A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1207 No One at Their Disposal

"This...is that...Lu Tian-He?"

Everyone's eyes turned and landed on Lu Tian-He.

Hostility flickered across the eyes of many when they realized whom it was who had just spoken.

The instructor of the Jiangbei military was one of them.

"I was wondering who that might be. So, it's our great general, Lu Tian-He. The Yanjing military's come in last for the past three years. It's hard to take General Lu's words seriously. Even the chief instructor who won last year's championship wouldn't have spoken as confidently as you have, general," scoffed Han Ping with mockery clear in his eyes.

Han Ping had been displeased by Lu Tian-He's accusatory tone and had retaliated with mockery.

Lu Tian-He was not cowed by Han Ping's words of scorn though.

"Let not the kettle call the pot black, Instructor Han," he retorted. "I remember thrashing you thoroughly three years ago. It appears that that lesson had not taught you humility at all!" "You..." Han Ping shook with rage.

Lu Tian-He seemed to have discarded all tact as he spoke about Han Ping's mortifying defeat openly.

Han Ping was instantly reminded of what had happened during the previous contest.

Three years ago, the Yanjing military had come in last and had been eliminated from the contest in the first round. Its participants had been injured severely as well.

As the instructor of the Jiangbei military and the champion team, Han Ping had mocked Lu Tian-He openly.

Lu Tian-He had flown into a rage and given Han Ping a good thrashing in public. Han Ping had been severely beaten and utterly humiliated.

The mention of that incident was akin to hitting Han Ping a second time.

Han Ping wasn't going to take the insult lying down though.

"I had gotten ill and was recovering from my illness then. I wasn't exactly in tip-top shape. That was how you managed to beat me," said Han Ping frostily. "If you dare insult me this way again, I'll make sure you pay for it. We'll settle all our grudges once and for all then!"

"Is that so? We shall see then," scoffed Lu Tian-He before disregarding Han Ping completely and leading the Green Dragon Force off to have their names registered for the contest.

It was then that Lin Qing-He caught a glimpse of the young men and young woman walking behind Lu Tian-He.

"Isn't that the Green Dragon Force? You again...you scoundrels, how dare you step foot into a military camp again! You've already been driven out of the military! Get out of here!" thundered Lin Qing-He.

Lin Qing-He held no grudges against the members of the Green Dragon Force. The one he truly hated to the core was Ye Fan.

These young men and young woman had chosen Ye Fan over the military and Lin Qing-He abhorred them for it.

That was why he had hurled curses at the Green Dragon Force without regard for their past comradeship.

The Eagles Force stared at the Green Dragon Force with equal disdain and scorn. This was no place for the Green Dragon Force.

"You've been expelled from the military. Why are you here? Your names have been struck off the registry. You have no right to be here," said Lin Fan, the team leader of the Eagles Force, with a mirthless smile Ye Yu-Yan shot back fearlessly. "We're here to take part in the contest, of course."

"What? You're taking part in the contest? Are you kidding me?"

Lin Fan and his teammates burst out into laughter.

Their eyes glistened with mockery and condescension. It was as if they had just heard the funniest thing in the world.

"You? You want to participate in the contest? Who do you think you are? You're just losers who were trained by an instructor who's also a loser! Your names have been struck off the military records. The Eagles Force will represent the Jiangdong military. The Green Dragon Force's been shelved! You're no longer recognized by the Jiangdong military as one of its units. You don't have the right to take part in the contest. Come on, hurry up and get lost!"

"They have every right to join this contest." Lu Tian-He's thunderous voice interrupted the Eagles Force's sniggering and taunting. He walked up to the registration booth then. "The Green Dragon Force will be representing the Yanjing military in this contest."

What?

"Lu Tian-He, what is the meaning of this? The Green Dragon Force committed a serious crime and was disbanded by the Jiangdong military. How could you take them in and have them represent the Yanjing military? Are you trying to make an enemy of the Jiangdong military and Commander Wu?" thundered Li Qing-He as a furious look darkened his face.

The members of the Green Dragon Force had been marked as criminals by the Jiangdong military.

But Lu Tian-He had taken them in. That was an open act of provocation against the Jiangdong military.

Lin Qing-He was naturally livid.

"Commander Lin, this seems a matter that's beyond your jurisdiction. As you said, the Green Dragon Force is no longer part of the Jiangdong military. What it does has nothing to do with you anymore. Whethe I take them under the Yanjing military's employ has nothing to do with you either. Your military was foolish enough to drive talent away. I'm not going to do the same," said Lu Tian-He coolly and with a mirthless smile. Lin Qing-He flushed as he struggled to form a retort.

Li Zi-Yang saw a chance and took it.

"Commander Lin, take a good look, won't you? The Green Dragon Force can still take part in the contest without the Jiangdong military's backing. We are doing fine even though we've left Jiangdong. The world's a big place. There's always somewhere the Green Dragon Force can go. We won't ever go back to that hellhole that's Jiangdong, not even if you beg us."

"You...you..." Lin Qing-He trembled with rage.

He had expected the Green Dragon Force to regret their decision after being driven out of Jiangdong. They would come crawling back and begging him for forgiveness. They would plead desperately for Lin Qing-He to help them regain their status as soldiers.

He had been terribly wrong!

These young fools remained audacious and arrogant.

"Commander Lin, why bother with these young punks? You've said it. They're just losers. Let General Lu have them if he wants them. Why get mad over them? You should know. The Yanjing military has no one else. They have no choice but to employ these good-for-nothings that the Jiangdong military have discarded," consoled Han Ping as he approached Lin Qing-He.

Each word was a barb that stung Lu Tian-He repeatedly.

The other instructors began to follow suit.

"That's right, Commander Lin. You should understand the difficult position Instructor Lu is in."

"He's got no one else. That's why he has to pin his hopes on these losers."

Their attempts at comforting Lin Qing-He were but an excuse for taunting and jibing Lu Tian-He.

After all, the Yanjing military had come in last for the past three contests.

The Yanjing military had become the laughingstock of the military.