C77 The Qi Family Was Under Control!

"I've heard a phrase that's been making the rounds among the elite families of Imperial City: 'The Qi Family is under control.' It refers to the Wen Family's rise to the top echelons of Dragon Country, effectively supplanting the Qi Family of Imperial City. Madam Wen, as the widow of the former patriarch, has taken over all the Qi Family's connections, industries, influence, wealth, and resources," Lee Pu said, his voice tinged with despair. "Moreover, there's a cadre of Fengshui masters in Imperial City bolstering their claims with divination, saying that in eighty-one hexagrams, each one cuts the Qi character in half, signaling the end of the Qi Family's luck. They proclaim that the Wen Family has been cultivating dragon energy for a decade and that it's destiny for them to ascend to the pinnacle of Dragon Country..."

"It's utterly ludicrous! The Wen Family not only annihilated the entire Qi Family but also seized all their assets! They've even resorted to spreading rumors and deceiving the public, with Madam Wen hypocritically mourning for the Qi Family!" Lee Pu sneered. "Behind the scenes, they've dispatched assassins to Qingyun City, determined to leave no stone unturned, to hunt me down, and to uncover your identity and whereabouts, with the aim of eradicating the Qi Family's legacy once and for all. Their ruthlessness knows no bounds!"

Lin Yin, though seething with rage, maintained a steady demeanor as he inquired, "The Wen Family is the one Qi Hetu married into, the family of his wife?"

He recalled how Hetu had married the Wen Family's daughter to strengthen his bid for the heir's position against his elder uncle and Third Uncle, a move that ultimately led to him and his mother, Lin Shuqin, being ousted from the main house of the Qi Family.

The Wen Family was indeed a prominent household in Imperial City, with considerable clout, but they still fell short of the Qi Family's stature at the zenith of Dragon Country's elite.

"Yes, that's Madam Wen's family!" Lee Pu continued, his expression one of loathing. "The old master had always harbored suspicions of a mole within his inner circle. Now, I'm certain that the mole was none other than Wen Tianfeng herself! She must have been scheming for over a decade since her marriage into the Qi Family. There's no other way she could have obliterated the mighty Qi Family of Imperial City overnight. Such a feat could only be the result of a long-term, deeply laid plan."

"When the old master brought Wen Tianfeng into our family, he unwittingly sowed the seeds of our downfall," Lee Pu said, his expression etched with pain. "For years, she has epitomized virtue and kindness within the Qi Family, never meddling in the family's business affairs. She devoted herself to caring for the great-grandfather, earning his high praise. Yet, her patience and cunning run deep—her heart is merciless!"

"Excellent! The Qi Family has been thoroughly manipulated!" Lin Yin's rage gave way to a bitter laugh, a glint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes.

That woman from the Wen Family had ousted him and his mother from the Qi Family, covertly undermining us for over a decade. Now, she's turned the tables, using her status as the Qi Family matriarch to usurp control. She is indeed ruthless.

Overcome with fury, Lee Pu coughed up several mouthfuls of dark blood, his complexion ghostly pale.

Lin Yin approached, took Lee Pu's pulse, and with a clenched fist, tapped rhythmically at several acupoints on his neck.

"Young master? What is this?" Lee Pu gasped for air, his clarity returning, his complexion gaining a hint of color as he looked on in a mix of shock and confusion.

"Let me remove the bullets first. Otherwise, you won't survive the night," Lin Yin stated flatly.

Half an hour later, at Snow Dragon Villa, in the central villa area.

Inside Lin Yin's villa, Lee Pu lay on the bed, his face contorted in agony as he clenched his teeth, his back a bloody, festering mess.

Lin Yin worked with clinical detachment, using tweezers to meticulously extract the bullets embedded in Lee Pu's flesh.

On the nearby table were bottles of alcohol, forceps, various tools, anesthetics, wound dressings, and boxes of anti-inflammatory and antibacterial medications. Two spent bullet casings rested in a dish.

