Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing had heard from Old Lin Tou before that those who practiced Neijia Kung Fu year-round indeed possessed Inner Strength.

External Kung Fu trains the physique, which can enhance a person’s physical strength. It’s like someone who was initially only able to lift fifty pounds. But after intense training, gradually they can lift eighty pounds. This is called External Kung Fu.

As for Neijia Kung Fu, it is said to be the practice of cultivating Inner Strength. To develop Inner Strength, one needs to spend a long time. But once accomplished, Inner Strength flows like a torrential river, overwhelming and far stronger than the power of External Kung Fu.

Thinking back to that moment when the old man pressed his shoulder, Ye Qing couldn’t help but be secretly alarmed. How could such an elderly person possess such tremendous strength? It must have been the use of Inner Strength!

Ye Qing flipped through the book and was astounded to discover that the book primarily described the meridians and acupoints in the human body. Among these descriptions, there were also markings on how to cultivate Inner Strength and the functions and effects of each acupoint. In other words, this book was actually a manual on the cultivation of Neijia Kung Fu!

On the last page of the book, a few lines were written—each acupoint has its use. In the hands of a martial artist, they can injure people. In the hands of a healer, they can save people. To harm or to save, all is in a thought!

Ye Qing carefully pondered this last line. Just as stated above, the book listed seventy-two acupoints of the human body, quite comprehensive. Among these, thirty-six were marked as fatal acupoints, and these acupoints were incorporated into the Special Forces combat techniques Ye Qing had learned.

Striking these acupoints with the appropriate force could knock someone unconscious or even cause death, achieving an incapacitating effect!

However, the book also explained that these thirty-six fatal acupoints were simultaneously life acupoints, places that could greatly stimulate a person’s Life Force. If properly utilized, they could also be used to save lives.

Just as the book said, to harm or to save, all is in a thought.

Since he began learning martial arts from Old Li Tou, Ye Qing had been quite interested in this. It was boring to spend the night here anyway, so he went through the entire book several times with a flashlight in hand, memorizing most of the content. The key acupoints were now clearly understood.

At dawn, Ye Qing packed up his things, wrapped the book back up again, descended the mountain, had breakfast in a nearby village, and then hurried to the county bus station, prepared to catch a bus heading south.

Ye Qing originally wanted to bid farewell to his father Ye Changwen, but with so many things erupting just within a day’s return, he didn’t want to head back home again.

By the time he reached the bus station, it was nearly noon, and the sun was very hot. The place was crowded with people carrying large and small bags. Dressed in his military uniform, Ye Qing was quite noticeable among the crowd.

Just as Ye Qing approached the ticket window, he was shocked to see his father Ye Changwen standing there. The ticket window offered no shade, and under the blazing sun, Ye Changwen was sweating profusely and anxiously scanning the surroundings. Upon seeing Ye Qing, his face lit up in relief, and he hurried over.

Seeing his father like this, Ye Qing felt a pang in his heart. He walked over and said, ”Dad, why are you here?”

”You kid, why are you so stubborn!” Ye Changwen wiped the sweat from his forehead and said, ”You come home just once in five years, you haven’t even eaten a meal at home, and now you’re leaving again?”

Ye Qing said, ”Dad, it’s fine. Xiao Jun’s matter needs to be addressed immediately; if we’re late, it might be troublesome!”

”It’s been two years; one more day won’t matter!” Ye Changwen grabbed the luggage from Ye Qing’s hands and said, ”No matter what, you are not leaving today. Your aunt said, no matter what, I must bring you back home, at least stay one night before you leave. Qingzi, your aunt really cares about you. Don’t be childish anymore, all right?”

”Dad!” Ye Qing wanted to say more, but Ye Changwen had already picked up the luggage and walked away.

Ye Qing followed, his eyes slightly red as he looked at his father’s stooped figure.

In the end, Ye Qing still followed Ye Changwen back home. At that time, Zhou Hongxia and Yuan Xiaoyu were anxiously waiting at home.

Seeing Ye Changwen bring Ye Qing back, both were overjoyed and immediately came out to greet him.

”Qingzi, you’ve finally come back!” Zhou Hongxia’s voice was tinged with sobs, not out of concern for Ye Qing, but for the apartment that was almost within grasp and Yuan Xiaoyu’s job.

Fifth Brother Yang had promised to let Yuan Xiaoyu manage a store in the future, an opportunity that came once in a lifetime, like a dream come true. But if Ye Qing did not attend the banquet, things might turn out differently, and how could she not be anxious?

Yuan Xiaoyu was even more anxious, as both issues were crucially linked to her.

”Where did you go last night, don’t you know...” Yuan Xiaoyu began screaming, preparing to scold Ye Qing as she had in the past, but Zhou Hongxia pulled her away.

Yuan Xiaoyu, used to being domineering, had always belittled Ye Qing. Now restrained by her mother, she remembered that Ye Qing was key to her job, and quickly tempered her haughty air, urgently saying, ”Don’t you know how worried Uncle was about you?”

Ye Qing hung his head and said nothing; he had indeed felt awful last night and hadn’t considered much else. Seeing his father today, he began to feel guilt.

”Alright, let’s not talk about that now. Qingzi is back, and that’s what matters most!” Ye Changwen said, ”Come on, Hongxia, go buy groceries and cook!”

