Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 228: Chapter 164: Intelligence Improvement! Arrival of the Vile Creature

Zhai Yu, however, listened intently, his brow furrowing and relaxing in turn.

When Wan Ze finished, Zhai Yu was silent for a long time before he spoke, his tone uncharacteristically grave. ”This Swordsmanship... is incredibly ferocious, with an overwhelming killing intent. But its methods are completely different from the path we martial artists walk.”

He kept one thought to himself.

’He suspected this wasn’t a mortal Swordsmanship at all.’

”Brother Yu, did you understand it?” Zhai Jia asked from the side.

Zhai Yu shook his head. ”I can’t fully grasp it right now, either. But I’m certain that if this Swordsmanship is mastered, its power will be unimaginable.”

’He was now more and more certain that the woman in white from the dream was definitely not a ghost!’

Unfortunately, Wan Ze couldn’t comprehend this Swordsmanship either. He would have to wait until his All Attributes met the requirements, so even if he wanted to help the two brothers, he was powerless to do so.

Not long after, Zhai Yu and Zhai Jia took their leave.

The door closed, leaving Wan Ze alone in the room.

He sat down, watching the afternoon sun slant through the window as he fell into deep thought.

’The most important thing right now is to raise my Attributes.’

Putting aside the Void Spirit-Slaying Sword, even the Soldier Immortal Technique required All Attributes to be no lower than 2.5.

’Right now, only my Intelligence is lacking.’

His gaze swept over it.

[Intelligence: 2.47]

’Just 0.03 more to go.’

’Soon,’ he thought.

He then looked down at the stack of books on the table.

Reading academic papers these past few days had nearly fried his brain, but it was definitely having an effect.

At the same time, he was also searching everywhere for Low Level Martial Skills.

Tackling both at once was exhausting, but for the sake of the Soldier Immortal Technique, it was all worth it.

Calming his mind, Wan Ze opened *Basic Cryptography* and continued to read.

...

「Two or three more days passed in a flash.」

Saint City First Hospital. A VIP room on the sixth floor of the inpatient ward.

When Wan Ze pushed open the door, Tie Qingyang was leaning against the headboard, a newspaper from that morning in his hands, grumbling and cursing about something that had clearly set him off.

He looked up at the sound, and upon seeing Wan Ze, Tie Qingyang immediately put down the paper. ”Brother! You’re here! Sit, sit!”

Wan Ze walked over, set down a fruit basket, and took a seat in the chair beside the bed.

He glanced around the room. It had good light, and two pots of devil’s ivy sat on the windowsill, their leaves a vibrant, healthy green.

”Brother Wan,” Tie Feiyang said from the foot of the bed. He then lowered his head, a look of unconcealable grief on his face.

His expression was less like someone visiting a patient and more like someone holding a vigil at a funeral.

Tie Qingyang shot him a glance, his temper flaring. ”It’s just a tumor! Look at you, scared like a coward! Get out, get out! Stop being an eyesore!”

Tie Feiyang looked up, his lips moving as if to say something, but he swallowed his words. He could only turn to Wan Ze, his eyes pleading for help.

Wan Ze took the hint and asked, ”What tumor? I thought you said it was just a cold.”

Tie Feiyang’s voice dropped. ”...Malignant. They found it... and it’s in a bad spot.”

Wan Ze’s brow furrowed slightly.

But Tie Qingyang just waved his hand, looking completely unconcerned. ”It’s no big deal. Everyone’s time comes eventually. What’s the difference if it’s a few years earlier or later?”

He looked at Tie Feiyang and waved his hand again. ”Go on, get out. I want to have a word with Younger Brother Wan.”

”...Yes, Dad.” Tie Feiyang opened his mouth, but ultimately said nothing more and turned to leave.

The door closed softly.

The room fell quiet.

Sunlight streamed in through the window.

Tie Qingyang leaned back against the headboard, the smile on his face fading slightly as he looked at Wan Ze. ”Brother, there’s something I think you should know.”

Wan Ze said nothing, waiting for him to continue.

”Those two punks from the Divine Martial Society... Xiao Yunkai and that Brother Liu of his... they’re locked up in a detention center right now.”

Tie Qingyang said in a low voice.

He didn’t mention the little trick he’d pulled to get them put there.

Wan Ze was taken aback for a moment, then couldn’t help but chuckle. ”You’re a bold one. Aren’t you afraid of retaliation from the Divine Martial Society?”

”Sometimes you just can’t let things go,” Tie Qingyang sighed, his gaze drifting to the window and his voice lowering. ”I know this world we’re in believes in strength. Might makes right. I understand that. But sometimes... when you’re clearly the victim and the other party uses their backing to bully you... I just can’t swallow that.”

’His Tie Shizhe had been keeping a low profile, but Sun Weilong threw his weight around and bullied them. Now the Divine Martial Society was coming on strong, even sending people to tail Wan Ze... He couldn’t just sit back and do nothing.’

’He, Tie Qingyang, was a law-abiding businessman now.’

’But in the past... he hadn’t been!’

Tie Qingyang turned back to Wan Ze, his tone growing more serious. ”That man, Tian Guipu, I’ve had him watched for a few days. His skill is considerable; he should have a Refining Viscera Cultivation. And according to the intelligence I’ve gathered, his master is one of the Divine Martial Society’s Five Tiger Generals. The Society’s President has Five Tiger Generals under him, every one of them an expert. His master is one of them, surnamed Zhou. In the martial world, they call him ’Zhou Laohu’.”

Wan Ze listened, his expression unchanging.

Tie Qingyang continued, ”The Divine Martial Society has made it clear they intend to investigate the cause of Sun Weilong’s death. In their digging, it’s highly likely they’ve already traced it back to me... If everything comes out into the open, my feud with Sun Weilong was a matter of the martial world, all above board. But my fear is that the Divine Martial Society won’t play by the rules...”

He paused, looking at Wan Ze with a serious gaze. ”Brother, I don’t know if I can handle what’s coming. But as for Feiyang... I hope you can look after him from now on. I can guarantee this: the matter of Sun Weilong’s death ends with me. No matter how they investigate, it will never lead to you.”

Wan Ze looked at him, not rushing to reply.

Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling on the space between them.

After a few seconds, Wan Ze shook his head. ”This isn’t the time to be talking about that.”