Urban Martial Saint

Although Li Lianshan’s plan sounded simple, in practice, it was not so easy to execute.

Because after Li Wenyuan and Shangguan Tian were gone, the Tianqing Gang and Fu Bang became fragmented. Those with power within the gangs naturally divided up the former territories and spots, each occupying their own turf. If Li Lianshan wanted to snatch their turf, conflict with them was inevitable, and fighting was bound to happen. In other words, for the next while, Shenchuan City would enter a chaotic period.

Only when Li Lianshan had seized all the territories and completely unified Shenchuan City’s underground forces would this chaotic period end. However, after that, Shenchuan City would enter a very peaceful period. After great chaos, there always comes a time of tranquility—this is an eternal truth!

After hearing Li Lianshan’s words, Ye Qing nodded and said, ”Your plan sounds good, how do you plan to implement it?”

”Do you even have to ask?” Li Lianshan smiled and said, ”The most critical spots for the Tianqing Gang and Fu Bang are the Qingfeng Club and Nine Heavens. As long as I take these two places first, then I would already be holding their lifelines. Then, bringing them under our banner will just be a matter of time!”

Ye Qing fell silent for a while, then shook his head and said, ”I think this is somewhat inappropriate.”

”Inappropriate? Why?” Li Lianshan asked, puzzled.

”There’s a saying, ’A man is not guilty, but possession of a valuable jade makes him so’!” Ye Qing looked at Li Lianshan and said, ”Li Wenyuan is dead, Shangguan Tian has gone mad. Their subordinates definitely want to come out and be the gang leader. At such a time, what do you think they will fight over first?”

”The position of the gang leader?” Li Lianshan said.

”Wrong!” Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”First, they will fight over the Qingfeng Club and Nine Heavens. Just as you said, these two places are the lifelines of the two gangs. You know this, and those within the gangs know it even better. Those who want to be gang leaders must control the gang’s lifelines to have the power to be the leader!”

”Exactly, that’s what I mean!” Li Lianshan said. ”So, that’s why I wanted to take these two places first, to control their lifelines. Wouldn’t I be sure to win then?”

Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”If you take these two places, there’s only one outcome—you’ll attract the people from Tianqing Gang and Fu Bang to deal with you and try to take these two places from your hands. By that time, facing so many of their people banding together against you, I’m afraid we won’t have enough manpower.”

Li Lianshan frowned and said, ”Is it that bad? With Li Wenyuan dead and Shangguan Tian mad, can these people still join hands?”

”What won’t people do for profit?” Ye Qing said. ”They all want Qingfeng Club and Nine Heavens; that’s the basis for their alliance. However, if you don’t snatch these two places first, the situation will be completely different. Members of both gangs will want to seize these two places, and they will end up fighting amongst themselves. We just need to sit back and watch the tigers fight, wait for them to be almost done, and then reap the benefits like the fisherman. Isn’t that much better?”

Li Lianshan was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped Ye Qing’s shoulder and said, ”Damn, Ye Zi, your method is really good! It even saves us from direct conflict with these people, so freaking brilliant. Lucky I asked you first; otherwise, if I had gone to snatch those two places first, wouldn’t I have become the big sucker?!”

Ye Qing smiled and said, ”There’s an ancient legend: when the qin lost its deer, the world chased after it. But the strongest one who came out first did not become the emperor. Instead, it was the later arrival, Liu Bang, who—despite being weaker—never expressed his desire to fight for the realm. Yet, he gained the most from others’ struggles, becoming the eventual emperor. That’s the principle!”

”What’s this about a qin losing its deer?” Li Lianshan scratched his head and said, ”Damn, don’t talk to me about history. I even bought my elementary school certificate!”

”It’s just the principle I’m explaining to you; as long as you understand what I mean, that’s fine. ’The gun shoots the bird that sticks its head out,’ this saying makes sense.” Ye Qing smiled and said, ”But then again, you should consider reading more. You’re a big brother now, and if others learn that even your elementary school certificate was bought, won’t those under you follow your example?”

”That can’t happen!” Li Lianshan waved his hand and said, ”I’ve decided, from now on, I’ll recruit a group of highly educated talents. The thugs I hire must have at least a master’s degree. And for my driver, without a doctoral degree, they won’t even be allowed to apply. How does that sound?”

Ye Qing curled his lips and didn’t even glance at him, turning around to go have breakfast with Du Tianyi. This guy, taking things too far, recruiting a graduate student as a hired fighter, how could that even work? Take off his glasses, and he probably couldn’t even see the person in front of him, fighting blindly?

After breakfast, Zhao Chengshuang called Ye Qing to inform him that the issue with the cassette had been resolved. Both the Xingyi School and Ding Family now knew who was really responsible for the death of Tie Yongwen and that they had wronged Ye Qing. They told Ye Qing and Du Tianyi to hurry to the Xingyi Martial Arts School, as they were preparing a public trial for Ding Shaoyan.

