A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)
Chapter 1862

Zhang Zixi couldn't even remember how she made it back to her home.

When she reached home, however, she realized that Zhang Jiuling had gathered all the top members of the family. They were having a meeting.

She didn't lie to the family members in front of her and confessed everything she did.

After all, she couldn't hide it.

She had gathered over a hundred of the family's assassins to force Ye Fan out of Jiangbei.

An operation of that magnitude would inevitably draw attention.

"What? You led a team over to attack Mr. Chu?"

Zhang Jiuling was confused earlier and wondered what could have happened to his disheveled granddaughter.

Nevertheless, when he learned how Zhang Zixi had tried to kill Ye Fan, the news scared him so much that he could feel his scalp going tingly.

"You idiot!"

In the heat of the moment, Zhang Jiuling mercilessly slapped Zhang Zixi right across her face.

She spat blood and stumbled backwards a little.

"You foolish girl. How dare you do something like that? How could you go after someone that powerful? Do you have a death wish or something?" Zhang Jiuling was so angry that he had gone insane.

Who does she think Ye Fan is? That monster is so powerful that he even went after Chu Sect. Even Sword Saint feared the guy.

Years ago, the entire world ganged up on Ye Fan, and even then, they chose to go after him when he was in his weakest state.

No one dared to go after him when he was in his prime.

A powerful figure like that is someone we need to run away from.

Zhang Jiuling couldn't believe that his granddaughter was so stupid that she tried to kill Ye Fan.

"You stupid, dumb freaking idiot! What have I been teaching you in the past twenty years? I told you to be patient and to think hard before you act. Yet, you did the exact opposite and were stupidly impulsive. Did you even register a word I said? Freaking hell. Even a dog is smarter than you."

Zhang Jiuling had never been that angry before.

Even after the slap, he raised his hand to hit her again.

He later thought about how Zhang Zixi was a physically weak woman, so he stopped himself before he slapped her a second time.

If ZhangZixi had been a boy, Zhang Jiuling would likely have broken both her legs.

The aggression Zhang Jiuling displayed undoubtedly scared the entire Zhang family to their core.

"W-What?"

"Zixi is your favorite granddaughter."

"Come on, you shouldn't slap her so hard, even if she had made a mistake."

Many members of the family stood up to help.

Some pulled Zhang Jiuling back while some went to help Zhang Zixi up.

The head of the family, Zhang Zijiang, was surprised as well.

Everyone in the family knew that Zhang Jiuling's favorite was Zhang Zixi.

He kept her by his side at all times and personally trained her. When he stepped back and moved toward retirement, he stopped paying attention to everything that was going on. Even then, he never stopped teaching and guiding his granddaughter.

That was why the entire Zhang family had regarded Zhang Zixi as the next leader of the family.

To their surprise, Zhang Jiuling lost his temper and was so angry that he laid a hand on her.

"Zixi, you troublesome kid, what did you do? Why did you get your grandpa so angry? Is the man you offended really just a random hooligan from Jiangdong? Are you hiding any important information from us? Zhang Zijiang nervously interrogated his daughter and was urging her to confess everything.

"D-Dad, I told you everything. It's true. That guy wants to rule over Jiangbei, so I went over to warn him. The operation was similarto what I had done a dozen times before," replied Zhang Zixi as tears rolled endlessly down her cheeks. She looked ever so pitiful at that moment.

That confused the rest of the family.

"If that is true, then you truly have overreacted.

"That is just a random punk from Jiangdong, right?

"Even if he managed to rule over Jiangdong and is a renowned guy there, he is still just a nobody here.

"Ourfamily has ruled over Jiangbei fora century, and we are one of the most powerful families in the country.

"We need not worry, even if Zixi had offended him.

"Jiangbei is one of the top three most powerful provinces in the country. Both our economy and martial arts capabilities are superior to Jiangdong.

