Dragon Emperor, Martial God

As the old chinese proverb goes: ‘Slanders cluster at a widow’s door.’

No one was sure about whether Qin Qiuyue was truly a widow. Yet, it was a fact that, since she first arrived in Qingshui city eighteen years ago, she had already been pregnant with Ning Lingyu. And till this day, no one had ever seen her husband before.

Thus, she was still considered by many as single and a ravishing beauty to boot. As for exactly how beautiful she was, a single look at the campus belle of Qingshui High, Ning Lingyu, was enough.

For such a beauty who was still single, troubles were always a tad more than the usual people. Especially troubles with guys.

At this very moment, this very trouble was on display in The People’s Clinic.

Tian Botao. Male, forty-two years old, and works at Qingshui City’s Technological Development District. He was the deputy director of the Linjiang Road Residential Agency and an administrative level personnel.

He was sitting at The People’s Clinic, talking to Qin Qiuyue, who was wearing a white lab coat. His incessant ‘guidance’ session had already lasted for more than three hours.

Standing at 1.7 meters tall, he had a chubby body with a fair complexion and shining glossy hair. Without a single hair out of place, he even had a pair of glasses resting on his nose, giving off a scholarly impression, one befitting of a administrative level personnel.

Yet, unbeknownst to outsiders, falling for this man’s intellectual looks would be the worse choice one could make.

After all, not one who worked or lived at Linjiang Road did not know about the notorious Tian Botao. He was infamous for his lecherous nature as well as his vicious and merciless way of doing things. Without a doubt, he was the ‘king of hell’ of Linjiang Road both in name and in reality!

Not only did he have his hands deep in both legal and illegal businesses, he had a long history in them. In addition, his methods of doing things were nasty and numerous.

In this area, whenever Tian Botao brought people for meals in restaurants, the owner himself had to welcome them and even serve them. When they leave, the staff had to send him off like a citizen does to a king. As for collecting the bill, one could just forget about it!

Apart from all these, Tian Botao had an even more extraordinary record. He had visited every single hair and beauty salons in the area. Every woman wanting to open a beauty shop had to serve him first as a rite of passage in order for them to be able to do business peacefully.

Of course, any place with oppression would always meet with certain resistance. However, in this case, any group that went against him all suffered similar fates, be it those from business management, the taxation department or the hygiene bureau. Even the fire-fighting department had to obey him. If they refused, they would be forced to shut down or kicked out from Lingjiang Road in a matter of days!

In the case of individual resistance, the solution was even simpler. All he had to do was hire and send thugs to beat the crap out of the person. Next, all Tian Botao needed to do was send out the police and arrest the person for assault and brawling in public. With that, the person would then be sent to jail. Unless the person forked out at least ten to twenty thousand dollars, he could forget about being released!

Therefore, just as much as everyone in Lingjiang Road knew and feared Tian Botao, they abhorred him just as much!

Even though many hated him, few dared to voice out their thoughts, since, with a few calls, he could easily crush a normal citizen like a bug.

A couple of hours before Ling Yun and gang came home.

Tian Botao was in The People’s Clinic, beaming at Qin Qiuyue. Or rather, he was giving her a lascivious stare as he spoke.

“Little Qin, this clinic of yours, it’s level of hygiene still seems to be below standards… by regulations, it should undergo sterilization both in the day and at night…”

“By the way, I heard that the Hygiene Bureau will be coming down to private clinics like yours to conduct various checks. Do you need me to have a word with them? It would do your evaluation good, you know?”

“Also, these medical equipment of yours must be well maintained and sterilized as per regulations and those medications must all be up to date and none expired. After all, it wouldn’t be good for both sides if problems arise during the checks. In fact, it wouldn’t look good on the agency if we tried to cover for you then…”

“Anyways, as you know, this area of ours will probably undergo demolition in a month’s time. After all, the New Technology Development District should live up to its name. That being said, I happen to be on good terms with the chief developer in charge of this area. When the time comes, I could maybe help you get a bit more remuneration…”

…

Be it giving earnest advice, making lucrative offers or even threatening, the goal of Tian Bohao’s endless speech was to make Qin Qiuyue submit to him! This beast in a human’s clothing had been eyeing Qin Qiuyue for a long time. However, instead of forcing himself on her, he wanted to use various methods to force her to have no choice but to throw herself at him. That way, he would be able to experience the thrill of subduing her!

What he did not know was that his efforts were all in vain!

Ever since eighteen years ago, after her abrupt arrival in Qingshui city, Qing Qiuyue had given birth to Ning Lingyu and eventually picked up the abandoned Ling Yun. With just herself to depend on, she single-handedly brought up her two children and was even able to send them to Qingshui High for their education.

In these eighteen years, she learned how to open her own makeshift store and even a shop. She even had experience selling clothes, fruits, and vegetables. Furthermore, she had even worked at construction sites, helping to carry heavy bricks!

Not only had she raised both Ling Yun and Ning Lingyu, her hard work had even allowed her to provide them the best education in the best school. She had even been able to save up money to purchase this house and open this small clinic six years ago.

Not only was Qin Qiuyue a beauty, she was also a strong-willed woman with abilities that more than match her stubborn and persistent character. She was a strong and intelligent woman!

As a single mother of two children, Qin Qiuyue had no doubt gone through bitter hardships few could even begin to imagine. Even this was an understatement. She was the mother of mothers.

Not only did this require ability and wits, what was needed the most was conviction and willpower. She had had to endure countless rumors and slanders and even handle various troubles and harassment! If one were to compare this family to a small boat in the vast ocean, Qin Qiuyue was no doubt the captain of the boat! The one who struggles constantly with the sea and the weather, never giving up, allowing the boat to sail forward!

