Urban Martial Saint

The villa occupies a large area, and the entire first floor is decorated like a training ground. Around the ring, many tables and chairs are set up, most of them filled with people excitedly watching the two fighters on the stage. The shouts emanate from here.

On the other side of the first floor stands a large table surrounded by several people. Behind the table sits a man in a suit—undoubtedly the man Ye Qing saw earlier among the pair he observed. On the table beside him, stacks of cash are placed, and he is laughing and chatting with the people next to him.

At this point, Ye Qing finally understands why the Li Family members gather here at night, and why it’s so lively late into the night. It turns out that this place is an underground boxing ring, much like the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena in Shenchuan City.

Back then, Tiger King turned the Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena into Shenchuan City’s largest casino. Dog fighting, boxing, and various forms of gambling were concentrated there, a scene Ye Qing has personally witnessed. Later, when Southern Suburbs Dogfight Arena came under Li Lianshan’s power, these activities continued with high earnings. However, such places are never reputable, and the earnings count as illicit profits.

Ye Qing never imagined that the Li Family, known as a martial arts family, would engage in such activities, setting up an underground boxing ring at home for gambling. No wonder both Old Wang Ba and Du Yongwu said the Li Family has changed, but a martial arts family doing such a thing? How far has the Li Family morally declined to set up gambling in the Li Family Courtyard?

People are deeply immersed in this primal combat, completely oblivious to Ye Qing at the entrance. He doesn’t linger and, after a few glances, turns away and leaves. Luckily, everyone inside is focused on the two people in the ring and pays no attention to Ye Qing.

Exiting this villa, Ye Qing immediately enters the adjacent villa. This place isn’t an underground boxing ring, but there are many gambling tables in the hall where people are gambling. As soon as Ye Qing enters, a man approaches and asks, ”Sir, do you want to play downstairs or upstairs?”

It’s clear this man is a staff member here. Ye Qing doesn’t plan to play, so he casually asks, ”What’s the difference between upstairs and downstairs?”

A look of surprise flashes across the man’s face, and he says, ”Is this your first time here, sir?”

”Uh, it’s actually my first time in Liaoshen City, I came here with Boss Wang,” Ye Qing casually mentions Boss Wang, thinking that with so many people gambling here every day, there must be at least one person named Wang.

”Oh, you came with Boss Wang.” The man looks suddenly enlightened upon hearing Boss Wang’s name. In fact, among those who frequent this place, many are named Wang, but he doesn’t know which Boss Wang Ye Qing means.

”Boss Wang is over there watching boxing, and I came out for a walk. I’m not familiar with this place, so when I heard some noise here, I decided to check it out.” Ye Qing bluffs.

”I see.” The man laughs and says, ”So it’s your first time here, no wonder you aren’t familiar with our rules. Actually, there’s a difference between downstairs and upstairs. Downstairs has regular gambling tables, and if your chips exceed one hundred thousand you can play downstairs. Upstairs is different; it’s a VIP room requiring a minimum of three hundred thousand chips to enter. Sir, will you be playing downstairs or upstairs?”

Ye Qing doesn’t have much money; on hearing this, he quickly waves his hand, saying, ”No, no, I didn’t bring much money since it’s my first time here, so I won’t be playing.”

Seeing Ye Qing about to leave, the man immediately stops him with a laugh and says, ”Sir, guests are here to enjoy themselves at least a little, aren’t they?”

”A little entertainment?” Ye Qing originally wanted to leave directly but, fearing he might be too blunt and raise suspicions, asks, ”What do you mean by a little entertainment?”

”How about this? Let’s play a small game.” The man smiles and beckons another man over, who immediately understands and enters the inner room, bringing out a neatly dressed youth. The youth looks around twenty-seven or eight years old, with a dazed expression, his gaze and attire mismatched.

The man approaches, points at the youth, and says, ”He was traumatized in childhood, has some mental issues, so behaves differently from normal people. We often play a game with him; we throw some money on the ground and see which one he picks up first.”

As he speaks, the man casually throws three notes on the ground—one for one unit, one for ten units, and one for one hundred units.

”Sir, since you’re here, why not wager? You can bet on which note he’ll pick, and it’s at one-to-one odds, any amount is allowed.” The man smiles.

