Urban Martial Saint

In Shenchuan City, Ye Qing wasn’t sleeping either. He had just gotten a phone call from Black Bear. Black Bear and his group had already rushed to Tianhui City, to the town where Ding San was staying, and were now searching for him everywhere. Moreover, Black Bear told Ye Qing about all the people Ding San had killed.

”Still one step too late!” Ye Qing sighed. He originally intended to save Ding San before he started killing. But now that Ding San had killed so many people, resolving this issue would no longer be easy.

”Ding San is probably looking for Wu Tiande now. Captain, what should we do?” Black Bear asked. ”Should we still try to save him?”

”Looking for Wu Tiande?” Ye Qing frowned and said, ”This whole thing has already blown up. If he’s heading to Wu Tiande now, isn’t that courting death? You think Wu Tiande wouldn’t be prepared?”

”So… so should we try to save him or not?” Black Bear pressed.

Ye Qing fell silent for a moment and then gritted his teeth. ”Let’s save him first. We’ll figure the rest out later!”

”What the hell, Ye Zi—you’ve gone mad!” Zhao Chengshuang, sitting nearby, stared at him. ”He’s killed thirteen people, for God’s sake. He’s practically a serial killer now, a top-level fugitive wherever he goes. And you’re still thinking about saving him? The Huang Family is already looking for trouble with you. You’re just inviting more disaster onto yourself!”

”I know what I’m doing!” Ye Qing set down the phone, sat slowly onto the sofa, leaned back in silence for a while, then suddenly opened his eyes and asked, ”By the way, where’s Eighth Master been these past two days? I haven’t seen him at all!”

Zhao Chengshuang shrugged. ”No idea. He called me yesterday morning and asked if the city was still after him. I told him they always were, and then he just hung up.”

”He borrowed money from me yesterday,” Li Lianshan said quietly. ”Said it was for getting out of town. What kind of mess has Old Eight gotten himself into now? Did he swindle someone important? Running off at the first hint of dawn?”

”It’s not even a big deal. No one’s even filed a report!” Zhao Chengshuang remarked. ”The warrants on him at the station are all minor offenses—not serious enough for him to flee like this!”

Ye Qing was speechless. He had only meant to scare Old Wang Ba a bit before; he didn’t expect the old man to take it so seriously and run off immediately. Well, at least now things might be quieter for a few days.

”But seriously, what happened?” Li Lianshan asked, even more puzzled. ”Did he mess with someone he shouldn’t have? Ye Zi, doesn’t he stay at your place? You don’t know anything about it? If it’s something serious, tell us—we’ll help sort it out. Running all the time isn’t a solution!”

”You’ve got a point,” Zhao Chengshuang said with a nod. ”We’re here in Shenchuan City; what could be so bad?”

Ye Qing felt awkward and waved it off. ”Alright, you two, just don’t worry about him. That old guy probably made up an excuse for some money and went traveling. Besides, wherever he goes, it’s the locals who’ll suffer—when has that old man ever taken a loss?”

Zhao Chengshuang and Li Lianshan exchanged a look and, for once, both nodded at the same time. What Ye Qing said was absolutely true. When had Old Wang Ba ever taken a loss?

Meanwhile, at the foot of a mountain on the outskirts of Tianhui City, Old Wang Ba was sitting with a grimy, filthy monk. If Ye Qing were to see this, he’d surely be shocked—because he’d met this Dirty Monk before. Who would’ve thought Old Wang Ba knew him too?

Old Wang Ba suddenly sneezed twice, rubbed his nose, and carefully adjusted his middle-parted hairstyle, muttering, ”Damn it, which little bastard is badmouthing Eighth Master behind his back again!”

The Dirty Monk sat cross-legged nearby, hands in a prayer gesture, eyes shut as if in meditative trance. This calm demeanor was entirely at odds with his previously eccentric, unhinged behavior. Hearing Old Wang Ba’s grumbles, he didn’t open his eyes, merely murmured, ”If you have a clear conscience, who would speak ill of you behind your back?”

”What’s that supposed to mean?” Old Wang Ba was immediately offended. Glaring at the Dirty Monk, he said, ”Old man, don’t think just because you’ve got a few years on me that you can preach to me. Buddha and Dao don’t mix—in front of Eighth Master, your Buddhist credentials mean nothing. Piss me off, and I’ll leave right now. You’ll be stuck finding that Undying Old Demon on your own!”

The Dirty Monk seemed taken aback by those words and didn’t dare say more. After a long silence, though, he spoke again: ”He might already be nearby. Speaking about him like this could be risky. Others may give you face, but he won’t!”

Hearing this, Old Wang Ba suddenly turned much more cautious, and chuckled nervously. ”It’s fine, fine—he hasn’t even arrived yet. But don’t say I didn’t warn you—this time, you still won’t catch him!”

The Dirty Monk responded, ”Every cause has its effect. Sow the seed today, and you’ll reap the result tomorrow. Without today’s cause, how could there be tomorrow’s consequence?”

