Urban Martial Saint

Just after five o’clock, Ye Qing got up. Fortunately, there was a small river nearby the industrial area, so Ye Qing fetched some water to wash up before starting his morning exercises in the industrial area.

When Ye Qing was in the military, morning exercises consisted of running with a load. Now, in this place, he no longer had military equipment. Ye Qing made a round and found a discarded piece of iron in a factory building. He weighed it, and it was roughly twenty to thirty pounds, similar to the weight he was accustomed to carrying in the military.

Ye Qing tied the piece of iron to his body and ran around the industrial area for a total of five laps, approximately thirty kilometers, before he finally put down the iron block.

After running thirty kilometers, Ye Qing’s clothes were soaked through, but he felt more energetic. He found a horizontal beam and started doing pull-ups, alternating hands, and kept at it for nearly an hour before finally stopping. Even for him, such intense training left him a bit out of breath at this moment.

After such a rigorous workout, Ye Qing didn’t stop but continued to practice a set of fist techniques in an open space. Only after finishing the fist practice did he take a long breath, fetch a set of clothes, shower in the river, change into new clothes, and pack the dirty ones away.

Ye Qing had also scoped out the industrial area that morning; the surroundings were overgrown with wild grass, indicating that it was a long time since anyone had been there. The place was suitable for Ye Qing to live in, and he found a relatively hidden spot to store his luggage before heading lightly toward the city center.

The early morning in Shenchuan City was busy and lively; a new day was starting, and a new struggle was about to begin.

Ye Qing walked among the crowd, his green military uniform starkly out of place. However, no one gave him a second glance — such was the nature of Shenchuan City. Everyone was busy with their own business; who had time to concern themselves with others?

Ye Qing bought eight buns and, with some cold water, ate them to fill his stomach. By this time, the streets were no longer as busy as before; the office workers had already taken their seats in their offices, and there were fewer people on the streets.

Ye Qing looked at the bus signs and made his way to Wuyan Square in Fenghua District of Shenchuan City. It was there that his relative had last seen Ye Jun, who was supposedly begging in that area at the time.

Ye Qing walked around the square a couple of times, encountering quite a few beggars. However, he did not see anyone who bore even the slightest resemblance to his brother.

The square was filled with disabled people of various kinds: some without hands, some without legs, others without both, sitting on four-wheeled wooden boards with a pot beside them, asking for alms from passersby.

Most of these people were filthy, looking very miserable.

Seeing these individuals, Ye Qing couldn’t help but think of his own brother. Was he also crawling on the ground, begging desperately to survive, like these people? But how could he have ended up like this?

Looking at the disabled, Ye Qing felt a hidden pain in his heart, but it also strengthened his resolve to find his brother.

As noon approached, Ye Qing ordered a plate of fried rice from a small stall at the edge of the square. The fried rice cost seven yuan, a price that made Ye Qing wince a little. How long would his money last if he kept spending like this?

As Ye Qing was bowed over his meal, a tender voice suddenly came from beside him.

”Uncle, please have pity on me. I haven’t eaten for days, please spare me some change,” the voice said.

Ye Qing turned and saw a dirty little girl standing beside him. She appeared to be about six or seven years old, frail, and her pale face suggested malnutrition. Her hair was tangled, with a smear of blood on her forehead. Above her ragged appearance, a pair of big eyes shimmered with endless fear and panic, as if she was terrified by the world.

”Scram! Get lost, or I’ll break your damn legs! Who the hell let you come here, interfering with my business?” the stall owner waved a ladle to chase the girl away, his eyes full of disgust and not a trace of sympathy.

The little girl shrank back in fear, but was reluctant to leave, gazing hopefully at Ye Qing.

Ye Qing stood up to protect the girl and said, ”Boss, she’s just a child, there’s no need for that!”

”Ah, young man, you don’t know,” the boss said irritably. ”Look at her, all filthy like that, it makes customers lose their appetite to eat. She comes here every day, disturbing the customers too much. If this continues, how am I supposed to do business?”

”But she’s just a child!” Ye Qing turned to the little girl and asked, ”What would you like to eat?”

”Young man, don’t bother,” the boss replied. ”You give them something, and they will never eat it; they just want money.”

Ye Qing looked at the little girl, who shook her head and said softly, ”Uncle, please spare me some change...”

Ye Qing was surprised. Wasn’t she very hungry? But why wouldn’t she say what she wanted to eat?

