing-Tian his true identity.

He wouldn't even if he trusted Ye Qing-Tian.

It would be pointless.

All Ye Qing-Tian could offer him were words of comfort or regret.

Besides, Ye Fan had grand and terrifying ambitions.

Ye Qing-Tian would be utterly shocked if he were to know that Ye Fan's ambition was to destroy the Chu family and have everyone in the Chu family submit to his will.

He might conclude that Ye Fan was overestimating his abilities and that he was trying to get himself killed.

This was why Ye Fan had never told anyone about his past and his ambition.

This was a path that he had to walk alone.

No one else needed to know.

Ye Qing-Tian could tell that Ye Fan seemed reluctant to let others know whom his master was and decided not to ask further.

Instead, he steered the conversation onto other matters such as Ye Fan's personal life and if he were presently married.

After a casual chat, Ye Qing-Tian finally turned to the subject that he had intended to speak to Ye Fan about.

"Ye Fan, you have heard of our country's War God Castle, haven't you?"

Ye Fan nodded. "Of course. It is the most powerful authority in the Chinese martial arts circle. It governs the Chinese martial arts circle. Everyone who practices martial arts knows of it." The God of War smiled. "Are you interested in joining War God Castle? For many years, we have only let supreme grandmasters join War God Castle. But I can make an exception for you." Rules were made by men and could be remade by men.

Even though Ye Fan didn't qualify for supreme grandmaster right now, but in Ye Qing-Tian's view, the worth of a young grandmaster vastly surpassed that of a supreme grandmaster. Besides, Ye Fan was gifted. It was a matter of time before he was made a supreme grandmaster.

Ye Qing-Tian was willing to break the rules to secure Ye Fan's allegiance and have him become a member of War God Castle.

Ye Fan didn't say a word. Lu Tian-He, who was seated next to him, was dumbstruck.

"A grandmaster in War God Castle?"

This was unprecedented.

Lu Tian-He did not expect Ye Qing-Tian to think so highly of Ye Fan.

The God of War was willing to make an exception for Ye Fan.

While Lu Tian-He was still in the midst of shock, Ye Fan had begun to smile.

"Haha! It appears that you've accepted my offer. Come to Yanjing in three days' time. I'll gather the six pillars of the nation and host a feast for you. We will celebrate the rise of the seventh pillar of China." Ye Qing-Tian told Ye Fan about what he had planned. He had caught the smile on Ye Fan's face and had seen that as a sign of his ready acceptance of Ye Qing-Tian's offer.

Becoming a member of War God Castle was an utmost honor. Ye Qing-Tian couldn't think of any reason that Ye Fan would refuse him.

As he continued sharing his plans for a celebratory feast for Ye Fan, he did not expect the young man to shake his head and smile. "Esteemed God of War, I'm sorry but I may have to disappoint you. I'm not interested in joining any organization or body right now. I'm used to the freedom I have and I don't like to be tied down to anything. Besides, I'm not one to abide by rules or strict codes of etiquette. I'm worried that I might embarrass you and War God Castle if I become a member. I'm honored by your invitation but I'm afraid I can't accept it."

Ye Fan's words echoed heavily in the room.

Lu Tian-He and Ye Qing-Tian froze when they heard him.

Had he just...refused Ye Qing-Tian's offer?

Had he just refused the opportunity of a lifetime? The opportunity to enter War God Castle, become the supreme authority in the Chinese martial arts circle, and bring honor to his family?

"Ye Fan, have you gone out of your mind? This is an opportunity that every martial artist would die to have. How could you turn it down? Even an idiot would accept it," Lu Tian-He blurted out before Ye Fan could say anything else.

Lu Tian-He had been the one who had supported Ye Fan all this while.

He had been the one who had recommended that Ye Fan be made the instructor of the third division.

He had also been the one who had told the God of War of Ye Fan's incredible gift.

There was no question that he wanted this man to scale greater heights and acquire greater power and authority.

His hopes for Ye Fan were akin to the hopes that a teacher had for his disciple. He hoped that one day, the disciple that he had groomed would achieve greatness.

In the midst of panic, Lu Tian-He turned towards Ye Qing-Tian frantically. "Esteemed God of War, don't listen to him. He's just a kid. He accepts your offer. Of course, he does. Please let him join War God Castle."

Ye Fan laughed.

He wasn't mad at Lu Tian-He for being a busybody. He knew that Lu Tian-He only had his best interests at heart. "General Lu, I have no intentions of joining any organization at the moment."

"Rubbish! Ye Fan, do you know what War God Castle represents? It's the most powerful entity in the Chinese martial arts circle. The six supreme grandmasters of War God Castle decide the fate of everything in the Chinese martial arts circle and in the world. War God Castle is akin to the royal palace and the six supreme grandmasters royalty. Their decisions become the law of the land. You have the chance to become a king now. Are you going to turn that down? Don't be foolish," said Lu Tian-He as he tried desperately to persuade Ye Fan from committing an act of folly.