Urban Martial Saint

After resting for the morning, in the afternoon, Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu left Humeng City.

They didn’t head directly to Beimang Mountain, but first took a flight to Bei Wu City, because there is a large underground antique trading point there, attracting seventy percent of tomb robbers nationwide to sell their loot. Therefore, many famed instruments often appear here, making it the best place for Ye Qing to look for these instruments.

Of course, Bei Wu City is a very realistic place. Here, everything is dictated by money. Although one can buy famed instruments, they are quite expensive. Moreover, the highest quality instruments available here are usually the lowest grade ones. The more powerful ones would never appear here.

Even so, those lowest-grade famed instruments sold here are still quite valuable. To give a simple example, that Wu Hong Dagger Ye Qing once had could probably fetch a billion here. As for the Hundred-refined Sword Ye Qing took from Huang Yidao, it’s priceless—it can’t be bought with money. And things like the Seven-Star Ancient Sword or the Overlord Spear—don’t even think about it; they wouldn’t appear here at all.

However, for Ye Qing, the lowest-grade famed instruments are still enough. After all, these instruments are consumable. Whether they are low-grade or high-grade, as long as they can be used, they are fit for purpose.

Before coming here, Ye Qing had already consulted Helian Tiehua about the situation in Bei Wu City.

The reason why Bei Wu City has such a large underground trading market is mainly that there’s a powerful sect here called the South Ridge Sect. This sect was initially formed by a few tomb robbers who, by chance, found the tomb of an ancient master and obtained a secret manual, allowing them to master top-level martial arts. It was only afterward that their sect’s fame finally spread.

After these tomb robbers mastered martial arts, they transformed themselves and set up this underground trading market in Bei Wu City. In essence, they used their influence among tomb robbers to attract them here to sell their booty. These few individuals would take a cut of the profits. After years of operation, the underground market in Bei Wu City has grown larger, with seventy percent of domestic business now conducted here.

”According to Uncle Helian, these tomb robbers should all be over sixty by now!” On the plane, Huangfu Ziyu said softly, ”There are a total of nine people, and even the weakest among them is a top-level master. As for the eldest one among them, he’s said to be the most secretive and also the strongest; no one has ever seen him make a move, so his true capability is hard to estimate.”

”What’s the point in estimating so much?” Ye Qing smiled and said, ”As long as he isn’t a peak master, there’s nothing much to worry about. Besides, we’re here to buy famed instruments, not to steal them, so there’s no need for fighting.”

”Buy famed instruments?” Huangfu Ziyu curled her lip and said, ”Do you know how many famed instruments we need? If we buy them all, can you afford it? Without a hundred billion, we can’t even think about it!”

Ye Qing stuck out his tongue and said, ”If worse comes to worst, we can just borrow them from them. I don’t believe we’re so unlucky that all the famed instruments would be used up in Beimang Mountain. Anything unused, we can return to them, right?”

”Borrow? Do you think they would lend them to you?” Huangfu Ziyu said, ”In the end, getting so many famed instruments from here won’t be easy. If push comes to shove, we might really need to fight these guys. As they say, know yourself and know your enemy, and you will be victorious in a hundred battles. It’s better to understand their situation first to make things easier!”

Ye Qing smiled and didn’t say anything further. In fact, his thoughts differed from Huangfu Ziyu’s. He had already received word from Li Lianshan that Handsome Fatty Wang might be hiding in Bei Wu City, which was also his main reason for heading straight there.

This son of a gun, Handsome Fatty Wang, cleared out the Treasure Pavilion of the Xihang Shen Family, stealing almost all of their famed instruments. Despite taking so many famed instruments, he has managed to evade capture for such a long time that even the Xihang Shen Family can’t find him. Fortunately, Li Lianshan has more sources of information and found out that Handsome Fatty Wang might be hiding in Bei Wu City.

This time, Ye Qing’s main goal in coming to Bei Wu City is to find Handsome Fatty Wang and use the instruments he has for now. Ye Qing had already discussed this with Southern Fist King Shen Tianjun, and Shen Tianjun agreed with his plan.

Therefore, for Ye Qing, he’s not too concerned with the nine top masters of the South Ridge Sect in Bei Wu City. His main concern is to find where that rascal Handsome Fatty Wang is hiding. Once found, he will have enough famed instruments to save people in Beimang Mountain.

