Urban Martial Saint

In the following three venues, Ye Qing practically took them over without breaking a sweat.

All three venues had been snatched by people from the Fu Bang, and as Ye Qing said, Li Wenyuan now really didn’t dare not to return them. With the support of the Lin family and the Zhao Family, coupled with his own unmatched bravery, the attitudes of the East State Poisonous Mantis and the Xikou Fire Butterfly towards Ye Qing were also very ambiguous.

Nobody knew whether these two enchanting women were friends or foes of Ye Qing, but anyway, both women had helped Ye Qing before.

Under such circumstances, even if Li Wenyuan hated Ye Qing to the core, he absolutely wouldn’t dare to go against Ye Qing openly. Unable to send a large number of people to deal with Ye Qing, those occupying the three venues were no match for him and naturally didn’t dare to start a fight with Ye Qing, resulting in him effortlessly taking back the venues.

After arranging matters for the three venues, it was already past ten in the evening. Most of the staff in the four venues he had just taken back were still there, so normal business operations were definitely not a problem. However, without the protection of a gang or various forces, the staff inside were completely unable to handle any emergencies that might arise.

What Ye Qing lacked the most at the moment were trustworthy hands who could help him look after the venues.

The Mad Dog and his people were trustable, but they were far too few in number. They were not even enough to look after one venue, let alone five, so Ye Qing simply didn’t have them watch over any venues. He just let the four venues operate normally and told them to call him if anything happened.

Mad Dog also recognized the current predicament; others lacked venues but had staff, while Ye Qing now had plenty of venues but started to lack manpower.

”Big Brother, it looks like we need to recruit some more people,” Mad Dog said with a tinge of excitement in his voice. Before, they were just street thugs scraping by at the bottom. And today, they were driving a Range Rover around and would soon be managing several venues themselves. Life’s twists really come out of nowhere.

Leaning back in his chair, Ye Qing slowly nodded, ”Recruiting people is easy, but finding those who are trustworthy isn’t. We must take our time with this, we can’t rush things.”

”Cap’n, how about I make a call tomorrow and have my brother bring people over to help us out?” Black Bear suggested: ”There are quite a few idle folks in our village, and the little land they own isn’t enough to farm. They just idle around at home causing trouble and picking fights all day, might as well use them over here and recycle the waste!”

Before Ye Qing could respond, Mad Dog said, ”Brother Bear, our Big Brother is looking for people to take care of the venues, not workers. The people you’re talking about might not be able to help us out!”

Black Bear questioned, ”Why can’t people from our village look after the venues?”

Mad Dog explained, ”Looking after a venue, put simply, is watching over the place. Those of us who run nightclubs often encounter troublesome customers or others with ulterior motives, and it’s common for drunken brawls to happen. The staff in the venues are paid a salary, and they definitely won’t go fighting with patrons.

At that time, it’ll be up to those watching the place to step in and get physical. In other words, we are hiring enforcers, not general workers.”

”So what if there’s a fight? The people from our village have never been afraid of anybody else’s when it comes to fights,” Black Bear immediately said.

Mad Dog said helplessly, ”Fighting over big stakes isn’t the same as rural brawls. Here, a fight could easily lead to someone’s death, Brother Bear!”

”Pssh, I’ve seen the fights around here, that’s a fight? What’s the difference between that and kids squabbling?” Black Bear said with disdain, ”If there’s a real fight, the people from our village fear no one.”

Mad Dog didn’t say anything more and looked at Ye Qing. Ye Qing was silent for a while, then said, ”Xiong Zi, if you bring them over, the work they will be doing might not be legitimate. We’re running these venues without dealing drugs or forcing women into prostitution, but it’s still not exactly honest business, so think it over carefully!”

”Captain, I absolutely support whatever you do!” Black Bear said, ”Since you’ve decided to get into these industries, I’ll stick with you to the end. Those young guys from our village listen to me the most, they won’t object to anything I say!”

Ye felt a warmth in his heart and said, ”If that’s the case, you can bring them over. But you have to make it clear to them what they’re getting into. If anyone doesn’t want to, don’t force them, got it?”

Black Bear nodded, ”No problem, I’ll head back home in the next couple of days and sort it out.”

”Big Brother, where are we headed now?” Mad Dog asked from the front.

Ye Qing said, ”Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena.”

”Huh?” Mad Dog was surprised, ”Going to the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena at this hour?”

”I’ve made an appointment with you.” Ye Qing checked his watch, ”They should be arriving soon.”

Mad Dog didn’t ask further and immediately drove to the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena. Around half-past eleven, two cars entered the dogfight arena.

Since the Tiger King died here last time, the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena now shows signs of dilapidation. Powers from all over Shenchuan City were scrambling for the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena, not just the locals, but even those from other cities wanted a share because the arena was simply too profitable.

