Urban Martial Saint

In the reception house, a gunshot rang out, startling everyone, including the few policemen who had just stormed in with their guns.

Zhou Hongbin was even more frightened, his bladder losing control. He had taken off his bulletproof vest, and now he was without it. Hearing the gunshot, he nearly crawled under the bed, curled up beside it, holding his head and shouting incessantly, ”Don’t shoot, don’t kill me...”

While everyone was stunned for a moment, the windows of the room suddenly shattered, and several agile figures directly broke in through the windows, rushing to Ye Qing’s side. These men were all in military uniform, which only further terrified Zhou Hongbin. He wondered to himself, how could Hong Tianxiang have so much clout that he actually had the military sent in?

In his shock, something unbelievable happened. The soldiers who rushed in did not confront Ye Qing, but instead went straight to the policemen, tackled them to the ground one by one, and snatched their guns.

”What are you doing?” the lead policeman shouted, ”Who are you? This is assaulting an officer!”

No one paid him any heed, the soldiers subdued the policemen, and soon after, a scuffle was heard in the corridor. However, the noise quickly ceased, and the corridor fell into silence once again.

Zhou Hongbin watched the situation inside the room in astonishment. The soldiers were actually fighting with the police, while Ye Qing sat serenely on the side, leisurely sipping a cup of tea. What on earth was going on? Weren’t these soldiers sent by Hong Tianxiang? Even if they weren’t, they had no reason to fight with the police. What was happening?

At that moment, the room door opened, and a man in a military uniform walked straight up to Ye Qing, saluted, and said, ”Mr. Ye, good to see you. I am Wang Qian’an, the commander of the seventh company of the military forces stationed in Jiuchuan County, sent by order of the chief to negotiate with you. The bandit police outside have all been dealt with, Minister Wu will arrive shortly, do you have any further instructions, Mr. Ye?”

Zhou Hongbin’s eyes widened in disbelief. He had heard of Wang Qian’an, a capable officer of the military forces stationed in Jiuchuan County. Surprisingly, these soldiers were under his command. It seemed that indeed, the soldiers were the local garrison. But why would they come to assist Ye Qing? What was their relationship with him? And that Minister Wu, could it be the county military department head, Wu Anping? But did Ye Qing know Wu Anping? What kind of relationship would it take for the local garrison to intervene in local affairs, even to confront the police? This was unprecedented!

Downstairs, Hong Tianxiang was waiting confidently for good news from the floor above. The first gunshot had buoyed his spirits. No matter how strong Ye Qing was, facing so many policemen and guns, he was surely unable to escape this time!

But after the first shot, there was no further movement, which puzzled Hong Tianxiang. His order was for a clean kill, and even if it was just to kill Ye Qing and Zhou Hongbin, that should require two shots. Why was there only one? What exactly was happening upstairs?

While he was perplexed, several policemen came running out of the stairwell in a flurry of panic. The leading officer, Wu Jianbing, had even lost his cap and ran to Hong Tianxiang, panting and saying, ”Secretary Hong... Something’s wrong...”

”What happened?” Hong Tianxiang’s brow immediately furrowed, a bad feeling stirring within him.

Wu Jianbing’s voice trembled as he said, ”Some soldiers showed up out of nowhere and took all my men down, there are even more of them than us, the police!”

”What?” Hong Tianxiang’s eyes widened as he asked urgently, ”Soldiers? Are you sure?”

Wu Jianbing nodded repeatedly and said, ”I’m sure, and they are definitely the troops stationed in Jiuchuan County; I’ve seen some of them before.”

”Damn it, what’s all this got to do with the garrison?” Hong Tianxiang was greatly dismayed, saying, ”The garrison isn’t allowed to intervene in local affairs. What are these people here for? Could they possibly be Ye Qing’s comrades-in-arms?”

Wu Jianbing said, ”I don’t think so. Ye Qing served in the army near the Golden Triangle border, which has nothing to do with our area. How could his comrades-in-arms possibly have come here?”

”If they’re not his comrades, then what is this?” Hong Tianxiang frowned, deep in thought, when Wang Qian’an had already come downstairs with several soldiers.

”Wang Qian’an?” Hong Tianxiang’s frown deepened as he asked in a stern voice, ”Commander Wang, what is the meaning of this? You’re the local garrison and should not be interfering in local matters. Now you’re obstructing the police in performing their duties. I really want to ask Minister Wu, just how is he managing his troops!”

”How I manage my troops is my business, and it’s not your place to interfere!” A burly voice suddenly came from the distance, Hong Tianxiang paused, turned his head, and saw a military jeep driving up from afar. Leaning out from the car was none other than the head of the county’s military department, Wu Anping.

Wu Anping was also a long-standing figure in the county and had a particularly peculiar temperament, maintaining a lukewarm relationship with any faction in the county. Therefore, Hong Tianxiang had little to do with him; the two were merely acquaintances.

