Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 62: Chapter 60: Iron Hide Achieved, Leave None Alive

[Physical Strength: 0.96]

[Intelligence: 0.91]

[Agility: 0.89]

[Endurance: 0.89]

[Power: 0.93]

[Coordination: 0.91]

...

A current of alternating hot and cold air surged through his body, quickly spreading everywhere.

An unknown amount of time passed.

With a sudden RUMBLE.

Wan Ze’s muscles and bones jolted. He snapped his eyes open, and they were incredibly clear, like the finest gemstones.

He slowly raised his arm.

CRACKLE...

A series of sharp cracks from his joints sounded like popping soybeans.

’Upgrading two Martial Skills in a row made my attribute values shoot up so fast my body has undergone a massive change... It’s a complete qualitative transformation!’

’This is ridiculously strong!’

Wan Ze wasn’t even sure to what extent his power had increased, but he knew it was a lot.

Iron Mountain Fist upgraded to Special Level, Mysterious Shadow Step upgraded to Special Level, and Taming the Tiger Vajra Skill upgraded to High Level... His combat ability had soared!

Thinking of the *Horizontal Training Technique* he’d gotten from Tie Qingyang today, Wan Ze decisively stood up, took a towel, dipped it in warm water, and began to rub himself down.

With his strength, he could quickly rub his skin until it was warm and red. Only then could it be considered a proper rubdown.

He quickly completed the ten rubbing motions.

The text in the data box changed rapidly.

...

[Illustrated Guide: Horizontal Training Technique] (Beginner Level Mastered)

[Effect: Minor increase to physical strength]

[Skill Basic Requirement: Rub body with Rough Cloth 50 times]

...

Wan Ze silently lowered his head and continued rubbing himself down.

「Twenty minutes later.」

...

[Illustrated Guide: Horizontal Training Technique] (Basic Mastered)

[Effect 1: Minor increase to physical strength]

[Effect 2: Iron Hide (Physical Strength +0.01; Endurance +0.02)]

[Skill Intermediate Requirement: Rub body with Rough Cloth 100 times, and take 1 hit]

...

’Take a hit?’

Wan Ze raised an eyebrow. He hadn’t expected to gain such a powerful effect at just the Basic level.

But he couldn’t find anyone to practice with this late at night.

...

”COO COO? Ah Ze? COO COO?”

Wan Ze: ”...”

He stood up decisively.

In the corridor in front of the Inner Courtyard gate, a little fatty was hiding behind a wall, cooing like a bird.

A small pebble landed by his feet, startling Zhou Xianchuan. He looked up to see Wan Ze grinning at him.

”Ah Ze!!!”

He quickly jogged over.

Wan Ze smiled. ”It’s so late, I thought you’d already left.”

”Master Qin kept me late to practice my fists today. I’m so tired... I was about to leave, but I thought you might still be here, so I came to check...” Zhou Xianchuan suddenly remembered something. ”By the way, was that guy who came looking for you this afternoon from Tie Shizhe?”

”Yes.” Wan Ze didn’t hide it. He led the way, having Zhou Xianchuan follow him to the training room.

But Zhou Xianchuan just stood there, dumbfounded. ”Was that really President Tie from Tie Shizhe? Ah Ze, I’m realizing you’re seriously low-key! You shouldn’t be! This is all wrong! If I had your connections, I’d be kicking down the principal’s office door and making him stand at attention and salute me whenever he saw me!”

”...” Wan Ze was speechless. If he told Fatty Zhou about Situ Bai’s influence in Holy City, he couldn’t even imagine how absurd his friend would get.

”That’s Tie Qingyang! Even my uncle isn’t qualified to just casually chat and laugh with him... Holy crap, Ah Ze, slap me!”

Zhou Xianchuan’s face was flushed with excitement.

But when Wan Ze raised his hand, Fatty Zhou grabbed on and held him tight.

”Let go...”

”Bro, tell me, if I drop your name in Holy City, can I do whatever I want?”

”You can’t. Not even a little bit.”

”I know you’re just afraid I’ll get cocky. Don’t worry, I definitely won’t embarrass you!”

”...”

Wan Ze had nothing more to say, so he just stopped talking. He suddenly pivoted on his toes, wrapped an arm around the fatty’s waist, and lifted him off the ground.

”Holy shit, Brother Ze, don’t!” Zhou Xianchuan yelped.

”Still not making a move?” Wan Ze retorted.

Zhou Xianchuan froze for a second, then, as if realizing something, became eager to try. He immediately used the momentum, grabbing Wan Ze’s shoulders and attempting a takedown.

But he discovered...

”Damn, your center of gravity is rock solid!”

