Urban Martial Saint

”So the crux of the issue lies here.” Old Wang Ba said, ”You have to understand, although the Japanese ninjas are joining us in the fight against the Church, the main reason is self-preservation. After all, the power of the Church is really too strong, the only ones who can stand against it are us, the Huaxia national martial artists. If we, the Huaxia martial artists, also fall, then the Japanese ninjas will naturally find it hard to escape the disaster and will definitely be crushed by the Church. So, on this matter, they have always been assisting us, essentially standing on the same front as us.”

Old Wang Ba paused and looked at Ye Qing, ”However, their assistance doesn’t mean they have no other thoughts. For instance, the matter of the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, not to mention the Japanese ninjas, even the forces within Huaxia are all scrambling for it. After all, this tomb has too massive implications, everyone wants to obtain the secrets inside, including these Japanese ninjas. Actually, such occurrences happened before. The Japanese ninjas are too arrogant and attempted to seize many things from Huaxia. But previously, they were mostly just taught a lesson, and the experts from Huaxia rarely developed deep grudges with them for the sake of the bigger picture. However, if you attack their base, the situation will be different. If this matter escalates, given the arrogant nature of the Japanese ninjas, it might not be easy to bring it to an end.”

Ye Qing furrowed his brow; he hadn’t thought such a simple matter would become so complicated. Clearly, rescuing Wen’er’s mother wasn’t going to be an easy task.

”But they took Wen’er’s mother, and Wen’er’s mother is one of our Huaxia people. Going to them to ask for her seems reasonable, doesn’t it?” Ye Qing said, ”Could it be that when they capture our Huaxia people on our territory, we still have to swallow this anger?”

”Asking for someone is certainly possible, but the question is how.” Old Wang Ba said, ”I see you look like you’re planning to go with Senior Fu to ask for someone. I don’t need to say more about Senior Fu’s strength. Doing so would appear to be suppressing them with strength, and even if they hand the person over under pressure, they certainly won’t be convinced. If word gets out that our Huaxia bullies others with power, that would not be good.”

Ye Qing frowned and looked at Old Wang Ba, ”Why do I feel like you’re a bit afraid of these Japanese ninjas, they can act arrogantly on our Huaxia land, yet we can’t go save our own people? I think you’re just overthinking it!”

Old Wang Ba scratched his head, ”Uh, that’s not what I’m saying. In such matters, I believe if we can avoid trouble, it’s best not to seek it. Eighth Master, I’m not afraid of these short Japanese, but the crux of the problem is, with the Church about to invade in full force, there’s no need for us to develop deep enmity with these Japanese.”

”Then what do you suggest?” Ye Qing said impatiently, ”Wen’er’s mother was taken by them, are we not supposed to go rescue her?”

”Rescuing is possible, but we need to be strategic about it.” Old Wang Ba said, ”I’m telling you, it’s not that I’m afraid of these people; the key issue is that before we act, we have to consider things clearly. You say Wen’er’s mother was taken by them, but if she’s not at their base and we recklessly attack, that would be giving others ammunition to criticize us. If such a situation arises and the Japanese seize the opportunity to escalate things, then it’s trouble. Ye Qing, you are now in possession of the Buddha’s Relic; countless people worldwide want to find you. They are restrained only by the strength of the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance and Senior Fu. If the Japanese make this matter public, then Huaxia’s martial artists might seize the opportunity to exert pressure on the Seven Steering Committees and Senior Fu. That’s when things really gets tricky.”

Old Wang Ba’s words made Ye Qing’s heart skip a beat; he hadn’t thought of this point, and now hearing Old Wang Ba say it, he was also shocked. Indeed, if this matter escalated, and the Japanese ninjas made a big deal of it, the situation would become troublesome. The martial artists of Huaxia were keeping a close eye on him. If the Japanese were to make use of this, then Huaxia’s martial artists might immediately unite to pressure the Seven Steering Committees and Fu Qingping. At that point, if the Seven Steering Committees of Hong Alliance and Fu Qingping protected Ye Qing, it would mean opposing Japan as an ally!

”Wen’er’s mother is right there at their base; the Headmaster of the Southern Ridge Sect visits her several times a year.” Ye Qing said in a grave voice.

”That was before; what about now?” Old Wang Ba said, ”The South Ridge Sect is no longer, even if those Japanese are foolish, they would certainly have thought of some countermeasures. Let’s not talk about what those Japanese want, but even if there’s only a one percent chance that Wen’er’s mother isn’t at that base, if we go in full force, someone will use this to exaggerate on purpose!”

