Urban Martial Saint

Watching Huangfu Ziyu leave, Shen Tianjun couldn’t help but feel anxious and quickly asked, ”Zi Yu, where are you going?”

Huangfu Ziyu didn’t answer. She floated in the air, swiftly heading towards the seaside. Shen Tianjun wanted to chase after her but was grabbed by Helian Tiehua.

”Shen, let it be.” Helian Tiehua patted Shen Tianjun’s shoulder and said, ”With what’s happened, her heart must feel troubled. If we don’t let her go out and walk, if we don’t let her find solace by the sea, I fear she might get sick from holding it all in.”

”But given her current state, how can we let her go out alone?” Shen Tianjun said urgently, ”If she gets any dangerous ideas, then...what should we do?”

”Shen, haven’t you heard her say? Alive we see the person, dead we see the corpse. Whether she is dead or alive, there’s still hope in her heart until she finds him. Until she finds him, she won’t rashly do anything.” Helian Tiehua said, ”Let her go, let her calm her mind by the sea. Later matters can be addressed later!”

Though worried inside, Shen Tianjun had to admit Helian Tiehua was right. Keeping Huangfu Ziyu at home wasn’t the solution. Maybe letting her out for some air might cheer her up.

With a sorrowful sigh, Shen Tianjun turned to speak but suddenly noticed someone standing near the distant doorway. This was also a beautiful woman, arguably even more beautiful than Huangfu Ziyu, though missing that seductive charm; she was pure as water, spotless and unblemished.

The woman was none other than Shen Tianjun’s granddaughter, Shen Qingyi. He didn’t know how long she had been standing there, dazed, at the doorway, tears silently flowing down her flawless cheeks. There seemed to be even more unspoken pain and tears, making one feel a deeper pity for her.

Seeing his granddaughter’s expression, Shen Tianjun sighed again. Perhaps others didn’t know, but he understood the emotional entanglement between these two women and Ye Qing, and naturally knew of his granddaughter’s feelings towards Ye Qing. But now, as Ye Qing was with Huangfu Ziyu, her feelings could only be buried deep in her heart. Just like now, Huangfu Ziyu could recklessly go searching for Ye Qing, while she could only silently cry here, for she didn’t even have the right to search, and that was the deepest sorrow.

Shen Tianjun didn’t know what to say, and the pity for his granddaughter twisted his heart with pain. However, Huangfu Ziyu was as dear as his granddaughter, and in such a love triangle, what can a bystander say?

He gestured toward Shen Qingyi, signaling her to return home, and Shen Tianjun entered the hall with the others to discuss the matters following the Corpse Ghost Dragon incident.

Of course, Ding Lianshun Yin Xianzi and Ning Qianshu couldn’t enter the hall, as they were from the Twelve Green Halls. Before dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon, everyone stood on the same line, naturally able to speak openly. However, now with the Corpse Ghost Dragon incident concluded and the opening of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates imminent, these two remain adversaries. At this point, defenses must be raised against them.

The Bloody Monk happened to enter the hall, and seeing the situation, he immediately retreated, loudly said, ”Great General, what follows are your family matters, Nalan and I should not inconvenience you here. Shall we retreat for now, and if you have news of Ye Qing, just inform me?”

Upon hearing Bloody Monk’s words, Helian Tiehua knew he didn’t want involvement in matters between himself and the Twelve Green Halls; thus, he didn’t object, stood and saw the Bloody Monk and Nalan Jingwei off.

Nalan Jingwei actually did not want to leave the hall; he wished to stay and hear what Helian Tiehua had to discuss with Shen Tianjun. However, with Bloody Monk’s suggestion, it seemed inappropriate for him to remain. Else, he would be eavesdropping on family affairs. Reluctantly, he followed Bloody Monk out.

After seeing Bloody Monk and Nalan Jingwei off, Helian Tiehua returned to the hall and sat down. By this time, only a few people remained, including him and Shen Tianjun, the masked elder, and Bai Li Xi. As for the Purple Robe Lama, he hadn’t entered the estate after returning from the seaside, parting ways with the others in the city.

The battle against the Corpse Ghost Dragon in Shenchuan City had gathered peak masters from across the realm, converging nearly all known elite fighters. However, after one battle, everyone remains divided into factions, with each acting independently, pursuing personal interests regarding the opening of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates.

Helian Tiehua retained Shen Tianjun mainly due to the relationship between Huangfu Ziyu and Ye Qing. Huangfu Ziyu is now a vital figure within the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance and is inevitably involved in the battle against the Twelve Green Halls. However, there’s a disparity in strength between the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance and the Twelve Green Halls. Shen Tianjun, being Huangfu Ziyu’s master and implicated in the matter, if he lends assistance, the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance can muster the strength to match the Twelve Green Halls.