Hearing this, Wan Ze just chuckled. Without any extra movements, he tossed Zhou Xianchuan in front of him and beckoned with his finger. ”Hit me with your full strength!”

”For real?”

”For real!”

”Then I’m coming!”

Zhou Xianchuan took a deep breath, assumed the standard Iron Mountain Fist stance, and threw a punch straight at Wan Ze.

Wan Ze raised his arm.

THUD!

Block successful.

He quickly glanced at the data box.

The ”take a hit” condition for the Horizontal Training Technique was fulfilled!

When he looked again, Zhou Xianchuan had fallen to the ground, looking completely stunned.

”Are you okay?” Wan Ze’s expression changed slightly. ’I didn’t even use my full strength,’ he thought, reaching out to pull him up.

Zhou Xianchuan snapped out of it, but his voice was full of pleasant surprise. ”Ah Ze, is this the power of a Martial Artist?”

Even now, he only thought Wan Ze was a newly-promoted Martial Artist, mistakenly believing this was the most basic level of a Martial Artist’s power.

In fact, that was not the case.

But Wan Ze didn’t deny it. He just nodded and said, ”When you become a Martial Artist, you’ll be this strong too.”

He took Zhou Xianchuan’s hand and pulled him up.

Zhou Xianchuan didn’t feel the slightest bit of frustration or annoyance at being knocked back. Instead, his eyes were shining with anticipation. ”Ah Ze, I think I have a little more confidence in the Martial Dao now.”

Before Wan Ze could say anything, Zhou Xianchuan’s next words floated over. ”With this kind of strength, won’t it be easy to pick up girls?”

”...” Wan Ze was exasperated. ”What about your blind date?” he asked casually.

”Don’t even mention it. I added her contact info later and tried to chat, but she never replied. I thought she’d broken her arm or something... Turns out she just wasn’t into me.” Zhou Xianchuan looked miserable. ”I can’t believe it. If you’re not interested, just say so! Giving me the silent treatment before we’re even together... Damn!”

”...”

Wan Ze clapped him on the shoulder. ”Women only slow down the speed of your blade draw. Train with me!”

”Are you coming tomorrow?”

”I have something to do tomorrow, so I’ll probably be a little late.”

”I’ll wait for you then!”

”Okay!”

Zhou Xianchuan had assumed Wan Ze was heading home, but to his surprise, Wan Ze was going to continue his Cultivation. After a moment’s thought, he decided to stay and began his Qi and Blood Refining in the courtyard, though he couldn’t quite understand why Wan Ze was repeatedly rubbing his arms with a towel.

’This must be... one of those quirks of a genius that normal people can’t understand, right?’

’I don’t get it, but I respect it!’

...

It rained heavily all through the night.

Fortunately, the rain finally stopped near the end of the school day. Instead of going to the martial arts hall with Zhou Xianchuan, Wan Ze saw his sister onto the school bus and then headed to Jiangxin Island Park.

Tie Qingyang’s car was already waiting. The area seemed to have been cleared out, as there was no one else in sight.

The moment Wan Ze appeared, Tie Qingyang got out of the car himself and greeted him with a smile. ”Mr. Wan!”

Wan Ze nodded and got into the car.

「Inside the car.」

Tie Qingyang handed him a stack of photos. ”These were taken by my men.”

”This is Xiao Qing?” Wan Ze asked, looking at them.

This Xiao Qing had hawk-like eyes and a hooked nose. He didn’t look like an easy person to get along with. He was well-built and had a faint, finger-length scar on his face. There was no visible sign of a leg injury.

”That’s him.”

Tie Qingyang continued, ”His left leg is injured, so his speed is limited, but his punches are incredibly fierce. My men can’t handle him at all.”

At this, he gave a wry smile.

In truth, whether it was Lu Zhao, whom Wan Ze had killed, or his current right-hand men Zhang Song, Zhao You, and Tie Feiyang... at the end of the day, none of them were ready for the big leagues.

After all, true geniuses weren’t just floating around; they were snatched up by the major martial arts halls long ago.

This was a constant source of frustration for him.

He looked at Wan Ze with a mix of wistfulness, envy, and above all, deep emotion.

The car window slowly rolled down.

The fresh breeze that poured in was invigorating.

...

「At the same time.」

On the top floor of the Ruby International Hotel, a group of people had gathered, their expressions tense as if facing a great enemy.

The man in the lead was short and pot-bellied. He spoke with great solemnity, ”I’ve heard that Tie Qingyang has hired help, but I haven’t figured out who it is yet. Mr. Xiao, we’ll be counting on you in a moment! Once the fight starts, it’s either us or them—a fight to the death.”

”Don’t worry,” the man said, his eyes closed and his tone chilling. ”I guarantee not a single one will be left alive!”