”Oh, about that...” Zhou Hongxia hesitated for a moment and said, ”Well, I had Xiao Yu call and make a reservation for a table outside. Let’s go there to eat!”

”What?” Ye Changwen was startled and unaware of the meal Fifth Brother Yang was organizing for Ye Qing.

”Why go out and waste money? It’s much cheaper to eat at home,” Ye Changwen said.

”Oh, Qingzi only comes back once every five years, who cares about the money!” Zhou Hongxia waved her hand dismissively and started pushing Ye Changwen out, ”Come on, let’s hurry over, Qingzi must be hungry!”

Ye Changwen couldn’t argue with her and could only follow her out. As long as his family was harmonious, Ye Qing didn’t really care where they ate.

Yuan Xiaoyu was the most anxious one. To get Ye Changwen to bring Ye Qing back, she and her mother had not dared to tell Ye Changwen the truth. Now saying they were going to a hotel for dinner was just an excuse to trick Ye Qing into attending Old Fifth Yang’s banquet. Yet now, she was in too deep and didn’t know how to get Ye Qing to join Old Fifth Yang’s table for dinner.

Zhou Hongxia dragged Ye Changwen to the most luxurious Triumphal Arch in the county, standing at the entrance, Ye Changwen immediately shook his head and gestured opposition, ”No, no, it’s too expensive, way too expensive!”

”It’s not expensive, it won’t cost much!”

Zhou Hongxia was exerting herself trying to pull Ye Changwen inside; usually, they wouldn’t even dare to look too long at such a place.

”Mr. Ye, you’re here!”

Just then, a warm voice came through. Dressed lavishly, Lin Mengjie emerged from the doorway, quickly walked up to Ye Qing, and smiled, ”You’ve finally arrived, Fifth Brother has been waiting for you for a long time!”

Ye Qing slightly frowned, and Ye Changwen next to him was also startled and said, ”What... what’s this about?”

”Uncle Ye, you’re here too, come on in, please,” Lin Mengjie said with a smile.

Ye Changwen was no fool; he figured out the situation in an instant and immediately turned to Zhou Hongxia, angry, ”What is this all about?”

Zhou Hongxia shuddered in fear and hurriedly said, ”Old Ye, don’t get agitated, let me explain it slowly...”

”What’s there to explain? You were so keen on me fetching Qingzi, turns out there was an ulterior motive!” Ye Changwen glared, ”Zhou Hongxia, what do you even consider Qingzi as!”

Zhou Hongxia was quite embarrassed, whispering, ”Old Ye, let’s not argue here, it won’t look good. Let’s go inside, and I’ll explain everything later, okay?”

Ye Changwen furiously said, ”What is there to explain? Qingzi has been back for less than a day and you mother and daughter have already stirred up so much trouble. Even when Qingzi wanted to leave, you still couldn’t let him go, are you two even human?”

”How can you talk like that!” Zhou Hongxia snapped back, ”It’s all for the sake of this family! If Qingzi doesn’t come to eat, what about our compensation? If Qingzi doesn’t come, what about Xiao Yu’s job? It’s just a meal, what’s the big deal?”

”You still have the nerve to say that!” Ye Changwen trembled with rage.

Ye Qing stood silently by, already understanding the situation. He walked over to Ye Changwen’s side, gently clapped his shoulder, and said, ”Dad, don’t be angry. Auntie is right; she is also doing this for the family!”

”She’s doing it for the family, but she has never considered you!” Ye Changwen sighed deeply, ”Qingzi, if you don’t want to get involved with these people, you don’t have to go!”

”Dad, I’m not a child anymore, I know what to do!” Ye Qing supported Ye Changwen, ”I didn’t buy anything for you when I came back, nor did I treat Auntie and Xiao Yu to a meal. Let this one be my treat!”

Lin Mengjie, who was already very embarrassed by the side, was overjoyed to hear Ye Qing say this and hurriedly said, ”Mr. Ye, please come inside quickly. Uncle Ye, don’t be angry, Auntie really did it for the family!”

As Ye Qing and the others entered the hotel lobby, a waiter immediately greeted them, knowing how to attend to them after seeing Lin Mengjie.

”Mr. Zhao, is everyone here? Shall we serve the food now?” the waiter asked.

”Yes, prepare the dishes!” Lin Mengjie smiled faintly, supporting Ye Changwen on one side, ”Mr. Ye, Fifth Brother is upstairs in the Supreme room. I’ll take you up!”

”No need!” Ye Qing shook his head, assisting Ye Changwen to a table nearby.

”Mr. Ye, what are you doing?” Lin Mengjie was very surprised, Zhou Hongxia and Yuan Xiaoyu looked even more anxious; was Ye Qing not planning to attend the banquet?

Ye Qing said, ”This meal, I’m treating my family, it’s not appropriate to go anywhere else. If Boss Yang has anything to discuss, he can come down to talk!”

Zhou Hongxia and Yuan Xiaoyu were highly distressed. Old Fifth Yang was hosting a banquet, and you refuse to go up but instead set up a banquet below for him to come down? Isn’t that too audacious?

However, neither dared to reproach Ye Qing. After all, he was the brother of Old Fifth Yang, and they still relied on Ye Qing!

Lin Mengjie felt awkward but dared not trouble Ye Qing, so she could only go upstairs to inform Old Fifth Yang about the situation.