Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 88: Chapter 80: The Young Woman in the Carriage, The Ferocious Face

Many of the waiting passengers also noticed the on-duty personnel moving around and changing their positions, but most just glanced over curiously. Seeing that no incident had occurred, they went back to chatting with their companions.

The platform remained a cacophony of voices, and a soft female voice over the loudspeaker announced train information. Everything seemed normal.

Wan Ze, having just been through several major battles, was on edge. He stared intently at the spot where the men had disappeared, watching until they were out of sight.

’Is it nothing?’

’Or maybe...’

Wan Ze raised a slight eyebrow.

But since he couldn’t see Zhai Jia anywhere, he simply resumed his Cultivation.

The platform broadcast began to urge passengers to proceed to ticket inspection.

Wan Ze sat in his seat and let out a bored yawn.

With just seven minutes to spare, Zhai Jia finally appeared, a smile on his face.

”Let’s go, let’s go, junior brother. You must have been getting antsy, right?”

”It’s fine. If we’d really missed it, I could have just gone home to catch up on sleep,” Wan Ze teased, getting to his feet.

Zhai Jia shook his head and chuckled, then explained in a low voice, ”Remember that ’acquaintance’ I spotted earlier? I followed him and—hey!—he was a genuine fish that slipped through the net. I went ahead and nabbed him. Just like that, a third-class merit award in the bag.”

Wan Ze was stunned. ”You’re that lucky?”

”Haha, that’s what you call fate. You can’t fight it. I just told Zhai Yu, and he was so mad he could have died,” Zhai Jia said, roaring with uncontrollable laughter.

The two of them followed the crowd through the ticket gate and down the long walkway toward the waiting train.

People bustled to and fro. The walkway was filled with hurried travelers carrying bags big and small. In the distance, the low drone of a train horn sounded.

Wan Ze checked his ticket, looking for his seat. As he passed one of the rows, he saw Liu Yu sitting in a seat across the aisle.

She saw Wan Ze as well and gave him a graceful smile and a wave.

Wan Ze nodded and smiled back before continuing down the aisle.

He had just settled into his seat when Zhai Jia nudged him with an elbow. Waggling his eyebrows, he lowered his voice. ”Ran into an old acquaintance? Was it that young married woman?”

Wan Ze was speechless.

After a two-second silence, he replied helplessly, ”It was the girl in the pink jacket next to her. My classmate.”

”Next to her?” Zhai Jia tried his best to remember, a blank look on his face. He muttered to himself, ”Was there someone next to her? I only remember the one in the trench coat with her hair up in a bun...”

Wan Ze felt his eye twitch.

’Seriously, man? Do you only have eyes for the married lady?’

Zhai Jia suddenly whispered, ”So that’s your classmate’s older sister?”

”Her sister-in-law.”

”Sister-in-law? But she’s so young. A widow already? How tragic...”

Wan Ze was speechless again. ”Bro, did you not see the young man sitting to her left?”

”A young man? Was there?” Zhai Jia looked completely lost again.

Wan Ze had nothing more to say. He patted Zhai Jia’s arm. ”Bro, just drop it. Wrecking a family is immoral. If Master finds out, he’ll definitely beat you to a pulp.”

”It’s fine. I’m young, I can wait. Wish me luck, junior brother.”

”...You’re hopeless.”

”Indeed. What is this thing called love, that it can make one promise life and death?”

”...Fine, I’m shutting up.”

”Can’t you just give me your sincere blessing?”

Wan Ze pulled out his hat and draped it over his face. ”Good night. I’m going to sleep.”

「An unknown amount of time passed.」

When Wan Ze woke up and took off his hat, he was surprised to find the seat beside him empty.

’Did Brother Jia go off to rid the world of some other evil?’

’What a workaholic.’

But as soon as he stood up and stretched, he saw that Zhai Jia had somehow already managed to cozy up to Liu Yu’s family. He was even holding a deck of cards, in the middle of a conversation.

’Holy... crap!’

’Bro, you’re the real MVP!’

’Your initiative is off the charts!’

Wan Ze was truly speechless this time. He was about to sit back down and pretend he hadn’t seen them.

But Zhai Jia spotted him and waved him over. ”Ah Ze, you’re awake? Come on, join us for a bit. It’ll help pass the time.”

Liu Yu and the young woman turned to look as well.

Remembering Zhai Jia’s bold proclamations, Wan Ze couldn’t help but think that the world was a crazy place... and also a little thrilling.

However... none of this had a single thing to do with him!

They were only four rows away, so he figured he might as well go over.

As he approached, Liu Yu leaned past her sister-in-law and said to the young man beside her, ”Brother, this is my classmate, Wan Ze.”

”Hello.” The young man offered a polite smile and extended his hand. ”I’m Liu Yu’s older brother, Liu Zhengming.”

His smile was gentle, but he carried himself with the confidence of someone long accustomed to being in charge.

