5 Martin Had a Good Father (1/2)

Their heads collided, and at that moment, the crisp sound of the collision stunned everyone. It was like getting whacked with an iron bar!

As their foreheads cracked, the spread of the pain made Ye Qingxuan's body spasm. He suddenly raised his feet, making every effort to step on Martin's face.

Martin couldn't finish his sentence. His mouth was sealed by Ye Qingxuan's violent kicks. He staggered back from the heavy blow, and fell into a ditch.

Paul and Ray were stunned. In shock, they turned around and saw the young man with rage in his eyes. Blood dripped from his forehead, nearly tinting his black eyes red.

They felt him stomping hard like a hammer being banged on their toes. Due to the extreme pain, they released their grip, and Ye Qingxuan broke free.

”Come on, let's see who the bastard really is!”

Ye Qingxuan and the two elder Thomas brothers wrestled. Ye Qingxuan picked up the vegetable basket from the ground, and struck their faces with all his might, ignoring the blows from their fists.

As Paul and Ray fought back, he heard a scream from behind.

Immediately, Ye Qingxuan turned around and saw Martin with a ravenous look on his face. He had gotten up from the ground, his face bloody, eyes angry harboring the thoughts of a madman. He thrust the dagger at the young man's heart!

”Go to hell!”

Ye Qingxuan only remembered putting his arm around his chest. The dagger made a cold cut on the back of his hand, and finally went deep into the basket.

Snap!

The dishes were broken, and the vegetables and raw meat spilled all over the floor.

Paul and Ray were shocked--they did not think that Martin had any murderous intent.

Martin was also stunned.

-

Seeming to be awakened from his rage, Martin finally understood what he had just done. In silence, he looked down at the dagger in his hands, saw the blood pooling on the back of Ye Qingxuan's hand, and his face became immensely pale.

”I...” He whispered and stumbled back, incoherent. ”I did not...I just...” His hand could not grasp the dagger. It fell on the ground, clattered, and his courage shattered.

”You may leave now, bastard, but I will not let you get away with this!” He staggered back and fled. Paul and Ray hesitated, then got up from the ground and followed Martin. They were scared, and almost got knocked down by the people at the end of the alley.

Outside of the alley, Victor, who was dragged there by Old Phil, stared at the blood on the ground, expressionless. The two packs of sausage in his hands fell to the ground.

Ye Qingxuan silently got up from the ground and looked at the wound on his hand. After a long silence, he asked softly, ”Do you have any bandages? I am afraid it will be hard to explain this to the priest.”

-

”Alright, it should be fine now.”

In the small alley, Victor helped Ye Qingxuan wrap the wound on the back of his hand. ”You don't know how to fight, why didn't you just run? One person taking on three of people! Are you insane?”

”I wanted to run.” Ye Qingxuan smiled. ”But I'm not sure what happened. I was suddenly fired with rage.”

”When we were kids, when did you not need my help to fight? At least pay more attention next time. If you hadn't moved so quickly, you'd have been dead right here!” Victor made a gesture. ”Just like removing a bathtub stopper, you would've bled out before reaching the church.”

”Sorry…”

”Don't you have anything else to say?”

Victor threw two bags into the arms of Ye Qingxuan. ”Got something good today. Take it and treat yourself.”

”You stole again?”

”It's called 'work'.”

Since Victor had left the church, he had been working at the pier. Most people over there had sticky fingers, and often stole from the passengers or cargo ships. If discovered, they would take a beating at the very least.

”No worries, it was a whole box of sausage and I only took two. No one will know.”

Victor took out a knife, cut a piece off, and fed Old Phil. He threw more than half of the sausage into Ye Qingxuan's arms. ”Rare goods from Wales. A box is worth two silver coins. Bring it back with you, and let the priest have a taste so that he will believe Victor will succeed in the future as well.”

”You are not going back with me?” Ye Qingxuan asked. ”The priest has always wanted you to come back.”

”I…” Victor was silent, and soon he shook his head. ”I'm not going. My life is so messed up, the priest would be angry with me if he knew. Besides, with such a 'good boy' like you, in time, he will not remember me.”

”What are you saying?” Ye Qingxuan said, agitated.

Victor got up, grinning and waving. ”You know I'm not good at talking, do not be angry. I still have something to do tonight. Are you alright with going back to the church on your own?”

Victor helped Ye Qingxuan up from the ground and gave Old Phil a pat on the back, indicating that he should follow his master home.

In silence, he watched Ye Qingxuan drift further away, his smile fading little by little.