Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing and Black Bear rested in the forest for more than an hour when Zhao Chengshuang called, excitedly telling Ye Qing that the warrant for his arrest had been withdrawn and also informed Ye Qing about everything on the disc.

Ye Qing had no idea that the disc contained so much information; it had revealed all of Lin Tianhao’s misdeeds and involved Yang Shitao as well. It seemed that He Ziqiang was a man of great ambition, having prepared for everything and gathered all this evidence, probably planning to blackmail Yang Shitao and Lin Tianhao later on.

Little did he know, he would leave his life in Shenchuan City, and the evidence he had collected would become the most powerful testimony to bring down the Lin family and Yang Shitao!

Upon learning that the Lin family members were under investigation, Ye Qing finally took a deep breath of relief. This was the outcome he had always wanted, for those who had done so much evil to receive their due punishment. However, he knew he could not personally execute Boss Lin. But with Boss Lin’s litany of charges, he figured that escape from death would be unlikely.

Moreover, with all of his limbs broken by Fire Butterfly, even if he survived, he would barely be clinging to life, doomed to spend the rest of his days either imprisoned or begging for subsistence.

This was called retribution. He had crippled and forced so many people into begging, and now, he was ultimately going to become the same sort of person!

With the warrant gone, Ye Qing didn’t have to worry about being apprehended by the police anymore. He and Black Bear hurried back to Shenchuan City, a place that was no longer under the previous state of martial law and search. Since He Ziqiang had been killed, this case could be considered effectively closed.

However, there were still two more significant cases to confront. One was the drug case involving Boss Lin, and the other was the bombing that had killed He Ziqiang.

Four policemen from the provincial department had died in the explosion as well, and although Guan Haochen was sure to take the blame, the audacity of setting off a bomb in a busy district of Shenchuan City was an eye-catching major case that would definitely get the attention of the provincial authorities.

Indeed, Shenchuan City had seen a string of major incidents recently. There had been five bombings in a row: first, at the construction site for the new residential district, followed by the deaths of Chen Wuye and then his nephew, and then came the Qianwan Bar explosion. These four bombings were almost certainly the work of the same person. But who was behind this fifth incident?

When Ye Qing returned to Shenchuan City, his first stop was Tian Sheng, where the children were still being watched by the cleaning staff and cooks. Arriving there, Ye Qing was surprised to find that Fang Tingyun, Chen Keai, and Huo Pingping were also there. The three women had not gone home after work but had come to look after the children instead, a gesture that touched Ye Qing.

Upon seeing Ye Qing’s return, Fang Tingyun and the others were overjoyed. The rapid changes within a single day were truly hard to keep up with. But in the end, everything returned to calm. The Lin family had withdrawn their accusations against Ye Qing, and the warrant was directly canceled. Finally, Ye Qing could settle down and do what he wanted in Shenchuan City!

Fang Tingyun made some food for Ye Qing and Black Bear. After wolfing it down, they felt relieved of their fatigue.

Sitting beside them, Fang Tingyun asked softly, ”Ye, I heard you want to start an orphanage?”

Ye Qing nodded and said, ”These children have to be properly settled. I can’t trust anyone else to manage them.”

”Such a good soldier, it’s great that you have a conscience!” Huo Pingping nodded repeatedly, ”These children are so pitiful; they can’t suffer unjust treatment any longer.”

”Why didn’t you go to work?” Ye Qing asked in surprise, looking at Huo Pingping, who was now the manager of one of Li Lianshan’s clubs, working at night. Though it was already the early hours of the morning, it wasn’t yet time for her shift to end.

Huo Pingping waved her hand dismissively, ”I quit my job, sister!”

”What happened?” Ye Qing asked with a frown, ”Did Li Lianshan do something again?”

Huo Pingping replied, ”No, that’s not it, but I just don’t like that kind of workplace. Although Li Lianshan’s salary is good, like Xiao Fangfang, I want to do something meaningful. Is that not alright?”

”Meaningful work?” Ye Qing looked towards Fang Tingyun, who blushed and lowered her head, avoiding eye contact with Ye Qing.

”Xiao Fangfang thinks what you are doing with the orphanage is meaningful, so she quit her job to come and help you manage it,” Huo Pingping said. ”I plan to come and help too. What do you think, welcome or not?”

Ye Qing looked at Fang Tingyun warmly. Although he had thought about starting an orphanage, he had not yet decided who to hire to take care of the children. The people he wanted needed to have both the love and patience necessary for these kids. Without a doubt, Fang Tingyun was definitely qualified.

Although Huo Pingping could be sharp-tongued, she was kind-hearted, and there was no question she would do well with the children.

