Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 201: Chapter 154: Jianghu Reputation +1+1+1+1...

News about the Golden Gate Sect spread quickly through the Dragon Eagle Martial Arts Hall.

So fast that no one had time to react.

The Golden Gate Sect, which had been rooted in the Holy City for years and kept a pack of desperados on its payroll, was uprooted overnight just for making a move on a Dragon Eagle member.

The news grew wings, flying from the Inner Courtyard to the outer courtyard, from Official Disciples to newly enrolled students. Overnight, even the old man selling breakfast at the gate could chat your ear off about it.

”I heard it was all because they hunted a Dragon Eagle disciple?”

”That’s right.”

”Hiss! The more you think about it, the scarier it gets!”

Conversations like this were happening everywhere, inside and outside the martial arts hall.

Many students whispered among themselves, ”See? This is how they treat Official Disciples. Once you’re a part of Dragon Eagle, they’ve got your back. Anyone who messes with you had better be prepared to pay with their life...”

But another piece of news was even more thrilling than the fall of the Golden Gate Sect.

The person who had personally killed that Veteran Martial Artist was supposedly a senior brother surnamed Wan. Rumor had it that he’d just joined the hall a few months ago, and as soon as he entered the Inner Courtyard, his strength skyrocketed as if he were strapped to a rocket.

Few people had known the name Wan Ze before.

But now, the two words ”Brother Wan” were suddenly famous.

The newcomers, those who had just finished their blood tempering or were still practicing fundamentals in the outer courtyard, usually listened to the seniors’ stories of the martial world as if they were just that—stories.

When had they ever seen it with their own eyes? When had they ever had the chance to see something like this happen for real, right beside them?

This time, the one who died was an old hand who had spent half his life in the martial world!

And the one who killed him was a senior brother who, just like them, had started as a student!

What was this?

This was hope! This was a rush of adrenaline! This was a call to fight to the death!

So whenever Wan Ze passed through the outer courtyard, those who knew who he was would look at him with a mixture of worship, envy, and a bit of cautious fear.

He was, after all, someone who had killed.

’Come to think of it, how old is he...? And he already dares to kill.’

Wan Ze had no time to bother with these gazes.

He was out early and back late every day, burying himself in the Inner Courtyard’s training rooms. Aside from eating and sleeping, all he did was practice his fist techniques.

To him, something like fame was less tangible than a Low Level Martial Skill.

...

Outside the Dragon Eagle cafeteria.

Zhou Xianchuan was squatting in a corner, a cucumber in hand, munching away happily.

”Brother Wan?”

He mumbled the news he had just heard, a dazed look on his face. ”They’re not talking about Ah Ze, are they?”

A few students next to him nodded. ”It’s him! Brother Wan Ze! Didn’t you guys join the hall together?”

Zhou Xianchuan stared blankly for three seconds, then—SPIT!—sprayed cucumber juice all over the ground.

”You’re saying Ah Ze killed someone?”

He wiped his mouth, feeling like these guys were insulting Ah Ze. ”Give me a break! You think I don’t know him? Ah Ze wouldn’t even dare to kill a chicken! Let me tell you, one time we were eating out and a fight broke out at the next table. Ah Ze ducked for cover faster than I did... Him, kill someone? Impossible! My brother is definitely not the type to kill indiscriminately! You better not be spreading rumors!”

’Killing is illegal. Whether Ah Ze did it or not, the right move is to deny it first!’

The people next to him exchanged glances.

They weren’t sure if they had heard the wrong version of the story or why this little fatty, Zhou Xianchuan, had gotten so worked up so suddenly.

But Zhou Xianchuan later forgot about the whole thing.

That was just how he was. He’d say he didn’t want to practice martial arts, but inspired by Wan Ze, he trained desperately anyway. He was so exhausted from training lately that he would pass out the moment his head hit the pillow. He had no mental energy left to worry about such things.

Anyway, he’d have to ask Ah Ze about it next time he saw him. But whether he’d remember to ask... that was hard to say.

...

”I already know about the Golden Gate Sect. My dad and... my brother would like to treat you to a meal.”

Over the communicator, Sun Fan’s voice was a bit faint and nasal. He sounded like he had a cold, but it was actually because he’d been lying in a hospital bed for several days and had no strength to speak.

