Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 8: Chapter 7: Add Money Layman

The student classes at the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall were divided into A, B, C, and D based on enrollment order, which meant that A Class had been studying Iron Mountain Fist the longest.

But Lei Ming never expected Master Qin to recommend a student from D Class to be an assistant instructor for A Class. He couldn’t say what he was thinking out loud, though; it would only offend people.

Besides, Master Qin surpassed him in both seniority and cultivation, so he wouldn’t do this without a good reason.

There could only be one explanation...

This kid was genuinely skilled.

”Master Qin told me you’re also a student at Saint City Noble Academy?”

As they left the courtyard and walked down an alley paved with bluestone slabs, Lei Ming suddenly spoke.

”Yes. Are you a student there too?” Wan Ze asked in surprise.

Lei Ming laughed and shook his head. ”I’m not so lucky,” he said cheerfully. ”But Sun Fan and Fu Min go to your school. By the way, who’s your homeroom teacher?”

”Sun Mingde.”

”...” Lei Ming’s face stiffened. He didn’t know the name, so he quickly changed the subject. ”So what year are you in? A senior?”

”A freshman...” Wan Ze couldn’t help but stare at him.

’Do I look that old?’

That wasn’t what Lei Ming meant. He just assumed that for Wan Ze to have earned Master Qin’s approval, he must have been practicing martial arts for many years.

But he never imagined that this Junior Brother Wan was only... a freshman!!!

’Holy crap! A freshman?!!!’

He was even more baffled now.

...

In a spacious courtyard paved with gray and redwood, the sound of fists striking wooden posts was endless.

When Lei Ming appeared with Wan Ze, he didn’t introduce him to the others. Instead, he gave him a quick tour and briefly explained his duties.

It was only then that Wan Ze learned that A Class’s training regimen was far more extensive than D Class’s. Not only did they have to perform the Squatting Horse Stance and practice their forms every day, but they also had to undergo specialized training for Power, reaction speed, and Agility, as well as sparring.

He couldn’t help but wonder if Master Qin had recommended him as an assistant instructor because he had seen his true skill level.

’He must be incredibly perceptive!’

’What a powerful backer!’

’What Master Qin?! That’s my patron saint!’

Wan Ze muttered to himself. After listening to Lei Ming’s explanation, he learned that his job was quite simple. It was nothing more than helping the instructors organize sparring matches, recording training data, and so on.

This was where Lei Ming’s cleverness showed.

Although he had his doubts about Wan Ze’s Iron Mountain Fist, he didn’t voice them.

Perhaps it was also because he didn’t want to offend Master Qin.

In any case, he didn’t push the issue.

”When there’s nothing else to do, you can use the equipment in the courtyard to train. If there’s anything you don’t understand, feel free to ask...”

”Brother Lei, I have a question,” Wan Ze suddenly said.

Lei Ming didn’t seem surprised. ”Go ahead,” he said with a smile.

”It looks like A Class is more like free training. It’s... different from D Class,” Wan Ze said hesitantly.

Lei Ming nodded and smiled. ”That’s right. A Class is mostly made up of senior students who have been practicing for one to two years. They no longer need training from the old masters; they’re just supervised by us Official Disciples.”

”You’re an Official Disciple?”

”What, I don’t look the part?”

”That’s not what I meant.”

”Haha, don’t be nervous. With Master Qin thinking so highly of you, you’ll probably be one soon too,” Lei Ming said with sudden, deep meaning.

Wan Ze didn’t know how to respond to that, so he just gave an awkward smile.

Just then, he saw a girl with a black ponytail appear, surrounded by a crowd. The girl had long legs, a slender waist, and delicate features—a rare beauty indeed.

”Brother Lei, you’re finally here! Is Sun Fan avoiding me on purpose? It’s sparring day today. If she doesn’t have the guts to show up, then I’m not fighting,” the ponytailed girl said in a deliberately coquettish tone.

Wan Ze found it odd but didn’t let it show on his face, glancing impassively at Lei Ming.

But at that exact moment, a voice full of heroic spirit rang out, ”Me, avoiding you? Fu Min, who do you think you are? Get over here and die!”

The crowd automatically parted, and a short-haired girl radiating a valiant aura strode forward.

Lei Ming face-palmed with a wry smile. ”Sun Fan...”

”Brother Lei, this is between her and me. Please stay out of it,” Fu Min was the one who said this.

