Urban Martial Saint

The next morning, Ye Qing went directly to Lin Corporation to see Mu Qingrong and discussed the construction of the new district in Jiuchuan County with her.

Mu Qingrong is currently the general manager for external affairs at Lin Corporation, and is also the deputy president, wielding considerable power within the corporation. Moreover, she refers to Lin Huayu as her sister and has recognized Lin Zhen Nan as her adoptive father, giving her a significant influence over Lin Corporation. As long as she agrees to the project, there won’t be any issues.

Compared to when she managed a small company, Mu Qingrong is now much more competent. She possesses both ability and drive, the only thing she previously lacked was a platform and an opportunity.

In fact, she went from being a fresh graduate to starting a company in Shenchuan City solely through her own efforts. Even though the company’s development wasn’t great, it was already quite impressive. After all, she is a young woman without any background or connections in Shenchuan City, making progress was no easy task. Unfortunately, her previous platform was too small, making it impossible for her to fully showcase her abilities. Now, having reached the large platform of Lin Corporation, with Lin Zhen Nan’s absolute trust, she has been able to demonstrate her full potential.

In less than half a year at Lin Corporation, she has brought about significant changes to the company. Previously, Lin Corporation strictly followed Lin Zhen Nan’s path for development, but now, Mu Qingrong has effectively imprinted her own mark. With Lin Corporation’s substantial funds and strong background, coupled with her extraordinary capabilities, the company has started to expand its business nationwide, with Mu Qingrong being the catalyst for its further growth.

Mu Qingrong is very busy every day, and it is generally hard for ordinary people to see her. However, Ye Qing is not just anyone, and upon learning of his visit, Mu Qingrong immediately set aside her tasks to meet with him alone.

Knowing that Mu Qingrong was pressed for time, Ye Qing didn’t engage in much small talk and went straight into discussing the construction in the new district of Jiuchuan County. After hearing Ye Qing’s words, Mu Qingrong didn’t hesitate and immediately agreed to look into it. Although she had a great relationship with Ye Qing, she did not agree on the spot to take on the business. As she now managed Lin Corporation, entrusted by Lin Zhen Nan, she had to be well-informed about every project she undertook and couldn’t just agree to a project based on a few words from Ye Qing. Mu Qingrong is cautious; she wouldn’t act without her own investigation and risk assessment.

Ye Qing had no intention of making Mu Qingrong promise anything right away, as long as she agreed to evaluate the project, it was enough. If the new district construction could be profitable, Mu Qingrong would surely invest. Conversely, if it wasn’t profitable, Ye Qing wouldn’t want Lin Corporation to get involved either.

After discussing the matter with Mu Qingrong, Ye Qing didn’t linger at Lin Corporation and left after saying goodbye.

Watching Ye Qing leave, Mu Qingrong felt a sense of loss in her heart. However, she quickly shook her head, turned back to her desk, and busied herself again. At this moment, she only wanted to immerse herself in work to avoid thinking about anything else.

Back at Tian Sheng, with nothing to do, Ye Qing decided to go upstairs to watch Black Bear and Li Bing’en practice martial arts. The two stood face to face, leaning on the dummy, practicing a rather unique method. Since Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun could use this method to train Li Bing’en into a peak master, Li Bing’en could at least help Black Bear improve with this approach.

Ye Qing approached the wooden dummy, practicing Wing Chun Fist a few times and then took out the Seven-Star Ancient Sword to practice swordsmanship using a machine that shot out soybeans. In reality, the so-called swordsmanship was essentially about training one’s reaction speed and accuracy. The method employed by Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun was very effective, as Ye Qing could now skillfully split a flying soybean in half with the Seven-Star Ancient Sword, a feat that most people couldn’t achieve.

After practicing for a while, Ye Qing suddenly felt something was off, as if someone was watching him. Turning his head, Ye Qing saw that Li Bing’en had somehow appeared behind him, observing him practice with a silly grin as if greeting him.

Ye Qing’s heart skipped a beat. When had Li Bing’en come over? He hadn’t noticed at all. Just how strong was Li Bing’en?

”Bing’en, tired?” Ye Qing smiled and said, ”Go take a rest. In a few days, a great doctor will be coming back from abroad. I’ll take you to see him; he’ll surely be able to cure you!”

