Urban Martial Saint

Just as Ye Qing was helplessly looking at the Taoist Sovereign on his wrist, a series of thumping footsteps suddenly came from downstairs. Ye Qing heard it very clearly, it was indeed Black Bear’s footsteps, only Black Bear’s large frame would make such sounds on the stairs.

Ye Qing immediately stood up from the sofa and ran outside in a hurry. Since Black Bear had returned, it meant that the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance people had returned too, Ye Qing was waiting for them.

Just as he reached the door, Ye Qing heard the familiar voice of Old Chen from downstairs: ”Hey, big guy, why are you so impolite? It’s one thing to come in without a greeting, but making such a ruckus? Didn’t you see I was drinking soup? You running around like this, stirring up the dust, what if it gets into my bowl? What’s with the people here? I’m Ye Qing’s big brother, and I’m a guest here. Is this how you treat guests? You upturned the dust into my bowl and didn’t even say sorry, that’s too rude, isn’t it?”

Listening to Old Chen’s words, Ye Qing couldn’t help but curse inwardly, this old guy is really shameless. Calling everyone his big brother, clearly abusing power under false pretenses. With Black Bear’s straightforward nature, he’s bound to be fooled.

Sure enough, just as Ye Qing expected, before he could go out, Black Bear’s naive yet puzzled voice came from outside: ”I... I’m sorry, I... I didn’t mean it...”

Ye Qing was speechless for a moment, Black Bear is just too honest, not at all like Zhao Chengshuang or Li Lianshan. When Old Chen acted like a big shot in front of Zhao and Li, they were skeptical but never apologized to Old Chen. Black Bear is straightforward, doesn’t think about whether Old Chen is being truthful, probably really believes Old Chen is Ye Qing’s big brother, hence the apology.

Old Chen: ”Ah, that’s better. Youth, acknowledging mistakes and correcting, that’s promising. You’re not bad, much better than those two shameless guys from this morning. Making a mistake and apologizing shows you have remorse. It’s not frightening to make mistakes, but to not know how to fix them. You’re very good, apologizing right after realizing, this...”

Ye Qing just happened to walk out of the second-floor room, seeing Black Bear standing at the stairway looking confused and helpless. Old Chen was still in the dining area, one hand on his waist, the other pointing at Black Bear, nagging away. Behind him, the dining table had a pile of desserts again.

It’s already past two o’clock now, Ye Qing returned when it was past eleven, meaning Old Chen has been having lunch for over three hours, and still not finished. And most importantly, Old Chen was eating here when Ye Qing left in the morning, and still in the dining room when he returned. Ye Qing genuinely suspects, this old guy hasn’t left the table the entire morning, has been eating for half the day here. If that’s the case, how much food can this old geezer eat?

Seeing Ye Qing come out, Old Chen obviously trembled a bit, didn’t dare to play the big bad wolf anymore, hurriedly muttered: ”Alright, that’s it, you guys carry on.”

After speaking, Old Chen turned and sat at the dining table, grabbing a handful of desserts and stuffing them into his mouth. Being exposed while showing off, he was rather embarrassed for once.

Black Bear initially came in eagerly wanting to see Ye Qing, but after being nagged by Old Chen, he seemed not yet fully recovered, looked at Ye Qing with a bewildered face, completely flustered by Old Chen’s blabber.

Black Bear pointed at Old Chen, and whispered: ”Captain, who’s this...?”

”An old bum scrounging for food, ignore him!” Ye Qing waved his hand directly, signaling Black Bear to come upstairs first.

”Hey, how can you say that? Who’s scrounging for food? Who’s old? Who’s a bum? Come down and explain...” Old Chen started cursing, hands on hips downstairs, but Ye Qing had already closed the second-floor room door, completely ignoring this old fellow’s nonsense.

Black Bear was still bewildered, followed Ye Qing into the second-floor living room, still curious.

”Captain, who’s that old bum outside?” Listening to the constant shouting outside, Black Bear couldn’t help but ask.

Knowing Black Bear’s nature, Ye Qing knew Black Bear was too straightforward and would believe whatever Old Chen said. If Ye Qing didn’t explain Old Chen’s identity clearly, Black Bear would definitely be fooled in circles by him in the future. So, he briefly told Black Bear about Old Chen’s background, and of course, mentioned Old Chen’s trick to get free meals and drinks here.

After listening to Ye Qing, Black Bear suddenly understood: ”Oh, so just like Old Wang Ba, another conman scrounging for food!”