”There’s no need for a meal. You just focus on recovering,” Wan Ze politely declined. He was standing in a corridor of the Inner Courtyard, glancing at the sky. The evening afterglow tinged the snow in the courtyard orange-red.

”Oh...” Sun Fan paused on the other end, seeming to want to say more but swallowing his words. ”Alright, then. You... you take care of yourself.”

”Yeah, you too.”

The call ended.

Wan Ze tucked the communicator back into his pocket and turned to walk toward the training room.

’A meal?’

He really didn’t have time right now.

He glanced down at his attribute panel. He was still a ways off from reaching 2.5 in All Attributes.

The Soldier Immortal Technique was still waiting for him to unlock it.

He couldn’t afford to waste a single moment.

He pulled off his jacket and began to practice.

He had obtained one ordinary Pile Skill, two Low Level Fist Techniques, and one Body Technique from the Golden Gate Sect... Thankfully, the mission requirements for these four Low Level Martial Skills weren’t time-based, or he’d be in for a headache.

The advantage of being judged by repetitions was that, as long as he was fast enough, he could theoretically raise these four Martial Skills to High Level within three days.

And just this evening.

The third and fourth Low Level Martial Skills finally successfully advanced to Intermediate.

...

[Cumulative Power +0.04]

[Cumulative Coordination +0.04]

[Cumulative Agility +0.02]

[Cumulative Endurance +0.03]

...

’The Attribute gains are just as I expected. Next, if I complete the High Level missions, I’ll have a chance to trigger All Attributes.’

Wan Ze knew what to expect.

His gaze fell on the four Low Level Martial Skills. He first chose a mission that only required five hundred punches, as it was the simplest.

Twenty minutes later, the High Level mission was complete.

...

[New Effect: Physical Strength +0.02; Power +0.02; Endurance +0.02]

...

’Not All Attributes?’

”Damn it!”

Wan Ze said nothing, simply burying his head in his strenuous training.

The High Level mission for the second Fist Technique was completed.

...

The good news was that this time he received an increase to All Attributes.

The bad news was that it only increased by 0.01...

’Better than nothing. At least it’s a good start.’

Early the next morning, the Body Technique’s High Level mission was successfully completed.

All Attributes increased by 0.02, with an additional 0.02 to Agility.

Late that night, the Pile Skill’s High Level mission was successfully completed.

All Attributes increased by 0.02, with an additional 0.02 to Endurance.

’Not bad...’

’It’s a shame that the missions get harder later on. Cultivation missions that require tens of thousands of repetitions can’t be completed in just a few days.’

Wan Ze took a deep breath. He said nothing and just continued to practice.

...

Two more days passed in the blink of an eye.

On this particular morning, the world inside and outside the courtyard was a vast expanse of white.

A heavy snow had fallen the previous night, leaving a half-foot-thick blanket in the courtyard. The sky had now cleared, and the morning light filtering through the clouds made the snow dazzlingly bright.

Wan Ze stood at the door and glanced at the courtyard.

Then he took off his shirt.

A cold wind hit his face, and his skin instantly broke out in goosebumps.

He paid it no mind, stepping into the snow and crunching his way to the center of the courtyard.

Once he was in position, he sank his shoulders and dropped his elbows.

He inhaled.

And then...

”SWOOSH!”

He threw a punch.

One punch, two punches, three punches...

At first, he was slow, so slow it looked like he was just going through the motions.

Gradually, Wan Ze’s fists grew faster and heavier. Each punch he threw carried a low whistle, as if something was exploding on his knuckles.

In the snow, his footprints grew deeper and more chaotic.

An unknown amount of time passed. Wan Ze’s breathing grew heavy and his chest heaved violently, but his fists did not stop.

Plumes of hot steam rose from his body, condensing into a white mist in the frigid air that swirled around him.

From a distance, he looked like an ox demon going berserk in the snow.

The white mist grew thicker, nearly shrouding his entire body.

Only a blurry shadow could be faintly seen, punching again and again, as if it would never stop.

”BANG! CRACK!” ”BANG-CRACK! BANG—CRACK!”

His fists broke the sound barrier, continuously creating sonic booms.

An unknown amount of time passed.

Wan Ze suddenly stopped.

He stood in the snow, steam rising from his entire body. Sweat trickled down his spine, dripping onto the snow and melting little holes in it.

Inside his body, it felt like something had loosened with a HUM.

