Chapter 27: This Matter is Not Negotiable
"Xiaofan, my apologies for this embarrassing display. It comes down to my own failure in raising them."
In the ancestral hall, where only Chu Tianxiang, Chu Yan, and Zhou Fan remained, Chu Tianxiang looked apologetically at Zhou Fan.
"You're being too hard on yourself. To be honest, when Xiaoyan told me she was going to call you, I didn't expect you to be so decisive. I thought you would just give him a light scolding and a simple punishment!"
Zhou Fan smiled faintly. After soaking in the Wall-Breaking Liquid, his injuries were already fifty percent healed. The Nether King of old—supremely confident and in control of every situation—was gradually returning.
"Oh? You know what I did?"
Chu Tianxiang asked with a hint of confusion. After all, besides himself and Chu Yifeng, only Chu Qianqian and her two companions had been there.
"I don't know the specifics. But it must have been that your punishment was more than Chu Yifeng could psychologically handle. Otherwise, he wouldn't have rebelled so decisively, let alone nearly destroyed the Chu Family with his own hands."
"You are indeed very clever. I just never imagined when that little brat became so powerful. You might think my punishment for my second son was too light, but if he hadn't thrown himself in the way to stop him, getting severely injured in the process, this old bag of bones would probably be gone by now."
"Xiaofan, the main reason I asked you two to stay is to ask a favor of you. I wonder if you would be willing?"
Chu Tianxiang looked at Zhou Fan with an expectant expression.
"No."
However, just as Chu Tianxiang and Chu Yan expected Zhou Fan to agree, he refused without a moment's hesitation.
"Honey?" Chu Yan gently tugged on Zhou Fan's hand.
"To be honest, Sir, this is non-negotiable."
Zhou Fan ignored Chu Yan, his eyes fixed on Chu Tianxiang. He slowly took out a cigarette and lit it, his expression becoming obscured by the swirling smoke.
"It seems you've already guessed what this old man wants to ask of you."
"I have. That's why I refused."
"Can you give me a reason?"
"It doesn't matter who it is. Anyone who wants to kill me or the people around me becomes my enemy. And as for my enemies, I always eradicate them, root and stem."
Zhou Fan's tone was calm, as if he were discussing something trivial. But to Chu Tianxiang, the words struck like a clap of thunder in his mind.
'Such ruthlessness!'
"Don't tell me you're talking about… whether Chu Yifeng lives or dies?" By now, Chu Yan had also figured it out, and she asked, her voice uncertain.
"That's right," Zhou Fan nodded. "Grandpa wants me to spare his life."
"Impossible! Forget Zhou Fan, *I* won't agree either!" Chu Yan declared immediately. "Grandpa, do you have any idea how badly hurt Zhou Fan was while saving me? I almost died! And you still want to let him go? Is he your grandson and I'm not your granddaughter?"
"Besides, my decision to call you and have you handle it was the biggest mistake I could have made. If I had just listened to my husband, the Chu Family might have been spared this disaster!"
"Calm down, calm down," Zhou Fan said, quickly trying to soothe Chu Yan. He then turned to Chu Tianxiang. "Even a vicious tiger won't eat its own cubs. He's his grandson, after all; it's understandable. That doesn't mean we have to agree. Sir, there must be another reason you asked us to stay, right? Why don't you just tell us?"
"I knew I couldn't hide it from you. This is a will I drew up a month ago. How about you hold onto it for me? I worry that a great disaster might befall the Chu Family someday."
Chu Tianxiang gave a helpless laugh. He had heard from Divine Doctor Ouyang that a miracle worker like Zhou Fan, who could control needles with his energy, would not be weak in a fight. Thinking about that, and recalling how Chu Yan had said on the phone that Zhou Fan had killed over forty enemies by himself, he had hoped he could convince Zhou Fan to spare Chu Yifeng. But now, it was clear that was impossible.
"Grandpa, is there a mistake in this will?" Chu Yan looked up from the document, her eyes filled with disbelief. "All the Chu Family shares… are left to me and my aunt?"
"That's right. Sixty percent to Qianqian, forty percent to you. Although you are women, the Chu Family can only survive in your hands. As for your father and your three uncles… it's best not to even mention them."
"But will they agree to this?"
"I used to worry about that, but not anymore. If they're not willing… well, we still have Xiaofan, don't we? I'm sure he'll figure something out."
Chu Tianxiang looked at Zhou Fan with a smile, looking for all the world like a cunning old fox.
Zhou Fan glanced at Chu Yan and finally let out a helpless sigh. 'What have I gotten myself into?' he thought. 'This old fox is blatantly using me to preserve the Chu Family's fortune!'
"Don't look so unhappy, kid. I know what you've been searching for recently. And as it happens, I know where you can find it."
Seeing Zhou Fan's frustrated expression, Chu Tianxiang felt a strange sense of glee. Perhaps it was because Zhou Fan's constantly calm, all-knowing attitude had been getting on his nerves.