Li Bing’en smiled ambiguously but didn’t move downstairs. Instead, he pointed at the Seven-Star Ancient Sword in Ye Qing’s hand.

Ye Qing was slightly surprised, unsure of what Li Bing’en wanted. At that moment, Li Bing’en pointed at the Seven-Star Ancient Sword again, simultaneously extending a hand as if asking for something.

”Do you want this sword?” Ye Qing asked curiously, tentatively handing over the Seven-Star Ancient Sword, which Li Bing’en took without hesitation.

Ye Qing was even more surprised, watching Li Bing’en hold the Seven-Star Ancient Sword, feeling a bit worried. After all, with Li Bing’en’s mental issues, Ye Qing was concerned he might accidentally hurt himself with the sword.

However, Li Bing’en merely held the sword without waving it around. Instead, he gently caressed it as if experiencing something. Despite his outwardly cheerful expression, there was an unmistakable nostalgia in his eyes.

Observing this, Ye Qing was amazed. Had he not witnessed the incident with the Double-headed Snake, he might have been convinced Li Bing’en was just a fool. The snake incident confirmed that Li Bing’en was indeed simple-minded. Yet, how could someone like that be so attached to this sword?

Just as Ye Qing pondered this, Li Bing’en softly whispered, ”Grandpa…”

Ye Qing watched Li Bing’en, who held the Seven-Star Ancient Sword with a look of nostalgia, his eyes moist as he seemed to reminisce. Ye Qing’s heart skipped a beat and he deduced that Li Bing’en might be thinking of Third Master Li. Twenty years ago, when Third Master Li left the Li Family, Li Bing’en would have been around seven or eight years old. This Seven-Star Ancient Sword used to belong to Third Master Li, and during his childhood, Li Bing’en might have seen Third Master Li wield it and thus remembered it all these years. Even though he had become simple-minded, he retained those memories.

Seeing Li Bing’en like this, Ye Qing felt a pang of sorrow. Third Master Li, a hero for most of his life, ultimately met a tragic fate. Both of his sons died at the hands of their enemies, and his only grandson became simple-minded. It was a fate that no one could easily accept.

”Bing’en, I’ll definitely cure you!” Ye Qing approached, patting Li Bing’en on the shoulder and said firmly, ”No matter what, I won’t let Third Master’s lineage end!”

Li Bing’en looked up at Ye Qing, seeming to not fully comprehend, but then he chuckled again, raising the Seven-Star Ancient Sword in front of Ye Qing.

Ye Qing thought Li Bing’en was about to return the sword, reaching out to take it. Unexpectedly, when Ye Qing took hold of the sword, Li Bing’en didn’t let go. Instead, he tapped the blade a few times, for reasons unknown.

After the taps, the Seven-Star Ancient Sword emitted a solemn hum, the blade vibrating continuously. At that moment, Li Bing’en suddenly withdrew the sword into its scabbard. Simultaneously, he moved to a window, pointing the sword’s hilt towards the outside sun. Under the sunlight, an astonishing scene unfolded.

The hilt of the Seven-Star Ancient Sword contained seven gemstones arranged in a Seven-Star pattern, explaining the sword’s name. Under the sunlight, these gemstones refracted seven tiny human figures, projected onto the ground like a film.

Watching this, Ye Qing’s eyes widened in disbelief at the hidden secret of the Seven-Star Ancient Sword. Examining closely, these little figures, each wielding a sword, spun and leapt as if practicing a sword technique, appearing remarkably weird.

”What… what is this?” Ye Qing exclaimed, unaware of such a feature in the sword hilt.

Li Bing’en grinned, ”Grandpa… grandpa…”

Despite his fragmented speech, Ye Qing surmised that Third Master Li had likely demonstrated this before, which is why Li Bing’en remembered. Ye Qing couldn’t believe that such an astonishing secret was hidden within the gemstones of the Seven-Star Ancient Sword.

Hastily, Ye Qing took the sword and examined it closely. Under inspection, he noticed seven gemstones forming the Seven-Star pattern, capable of refracting light, but the fine streams within were opaque, casting a unique projection that illustrated a full sequence of motions, as if playing a complete sword technique.

Ye Qing was amazed once again. He had used the Seven-Star Ancient Sword for some time now, frequently practicing with it, but he had never discovered this hidden mechanism before.