Chapter 8: A Heart in Turmoil

Su Wanqing’s gaze was hazy, her lips slightly parted. “Xiaotian… thank you for today.”

For some reason, Qin Tian felt a flicker of disappointment, but quickly pushed it down. He put on a stern face. “If you keep thanking me, Sister-in-law, I’ll really get angry.”

She covered her mouth and laughed softly. “All right. I won’t be so formal with you anymore.”

He nodded, satisfied. “Get some rest. I’ll leave you.”

He walked out. Behind him, Su Wanqing opened her mouth, but the words she had wanted to say never came. The door closed gently. She watched the place where he had disappeared, then slowly shut her eyes, her heart in turmoil.

Outside, Qin Tian leaned against the wall, breathing heavily. He looked down at his trembling hand and gave a rueful laugh. “This damned Ancestral Dragon bloodline…”

After a long while, he let out a breath and went downstairs. Night deepened, but he wasn’t sleepy. He walked into the courtyard, where the cool breeze dispersed the last of the heat in his body.

The Qin residence was quiet beneath a few dim lamps. Standing under an old scholar tree, he raised his hand. Gold flashed in his palm, and dragon-shaped qi spiraled around his fingers with a series of low roars.

“Qin Yuankun…” A cold light flickered in his eyes.

The night passed without further incident.

…

The next morning, Qin Tian woke early and sat cross-legged in the courtyard, breathing and drawing in energy. Qi circled him, and he seemed to become one with his surroundings.

Su Wanqing made breakfast as usual and drove to the hospital alone. Qin Yuanming sat in the courtyard, enjoying the sun. Everything was warm and peaceful.

Then a brutal pounding shattered the hard-won calm. The front gate shook as though it might collapse. Qin Yuanming sprang to his feet in alarm. Qin Tian opened his eyes, murderous intent rising, and slowly stood.

Another heavy blow sounded as the gate was kicked open. A burly man nearly two meters tall strode into the residence, followed by a dozen or so fierce-looking men in black. His presence was intensely oppressive.

He stopped in the center of the courtyard. The men fanned out behind him, hands clasped behind their backs, surrounding Qin Tian and his grandfather.

Qin Yuanming glared. “Xie Tianlang, what are you doing here? Get out! You’re not welcome!”

The visitor was indeed Xie Tianlang of the Heavenly Wolf Gang. He laughed loudly. “Old Master Qin, don’t be so upset. I heard the second young master had returned, so I brought some men to pay a visit.”

As he spoke, he studied Qin Tian. To his surprise, he couldn’t gauge the young man’s strength. So he really was formidable.

Qin Yuanming’s eyes reddened. Like a tiger protecting its cub, he stood in front of his grandson. “Listen carefully, Xie Tianlang. If you touch a hair on his head, I’ll use everything I have to make you pay!”

Xie Tianlang grinned. “I think there’s been a misunderstanding. That useless Liu Dongsheng didn’t deliver my message clearly.”

“Bullshit! Do you think I don’t know what you’re after?”

“Show Brother Wolf disrespect again, old man, and I’ll put you in an early grave!” a sinister voice cut in. Skinny Ghost stepped forward and stopped behind Xie Tianlang.

Qin Yuanming was about to answer in fury, but Qin Tian patted his shoulder. “Rest for a bit, Grandpa. I’ll handle this.”

The old man hesitated, then warned, “Be careful. Xie Tianlang is dangerous.”

Qin Tian smiled and nodded, watching him return to his chair. Then the smile vanished. He turned to Skinny Ghost, his gaze cold.

“Are you going to slap yourself for what you just said, or shall I do it?”

Skinny Ghost stared. “What did you say? I didn’t hear you. Why don’t you say it again?”

Qin Tian didn’t waste his breath. He walked forward. Skinny Ghost bared a mouthful of small black teeth. “Brother Wolf, I want to kill him.”

Xie Tianlang’s smile didn’t falter. “Make it quick.”

“You can count on me.”

Skinny Ghost advanced. Their footsteps sounded different as they drew closer, step by step.

Suddenly a short knife appeared in Skinny Ghost’s hand. He sprang forward. “Time to die, Second Young Master Qin!”

His blade swept toward Qin Tian’s neck so fast it left afterimages. Qin Yuanming cried, “Xiaotian, watch out!”

Xie Tianlang watched every movement, confident in Skinny Ghost’s strength. But Qin Tian casually raised a hand and caught his wrist. The attack stopped dead.

Skinny Ghost’s eyes widened as though he’d seen a ghost. “Y-you… how did you… impossible…”

“I gave you a chance,” Qin Tian said without expression. “You didn’t take it, so I’ll have to do it myself.”

His fingers tightened. Bone cracked, and Skinny Ghost’s wrist was crushed, leaving a mangled, bloody wound. The knife fell from his hand, and Qin Tian caught it.

A cold flash crossed Skinny Ghost’s face, drawing a line of blood. He screamed, dropped into a crouch, and clutched his bleeding face with his good hand.

It had happened in an instant. Skinny Ghost, one of Xie Tianlang’s most trusted lieutenants, had been defeated in a single move. Silence fell over the residence.

After a while, Xie Tianlang recovered. He fixed his eyes on Qin Tian. “Second Young Master Qin, it seems something extraordinary happened to you during those five years you were ‘dead.’”

Qin Tian said nothing. He casually toyed with the blood-dripping knife, then looked up and flicked it toward him.

The blade tore through the air. The gang members cried out in alarm. “Brother Wolf, look out!”

Xie Tianlang dodged. Behind him, the knife punched straight through the courtyard wall, thirty centimeters thick. His pupils contracted. He could have done the same, but never so effortlessly.

Qin Tian smiled. “Xie Tianlang, are you ready to die?”

Applause came from outside the gate. Everyone turned to see a young man dressed head to toe in luxury brands saunter in with a swagger.

Qin Tian’s smile disappeared, killing intent filling his eyes. “Qin Song?!”