Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 291: Chapter 176: Attribute Breaks 3, This Is My Path

Zhao Henian raised his eyebrows slightly, somewhat surprised.

This plan was much better than he’d expected.

Half the content for physical goods meant balanced risk and reward. Neither party would lose out.

And Wan Ze had taken the initiative to ask for ”fewer Martial Skills,” which made him feel much better.

But once bitten, twice shy.

He watched Wan Ze warily, his voice tinged with suspicion. ”You’re not talking about two High Tier Martial Skills, are you?”

Wan Ze waved his hand. ”I’m not looking for just any Martial Skill. If the High Tier Martial Skills you have aren’t up to snuff, I’ll just pick two or three Middle Tier ones instead.”

’Two or three now?’

Zhao Henian glared at him.

Wan Ze didn’t seem the least bit embarrassed. He chuckled, his smile looking particularly brilliant in the moonlight. ”Old Zhao, you tell me. For this next part of our cooperation, aside from the hush money, I only want one million plus two or three Middle Tier Martial Skills. Who’s really getting the short end of the stick here?”

Hearing this, Zhao Henian fell silent.

He did some quick mental math.

The remaining two-thirds of the translation were indeed incredibly valuable.

One million in cash plus two or three Middle Tier Martial Skills... On the open market, that price wouldn’t even buy a fraction of the booklet.

Wan Ze was right. He really was getting the better end of the deal.

However...

Zhao Henian couldn’t help but look at him, his gaze tinged with suspicion. ”You’d be that kind?”

”What the hell?” Wan Ze’s voice suddenly shot up, the smile vanishing from his face. It was the anger of someone who’d been insulted. ”Old Zhao, what’s that supposed to mean? Are you trying to belittle me? Fuck it, I don’t give a damn anymore. I’m done with this!”

He turned and stormed off, his steps much faster than before.

Zhao Henian was stunned for a moment.

’Haven’t I heard this before?’

But he had no time to think about it. He hurried after him, reaching out to grab Wan Ze’s arm.

”Show some respect!” Wan Ze shot him a glare over his shoulder.

Zhao Henian’s hand froze in midair, unsure whether to move forward or pull back. ℴ

He took a deep breath, suppressing his frustration.

After all, he was the one in the wrong. Anyone would be angry.

”Brother Wan...” Zhao Henian changed his tone, forcing a sense of intimacy into his voice. ”Since you’re sincerely trying to make this cooperation happen, I am endlessly grateful. I was overthinking things earlier. Please don’t take it to heart.”

Wan Ze stopped, but he didn’t turn around. He just tilted his head to the side, as if listening to what he had to say.

Seeing his chance, Zhao Henian quickly continued, ”But even going by your proposal, Brother Wan, providing Martial Skills for you to choose from will take me some time to procure. The Secret Palace’s Scripture Pavilion isn’t in the Holy City. I have to transfer them from headquarters, which involves going through procedures, getting approvals, arranging for an escort... all of this takes time.”

”How long?” Wan Ze turned back, most of the anger gone from his face.

Zhao Henian pondered for a moment, his expression growing serious. ”A week at the fastest, a month at the latest. I won’t make any empty promises. I can offer at least two High Tier Martial Skills and over ten Middle Tier Martial Skills. You can pick any three. How about it? But you can only have a copy of one High Tier Martial Skill; giving you the original is impossible.”

”Heh.” Wan Ze scoffed. ”Don’t say it like I’m guaranteed to find something I like.”

Knowing he had been in the wrong, Zhao Henian didn’t say anything more to provoke him. He just nodded, his tone sincere. ”Brother Wan, you’re a straightforward man, so naturally, I can’t be stingy. For this cooperation, I will definitely show my utmost sincerity.”

Wan Ze thought for a moment and nodded. ”Fine, let’s do that. As for the hush money, I’ll only give you a one-week grace period. For every day you’re late, it’s an extra 100,000 in cash. Fair enough, right?”

Hearing this, the corner of Zhao Henian’s mouth twitched.

’A hundred thousand a day?’

’And he calls that fair?’

But he didn’t object.

Seeing him remain silent, Wan Ze’s expression softened considerably. He gestured toward his communicator. ”We’ll be in touch via communicator then. I want to see the deposit by tomorrow night at the latest.”

”Deposit?” Zhao Henian paused. ”What deposit?”

”Two hundred thousand,” Wan Ze said, his tone matter-of-fact. ”Deposit first, content later. Those are the rules.”

Zhao Henian was silent for a second, then nodded.

He gave Wan Ze a deep look. ”Wan Ze, you are, without a doubt, the most difficult young man I have ever met.”

Wan Ze smiled faintly. ”Thanks for the compliment.”

Zhao Henian said no more. He turned, and along with his men in black, gradually faded into the distance, eventually disappearing into the night.

Wan Ze stood where he was, holding the two cases, watching the direction where Zhao Henian had disappeared.

The night wind blew past, carrying the fresh scent of pine needles. Moonlight filtered through a gap in the clouds, casting a silvery-white sheen on the surface of the mountain stream, its water gurgling softly.

Wan Ze glanced down at the cases in his hands, then looked toward the distant mountain forest.

There was nothing there anymore, only the shadows of trees swaying in the night wind, exactly as it had been when he arrived.

Then he turned and strode back the way he came.

Zhai Jia and Zhai Yu were still waiting for him.

After walking for about five minutes, he saw the black jeep.

The headlights were off. Only the driver’s side window was rolled down a little, revealing a quiet eye.

Wan Ze pulled the car door open and slipped inside.

Zhai Jia was sitting in the back, having already wiped down the mask in his hands. He was holding it up to the moonlight, checking for any missed fingerprints.

When he saw Wan Ze get in, he set the mask aside, his gaze falling on the two cases in Wan Ze’s hands.

”Done?” he asked, a hint of a smile in his voice.

”Done.” Wan Ze shoved the cases under the seat, leaned back, and let out a long sigh.

Zhai Yu glanced at the two of them in the rearview mirror without speaking, but the corner of his mouth tilted up slightly.

The three brothers sat there in the car.

The jeep didn’t start up right away.