Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 40: Chapter 38: Skill Upgrade, Ruthless Xiaowan

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”The saying goes, ’A great man transforms like a tiger, his stripes brilliant and distinct...’ This refers to the lightning-like patterns on the Tiger Talisman’s spine, and its eyes, inlaid with colored glass, symbolize the ’Eye of the Commander-in-Chief’...” Wan Ze began to explain slowly.

The others were all stunned.

Professor Song was clearly interested in his words. ”You’ve studied history as well?”

”It was mentioned in a textbook,” Wan Ze replied.

Professor Song was taken aback.

He looked at his two students. ’Did you two learn this in high school?’

But one look at his students’ expressions and Professor Song understood. ’There really is a world of difference between a genius and ordinary people.’

”A Tiger Talisman is extremely important to a dynasty. Professor Song, do you only have one half of it?” Wan Ze asked.

”Correct.”

”Perhaps the Secret Palace already has the other half... Senior Brother, I’ll leave the interrogation to you,” Wan Ze said, getting up.

”No problem... Hey, wait a minute, where are you going?” Lei Ming asked hastily.

”I’m going to walk around for a bit, clear my head.”

Wan Ze walked out the door without a backward glance.

Lei Ming paused for a moment, but didn’t overthink it. He rolled up his sleeves and patted the lanky man’s face. ”Alright, buddy, wakey-wakey. The prize-winning quiz show is about to begin.”

...

Wan Ze walked slowly through the night.

He glanced at the data panel at the bottom of his vision...

[Illustrated Guide: Mysterious Shadow Step] (Basic Level Mastered)

[Skill Intermediate Satisfying Conditions: Walk 50,000 meters] (49,921/50,000)

...

A moment later.

The data panel updated.

[Illustrated Guide: Mysterious Shadow Step] (Intermediate Level Mastered)

[Effect: Agility +0.01]

[Skill High Level Satisfying Conditions: Walk 100,000 meters, successfully dodge one attack]

Wan Ze unhurriedly retracted his gaze.

He continued to walk quickly.

He walked until one of Professor Song’s students found him. ”...M-Master Wan, Master Lei wants you to come over.”

”Did he talk?” Wan Ze asked casually.

”He d-did, it’s just...” The student trailed off, conflicted.

”Just what?” Wan Ze looked at him.

The man gave a wry smile. ”He said that if the two halves of the Tiger Talisman are combined, it might reveal clues to the Imperial Mausoleum. The professor is really excited now.”

”...”

’Oh, the Imperial Mausoleum? I’m not surprised in the slightest!’

Wan Ze pushed the door open and saw Lie Hu turn to look at him, a wide grin spreading across his face. Immediately after, Lie Hu was knocked unconscious by a karate chop from Lei Ming.

”...”

”Ah Ze, you’re just in time. This is so damn ridiculous. The Secret Palace people want to combine the two halves of the Tiger Talisman to find the Imperial Mausoleum. They probably think there’s some Qi Refiner’s Cultivation Technique inside,” Lei Ming said in a rapid-fire burst.

Before Wan Ze could speak, Professor Song cut in urgently, ”Master Lei, Master Wan... I want to ask for your help. No matter the cost... I must find the Imperial Mausoleum!”

The moment he finished, Lei Ming’s face turned pale. Still, he explained patiently, ”Professor Song, I’m not trying to shoot you down, but do you have any idea who these people who stole your Tiger Talisman are? Even if it were me, if I ran into a real expert from their organization... it would be a death sentence. Asking us to go steal the Tiger Talisman back is no different from asking us to commit suicide.”

Hearing this, Professor Song’s expression darkened, and he asked, dejected, ”Even you can’t do it?”

Wan Ze, however, turned to Lei Ming and asked, ”Was the woman who tried to steal the Rain Bell at Lingyun Manor also an assassin from the Secret Palace?”

”No.” Lei Ming shook his head. ”The Secret Palace thinks the Rain Bell was just bait put out by the Celestial Harmony Palace to divert trouble. They weren’t very interested... It’s possible the Secret Palace obtained a Rain Bell long ago, found it useless, and just tossed it aside.”

Wan Ze nodded, having little interest in such legends.

