Urban Martial Saint

After Broom Star entered meditation, the Buddha’s Relic in Ye Qing’s palm also became restrained, its light fading, with all its power hidden within the relic.

Bai Li Xi examined Ye Qing once again, but the results remained unchanged; Ye Qing’s condition was no different from before, showing no unusual signs.

”I told you, what’s wrong with this kid? Yesterday, Old Ghost Ning and I checked his body; except for his meridians being absent, everything else is just fine. Moreover, his bones and muscles are slowly growing. Even if he can’t practice martial arts, his daily activities won’t be affected,” Bai Li Xi said. ”And he’s not sick. With proper care, he should live a hundred years without any issues.”

”But earlier, he really seemed quite unwell,” Huangfu Ziyu said anxiously. ”Could there be some hidden illness that you missed?”

”Are you questioning my skills?” Bai Li Xi glared and said. ”If there’s a disease I can’t diagnose, then even if he has one, no one in the world could cure it now. Oh, come on, don’t worry so much. Although I don’t have my master’s abilities, if I can’t even diagnose an illness, what’s the point in calling myself Sai Hua Tuo? I might as well go home to farm!”

Huangfu Ziyu glanced at Bai Li Xi, then at Ye Qing. Despite her worry, she chose to trust Bai Li Xi in the end. After all, as Bai Li Xi said, if he couldn’t diagnose a disease, then truly no one could cure it.

”Zi Yu, don’t worry, I’m fine, just a little weak,” Ye Qing softly comforted Huangfu Ziyu and said. ”My recovery isn’t great, and I’ve been walking a lot lately, so I’m a bit tired. Resting for a while will make it better.”

Huangfu Ziyu nodded and said, ”Alright, I’ll take you to rest for a bit first.”

”Oh, can you two not be so sappy?” Bai Li Xi said. ”His bones and muscles are growing well; walking is surely not an issue. Can’t you stop supporting him like this? It looks like you’re holding up a cripple!”

”Mind your own business!” Huangfu Ziyu gave him a sideways glance and said. ”We’ll do what we like, and you can’t interfere!”

Bai Li Xi pouted and said, ”I didn’t plan to interfere. I’ll go back and continue my business. You two carry on being shameless here. Look for me when you need midwifery; I’m quite skilled at it!”

These words made Huangfu Ziyu’s pretty face blush, stomping lightly as she said, ”Why are you so annoying when you talk?”

”We’re surely not coming to you for childbirth!” Ye Qing replied with a laugh.

”Ugh, many people spend big money for my midwifery but I don’t even care. You two are quite arrogant, eh? Fine, fine, no midwifery, I’m happy to enjoy leisure!” Bai Li Xi grumbled as he waddled away, probably due to not having wiped properly earlier, walking with a duck-like gait, causing Ye Qing and Huangfu Ziyu to chuckle.

Having sent Bai Li Xi away, Huangfu Ziyu then looked toward Broom Star. Noticing the purple flames enveloping him, she whispered, ”The Purple Lotus Karma Fire is still burning, and like this, who knows when he’ll awaken.”

Ye Qing knew that Broom Star was actually conscious, but he surely understood many things. His staying here meant Ye Qing wouldn’t say anything further. Yet, who knows what the outcome will be after such burning by the Purple Lotus Karma Fire. In just these few days, Broom Star had become what he is now. If the fire continues burning, who knows what he’ll ultimately become.

With Broom Star once more in meditation, Ye Qing did not linger further. He and Huangfu Ziyu left the secret chamber, returning to his room to rest.

Huangfu Ziyu intended to stay here with Ye Qing, but she was soon summoned by Helian Tiehua for an urgent meeting. Huangfu Ziyu had no choice but to leave temporarily.

Ye Qing intended to return to Broom Star to inquire about the Buddha’s Relic. The relic inside his body was a secret he hadn’t shared with anyone, knowing it would attract much envy. If it were to leak out, people would surely come for him. Given his current state without meridians and no martial arts to protect himself, the leak would only bring trouble. Hence, he kept it hidden, not even mentioning it to those close to him. He didn’t want to burden them with potential trouble.

It seemed Broom Star was familiar with these matters, and Ye Qing finally found someone he could consult. However, upon returning to the chamber and calling several times, Broom Star showed no reaction. Even pushing him yielded no response.

Oddly, Ye Qing touched the Purple Lotus Karma Fire with his right hand but felt nothing, no burning or pain. Attempting with the left, he felt a burning sensation even before contact, quickly withdrawing it, as using his left hand was impossible.

Looking at the situation, his right hand was likely unaffected due to the Buddha’s Relic, while other body parts couldn’t withstand the Karma Fire.

Failing to rouse Broom Star, Ye Qing had to abandon the effort, realizing he’d have to wait for Broom Star to wake up. However, who knew when that would be? He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for days, and yet didn’t feel thirst or hunger, which was strange. His condition was puzzling—how long can he sustain this?

Leaving the chamber and standing within the manor, Ye Qing felt a moment of confusion, experiencing a sense of having nowhere to go.

Previously possessing powerful inner strength, Ye Qing could engage in various matters. Helian Tiehua would summon him for meetings. But now, without martial arts, Helian Tiehua didn’t call upon him. Ye Qing knew Helian was considering his welfare; with the Seven Steering Committees about to face the Twelve Green Halls, Ye Qing, without martial arts, was best kept from involvement in martial arts affairs.

Yet, without these engagements, Ye Qing was indeed left idle. With most busy within the manor, his leisure felt hollow.

Roaming aimlessly around the manor, he suddenly overheard a female voice coming from an adjacent yard: ”Come, follow me. You, I, he!”

”You, I…” The trailing voices were sparse and awkward, not pronouncing the simple words accurately, akin to children beginning to learn speech.

The words made Ye Qing’s heart leap; he recognized these voices as belonging to the three children he’d brought from the countryside. Last night, they’d been placed by the Seven Steering Committees, with their wounds cared for and living arrangements made. Engaged elsewhere, Ye Qing hadn’t met them yet. He wasn’t expecting them to reside here, let alone have someone teaching them speech.

Ye Qing quickly entered the yard, finding the three children sitting before a small blackboard, earnestly focused on its contents. Beside the blackboard was a lady, instructing them in speech. Ye Qing recognized her as one from the orphanage, tasked with teaching abandoned children speech and literacy. Evidently, someone had assigned her to teach these three kids.

Ye Qing already understood these children weren’t mute; they simply hadn’t learned to speak. Their grandfather likely suffered speech loss, and growing up isolated with him, they hadn’t learned speech. But thankfully, they weren’t mute; with time, they’d learn.

On Ye Qing’s entrance, the teacher set down her chalk, greeting him warmly: ”Dean Ye.”

Now the orphanage’s dean, Ye Qing was familiar to all staff there, known for founding the orphanage singlehandedly. The wages and benefits were notably generous too, and he showed particular care for the staff. Thus, they held great respect and admiration for Ye Qing.

The three children saw Ye Qing and beamed joyfully, especially the little girl, who ran over to hug his leg. She looked up at him, murmuring unclearly: ”You, you, you…”

Clearly, her vocabulary was sparse; grasping the meaning of ’you,’ she repeated it continuously.

The older boy and girl calmed at Ye Qing’s presence. Despite good food, clothes, and lodging here, they felt uneasy, as all this wasn’t inherently theirs. Only in Ye Qing’s presence could they find some peace.

Ye Qing lifted the girl, intending to move forward, but was met with sudden barking from nearby. Turning, he saw a mutt wrapped in heavy bandages loping over. Judging by its eager pace, it appeared significantly recovered!