Ye Qing took a deep breath; he hadn’t previously understood the relationship between Huaxia martial artists and Japanese ninjas, nor had he considered these issues. Now hearing Old Wang Ba say it, he was also shocked. Indeed, Old Wang Ba, this old fox, also had a thorough consideration. If something like this indeed happened, then Ye Qing could truly land himself in trouble this time.

”Why don’t I...” Ye Qing looked at Old Wang Ba and said in a low voice, ”I send someone first to scout the Japanese ninja’s base to see if Wen’er’s mother is actually hidden there?”

”Regarding this matter, I advise you to let go of this idea.” Old Wang Ba said, ”I estimate, Wen’er’s mother is not at that base most of the time.”

”How can you be so sure?” Ye Qing asked in surprise.

Old Wang Ba said, ”Nonsense, think about it yourself, what do those people from the South Ridge Sect do?”

”Tomb-robbing, right?” Ye Qing looked at Old Wang Ba in surprise and said, ”What’s wrong with that?”

”You just mentioned, the people from the South Ridge Sect, are all tomb robbers. Tomb-robbing expertise means they are very proficient with mechanisms and tunnels.” Old Wang Ba said, ”The tomb-robbing skills of the sect leaders from South Ridge Sect are among the best in Huaxia. With their tunneling skills, breaking into that Japanese base should be a piece of cake for them. But why haven’t they rescued Wen’er’s mother?”

Ye Qing took a deep breath; he already understood what Old Wang Ba meant. Given that the tomb-robbing skills of those sect leaders from South Ridge Sect are so strong, they would certainly try to tunnel to rescue Wen’er’s mother. However, for such a long time, they haven’t been able to rescue her, there can only be one reason, as Old Wang Ba mentioned before, Wen’er’s mother isn’t usually held at that base. Meaning that, even if Ye Qing storms that base now, he won’t be able to rescue Wen’er’s mother.

”So it seems...” Ye Qing said solemnly, ”Wen’er’s mother must be held at another location. But with that being the case, how do we find Wen’er’s mother?”

”Why are you in such a hurry to find her?” Old Wang Ba asked.

”Only those Japanese people and Wen’er’s mother know how to use those one hundred and eight famed instruments to open the Tomb of Guiguzi, and those Japanese definitely won’t tell us how.” Ye Qing paused and said, ”Moreover, this is Wen’er’s mother. The sect leaders from the South Ridge Sect have saved my life; how can I watch her being held by these Japanese without rescuing her?”

”I’ll tell you; this matter doesn’t have to be so complicated.” Old Wang Ba said, ”To open the Tomb of Guiguzi, you might not necessarily need to find Wen’er’s mother. Just as you said, the Japanese also know how to open the tomb. In that case, let those Japanese ninjas open it for you!”

”Huh?” Ye Qing paused, staring at Old Wang Ba for a while, gradually understanding his intention.

”You mean, I lure out those Japanese ninjas and use them to open the Tomb of Guiguzi?” Ye Qing asked softly.

”Exactly!” Old Wang Ba gave Ye Qing a thumbs-up and said, ”You’re quite clever, indeed; that’s exactly what I mean. Those Japanese ninjas surely know how to open the Tomb of Guiguzi. Plus, they’ve been plotting for so many years; they undoubtedly have their sights set on the tomb. At this time, if we step in to open the tomb, those ninjas won’t sit idly by. Once they get word, they’ll surely come to vie for the chance to enter the tomb. By then, we just need to employ a small strategy and let them arrange the one hundred and eight famed instruments properly; wouldn’t that open the Tomb of Guiguzi?”

Ye Qing nodded slowly; Old Wang Ba’s plan seemed quite agreeable to him. Using this method, they could draw out the Japanese ninjas and use them to open the Tomb of Guiguzi. However, there’s one issue with the plan, and that’s Wen’er’s mother. Although Ye Qing and his team could open the tomb, how would they rescue Wen’er’s mother?

”What about Wen’er’s mother then?” Ye Qing asked, ”If we get into the Tomb of Guiguzi before those Japanese and they get angry, they might harm Wen’er’s mother!”

”That part’s even simpler.” Old Wang Ba smiled and said, ”At that time, we can capture those Japanese and force them to use Wen’er’s mother for exchange. They will have hostages in our hands, so we don’t need to worry about them harming Wen’er’s mother!”

”Didn’t you just say not to provoke the Japanese carelessly?” Ye Qing frowned, ”If we capture them this time, won’t it infuriate them? If they make a fuss over this and blow it out of proportion, wouldn’t that be trouble?”