Urban Martial Saint

In Bai Li Xi’s secluded courtyard, although it was already late at night, Ye Qing and the True Buddha sat facing each other. Listening to what the True Buddha said, Ye Qing was also extremely shocked, especially about the matters concerning the True Buddha’s last words.

Thinking about how to prevent the opening of Heaven, Earth, and Man Three Gates in his heart, Ye Qing also asked, ”There are nine Buddha’s Relics in total, but adding this one, there are only eight. If you really die, seven might be relatively easy to find. But what if the last one can’t be found?”

”Don’t worry. After I die, the ninth Buddha’s Relic will appear,” the True Buddha said calmly. ”As for the previous seven Buddha’s Relics, someone will bring them to you as well.”

”How can you be so sure that the ninth Buddha’s Relic will appear after you die?” Ye Qing asked.

The True Buddha slowly shook his head and said, ”Unspeakable, unspeakable!”

This little guy is playing riddles again. Ye Qing had already heard too many such riddles tonight, so now hearing the True Buddha say this, Ye Qing wasn’t surprised at all. It seemed all things had been arranged by the True Buddha long ago. People of the Buddhist Sect do things quite mysteriously, and it’s unknown what they are actually arranging.

Ye Qing sat in the courtyard for a while longer and chatted with the True Buddha about many things. However, he did not get any valuable information from the True Buddha thereafter. It was clear that the True Buddha knew many things, but he didn’t disclose a lot, which frustrated Ye Qing. He had too many questions in his mind, but couldn’t get the answers, so he could only keep them to himself for now.

Since there was nothing valuable to be asked, Ye Qing didn’t linger but took the Buddha’s Relic and left the courtyard. The True Buddha stayed in the courtyard, not following Ye Qing out. When Ye Qing walked out the courtyard gate, he was still sitting inside, cross-legged and serene, like an enlightened monk in deep meditation. Though he was still a very young child, he gave off an indescribable transcendent vibe.

Upon leaving the True Buddha’s courtyard, Ye Qing just arrived at his own courtyard’s entrance when he heard Old Chen’s voice from inside: ”As the saying goes, a traveler from afar is indeed a guest. I followed Young Ye all the way here, no matter how you look at it, I’m a guest. Not only did you not treat me according to hospitality, but you also didn’t arrange a place for me to stay. What’s that about? Why? Do you intend to make a guest sleep outside your door? I’ll tell you, this is purely a matter of morals. Why can’t I sleep in that bedroom? What about Ye Qing’s room? Let me tell you, Ye Qing calls me Brother Chen, so why can’t his brother stay in his room?”

Hearing Old Chen’s voice, Ye Qing was at a loss. After leaving the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, Old Chen tagged along with them back to Shenchuan City. Since Ye Qing found Old Chen’s background to be mysterious, he didn’t drive him away and brought him back to Shenchuan City. After returning, Ye Qing first went to find Broom Star, not having settled Old Chen yet. Unexpectedly, upon walking out of the True Buddha’s courtyard, he encountered such a thing. There’s no need to look; surely Old Chen had his eyes on Ye Qing’s bedroom and was badgering to move in.

Speaking of this Old Chen, he really leaves one speechless. Not only is this guy gluttonous, lecherous, and noisy, but he also seems to love indulgence now. Bringing him back was simply bringing back a freeloading, indulgent fellow. Honestly, if it weren’t for him showing up in the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, Ye Qing would never entertain him. However, with his background being an enigma, despite Ye Qing’s dissatisfaction, he still had to settle him here before clarifying his origins.

So, even though he was extremely unwilling inwardly, Ye Qing still returned to his courtyard. Upon entering, he saw Old Chen chattering with three people, all loyal subordinates of Ye Qing. Judging by their expressions, these three were completely bamboozled by Old Chen, and genuinely believed Ye Qing called him Brother Chen, such that they dared not refute Old Chen’s ramblings.

Fortunately, just as the three were finding themselves in a tight spot, Ye Qing came in from outside. Seeing Ye Qing, naturally, they sighed in relief. One of them approached Ye Qing and whispered, ”Brother Ye, this… this Brother Chen, he’s taken to your room and wants to stay there, we really couldn’t stop him…”

”Hey, Young Ye, you’re here just in time!” Old Chen saw Ye Qing, not showing any embarrassment but rather boldly said, ”How do you treat guests? Upstairs such a good room and you don’t let me stay, instead, you arrange me in such a small room, is this your way of hospitality? No matter what, I’m your invited guest, and letting the guest choose first is genuine hospitality.”

