Urban Martial Saint

Cui Yulong hadn’t gone far; instead, he went directly upstairs. The Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade was already unsheathed, and it needed blood before it could be sheathed again.

But since Cui Yu forbade him from killing the Netherworld Scholar, he had no choice but to go after the people upstairs. Fortunately, the nouveau riche and his little lover within the room were not good people, so Cui Yulong felt no pity for them at all.

Just as he entered the building, he heard the woman’s screams from afar. The cry was piercing, with an agonizing feel to it—he had no idea what had happened.

Cui Yulong frowned slightly and made his way to the second floor, only to see Ghost King Li Ruoyuan satisfyingly adjusting his clothes by the side. In the room, the woman was still naked, but her face was covered in blood, and her once handsome face was marred with several deep lacerations—her beautiful face was completely ruined.

Next to the woman, Demon Queen He Qinghua held a bloody dagger in her hand, the blood slowly trickling down the blade. Without saying a word, it was clear who had spoiled the woman’s face. He Qinghua wore a cold smirk; in her eyes, human life was utterly worthless!

”Old witch, if you ask me, you might as well have killed her straight away!” Li Ruoyuan commented nonchalantly. ”Ruining her face, her life is over. Why not just finish it?”

”Hmph, I don’t need your advice on what to do!” He Qinghua scoffed as she eyed the woman. ”I just want to see how she’s going to live without that face of hers!”

The woman kept screaming, the intense pain nearly making her forget everything else. Meanwhile, the nouveau riche still lay on the floor, petrified. He had never encountered someone like He Qinghua before!

Approaching, Cui Yulong lightly flicked his Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade and easily cut through the ropes binding the nouveau riche. However, the man didn’t dare stand up and knelt on the ground, pleading, ”Sirs… sirs, I… I didn’t see anything, I don’t know anything, please… please spare me…”

The three people in the room paid him no attention. He Qinghua looked at Cui Yulong with a mocking gaze, ”So, did that arrogant Netherworld Scholar stay or not? Hmph, he thinks he’s the foremost among the Seven Hidden of Sha Men, never taking anyone else seriously. I think that coming for him this time is a total waste!”

”That’s right!” Ghost King Li Ruoyuan chimed in discontentedly, ”Back then, he was chased by the Xihang Shen Family until there was no escape from heaven nor entrance on earth. Ten years have passed, and not only has he not thought of revenge, but it seems like he’s completely forgotten the incident. Such a person is completely devoid of any spirit and doesn’t deserve to be counted among our own!”

Cui Yulong remained silent, leisurely pouring himself a glass of red wine from the table and sipping it as if he hadn’t heard a word from He Qinghua and Li Ruoyuan.

The nouveau riche, seeing that he was being ignored, hesitated slightly and then took the chance to crawl stealthily downstairs. However, just as he reached the staircase, Cui Yulong suddenly turned his head; with a swift motion, his Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade decapitated the man, sending blood spraying all over Li Ruoyuan.

”Damn, what the hell are you doing!” Li Ruoyuan flew into a rage, scolding, ”At least give a warning before you chop someone, look how you’ve splattered me with blood.”

Observing coldly, He Qinghua turned to Cui Yulong, ”Cui Yulong, if you were going to kill him, why did you release him just now? What is this, a cat-and-mouse game you find amusing?”

After the Ink Pattern Black Gold Blade had tasted blood, Cui Yulong sheathed it back into the wooden box, cautiously sealing the opening before turning to address the man.

”I cut his ropes to give him a chance. If he was willing to stay with that woman through thick and thin, I would have spared his life,” Cui Yulong shook his head, stating, ”Unfortunately, he failed to do so. All he thought about was saving his own life. What use is there in keeping such a man?”

He Qinghua and Li Ruoyuan exchanged glances, with Li Ruoyuan snorting derisively, ”Hmph, pretty words, just an excuse so you can sheathe your blade. All this talk of loyalty is just nonsense!”

Without a word, Cui Yulong clutched the wooden box in his hands and walked out of the villa.

He Qinghua and Li Ruoyuan didn’t linger either and followed Cui Yulong outside. Downstairs, Cui Yu and the Netherworld Scholar stood by the flowerbed, apparently having made a decision.

He Qinghua and Li Ruoyuan were surprised that he had chosen to stay; however, they said nothing. After all, if the Netherworld Scholar returned, it would significantly bolster the strength of Sha Men, increasing their confidence against the Xihang Shen Family.

Tackling the Xihang Shen Family is a collective matter for Sha Men,” declared the Netherworld Scholar, ”but let me be clear! Once our business with the Shen Family concludes, I shall immediately seek Huangfu Ziyu. Any other affairs you wish to take up have absolutely nothing to do with me!”

”You really see yourself as something special, don’t you, thinking everyone wants to keep hold of you,” He Qinghua retorted, ”After the Shen Family matter’s over, of course, everyone will go their separate ways. You’d best go after Huangfu Ziyu. We still have our bet, after all. I’m curious to see how you intend to take down Huangfu Ziyu!”

