Urban Martial Saint

”Old Jiu Wu, there’s no need to pretend. Although my palm strike severely injured you, it’s not enough to keep you down.” Ye Qing looked at Nine-Fingers Wu Yong coldly and said, ”You’re truly devious, trying to lure Handsome Fatty Wang to your side and then capture him to threaten me.”

”He...was pretending?” Handsome Fatty Wang was taken aback, looking at Nine-Fingers Wu Yong in astonishment.

”Hehehe...” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong slowly stood up, wiped the blood from the corner of his mouth, and gritted his teeth: ”I finally understand why Wanyan Zong is no match for you. Ye Qing, you are truly clever. The word unrivaled in strategy truly applies to you. If you were willing to help my Wanyan Family, we would have already regained the glory of the Imperial Family in the past!”

”You call Wanyan Zong by name, indicating your status is certainly not lower than his.” Ye Qing said coldly, ”Who exactly are you?”

”Me?” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong laughed coldly and said, ”Hmph, I am Wanyan Zong’s uncle!”

”Your strength is not much weaker than Wanyan Zong’s. The Wanyan Family hides so much strength, why choose Wanyan Zong to lead the entire family?” Ye Qing said coldly, ”Wanyan Zong lacks magnanimity and depth of thought, not enough to bear the weight of the entire Wanyan Family!”

”Hehe...” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong let out a bitter laugh and said, ”So what? Wanyan Zong’s strength may not be enough, but his father’s strength is adequate.”

”You’re referring to...” Ye Qing frowned slightly and said, ”Wanyan Hongfeng?”

”Wanyan Hongfeng was indeed the most talented and resourceful person in the Wanyan Family!” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong said coldly, ”When he was in power, he brought the Wanyan Family to its peak, establishing today’s stature. Unfortunately, Wanyan Hongfeng died too soon, when his momentum was at its apex, he was no longer around. If he had lived another thirty years, there would be no Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance or Twelve Green Halls. As for Wanyan Zong, if he weren’t Wanyan Hongfeng’s son, what right would he have to be the Family Head?”

Ye Qing slowly nodded, he had been wondering about this matter all along. Now, hearing Nine-Fingers Wu Yong’s explanation, he finally understood the circumstances.

”Other than you, does the Wanyan Family have any other hidden strengths?” Ye Qing asked in a deep voice.

Nine-Fingers Wu Yong glanced at Ye Qing and sneered, ”Ye Qing, since you’re unrivaled in strategy, why don’t you guess for yourself? Why ask me?”

”Haha...” Ye Qing also gave a light laugh and said, ”Old Jiu Wu, do you think that if you don’t speak, I can’t deal with you?”

”Whether you can deal with me, that’s your business, don’t ask me.” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong said proudly, ”Ye Qing, don’t blame me for not warning you, opposing my Wanyan Family will definitely lead to a bad end!”

”Oh, really?” Ye Qing walked slowly towards Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, saying, ”Then I must see what kind of bad end it would be.”

Facing Ye Qing’s step-by-step advance, Nine-Fingers Wu Yong looked tense. When Ye Qing was only three meters away from him, he suddenly thrust both palms, sending a gust of wind towards Ye Qing. However, he turned and ran, clearly attempting to escape at this chance.

”Can you get away?” Ye Qing let out a stern shout, ignoring the gust sent at him, he went straight forward. The wind hit Ye Qing’s body, but to him, it felt like a breeze, merely ruffling his clothes a bit. However, within two steps, Ye Qing caught up with Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, grabbed his collar, and tossed him back, once more slamming him into the stone wall behind.

Nine-Fingers Wu Yong hit the stone wall again, more severely injured this time, he coughed up two mouthfuls of blood, his face growing paler. This time, he really wasn’t pretending, he was genuinely seriously injured.

However, Handsome Fatty Wang didn’t dare approach him at all. Having almost suffered a loss earlier, Handsome Fatty Wang was much more honest this time.

Ye Qing knew he had an idea in his mind. He slowly walked to Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, knelt down calmly, looking down at Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, he said, ”If you want to leave, you’ll have to go out with Handsome Fatty Wang.”

”Hey, how am I supposed to leave?” Handsome Fatty Wang said urgently from the back, ”He still has so many subordinates outside, even if the old guy is injured, there are so many people, I can’t take them all on by myself. Really, if we go out, wouldn’t that be signing away my life?”

”Don’t worry, I’ve been prepared for a long time.” Ye Qing grabbed Nine-Fingers Wu Yong, took out a few Golden Needles from his body, and suddenly stabbed them into several of Nine-Fingers Wu Yong’s acupoints. The Golden Needles were wholly embedded inside the body, invisible from the outside. However, as soon as the Golden Needles entered the body, Nine-Fingers Wu Yong was paralyzed entirely, his appearance became much older as if all of his life force had been drained.

”What...what is this?” Nine-Fingers Wu Yong trembled and said, ”Why...why is my Inner Strength gone?”