’He doesn’t seem like a simple man,’ Wan Ze thought.

”Hello.” Wan Ze shook his hand, showing no trace of intimidation.

”No one’s sitting here. It’ll be a while until the next stop, so have a seat instead of standing.” As he spoke, Liu Zhengming suddenly turned to Liu Yu. ”No wonder you’ve mentioned the name Wan Ze at home. He is indeed a fine young man.”

Liu Yu’s cheeks flushed red. ”Brother, what are you talking about! I did not!”

Wan Ze was baffled.

’Dude, you’re still busy teasing your sister?’

’Can’t you see your wife is about to be stolen right out from under your nose!’

He couldn’t help but glance at Zhai Jia, who simply raised his eyebrows in response.

But Wan Ze found it increasingly strange. The Zhai Jia he knew wasn’t the type to be rendered useless at the sight of a beautiful woman.

’Could it be?’

He grew suspicious.

Liu Zhengming wasn’t wearing a wedding ring, and there was no indentation on his finger to suggest he ever did... A glance at the young woman... she was definitely wearing one.

’What’s going on here?’

”Ah Ze, do you know how to play Guan Dan?” Zhai Jia’s voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

”No.” Wan Ze shook his head. He’d never played.

”Then let Liu Yu teach you. She just learned herself and is itching for a chance to practice,” Zhai Jia said with a smile, handing him the cards and giving him a meaningful look.

Wan Ze resisted the urge to roll his eyes at him. Liu Yu enthusiastically picked up the conversation. ”It’s actually not that hard. The rules are...”

Wan Ze nodded, sat down opposite her, and listened quietly.

He had an excellent memory and picked it up after hearing the rules just once. After Liu Yu’s explanation and a single practice round, he had it down completely. In fact, he was already holding the upper hand in the current game.

Liu Yu’s eyes widened. ”Are you sure you weren’t lying? You’re way better at this than I am.”

”Maybe I’m just lucky,” Wan Ze said with a casual smile.

Liu Yu was dumbfounded.

The group of five seemed quite at ease.

”Mr. Zhai, are you headed to Yu Yang for pleasure or for business?” Liu Zhengming asked casually during the game.

”A bit of both, I suppose. This here’s my little brother. He’s in high school and the academic pressure is getting to him, so I’m taking him out to relax a bit,” Zhai Jia said offhandedly.

Liu Yu actually believed him and couldn’t help but look at Wan Ze. ”You? You’re stressed from school?”

’Am I?’

Wan Ze wanted nothing more than to stuff a sock in Zhai Jia’s mouth.

’Just talk about yourself. Why drag me into it?’

But Liu Yu couldn’t figure it out. Wan Ze barely attended class two days a week, so where exactly was all this academic pressure coming from?

’And he just placed first in our grade on the exams a couple of days ago...’

’Clearly, people like her, who grinded practice questions late into the night every day, were the ones whose stress levels were about to explode!’

”It’s a long story,” Wan Ze said, shaking his head as if he didn’t want to talk about it.

Liu Zhengming smiled. ”That’s just how high school is. We all went through the same thing. Just relax and let things take their course. By the way, Mr. Zhai, where are you employed?”

”Me? I just drift around, do a bit of this and that. Barely make ends meet. And you, Mr. Liu?”

”Me? I run a small business. Can’t compare to a man as worldly as Mr. Zhai.” Liu Zhengming’s smile didn’t change, but his gaze sharpened.

”Too modest. Running a small business and still having time to take your family traveling... you’re no ordinary man,” Zhai Jia chuckled.

Liu Zhengming raised an eyebrow but didn’t respond.

Wan Ze sensed the shift in the atmosphere but said nothing, waiting for Zhai Jia to make a move.

Amidst their idle chatter, the train arrived at the station.

Liu Yu stood up to grab her luggage.

But just as everyone was about to disembark, Wan Ze noticed Liu Zhengming and Zhai Jia having a private word in the gangway connection between the cars. Seeing the cold look on Liu Zhengming’s face, Wan Ze realized this was probably his true personality.

By the time Wan Ze walked over, Liu Zhengming had already switched back to a gentle smile as he approached his sister, while Zhai Jia stood behind, unfazed.

”Brother Jia, what’s going on?” Wan Ze asked, moving closer.

”It’s nothing.” Zhai Jia shook his head, seeming reluctant to say more.

Seeing this, Wan Ze decided not to press the issue.

But after only a couple of steps, Zhai Jia couldn’t take it anymore. ”Seriously, you’re really not going to ask?”

”Didn’t you say you didn’t want to talk about it?” Wan Ze asked, puzzled.

Zhai Jia slapped his forehead. ”Little brother, you’re no fun at all.”

”So are you going to tell me or not?”

Zhai Jia was at a loss for words. Finally, he just said, ”Liu Zhengming. He’s with the special operations team. The guy recognized me from the start but didn’t say a word. He was playing out this whole ’chance encounter with a nice family’ act with me...”

