Urban Martial Saint

Ye Qing’s decision to go to Dongzhou truly startled everyone. Zhao Chengshuang and Li Lianshan tried to dissuade him, and Black Bear, who was standing by, also seemed anxious. He said, ”Captain, this is not a good time to go to Dongzhou. If Wang Tian’an finds out, it’ll be too dangerous!”

Ye Qing remained calm, waved his hand, and said, ”No need to worry about Wang Tian’an. He doesn’t even have the time to trouble me. In fact, by the time I return from Dongzhou in a few days, either Chen San will have taken him out, or he’ll already be chased out of Eastern Province by Chen San.”

”Huh?” Zhao Chengshuang, Li Lianshan, and Black Bear exchanged glances, their faces filled with astonishment.

Wang Tian’an had been planning for twenty years, scheming on a grand scale, aiming to swallow up the entire underground forces of the Southern Six Provinces. Although he’d repeatedly suffered setbacks at Ye Qing’s hands, his strength remained formidable. Not to mention the factions he controlled in Western Province, even the elites he had by his side were enough to rival Chen San. If a fight broke out, it was still difficult to predict the outcome. Because of this, both sides had only been in a standoff for so long, and Chen San had not dared to launch a full-scale offensive.

Yet at this moment, Ye Qing made such a bold assertion, saying Wang Tian’an would be thoroughly defeated within a few days. How was that even possible? Where did Ye Qing get the confidence to make such a claim?

Zhao Chengshuang personally made a call, and sure enough, it worked. Within less than five minutes, the police arrived quickly and sealed off the scene. Another mercenary had died here, and this achievement was credited to Zhao Chengshuang once again.

The group headed back first. Thankfully, they did not encounter any more mercenaries along the way.

Zhao Chengshuang left some police officers at the scene to handle the follow-up matters, while he followed Ye Qing back to Tian Sheng. As soon as they walked into the room, he said directly to Ye Qing, ”Ye Zi, I can’t agree with your decision to go to Dongzhou. First of all, Wang Tian’an is extremely dangerous; if he sends people to ambush you, it would be really perilous. And secondly, what are you planning to do in Dongzhou? Are you trying to overcome political hurdles and attempt to change the province’s decision again? I’m telling you, you should give up on that. The provincial council has already discussed and approved this matter—it’s not going to change. Director Liu and Commander Zhou have done their best. Even if you go to Dongzhou, it won’t make a difference!”

”Captain Zhao is right!” said King of Explosives, nodding solemnly. ”And that batch of mercenaries—they’re dangerous too. They’re constantly tracking you, trying to figure out your temperament and the style of how you operate, so they can craft a plan specifically targeted against you. At this time, you’re not entirely safe even in Shenchuan City. If you leave Shenchuan City and head somewhere else, it’ll only be even more dangerous. Based on the Poison Eel Mercenaries’ nature, they’ll undoubtedly continue to chase you to Dongzhou!”

King of Explosives’ words caused a flicker of brilliance in Ye Qing’s eyes, though none in the room noticed the fleeting change in his expression.

”You don’t need to worry; I’ve got it handled!” Ye Qing said. ”I’ve already talked it over with Chen San. Even if Wang Tian’an doesn’t retreat, they’ll help hold off his men for me. As for this batch of mercenaries, I’ve been staying alert against them. I was in the military before; no matter how elaborate their plans are, trying to kill me won’t be easy. I must make this trip to Dongzhou—even if it’s futile, I have to give it a try. Otherwise, it will become a lifelong regret for me.”

”Even if you’re determined to go to Dongzhou, there’s no rush right now!” Li Lianshan said. ”There’s so much happening here in Shenchuan City, plus Wang Tian’an and those mercenaries are still eyeing you like predators. If you leave now, wouldn’t you be walking right into their trap? Wait a few days for things to settle before making a trip to Dongzhou.”

Ye Qing looked at Li Lianshan and asked in return, ”In a few days, when the orphanage kids have all been relocated, am I supposed to wait until they’re gone before heading to Dongzhou?”

Li Lianshan was rendered speechless on the spot—the issues surrounding the orphanage were indeed complicated. The provincial decision had already been made, and the orphanage kids were about to be sent to various public orphanages. If Ye Qing didn’t go to Dongzhou now, there would be no reason to go later.

”But even if you go, it won’t change anything!” Zhao Chengshuang protested.

Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”I’ve made up my mind. You don’t need to try to dissuade me anymore. Brother Li, while I’m in Dongzhou for the next few days, I’m leaving all matters in Shenchuan City in your hands. Black Bear and Mad Dog will assist you.”

”Captain, am I not going to Dongzhou?” Black Bear asked in astonishment.

”You don’t need to go!” Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”I’ll go alone.”

”What do you mean alone?” King of Explosives asked in surprise. ”I have to go with you!”

”I’m going too!” Liu Mubai said directly.

”No need!” Ye Qing shook his head. ”None of you need to come along. For the sake of safety, I must ensure no one knows I’ve gone to Dongzhou. The fewer people who go, the better.”

