Urban Martial Saint

Faced with these arrogant youths, Gu Xianping was obviously panicked, taking a step back, he said, ”I... I parked on the curb, how... how could it still be blocking traffic?”

”What? Just because you parked on the curb, it doesn’t count as blocking traffic?” The leader glared and said, ”Isn’t the curb meant for pedestrians? If you park here, how can anyone who wants to pass through walk?”

Gu Xianping looked around and whispered, ”This... this area is so wide, I’m only occupying this small spot, it... it won’t block their way...”

”Since you’ve occupied this spot, I can’t get through here. What do you mean? Because you’re here, I’m not allowed to pass by? You set up your stall here, so I have to walk around it?” The youth snapped, ”Old man, who the fuck do you think you are? Making me walk around? Who do you think you are?”

Gu Xianping hung his head low and whispered, ”I... I didn’t make you... make you walk around, it’s just... it’s just how everyone sets up their stalls...”

”Oh, you’re learning from others now? What about them setting up their stalls? I just can’t stand you. Are you fucking unhappy with that?” The youth moved closer, poking Gu Xianping’s shoulder and said, ”I’m here to pick on you, you got a problem with that? Do you not agree? Say something if you don’t, why are you being a shrinking turtle?

Hey, why are you silent? Aren’t teachers supposed to be talkative? Just fart and let me hear it would be something!”

Ye Qing watched from the side, furious and ready to intervene, when suddenly a man ran over from a distance, cursing from afar, ”He Tao, I fuck your mother, you’re here to cause trouble again, aren’t you!”

As he spoke, the man had already sprinted over, with two people following him, and he quickly reached the bookstall.

”Teacher Gu, step aside!” The man shielded Gu Xianping behind him, glaring at the youth and said, ”He Tao, this is a marketplace, not a place for you to bully around. If you have any sense, get lost immediately, or I won’t be polite to you!”

The youth He Tao was taken aback for a moment, then looking at the man, said, ”Chen Jun, I warn you, mind your own fucking business!”

Gu Xianping tugged at the man’s clothes, whispering, ”Chen Jun, don’t... don’t make a fuss with them...”

Hearing the name Chen Jun, Ye Qing was taken aback for a moment, then took a closer look at the man. This Chen Jun, Ye Qing had heard of him; he was from the same cohort but a year younger. However, Chen Jun had poor academic performance and often fought in school, leading to his expulsion. Now, he looked somewhat familiar; it must indeed be the same Chen Jun.

To his surprise, Chen Jun still had such a fiery temper. But, that he still recognized Teacher Gu showed that he knew gratitude, which comforted Ye Qing.

”Teacher Gu, don’t worry!” Chen Jun waved and pushed Gu Xianping aside, looking coldly at He Tao, he said, ”He Tao, you’re also supposedly a student taught by Teacher Gu. They say once a teacher, always a father. Yet, Teacher Gu has fallen on hard times, and instead of helping him, you fucking come here every day to trouble him. Are you even human?”

”Cut the crap, what kind of bullshit teacher, I don’t give a damn. Once a teacher, always a father, is all fucking nonsense, I can’t be bothered to listen to it!” He Tao said arrogantly, motioning with his hand, ”Either get lost, or I’ll be unkind to you!”

Chen Jun glanced at the few people behind He Tao and said, ”He Tao, thinking you can cause trouble here in the marketplace just because you have a few people? Let me tell you, even though I only have two brothers with me, we have more than enough to beat you!”

”Fuck, I want to see how capable you really are!” He Tao waved his hand and ordered, ”Beat him up!”

The young thugs behind He Tao immediately charged forward, and Chen Jun was unreserved, gesturing, ”Teacher Gu, you go first, I’ve got this. Second Brother, Third Brother, go!”

Chen Jun’s two brothers rushed in, tangling with He Tao’s lackeys. Chen Jun himself kicked He Tao in the chest, sending He Tao stumbling back several steps.

”Motherfucker!” He Tao was furious, pulling a dagger from his waist and charging straight at Chen Jun.

Chen Jun was skilled too; with a Barehanded Blade Block, he seized the dagger from He Tao’s hand, then punched He Tao in the face, causing He Tao to immediately clutch his face, howling in pain.

Chen Jun tossed the dagger aside, charged into the fight, and along with his brothers, quickly floored all of He Tao’s gang.

Chen Jun and his brothers took a few hits too, but with their physical fitness, it wasn’t much to them. As for the punks, they wailed pitifully, with some even lying on the ground, screaming in agony.

”He Tao, with just this crowd, you dare to cause trouble in the marketplace. Now, get the hell out of here, and if you dare to come back, I’ll beat you every time I see you!” Chen Jun said coldly.

”Chen Jun, you’re tough, you’re fucking brave!” He Tao, covering his face, said, ”Chen Jun, don’t say I didn’t warn you. It was Biao who told me to sort out this old bastard. You even dare to interfere in Biao’s business. Just you wait, you motherfucker, wait for Biao to come and take you down personally!”

