Urban Martial Saint

Black Bear and Zhao Chengshuang looked at each other and said, ”Don’t ask us, we didn’t do anything like this last night.”

”I know, I was with you guys last night. When you got home, it was exactly when Boss Lin was attacked. Even if you wanted to go, there wouldn’t have been enough time,” Zhao Chengshuang frowned and said, ”But even though I believe you, the Lin family might not.”

”What the hell is wrong with these Lin family people? Last time, the captain risked his life to protect that Lin Huayu, and they still treated him like he was negligent. He just wanted to help rescue someone, but they kept getting in the way.

When he finally managed to save the person, they were still so difficult, accusing the captain of colluding with the robbers and forcing him to resign!” Black Bear complained angrily, ”They can say whatever they want, but now that the captain has resigned, they still won’t let him be. These bastards, it’s too much bullying!”

Zhao Chengshuang sat there awkwardly and said, ”There’s nothing we can do; every family has some unreasonable people. The Lin family is no different, but don’t worry, my uncle is very reasonable. As long as he doesn’t speak out, the others in the Lin family wouldn’t dare to do anything to Ye Zi!”

Black Bear said, ”It’s not about whether they dare or not. The key issue is we’ve done so much for them, and it’s bad enough they don’t appreciate it. Now they even want to pin this on us. If I really went and attacked Boss Lin, would he still just be lying in a hospital? He’d be in the morgue by now!”

”Xiong Zi!” Ye Qing interrupted Black Bear, saying, ”As a person, it’s enough to have a clear conscience, don’t mind what others say.”

Black Bear continued, ”I just can’t swallow this resentment; what a damn family, all worthless crap!”

Zhao Chengshuang sat beside them, feeling extremely uncomfortable. After all, he was a relative of the Lin family. When Black Bear cursed like that, it didn’t look good on him either.

”By the way, Ye Zi, there’s something I’d like to discuss with you,” Zhao Chengshuang changed the subject, ”The international thief, He Ziqiang, has entered Shenchuan City and pulled off two big heists, causing a huge stir in the province.

He Ziqiang is a renowned international thief, and the Xiangjiang Police have sent officers to Shenchuan City, hoping to cooperate with us to catch him once and for all. Given your last pinpoint capture of He Ziqiang’s whereabouts, the city police department would like to ask for your assistance on this case.

If we can catch He Ziqiang, it would be a great honor for the Shenchuan police, and a testament to the investigative capabilities of our country’s law enforcement officers!”

Ye Qing asked, ”What exactly do you mean by ’assistance’?”

”This...” Zhao Chengshuang scratched his head and said, ”This case will be the first collaboration between the Shenchuan police and the Xiangjiang police. Officially, we in Shenchuan have the initiative, but the provincial department has also made it clear that we need to leave a good impression on the Xiangjiang police.

So, the handling of the case will involve both parties working together, after fully listening to the Xiangjiang police’s suggestions, then...”

Black Bear impatiently said, ”Why all this talk? Just give us a team, and we’ll catch He Ziqiang for you, isn’t that enough!”

Zhao Chengshuang broke into a sweat. He Ziqiang was an international thief, and even with all the effort from Xiangjiang police, they hadn’t been able to catch him. Now, after two big heists in Shenchuan City, the local police had not been able to track him either. Catching him was extremely difficult, and Black Bear was making it sound so simple.

If it was that easy, He Ziqiang wouldn’t be an international thief.

”Catching him will likely involve cooperation with the police, where your role would be mainly to assist,” Zhao Chengshuang said, ”The Shenchuan City police have already appointed a Deputy Director to be in charge of this case. You just need to support them and if He Ziqiang is caught, the department will commend you for it!”

Ye Qing fell silent for a moment, then shook his head and said, ”I’m not interested!”

”Why not?” Zhao Chengshuang’s eyes widened in surprise and he asked, ”This is a great opportunity. Director Deng personally suggested it, and it’s been agreed upon by several leaders at the city bureau. Whether you help or not, just showing up will earn you recognition later on. Where else can you find such a deal? Ye Zi, don’t be foolish!”

”Catching He Ziqiang won’t be easy,” Ye Qing replied, staring at Zhao Chengshuang. ”Working with the police makes it even harder!”

”Damn, I don’t like the sound of that!” Zhao Chengshuang retorted indignantly, ”What are you saying, that our police are just bumpkins? That having us there will make it harder to catch him?”

Ye Qing didn’t say a word, just quietly looked at Zhao Chengshuang. Muttering to himself for a while, Zhao Chengshuang eventually said helplessly, ”Alright, alright, I admit that our people are more likely to mess things up than succeed. But this is our first collaboration with the Xiangjiang police, a chance to build a positive image of Huaxia’s police force.

If we don’t make a good showing, it could reflect poorly on our country’s image. Ye Zi, you’re a soldier after all; you can’t disregard the nation’s image like that!”

That made Ye Qing reflect for a moment before inquiring, ”When does the case start?”

Seeing Ye Qing’s tone soften, Zhao Chengshuang immediately perked up, saying, ”The officers from Xiangjiang will be arriving in Shenchuan City soon, and the case will get underway in the next few days. Just wait for my notification, Ye Zi.”

