Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 306: Chapter 178: Pugilistic Gallantry, Righteousness Never Stands Alone

His upper body was exposed, covered in scars.

BOOM! The power of his blood roiled violently within him, surging from his Dantian and rushing through his meridians to his limbs and bones.

Without a shred of hesitation, Tie Qingyang unleashed a punch.

His fist cut through the air with a sharp whistle.

Brother Ma sneered and met him with a punch.

Their fists collided in mid-air.

”BANG!”

The dull thud of the impact echoed through the hall.

Tie Qingyang staggered, sliding back half a step as the soles of his shoes scraped a faint line across the floor.

Brother Ma swayed as well but held his ground. He let out a sneer and charged forward again.

They threw their second punches.

”BANG!”

Tie Qingyang retreated another half step, but Brother Ma still hadn’t moved. The sneer on his face widened, his mouth splitting into a grin that nearly reached his ears.

Then came the third punch!

”BANG!”

This time, Tie Qingyang retreated a full step.

His hand began to tremble slightly.

’My Power... it’s at its limit...’

Tie Qingyang looked up.

This time, Brother Ma had also been forced back a step, barely managing to steady himself.

The sneer on his face was replaced by a ferocious scowl born of humiliation and rage.

’A worthless piece of trash from the Blood Tempering Realm actually forced me back a step?’

’Forced me back a step in front of all these people?’

”You old bastard!” he growled, clenching his fists again.

Tie Qingyang roared back, his voice booming, ”I’m right here! If you want my life, you’ll have to come and take it yourself!”

He stood ramrod straight, his shoulders thrown back and his chin held high. His gaze burned like a torch.

In that moment, he was no longer the calculating President Tie of the business world. He was a Martial Artist on a dueling stage, a man prepared to defend his honor with his life.

”You want to die? I’ll be happy to oblige!” Brother Ma snarled, about to charge...

”WHOOSH!”

A sharp whistling sound suddenly cut through the air.

Brother Ma’s expression changed. His pupils contracted as his body reacted on pure instinct. He slammed his feet into the ground and shot backward.

A sword, still in its scabbard, embedded itself in the stone pillar three meters behind him.

Nearly a third of the blade was buried in the stone, while the hilt remained exposed, trembling slightly and emitting a low hum.

Cracks spiderwebbed out across the stone pillar from where the sword was embedded.

If Brother Ma hadn’t dodged, the sword would have pierced his head, not the pillar.

”Who?!”

Brother Ma roared, his gaze snapping to the entrance.

The sound of footsteps came from outside.

The light from within the hall spilled out through the doorway, casting the newcomer’s shadow long across the floor.

Wan Ze strode through the doorway and surveyed the hall.

”Quite a party you’ve got here,” he said slowly.

Tie Feiyang scrambled up from the floor and limped to Wan Ze’s side. His lips trembled and his eyes were red. He opened his mouth to speak, but Wan Ze raised a hand to stop him.

”It’s okay now,” Wan Ze said.

Tie Feiyang’s eyes immediately welled up, and tears threatened to fall.

When you’re shouldering the burden alone, no problem seems too great, because you don’t have the luxury of admitting it’s a problem.

But the moment someone stands with you, all those suppressed emotions come rushing back like a flood tide, impossible to hold back.

Tie Feiyang took a deep breath, forcing the sob and the tears back down.

He moved to stand behind Wan Ze and said no more.

Wan Ze’s gaze swept over Tie Feiyang before finally settling on Tie Qingyang.

Tie Qingyang stood there, his scarred body on full display, his fists covered in blood. He looked at Wan Ze, his lips parting as if to speak.

Before either of them could speak, Brother Ma’s brow furrowed. ”It’s you!!”

’Who is he?’

The other members of the Divine Martial Society were confused.

Just then, Xiao Yunkai’s voice rang out, trembling. ”He... He’s Wan Ze of Dragon Eagle!”

’Dragon Eagle?’

’Wan Ze?’

As if on cue, the members of the Divine Martial Society all turned to look, their faces a mix of expressions.

Behind them, Tian Guipu remained in his large armchair, leaning back slightly, his posture unchanged.

His gaze was locked on Wan Ze, raking over him from head to toe and back again. His face showed no anger, no surprise—not a single flicker of emotion.

The hall fell silent.

Tian Guipu watched Wan Ze. As if sensing the gaze, Wan Ze looked over as well.

Their eyes met for an instant.

The air in the hall seemed to freeze.

Brother Ma stood to the side, fists clenched so tightly the veins on his arms bulged, but he didn’t move.

He was waiting for Tian Guipu’s order.

The bald man didn’t move either, though his body was coiled in a slight forward lean.

The man with the ponytail pulled his hands from his coat pockets but also remained still, his arms hanging at his sides with fingers slightly splayed.

Xiao Yunkai stood at the far edge, his face as white as a sheet. He was genuinely terrified of Wan Ze.

Wan Ze spoke, his tone unhurried. ”It’s New Year’s Eve. Instead of being home with your families, you’re here causing a ruckus... The Divine Martial Society must have a lot of free time. If you don’t want to leave, then you can all stay for good.”

...

...