A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1688

Whether it was the Chu family members orthe elders of the Chu Sect, everyone's last memory of Chu Yuan was the fact that he was a general in his final days, a warrior who had been conquered by time. Back then, it was without a shadow of a doubt that Chu Yuan was at death's door. The wrinkles etched in his face showed the years he had lived.

There was a world of difference between the frail man before and the Chu Yuan that stood before them now. Although his hair was still a chalky white, he looked like he had been rejuvenated, as if he had aged backward by twenty years.

It was hard to believe that the old man was approaching his hundredth birthday, which was precisely why no one could tell that he was Chu Yuan when he first appeared.

However, Ye Fan could recognize that face anywhere.

Thirteen years of torture and suffering could be boiled down to this one person.

Had it not been for him, Ye Fan and his mother would not have been cast out of the Chu family and lived

those years in torment and humiliation.

The memory of the night they had been chased out of the Chu family was ingrained in Ye Fan's mind.

His biological father had remained silent forthe entire process, kneeling subserviently at the side.

The rest of the Chu family had simply sat by and watched the whole ordeal, their contemptuous whispers screeching to Ye Fan's ears.

As for Chu Yuan, he had sat regally on his throne, where he could look down upon them.

Finally, with a heartless bellow, Ye Fan and his mother were banished from Mount Chumen.

There were some people who would haunt Ye Fan for life, and Chu Yuan was one of them.

Ye Fan had sensed the familiar aura Chu Yuan emanated the moment he exited the forbidden grounds.

Perhaps time could change one's appearance, but the soul was unalterable.

At present, the Chu family members had prostrated themselves on the ground in front of the forbidden grounds as they cried for help.

Chu Yuan slowly scanned his surroundings, taking in the dilapidated building and the littered compound. The Chu residence was not the lavish, pristine manor it once was.

Everywhere Chu Yuan turned, signs of desolation and devastation greeted him. The lawn was splattered with blood, and even the stone door to the forbidden grounds had been shattered to pieces.

The Chu residence did not look like it housed the most prominent family in the nation. Instead, it resembled the ruins of an annihilated tribe.

"What happened? What caused the downfall of the Chu family? Where's Chu Zhenghong? Bring him to me! I left the Chu clan under his care, and this is what he does? If I hadn't returned in time, the Chu family lineage would have ended in his hands!" Chu Yuan berated, livid. Although he was enigmatic and serene in nature, he lost his composure after seeing the disastrous state of the Chu family.

His orotund voice reverberated through the area like the rumble of thunderand shook Mount Chumen.

Chu Zhengliang was still on his knees, too scared to utter a word.

The Chu family elders were in the same servile position, their throats constricted in fear.

They were afraid that Chu Yuan would decapitate them all in anger.

"Speak!" Chu Yuan ordered.

Terrified, Chu Zhengliang and the rest still could not force the words out of their mouths. At this moment, a voice traveled from the front, devoid of emotion.

"There's no need to ask them. This is all my doing. I was the one who ravaged the Chu residence and destroyed the forbidden grounds with a single blow. I am also the person who wants to eliminate the whole Chu clan!" A slender youth slowly emerged from the shadows as his clear voice cut through the still air.

Gaius and the others tensed instantly.

The Dragon Master sure is admirable! He's unperturbed even though he's going against Chu Yuan, who was previously at the top of the Sky Ranking!

"He's got guts."

"He probably doesn't even know what fear is."

Aaron's heart quivered after hearing Ye Fan's brazen words. His scalp prickled with trepidation.

Ye Fan had chosen those words specifically to provoke Chu Yuan, and it worked like a dream.

Chu Yuan's gaze fell upon Ye Fan for the first time since his arrival.

"You? Aren't you the one who received a blow from me? You must be quite good since you're still alive. With your ability, I wouldn't be surprised if you're deemed a Supreme martial artist in the current martial arts world. Although your capability is insignificant in my eyes, I am taken aback by how young you are," Chu Yuan remarked.

He continued, "You're not in your thirties yet, are you? Based on your olive skin and dark eyes, I'd assume you're from East Aploth. Tell me, who is your mentor? Where is he from, and who did he learn from? I am truly interested to know who else besides the Chu Sect is capable of cultivating a martial arts genius."

Although they had only fought briefly, Chu Yuan was astounded by Ye Fan.

What shocked Chu Yuan was not Ye Fan's martial prowess, but rather his young age and potential.

Chu Yuan was unafraid of any power on the face of this earth, as it was bound to be second to him. However, the potential that the youth had demonstrated made him wary.

After hearing Chu Yuan's question, Ye Fan snickered.

"Who I learned my skills from? Sure, I'll tell you! What harm will it do? I, Chu Tianfan, have acquired all my knowledge of martial arts from Chu Yunyang, the progenitor of the Chu family!"

Chu Yuan was thunderstruck.

Despite the years of experience that had molded him into an inscrutable person, Chu Yuan's expression shifted when he heard Ye Fan's reply.

"Shut up! An ignorant child like you does not deserve to say the name of the Chu family's progenitor! How dare you say that you're Yunyang's disciple? The audacity! If you have the gall to taint the name of the Chu family ancestry, I will murder your whole family, massacre your clan, and slaughter all the generations that carry your blood!"

Chu Yuan was uncharacteristically furious. It felt like his religion had been blasphemed against and trampled underfoot.

After all, the Chu Yunyang whom Ye Fan had mentioned was the progenitor of the Chu family.

All the glory and prestige of the Chu family were attributable to Chu Yunyang.

He was the author of the chant "Invoke the Celestial Cloud," which was the foundation of the Chu family's phenomenal powers that had been passed down for generations.

Chu Yunyang's munificence had nurtured dozens of generations. Even to this day, the results of his good work seeped into the Chu family members' lives.

Hence, Chu Yuan could not accept the fact that an outsider had claimed that the revered progenitor of the Chu family was his mentor.

Ye Fan's blatant claims brought dishonorto the Chu family, thus prompting Chu Yuan to declare that he would obliterate the offender's entire clan.

Ye Fan's grin grew broader when he heard Chu Yuan's vow. "Well then, be my guest. I would be thrilled if you followed through with your promise. In fact, it would be even better if you could exhume the corpses of all my ancestors and throw their remains into the sea," Ye Fan said with a sardonic chuckle.

Ye Fan's response puzzled Chu Yuan.

Does this boy have a few screws loose? It's my first-time hearing of a person who would beg me to dig up their ancestors' graves!

Just as Chu Yuan was trying to grasp the situation, Chu Zhengliang timidly stuttered, "Dad, h-he's the illegitimate child of Zhenghong-the one that you banished from the family. So, his ancestors are also our ancestors..." He trailed off, his tone bitter.

Chu Yuan was stunned.

"What did you say? You're telling me that he's the bastard child? The product of Zhenghong's affair with that pathetic village woman? How is that possible? The son of a village girl should have an inferior bloodline. It's impossible for him to possess such talent in martial arts!"

Chu Yuan was appalled to discover that the gifted young man before him was the disgrace of their fa m i ly.

A myriad of emotions churned within him.