Black Bear didn’t know much about Old Wang Ba, in his eyes, Old Wang Ba was just a Jianghu crook conning for food and drink. So, he directly categorized Old Chen as the same type as Old Wang Ba.

Ye Qing didn’t rebut either, although he already knew Old Wang Ba’s divination skills were strong, in his heart, he still felt Old Wang Ba was a mere conman. Saying Old Chen is just like him is somewhat insulting Old Wang Ba. Despite Old Wang Ba’s shamelessness and scamming, at least he wasn’t nagging nor as lecherous as Old Chen. This Old Chen is far worse, and with no skills either, while Old Wang Ba at least can perform divinations.

”By the way, did you come back alone?” Ye Qing looked at Black Bear, and asked: ”What about General Helian and the others?”

”The Great General and the others are almost back. But, after hearing about your return, many people at Chatiang Peak are coming over now, wanting the items from the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master.” Black Bear said, ”The Great General let me come back first to give you a heads-up, so you won’t be caught in a scramble not knowing how to handle it.”

Ye Qing frowned slightly, he originally thought Helian Tiehua and the others would hurry back to Shenchuan City first, so he could discuss this matter with them. But now it seems he didn’t even have the chance to discuss it with them. The Great General and the others are probably being followed closely by those peak masters, and when they reach Shenchuan City, those peak masters would surely arrive as well. So, how to handle this matter, is solely Ye Qing’s problem.

Ye Qing knew well that actually there’s not much inside the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master. Although there’s the power of Primal Mysterious Body left, he couldn’t utilize it after absorbing it. If possible, he wanted to pass this power to others, but he couldn’t do it. The rest includes the words left behind by Ghost Valley Master on the stele and that Taoist Sovereign string. As for that Taoist Sovereign, just like the Primal Mysterious Body power, Ye Qing wanted to take it down, but he couldn’t.

The words left on the stele, Ye Qing was definitely going to announce to the world. After all, there’s no Taoist Sect Secret Manual on the stele, but is a big secret about Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, Ye Qing was preparing to spread this news to stop people from opening Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. Yet, for the time being, Ye Qing couldn’t spread the contents on the stele because he still needed to use the items in the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master to save Huangfu Ziyu. If Iga-ryu learned Ye Qing actually got nothing from the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, then Huangfu Ziyu would be in danger. So, Ye Qing couldn’t yet reveal that he didn’t get anything from the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, presenting the most troublesome issue currently.

He couldn’t tell the true situation inside the Tomb of Ghost Valley Master, as these peak masters wouldn’t let him off easily, definitely pressuring him to hand over the items from the tomb. Consequently, the situation is tricky, he needs to think of a way to deal with it, otherwise, without waiting for Heaven Earth Man Three Gates to open, chaos would erupt first in Shenchuan City.

Helian Tiehua had Black Bear relay the message to Ye Qing, essentially advising Ye Qing to quickly find a solution to this matter. Otherwise, when these people arrive, it would be tougher for Ye Qing to devise a coping strategy.

Pacing back and forth for a while, Ye Qing turned to look at Black Bear: ”How soon can these people reach Shenchuan City?”

”Based on timing, they should be able to arrive in Shenchuan City by tonight!” Black Bear replied.

”How many people? Who are the forces present? How many peak masters?” Ye Qing asked again, to assess the strength comparison before making a decision.

”The situation is quite tricky, there are over twenty different forces. Most of them are family forces like Shen Family Manor, the strongest being the Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance and Twelve Green Halls.” At this, Black Bear paused, and in a low voice said: ”However, there is one force that seems somewhat special.”

”How are they special?” Ye Qing asked curiously.

Black Bear said: ”This force consists of only five people. Yet among so many forces, their presence is the most imposing. Even Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance and Twelve Green Halls dare not offend them casually!”

Ye Qing immediately furrowed his brow, over twenty forces, combined there are at least dozens of peak masters. Yet in such a situation, a force consisting only of five people holds the strongest presence, even the most powerful Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance and Twelve Green Halls don’t dare offend them, this is quite strange. Whether it’s the strength of these five people or their backing that is formidable?

”Do we know where these people are from?” Ye Qing inquired.

Black Bear thought for a moment, said: ”Seven Rudders of Hong Alliance and Twelve Green Halls seem to have some fear of them, reluctant to mention them. But yesterday, they clashed with Shen Family Manor, injuring three members of the Shen Family, Southern Fist King nearly fought with them, but was stopped by Seven Rudders, preventing things from escalating. During this period, I learned of their origin, they seem to be from a sect called Sword Saint Sect!”