For one, he didn’t have the ability to decipher it. For another, with his current skills, trying to snatch such a hot potato was no different from courting death.

He looked at Professor Song and asked, ”What do you plan to do, Professor Song?”

”Collaborate!” Professor Song said firmly. ”The existence of the Imperial Mausoleum is more than just an academic topic. It concerns the six-thousand-year history and civilization of our East Sea Federation... If the Secret Palace’s guess is correct, I am willing to work with them.”

Lei Ming was stunned. Coming to his senses, he said urgently, ”Wait, do you know how vicious those people are?”

Professor Song looked at him, his gaze calm. ”After what’s happened, I have some idea. But... this is the Imperial Mausoleum! It’s the first peak of our East Sea civilization. If we can truly find the Imperial Mausoleum, then all the overseas suppression of our East Sea civilization’s history will crumble! Master Lei, I’m not looking for the Imperial Mausoleum for myself!”

With that, he turned to his two students. ”I’ve made my decision on this matter. You two will withdraw from my research group. I will personally arrange for a senior professor at the National University to take you...”

”Professor!” The two students panicked at once.

But Professor Song’s mind was made up. He looked at Lei Ming and Wan Ze. ”I may have to trouble the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall to step in. Of course... I won’t be a single cent short on the consultation fee.”

”Old Song, you’re being too hasty...” Lei Ming didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

He looked to Wan Ze, subconsciously wanting to hear his junior brother’s opinion.

”We should first report the matter of the Secret Palace to Master and let him decide... Professor Song, I understand how you feel, but this needs careful, long-term planning.” Wan Ze looked at the man lying on the floor and kicked his rear. ”Alright, stop playing dead. Professor Song is an expert in this field. Even if you get the Tiger Talisman, you won’t necessarily understand the story behind it. Why don’t you talk to your boss about cooperating?”

’Playing dead?’

Professor Song’s two students, who had been wallowing in the sorrow of losing their professor, immediately scrambled back a few steps upon hearing this.

Lie Hu sighed internally. He opened his eyes, met Wan Ze’s dark gaze, and gave an awkward laugh. ”I didn’t think you’d notice. By the way, brother, are you interested in joining our Secret Palace?”

Wan Ze raised an eyebrow slightly.

Lei Ming moved to beat the guy up. ”Damn it! My junior brother is a model student! What bullshit Secret Palace is he gonna join?!”

Wan Ze: ”...”

Lie Hu: ”...”

Professor Song: ”...”

”A model student? Heh.” Lie Hu absolutely refused to believe that a guy who could kill without batting an eye was a model student.

’But... a student? What the hell, shouldn’t it be model citizen?’

But he couldn’t be bothered to think about it. His gaze shifted to Professor Song at the back of the group, and he grinned. ”To be honest, I didn’t expect things to develop to this point either...”

”Cut the crap!” Lei Ming interrupted irritably.

Lie Hu gave a sheepish laugh and shrugged. ”This isn’t something I can decide.”

”In that case, we can’t let you live,” Wan Ze said suddenly, his voice cold.

The hair on Lie Hu’s neck stood up. ”Hey, buddy, no need for so much killing intent, right? We have no beef with each other.”

”No beef? Your Secret Palace has tried to kill me twice. You don’t call that a grudge?” Wan Ze sneered.

Lie Hu’s face fell. ”Come on, man, you don’t understand our organization. I don’t know why the Secret Palace is after you, but within the Palace, we all operate independently. We don’t interfere with each other... And frankly, if the Secret Palace really wanted to hunt someone down, they wouldn’t stop until that person was dead. They’d never have let you live until now. So, it’s very likely a personal grudge between you and someone in the Secret Palace.”

Wan Ze ignored his lengthy explanation and said only this: ”Cooperate, and you live. Don’t cooperate, and your companions will join you on the road to the underworld.”

’Motherfucker!’

’This is a model student? This motherfucker threatens to send me to the underworld at the drop of a hat, and he’s supposed to be a model student?!!!’

Lie Hu was utterly exasperated, but he didn’t dare to lash out. He could only take a deep breath and force himself to remain calm. ”Actually, cooperation isn’t out of the question, but you have to let me first confirm that the other half of the Tiger Talisman is really in your hands! Otherwise... there’s no point even if you kill me.”