”I’m busy tomorrow,” Ye Qing replied.

”What’s up?” Zhao Chengshuang asked curiously.

Ye Qing didn’t say anything because tomorrow was the day when Boss Lin’s men were due to return to Shenchuan City with the drugs. That is, his brother Ye Jun was about to return to Shenchuan City. Ye Qing’s main purpose in coming to Shenchuan City was to find his brother. Tomorrow night’s event was of paramount importance to him; nothing could delay this matter!

”Okay, as long as you’re willing to help, any time is fine,” said Zhao Chengshuang.

”But I have one condition!” Black Bear said, ”During the action, the team leader must have command authority. Otherwise, even if we do help, given the quality of you policemen, don’t even think about arresting that He Ziqiang!”

”This…” Zhao Chengshuang was a bit embarrassed. The operation was led by the Deputy Director of the City Bureau, and even Deng Liyang couldn’t make such a promise to Ye Qing. And for Ye Qing to take the Deputy Director’s command authority, how could that be possible?

”If that’s not acceptable, then we might as well not go. It’d be just our luck to fail to catch anyone again and have you say it was because we dragged you down,” Black Bear said.

Zhao Chengshuang glanced at Ye Qing and, seeing that he didn’t say anything, could only respond, ”I will try my best to argue your case with the senior officials. However, you also need to understand our position. The police force has rules and a system. The operation is led by the Deputy Director of the City Bureau, at the very least, you should show him some respect!”

”Hmph, I only respect the team leader!” Black Bear said, clearly unwilling, ”In those years on the border, it was always the police who assisted us. There has never been a police force that needed our assistance. The team leader has never failed in leading our actions; I only listen to the team leader. You worthless police, you only mess things up!”

”Alright, alright, I will go and communicate with the higher-ups, isn’t that good enough!” Zhao Chengshuang gave Black Bear a sidelong glance and said, ”You really are something, the way you talk leaves no face for us policemen at all. I can’t believe I treated you to such an expensive breakfast; the least you could do is to consider my feelings a bit and not be so blunt, right?”

Black Bear stiffened his neck and said, ”That’s just the way I am!”

Zhao Chengshuang was half dead with anger but could do nothing about Black Bear; he could only helplessly wave his hand and say, ”Forget it, let’s not talk about this anymore. I’m going back to report this to the superiors. As soon as there’s news, I will notify you immediately, and all you need to do is to show up.”

Seeing that Zhao Chengshuang was about to leave, Ye Qing suddenly said in a deep voice, ”Pass a message for me to President Lin; tell him to be careful with Boss Lin.”

”Why?” asked Zhao Chengshuang, surprised.

”I suspect...” Ye Qing frowned slightly and said, ”I suspect he’s colluding with He Ziqiang?”

”What?” Zhao Chengshuang nearly fell to the ground, saying anxiously, ”How could that be possible? Though Boss Lin is ruthless, he is, at the very least, a member of the Lin family. It’s the Lin family who has been protecting him all this time. How could he possibly collude with He Ziqiang to undermine the Lin family?

Besides, no matter how ruthless he is, he wouldn’t do something as unfilial as that.”

Ye Qing said, ”Just pass on the message. Believe it or not, that’s up to you. I’m just fulfilling my responsibility.”

”How can I pass on such a message?” Zhao Chengshuang’s face was full of helplessness; even he didn’t believe it, let alone the members of the Lin family.

Leaving the teahouse, Zhao Chengshuang pondered Ye Qing’s words all the way to the bureau. Just before arriving, he suddenly stretched out his hand and patted the driver in front, saying in a deep voice, ”Go to the Lin family first.”

Many people had gathered at the Lin family today, as there had been many recent incidents involving them. First, it was Lin Huayu who had been kidnapped, followed by Lin Yashi being abducted and coming back with serious injuries. Last night, Boss Lin had been attacked, and if Boss Lin hadn’t run fast, he would have almost lost his life.

All these events piled up, giving the Lin family members a sudden sense of crisis, feeling that someone was targeting them. Thus, the family was sitting together, discussing the matter in a clamor.

Zhao Chengshuang entered the Lin residence under these circumstances, meeting the unwelcoming faces of the Lin family members.

Lin Yaqing looked Zhao Chengshuang up and down and said, ”Oh, Cheng Shuang, you no longer need to rest at the hospital today? What, have you had a pang of conscience and decided to check on Tianhao? Whenever that Ye guy has the slightest issue, you’re all too eager to help. Last night Tianhao almost got killed, yet I didn’t see you leading a team to arrest those bandits.

Oh, but then again, I forgot, you’re not a Lin, so how could we possibly trouble you, such a busy person, with our family’s affairs.”

Zhao Chengshuang, accustomed to the Lin family’s sarcasm, ignored Lin Yaqing and raised his voice to ask, ”Where’s my uncle? Isn’t he at home?”

”You’ve been here for so long, surrounded by so many elders, but you don’t see anyone except for your uncle!” Lin Fuyuan shouted angrily, ”Zhao Chengshuang, you ingrate. What, do you think because your uncle is in charge of Lin Corporation, he can help you, so you regard him as family? And we, who are penniless and useless, don’t deserve your attention?”