Chapter 883 - 883 Deceiving the Old Swindler
The old guy really drank a lot. He was completely soused and still introducing Liu Mubai to Ye Qing as if he had forgotten that he had already introduced Liu Mubai to Ye Qing earlier.
Ye Qing and Liu Mubai glanced at each other, both curling their lips. After getting drunk, had this old guy completely lost his memory too?
"Big Brother Liu, you haven't gone to sleep yet at this late hour?" Ye Qing walked over, picked up a glass, and clinked it with Liu Mubai's, their first time drinking together.
In the past couple of days, although Ye Qing had encountered many things, he hadn't needed Liu Mubai's protection. The reason was that those who had ambushed Ye Qing these past few days were mercenaries, not martial artists. Liu Mubai was strong against martial artists, but when it came to mercenaries, he wasn't as professional as Ye Qing.
"I'm used to staying up late!" Liu Mubai replied indifferently, his attitude toward Ye Qing was not any warmer despite the hefty sum Ye Qing was giving his sister every month. Liu Mubai was always proud and didn't think much of many people.
However, he did have the capability to look down on others. He was only in his thirties now but had already reached such strength. Some predicted that by forty or fifty, he might become the next General of Meng District!
Of course, the premise was that he would live to forty or fifty. After all, Liu Mubai had quite a number of enemies, at least no fewer than those of Ye Qing.
Ye Qing was not much of a talker, and Liu Mubai was even more sparing with his words. The two sitting together, it turned awkwardly silent for a while. Old Wang Ba could have been the conversationalist, but he actually had fallen asleep on the sofa, snoring thunderously.
Ye Qing and Liu Mubai sat together, simply drinking in silence, creating an incredibly eerie atmosphere. Fortunately, Ye Qing could hold his liquor well, and drinking with Liu Mubai, he wasn't outdrunk.
The two sat and drank two whole bottles before they stopped. Liu Mubai looked at Ye Qing and, seeing no change in his expression, was quite surprised.
"Mr. Ye, you have a pretty good tolerance!" Liu Mubai said wonderingly.
Ye Qing smiled and said, "I went to college in the North, where not being able to drink isn't an option. Plus, Third Master Li loved drinking the most and often had me accompany him. Over time, I've gained a bit of capacity!"
"It's said that Third Master Li, the Northern Fist King, had drinking as his biggest hobby. Now it seems those rumors were true!" Liu Mubai chuckled lightly.
Ye Qing nodded, holding his glass, his thoughts drifting to the old man who used to drink while teaching him boxing on the recliner. Back then, Ye Qing just thought boxing was fun, of course, he couldn't have imagined that the boxing skills he learned would bring him such great benefits in Shenchuan City. If not for the boxing techniques taught by Third Master Li, Ye Qing would have died in Shenchuan City long ago; how could he have his status today?
After drinking another bottle, Liu Mubai put aside his glass and stood up, saying, "Mr. Ye, starting tomorrow, I'll go out with you."
After speaking, Liu Mubai went straight back to his own room with his glass. Ye Qing was somewhat surprised. Liu Mubai's words were tantamount to an offer to protect him. Knowing Liu Mubai's personality, it was not easy for him to make such a gesture. What on earth did Old Wang Ba say to Liu Mubai tonight that he would offer his services so willingly?
Ye Qing knew that Liu Mubai's strength was definitely on par with people like Chen San and Cui Yulong. Such a person by Ye Qing's side would make him safer, and it wouldn't be easy for Wang Tian'an to kill him. After all, this was a top-tier expert personally sought by Old Wang Ba for Ye Qing, costing a significant amount each year!
Ye Qing glanced at Old Wang Ba, who was fast asleep beside him, and a light smile flashed across his face. Although the old guy seemed quite annoying, there was no denying that he had indeed considered a lot for Ye Qing. From the first time he saved Ye Qing, to later granting him such a huge opportunity, to now bringing Liu Mubai, a top-tier expert to Ye Qing, Old Wang Ba had helped unconditionally.
According to Old Wang Ba, it was to repay the life-saving debt to Third Master Li, the Northern Fist King. Anyway, Ye Qing had taken this favor to heart. Although he couldn't help wanting to give Old Wang Ba a kick every time he saw him, Old Wang Ba was still considered his true kin.
Old Wang Ba, however, was so caught in his deep slumber that he turned over and mumbled, "Beauty, your forehead is darkened; you might encounter a bloody disaster soon. This is an amulet blessed by a master from Mount Wutai, meant to turn calamity into serendipity, each selling for only 998, a cut-rate price of just 998, don't miss this chance..."
Ye Qing suddenly had a face full of black lines. This old guy, even when sleeping, didn't forget to scam people. How had he managed to survive all these years, and not get beaten to death?
Looking at Old Wang Ba deep in slumber, a sly smile suddenly crossed Ye Qing's lips. He leaned in close to Old Wang Ba's ear and suddenly shouted anxiously, "Eighth Master, Eighth Master, wake up, wake up, something's happened!"
