Urban Martial Saint

Ding Lianshun listened with confusion, staring at Yin Xianzi for a while, and couldn't help but ask, "What are you talking about?"

"It means gains come with losses," Yin Xianzi said. "Old Wang Ba can manipulate fate for others, but doing so comes at a cost for him. Like last time, he borrowed Ye Qing three years of great fortune, but in doing so, he basically ruined an arm. Haven't you noticed? Ye Qing's life was mundane until he met Old Wang Ba, then he became prominent. So, Ye Qing's fortune isn't inherently good; the status he holds today was bought by Old Wang Ba at the price of an arm. However, this fortune won't last long. If Old Wang Ba wants to borrow even greater fortune for him, the cost could be even higher, possibly risking his life!"

Ding Lianshun came to a realization and nodded slowly, saying, "To risk one's life for others, I don't think Old Wang Ba is that foolish."

"Who's to say?" Yin Xianzi shook her head, saying gravely, "The Heavenly Master mentioned that Ye Qing's progression was all guided by Old Wang Ba. Ye Qing would originally not meddle in matters of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, but Old Wang Ba guided him step by step, indicating he has bigger plans. The Heavenly Master suspects Old Wang Ba wants to borrow supreme fortune from Heaven's Gate for Ye Qing!"

"Isn't Old Wang Ba afraid of dying?" Ding Lianshun exclaimed.

"Who knows?" Yin Xianzi shrugged and said, "Sometimes, the people of Huaxia act in baffling ways indeed. The fate manipulation technique of the Iron Calculation Sect is an ultimate technique lost by the Taoist Sect for a long time. The Heavenly Master suspects the founder of the Iron Calculation Sect might also have been someone who entered the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates. The involvement of Iron Calculation Sect in the matters of the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates might have its hidden agenda."

"Really?" Ding Lianshun was even more startled; he spent little time on Tai Island and hadn't heard the Heavenly Master mention many secrets about these things. Listening to Yin Xianzi talk now, he was astonished to learn the storied background of the Iron Calculation Sect. The influence of those emerging from the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates on future generations is indeed significant!

Yin Xianzi nodded slowly, with a hint of yearning on her face. The more legends about the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates, the more they yearn for it. Anyone who enters could become the supreme of an era; what on earth is hidden within the Heaven Earth Man Three Gates?

Ding Lianshun was silent for a while, suddenly punched the air, and said, "No way, once this mission ends, we must kill that guy first. Otherwise, if Old Wang Ba changes his fate, this person will inevitably become a major threat in the future!"

Yin Xianzi didn't speak, but a cold glint flashed in her eyes. She shared Ding Lianshun's sentiments toward Ye Qing.

Soon, two vehicles arrived at the small town where the mercenaries were hiding. This town was identical to Chang Yuan City, also surrounded by military personnel, with a temporary command post set up.

Ye Qing also found the hiding place of the mercenaries first, observed the terrain carefully, but did not charge in directly this time. After observing the terrain, he walked straight to a soldier nearby.

When Ye Qing appeared, the soldiers were already watching him, mostly suspicious of his intention and whether he's here to connect with the mercenaries. Nobody expected Ye Qing to walk towards them first, and even the soldier he faced was utterly surprised.

"Hello, I'm from the State Security Department!" Ye Qing took out his credentials and said softly, "I'm here to handle the matter with the mercenaries."

"Huh?" The soldier was stunned for a second; he'd heard of the State Security Department but had never seen its members. Now with Ye Qing presenting this identity, he was momentarily unsure how to respond.

"Who's the highest-ranking officer here? I need to see him!" Ye Qing added.

"Oh, please... wait a moment..." The soldier finally reacted and hurried to report this to the temporary command post.

The temporary command post's officer in Shangang City was a battlefield officer named Zou Huanglong. Hearing someone from the State Security Department came to take over this matter surprised him; there was no prior notification from above, just coming unannounced?

Zou Huanglong was full of doubts but still personally led his men to the scene. Seeing Ye Qing's credentials, he was as unfamiliar as Fang Xiang before, not recognizing the State Security Department's credentials. But he handed the credentials to a nearby person for confirmation with the higher-ups. Before confirming matters, he was rather courteous to Ye Qing.

"Mr. Ye, did the State Security Department only send you here to handle this matter?" Zou Huanglong asked with a smile, actually puzzled by the Department's decision.

