Urban Martial Saint

Chen San lived in a villa in the suburbs of Shenchuan City, where the environment was extremely elegant and the land area was quite expansive. There were people guarding the villa around the clock, with exceptionally strict vigilance. After all, the battle between Chen San and Wang Tian’an this time was a fight to the death, and no one dared to be the least bit careless.

Upon receiving the news that Ye Qing was coming, Chen San sent Aomuhan away in advance. He knew Aomuhan’s character well; though he had been put in his place once and dared not to backstab Ye Qing again, his hatred for Ye Qing was undoubtedly growing deeper. If he was allowed to see Ye Qing at this time, it couldn’t be guaranteed that he wouldn’t say something embarrassing, which would not align with Chen San’s attitude towards Ye Qing.

Before Ye Qing arrived at Chen San’s villa, Chen San had already taken people to the villa’s entrance to wait for Ye Qing’s arrival. The recent events caused his attitude towards Ye Qing to change dramatically, and he had come to view Ye Qing as a friend worthy of respect.

Ye Qing arrived at the villa entrance in three cars, and Chen San greeted him together with his sister, Chen Si. After some pleasantries, they all entered Chen San’s villa together.

The interior design of Chen San’s villa was very classical, similar to the villa Chen Si had in West Gate. Stepping into the living room, one could see antiques everywhere. Although Ye Qing did not understand these artifacts, he could still feel that these items were anything but ordinary; each one was certainly valuable.

Chen San ordered tea to be served and sat down at the table with Ye Qing, smiling and saying, ”This villa is actually an inheritance left by the family. However, family members have rarely lived here, so it was spared in the chaos twenty years ago and remains to this day. Old Master Tie of Shenchuan City and my Chen Family are old acquaintances, and it was Old Master Tie who kept sending people to clean this villa for us, until seven years ago, when my younger sister entered Eastern Province, and Old Master Tie then returned this villa to our Chen Family. Speaking of which, Old Master Tie is truly a man of integrity. When the Chen Family was in trouble, some so-called friends couldn’t wait to beat us down, like kicking a dog when it’s down. How many were truly willing to help us?”

Listening to these words, Ye Qing couldn’t help but sigh softly as he thought of Tie Yongwen, Old Master Tie. Among the many people he had met in his life, the one who most impressed him was Tie Yongwen. Although Tie Yongwen’s strength was not the most prominent among these people, compared to the likes of the King of North-South Boxing, his power was insignificant. Even Old Master Tie’s strength was only about the same as that of Chen San and Wang Tian’an. Yet in Ye Qing’s heart, Tie Yongwen was the most heroic and righteous man he had ever met in his life.

”It’s just a pity, good people do not live long, while calamities last a thousand years!” Chen San also sighed languorously, looked at Ye Qing, and said, ”I’ve heard some things about the troubles Ye brothers have with Old Tie and the Ding Family. There’s something unpleasant but I, as your elder brother, still have to bring it up.”

”Please speak, Third Brother Chen!” Ye Qing said softly. He was quite surprised in his heart and didn’t know what Chen San suddenly wanted to say.

”Old Tie was killed by those from the Western Province, Wang Tian’an and Xu Cunxiao; we both know this fact. But Ye Brother, you should be very clear about who else was involved in that matter, right?” Chen San paused for a moment before continuing, ”I heard that someone from the Ding family, Ding Shaoyan, was also involved in this. Old Tie’s death, in fact, also had Ding Shaoyan playing dirty in the background. Yet, when you caught Ding Shaoyan before, you surprisingly didn’t kill him. Why is that?”

Ye Qing sighed and said, ”Third Brother Chen, no matter what, Ding Shaoyan is a member of the Ding Family. Having received favors from the Ding Family, if I had killed Ding Shaoyan like that, it really would have been inexcusable. Moreover, Old Master Tie had dedicated his whole life to protecting the people of the Ding Family. After his death, if I killed someone from the Ding Family, wouldn’t that be against Old Master Tie’s principles? Although I didn’t kill him, I did cripple him, which should be seen as an answer to Old Master Tie. The real culprits are Wang Tian’an and Xu Cunxiao; these are the ones who must die!”

”Although that’s what you say, I still think you are too merciful!” Chen San shook his head and said, ”You didn’t kill him, but you crippled him. Do you think he wouldn’t bear a grudge against you? Ye Brother, standing where you are now, dealing in these businesses, it’s inevitable to clash and dispute with others. Right now in Shenchuan City, you are unrivaled, and no one can contend with you, so these days everything has been going smoothly for you. But have you ever thought, if one day, your enemies unite against you, it would also be a significant force. When that time comes, have you considered how much loss you will suffer?”

Ye Qing slightly furrowed his brow. He knew Chen San was hinting at the time he had saved Wang Tian’an’s subordinates. To be honest, these matters had been worrying Chen San these days. After all, those were more than sixty martial artists; if Wang Tian’an got control over them again, it would be a great blow to them.