Ye Qing doesn’t answer but stares directly at the youth. The man’s words about the youth’s mental condition suddenly alert Ye Qing. Could this youth be Third Master Li’s grandson, the supposed fool?

”Sir? Sir?” Seeing Ye Qing silent, the man taps his shoulder and says, ”Do you want to play? Just write down your choice, we won’t peek.”

Ye Qing finally regains his composure, turns to glance at the man with a hint of killing intent in his eyes. If this youth is indeed Third Master Li’s grandson—the so-called fool—then these people are truly reprehensible. After all, Third Master Li was once the Li Family Head, and the family grew under his prestige. Now, after his defeat, the family treats his grandson in such a disrespectful way? Playing him like a monkey? It’s absolutely outrageous.

Seeing Ye Qing persistently quiet, the man’s face shows some displeasure, asking, ”Sir, you didn’t bring money, did you?”

Noticing the man’s expression is off, Ye Qing realizes that insisting on not gambling might anger him. Since this is the Li Family’s territory, Ye Qing doesn’t want to reveal himself prematurely. Hesitating briefly, Ye Qing pulls out some money and says, ”I didn’t bring much cash, just over five thousand...”

”That’s enough!” The man grabs the over-five-thousand from Ye Qing’s hand, chuckling, ”Bet it all!”

Without giving Ye Qing a chance to refuse, he hands him a paper, saying, ”Come on, write down your choice.”

Ye Qing looks at the youth, then at the three notes on the ground, hesitating briefly before slowly writing ”one hundred” on the paper.

Seeing Ye Qing has jotted down his choice, the man smiles and says, ”All set? Let’s see what he picks up!”

The man kicks the youth, saying, ”Go, pick up a note and buy yourself some candy.”

Given permission by the man, the youth hurriedly goes and picks up the one-unit note as if it’s a treasure, tucking it into his pocket.

Ye Qing frowns slightly; there’s no doubt this youth is indeed a fool. Among the three notes of varying denominations, he picks the smallest one. Which normal person would do that?

”Haha...” The two men nearby laugh heartily, seemingly having predicted the youth would pick the one-unit note.

”Please let me see what you wrote, sir?” The man takes the paper from Ye Qing, glances at it, and smiles broadly, saying, ”Apologies, sir, you lost!”

Ye Qing remains silent—losing this amount doesn’t bother him much. The crucial realization is that the youth is indeed a fool. Could he really be Third Master Li’s grandson? If so, he’s nothing but a tool for anyone in the Li Family to manipulate at will.

”Sir, if you want to regain your money, why not go inside to play a few rounds?” The man encourages Ye Qing, now grinning from ear to ear.

Such small tricks are a frequent play for them, meant to ensnare newcomers. Money trapped this way ends up in their pockets entirely. Trapping one person each night nets them thousands; they’re delighted with the arrangement. Whenever a newcomer arrives, they pull the same trick, and the fool becomes their money-making tool.

Ye Qing shakes his head, saying, ”I’ll still look for Boss Wang first. I don’t have much cash, maybe I’ll ask him for some, and then come back to play.”

”Certainly, sir, you are welcome anytime!” The man laughs as he sees Ye Qing to the door, then rushes back and splits Ye Qing’s money with the previous man.

Ye Qing doesn’t go far; he stands behind a pillar outside, silently watching the youth in the hall. The youth stands vacant, one hand tightly clutching his pocket, the one-unit note inside. Seeing the two men approach him, the youth beams a foolish grin.

The two men proudly pat his head, one casually tosses a biscuit into the air as if feeding a dog. The youth darts over, catches the biscuit in his hand, and devours it ravenously.

Watching this, tears well up in Ye Qing’s eyes. Whether this youth is Third Master Li’s grandson or not, his life here is too miserable—they don’t even consider him human.

Standing outside for a while, Ye Qing takes a deep breath, holds off dealing with the matter, and turns to enter the third villa. He wants to see what’s really happening inside these three villas.

This third villa is much quieter than the previous two. In fact, the hall is almost empty except for two people who resemble waiters.

As soon as Ye Qing enters, one of them walks over and asks, ”Sir, is there anything I can assist you with?”