With a clink, Lin Yin dropped the final bullet onto the plate, then stood up without a trace of emotion. "You'll stay here to heal for now. Don't leave for any reason."

Lee Pu's face was a mix of surprise and uncertainty. He couldn't fathom where his young master had acquired such advanced medical skills to perform bullet removal and wound suturing with such precision.

"Young master, aren't you leaving?" Lee Pu asked with concern. "The Wen Family has already sent people to Qingyun City!"

"I'm not leaving," Lin Yin replied calmly. "I'll be heading to Imperial City soon to confront the Wen Family."

"That's madness! Imperial City is a den of dragons and tigers. Going there is a death wish! How could you possibly stand up to the Wen Family? Even our great-grandfather only survived because he was in the military sanatorium!" Lee Pu implored anxiously, "Please abandon thoughts of revenge! You're the last of the Qi Family!"

He was well aware that the young master had been away from Imperial City for over a decade, never mingling with the Qi Family's elite. These years, he'd been nothing more than a son-in-law to the insignificant Zhang Family in Qingyun City. What power did he have to challenge the Wen Family?

The Wen Family had only recently usurped the Qi Family and was now the talk of the town. Not just in the modest East Sea Province, but even the established Ning and Gongsun Families in Imperial City wouldn't dare cross swords with the Wen Family at this time!

"Since you're aware that I'm the Qi Family's sole heir," Lin Yin said icily, "how could I possibly let the Wen Family take over our centuries-old foundation?"

Whether or not he acknowledged Qi Hetu as his father, avenging his death was a given. And with his grandfather paralyzed in Imperial City, how could he not go there and reclaim what was rightfully his?

The task was daunting, with unknown forces backing the Wen Family. He would need to strategize carefully to reclaim the Qi Family's legacy. But as for Wen Tianfeng, she was marked for death.

"Young Master, I can't stand by and watch you walk into certain doom!" Lee Pu pleaded earnestly. "You have no idea how formidable the Wen Family is. You may live in a luxurious villa in Qingyun City and have wealth, but that's trivial compared to them!"

"There's no need for further discussion. Heal up," Lin Yin commanded coldly, fixing Lee Pu with an icy stare.

Lee Pu felt a chill run down his spine, utterly intimidated by Lin Yin's piercing gaze.

He suddenly realized that the young master, whom he hadn't seen for years, was far from simple.

Lee Pu had spent the better part of his life with the Qi Family and had encountered all manner of high-ranking officials in the Imperial City. Yet, the presence Lin Yin exuded at that moment was unmatched by any official's authority; it even struck fear into him instantly.

Beep!

Just then, Lin Yin's phone rang.

"Master Lin, I'm at Dragon-Tiger Pier in a standoff with Zhou Binn. We've agreed to settle the eastern district's ownership through a life-and-death match in the arena. Several of my underground boxing champions have already fallen there. His side has martial arts experts who are brutally efficient, capable of snapping blades barehanded! When will you arrive?" Shen San's voice was laden with gravity.

"Now."

Lin Yin ended the call.

He had assumed that Lee Pu was merely relaying a message and had already sent Shen San ahead to Dragon-Tiger Pier. He didn't anticipate that the situation back in the Imperial City would be so dire, nor that helping Lee Pu with the bullet extraction would delay him so much.

"I have business to attend to. Make sure you've got all the intelligence from the Imperial City straight, and figure out if there's a way to track down those who are after you in Qingyun City," Lin Yin instructed with an icy tone. "I want a full report when I return. First, I'm going to take care of the ones who've come to Qingyun City."

The issue with the Wen Family in the Imperial City could wait. The fact that his pursuers were lurking in the shadows of Qingyun City, right under his nose, was intolerable. He had to locate and eliminate them.

"Young Master, I have a good idea of where the Wen Family's people might be. I can find them," Lee Pu stated earnestly, aware that dissuading Lin Yin was futile. Lin Yin was clearly not the type to flee overseas and hide.

With a nod, Lin Yin left the villa, his face a mask of resolve.