A Dish Best Served Cold (The Man In Rage)

"Tang..."

"You..."

Ye Fan gazed at the enchanting woman before him in a daze, his lips parting and closing repeatedly. For a prolonged moment, he found himself at a loss for words, uncertain of how to initiate the conversation. He had long since forgotten the last time he saw Tang Yun.

It might have been after the great battle at Mount Yunding, or perhaps it was after he disbanded Chu Sect on Mount Chumen.

In short, it had been a long time since their last encounter.

However, even after many years of separation, it still felt like nothing had changed after they saw each other again. Her eyebrows, her black hair, her face-all just as they were years ago.

It would've been nice if time could stop during their first encounter.

Ye Fan reminisced that his first meeting with Tang Yun occurred right here in the Chu residence.

Back then, Ye Fan stole Tang Yun's clothes because he was afraid she might come after her.

To his surprise, this crazy woman still went after him stark naked.

A flood of past memories rushed into his heart, but those beautiful beginnings ultimately transformed into tragedies.

That fateful battle with Chu Sect must have broken her heart.

While Ye Fan stared at Tang Yun in a daze, Mdm. Wang, on the other hand, appeared visibly alarmed and frightened.

Upon Tang Yun's arrival, Mdm. Wang, who had been previously cursing, immediately fell into silence, not daring to utter another word.

Everyone in the town was well aware that this strikingly beautiful woman before them was not someone to be trifled with.

Several old bachelors who tried flirting with her before this ended up either dead or crippled.

Mdm. Wang harbored profound fear toward someone as ruthless as Tang Yun and dared not provoke her.

She didn't even dare to look at Tang Yun.

In fact, the minute Tang Yun made her appearance, Mdm. Wang pivoted and left almost instantly, not even bothering to grab her underwear.

For a moment, the atmosphere was so awkwardly silent that one could almost hear the rustle of the wind.

After a brief pause, Tang Yun's gaze finally settled on the lace underwear in Ye Fan's hand.

Evidently, Ye Fan also noticed her gaze and promptly felt embarrassed. He scratched his head and offered a hasty explanation, "Um... you know, I was in a hurry and didn't have the chance to pick out a proper gift, so... I got you some underwear. I'm not sure if it's to your liking, though."

Ye Fan was indeed good at spinning tales.

He certainly couldn't say the underwear was Mdm. Wang's or Tang Yun would surely misunderstand, thinking he was a pervert.

Left with no other choice, Ye Fan could only say that he bought it for Tang Yun.

Tang Yun was quite moved at first.

After all, she and Ye Fan met because of a piece of lingerie, and this gift that Ye Fan had prepared for her held significant meaning.

"Thank you," Tang Yun responded and took the underwear from him.

However, a woman's perception was incredibly sharp.

She quickly detected the scent of another woman on the lingerie.

It was clear that someone had worn it before.

Visibly annoyed, Tang Yun immediately lifted the underwear and threw it directly at Ye Fan's face.

"Get lost!" she shouted coldly, her voice as sharp as daggers, almost cutting the surrounding plants in half.

Following that, Tang Yun stormed back into the Chu residence in anger. Realizing that his deception had been uncovered, Ye Fan rushed to explain in a distressed tone, "Yun, please, just hear me out. It's all a misunderstanding... It's because of that black dog! It framed me!"

Ye Fan tried catching up with her, wearing a troubled expression, but Tang Yun had already slammed the front gate shut with a resounding bang, leaving Ye Fan stranded outside. "Yun, open the door! Yun!"

Ye Fan was on the brink of tears. He had been shouting outside for quite a while, but his attempts were futile.

At that very moment, the large black dog came bounding over, its tongue lolling out of its mouth. It gently patted Ye Fan's shoulder with its paw, as if to convey, "Bro, don't worry. I've got this." With that, the black dog crawled into the hole next to Ye Fan and opened the door for him.

Woof!

After opening the door, the black dog pranced its way over to Ye Fan, barking several times with its tongue out, visibly pleased with itself.

"Get lost, you d*mn dog!" Ye Fan shoved the black dog away.

Tang Yun wouldn't have mistaken me for a pervert if it weren't for this dog!

Ye Fan hurried into the Chu residence and found Tang Yun, desperately trying to explain the situation to her.