Thus, even as Tian Botao went on with his speech, Qin Qiuyue focused on her job. With patients coming in, she would diagnose them and give them the treatment and medication required. If no one came, she would occupy herself by tidying and cleaning the clinic. Once in a while, she would sit down and enjoy reading a book. She was paying absolutely no attention to Tian Botao.

As smart as she was, even she knew not to try to drive him away since he was a terrible man no one wanted to anger.

It was at this moment that Ning Lingyu entered in high spirits.

“Mum, Brother’s back!” Ning Lingyu exclaimed excitedly without even noticing Tian Botao’s presence as she ran straight to her mother’s side.

“Look at you, all excited. Didn’t we just have this conversation yesterday?”

“But Mum, Big Brother’s a totally different man now!” Ning Lingyu replied coquettishly as she shook her mother’s arms.

Only in front of Qin Qiuyue would Ning Lingyu display such childish and coquettish behaviour.

“Oh, so this is your daughter Lingyu? Such a pretty young lady!”

The moment Tian Botao saw Ning Lingyun through his lens, his gaze instantly turned into that of a hungry wolf looking at its newfound prey. As he stared at her, he was so excited that even his breath became heavy and rushed.

His perverted gaze hovered between Qin Qiuyue and Ning Lingyu as he scrutinised them. This doesn’t look like a pair of mother and daughter, they look more like siblings!

“Mum, who is he? A patient?” Ning Lingyu asked in an impolite tone as she noticed Tian Botao’s lewd gaze.

Of course, Ning Lingyu was well aware who Tian Botao was. However, she hated him and was feigning ignorance as she looked for an opportunity to drive him away.

“Oh, his our residential agency’s deputy director. He’s off duty today and decided to come and pay our clinic a visit.” Qin Qiuyue answered indifferently, with not so much as a glance at Tian Botao.

Noticing his perverted gaze, Qin Qiuyue had a rough idea what kind of lustful thoughts were going through his mind as he looked at her daughter. Thus, she did not blame Ning Lingyu for her poor manners.

Seeing that Qin Qiuyue did not even bother to introduce him with honorifics, Tian Botao was just about to introduce himself personally to Ning Lingyu. At that moment, Ling Yun entered the house, with his left hand holding his iPhone 5 and the other holding a large lobster.

“Lingyu, put this lobster in the sink, we will eat it tonight while it’s still fresh!” Ling Yun shouted as he walked to his sister and passed her the bag with the lobster. He then placed the wooden box and his iPhone 5 onto a medical bed before walking towards Qin Qiuyue.

“Mother, I’m home.”

Ever since Ling Yun entered the clinic, Qin Qiuyue had her eyes on him. Her eyes were full of motherly affection and upon hearing him greet her, she gave him a gentle smile before replying.

“Welcome home.”

“Ling Yun, where are your glasses? Why aren’t you wearing them?” Qin Qiuyue asked caringly upon noticing the change in Ling Yun.

“Oh, that…” Surprised by her question, Ling Yun was momentarily stunned. He had long forgotten all about his glasses!

In the past two days, not once had those staying at the hostel, his classmates, or Ning Lingyu brought up this question. Yet, nothing seemed to escape his mother’s eyes when it concerned her son. Instead of questioning him about the wooden box or his iPhone 5 or his Nike outfit, she actually asked him about his spectacles! Such was her care towards her son!

“Oh yeah, that’s right! Brother, I thought you were myopic? Where are your glasses?” Ning Lingyu asked.

Hearing her mother’s comment, she, too, finally realized that her brother was no longer wearing his spectacles. As much as she was shocked, she was also inwardly remorseful, scolding herself for being so careless. How could she not have noticed such an obvious change in her brother’s appearance?

This is a mother…so this is what they mean by maternal love? Ling Yun was shaken by the affection and care Qin Qiuyue gave him. Being an orphan in Cultivation World, his heart was moved like never before.

Ling Yun stared at Qin Qiuyue who looked almost like a matured Ning Lingyu, gazing at her flawless skin and perfect facial features. As he looked into her eyes, which were filled with nothing but affection and sincerity, various thoughts raced through his mind. Only after a few moments did he regain his composure and think of a half-hearted excuse.

“About that, you see, I didn’t really study much these few years so my eyesight actually improved… so much so that I no longer needed them…” Ling Yun replied while scratching his head.

Though half hearted, that was a perfect excuse. Upon hearing that, Qin Qiuyue’s seem satisfied as she nodded her head and smiled.

“I see, so that’s why. Regaining your sight is a good thing since wearing spectacles can be troublesome.”

“Brother, you mean your eyesight recovered completely? Looks like you not studying has its merits… hehe!” Ning Lingyu giggled as she playfully swayed her fair and slim hands in front of Ling Yun’s eyes.

Again, she was starting to show her coquettish side, acting all silly and foolish.

“Nonsense, is this how you see your brother? Now, stop joking, put down that lobster and go help out. Tang Meng’s all alone outside!” Ling Yun replied with a stern look as he tried to play the part of a strict older brother.

Next, he turned towards Tian Botao who was sitting calmly at the side and asked coldly, “Hey, are you sick?”

“From what I see, your body’s fine. You’re just slightly drunk and that causes your body to feel weak. From now on, drink less and stop fooling around so much and you’ll be fine!”

“Now, hurry up and leave, our clinic is closing for the day!”

Ling Yun did not even bother to introduce himself to Tian Botao, neither was he interested in who this fella was. Today was his family reunion and yet this fool did not even know how to read the atmosphere. Thus, the sight of him sitting there acting oblivious to everything instead of leaving pissed Ling Yun off greatly!