These mercenaries are well-equipped, and they've stationed an entire troop here, unable to find the best way to solve the mercenary issue, causing them much headache. Suddenly, a State Security Department personnel comes to take over the matter; he is, of course, very puzzled. A troop cannot solve the problem, and the Department sends over just one person to handle it?

"The State Security Department has only sent me, but I brought two friends." Ye Qing replied with a faint smile, waving to Yin Xianzi and Ding Lianshun in the distance.

The two, due to Ye Qing's previous agreement, stood thirty meters away, not approaching, only remotely guarding Ye Qing. Seeing Ye Qing waving his hand at them, the two simultaneously turned their heads, each with a look of resentment.

Zou Huanglong didn't know what relation Ye Qing had with these two people, and in the dark, he couldn't see Yin Xianzi and Ding Lianshun's expressions clearly. He just smiled softly and said, "So you've come with three people to take over the mercenary problem?"

"Seems too many?" Ye Qing asked with a smile.

"Not at all." Zou Huanglong also smiled. Before Ye Qing's identity is confirmed, he patiently replied, "Mr. Ye, are you familiar with these mercenaries? Are you aware of their military equipment?"

"Not familiar." Ye Qing answered straightforwardly.

Zou Huanglong frowned slightly and said, "Mr. Ye, when the State Security Department sent you to take over this mercenary issue, did they say anything else?"

Ye Qing: "No."

"Then... how do you plan to resolve the mercenary issue?" Zou Huanglong was getting impatient, suspecting Ye Qing was playing with him.

"Just go in and kill them all!" Ye Qing replied.

Zou Huanglong almost spat blood, staring at Ye Qing for a long while, and said, "Mr. Ye, we're discussing serious matters here, can you not joke around?"

"I'm not joking," Ye Qing spread his hands and said, "My plan is indeed to directly go in and kill them!"

"Mr. Ye, let's not say whether you can kill these mercenaries directly by going in. Just considering the simplest matter, there are residences all around - these mercenaries are hiding here intending to use civilians as shields, preventing us from rushing in to kill them directly. If our troops rush in, there are only two results: first, our troops suffer heavy losses due to the other's tight defense, with at least two snipers, very dangerous." Zou Huanglong paused and continued seriously, "Second, even if we manage to deal with the mercenaries, we'd hardly keep them trapped inside; should one escape and start shooting people in the streets, endangering lives, none of us could take that responsibility. Even if they don't escape, throwing out a couple of grenade bombs could cause massive casualties, doesn't the State Security Department consider civilian safety when acting?"

What Zou Huanglong said was actually expressing dissatisfaction to Ye Qing. In his view, Ye Qing was not genuinely solving the problem but seizing authority; the Department wanted to replace the Military Department to hold command here. As the commanding officer here, he's obviously very unhappy about this. If Ye Qing weren't a member of the Department, he might have erupted already.

Ye Qing remained calm, nodded, and said, "Officer Zou, you're considering things comprehensively; indeed, handling these mercenaries should be thoroughly thought through, not recklessly."

"Glad you understand!" Zou Huanglong replied, "Mr. Ye, now, how do you plan on handling the mercenary issue?"

"Just charge in and kill them all!" Ye Qing repeated.

"You..." Zou Huanglong nearly spat blood, after all the talk, Ye Qing still came to this solution; is he out of his mind?

"Did you even listen to what I said?" Zou Huanglong urged, "If there are casualties, who will be responsible?"

"Don't worry, no one will need to bear any responsibility," Ye Qing smiled and said, "because they won't have the chance to harm any civilians!"

"Huh?" Zou Huanglong froze, staring at Ye Qing in surprise, "What... what do you mean by saying they won't have the chance to harm any civilians? I don't understand what you mean."

At this point, a soldier walked over and said, "Report, Commander, the credential has been verified, correct, Mr. Ye is indeed a member of the State Security Department, the leader of the Fifth Action Group!"

Zou Huanglong couldn't believe Ye Qing was truly a Department member, hearing this made his expression more amicable. He glanced at the soldier and asked, "Then what about him taking over handling this issue, what's the upper management said?"

That soldier glanced at Ye Qing, then at Zou Huanglong, and said softly, "The upper management says we must unconditionally assist Captain Ye in his actions!"