”Stop your nonsense!” Ye Qing said irritably. ”There’s only one room. If you want to stay, stay. If not, you’ll sleep in the courtyard tonight. Tomorrow morning, I’ll have someone send you back!”

”Hey, what kind of talk is that? I’m a guest...” Old Chen tried to ramble, but Ye Qing didn’t pay him any heed, proceeding directly to the inner room. ”You three keep him there. Whether he sleeps in the downstairs guest room or outside, if he dares to complain, you give him a good thrashing!”

The three subordinates, seeing Ye Qing’s attitude towards Old Chen, knew the relationship was not as Old Chen had painted it. So, when Old Chen tried to stop Ye Qing, the three intercepted him first.

”So tell us, Brother Chen, where do you plan to sleep?” One man said, curling his lips, emphasizing ”Brother Chen” clearly in mockery of Old Chen.

Unable to block Ye Qing’s advance, Old Chen watched him go upstairs and immediately shouted, ”Ye, treating guests like this, wait till I tell people how you treat guests tomorrow!”

Ye Qing completely ignored him, having recognized Old Chen as the type to exploit kindness. If you keep accommodating him, he will indeed act like a master. Therefore, there’s no need to be courteous, otherwise, he’ll only grow worse.

Old Chen shouted a few times, realizing Ye Qing wouldn’t respond, had no choice now. Looking at the three blocking him, then at the cold courtyard, finally resigned, entering the guest room.

Back upstairs, Ye Qing did not immediately sleep but first took out the Buddha’s Relic, holding it for close observation. According to the True Buddha, within the Buddha’s Relic lies the power and memory of the Buddha. So, it should be more potent compared to the power inside a Buddha’s bone relic. However, how to use this power within the Buddha’s Relic remained a question.

Earlier, Ye Qing saw the True Buddha gently flick this Buddha’s Relic, and it gradually emitted golden light. Ye Qing tried flicking it several times, yet the Buddha’s Relic remained silent. Not even a faint beam flashed. Apparently, controlling this Buddha’s Relic isn’t so simple. At least, unlike the Buddha’s bone relic, the power within cannot be easily borrowed.

Looking at the unchanged Buddha’s Relic, Ye Qing was somewhat surprised. Could it be that the Buddha’s Relic is only meant for finding the Buddha’s Golden Body? Also, Ye Qing couldn’t fathom why this Buddha’s Relic appeared outside the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master in the underground river?

Logically, since Ghost Valley Master left the Taoist Sovereign in his tomb, he surely knew about the Buddha’s Relic. Yet, the Buddha’s Relic was hidden in the underground river—it can’t be that Ghost Valley Master was unaware, can it? Logically, the Buddha’s Relic should hold more importance than the Buddha’s bone relic. Ghost Valley Master constructing such a Great Tomb, surely dominated the surrounding geography. If the Buddha’s Relic was in the underground river, he couldn’t possibly not know.

Ye Qing was keenly aware that Ghost Valley Master wouldn’t place the Buddha’s Relic in the underground river if he knew. After all, the chance for Buddha’s Relic to be discovered there is quite low.

And since the Buddha’s Relic stayed underwater, never retrieved by Ghost Valley Master, it highlights a crucial point: Ghost Valley Master was unaware of the Buddha’s Relic in the underground river. If Ghost Valley Master didn’t know, the Buddha’s Relic entrancing the underground must have happened after Ghost Valley Master completed the Tomb.

Once this Buddha’s Relic surfaces, it will surely draw pursuit by all. No one obtaining it would discard it in the underground river. Thus, its presence in the river must have some unknown reason. In fact, Ye Qing had a vague notion that it probably linked to the Immovable Bodhisattva Seal. After all, in the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, the only thing connected to the Buddhist Sect was that seal!

Could it be this Buddha’s Relic was leftover when the Immovable King Supreme Bodhisattva subdued an evil demon years ago?

Ye Qing, holding the Buddha’s Relic, lay on the bed, idly speculating. These days, he was indeed far too exhausted. Soon after, he gradually fell asleep.

Shortly after Ye Qing drifted into slumber, the previously dull Buddha’s Relic slowly emitted a golden light, enveloping Ye Qing.

Just as the golden light began to shine, the Taoist Sovereign on Ye Qing’s right hand also radiated a cyan light. Like the Buddha’s Relic’s golden light, this light also wrapped Ye Qing. In the darkness, these two lights intersected, seeming to compete or clash, with their battleground being Ye Qing’s body.