Seeing Ye Qing remain silent, Huo Pingping grew anxious, ”Well, do you welcome us or not? Say something. Xiao Fangfang has quit her job and come to join you regardless of everything; you have to give her an answer!”

”Of course, I welcome you,” Ye Qing promptly nodded, ”Having both of you to help is more than I could ask for.”

”That’s great!” Huo Pingping nodded in satisfaction and looked at Fang Tingyun, ”See? I told you, if you came, he would have no reason not to welcome you!”

Fang Tingyun’s face grew even redder, and she softly said, looking down, ”Ye, the most important thing is to give these children a stable home. This place isn’t really suitable for them to live in.”

Ye Qing nodded and replied, ”I am currently looking for a suitable house for them to live in. This is only a temporary place for them. Once I have rented a suitable house, I’ll move them there.”

”That’s good to hear,” Fang Tingyun nodded and then glanced at Mo Xiang sitting next to her. ”By the way, what about the children’s schooling?”

”I haven’t thought it through yet. I’ll have to see how many children there are. If possible, I hope to hold classes inside the orphanage,” Ye Qing sighed. ”Most of these kids have no parents or family and have experienced being trafficked. To be honest, each of them carries some shadows inside. I’m worried they’ll be bullied if they’re sent to external schools.

Of course, the best choice would be to keep them studying within the orphanage, but arranging teachers and lesson plans is not an easy task.”

”Actually, I can help with that,” Mo Xiang put down the book in her hands and looked at Ye Qing quietly. ”If there are only a few, Tingyun, Pingping, and I can take care of a few courses. When it’s time for middle school, they can go to public schools. That should be fine.”

”Really?” Ye Qing was overjoyed. Mo Xiang was a teacher, and if she was willing to take care of the children’s education, that would be the best outcome. At least, Ye wouldn’t have to worry about that aspect anymore.

Huo Pingping eyed Ye Qing with a fierce gaze and said, ”We three sisters gave up our jobs to come work for you, to ’die as soldiers’ for you. How do you plan to repay us?”

”Uh...” Ye Qing scratched his head and said, ”Regarding the salary...”

”Pfft!” Huo Pingping glared, ”I was a manager at Li Lianshan’s place. I definitely earned way more than I would here. Do you think we came for the salary? Let me tell you, we’re here for two reasons. First, we also want to do something for these poor kids. Second, mainly because Xiao Fangfang towards you...”

”Pingping!” Fang Tingyun suddenly cried out, interrupting Huo Pingping.

”What’s the matter?” Huo Pingping looked at Fang Tingyun, who was blushing, in surprise. ”I haven’t finished yet, you...”

”Oh, right, Pingping, I had something to take care of this morning. Come out with me for a moment,” Fang Tingyun came over and, without further ado, grabbed Huo Pingping’s arm and dragged her out.

Ye Qing looked at the two women in astonishment, then turned to Mo Xiang, wondering, ”What else could there be to do this late?”

Mo Xiang smiled faintly and did not speak, returning to her book.

Broom Star sat beside Mo Xiang; this child, now almost no different from Mo Xiang, also had a book in hand every day.

Ye Qing leaned closer to find that the book Broom Star held was actually a Buddhist Scripture, with highly complex content. Ye Qing had read Buddhist scriptures before and, to be honest, even he found them incomprehensible.

”Why is he reading that?” Ye Qing asked in astonishment, looking towards Mo Xiang. ”Can he even read?”

Mo Xiang shrugged, and Broom Star closed the book, looked up, and said softly, ”Do I need to recognize the words to read a book?”

Ye Qing was taken aback and asked, ”How can you read without recognizing the words?”

Broom Star replied, ”When you read a book, are you really pursuing an understanding of its content, or is it the peace of mind you seek?”

”What?” Ye Qing’s eyes widened in surprise. The child’s speech was becoming more profound, and it sounded increasingly peculiar.

Broom Star said softly, ”I read because I enjoy the tranquility of a quiet moment to think. Whether or not I recognize the words is not important to me!”

Black Bear said, ”If you don’t recognize the words, then what kind of book are you really reading?”

Broom Star replied softly, ”I’m looking at the true nature.”

This statement was too shocking; even Ye Qing was taken aback. Just as he was about to speak, two men rushed in through the doorway in a panic.

”Is... is Boss Ye here?” one of the men asked anxiously, while the other was covered in blood, apparently seriously injured. They both looked frantic as though they’d encountered major trouble.

Ye Qing recognized the two men; they were underlings of Mad Dog. The last time Ye Qing was eating at a night market stall and first met Guan Haochen and Ou Keren, Guan Haochen ended up fighting with Mad Dog’s group, and it was Ye Qing who had saved Mad Dog at that time.