”Speak plainly!” Old Wang Ba snapped. ”I’m a man of the Dao—I can’t decipher this Buddhist gibberish. Say something I can actually understand!”

The Dirty Monk finally opened his eyes and stared at Old Wang Ba for a while, exasperated. ”I can’t communicate with you!”

”Can’t communicate, huh? Then why did you seek me out, Eighth Master?” Old Wang Ba sneered. ”Admit it—you’re relying on my skill, my Iron Mouth Fortune-Telling. I’m not bragging, but without me, you’d never catch that Bloody Monk in this lifetime!”

If the people of Sha Men heard this, they’d be utterly stunned. The Dirty Monk and Old Wang Ba were here, waiting for the Bloody Monk? After so many years of his disappearance, most thought he was gone for good. Was he actually preparing to reappear?

The Dirty Monk was silent for a moment before saying, ”He was born with Wisdom Root and possesses Buddha Nature. He will ultimately become a great monk. Even if I can’t find him, when the time is right, he’ll naturally lay down his blade and attain enlightenment.”

Old Wang Ba scoffed. ”Bah, I don’t buy into any of your Buddhist ’Buddha Nature’ or ’Wisdom Root.’ Like I said, different paths—no common ground. Buddhists pursue the next life; we Taoists focus on the present. Forget that ’Buddha Nature’ nonsense—my life is in my own hands!”

The Dirty Monk shook his head. ”You misunderstand. Buddhism doesn’t focus on the next life—it seeks liberation. The world is full of suffering, like an endless sea of misery. Only by turning back can one reach the shore. Liberation is the escape from this sea of pain.”

Old Wang Ba laughed. ”Oh please, the way I see it, the mortal world is wonderful—full of beauty and indulgence. It’s a paradise!”

”Then why don’t you enjoy it?” The Dirty Monk looked him over. ”With your ability, you could have all the wealth and pleasure under the heavens. So why are you still so busy?”

”I… I’m repaying a debt of gratitude!” Old Wang Ba replied. ”Bah, why am I even telling you this? You wouldn’t understand. The principle of repaying kindness tenfold is what Eighth Master lives by!”

”Gratitude and grievance bind you to this sea of suffering. Only when you can rise above these entanglements will you truly find liberation!” The Dirty Monk paused. ”That is the path of Buddhist freedom.”

”That’s just total nonsense,” Old Wang Ba huffed.

The Dirty Monk was about to retort when his eyebrows suddenly furrowed, and he turned to look into the darkness nearby.

”On that, you and I think alike!” From the shadows came a chilling voice, sharp enough to send shivers down one’s spine. Just the sound of it conjured an image so terrifying, the person behind it seemed monstrous even before stepping out.

Old Wang Ba immediately took a step back, on high alert as he stared into the darkness.

It was a full moon overhead, the moonlight blanketing the entire valley, illuminating everything down to the smallest detail. Yet, the area from which the voice emanated remained shrouded in darkness. It was as if the person there was the embodiment of shadow, repelling even the moonlight itself.

Seeing this, the Dirty Monk sighed faintly. ”Seems you’ve found what he left behind.”

”What did he leave?” Old Wang Ba asked quietly.

The Dirty Monk explained, ”During the chaos of the Five Barbarians, there was once a frail scholar in Huaxia who, after losing his family and falling into utter despair, wandered into the Death Gate by chance.”

”Huh?” Old Wang Ba’s eyes widened. ”How did he end up in the Death Gate? Isn’t it said that entering the Death Gate is nine deaths and one life? Even if someone miraculously survives, they’d come out a monster. Whatever they’d gain there wouldn’t compare to what they’d find in the Gate of Life. The Death Gate is right across from the Gate of Life—why would anyone choose it?”

The Dirty Monk sighed. ”Maybe the circumstances were chaotic, or maybe he didn’t recognize the difference between the two gates. In any case, he stumbled into the Death Gate and learned an extraordinary Secret Technique there, becoming the greatest master of his time.”

”What kind of good fortune is that?” Old Wang Ba remarked. ”I thought entering the Death Gate was a death sentence. Not only did this guy survive, but he became the top expert? Sounds like the Death Gate isn’t so bad after all!”

”It isn’t like that!” The Dirty Monk shook his head. ”Though he became the top expert, he also turned into a bloodthirsty maniac. It’s said that during his life, he killed no fewer than ten thousand people, maybe as many as eight thousand, killing practically every day. He’s deemed the most infamous murderer in Huaxia’s history!”

”You’re talking about *him*!” Old Wang Ba suddenly realized. ”I’ve heard of him, but I didn’t know he’d been through the Death Gate. Though, I do know that before he died, he left behind the Secret Technique he learned in the gate…”

At this, Old Wang Ba’s expression changed drastically. He spun to face the darkness, trembling. ”You… you… did you find that killer’s Secret Technique?”

”Hahahaha…” Chilling laughter erupted from the shadows, as if it were laced with icy needles. A voice rang out, ”My dear senior, your eyes are sharp—you saw right through me at a glance. Indeed, I’ve acquired the treasures he left behind!”