The Netherworld Scholar arrogantly said, ”Rest assured, I will definitely make you willingly convinced of my abilities!”

”Really?” He Qinghua replied coldly with a smile, ”I do hope to see that day come, but I’m afraid I might never see it in my lifetime!”

Enraged, the Netherworld Scholar said, ”Old witch, you dare to doubt my skills?”

He Qinghua, unwilling to show weakness, wanted to retort, but Cui Yu hurriedly stepped in to mediate, ”Alright, alright, stop arguing, both of you. We’ll talk about future matters later. Right now, the most pressing issue is the conflict with the Shen Family. Our people from the Killing Gate haven’t all gathered yet. Among the Seven Hidden of the Killing Gate, there are only four of us here, and with Yu Long, that makes only five. It would be ideal to find the other three as well, only then would we stand a chance in the fight against the Shen Family!”

”The other three, I think we might as well forget about them!” the Netherworld Scholar said with a sneer, ”The Netherworld Taoist moves unpredictably, nobody can find him, let alone get in touch with him. You all know about Black Asura; he only works for money in this lifetime, he couldn’t care less about the affairs of the Killing Gate. As for Pig King, that waste, he’s practically a commoner now, he’s less capable with a knife than any junior we might pick at random!”

”I’ve made contact with the Netherworld Taoist, he should be able to make it. As for Pig King, I’ve tried to get in touch with him, but there has been no response, so it’s hard to say with him,” Cui Yu said gravely, ”However, Black Asura has already entered Eastern Province. And, he got into trouble!”

”What kind of trouble?” the Netherworld Scholar immediately inquired.

Cui Yu explained, ”He came to Eastern Province on a big contract, to kill someone. But for some reason, he crossed paths with people from the Chen Family at West Gate and got captured by the Xikou Fire Butterfly!”

”Impossible,” He Qinghua said, ”Black Asura’s strength is outstanding. He’s one of the stronger members among the Killing Gate Seven Hidden. The Xikou Fire Butterfly, that little girl, how could she be his match?”

Cui Yu said in a heavy tone, ”It is said that White Horse Chen San is also at West Gate.”

At these words, everyone’s expression changed, except for Cui Yulong. White Horse Chen San from Ludong had entered Eastern Province too? It seemed Eastern Province was really about to get lively!

”So what are you implying now?” Ghost King Li Ruoyuan asked with a frown, ”You’re not thinking about going to West Gate to negotiate with Fire Butterfly for his release, are you? If Black Asura has been captured, then he must have offended someone from the Chen Family. Fire Butterfly is a strong-willed woman, it’s uncertain if we could even get him back from her, and if we make an enemy of the Chen Family, it could be more trouble than it’s worth!”

When Ghost King Li Ruoyuan spoke of the Chen Family, his true concern was actually the Great General Helian Tiehua of Meng District behind them. He was the ultimate figure, a supreme existence that even the Killing Gate wouldn’t dare provoke!

”Regardless, we must talk to Fire Butterfly,” said Cui Yu, ”The Killing Gate Seven Hidden only have strength when united to battle the Shen Family. However, I think the Chen Family would also like to see us clash with the Shen Family. After all, as long as the Shen Family exists, they cannot hope to restore the former glory of the Chen Family in the Southern Six Provinces!”

Everyone was aware of the past events of the Chen Family and agreed with Cui Yu’s words. Without hesitation, they drove straight towards West Gate.

Ten minutes after they left, several police cars just arrived at the villa complex. They had no chance of catching anyone, arriving only in time to clean up the aftermath.

In Shenchuan City, Ye Qing rested for a night, fully recharging his energy. The next morning, Zhao Chengshuang came to tell him everything had been arranged, with both the place and time for the meal set.

To get things done as quickly as possible, Zhao Chengshuang set the meeting for noon at a rather luxurious restaurant in the city center. Li Lianshan had gone ahead and reserved the entire restaurant, anticipating that a confrontation was likely to happen—it was best not to involve innocents.

”Ye Zi, what’s your plan?” an excited Zhao Chengshuang asked while following Ye Qing, ”I’ve already discussed it with the city bureau. It’s better to endure short-term pain rather than long-term suffering. To settle this matter once and for all, the city bureau will fully support you in whatever you do this time. Of course, try not to go overboard, or I won’t be able to explain it away. It would be best to make an example by killing a few, to intimidate the rest into submission to you.”

Ye Qing didn’t respond, but walked to the door, watching the children playing in the yard. Those children brought from Tianhui City were being temporarily housed at his place. Thankfully, Li Lianshan had made arrangements in advance, renting several houses with large yards, which provided temporary shelter for the children. However, this was not a long-term solution; the orphanage must be built as soon as possible.

Of course, all of this depended on whether Ye Qing’s orphanage could obtain approval. If the province continued to refuse the establishment of his orphanage, there was nothing he could do!

Watching the children in the yard, after a long silence, Ye Qing suddenly asked, ”Chengshuang, do you think if there were no underworld, would people’s lives be better?”