In the evening, the plane landed in Bei Wu City. Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu headed to the city center and first found a hotel to stay in.

The underground antique trading market in Bei Wu City has become quite established, so when Ye Qing asked about it at the hotel, the receptionist immediately provided directions.

After getting a general idea, Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu had just stepped into the elevator when a short man hurried in with them.

Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu exchanged glances, as both were no weaklings, and since entering the hotel, this short man had been following them. He had clearly overheard their conversation with the receptionist. Now that he had followed them into the elevator, he must have some scheme. However, if he intended to target Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu, he’d definitely be biting off more than he could chew!

The short man stepped into the elevator, his eyes lingering on Huangfu Ziyu for a moment with a hint of lechery. His eyes flashed with a gleam when he noticed the box Huangfu Ziyu carried, clearly interested in both the person and the item.

Huangfu Ziyu frowned slightly and placed her right hand on the box behind her. Inside the box was the Sun Shooting Bow, and she put the bow in such a box to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Ye Qing quietly grabbed Huangfu Ziyu’s hand, signaling her to hold steady.

The short man didn’t notice the oddity between the two and grinned at Ye Qing, attempting small talk, ”Sir, is this your first time in Bei Wu City?”

”How do you know?” Ye Qing asked, pretending to be curious.

”Hehe...” The short man chuckled and said, ”The antique trade market in Bei Wu City is famous nationwide. Anyone who has been here would know that. Unless someone is here for the first time, no one would be asking about it.”

”I see.” Ye Qing suddenly realized and smiled, ”You guessed right, it is indeed my first time here.”

”Here for business?” The short man looked at the box on Huangfu Ziyu’s back and asked.

”You can see that too?” Ye Qing feigned ignorance and asked in return.

”Haha...” The short man laughed heartily and said, ”I’m in this business, of course I can see it.”

”You’re in this business too?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

”What I do is different from what you’re thinking.” The short man shook his head and said, ”Let me tell you, I’m a middleman.”

”A middleman?” Ye Qing was surprised, ”The antique trade in Bei Wu City requires middlemen?”

”Of course!” said the short man, ”Just think, with a market as large as Bei Wu City, can you guarantee that the things you bring will definitely catch someone’s eye? The market is so vast, it would take an entire day just to walk around. With so many shops, to ask each one would take you at least ten days to half a month. If no one recognizes its worth, when will your things be sold?”

”That’s true.” Ye Qing nodded in agreement.

”That’s why middlemen are needed!” The short man said, ”Since you’ve come here, you should know that the market in Bei Wu City is controlled by the South Ridge Sect. Within the South Ridge Sect, there’s an auction every week, gathering guests together and auctioning more valuable antiques. This way, the items’ value is maximized, fetching the best price.”

”Is that so?” Ye Qing looked intrigued and asked, ”Then how do you get into this auction? How can you get your items sent there?”

”Regular items and regular people can’t get their items into the auction.” The short man looked at Ye Qing and said, ”That’s when you need middlemen like us. I have connections, and I can help you get your items to the auction!”

”Really?” Ye Qing looked excited and said, ”Can… can you help me out? Get my items to the auction too?”

The short man saw Ye Qing’s excitement and a glimmer of joy crossed his eyes, ”Of course I can, but if your items aren’t up to the mark, they won’t make it to the auction. You know, an auction won’t put up anything that lacks value.”

”Don’t worry, my item is definitely valuable!” Ye Qing said confidently, ”Getting it to the auction won’t be a problem.”

The short man said, ”Ah, these things aren’t just about what you say. Whether it’s valuable or not can only be determined through evaluation. You may say it’s valuable, but others might not buy it!”

”My item can withstand any evaluation, absolutely can!” Ye Qing quickly reassured.

”Whether it can withstand evaluation or not will be known after evaluation.” The short man glanced at Huangfu Ziyu, swallowed, and said, ”How about this, I’ll find someone to evaluate it first. If it really checks out, I’ll help you pull some strings and send it to auction; how about that?”

Seeing the lecherous look in the short man’s eyes, Huangfu Ziyu was furious. She subtly tugged at Ye Qing’s hand, signaling him not to waste time.

”Don’t hurry; we’re unfamiliar here and need a few locals to help us out. These little crooks, while they might not have other capabilities, definitely have the information, so they’re the most suitable to find.” Ye Qing transmitted to Huangfu Ziyu. Since his meridians were cleared, he could transmit sound over short distances like this.