Urban Martial Saint

Bai Li Xi, known as Sai Hua Tuo, truly lived up to his reputation. Although he hadn’t yet mastered the life-saving techniques of Divine Doctor An Shiping, dealing with a minor illness like cancer posed no challenge to him at all.

Receiving Bai Li Xi’s positive response, Ye Qing was naturally overjoyed and promptly invited Bai Li Xi to help treat Old Fifth Yang. Bai Li Xi, who had been feeling rather bored at the Hong Alliance’s Seven Rudders estate in recent days, readily agreed when he heard he could go on a little trip. That afternoon, he packed his things and was taken by Liu Mubai to Jiuchuan County to assist in treating Old Fifth Yang.

At the same time, Ye Qing also arranged for Ye Jun to go back with them. News of Ye Jun’s rescue had already been sent back to Jiuchuan County, and their father was understandably eager and thrilled, practically wishing he could see Ye Jun immediately. However, Ye Qing had been quite busy during that time, and Ye Jun, concerned about Ye Qing’s situation, hadn’t yet returned. This was now the perfect opportunity for Ye Jun to make a trip back home.

Though the situation was currently quite critical, Ye Qing wasn’t worried about Ye Jun and the others encountering any danger on the road. After all, while Bai Li Xi had lost his inner strength, his proficiency with poison was sufficient to fend off any regular peak master. Moreover, the martial artists of Huaxia had a code: they weren’t to attack non-martial artists, as doing so would break the rules. In fact, this was simply how things were; although many peak masters had sought to seize the Buddha’s Relic from Ye Qing, none had ever targeted Ye Qing’s father or tried to use him to threaten Ye Qing. Such was the code among martial artists.

Of course, another major reason these martial artists adhered to this code was because its enforcers were none other than Buddhist Shakya and Taoist Wuji, along with the elusive Wu Tianchi. It was rumored that Wu Tianchi had been the one to propose the code. While no one could quite explain its origins, the code held significant sway over martial artists. After all, both Buddhist Shakya and Taoist Wuji were figures no peak master wished to provoke. As for Wu Tianchi, this legendary figure remained unseen, yet even the Corpse Ghost Dragon feared him, let alone everyone else in the world.

This was why Ye Qing was assured enough to have his father remain in Jiuchuan County and also have Ye Jun accompany him there. In reality, the code was quite effective, especially since Ye Qing had many non-martial friends. Without the code, wouldn’t they all be in danger?

However, while Ye Qing had thought things through, he overlooked one critical point: although the code applied to Huaxia’s martial artists, it held no sway over those from outside.

Just after Ye Jun and the others left Shenchuan City, someone discreetly began following their vehicle. This person was none other than the Cathedral Grand Master, who had previously escaped with his life from Beimang Mountain.

The Grand Master’s current mission to Huaxia was undoubtedly the greatest defeat of his life. Of the dozen peak masters who had entered Huaxia with him, he was the only one who had survived. Although he managed to save his own life, he was acutely aware that even if he returned alive to the Church, he would face severe punishment. It was even possible his church rivals would seize this opportunity to jeopardize his life. Thus, despite his narrow escape, the Grand Master did not return directly to the Church; instead, he lingered around Shenchuan City. He knew that unless he achieved a significant accomplishment, there was no point in returning to the Church, as the outcome would be dire.

Through the Church’s intelligence network in Huaxia, the Grand Master learned Ye Qing had returned to Shenchuan City. Thus, he quietly arrived in Shenchuan City as well. However, with Fu Qingping in Shenchuan City, the Grand Master dared not cause trouble within the city and simply lingered around its outskirts, waiting for an opportunity. He had been tailing Ye Qing to either acquire the Buddha’s Relic or the Healing Holy Medicine, for achieving either would be a great accomplishment. Additionally, he sought retribution against Ye Qing, whom he blamed for his current predicament.

For nearly two days, the Grand Master had no luck in Shenchuan City. Just as he debated taking the risky step of infiltrating the city, he happened to receive news from the Church’s informants: Ye Qing’s younger brother had left Shenchuan City!

This intelligence greatly pleased the Grand Master. Having read about Ye Qing, he knew that his trip to Shenchuan City was to find this brother, indicating his deep fondness for him. Capturing Ye Qing’s younger brother would naturally pose a significant threat to Ye Qing!

Therefore, the Grand Master waited patiently outside Shenchuan City. As Ye Jun and his group drove out of the city, the Grand Master stealthily followed. When they reached a secluded highway about thirty kilometers beyond Shenchuan City, the Grand Master finally made his move.