Moreover, Shen Tianjun is more than just himself; the masked elder, although unknown to others, is known to act with Shen Tianjun in concert. If Shen Tianjun aids the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance, it means gaining two additional peak masters’ support, which is Helian Tiehua’s primary reason for keeping him here.

As for Bai Li Xi, he voluntarily stayed behind. Not that he wanted to involve himself in the feud between the Seven Steering Committees and Twelve Green Halls; he was simply targeting Ning Qianshu. Of course, there’s also Ye Qing’s involvement deep down, as Bai Li Xi owes his life’s rescue to Ye Qing.

Everyone sat down separately, Helian Tiehua gently sighed and softly said, ”This time to defeat the Corpse Ghost Dragon, it honestly troubled Ye Qing. If he suffers any misfortune, we owe him too much!”

Shen Tianjun softly sighed, glanced at the dazed masked elder beside him, and remarked lowly, ”Life is unpredictable, who can say? I always believed Ye Qing was destined by Fate to quell chaos and bring peace, naturally shielded by providence. But unexpectedly, things turned drastically. Alas, I should have realized. Ye Qing didn’t obtain any secret technique from Patriarch Bodhidharma’s death chamber that would let him withstand immense forces; he completely sacrificed his life in dealing with this predicament. Buddha’s Relic’s force entering his body, not only him, but anyone present here would be inevitably dead!”

Helian Tiehua and the masked elder nodded simultaneously; both being peak masters, naturally understood the magnitude of the force just then. At least, neither could withstand it.

Bai Li Xi observed everyone until now and finally realized why Ye Qing was so esteemed. He always assumed Ye Qing’s merit and character were the main reasons for his regard; now it seems there’s a deeper consideration among them.

”Don’t be so pessimistic,” Bai Li Xi waved a hand and said, ”There’s an old saying, alive we see the person, dead we see the corpse. Since no body is found yet, how could Ye Qing die so easily? Moreover, he has so many medicinal powers within him, maybe they can preserve his life.”

The three exchanged glances and sighed lightly. It’s not that they didn’t wish for Ye Qing’s survival, but they had experienced Buddha’s Relic’s power at close range - terrifying beyond human endurance. Even Corpse Ghost Dragon was shattered by it, with a massive rock several dozen yards high and thick having a hole punched through by Ye Qing. This force was absolutely terrifying. In such power, could Ye Qing still live?

Moreover, so much time had passed without finding Ye Qing. Even if he survived, wouldn’t he drown by now?

In truth, the hope that Ye Qing lives is nearly forlorn. But regardless, everyone must continue searching till the end; living to see the person or deceased to see the corpse is their unanimous thought.

”This matter…” Helian Tiehua tapped the table lightly, spoke three words, but suddenly furrowed his brows and looked toward the hall’s rear.

Shen Tianjun had already turned his gaze; the masked elder remained dazed, lost in thought.

After watching the rear for a moment, Helian Tiehua’s expression softened slightly and he said in a deep voice, ”Luan Ping!”

From outside the hall’s rear window emerged a person, none other than Luan Ping. Now, Luan Ping seemed even older than before, but his spirit looked exceptionally well. Last night’s defeat of Corpse Ghost Dragon was known to him, liberating him from its control.

”General Helian, King of Fists Shen, Mr. Bai Li,” Luan Ping smiled, climbing in through the window.

”When did you arrive?” Bai Li Xi frowned and asked.

Luan Ping chuckled and said, ”I have been here, but I feared interrupting your conversation, so I didn’t enter.”

In dealing with the Corpse Ghost Dragon, Luan Ping played a significant role. Without his deception, the battle wouldn’t have proceeded smoothly. Therefore, seeing Luan Ping, Helian Tiehua held little hostility. Besides, Luan Ping’s current power wasn’t enough to threaten Helian Tiehua and others.

Helian Tiehua said, ”Corpse Ghost Dragon is dead, yet you sneaked around the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance, why?”

”This…” Luan Ping felt a bit awkward, speaking in a low voice, ”General Helian, though Corpse Ghost Dragon is dead, the Commonheart Worm within me remains. And Nalan Jingwei, the scoundrel, isn’t he here? General Helian, do not be deceived by Nalan Jingwei aiding the battle against the Corpse Ghost Dragon, this person is highly cunning and despicable, do not trust him blindly.”