Chapter 14: Let Me Cool That Temper!

Shen Tiance slowly opened his eyes. His cloudy gaze came into focus as he looked around, finally settling on Qin Tian. “Was it… you who saved me?”

“Yes, Father. This young man saved you!” Shen Dingshan’s voice caught.

Gratitude filled the old general’s reddening eyes. “Thank you, young man.”

Qin Tian smiled. “You’re welcome. It was a small effort. Rest and recover, General.”

He made it sound easy, but everyone in the room knew better. He had snatched a life from the King of Hell himself.

Meng Henian stepped forward and bowed ninety degrees. “Mr. Qin, please accept my respects! I’ve been called a great physician for over forty years, but today I’ve learned how much greater others can be. Your control of needles with qi is a miracle!”

Qin Tian stepped aside, declining the bow. “There’s no need, Elder Meng. A physician should have compassion. I merely did what I ought to.”

Meng raised his head, tears streaming down his face. “To learn the Way in the morning and die that evening would be enough. Having witnessed such a technique today, I could die without regret.”

The experts and professors who had doubted Qin Tian flushed with embarrassment, wishing they could hide. Zhou Guoliang trembled with excitement. Having Old General Shen saved in his hospital was an immense honor.

Shen Dingshan took a deep breath and approached Qin Tian. The tough general’s eyes were red, his voice hoarse. “Words can’t express my gratitude. From this day on, you’re a great benefactor of the Shen family. Whatever you need, ask. If it’s within my power, I won’t hesitate.”

Qin Tian smiled, neither servile nor arrogant. “You’re too kind, General. The old general needs quiet rest. I’ll take my leave. Contact me whenever there’s a problem.”

“Of course.”

As Qin Tian stepped out, every soldier and guard in the corridor snapped to attention and saluted in perfect unison. These men who had faced death in battle looked at him with gratitude and respect.

Su Wanqing stood at the door, tears of excitement in her eyes. Her lips parted in a gentle smile. “Xiaotian, you’re amazing!”

He grinned. “Of course. Look who my sister-in-law is.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’ve grown bold enough to tease me now?”

He pretended to be frightened. “Never! Have mercy, Sister-in-law!” She laughed behind her hand.

Still joking, they reached the elevator just as its doors opened.

“I’ll kill you both, you filthy pair! Die!”

Liu Dongsheng charged out, face twisted, a scalpel in his hand. Su Wanqing froze. Then she came to her senses and instinctively spread her arms in front of Qin Tian. “Xiaotian, watch out!”

Warmth flooded his heart. He gently pulled her behind him, his eyes flashing coldly, and kicked.

With a thunderous crash, Liu Dongsheng flew backward even faster than he’d come, embedding himself and the elevator’s metal paneling in the wall. He spat blood, his eyes rolled back, and he went still. Whether he lived or died was unknown.

The corridor fell silent. Shen Dingshan watched, inwardly astonished by the force of that kick. Then he recovered. “Take this criminal away and deal with him severely!”

The soldiers hurried over. It took considerable effort to pull Liu Dongsheng from the wall before they dragged him away. Qin Tian turned and left.

…

At sunset, Qin Tian walked out of the hospital alone. Having just become department director, Su Wanqing had agreed to celebrate with her colleagues at their insistence. Qin Tian had declined her warm invitation because he had no desire to socialize.

Evening fell. A cool breeze blew by the river as pedestrians streamed past. Qin Tian strolled among them with his hands in his pockets.

Suddenly, brakes screeched. People on the riverside walkway recoiled as five black Land Rovers pulled up side by side on the pavement.

“What the hell? Does driving a Land Rover mean you can park on the sidewalk? Where are the traffic police?”

“Keep your voice down if you value your life. Anyone who can bring five of those cars at once isn’t someone to mess with. They might plant you in the ground like a ginseng root!”

“Isn’t that Cannon from the Heavenly Wolf Gang?”

“Why such a show? Is somebody important with them?”

Amid the whispers, the door of the stretched Land Rover in the middle opened. A burly man in a black tank top climbed out of the passenger seat. His arms were as thick as an adult’s calves, veins bulging with explosive strength.

Cannon led a group of gang members toward the river, his heavy footsteps oppressive. Pedestrians hurried aside until Qin Tian alone remained on the walkway.

“Mr. Qin, please wait,” Cannon called. “Brother Wolf would like to see you.”

The sky seemed to darken, and the river breeze grew colder. Qin Tian kept walking without looking back. Behind him, Cannon and more than twenty elite gang members formed a line.

“I’m busy. Tell Xie Tianlang I spared his life. He’d better value it and stop courting death.”

“Insolence!” Cannon roared. As Xie’s most formidable lieutenant and a Grandmaster, he had never been ignored like this. And the man had insulted Brother Wolf in public!

Furious, he forgot Xie’s warning and strode forward. Qi surged through him, veins bulging on his arms as violent power erupted. “Don’t push your luck, bastard!”

Qin Tian stopped, his gaze turning cold. Wind rose over the river, whipping the water into white ripples. The pedestrians had retreated dozens of meters, craning their necks to watch but afraid to come closer.

He turned. “That temper’s running hot. Let me cool it for free.”

He closed his fingers through the air. Cannon was about to answer when an immense force pinned him in place, and the suffocating threat of death swept over him. His face changed.

“L-let me go!” He struggled desperately, but the force tightened.

Qin Tian waved a hand. Cannon arced through the air and plunged into the river. Qin Tian lifted his hand, and Cannon rose out of the water; when he lowered it, Cannon sank again. The gang’s elite watched from a distance, too afraid to move, as he rose and fell over and over.

The onlookers stared. “Is that young man an immortal?”

Ten minutes later, Cannon, soaked and barely conscious, slammed onto the riverside pavement. Qin Tian asked without expression, “Cooled off?”

Cannon had been reduced to a damp squib. He looked up in terror and remembered Xie’s warning: Never act arrogant in front of that man. Killing you would be as easy as crushing an ant.

He shivered. Crushing an ant at least required touching it. Qin Tian wouldn’t even need to do that.

“Second Young Master Qin… spare me. Brother Wolf sent me to tell you Qin Zhenghao has taken Qin Song’s body. Brother Wolf wants to invite you to discuss what to do.”