A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1727

Chu Zhengliang cackled triumphantly at the cusp of his son's success.

"I will work hard to attain mastery, Dad. And when I do, I will tear the bastard apart with my bare hands!"

At the mere mention of his name, Chu Qitian gritted his teeth in anger. His tone was so menacing that it sounded as if he meant to carry out his threat literally.

Chu Qitian's hatred for Ye Fan had reached another level at the conclusion of their last battle for having almost died by the latter's foot.

That bastard had stomped me into the ground. They had to dig me out in front of all the world's martial arts representatives. The shame is too much to bear!

Ye Fan's stomp had shattered more than Chu Qitian's bones. The arrogance the latter had developed over the years was similarly crushed.

Though Chu Qitian had somehow managed to survive the ordeal with the help of the Chu family elders, his character was no longer the same.

Overthe past month, Chu Qitian had shut himself in his room and refused to speak to anybody.

Chu Zhengliang was more aware than anybody with what his son was going through.

He knew that Ye Fan was the one responsible for breaking his son's spirit.

Upon regaining consciousness the night of his neardeath, Chu Qitian wept in his father's arms as he repeatedly asked the latter how it was possible that Ye Fan's accomplishments so much higherthan his own despite the nobility of his blood over his cousin's.

"Am I destined to be his inferior, Dad?" he had asked tearfully from his bed that night, hardly able to even sit up.

Chu Zhengliang felt his heart ache with sorrow at his son's anguish.

He was such a charismatic and strong-willed boy. Seeing him like this, a sniveling shadow of his former self, is more than I can bear.

It was on that same night when Chu Zhengliang made a grim promise to himself to restore his son's

confidence.

Even if I have to burn the world down, I will ensure that Qitian's future is intact!

"My son will never be anybody's inferior!" he had replied fiercely.

After Chu Zhengliang departed his son's chambers that night, he began to put his plan against Angie into action.

Having recalled his own father, Chu Yuan, mention once before the power that the daughter of the Jones family possessed, of Jade Eyes which contained within them a terrifying power should one succeed in tapping into its potential, Chu Zhengliang decided that it was as good a time as any.

However, Chu Zhengliang was not explicitly informed of that information. Instead, he had heard it told to his brother with him hanging on to every word from the shadows.

Chu Shen had been desperate for a powerful heir through his abler son, Chu Zhenghong. Having heard of the power of the girl's eyes, he made it a priority for Angie to become a granddaughter-in-law to have her eyes weaponized.

That piece of information had made an impression on Chu Zhengliang. Taking the advantage of the subsequent conflict between his father and brother, he had taken the initiative to solidify an alliance with the Jones' via a marriage proposal.

After Chu Zhenghong was instated as the new patriarch, he disregarded all conventions by paying visits to Angie often in an attempt to pair her with his own son over his brother's protests. Despite his careful planning to save her for Ye Fan, Chu Zhenghong's son had gone ahead to become the son-in-law of another family instead.

He had been livid upon finding out. It did not take long after that for everything to come out in the open.

Without Chu Zhenghong's intervention, the engagement between Chu Qitian and Angie soon became official.

However, Ye Fan's unexpected reappearance disrupted Chu Zhengliang's plans.

Chu Zhengliang became aware that the marital alliance he had proposed was falling apart. Being unable to enforce it by legal means, he felt justified to resort to more drastic measures.

"By the way, Dad," Chu Qitian suddenly piped up, interrupting his father's reverie. "How did you take care of Angie?"

Chu Qitian did not have any feelings for the girl as they had only met several times, much less care for her survival. His only concern being that his master, Tang Yun, might find out.

Chu Qitian was well aware of his master's temperament.

If she finds out that Dad and I had mutilated Angie, I don't think even grandpa will be able to defend us from her wrath.

"Don't worry, son. I'd taken care of everything. Not only have I removed all evidence of our involvement, but I'd also instigated the three families of Chu Sect to blame it on Chu Tianfan. There is a 'gift' on the way to him now, as we speak."

Chu Zhengliang chuckled with relish as he spoke. His dark eyes glinted with malice.

"Don't concern yourself with trivial matters, Qitian," he continued. "Keep your mind focused on your training to harness the powers of Jade Eyes. You will be fine if you follow the sacred texts to the letter."

As the Chu family had existed as a martial arts stronghold for more years than anybody was able to remember, its library undoubtedly contained texts of various secret techniques collected over millennia. The instructions to incorporate Jade Eyes into the body of a practitioner was one of them.

Being the last piece of the puzzle, It was only after stumbling upon the text when Chu Zhengliang formally put his plans into action.

The girl is instrumental to Qitian's success. She has a purpose to fulfill. Besides, nobody will miss her very much.

Chu Qitian shifted guiltily in his seat. "Dad, don't you think that we've crossed the line? Angie is innocent, after all."

Though Chu Qitian had murdered more people than he could remember, his conscience still twinged at the horrific thought of mutilating Angie for his personal gain.

Heinous as his other crimes were, Angie's treatment was something that had weighed heavily upon his conscience.

When he slept at night, he even dreamt of her radiant smile, yet to be unblemished by the horrors of her fate.

"Now is not the time to feel queasy, Qitian. If you must, blame the girl for her gift. Jade Eyes contains too much power for such a little girl to handle. In a way, we are easing her burden by taking it off her hands."

"By the way," he continued. "Do you truly believe that she can stay out of it? The elders of the Chu Sect had already decreed for the girl to sever all ties with Chu Tianfan. In a fit of pure insubordination, she still saw fit to seek Chu Tianfan out over thousands of miles! How is that defiance any different from that of a traitor to Chu Sect? As its assistant head, it is my sworn duty to rid the Sect of any non-compliance. Jade Eyes is merely a spoil of war. Keep your eyes on the true prize, Qitian. Don't burden yourself with guilt. Your success is imminent, my boy."

Chu Qitian failed to notice the sanctimonious manner in which Chu Zhengliang had justified his actions.

Convinced by his father's comforting words, he nodded fervently as his doubts dissipated. Dad is right. Harnessing the power of Jade Eyes is critical to our entire operation.

At that very moment, Michael arrived at the ancestral homestead of the Jones' and immediately informed his father about Ye Fan's involvement in his sister's mishap.

"What!" yelled Bill in a towering rage. "That scoundrel! Angie would have given her life for him and this is how he repays her? He would go to such lengths to frame the Chu family!" Without giving the matter a second thought, he made the decision to summon the entire might of his family to avenge his daughter.

"Our forces alone might not be sufficient, Dad," Michael said softly, his voice quivering with righteous anger. "We should ally ourselves with the Chu family. They are the ones who want Chu Tianfan dead the most, aside from us! Once we have their support, two houses out of three within Chu Sect are already in favor of the same goal. By the next sect assembly, we will be able to force our agenda and turn the Tang family into a unanimous decision. At that point, we would have turned this personal vendetta into the objective goal of Chu Sect. Once the three houses of Chu Sect are on the same page, we would be able to mobilize a large enough force to declare war with Ye Fan! With Moon God's help, we will have Chu Tianfan's head!"