”Killing is not the only way to solve problems!” Ye Qing said, ”Some people don’t deserve death. Isn’t it too cruel to kill them?”

”In this society, what does it mean not to deserve death?” Chen San looked at Ye Qing and said, ”If Ding Shaoyan kept provoking you before, and you had killed him directly, would there have been so many subsequent issues? If Lin Yaqing constantly troubled you, and you had dealt with her once and for all, would she have been able to conspire and cause Old Master Tie’s death? I don’t understand what ’a crime that does not deserve death’ means, I only know that those who achieve great things must step over a path of countless bones. The throne of the victor is built from the bones of the defeated.”

Having said that, Chen San sighed again and said, ”Ye Brother, the business we are in does not allow for the slightest mercy. If you decide to cut the grass, you must eliminate the roots. You have to make clear to those who harbor hatred against you just how great the cost of provoking you is. Otherwise, they will believe that the price of harming you is low, and will try to deal with you. They may fail once or twice in their attempts, but what if they persist? Ye Brothers, even if they can’t kill you, what about those around you? If the people close to you get killed because of your mercy, is it worth it?”

Chen San’s words made Ye Qing also hesitate. Indeed, just as Chen San had said, if he hadn’t been too kind-hearted and soft in his approach, had he killed Ding Shaoyan and Lin Yaqing right then, Tie Yongwen might not have had to die. It was precisely because of his kindness and leniency that he left behind the scourges, Ding Shaoyan and Lin Yaqing, who not only killed Tie Yongwen but also bombed the orphanage. If it weren’t for the King of Explosives’s inability to bear killing those children, a grave mistake might have already been made!

Seeing Ye Qing’s expression, Chen San breathed a sigh of relief and said, ”Ye brothers, I speak to you as a friend, that’s why I tell you these things. You must remember, people who are your enemies, you need to let them know the price of being against you. Don’t leave it to the law to deal with them, these days, with money and power, the cost of committing a crime is just too low. But here in Meng District, very few people commit crimes. Because, my master has established his own laws, and the cost of breaking them is very high. That’s why my master can summon the support of a hundred thousand disciples with a single call in Meng District, which is no exaggeration.”

As Chen San spoke, he clapped his hands, and the door beside him opened, two men entered, carrying a sack that was dripping blood, clearly indicating that it contained a person.

The two men carried the sack in front of Ye Qing and set it down. Ye Qing looked at the sack with surprise, not knowing what it contained.

”Open it!” Chen San ordered.

The two men immediately bent down to open the sack and dragged out a young man covered in blood. The youth was soaked in blood, with no part of his body left intact, covered in filth as well. It was apparent that before the beating, the youth was probably just a beggar on the street.

”Ye brother, do you recognize him?” Chen San asked.

Ye Qing took a careful look, his expression suddenly changed, and he said solemnly, ”He… is he Ding Shaoyan?”

”That’s right, he is Ding Shaoyan!” Chen San nodded and looked at Ye Qing, saying, ”After Elder Master Ding passed away, the Ding Family has basically completely fallen apart. Many of the Ding’s family members in power have been brought down by various means. Ding Shaoyan’s father and aunt and others have all been locked up. The people of the Ding family have decided that it was Ding Shaoyan who brought ruin to the entire family, so they kicked him out of the Ding family long ago. He’s been begging on the streets this whole time!”

Looking at Ding Shaoyan’s filthy appearance, Ye Qing felt little sympathy. Back when Ding Shaoyan was the young master of the Ding Family, he was utterly arrogant. Now fallen to such a state, it was entirely the result of his own doing. If he had not conspired with outsiders to kill Tie Yongwen, which lead to Elder Master Ding dying from rage, would the Ding Family have ended up like this? He was still that same young master of the Ding Family, so how could he have fallen so low? Thus, it is said, a single thought can lead to Heaven or Hell; all consequences are self-inflicted!

”Third Brother Chen, what is this…” Ye Qing looked at Ding Shaoyan, then at Chen San, and said, ”Why have you brought him back?”

”Originally, Ding Shaoyan’s limbs were all crippled, and he could only beg on the streets, so I didn’t want to kick a man while he was down. But do you know what he’s been up to these past few days?” Chen San said.

”What has he done?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

”These past two days, he has actually crawled over to Wang Tian’an’s side, found one of Wang Tian’an’s underlings.” Chen San looked at Ding Shaoyan, saying, ”He told that underling of Wang Tian’an’s that you have another brother in Western Province. If Wang Tian’an’s people can find your brother, they would be able to threaten you.”

”What?!” Ye Qing’s face changed dramatically, and he looked at Ding Shaoyan furiously. He could not believe that Ding Shaoyan, having fallen to such lows, was still thinking about doing harm. Moreover, Ding Shaoyan was resorting to such despicable means, actually wanting Western Province’s people to target his brother. If his brother, Ye Jun, really fell into the hands of those people in Western Province, what would become of him?

(Recommended by a friend’s book ”Undying Mad God,” if you’re interested you can check it out.)