Despite this, Hong Tianxiang nevertheless dared not underestimate Wu Anping. After all, the man was in charge of the military. Though he did not meddle in local affairs, he was not much under local jurisdiction either, answering directly to the municipal military department. Hence, even the county head and the secretary had no way of handling Wu Anping, let alone Hong Tianxiang himself.

Feeling embarrassed from being rebuked by Wu Anping, Hong Tianxiang said, ”Old Wu, what’s going on here? Police clashing with the military is like floodwaters inundating the Dragon King Temple!”

”Don’t speak as if we’re so close, who’s part of your family?” Wu Anping spoke as a jeep pulled up. Two military trucks followed, and as soon as they stopped, thirty or forty soldiers dashed out, armed to the teeth, instantly surrounding the group of police officers led by Hong Tianxiang.

Normally these police officers were quite bullish, but they had to know their audience. You can be bullish in front of unarmed common folks, but would you dare to act that way in front of heavily armed soldiers with superior fighting strength? Facing these soldiers, the police officers promptly raised their hands in cooperation, without even being asked.

Seeing the situation unfold, Hong Tianxiang’s embarrassment grew. He frowned and said, ”Old Wu, what’s the meaning of this?”

”Meaning? There’s no particular meaning,” replied Wu Anping. ”I just received a report claiming that a certain law enforcement official, exploiting his authority, wanted to kill someone to silence them. Under this clear sky, in broad daylight, such incidents can still occur—I’m truly shocked. So, I especially brought people over to see what’s going on. I didn’t expect to actually encounter this situation. Secretary Hong, you wouldn’t tell me you’re just playing around here, right?”

Hong Tianxiang’s expression chilled as he said sternly, ”Minister Wu, I have no idea what you’re talking about. But we are handling a case here, and it’s a police matter, not something other departments should interfere with. We are arresting a terrorist who has taken a police officer hostage. Minister Wu, by doing this, are you trying to obstruct our case?”

”Obstruct? That’s not the word I would use. I just wanted to come and see. If these police officers are indeed upholding the law impartially, then I would be happy and keep quiet. But, if someone is trying to abuse their power for unlawful deeds, then I will not turn a blind eye!” Wu Anping said with a faint smile, looking at Hong Tianxiang. ”If you police cannot enforce the law fairly, then our military is fully capable of taking over and doing something about it!”

Hong Tianxiang’s face changed dramatically as he said in a deep voice, ”Wu Anping, our judicial department is the law enforcement team, and the military is not allowed to intervene in local affairs. If you insist on interfering, I will file a complaint with the higher-ups!”

”Law enforcement team?” Wu Anping showed a face of disdain, spat, and said, ”This world was fought for by soldiers, what are you in comparison!”

Hong Tianxiang was furious, pointing at Wu Anping he said, ”Wu Anping, mind your language; you are insulting a national officer!”

Wu Anping raised an eyebrow and retorted, ”That’s just how I am. Back on the battlefield, I wielded a gun and killed no fewer than ten enemies with my own hands. In the military, facing so many superiors, no one has ever asked me to watch my language. What the hell are you!”

Hong Tianxiang was shaking with rage, too furious to speak. Wu Anping had always been this way, and he had made significant contributions on the battlefield. If it weren’t for his temper, he very likely would already be a municipal military department head. And now, still in the county, his temper hadn’t changed. But even when he insulted others, no one could do anything to him, after all, Wu Anping’s old superiors were now either local dignitaries or generals in the military region, all protecting him!

”In my whole life, the thing I despise the most is bastards like you who bully others by relying on their power and exploit the common people. Damn it, and you mention national officers to me? Pah!” Wu Anping waved his hand dismissively and ordered, ”Take him away! Damn it, send him straight to the military prison.”

Immediately, a few soldiers rushed forward and without a word, wrestled Hong Tianxiang to the ground.

”Wu Anping, you’ll regret arresting me!” Hong Tianxiang bellowed, ”Wu Anping, you’re colluding with criminals, deliberately shielding them. As long as I’m alive, I will complain about you to the superiors, I definitely will!”

”Do as you please!” Wu Anping didn’t even glance at him, turning his head to look at Wu Jianbing. The latter was so frightened that he shuddered, nearly collapsing on the spot. With his boss Hong Tianxiang being apprehended by Wu Anping, he was left with no capacity to resist at all.

Seeing Wu Jianbing in such a pathetic state, Wu Anping snorted mockingly, then turned to Wang Qian’an and said, ”Go, bring Ye Qing and the others down.”

”Yes!” replied Wang Qian’an. He turned and headed upstairs, and soon after, Ye Qing and his group were brought down.

Zhou Hongbin trembled with fear at the sight of the heavily armed situation downstairs and the normally domineering Wu Anping in the county.

Ye Qing, however, remained composed, walking straight up to Wu Anping and saluting him, he said, ”Thank you, Minister Wu!”