Ye Qing and Du Tianyi had been waiting for this moment, so upon receiving the news, they immediately drove to the Xingyi Martial Arts School.

There were quite a few cars parked outside the Xingyi Martial Arts School, suggesting that many from the Ding Family had come. Ye Qing and Du Tianyi alighted from their vehicle and entered, where they were met by numerous Xingyi School members, who did not stop them. However, the looks in their eyes were clearly awkward. After all, these were the same people who had previously pursued Ye Qing, and many had even exchanged blows with Ye Qing and Du Tianyi.

Inside the hall of the Xingyi Martial Arts School, Ye Qing and Du Tianyi saw that quite a number of people were seated. The Ding Family members took up more than half of them, while the rest were from the Xingyi School.

Tie Weihua, dressed in mourning attire, sat in the seat formerly occupied by Tie Yongwen. Next to him was the current Ding Family Head, Ding Chang’an.

Ding Chang’an also wore mourning attire because on the table inside the hall were displayed the portraits of Tie Yongwen and Elder Master Ding. Placed a little to the side of Tie Yongwen’s portrait was another portrait, that of Xingyi School’s senior brother, Gao Shusen.

The sight of the portraits of Tie Yongwen and Gao Shusen filled Ye Qing’s eyes with an instant redness, reminding him of the care and attention they had shown him after his arrival in Shenchuan City. He could have never imagined that they would fall to such schemes. Heroes of a lifetime meeting such a disgraceful end was too hard to accept!

As Ye Qing and Du Tianyi walked into the hall, their presence stirred up some commotion among those inside. The members of the Xingyi School looked at them with mostly awkward expressions. The faces of the people from the Ding Family were more complex, with a mix of anger and embarrassment. It seemed that many in the Ding Family still harbored unresolved grudges against Ye Qing.

Upon seeing the two enter, Tie Weihua did not speak and merely looked troubled. Fortunately, some from the Xingyi School came forward, guided Ye Qing and Du Tianyi to offer incense to the departed, and then sat down beside them.

A full hour passed with more people arriving, mostly from the Ding Family and the Xingyi School. Ye Qing noticed Ding Shaoyan’s father, Ding Changyuan, and his aunt, Ding Xiangyun, had also arrived. Both looked at Ye Qing with unfriendly eyes, as if they were particularly angered by the exposure of the truth.

It was no wonder; Ding Changyuan was Ding Shaoyan’s father, and he certainly did not wish to see his son dead. Ding Xiangyun, who had watched Ding Shaoyan grow up since he was a child, shared Ding Changyuan’s sentiments. However, they had not considered at all the kind of wrong Ding Shaoyan had committed. Conspiring with others to kill Tie Yongwen and causing Elder Master Ding’s indirect death was a crime punishable by death itself!

Once everyone had arrived, Ding Chang’an stood up and said loudly, ”Now that everyone is here, I’ll cut to the chase. I’ve called you all here today primarily for a very important matter that we need to discuss. But before we move on to that, let’s all listen to a recording first!”

Ding Chang’an gestured, and someone promptly turned on the player. Amidst rustling noises, the content of the cassette slowly began to play.

Some of the attendees had just returned from out of town and were clueless about the recent events. Upon hearing the cassette’s content, many whispered to each other in surprise, questioning if that wasn’t Ding Shaoyan’s voice they were hearing.

Many Ding Family members present showed ashen faces—these were the ones who had heard the cassette before. Especially Ding Changyuan and Ding Xiangyun, their expressions could not look uglier. Every sentence of the dialogue between Ding Shaoyan and that man was like a slap to their faces. Yet, instead of reflecting on Ding Shaoyan’s wrongdoings, they secretly resented Ye Qing because he was the one who had revealed the cassette!

The reactions of the Xingyi School members were more intense. After listening to the cassette, most clamored to kill Ding Shaoyan in revenge for Tie Yongwen and Gao Shusen’s deaths. Such outcries only intensified the discomfort on Ding Changyuan’s and Ding Xiangyun’s faces.

Ding Chang’an got to his feet and motioned with his hands, finally quieting the crowd. He looked around at everyone and said gravely, ”In the past few days, our Ding Family and the Xingyi School have suffered misfortunes. Elder Master Tie and Senior Brother Gao were murdered, and Elder Master succumbed to his wrath. It was the darkest time for both our Ding Family and the Xingyi School, as well as our greatest sorrow. Seeking revenge for Elder Master Tie and Senior Brother Gao has always been the top priority for the Ding Family and the brethren of the Xingyi School. However, from beginning to end, we have targeted the wrong person and misunderstood an innocent man. Today, the first reason I’ve gathered everyone here is to clarify this matter!”

Ding Chang’an continued, looking at Ye Qing, who sat on the Xingyi School’s side, and said, ”The deaths of Elder Master Tie and Senior Brother Gao have nothing to do with Ye Qing. He too was framed and is a victim. So, I hope that starting today, our people from the Ding Family and the Xingyi School will no longer see Ye Qing as an enemy, and will stop troubling him!”