Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Chapter 72: Chapter 70: A Fatal Provocation, The Blood-Locked Bell’s Suspense

The fierce wind stung Wang Long’s eyes, forcing them shut. He was plunged into darkness. In that instant, Wan Ze gained the upper hand. Wang Long subconsciously tried to dodge, but it only made him look clumsy and panicked.

He raised his hands to block.

But in the next moment, he realized something was wrong. His expression changed drastically as he roared, ”Wan Ze, you can’t kill me! The Rain Bell—”

Before he could finish, Wan Ze’s fist had already breached his centerline, striking him squarely above the collarbone.

CRACK!

Bone splintered.

The murderous Beng Jin pierced his muscles and bones.

Wang Long couldn’t get the rest of his words out. He was sent flying and instantly lost all ability to fight.

”Wan... Wan Ze...”

”I... I... refuse to accept this!”

”Master... Master Ma... will avenge me...”

Wan Ze walked forward, his face expressionless. ”He’d better have the guts to try!”

He swiped with two fingers.

Wang Long’s neck shattered, and he breathed his last.

The room fell silent.

Wan Ze took a few deep breaths.

Zhai Jia came up, hands in his pockets. ”A guy like him... deserved to die anyway. Let’s go, Junior Brother.”

Wan Ze nodded silently.

But just as Zhai Jia was about to turn and leave, he stopped short. He saw Wan Ze bending down and searching the corpses. ”Hey, Junior Brother, what are you doing?”

”Looting the bodies,” Wan Ze replied nonchalantly. ”Want to join in?”

Zhai Jia chuckled. ”Haha, and here I was worried you’d be too embarrassed.”

”Senior Brother, you never looted bodies before?” Wan Ze asked as he continued his search.

”Most of the time, I’d finish the job and get out of there. Never had the chance to loot...” Zhai Jia said with a laugh. He looked back at Zhai Yu and urged him, ”Bro, you hurry up too. Let’s loot and get out of here quick.”

Zhai Yu hesitated. He looked down on these people’s Martial Skills, but seeing his junior brother so into it, he decided to lend a hand as well.

「Three minutes later.」

Zhai Jia let out a whistle. Lei Ming and Miss Ling hurried out from the basement, and the five of them quickly left Cao Ying Village.

”So, how’d it go?” Lei Ming asked anxiously in the car.

”They were from the Divine Spear Horse...” Wan Ze replied. He frowned as if a thought had occurred to him and asked, ”News of Wang Long’s death will probably get back to them soon. The people behind him won’t just stand by. What’s our next move?”

”How about... we take a trip to Guandong?” Zhai Jia’s eyes suddenly lit up.

Lei Ming hesitated.

But Wan Ze was intrigued. ”Take the initiative?”

”Exactly! The best defense is a good offense! We take the fight to them and wipe them out!”

The next second, Zhai Jia got a rap on the head from Zhai Yu. ”Are you running a fever? He’s a Refining Force Expert! What are you gonna fight him with? If you want to get yourself killed, don’t drag us down with you!”

Zhai Jia brushed it off. ”Well, we can’t just sit here and wait to die. I say we call First Senior Brother or Second Senior Sister. Either one of them would be enough.

And honestly, since when does our Dragon Eagle let people threaten us like this? That Master Ma might be in seclusion, but his underlings came after our junior brother’s family. I refuse to believe this kind of dishonorable scum is an isolated case. The whole organization is probably full of rotten people who kill innocents...

We killed Wang Long today, so they’ll probably retaliate tomorrow! That’s why I say we either contact First Senior Brother and the others tonight and head straight for Guandong!”

Zhai Yu fell silent.

Truthfully, he was convinced.

Their junior brother was only in the Blood Tempering Realm. If those experts from Guandong actively sought him out, he would surely die.

Besides, the members of Dragon Eagle had never been the type to let others walk all over them.

”Let’s take Miss Ling to the hospital first. When a Refining Force Expert is involved... we can’t be careless.”

Lei Ming stayed at the hospital with Miss Ling.

Wan Ze went back to the martial arts hall with Zhai Yu and Zhai Jia to see Situ Bai.

As it turned out, the plan to travel to Guandong was dead on arrival.

Not only was Situ Bai unwilling to let Wan Ze risk himself, but he also didn’t give a damn about the Divine Spear Horse.