The more contenders there were, the less anyone was able to take charge of the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena. Now, with no one in command and the various powers watching each other, whoever took the first step into the arena would surely become a target for the rest, subject to a collective assault.

Including local thugs like the Blessing Sky Blue Gang, even they dared not step into the dogfight arena, fearing they would be targeted. When many guns are trained on the same spot, no one wants to be the bird that sticks its neck out.

When Ye Qing’s cars entered the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena, there were already seven or eight other vehicles parked there, occupying three different areas. As Ye Qing’s car approached, several people got out of one of the cars, led by Li Lianshan.

”Ye brothers, you’re here!” Li Lianshan greeted Ye Qing with enthusiasm, and as he approached, he whispered, ”Li Wenyuan, that old fellow, didn’t come, sending Deputy Chief Yue Gaoyang instead. As for the Tianqing Gang, it’s Shangguan Qing who came, who is one of the two leaders of the Tianqing Gang.”

Only then did Mad Dog realize that the people from the other two groups were none other than those from the Blessing Sky Blue Gang and the Tianqing Gang. It seemed that the people Ye Qing had invited were from those two gangs.

After the death of the Tiger King of the Fierce Tiger Gang, the gang virtually crumbled and lost the strength to contend with the Blessing Sky Blue Gang and the Tianqing Gang. Thus, the three major gangs in Shenchuan City had now become two. Now, with the overseers of the two remaining top gangs gathered at the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena, what exactly was Ye Qing planning to do?

Ye Qing simply nodded, and Li Lianshan, standing by his side, whispered, ”Should we ask Cheng Shuang for help? These two gangs are tough nuts to crack. The profits from the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena are so high that getting them to back down would be even harder than getting them to give up their spots in the city!”

”No need,” Ye Qing shook his head and walked straight to a gazebo in the middle where Li Lianshan’s men had already set up tea.

Mad Dog, hearing Li Lianshan’s words, couldn’t help but be surprised. It looked like Ye Qing was preparing to settle the ownership issue of the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena. But could it be so easily resolved? Setting aside whether the Blessing Sky Blue Gang and the Tianqing Gang would loosen their grip, even if they were willing to let go, how would they deal with the other forces?

Those factions from other cities certainly wouldn’t take Ye Qing’s word for it!

As soon as Ye Qing sat down, people from the Blessing Sky Blue Gang and the Tianqing Gang also came over. Yue Gaoyang was a man in his forties and Shangguan Qing was a man in his thirties.

Standing together, Yue Gaoyang clearly seemed to be the type who was deeply cunning and sly, always wearing a smile on his face, but the type that smiles like a tiger. Shangguan Qing, on the other hand, had an icy demeanor, looking as though everyone in the world owed him money, emanating an aloofness to everyone.

”Mr. Ye is really punctual, just past eleven-thirty,” Yue Gaoyang smiled as he approached, ”I’m really sorry, our gang leader had important business today and couldn’t come, so he sent me to listen to whatever Mr. Ye has to say. After this, I will convey everything to the gang leader!”

Elevating Ye Qing’s status, Yue Gaoyang used the word ”command,” insinuating to Shangguan Qing that they were here to be given orders. Plainly speaking, he was trying to provoke Shangguan Qing’s dissatisfaction with Ye Qing.

Shangguan Qing was no fool. He snorted coldly, glanced at Yue Gaoyang, and said, ”Li Wenyuan, that old fellow, can’t stay up late anymore. It seems like you guys from the Blessing Gang didn’t come prepared to talk tonight, just here to listen to me and Mr. Ye give orders, right?”

Yue Gaoyang did not expect Shangguan Qing to target him straight away and his face showed some embarrassment as he replied, ”The Second Gang Leader is joking again. When I came, our Eldest Brother said that I could make decisions for him. Mr. Ye, feel free to speak your mind, what I say represents the intent of the Blessing Gang.”

”Good!” Ye Qing nodded and extended his hand, ”Please, take a seat!”

Yue Gaoyang and Shangguan Qing took their seats beside Ye Qing, with Li Lianshan standing at the side. Although he was also a gang leader, compared to these two heavyweights, he didn’t count for much, let alone sit on equal footing with them.

Ye Qing pointed to the chair opposite himself and said, ”Li, you sit too.”

”Ah?” Li Lianshan hesitated a moment, looking at the two big shots across the table with a somewhat uncomfortable expression. Where was there a seat for him in front of these two?

”Sit down, sit down,” Ye Qing insisted, pressing Li Lianshan into the chair. Li Lianshan sat on the edge of the table, visibly uncomfortable, but also touched deep inside.

Although he was confronted by the most powerful figures among Shenchuan City’s underground forces, Ye Qing still asked him to sit down, intentionally raising his status.