C123 One Shot

"Grandpa, who cured you? Which top doctor was it? I'd like to send him a big gift later," Gongsun Qiuyu said, puzzled.

Qi Wending chuckled and replied, "It was your cousin."

"My cousin?" Gongsun Qiuyu exclaimed in surprise, her expression turning complex.

Since returning to the country, she had heard about the upheaval within the Qi Family. The entire Qi Family had been decimated by the Wen Family...

The thought made her heart heavy, and she refrained from speaking further, not wanting to burden her grandfather with such news.

"Do you remember Cousin Qi Yin, who used to play with you at Mount Purple Dragon when you were little?" Qi Wending asked, his eyes twinkling with mirth.

"Cousin Qi Yin?" Gongsun Qiuyu adjusted her glasses, lost in thought.

Those were distant childhood memories. They were hazy, but she distinctly remembered being five or six years old and playing with Cousin Qi Yin, who was her closest companion in the Qi Family.

"I remember, but... didn't Cousin Qi Yin leave the Qi Family?" she asked, her confusion evident.

Hadn't Cousin Qi Yin and Auntie Lin left the Qi Family many years ago? Gongsun Qiuyu recalled crying her eyes out when Cousin Qi Yin departed, unable to bear his absence.

"He's returned," Qi Wending said, his face alight with joy. "He's the one who cured me."

Gongsun Qiuyu's curiosity piqued. "Cousin Qi Yin came back? And he's such a skilled healer? Grandpa, can you get in touch with him? I'd love to catch up and also thank him for healing you."

Qi Wending smiled. "He didn't leave any contact information, but he might return in a few days. If it's meant to be, you'll meet again."

Gongsun Qiuyu nodded thoughtfully and spoke earnestly, "Grandpa, since you've just recovered, you should rest here at Mount Purple Dragon for a while. Don't go out just yet. Actually, I know of some lovely vacation spots abroad. If you're interested, you could go and unwind a bit."

She couldn't bring herself to let her grandfather know about the tragedy that had befallen the Qi Family. Such harsh realities were too much for an elderly man to bear.

Qi Wending chuckled dryly, his eyes glinting like blades. "My dear, are you concerned that I might learn something troubling and not be able to handle it?"

"You're overthinking it, Grandpa. Truly, nothing significant has occurred. It's just the issue with Third Uncle that you've already figured out. I've brought you some antiques from overseas, all Ming Dynasty porcelain that you adore," Gongsun Qiuyu quickly steered the conversation elsewhere.

Gazing out the window at the distant landscape, Qi Wending spoke softly, "If I were twenty years younger, I would have turned Dragon Country upside down without a doubt!"

Old Master Qi's voice was steady as he spoke these words. He exuded an aura of authority and determination that was truly impressive.

Indeed, if Qi Wending were twenty years younger, his formidable power would have been enough to shake the very foundations of Dragon Country. The Wen Family would never have had the chance to oppress the Qi Family of Imperial City.

The Wen Family had planted spies within the Qi Family for over a decade and had countless hidden operatives working in the shadows. They took advantage of the Qi Family's internal strife and Old Master Qi's incapacitation to strike. Without these advantages, they would never have dared to challenge the Qi Family of Imperial City.

"Alas, I am old now, no longer of much use," Qi Wending sighed, his eyes reflecting a lifetime of experiences. "The children must follow their own destinies."

Gongsun Qiuyu remained silent, knowing that her words could never deceive Old Master Qi, given his vast life experience.

"However, I am fortunate to have a successor," Qi Wending remarked with a hint of pride. "There is someone who will avenge me."

"Who might that be?" Gongsun Qiuyu inquired, sensing the implication in her grandfather's words but feeling puzzled as to who could earn such high praise from Qi Wending. She even wondered if this person could surpass him in capability.

"Yin," Qi Wending said, his face softening as he thought of the young man.

Having lived for over eighty years, Qi Wending had always been at the pinnacle of the world, his judgment unerringly accurate. He had encountered countless heroes and could discern a person's abilities with just a glance.

His only grandson was the beacon of hope for the Qi Family's resurgence!

"Cousin Qi Yin?" Gongsun Qiuyu's expression was one of shock. Her curiosity about her cousin, whom she hadn't seen in years, grew even stronger. She longed to meet him, to discover what qualities he possessed that earned him such admiration from her grandfather.

In the bustling Central Sky District stood the Zecheng Building, a towering edifice of over sixty floors, dominating the skyline.

Lin Yin stepped out of the car, and the driver quickly sped off. He surveyed his surroundings.

The street was eerily quiet, all the shops shuttered, not a soul in sight. Leaves fluttered in the breeze, the only sign of movement. Clearly, someone powerful had cleared the area.

A slight smile played on Lin Yin's lips as he calmly approached the imposing, yet deserted, Zecheng Building.

Just as Lin Yin made his appearance, on the rooftop of the Zecheng Building, a muscular man dressed in black set aside his military binoculars. He turned and reported, "He's here. The surveillance footage confirms he's the same young man who was looking for Yu Zecheng last time."

On the rooftop, Yu Zecheng was in a dire state, his body battered and bruised, hanging by a thread, quite literally, from a steel wire, barely clinging to life.

The trio of men in black stood with chilling expressions, each exuding a terrifying aura of lethality. They were clearly masters of their craft. Yu Zecheng, despite his formidable skills and arsenal, along with numerous gunmen at his disposal, had been defeated.

"Wen Twelve, take the shot," the leader of the men in black instructed nonchalantly, tossing a black fishing bag in his direction.

"Understood."

Wen Twelve caught the bag and expertly unzipped it, drawing a menacing, ink-black heavy sniper rifle—a Barrett. He loaded the bullet and swiftly prepared the weapon, setting it up at the edge of the rooftop. Within seconds, he peered through the scope, his aim locked on Lin Yin below.

"He's utterly clueless about his own limits, daring to send Yu Zecheng to snoop on our lady. He's practically signing his own death warrant!" a man clad in black remarked icily.

"Yu Zecheng's unwavering loyalty suggests his backing must be from one of the other great families in Imperial City," Wen Nine commented nonchalantly. "It's quite normal for the Wen Family to catch the attention of the major clans, especially with our rising prominence."

"I've heard the kid's got some moves, not unlike Yu Zecheng's own," Wen Nine mused with a hint of amusement. "Wen Twelve, don't mess this up. When facing someone with combat skills, you get only one chance."

"I don't buy it," Wen Twelve retorted with a sneer. "I'm certain I can take him down with a single bullet—a headshot, no doubt!"

As he spoke, a sinister grin spread across Wen Twelve's face. His gun was already trained on Lin Yin's forehead.

With a hardened expression, he squeezed the trigger in an instant.

The bullet cut through the wind, its howling sound and the reverberating shockwave piercing the air, the noise echoing down the entire street!