C76 The News of Death!

The sun was just beginning to rise.

Lin Yin left the Snow Dragon Villa and hailed a cab to the city center.

Seated in the back of the cab, Lin Yin maintained his usual composure, his gaze icy.

Early that morning, his phone had buzzed with a new message: "Meet at Fu Manlou, Lee Pu."

The message had come from an unknown number, sent via an untraceable IP address on a computer.

Catching sight of an unremarkable black Audi in his rearview mirror, Lin Yin smirked with disdain.

The taxi continued on, but unexpectedly, it turned around in an alley and came to a halt in front of a small supermarket, directly facing the black Audi.

The two men in black in the Audi's front seats removed their military binoculars, staring incredulously at the taxi that had pulled up.

"How is that possible? How did Lin Yin spot us?" No.7 wondered aloud.

"He had the taxi turn around; he's not planning to confront us, is he?" No.6 expressed his concern.

They had been tasked by Wang Hongling to shadow Lin Yin and monitor his daily activities.

The elderly taxi driver stepped out, grinning at No.6 and No.7.

"Good morning, gentlemen. The gentleman in the car asked me to hand you this note," the driver chuckled, tossing a slip of paper their way.

"Where's he off to now?" No.6 inquired, unfolding the note.

"That, I couldn't tell you. He got out and walked away. Since you're his friends, maybe give him a call?" suggested the driver with a smile, before returning to his seat. Licking his fingers, he happily counted a stack of yuan—his tip for delivering the message was more than a few days' wages.

No.6 looked astonished. Lin Yinju had slipped away right under their watch?

They prided themselves on their tracking skills, having carefully tailed Lin Yin for days. Where had they gone wrong?

No.6 read the note, which bore a single, bold statement in black ink.

"Take the day off, both of you. Enjoy some rest."

Embarrassment flushed the faces of No.6 and No.7. Lin Yin had known all along that they were following him; he simply hadn't bothered to mention it.

"What do we do now? Head to Precious Cauldron Tower?" No.7 inquired.

"First, we need to report back to Miss Wang," No.6 replied gravely.

As renowned international assassins, their failure to complete the mission had dealt a severe blow to their self-esteem. How would they face Miss Wang after this setback?

With downcast expressions, No.6 and No.7 drove away from the street, their spirits crushed.

Meanwhile, Lin Yin made his way to Fu Manlou.

Nestled in the old district of Qingyun City, Fu Manlou was a venerable establishment with over thirty years of history. Its decor, now somewhat worn, matched the empty interior and the closed sign hanging at the entrance.

Lin Yin retrieved a key hidden behind the sign, unlocked the door, and ascended to the third floor, where he entered a private room.

"Young Master! You've arrived!"

Upon Lin Yin's entrance, an elderly man with white hair, though weary and worn, greeted him with a shout.

This was Lee Pu, the venerable butler of the Qi Family, who had previously sought out Lin Yin alongside Qi Hetu. Lee Pu had devoted his entire life to serving the Qi Family with unwavering loyalty.

"What did you need to see me for?" Lin Yin asked.

He was puzzled as to why Lee Pu hadn't returned to Imperial City with Qi Hetu but instead remained in Qingyun City, reaching out to him in such a secretive manner.

"Young Master, it's a complicated situation," Lee Pu sighed deeply, his voice laced with urgency. "You must leave Dragon Country at once! I've secured a ticket to Europe for you, along with a sum of money that will ensure a comfortable life abroad."

"What are you getting at?" Lin Yin's brow furrowed as he scrutinized Lee Pu.

Lee Pu was ashen, his breaths shallow, appearing on the brink of death. An odd scent of Western medicine clung to him, tinged with the faint odor of blood.

"There's no time for details. Young Master, as long as you remain in Qingyun City, your life is in danger of assassination!" Lee Pu implored, "Numerous assassins are on the hunt for you, intent on eliminating you for good."

"Cough, cough!"

As he spoke, Lee Pu erupted into a violent coughing fit, expelling two mouthfuls of fresh blood. Lin Yin narrowed his eyes and approached Lee Pu, lifting his coat. Beneath, his back was swathed in bandages soaked with blood, the wounds beneath festering and shockingly gruesome.

"Do you still have bullets inside you?" Lin Yin inquired, concern lacing his tone. "What exactly happened?"

"I was too scared to go to the hospital to have the bullets removed by doctors. I feared that those people would track me down, and then I wouldn't be alive to deliver this message to you," Lee Pu said gravely. "Please, don't ask any more questions. It's beyond your control."

"My time is running out. All I ask is that you heed my advice just this once. Don't linger in Dragon Country any longer. Flee overseas as soon as you can," Lee Pu implored with urgency.

Lin Yin had an inkling of the situation but was hesitant to draw conclusions.

"Was Qi Hetu ousted from the Qi Family's inner circle of power?" Lin Yin probed.

With a look of utter desolation, Lee Pu responded in a hollow voice, "The Qi Family of Imperial City is no more. All the Qi family members are dead. The old patriarch is paralyzed in bed, his days numbered. Young master, you're the last of the Qi Family!"

Lin Yin was visibly shaken, a glint of icy resolve flashing in his eyes. The Qi Family, wiped out?

The news struck him hard. The Qi Family of Imperial City was a colossal dynasty with innumerable branches, wielding unimaginable power and wealth, a veritable nation unto themselves.

For centuries, the Qi Family had reigned supreme in Dragon Country, producing prime ministers and generals across generations, a noble lineage that ranked among the top five elite families of the nation.

And now, they had been eradicated?

His grandfather's time was short, and Qi Hetu was already dead...

Though Lin Yin held no affection for Qi Hetu, he could not stomach the thought of him being murdered. And he certainly wouldn't stand for anyone coming after him!

With rage simmering beneath a calm exterior, Lin Yin pressed, "Who is responsible? What exactly transpired with the Qi Family in Imperial City?"

Lee Pu's face was etched with grief as he spoke bitterly, "I've been following the old master's orders, staying in Qingyun City, so I'm not privy to all the details. But before I left for East Sea Province, the infighting within the Qi Family had escalated severely. The Third, Fifth, and Sixth Masters were all desperate to seize control. Eventually, they even murdered your Third Uncle. The old patriarch, overwhelmed by the loss of his son and his own failing health, lost consciousness and now lies paralyzed..."

"But I never imagined that overnight, both the main and branch families of the Qi Family would be wiped out, with every asset they owned falling into new hands," Lee Pu said with a sigh. "The three elders clashed with the master, and as a result, the lives of three generations within their lineage were sacrificed. And in the end, it was outsiders who came out on top!"

Lin Yin's expression was as cold as ice as he inquired, "So who ended up benefiting from all this?"