Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing had also heard of the story of Patriarch Bodhidharma crossing the Yangtze River with a reed. It is said that at that time, Bodhidharma was being pursued by the Emperor’s men and, upon reaching the Yangtze River without a ferry, he broke off a reed and crossed the river with it, just as those behind were closing in.

Ye Qing had always listened to these tales as legends, never taking them seriously. But now, with Shen Tianjun recounting the event, it seemed more likely than not to be true. Crossing the River with a Reed—just how profound must Bodhidharma’s Qinggong have been to achieve such a feat?

”Really, can a single reed enable one to cross a river?” Ye Qing couldn’t help but ask.

”I don’t know,” replied Shen Tianjun. ”In any case, none of the people I’ve seen could achieve it.”

By saying this, Shen Tianjun was telling Ye Qing that even the strength of the Five Unmatches of the World was insufficient for such a feat. Not even that old fellow Shijia or Divine Doctor An Shiping could manage it. If Bodhidharma could truly do it, wouldn’t his martial arts be above these individuals?

Ye Qing was deeply shaken, having already been stunned by the prowess of Helian Tiehua and Prince Nalan. To think there was someone with martial arts far beyond them—it was astounding! Was the potential of the human body truly so vast?

”It’s a pity that the martial arts system created by Patriarch Bodhidharma was lost after he departed. As far as I know, Helian Tiehua’s move A Stone’s Throw Away should be the first move from this martial arts system,” Shen Tianjun said. ”However, the power of this A Stone’s Throw Away is indeed considerable. If he decided to use it, few could evade it!”

Ye Qing glanced at Shen Tianjun, uncertain if Shen Tianjun could evade Helian Tiehua’s move. If even Shen Tianjun couldn’t evade it, then Helian Tiehua must surely be the foremost among the Five Uniques. No wonder so many praised Helian Tiehua as a martial arts prodigy of the highest acme, being the youngest among the Five Uniques yet perhaps the most powerful. Such is innate talent!

”It’s about time,” Shen Tianjun said. ”Ye Qing, having come all this way, I assume you haven’t eaten yet. Let’s have a simple meal here first.”

”Alright.” Ye Qing nodded, hesitating slightly as he quietly asked, ”Uncle Shen, how is Qingyi... How is Qingyi doing now?”

Since arriving, Ye Qing had always wanted to ask this question but had not dared to. In truth, he was still deeply concerned about Shen Qingyi. However, he dared not become too entangled with her, knowing he could not offer her a future.

Shen Tianjun sighed lightly and said, ”Qingyi’s health hasn’t been well lately. She’s been resting at home. But she’s fine, so you don’t need to worry.”

”What’s wrong with her?” Ye Qing asked hastily. Shen Qingyi had a severe illness early on, which was very dangerous. The Shen Family had devoted most of their Ziyu Chenxiang Pills to her. With so many Ziyu Chenxiang Pills in hand, Shen Qingyi should generally be in good health. But if she’s feeling unwell, it wouldn’t be a minor issue.

Shen Tianjun said, ”It’s nothing serious, perhaps just due to her depressed mood, so she’s been a little unwell these past few days. A few days of rest will see her well again.”

Though Shen Tianjun said this, Ye Qing was still filled with worry. Hearing that Shen Qingyi was unwell caused his heart to hang with concern, regardless of Shen Tianjun’s assurances.

Shen Tianjun arranged for Ye Qing to stay in a room, while he went to discuss matters concerning Medicine King Mountain with the Old Madam. Left alone in the room, Ye Qing couldn’t sit still. After hearing about Shen Qingyi’s poor health, an inexplicable impulse stirred within him, urging him to see her. Seeing her from afar, even for a moment, would suffice.

After sitting for ten minutes or so, Ye Qing could not hold back any longer and rose to leave the room. Before lunch, he decided to secretly check on Shen Qingyi, even if just a glance, to confirm she was truly all right.

Ye Qing was very familiar with the layout of the Shen Family Manor, having lived there for a considerable time. So, he easily avoided the Shen Family guards and made his way to the exterior of Shen Qingyi’s separate courtyard. Seeing no one around, Ye Qing vaulted over the courtyard wall, quietly landing behind a rockery.

Shen Qingyi’s separate courtyard was the quietest part of the Shen Family, and the family seldom disturbed her there. Only Shen Qingyi and her maid lived there, so few people were around, and Ye Qing’s entrance went unnoticed.

The courtyard was empty, and Ye Qing silently approached Shen Qingyi’s room. The door was ajar, just enough for Ye Qing to clearly see inside.