”This is the Secret Technique handed down by Divine Doctor An Shiping; it can completely seal a person’s Inner Strength. Unless the Golden Needle is removed, this Inner Strength cannot be used at all.” Ye Qing said, ”Old Jiu, you are too insidious. Even if I severely injure you, I still won’t feel secure, so I’ve sealed away all your Inner Strength; it’s the safest way.”

Ye Qing said, turning to Handsome Fatty Wang, ”Later, when you take him out, if his men want to attack you, just put your dagger against his neck. Those people have been Old Jiu’s subordinates for years; they will definitely care about his life and absolutely won’t dare touch you. When I get out, we’ll meet up and can leave here.”

”Oh, that’s indeed a good method.” Handsome Fatty Wang immediately came to life, pulled out a dagger from his body, and said, ”I’ve long prepared a dagger. Old Jiu, you’d better not move later, lest my hand shakes. If accidentally it cuts your neck, it won’t look good. We’re all so acquainted; I really don’t want you to die at my hands and splash blood all over me; that’s quite unsightly.”

Listening to Handsome Fatty Wang, Nine-Fingers Wu Yong was almost infuriated. Hearing the first part, he thought Handsome Fatty Wang was being somewhat sentimental. Only after hearing the latter did he realize this damn Fatty was afraid of splashing blood all over himself.

Ye Qing twisted Nine-Fingers Wu Yong’s jaw out of joint, rendering him unable to speak. Once everything was ready, he lifted Nine-Fingers Wu Yong and handed him over to Handsome Fatty Wang to prep him for departure.

”Don’t rush; let me have a look first,” Handsome Fatty Wang said. ”I just don’t believe you can enter this forked road. You dug the grave with us, too. If you can’t enter this forked road, we can leave together.”

”You’re dreaming,” Ye Qing sneered, walked to the forked road, and went straight in, unfazed by any hindrance.

Handsome Fatty Wang’s eyes almost bulged out; he tried coming over again and was still blocked outside.

”Damn, really biased against my occupation!” Handsome Fatty Wang cursed cryptically, saying to Ye Qing, ”Young Ye, take care; Fat Lord will head out first, and we’ll meet again outside.”

Ye Qing nodded, watched as Handsome Fatty Wang took Nine-Fingers Wu Yong away, then turned and continued onward.

Moving ahead, only three paths remained. Ye Qing held a map in hand, knowing which path to take. This way, he wasn’t worried about getting lost; the only concern was being blocked at one of the doorways, unable to enter.

Fortunately, Ye Qing proceeded freely without any impediments, breezing through each forked road until he reached outside the last Stone Chamber.

Though the Stone Chamber appeared simple, Ye Qing knew it was the place where the high monk Patriarch Bodhidharma passed away a thousand years ago.

Shen Tianjun had previously talked to Ye Qing about Patriarch Bodhidharma. Aside from his status in the Buddhist Sect, his Martial Arts were indeed among the topmost over the ages. Especially, mastering diverse strengths and finally creating those Secret Techniques, they were truly divine moves.

But this high monk could not escape the erosion of time, eventually passing away here. It’s said he left behind his most powerful Secret Technique at this place, and surprisingly, this technique became the key for dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon later—a fact even Patriarch Bodhidharma probably didn’t foresee.

Looking at the Stone Chamber, Ye Qing lightly sighed. Standing here, he couldn’t help but marvel: it’s no wonder so many exceptional figures from ancient times fought desperately for longevity and life extension. It’s actually understandable; regardless of formidable martial skills, regardless of reigning supreme, regardless of unrivaled beauty, in the end, they all return to dust. Living, after all, is the truly crucial matter!

Even personalities like Patriarch Bodhidharma couldn’t dodge the ravages of time; how could others?

Ye Qing steadied his agitated emotions, taking a step forward, yet suddenly noticed the entrance had revealed eight large characters: ”One enters this chamber, never retreats!”

Ye Qing couldn’t help but be stunned. What do these eight characters mean? Once inside this Stone Chamber, is there no way out? Exit route? What does that imply?

After pondering for a good while, Ye Qing ultimately decided to proceed inward. Hidden inside was the only hope for confronting the Corpse Ghost Dragon, so Ye Qing had to enter no matter what. As for what happens afterward, it depends on one’s fate.

Nothing obstructed the inside of the Stone Chamber; apart from these eight characters, there was nothing special. Ye Qing entered the chamber effortlessly, casting his eyes around; he stood inside a roughly fifteen-square Stone Chamber. Inside, it was very straightforward, with nothing else except a Stone Tablet bed and a Stone Platform, surprisingly sparse.

Could this be the place where Patriarch Bodhidharma passed away? Ye Qing looked around but was astonished to find there was no remains of Patriarch Bodhidharma in the chamber. What in the world is happening?

Just as Ye Qing wondered, suddenly a rumbling sound came from behind. Turning around, he saw a stone gate falling at the chamber’s entrance, sealing off this Stone Chamber!