Urban Martial Saint

Before heading to the Northern Desert, Ye Qing first made a trip back to Jiuchuan County. With the New Year approaching, he initially planned to bring Huangfu Ziyu home to introduce her to his family. However, Huangfu Ziyu’s sudden disappearance completely disrupted his plan. Not only could he not bring Huangfu Ziyu home, but he also couldn’t spend the New Year at home himself.

Over the years, the New Year festivities have lost their former intensity. Especially in the South, in Shenchuan City, as the New Year approaches, life goes on as usual without much difference. In small places, however, like in Jiuchuan County, the New Year’s atmosphere is much more vibrant than in Shenchuan City, with the streets filled with the sounds of people haggling over various New Year goods.

To save time, Ye Qing did not notify his friends there but flew directly to the city and then took a bus back to the county. Although Ye Qing was quite famous in the South, in this small county, not many people actually knew him. So, walking on the street, no one recognized him.

Ye Qing took a taxi and headed straight home, but as the vehicle reached the village entrance, Ye Qing suddenly realized that the old village was no longer there, and it had now become a huge construction site.

”Young man, you haven’t been back in a while, have you?” the taxi driver said: ”This village was demolished a long time ago. The New District construction is underway. If your home is here, it might be hard to find.”

It was then that Ye Qing remembered that before he left, the construction had already started here. Moreover, his family had been settled nicely by Old Fifth Yang, and they were living somewhere else now. Yuan Xiaoyu had mentioned before that they had moved once, but Ye Qing hadn’t been back, so he naturally did not know where the family was living now.

Ye Qing immediately took out his phone and called Yuan Xiaoyu. As soon as the call connected, Ye Qing heard a thumping sound from the other end, suggesting that Yuan Xiaoyu seemed to be on a construction site. Isn’t she supposed to be a supervisor under Old Fifth Yang?

”Brother!” Yuan Xiaoyu’s excited voice came from the other end of the phone: ”Why are you calling?”

Initially, Ye Qing didn’t have a good relationship with Yuan Xiaoyu. However, as Ye Qing gradually improved his situation, his relationship with his stepmother’s two children also mended significantly. Moreover, what mattered most to Ye Qing was that his stepmother and these two children could take care of his father at home, and he didn’t think much about other matters.

”I’m back, but our home here has been demolished. Where is Dad living now?” Ye Qing said.

”You...you’re back?” Yuan Xiaoyu was even more excited. She had just said a sentence when a sound of a scuffle came from the other end. Before Ye Qing knew what was happening, Old Fifth Yang’s excited voice came through: ”Ye brother, you’re back, you’re back? Where? Where are you?”

This guy was even more excited than Yuan Xiaoyu. After all, his survival till now was entirely thanks to Ye Qing. Moreover, Ye Qing had helped him with many things afterwards, so he was very grateful to Ye Qing, completely treating him as his brother.

”I just got home, but I can’t find it now.” Hearing Old Fifth Yang’s voice, Ye Qing felt warm in his heart. Because he could tell, Old Fifth Yang indeed regarded him as a friend, instead of the cooperative and mutually beneficial relationship they had before.

Old Fifth Yang said urgently: ”You’re at your old home site, right? I’m just nearby. Stay there, and I’ll come to pick you up, don’t go anywhere!”

After saying this, Old Fifth Yang hung up the phone. Ye Qing shrugged helplessly. This time coming back, he didn’t plan to bother anyone, so he hadn’t intended to contact his friends here, just wanted to visit his father and family and then leave. Now that Old Fifth Yang knew, it seemed impossible for him not to get delayed this time.

”Young man, should we head back first?” The taxi driver watched Ye Qing and said: ”You won’t find anyone here, and it’s hard to catch a taxi here. How about I take you back? Also, this area isn’t very safe, and it might be a bit dangerous for you to stay here.”

”No need.” Ye Qing said with a smile: ”Thank you, sir, I have a friend coming to pick me up.”

”Oh, then I’ll be on my way.” The taxi driver nodded, just about to turn around and leave when suddenly a car rushed out from the side and hit the rear bumper of the taxi, almost wrecking it.

”Hey!” The taxi driver immediately jumped out of the car. Upon seeing the rear-end collision situation, he was stunned for a while before crying out, ”What... what happened?”

”What happened?” A few people got off from the car and surrounded the taxi driver, with the leader shouting loudly, ”What do you mean what happened? ******, didn’t I tell you? No vehicles are allowed near this New District, and you still dare to come here. Do you have a death wish?”