There was only one person in the room—Shen Qingyi. At that moment, she was kneeling before the Guanyin statue, praying fervently with closed eyes: ”Great Compassionate Guanshiyin Bodhisattva, please bless Brother Ye, bless Sister Ziyu, so that Brother Ye can find Sister Ziyu soon, and they can be together happily.”

Shen Qingyi’s voice wasn’t loud, but Ye Qing standing there could hear it clearly. Shen Qingyi repeated a few sentences over and over again, kneeling on the ground praying, not even knowing how long she had been kneeling there.

Ye Qing’s eyes were slightly red, and he felt as if something was blocking his heart, giving him an indescribable sense of sorrow. Looking at Shen Qingyi’s thin figure, Ye Qing really wanted to go over and hold her in his arms, never letting go. However, he couldn’t do so. In this lifetime, if he was to take responsibility for one woman, he would have to betray another. This was his most difficult and helpless choice in life.

Just as Ye Qing felt distressed, he heard the sound of footsteps in the distance. Ye Qing quickly moved away from the door and hid behind the rockery.

Soon, Shen Qingyi’s maid came out of the kitchen holding a bowl. Though Ye Qing was quite far away, he could still smell the pungent scent of medicine, indicating the bowl contained a concoction.

The maid, holding the bowl, reached the door and said while pushing it open: ”Miss, it’s time to take your medicine. Miss, you... why are you up again? Didn’t Grandfather say that you should stay in bed because of your health? How can you be so disobedient?”

”I’m fine, I’m fine,” Shen Qingyi said softly. ”I’ve been lying in bed for too long, I just wanted to get up and move around a bit. Don’t tell Grandfather, I don’t want to worry him.”

”I won’t tell Grandfather, but you need to listen,” the maid said anxiously. ”Miss, your illness doesn’t allow for too much exertion. It’s important to rest, we still don’t know the outcome. Yet you defy instructions daily, get out of bed, and kneel here—it’s harmful to your health. Besides, you’re always praying for others. Don’t you care about your own condition? Miss, your illness...”

At this point, the maid began to choke up, appearing quite distressed.

Ye Qing’s heart sank. Hearing the maid’s tone, Shen Qingyi’s illness seemed quite serious. But what exactly was Shen Qingyi suffering from that even Shen Tianjun couldn’t cure?

”I’m really fine, don’t worry about me,” Shen Qingyi gently comforted her. ”Don’t cry, look, I’m alright, I’ve gotten much better these last few days, I can walk now...”

Suddenly, there was a thud from inside, followed by the maid’s exclamation, as if Shen Qingyi had fallen.

Ye Qing’s heart skipped a beat, and he rushed out from behind the rockery, wanting to go in and check on Shen Qingyi. But just as he reached the doorway, he suddenly stopped. Shen Qingyi’s current state was entirely because of him. Going in might hurt Shen Qingyi’s heart again; this was not something Ye Qing wanted to do.

Though he desperately wanted to see how Shen Qingyi was doing, Ye Qing ultimately held himself back with great effort. Taking that step was easy, but the consequences it would bring were not so easily settled. So Ye Qing painfully retreated back behind the rockery.

There was quite a commotion inside, and after a while, the maid’s voice came again: ”Miss, you... you mustn’t do this again, it’s really too dangerous. Grandfather said that your body’s ability to produce blood has already begun to weaken, so you really can’t just leave the bed anymore. Even just resting in bed, there’s worry you might not get enough rest, so how can you get out of bed?”

Outside, Ye Qing was stunned. What kind of illness did Shen Qingyi have that her ability to produce blood started to weaken? Although Ye Qing didn’t know much about medicine, he understood the critical importance of blood to a person.

”I’m... I’m fine, see, I’m alright,” Shen Qingyi’s reassuring voice came from inside: ”Don’t worry about me... Don’t tell Grandfather and Grandmother, I don’t want them to worry.”

”Even if you don’t tell them, as long as your illness isn’t cured, they can’t help but worry!” the maid said. ”Miss, take care of your health so that Grandfather and Grandmother can worry less about you.”

”Hehe...” Shen Qingyi gave a bitter laugh and said: ”Even if I take care of my illness, what’s the use? Sooner or later, I’ll die. I just hope that before I die, I can see Ye and Ms. Ziyu together happily; then I can be content.”

Hearing these words, Ye Qing’s heart felt like it was being torn apart; he had never experienced such heartache. This woman cared far too much for him. She was no different from Huangfu Ziyu; what she gave for Ye Qing was something he could never repay.

”Miss, don’t say that,” the maid said. ”Grandfather said that there are only three ingredients missing for your medicine. Once those three ingredients are gathered, the medicine to cure your illness can be completed.”