”You two know each other?” It dawned on Wan Ze.

”Yeah, we were old rivals back in the military. I was on the Blue Team. I personally captured him three times,” Zhai Jia said, a smirk playing on his lips.

Wan Ze was speechless.

’Then he’d probably recognize you even if you were burnt to a crisp.’

He couldn’t help but ask, ”So you two were putting on an act this whole time?”

”He’s the one who started it,” Zhai Jia said. ”But what’s the deal with you and his sister? I saw him keeping a close eye on you. That guy still has the same old problem—can’t hide what’s on his mind for a second!”

Speechless, Wan Ze couldn’t be bothered to answer. ”Stop spouting nonsense. Let’s get down to business. How do we get to Laojun Mountain?”

Seeing his reaction, Zhai Jia let out a silent chuckle.

’Old haunts can be found everywhere. Where they cannot, there is only the heart of youth.’

’Ah, youth. Such pure hearts. It’s so damn good!’

...

The wind carried the crisp chill of a mountain stream. Wan Ze followed Zhai Jia up the mountain path, flanked by wooden railings that showed the marks of many years.

Looking up, he saw distant peaks rising one after another, veiled in a gauze of clouds and mist.

The panoramic view of the granite peaks had an ethereal quality.

”How’s it feel?” Zhai Jia asked with a smile, looking back.

”It truly deserves its fame as one of the world’s great mountains. Standing here makes you feel like the whole world has opened up,” Wan Ze said, impressed.

”Come on, we’re almost there.”

With that, Zhai Jia quickened his pace.

Wan Ze followed close behind.

They arrived before the Laojun Temple, where incense smoke curled into the air and many worshippers were bowing in prayer.

Wan Ze followed Zhai Jia’s lead, taking three sticks of incense. He bowed, making a wish for a peaceful life.

「A moment later.」

Their eyes met. They both nodded, and in silent agreement, prepared to leave.

Unexpectedly, they ran right into their old acquaintances again.

”What a coincidence.”

”Yes, what a coincidence!” Liu Zhengming didn’t want to lose his temper in front of his sister, but looking at Zhai Jia, he couldn’t shake the feeling that the man was just begging for a punch.

Wan Ze nodded to Liu Yu, then tugged on Zhai Jia’s sleeve. ”Let’s go.”

Zhai Jia nodded. He gave Liu Zhengming a knowing smirk and gestured toward the incense inside. ”Boss Liu, if you pray with a sincere heart, it will be answered.”

’Like I need you to tell me!’

Liu Zhengming ignored him and strode inside to get his incense.

As they descended the mountain, shrouded in mist, Zhai Jia laid out the plan. ”We’ll find a hotel in Yu Yang for the night. I’ll show you around a bit, and tomorrow morning we’ll go visit Elder Gu. We’ll freeload a meal at his place and then head back to the Holy City.”

”You’re the boss, bro,” Wan Ze said, unconcerned.

Zhai Jia was about to hire a horse-drawn carriage, but Wan Ze stopped him. ”Why take a carriage? It’s a waste of money. Walk with me. It’ll build character.”

”Are you serious? It’s thirty kilometers!” Zhai Jia balked.

Wan Ze scoffed. ”A mere thirty kilometers! A real man never says he can’t do it!”

”You’re right!” Zhai Jia was at a loss for words. He pointed at Wan Ze. ”Fine, we’ll run!”

The two of them jogged all the way from Laojun Mountain to the city without even getting winded. The number of pedestrians on the streets grew as they went.

Once they reached the city streets, they slowed to a walk. In the distance, they could faintly hear the sound of a piano playing. It seemed a large, boisterous crowd had gathered.

”Let’s go check it out,” Zhai Jia said.

Wan Ze glanced over. ’Well, we’re here anyway,’ he thought, and quickened his pace to follow.

A large crowd had gathered in the center of the square across the street, where the central statue was festooned with lanterns and colorful banners.

A group of children wearing black hats and dressed as clowns held colorful flags bearing the emblem of the East Sea Federation. They followed an adult clown at the head of the procession, while their parents shouted encouragement from the sidelines.

”Looks like there’s some kind of event,” Zhai Jia said excitedly.

More and more people were gathering in the square.

Huge parade floats carried numerous performers dressed as princesses and dwarves. Watching them, Wan Ze thought, ’If Xiaoyu were here, she would be so happy.’

He didn’t know who was arriving, but many people were cheering as if welcoming a king.

BANG!

Just then, a gunshot rang out.

The middle-aged man who was being cheered clutched his heart and collapsed onto the float.

A scream pierced the air, and the crowd erupted into chaos!

Wan Ze froze for a second before his expression turned grim.

’Didn’t I just pray at the temple?!’

’How can my luck still be this bad?!’

Just then, Zhai Jia grabbed him. ”Run!”