At the mention of Biao, Chen Jun’s expression changed. In Jiuchuan County, there was only one person who could be called Biao, and that was He Biao. And this He Tao was said to be He Biao’s cousin. Could it be that He Biao sent him to deal with Gu Xianping? What kind of grudge could there be between Gu Xianping and He Biao? Why would He Biao want to harm him?

Seeing Chen Jun’s expression, He Tao suddenly felt emboldened, saying, ”Bastard, you’re scared now, right? Chen Jun, I’m telling you, it’s too late to be scared now. I’ll definitely tell Biao, and you’ll see how he deals with you!”

”Scared of your granddad!” Chen Jun dismissed him with a wave of his hand, saying, ”I don’t care about all that, Teacher Gu taught me, and his business is my business. If you come to make trouble in the marketplace again, I won’t stand by!”

”You’re awesome!” He Tao gritted his teeth and said, ”We’ll see about that!”

As he watched He Tao and the others leave, Chen Jun immediately turned to find Gu Xianping, wanting him to leave the place quickly. If it was really He Biao looking for him, that could be dangerous.

Gu Xianping was now sitting with Ye Qing in an alley not far away, visibly much more spirited.

Chen Jun did not recognize Ye Qing, and seeing the two of them sitting together, he couldn’t help but be somewhat surprised. Scratching his head, Chen Jun ran into the alley and said, ”Teacher Gu, Teacher Gu, stop chatting for now, let’s quickly pack up your things, I’ll take you home right away, there’s trouble!”

”What trouble?” Gu Xianping asked, surprised.

Ye Qing also stood up and, with a smile, extended his right hand to Chen Jun, saying, ”Hey old classmate, good to see you!”

”Old classmate?” Chen Jun was stunned, looked at Ye Qing, and asked, ”You... who are you?”

”Ye Qing!” Ye Qing said with a smile.

”Ye Qing!?” Chen Jun was stunned again and exclaimed, ”Damn, you... you’re that... the one who was really good at studies and got into Northern University?”

Chen Jun looked at Gu Xianping, who had a slight smile and pride on his face. Ye Qing was his protégé, the only one from Jiuchuan County to get into Northern University in those years, his proud student. After so many years, someone still remembered his name, which made Gu Xianping even prouder.

Ye Qing nodded with a smile, and Chen Jun was even more astonished, saying, ”You... you’re really that Ye Qing? You seem to have changed a lot, much more handsome than before!”

Ye Qing said, ”Back in school, I didn’t even have proper clothes to wear, of course, I can’t compare to now!”

”That’s true,” Chen Jun agreed and said, ”Back then, everyone was poor, and now there’s been a lot of change.”

As he spoke, Chen Jun looked toward Gu Xianping, sighed, and said, ”Especially Teacher Gu, who’s aged quite a bit in the last few years. He still often talks to me about the students he used to teach. To be honest, it’s been many years since any of the students came back to visit Teacher Gu!”

Hearing this, Ye Qing also felt some nostalgia. They say once a teacher, always a father, but in this society, there aren’t many who regularly visit their parents, let alone go back to see the teachers who had the biggest impact on their lives.

”Right, let’s not talk about that for now,” Chen Jun said. ”Teacher Gu, pack up your things quickly, I’ll take you home. That He Tao just now came on someone else’s behalf, I drove him away, but his big brother might be coming soon, and that could be trouble!”

”Why do they keep troubling me?” Gu Xianping said despondently. ”Back when I was teaching, I did criticize He Tao a few times, but that was all for his own good. Why doesn’t he understand that?”

”Teacher Gu, He Tao has been out in society for several years now, he wouldn’t come after you for a little thing from back then,” Chen Jun said. ”If he’s looking for you, I bet it’s still related to that issue with Yaqing!”

At the mention of Yaqing, Gu Xianping’s eyes immediately reddened, and he let out a sad sigh, slowly standing up and beginning to pack up his stall.

Seeing Gu Xianping’s hunched figure, Chen Jun couldn’t help but sigh as well, smiling awkwardly at Ye Qing and saying, ”Ye Qing, I’m afraid I don’t have time to chat with you today. Another day when we’re free, we’ll call Teacher Gu out for a good chat, how’s that sound?”

Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”Why put off until tomorrow what can be done today, I think today is most suitable!”

”Today... today is really not a good time...” Chen Jun said anxiously, ”There’s really something going on, how about tomorrow?”

Ye Qing glanced at Chen Jun and asked, ”Is today’s issue about He Biao, or is it about Vice Principal Wang?”

Chen Jun was instantly stunned; he thought Ye Qing might have bumped into Gu Xianping by chance and didn’t want to involve Ye Qing in this affair. Unexpectedly, Ye Qing seemed to know about the issue as if by design.

It took a while for Chen Jun to come to his senses; outside, Ye Qing had already helped Gu Xianping pack up the stall.

Ye Qing turned to Chen Jun and said, ”This isn’t a good place for a chat, let’s find a place to have a proper talk.”

Chen Jun said hurriedly, ”Then... where do we go?”

Ye Qing looked at Gu Xianping, whose eyes were red, and said, ”Let’s go see Yaqing.”