”I... I didn’t go in...” The taxi driver said anxiously: ”I know your rules, so I stopped outside, didn’t go in at all. Look, the village over there marks your boundary, this isn’t.”

”What ****** do you mean isn’t? I say you’ve crossed the line, and you’re not convinced, huh?” The leader shouted, reaching out to grab the driver by the collar.

Ye Qing happened to be standing nearby. Seeing these people about to get physical, he stepped forward and pulled the driver behind him.

”Gentlemen, let’s talk it over.” Ye Qing looked at them and said, ”No need to get physical, right?”

”Who the hell are you, thinking you can involve yourself in my business?” The leader glared at Ye Qing and suddenly swung a punch at him.

Ye Qing smiled calmly; this guy fought like a thug, completely sneak-attacking. But for Ye Qing, this was entirely useless. Ye Qing casually raised his hand, grabbed his wrist, twisted it forcefully, and the man bent over and fell to the ground, unable to stand.

”Ouch, ouch, ouch, hurts, hurts, let go... let go, or I’ll kill you...” The man shouted, but with Ye Qing’s grip on his wrist, he had no strength to resist.

”******, looking for trouble, huh?! ” The others immediately rushed forward, just about to surround Ye Qing. At this moment, five cars sped over from a distance, directly surrounding everyone on the scene.

”Ye brother!” Old Fifth Yang was the first to leap out of the car. Seeing the situation, he furrowed his brow instantly and said, ”Damn it, how did these bastards come over here? Go, take them apart for me!”

Old Fifth Yang’s men immediately charged over, surrounding those few people in the middle, and started beating them. Those few had no chance to resist, after all, Old Fifth Yang’s men greatly outnumbered them.

Old Fifth Yang completely ignored those people, excitedly patting Ye Qing on the shoulder, saying, ”When did you get back? Why didn’t you call and let me know so I could pick you up? You, why go through that extra trip?”

The driver nearby was so scared he was dumbfounded, thinking he was about to be beaten up. Unexpectedly, the situation quickly turned around like this. The taxi driver had seen Old Fifth Yang before, and naturally knew this man to be the richest boss in Jiuchuan County. Seeing him familiar with Ye Qing like this left the taxi driver dumbfounded as well. That this young man, dressed plainly, knew such a big boss like Old Fifth Yang?

”Just got back, mainly wanted to see my dad, then leave again. Not much time, so I didn’t want to bother you all.” Ye Qing smiled and said, looking at those being beaten, ”What’s going on?”

”Ah, it’s a long story, it’s all because of the New District construction.” Old Fifth Yang sighed and said, ”If I had known the New District construction was this troublesome, I wouldn’t have taken on this project in the first place. Now it’s all messed up, wanting to do it can’t do it, wanting to quit can’t quit, it’s like it’s stuck here.”

”The New District construction, is there still any issue now?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

”Of course, there are issues.” Old Fifth Yang shook his head helplessly and said, ”Alright, let’s not talk about it here. Since you rarely come back, go see your uncle first, we’ll talk more over lunch.”

Old Fifth Yang finished speaking and turned his gaze to the beaten men: ”******, the boundary is marked, what more do you want? Let me tell you, my patience is limited, if I find you crossing the line again, I’ll chop you up!”

The henchmen brought by Old Fifth Yang rushed over, surrounding those people, and began punching and kicking. Those few people didn’t have the slightest chance to resist, after all, Old Fifth Yang’s men outnumbered them many times over.

Old Fifth Yang paid no mind to these people, earnestly patting the taxi driver on the shoulder and said, ”Driver sir, let my men escort you back. I’m sorry about this time, it’s a bit my oversight. In the future, you come over as you please, as long as you don’t cross the line, you’re safe.”

”Oh, oh, oh, drive safely then.” The taxi driver nodded repeatedly. Just a while ago, he almost got beaten up; now he hadn’t been hit at all, and even got reimbursed by Old Fifth Yang for the car, so he suddenly became happy again.

Ye Qing also felt relieved seeing this. After all, for him, all the troubles along the way were just a little episode, and they passed by quickly. But he honestly didn’t expect these little brats to become so domineering in just a few months.

”Let’s go.” Old Fifth Yang smiled and patted Ye Qing on the shoulder: ”Let’s go home, go see Uncle, but let’s say upfront, I need a good drink at noon!”