The Grand Master moved at an incredible speed, charging down the hillside directly toward the vehicle. Inside, driver Liu Mubai realized something was amiss and rightly deduced the intruder was quite formidable. Thus, he accelerated fiercely, attempting to crash into the Grand Master head-on. Given the Grand Master’s speed, he knew evasion was impossible, so he decided to attempt to mow the intruder down instead.

But he underestimated the Grand Master’s speed. Just as the car was about to collide with him, the Grand Master sidestepped like a phantom, dodging the oncoming vehicle and circling around alongside it. Simultaneously, his five fingers sliced through the car’s tire, with his nails as sharp as any famed instrument, slashing the tire open.

The car lost control upon the tire’s blowout at such a high speed. Fortunately, Liu Mubai, an adept driver, managed to wrest control over the vehicle, steering it into a roadside tree. The car’s frontend climbed the tree before coming to a halt. Thanks to his quick reflexes, they narrowly avoided crashing into a nearby boulder, which would have been dangerous.

In the backseat, Bai Li Xi and Ye Jun were jostled violently. Liu Mubai was the first to recover his wits. From his waist, he drew a short dagger named ”Stabbing Tiger”—a famed instrument Ye Qing had acquired, far mightier than the Wu Hong Dagger Liu Mubai had previously gifted Ye Qing, and an exceptionally powerful treasure among famed instruments. Liu Mubai used ”Stabbing Tiger” to slice open the damaged car panel and leapt out, preparing to defend against an attack.

However, his speed could not compare to that of the Grand Master. Just as he jumped out, a chilling voice came from above: ”Are you a friend of Ye Qing?”

The Grand Master spoke in English, which Liu Mubai did not understand. However, the voice from above startled Liu Mubai, prompting him to hastily strike toward the source of the sound with ”Stabbing Tiger.” But before he could even raise his hand halfway, a sharp pain erupted from his back—the Grand Master’s five unusually long fingers had pierced through Liu Mubai’s chest, puncturing his heart.

Liu Mubai gasped softly, expending all his strength to hurl ”Stabbing Tiger” toward the Grand Master. Yet, for the Grand Master, this was inconsequential. With a mere flick, the Grand Master sent ”Stabbing Tiger” flying over ten meters, embedding it straight into a nearby boulder.

”Hmph!” the Grand Master snorted disdainfully, retracting his fingers. Liu Mubai collapsed to the ground, blood trickling from his mouth as he locked eyes with the Grand Master, but he was utterly powerless. With his heart pierced, how long could he survive?

”Pathetically weak!” the Grand Master remarked coldly, turning his gaze to the pair still seated in the car—Bai Li Xi and, naturally, Ye Jun.

The Grand Master glanced at them, then swiftly reached in and seized Ye Jun by the shoulder. However, as soon as he touched Ye Jun, he felt a tingling numbness in his arm, leaving him puzzled as his blood rapidly began to solidify—a truly bewildering sensation. Nevertheless, he wasn’t deterred; he retrieved a fragment of the Devouring Demon Flower from his belongings and swallowed it, instantly dispelling the numbness.

”A poison master from Huaxia?” The Grand Master glanced at Bai Li Xi, not recognizing him, but the sensation of being poisoned was all too familiar to him.

Bai Li Xi’s face showed concern. During the Grand Master’s attack, he had used seven types of poison on him. Yet, the Grand Master showed no significant reaction, a testament to his formidable strength. Bai Li Xi knew that even if he had his inner strength, he would be no match for the Grand Master at his peak. His poisons had little effect on the Grand Master!

Seeing Bai Li Xi’s silence, the Grand Master said nothing more, hauling Ye Jun out and tossing a note onto Bai Li Xi, stating, ”I’m taking this one. Consider your life spared. Deliver this note to Ye Qing!”

With that, the Grand Master ignored Bai Li Xi completely, turned, and fled with Ye Jun. His incredible pace whisked him away in mere moments.

Once the Grand Master vanished from sight, Bai Li Xi exhaled deeply. He rushed from the car to aid Liu Mubai, who lay in a pool of blood.

Liu Mubai, his heart pierced by the Grand Master, was bleeding from his mouth and nose, his clothes damp with blood—a dying man. Yet he maintained a feeble breath and, with a trembling voice, urged Bai Li Xi, ”Quick… notify Ye Qing… this person is too… too strong, tell him to seek… seek… seek Senior Fu’s help…”