”Will you eat this?” Ye Qing offered the fried rice to the little girl, who shook her head, picked up her bowl, and said softly, ”Uncle, please spare me some change...”

The bowl was filled with money; it was clear she only wanted cash.

Ye Qing, feeling helpless, pulled out a yuan and threw it into the bowl; the girl immediately left, overjoyed.

”You see, I told you,” the boss said with a shrug. ”Young man, you must be new here. Don’t worry about it too much. Having compassion is right, but it has to be directed at the right people, doesn’t it?”

”Why is it like this?” Ye Qingqi asked.

”Ah,” the boss sighed but said nothing more.

Ye Qing was puzzled, looking at the little girl walking away and feeling a touch of sadness in his heart. She was only six or seven years old; how had she become so fixated on money?

Ye Qing sighed softly, turned to the boss, and suddenly asked, ”Boss, how long have you been working here?”

”It’s been over two years.”

”Have you seen this man?” Ye Qing took out his brother’s photo and looked at the owner with hopeful eyes.

The owner glanced at it and asked in surprise, ”Does he work around here?”

Ye Qing grew silent for a moment, then said softly, ”He used to beg here...”

”Ah?” The owner’s eyes widened in disbelief as he looked at Ye Qing.

Ye Qing urged, ”Someone saw him here half a year ago. You’re here every day, you must have seen him, right?”

”This...” The owner looked at Ye Qing and asked, ”Are you his... his relative?”

”He’s my brother!” Ye Qing said.

The owner took another look at Ye Qing, sighed, and then said, ”Young man, did you come here to find him?”

”Yes!”

The owner shook his head and advised, ”I think you’d better give up on looking!”

”Why?” Ye Qing was surprised.

”What would it matter if you found him? He might already be a cripple by now, without an arm or a leg, and he’d just be a burden when taken home,” the owner paused and said in a low voice, ”Besides, even if you find him, you won’t be able to take him away!”

”Why?” Ye Qing suddenly stood up, looking at the owner excitedly, ”You... you’ve seen him?”

”I haven’t seen him!” The owner shook his head.

”Then what... what do you mean by saying this?” Ye Qing pressed.

The owner raised his head and looked at the beggars in the distance, saying, ”Young man, you haven’t been in Shenchuan City for long, have you?”

”I just got here yesterday.”

”No wonder,” the owner said. ”Did you not find it strange after making a round here? Why are all the beggars here disabled?”

Ye Qing urged, ”Why?”

The owner sighed again, speaking softly, ”Young man, I can’t speak frankly, but you’ll understand if you observe carefully. However, I advise you not to take this too seriously. Otherwise, you’ll get yourself into big trouble!”

”Why is that?” Ye Qing asked again, sensing there was more to the owner’s words.

”As I said, I shouldn’t say too much,” the owner seemed wary, ”Don’t ask any more, talking too much can cause trouble.”

Ye Qing stated resolutely, ”I’m not afraid of trouble!”

”But I am!” the owner waved his hands repeatedly, ”Don’t bring your troubles to me!”

Ye Qing, looking at the fearful face of the owner, was even more puzzled. What was going on with these beggars, and why was he so cautious?

Without further questioning, Ye Qing now knew that there was definitely something wrong with the beggars.

After eating, Ye Qing walked around the square again and suddenly noticed something. Though the beggars seemed to be independent of each other, in fact, there were people watching over them. There were at least three people in the square keeping an eye on all the beggars.

Shock filled Ye Qing’s heart. Could this be the reason behind the owner’s apprehensions? Were these beggars actually organized?

Ye Qing couldn’t help but think of his brother, Ye Jun. Could it be possible that his brother was being forced to beg here?

This thought ignited a fiery anger within Ye Qing, and his eyes suddenly filled with a murderous intent.

During his long military service, almost all of his superiors were clear about one thing. If Ye Qing had lived in an era of war, his military talents could have been perfectly utilized, but he would never have made an outstanding leader. For Ye Qing carried too heavy a killing aura!

During his years on the border, Ye Qing had completed more missions than anyone else in his military region. However, the rate at which he captured bandits alive was the lowest in the entire military region. Many of those desperate criminals were killed by his own hands!

What kind of methods would such a man use for retaliation if his bottom line was touched?

And brother Ye Jun, he was undoubtedly one of Ye Qing’s most critical bottom lines!