The two girls seemed to have a long-standing grudge.

Lei Ming was helpless. He could only tell the crowd to spread out. Not forgetting to assert his authority as a senior brother, he warned, ”Same old rules: stop before it goes too far!”

It was the first time Wan Ze had seen senior students of the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall fight, and he watched with intense concentration.

The two graceful figures clashed in a flash, their bodies weaving past each other. They struck with incredible speed. Wan Ze was secretly alarmed; this was nothing like the hair-pulling he had imagined.

What surprised him even more was that although the two girls didn’t look very old, the techniques they used were all from the Iron Mountain Fist. The ferocity of their moves was something the students from D Class couldn’t hope to match.

”What do you think?” Lei Ming suddenly asked in a low voice.

”They’re very strong,” Wan Ze said honestly.

He actually formed a more direct comparison in his mind... He could probably do the same.

It’s just that...

”Who do you think will win?” Lei Ming asked again.

Wan Ze looked up and saw Brother Lei looking at him with a grin. It was clear this seemingly casual question was a test.

”Brother Lei...”

Just as he was about to speak, Lei Ming suddenly said with a smile, ”I’m sure someone recommended by Master Qin can see something as simple as this, right?”

Wan Ze fell silent, his eyes fixed on the two figures entangled in combat. Suddenly, he said, ”She’s lost.”

”Who?”

”The one with the ponytail.”

Lei Ming was stunned. He looked up at the fight, where Sun Fan had executed a Double Sword Cutting Bridge. She was clearly going for a trade of injuries, and her ferocity was something even some of the male students would admit they couldn’t match.

In the next second, Fu Min panicked. Her black ponytail flew up...

SMACK! The sound of the slap was sharp, and everyone was stunned.

Lei Ming could no longer dwell on his burgeoning surprise at Wan Ze’s prediction. In a flash, he moved, his arms like massive, coiling pythons, and suppressed the two girls who had both developed killing intent.

”I told you to stop before it went too far! Didn’t you hear me!”

Hearing this, Sun Fan stood to the side with an indifferent expression, her arms crossed.

”Sun Fan, you just wait!” Fu Min clutched her face, wrenched her arm free from Lei Ming’s grasp, and fled with red-rimmed eyes.

Lei Ming was helpless. He turned his head and said irritably, ”Feeling better now?”

”What’s there to feel better about? From now on, I’ll beat her every time I see her! I’ll teach her the consequences of running her mouth and spreading scandalous rumors!” Sun Fan sneered.

Lei Ming knew this was their private affair and it wasn’t his place to ask. He changed the subject, beckoning Wan Ze over. ”Let me introduce you to someone new, Wan Ze. Master Qin can’t stop singing his praises.”

Master Qin?

Sun Fan couldn’t help but give Wan Ze a second look. Her expression softened slightly as she extended her hand. ”Sun Fan.”

”Wan Ze.”

As soon as they shook hands, Lei Ming added with a smile, ”He’s your junior. A freshman this year.”

”Are you sure he’s a freshman?” Sun Fan seemed very surprised and let go of his hand.

Wan Ze: ”...”

Lei Ming clearly understood how familiar this sort of doubt was and couldn’t help but chuckle. ”You can’t believe it either, right?”

”Not at all,” Sun Fan added, twisting the knife.

Lines of frustration appeared on Wan Ze’s face. ”I know I have a heroic air about me, but I can’t look *that* old, can I?”

”I’m just messing with you. You’re actually pretty handsome,” Sun Fan teased, a complete change from her demeanor moments ago.

Lei Ming’s smile froze on his face. The mood suddenly felt dull to him. He looked around and put on his senior-most brother air again. ”Alright, an announcement. For the next few days, Wan Ze will be filling in for Old Ma as the assistant instructor. So no slacking off. Chen Rong from B Class has already signed up for the Official Disciple assessment, and he started half a year later than you all. Think about it. Aren’t you ashamed...”

The expressions of the crowd shifted subtly.

It was a change that Wan Ze, as an outsider, could perceive most clearly, especially from the short-haired girl in front of him... who had clenched her fists.

”You’re sparring with me later,” the girl said suddenly in a low voice.

Wan Ze froze.

He looked up.

Sun Fan was already brimming with fighting spirit.

...

”Sorry, that’s not part of my job description! Unless...”

”You pay me extra!!!!!”