”I’ll have your senior sister make a trip. It’s a good chance to investigate the matter of the Rain Bell...”

”Master, what about us?” Zhai Jia asked curiously.

”You?” Situ Bai looked like he wanted to string the boy up and whip him. ”I told you to guide your junior brother when you have free time. And look at you! You insist on dragging him through hell and high water. Can’t you give me a moment’s peace?”

Zhai Jia mumbled, ”Master, that’s not what I meant... ’Plum blossoms get their fragrance from the bitter cold.’ Isn’t it good for Junior Brother to see more of the world while he’s young...?”

But Situ Bai’s voice suddenly turned cold. ”But you have selfish motives!”

Zhai Jia immediately lowered his head and said nothing.

”Master, actually, Xiaojia, he...”

Zhai Yu, afraid his master was truly angry, rushed to say something but was cut off by a wave of Situ Bai’s hand. It was clear he didn’t want to waste any more words on the matter. He only said, ”You all need to remember, I, your master, am not dead yet! Focus on your training. The day I’m truly gone—that will be your greatest test!”

”Master, you’re still so young. Why say something so depressing?” Zhai Jia mumbled again.

Situ Bai sighed softly. ”The Martial Dao is never a smooth path. As I grow stronger, so can my enemies... You never know if you’ll see tomorrow. I only have one demand for you all... get stronger, as fast as you can!”

Wan Ze’s heart jolted, and he looked over.

Situ Bai had already turned away, leaving them with one last sentence. ”Stay out of the business in Guandong. Wait for news from your senior sister.”

”Then Master, what about the Rain Bell?” Zhai Jia couldn’t help but ask.

Situ Bai flicked his hand, tossing the Rain Bell over to them. ”You figure it out yourselves.”

It seemed he still thought the secret behind the Rain Bell was nonsense.

After they left the second floor.

Zhai Jia toyed with the Rain Bell in his hand. ”If what those guys from Guandong said is true, and Miss Ling really is the descendant of *that* person, then things are about to get very interesting...”

”Are you really going to do the blood drop thing?” Zhai Yu asked hesitantly.

Zhai Jia looked back at him. ”It’s not like dropping mine would do any good.”

Zhai Yu: ”...”

Both of them then looked at Wan Ze, who said calmly, ”We should talk to Miss Ling first. It’s her property, after all.”

”Makes sense!”

”Agreed!”

As soon as Lei Ming notified them that Miss Ling was awake, Wan Ze and the other two rushed over.

The hospital room smelled of disinfectant. Miss Ling had been tearfully complaining about something, but the moment she saw Wan Ze, she completely broke down.

This scene made the grown men in the room exchange awkward glances, unsure whether they should sit or stand.

”Miss Ling, you don’t have to worry anymore. We’ve taken care of the people who kidnapped you...” Lei Ming said soothingly.

”But... they already took the Rain Bell. I don’t understand why they still kidnapped me,” Miss Ling whimpered for a moment, the confusion in her eyes plain to see.

Anyone would be bewildered after being kidnapped for no clear reason.

Zhai Jia and the others looked at the young woman, then at Wan Ze, finally gesturing for him to explain.

「More than ten minutes later.」

After Miss Ling had repeatedly confirmed the details, she lay in her hospital bed, staring blankly at the ceiling.

’Elder Immortal... descendant... blood to claim ownership...’ These words were completely at odds with her ordinary, conventional life.

After staring at the ceiling for a long while, she finally said in a strained voice, ”I’m the descendant of an Elder Immortal? I never heard my grandfather mention it... But they actually believe something so absurd?”

The room was quiet for a moment, with only the faint sound of traffic from outside the window.

Miss Ling suddenly looked over, her expression stunned. ”Wait, you guys believe this rumor too?”

Zhai Jia crossed his arms, his tone serious. ”Miss Ling, you’re not part of the Martial Dao circle, so you don’t understand... Some things might seem like a fairy tale to you. But for us, it’s better to be safe than sorry... The path of the Martial Dao is fraught with danger. Every step is a struggle, all for the slightest chance, the smallest opportunity... So what I’m saying is, what if it’s true?”

”Then... then I...” Miss Ling was stunned by his words. She looked cautiously at Wan Ze and the others. ”Should we... try the blood drop thing right now?”