"Seriously, you have overreacted this time," said one of the more powerful members of the Zhang family, ZhangXu.

Everyone else thought Zhang Jiuling overreacted as well.

"Come on, Zixi. Don't cry. I bet this is just a misunderstanding, so don't be sad. Tell me where that hooligan from Jiangdong is right now. I will send some men over to break both his legs. After that, I will drag the guy over so you can vent your frustration out on him. You are our most precious child, so we won't stand by when someone bullies you."

Members of the Zhang family circled around to coo Zhang Zixi.

"Shut up! You idiots. You know absolutely nothing. Do you really think that guy is just a random hooligan from Jiangdong? He is a martial artist who holds great power."

Zhang Jiuling was infuriated once more, and he shouted at his family.

"So what? You're a martial artist too, and Zixi is on the verge of reaching Grandmaster rank, so what's the big deal? You're also the president of the Martial Arts

Association. All it takes is one word from you to get every martial artist over to help us out. The fact that the guy is a martial artist is not a big deal at all."

Zhang Xu and the others were at ease as they said those words.

"Oh, by the way, I have to meet someone later. It's a business deal that is worth over a billion, and we'll receive thirty percent of the profit. The year is about to end, so I want to give the family business one last push for the year. I'll head over now."

Just then, a member ofthe Zhangfamily stood upto leave after he received a call.

"Oh, I have to go too. A powerful politician is hosting a party, and it'd be rude to not show up. We'll be counting on that guy to get the real estate project scheduled for next year."

Someone else stood up to leave.

Those words snapped the last shred of sanity in Zhang Jiuling.

He slammed on the desk and broke it into pieces.

"Anyone who leaves the house without my permission will be disowned," roared Zhang Jiuling. The entire place instantly became quiet.

Everyone was so scared that they were stunned. No one dared to do anything.

"Look at you guys with your luxurious meals and your tailor-made suits.

"Yacht, private jets, personal villa... You have everything you want.

"Let me ask you idiots something. Have you forgotten how our family rose to power?

"We started as martial artists, and that is the source of our strength!

"I can't believe you guys actually forgot your roots!

"If we don't have Zixi with us, the entire family's legacy will end with me!"

Zhang Jiuling was so angry that he was trembling.

"I let the rest of you move away from being martial artists because I want to keep you away from all the war and fighting. I was trying to keep the family safe and prevent us from ending the way the Lu Clan did. "Now, I see that I was wrong.

"Your lives are peaceful, but they were too peaceful.

"You know nothing except enjoying life, and all you crave is wealth. It got to the point where you lost the most basic skill of a martial artist. You don't even have the ability to sense danger anymore!

"If that's the case, then I will no longer carry the burden and shield all of you.

"Aren't you curious about why I fear Mr. Chu?

"Well, let me tell you the truth, then."

Zhang Jiuling had been dealing with the drama of the martial arts world ever since he was a kid. He had also witnessed countless fights, competitions, and murders between the martial artists. That was why, when he took over the Zhang family decades ago, he did his best to separate the Zhang family from the martial arts world.

He was the only one who was allowed to interact with other martial artists. Everyone else wasn't allowed to even know about the happenings in the martial arts world.

Zhang Jiuling made his family go into politics and do business because he wanted everyone to lead a normal life.

His initial intention was to keep the Zhang family from the never-ending conflict in the martial arts world. Unfortunately, to his dismay, his family slowly turned blind with ignorance.

If that is how things are, then I will wake them up today. I will show them just how cruel this world really is.

"Do you still remember the massacre in Westlake from a few years ago?"

"Yeah," replied Zhang Xu. "If I remember correctly, the head of the family was celebrating his birthday on the lake. There was an accident, and the construction fell, causing many to drown in that lake. I think the rubble also killed quite a few people.

"The head of the family died that day, along with many top members of the family.

"After that accident, the Lu Clan suffered a huge loss. The family fell, and they became a second-class force."