"Ahem... You've come to visit your great-grandmother, but it seems like you're so busy showering your wife with love that you've forgotten all about your great-grandmother, huh?" Old Madam Chu appeared, teasing the couple.

Ye Fan hurried over to greet his great-grandmother.

"Daddy!" Chu Lin, who was diligently practicing his swordsmanship in the backyard, bounded over with delight when he heard his father's voice.

After a brief catch-up, the elderly lady then asked Ye Fan about the matters regarding Mount Kransbay.

"With all due respect, Great-grandma, this is precisely why I've come today. The Universe Tree is a being of the Celestial Realm, and in the future, it will undoubtedly bring about catastrophic events that could spell doom for our world. When that moment arrives, all living creatures will be plunged into turmoil, and even the Earth itself may cease to exist. Great-grandma, my purpose in coming here today is to request that both you and Yun accompany me to the secret realm in India. Even if Earth truly faces its end in the future, one can still stay safe in the secret realm," Ye Fan briefly explained the current situation to Tang Yun and Old Madam Chu.

Tang Yun's lovely face paled slightly after she heard Ye Fan's words. She had not anticipated the situation to become so dire.

Old Madam Chu's expression also turned remarkably solemn.

She sighed. "Another problem has arisen before the previous one could be resolved. Just when we thought the Symborsus crisis had been dealt with, a new one emerged unexpectedly. It seems Earth is truly approaching its doom."

She then turned to Ye Fan and said, "Ye Fan, I know you care about me a lot, but even in the face of the world's end, I will not abandon this home. I made a solemn promise to your great-grandfather that I would always remain here, on this ancestral land."

"But Great-grandma..." Ye Fan was anxious.

The old lady interjected, "Enough, Ye Fan. There's no need for further persuasion. When the time is right, you can come and retrieve Yun. However, for the time being, since we still have some time, let Yun and Lin stay with me. They can keep me company here for a few years, and I can offer Lin some guidance in his training and cultivation while he's here."

Old Madam Chu had already made her decision.

Recognizing that his efforts to persuade her had been in vain, Ye Fan chose not to say anything further.

"Very well, then," Ye Fan replied. "We still have nine more years, and during this time, I will continue to search for another solution. However, if we truly don't have any other choice, I sincerely hope that you will consider joining us, Great-grandma."

Ye Fan had no choice but to let his great-grandmother have her way for now.

As for Chu Lin and Tang Yun, Ye Fan had initially intended to take them away with him, but since Old Madam Chu adamantly refused to leave, he made the decision to let them remain here for the time being.

He, on the other hand, couldn't stay long this time, for he still needed to make a trip to the secret realm.

"Are you leaving so soon?" Tang Yun couldn't help asking when she saw Ye Fan get ready to leave in such a hurry.

As she spoke, her lovely face remained as cold as ice, revealing no hint of emotion.

Ye Fan chuckled. "What's the matter? Can't bear to part with me?"

Upon hearing his teasing remark, Tang Yun immediately furrowed her brows. "You jerk!"

She prepared to leave right after saying that, but Ye Fan seized the opportunity to approach her and plant a kiss on her cheek before striding away, laughing heartily.

"What a rascal!" Tang Yun was filled with embarrassment and anger as she watched Ye Fan's receding figure, but no one noticed the subtle, enchanting smile playing at the corners of Tang Yun's lips. After departing from Jiangdong, Ye Fan headed straight to India, swiftly returning to the secret realm. However, upon entering, Ye Fan discovered that Duanmu Wan'er was nowhere to be found.

"Wan'er?"

Ye Fan instantly became nervous.

To his knowledge, Duanmu Wan'er had consistently remained in this abode. Besides the occasion when she had accompanied him to the Universe Tree, she had scarcely ever ventured elsewhere. Nonetheless, this time, Ye Fan searched the entire abode, yet he couldn't discover any trace of Duanmu Wan'er.

"Could Wan'er have left? Or did her brother come to take her away?" Ye Fan's eyebrows furrowed tightly.

However, if Duanmu Wan'er really left, she should have left a note or some form of communication. Yet, at this moment, she didn't leave anything behind. Ye Fan couldn't help but wonder if something unfortunate had befallen her.