"What...what's happened..." Old Wang Ba startled awake, looking at Ye Qing in shock, asking frantically, "What happened? What's the matter?"
"Eighth Master, what have you been up to today?" Ye Qing looked at Old Wang Ba anxiously, as if something big had indeed happened. This alarmed Old Wang Ba so much that he sobered up considerably.
"I didn't do much today!" Old Wang Ba was utterly bemused, asking, "What's up?"
"First tell me, what the hell did you do today?" Ye Qing asked urgently: "Did you go out and scam people again?"
"This..." Old Wang Ba scratched his head awkwardly and said, "I... I didn't scam people, I went out to enlighten the masses. That person's fortunes weren't looking too good."
"Oh, really?" Ye Qing curled his lip and said, "Was it a male or female benefactor?"
Old Wang Ba replied with an air of righteousness, "Of course it was a male benefactor, do you think I'm the sort of man who would lust after women?"
Ye Qing: "She has a 36D chest, right?"
"No, at most 36C!" Old Wang Ba replied briskly, but after saying this, he felt something was off, his face turned red, and he hurriedly said, "Hey, don't spout nonsense, what exactly happened?"
Ye Qing suppressed a chuckle, but his face showed tension as he said, "Just now, Cheng Shuang called and said a woman had gone to the police saying you scammed her for money and sex, and now the city police are looking for you everywhere."
Old Wang Ba panicked immediately and said, "Damn it, why doesn't that woman tell the truth? I just scammed her for money, I never scammed her for sex!"
Ye Qing shrugged and said, "I don't know about that, but when she reported you, she said she had evidence."
Old Wang Ba, clearly annoyed, said, "I'm really fed up with people these days, how can they not say a single truthful word?"
Ye Qing glanced at Old Wang Ba and thought to himself: You're the Old Bangzi whose words never hold a grain of truth, and you have the gall to accuse others?
"Alright, enough about that," Ye Qing said. "Cheng Shuang just called me and said this matter is complicated, the city police have listed you as their top wanted fugitive!"
"Stop bullshitting!" Old Wang Ba said anxiously: "I just scammed some money, how did I become the top wanted fugitive? The top wanted fugitives should at least be serial killers or something, when did it come to be my turn? Ye Zi, you're not lying to me, are you?"
"Why would I lie to you!" Ye Qing said seriously: "Don't forget, you've committed a multitude of sins here in Shenchuan City. The last explosion incident, where you spread rumors and caused trouble, has already been filed, and that case hasn't been closed. Now there's this new situation, plus the stuff you did in Eastern Province and other provinces piled up together, it's quite normal for you to be listed as the top wanted fugitive!"
"Really?" Old Wang Ba was stunned and said, "This... what do I do? Ye Zi, should I... should I ask Cheng Shuang to squash this matter for now?"
Ye Qing said, "I already asked Cheng Shuang, he said this issue is big and tricky for now, you shouldn't be swindling people outside at the moment. It'd be better for you to lay low for a while, and only after things cool down can he try to help you out."
"Really?" Old Wang Ba took a deep breath and said, "Ah, Cheng Shuang is really a good kid. Tell him that if he can handle this for me, Old Eight here will immediately give him a consecrated amulet from a master, guaranteeing him smooth sailing for life..."
Ye Qing curled his lip and said, "Enough, don't pull out those self-consecrated amulets to scam others again. If you get caught red-handed, and they actually sentence you to three to five years in prison, I won't be able to bail you out!"
"Heh heh..." Old Wang Ba laughed sheepishly and said, "Let's not talk nonsense now, quickly, I need to make a run for it, help me make some arrangements. Where do you think is suitable? European babes are quite open-minded; it might be better there!"
This old geezer, even at a time like this, he's still thinking about beauties. Truly incorrigible.
"Go to Europe, do you speak English?" Ye Qing paused and said, "Besides, they're all Christians over there. With your shallow tricks, you can't even scam those around you, so you want to scam their believers?"
"That's not how you see it, our doctrine is all about tolerance and great love, right? What about their believers? With all these years of experiences in deception up my sleeve, it'll only take minutes to convert their faith," Old Wang Ba said confidently, then paused and continued, "But you're right, the language barrier is a big problem. Forget it, let's pick another place. You help me decide, but it has to be somewhere bustling, I can't stand some backwater area. And make sure you prepare enough money for me, don't let Old Eight go hungry out there!"
Old Wang Ba, this old geezer, thinks he's going on a leisure trip instead of laying low. Ye Qing wanted to be angry but also felt like laughing, and stood up saying, "You make your own arrangements, I don't have time to play with you!"
"Hey hey hey, what do you mean make my own arrangements? Hey, don't go, this is a big deal for Old Eight, how can you not help me? Damn, heartless!"