”Those mercenaries are tracking you closely—even if you go alone, you won’t be able to evade them!” King of Explosives replied. ”I’d better go with you. If I don’t, and those mercenaries use time bombs again or something, it’ll be too dangerous.”

Ye Qing said, ”No need to worry. This time to Dongzhou, I won’t drive; I’ll take taxis all the way instead. I’ll switch cars constantly—they wouldn’t even know which car to plant a bomb on!”

”Then... what if they plant a bomb where you’re staying?” King of Explosives asked.

Ye Qing replied, ”You don’t have to worry. I was a Special Forces member after all. Last time I was ambushed because I didn’t know someone was targeting me. Now that I’m aware there’s a group of mercenaries aiming for me, how could I not be cautious?”

”Caution doesn’t guarantee absolute safety!” King of Explosives insisted. ”I still think I...”

”No!” Ye Qing interrupted King of Explosives forcefully. He glanced at Black Bear and Liu Mubai beside him and said, ”I’ve decided—I’m going alone!”

Black Bear opened his mouth but ultimately said nothing; he was well aware of Ye Qing’s stubbornness.

Liu Mubai also remained silent. Since Ye Qing didn’t want him to join, he wouldn’t insist.

Seeing that Black Bear and Liu Mubai had stopped pressing, King of Explosives didn’t insist further either. However, his concern lingered as he pulled out a mini-detector from his pocket and handed it to Ye Qing. ”This is a device I made myself—it detects remote-controlled bombs within a ten-meter range. But if the bombs aren’t remote-controlled, it won’t work. So, this detector isn’t foolproof. Still, it’s better than having nothing.”

Ye Qing took the detector and nodded towards King of Explosives. Though the two hadn’t worked together much, there was a mutual appreciation between them, stronger than some old friendships.

Zhao Chengshuang and Li Lianshan, unable to persuade Ye Qing, could only repeatedly remind him to stay vigilant and absolutely careful. Ye Qing seemed unruffled, as though there were no dangers outside at all.

As everyone was discussing Ye Qing’s impending trip to Dongzhou, the phone on the table suddenly rang. Ye Qing casually pressed the speakerphone and answered, ”Hello, this is Ye Qing.”

”Ye brothers, it’s Chen San!” A cheerful voice came from the other end—Chen San was clearly in high spirits.

”Third Brother Chen, what’s the matter?” Ye Qing asked.

”Hahaha...” Chen San laughed heartily. ”I’ve got good news for you—five minutes ago, Wang Tian’an packed up and took most of his men out of Shenchuan City!”

”What!?” Before Ye Qing could respond, Li Lianshan, Zhao Chengshuang, and others exclaimed simultaneously, even Liu Mubai’s face was filled with shock.

Wang Tian’an had built up his forces for twenty years and schemed for two decades just for this moment. Yet less than a month since he arrived in Shenchuan City, he was already retreating? How could this be possible?

Everyone in the room turned to Ye Qing. Before this, Ye Qing had predicted that Wang Tian’an would be defeated within days. They had dismissed it as nonsense. Yet now, it seemed Ye Qing had actually underestimated—it hadn’t even taken until tonight for Wang Tian’an to pull out.

Ye Qing remained calm, as if everything had gone according to plan. He nodded slowly and said, ”Third Brother Chen, you’d better watch out!”

”Watch out?” Chen San was puzzled and asked, ”Wang Tian’an has already retreated—watch out for what, Ye brothers? Maybe you don’t know yet, but seventy percent of his men have come over to my side and completely betrayed him. Since we’ve acquired his Heart-devouring Bug food formula, he can no longer use the bugs to control them. He’s been reduced to a lone commander—what else can he do?”

Ye Qing shook his head and said, ”Third Brother Chen, based on your understanding of Wang Tian’an, do you think he’d retreat from Shenchuan City so easily?”

”What’s wrong with that?” Chen San replied. ”He’s got no one left; if he doesn’t retreat from Shenchuan City, is he supposed to wait for me to attack him directly?”

”That’s not how I see it!” Ye Qing said. ”This plan—Wang Tian’an has been scheming for twenty years. No one would give up so easily. Moreover, Wang Tian’an is violently temperamental. With his disposition, if those people got hold of the Heart-devouring Bug food formula, his most likely reaction would have been to forcibly keep them from leaving, refusing to admit defeat. Yet not only did he let them go, but he retreated so decisively—don’t you find that suspicious?”

Ye Qing’s words made Chen San fall silent for a moment before he said, ”You have a point. So, are you saying Wang Tian’an has another sinister plan?”

”You need to be cautious of two things…” Ye Qing said. ”First, among the seventy percent of people who fled to your side, ask yourself: did they genuinely betray Wang Tian’an, or do they have ulterior motives? While many of them likely did betray him, you can’t rule out the possibility that he planted loyalists among them. Second, Wang Tian’an could very well use the Bone-Piercing Tendon-Softening Powder against you just like he did with the Shen Family and Sha Men’s people.”