Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 265: Chapter 172: Complete Mastery! Taking Form

He threw a punch, the air whistling around his fist. It was definitely a lot stronger than before.

”That’s pretty good.” Wan Ze nodded.

”So...” Tan Xiao rubbed his hands together, grinning. ”If anything fun comes up, remember to hit me up. I’ve been really bored lately, free anytime.”

Wan Ze was exasperated. ”What do you mean, ’fun stuff’? I’m a stand-up guy, you can’t go around spouting nonsense about me!”

”No, of course I won’t tell anyone. But it’s just... you know...” Tan Xiao lowered his voice, his gaze turning meaningful. ”When you’re with Brother Zhai... that, um... I want to see some real action with you guys.”

Wan Ze looked at him, exasperated.

’This ”seeing some real action” business... it’s no joke.’

”We’ll see,” Wan Ze replied vaguely, neither agreeing nor refusing.

Tan Xiao was about to say more when a steady voice came from behind him. ”Old Tan, what are you dawdling here for?”

The two turned to see Zhai Jia walking over from the direction of the training hall, wearing a dark gray T-shirt.

”I was just telling Ah Ze about wanting to see some real action,” Tan Xiao said, embarrassed.

Zhai Jia nodded at him, his gaze landing on Wan Ze. The corners of his mouth lifted slightly. ”Ah Ze, you’re here.”

”Brother Jia.” Wan Ze greeted him as well.

Zhai Jia walked over and casually squeezed Tan Xiao’s shoulder, grinning. ”You have gotten a lot sturdier. Looks like Master Qin has been putting you through your paces lately.”

”You can say that again...” Tan Xiao said with a pained expression.

Zhai Jia chuckled. ”Perfect, the boys are all here. Strike while the iron is hot. You can spar with Ah Ze first.”

Tan Xiao froze. ”Me... fight Junior Brother Wan?”

”That’s right.” Zhai Jia nodded with a smile, a teasing look in his eyes. ”Didn’t you say you wanted to see some real action? Isn’t this it? Come on, get in the ring.”

Tan Xiao scratched his head.

He looked at Wan Ze. ”Junior Brother Wan... should we?”

”Sure. Let’s go to my place, there’s more room.” Wan Ze readily agreed.

...

「Inner Courtyard.」

Tan Xiao took a deep breath and assumed a stance: right fist forward, left fist guarding his jaw, feet staggered one behind the other, and his center of gravity lowered.

”Junior Brother Wan, if you please,” he said in a low voice.

Wan Ze glanced at Zhai Jia, then at Tan Xiao, and gave a slight nod.

But he didn’t assume any complex stance, simply raising his hands into a natural guard.

Tan Xiao took another deep breath and took the initiative.

He pushed off his left foot, took a large step forward with his right, and sent his right fist flying straight toward Wan Ze’s chest.

The punch had decent Power and speed, whistling through the air. It was clear he had put a lot of work into it.

Then Wan Ze moved.

He turned slightly to the side, raised his right arm, and lightly slapped his palm against Tan Xiao’s fist.

Just that one slap.

Tan Xiao felt as if he’d been shoved by an immense force. He instantly lost his balance and staggered two steps to the side, nearly face-planting on the ground.

He barely managed to steady himself and turned to look back at Wan Ze, his eyes wide as saucers... ’Damn? What just happened?’

”Brother Xiao, again,” Wan Ze said.

”Alright! Maybe I wasn’t ready just now. I’m coming, watch out!” Tan Xiao took a deep breath and charged forward again.

This time, he’d learned his lesson. He didn’t use a full-power straight punch but instead went for a combination.

A left-right straight punch followed by a low sweeping kick.

This was Tan Xiao’s best combo, the one that flowed most smoothly when he practiced on the training posts.

But both straight punches were casually brushed aside by Wan Ze, as if he were swatting away two flies.

Tan Xiao hurriedly threw the kick.

The instant his low sweep went out, Wan Ze’s heel lightly tapped his shin.

Tan Xiao instantly felt as if his shin had been struck by an iron rod. His whole leg went weak, and he nearly dropped to his knees.

’What the hell?’

’I’m seeing things!!!’

”Brother Xiao, again,” Wan Ze said, repeating his earlier words.

”Alright!” Tan Xiao steadied his nerves and charged for the third time.

This time, he didn’t think about techniques. He just launched a ferocious, all-out assault—left hooks, right swings, elbow strikes, knee jabs—he used everything he had.

His fists whistled through the air, and his feet pounded the mats with a series of THUDS. He looked incredibly menacing.

But Wan Ze was like a wall.

A moving wall.

His body constantly weaved along the edge of Tan Xiao’s attack range, always moving just half a step.

No more, no less—just enough to make Tan Xiao’s fists graze the corner of his clothes.

When he did occasionally reach out to block, each parry sent a numbing jolt through Tan Xiao’s arm.

Three minutes.

For three whole minutes, Tan Xiao couldn’t even touch the hem of Wan Ze’s clothes.

Meanwhile, he had already used up most of his Physical Strength. His breathing grew heavy, his forehead was covered in sweat, and the power in his fists had weakened considerably.

”That’s about enough,” Zhai Jia’s voice came from the side.

Tan Xiao stopped immediately, bracing his hands on his knees and gasping for air. He lifted his head to look at Wan Ze.

Wan Ze stood in the same spot, his breathing even. He hadn’t even broken a sweat, as if nothing had happened.

Tan Xiao was in complete disbelief.

Zhai Jia walked over, clapped him on the shoulder, and said with a teasing smile, ”Old Tan, you’re not cutting it. Step aside, let me have a go with Ah Ze.”

’He had actually known this would be the result all along.’

’He had deliberately made Tan Xiao fight Wan Ze to show him the difficulty and make him back down, saving him from causing trouble later.’

’If something really went wrong, getting a lecture from his master, Situ Bai, would be one thing, but he wouldn’t have the face to see Master Qin.’

Tan Xiao, his face flushed, retreated to the side. He stood at the edge of the training area, watching the two men in the center with a complicated gaze, a whirlwind of emotions in his heart.

He looked down at his own hands.

’It was hard to believe.’

’How long had it been? Was he already no match for Ah Ze?’

Zhai Jia walked up to face Wan Ze. He rolled his shoulders and twisted his neck from side to side, producing a series of CRACK sounds. He smiled and said, ”Ah Ze, it’s been a while since we’ve fought. The last time we sparred, you weren’t this fierce.”