It was like a tremor.

A tremor that originated from deep within his bones. A string had been plucked. Power rippled out from his spine, spreading to his limbs, to his fingertips, and through every inch of his muscles.

Wan Ze was a little surprised. He lowered his head and looked at his hand.

The veins on the back of his hand throbbed slightly, and his knuckles looked thicker. When he clenched his fist now, it felt different than before.

Tighter, more solid, more powerful!

Wan Ze took a deep breath and pulled up the Illustrated Guide.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Ox Demon Fist] (Special Level Mastered)

[New Effect: All Attributes +0.05]

[Skill Ultimate Form Conditions Met: Practice this fist 100,000 times and condense Mad Demon Fist Intent]

...

”All Attributes +0.05?”

”I really broke through!”

Wan Ze stared at the line of text and let out a long sigh of relief.

A puff of white mist escaped his lips, condensing in the cold air before slowly dissipating.

Two days...

He had spent two whole days raising Ox Demon Fist from High Level to Special Level.

Thirty thousand punches—the repetition was monotonous enough to drive a person mad.

But it was all worth it the moment the mission was completed.

All Attributes +0.05 was equivalent to several Low Level Martial Skills combined.

Wan Ze looked up at the sky. The morning light was perfect, and the snow was blindingly bright.

In the courtyard, the footprints he’d made were scattered messily across the ground, as if some giant beast had been rolling around.

Steam was still rising from his body. His skin, slick with sweat, shone as it let off white vapor in the cold air.

He suddenly smiled.

...

Just as Wan Ze was finishing his practice, the door was pushed open.

”Ah Ze!!!”

Zhai Jia’s voice rushed in before he did. He burst through the door in a flurry, followed by Zhai Yu. Both of them carried a chill from the outside.

”Holy crap! It’s only been a few days, and I hear you’ve already offed a Refining Viscera old-timer? Awesome! What was his name, Qin Jiu? The heir to White Crane Fist? You slammed his face through a wall?” Zhai Jia sized Wan Ze up, his eyes wide as saucers.

Zhai Yu also walked over, giving Wan Ze a rare thumbs-up. He said succinctly, ”Impressive.”

But Wan Ze shook his head. ”It was a dishonorable victory.”

Zhai Jia was taken aback. ”Why do you say that?”

Wan Ze explained, ”He was already over sixty. His qi and blood were long past their peak, his organs were failing, and his bones and sinews weren’t as durable as they were in his youth. Killing him was as easy as flipping my hand. But if he were thirty years younger... it wouldn’t have been so easy for me to deal with him.”

Zhai Jia listened, stunned for three seconds.

Then the corner of his mouth twitched, and he looked at Wan Ze as if seeing him for the first time. ”I haven’t seen you in a few days, Ah Ze, and your... your bullshitting skills have really improved. You’ve even learned how to praise yourself by putting yourself down first!”

Zhai Jia slapped his thigh, getting more and more excited as he spoke. ”First you say it was a dishonorable victory, then you add ’it wouldn’t have been so easy if he were thirty years younger’... Brilliant, truly brilliant! Brother Yu, you should take notes.”

Zhai Yu: ”...”

Wan Ze: ”...”

He couldn’t be bothered with him.

Zhai Yu glanced at his brother, then looked back at Wan Ze and offered a rare bit of comfort. ”Don’t overthink it. Get stronger, kill your enemies. That’s enough.”

He had always been a man of few words.

Wan Ze nodded. After pouring hot water for his two good brothers, he asked casually, ”Are you guys... done with your work?”

Zhai Yu nodded with a grunt of ”Mm,” which served as his answer.

Zhai Jia flopped onto the sofa and let out a long breath. ”Finally! That old bastard Sang Hu can really run... We chased him from Holy City to South City, then from South City to the neighboring Yun City. The moment things looked bad, the old fart bolted for the mountains. He hid for three days and three nights and nearly ran us ragged.”

He gestured wildly as he spoke, spittle flying. ”In the end, it was my brother who came up with a plan... Fire! We set a fire at the base of the mountain. The old bastard thought we were going to burn the whole mountain down and ran out on his own. He ended up running right into the trap we set and we nabbed him on the spot.”

Wan Ze listened quietly.

Zhai Jia, caught up in his story, suddenly lowered his voice conspiratorially. ”You’ll never guess who else I ran into.”