Martial Dao: Peace by Force

Ming Zhaojun's smile was warm, his attitude perfectly polite. He was neither so overly enthusiastic as to feel insincere, nor so distant as to seem cold.

After they got out of the car, he personally led the way. "Master Wan, Master Tan, it must have been a long journey. My father knew you were coming and specifically instructed me to greet you in person. He said that people from Dragon Eagle must not be slighted."

As he spoke, he looked at Wan Ze and added with a smile, "When my father was on the phone with Uncle Situ, Uncle Situ made a point to mention you, Master Wan… He said that although you are young, your skills are solid, and that you're the most outstanding prospect Dragon Eagle has produced in years."

It was a well-phrased remark.

It both clarified that Situ Bai himself had put in a good word and used his father's authority to openly display their high regard for Wan Ze.

It wasn't a matter of connections; it was because Wan Ze himself was worthy of the respect.

Wan Ze nodded slightly. "Uncle Ming flatters me. As a junior, I am young and inexperienced in the martial world. During this visit, I hope to learn much from everyone in the Ming Family."

His words were neither servile nor overbearing.

He accepted the courtesy without lowering his own standing.

A flash of appreciation crossed Ming Zhaojun's eyes. He smiled and turned sideways. "Please."

The Ming Family's ancestral home was situated on the outskirts of the city, covering a vast area.

The entrance led through a series of three courtyards, each one wider than the last.

The first contained the sedan chair hall and the gatehouse, the middle had a hall for receiving ordinary guests, and the last was the main courtyard for welcoming honored guests.

The courtyard walls were made of plain, polished bricks, meticulously fitted together and standing about twenty feet high. Lanterns hung from the eaves, and the vermilion pillars showed a mottled lacquer finish. A flagstone path ran through the center of the yard, flanked by two ancient pagoda trees whose canopies shaded more than half the space.

The entire estate exuded an air of stability and grandeur.

As Wan Ze took it all in, he already had a good measure of the situation.

This was the foundation of a family with generations of heritage, something the nouveau riche could never compare to.

Ming Zhaojun led the two of them into the main hall.

The hall was furnished with classic elegance. A landscape painting hung in the center, flanked by sandalwood grand preceptor chairs. Celadon teacups rested on the tea tables.

Two servants brought in tea, its fragrant steam rising in wisps. It was a top-grade Pre-Qingming Longjing.

"Please, have a seat," Ming Zhaojun said with a smile. "I will go and get my father. The old master was delighted to hear of your arrival and has been waiting in the rear courtyard since early this morning."

Wan Ze stood. "Please, go ahead."

Not long after Ming Zhaojun left, a flurry of footsteps and chattering voices could be heard from outside the door.

"...Did you hear? The people from Dragon Eagle are arriving today!"

"Duh. The old master personally ordered the western side-courtyard to be cleaned. How could I not know?"

"I'm curious who Dragon Eagle is sending. This whole business with the Sheng Family has gotten so big, and the old master is so anxious. Dragon Eagle can't just send some nobody to handle it, right?"

"Of course not. It has to be someone at the Tributor Level, at least. Refining Viscera? Maybe even a Refining Grandmaster?"

"Refining Viscera at a minimum. Sheng Rulong is no pushover."

"Sheng Rulong is tough, for sure, but his two cousins are no slouches either. I heard they've both reached the Blood Tempering Third Transformation. One practices Iron Wire Fist, the other Hanging Strike. They're both hard cases."

"Tsk, the Sheng Family's current generation is seriously formidable."

As they spoke, five young people rounded the spirit screen and stepped into the main hall.

The one in the lead was in his early twenties, with thick eyebrows, big eyes, and a solid build. His footsteps were firm—clearly a trained martial artist.

Following him were two men and two women, all dressed in training clothes, looking vigorous, their gazes filled with the sharp edge unique to the young.

The moment they entered, they saw Wan Ze and Tan Xiao sitting in the hall and were visibly taken aback.

The one with thick eyebrows and big eyes spoke first. "You are..."

Wan Ze set down his teacup, stood up, and cupped his hands. "From Dragon Eagle, Wan Ze."

Tan Xiao also rose and gave a simple fist-clasp. "Dragon Eagle, Tan Xiao."

"From Dragon Eagle?"

The five youths looked at each other, their expressions shifting from surprise to shock, and then from shock to something complex and hard to define.

'So young?'

The one with thick eyebrows... Ming Lei, Ming Zhaojun's eldest son, subconsciously sized up Wan Ze, muttering to himself under his breath.

'This guy from Dragon Eagle... he looks even younger than I am.'

'Blood Tempering Realm?'

'Which transformation of Blood Tempering?'

He took another hard look at Tan Xiao. This big brother, at least, didn't look weak.

And then...

Ming Lei turned his head and looked around.

'That's it?'

The round-faced boy from the Ming Family next to him, a chubby youth named Ming Hua, leaned in and whispered, "Just the two of them? Is there no one else?"

Wan Ze heard him but said nothing.

Tan Xiao also remained perfectly still.

Ming Lei cleared his throat and cupped his hands. "You two are... the arbitrators sent by the Dragon Eagle Sect?"

"We are." Wan Ze nodded.

This time, the five of them could no longer keep their expressions in check.

Ming Hua opened his mouth, but no words came out.

A girl with a ponytail standing beside him frowned, her eyes filled with undisguised doubt.

The other two next to her remained silent.

The hall was quiet for two seconds.

Ming Lei gave a dry laugh, his tone a little unnatural. "Um... My father said someone from Dragon Eagle was coming. We thought..."

He didn't finish.

But everyone understood what he meant.

They thought Dragon Eagle would send a senior.

If not a Refining Grandmaster, then at least a seasoned veteran at the Refining Viscera Realm.

But instead, two young men had arrived, looking to be about their own age.

'What is this?'

'Didn't the old master say Dragon Eagle was our lifeline? Why did they send two kids to fob us off?'

Ming Hua couldn't help but glance at Wan Ze again.

'This guy looks like he's in his early twenties, maybe at the Blood Tempering Middle Stage? What good can he do?'

The three from the Sheng Family were genuine powerhouses of the Blood Tempering Realm. Sheng Rulong, in particular, was rumored to be on the cusp of the Refining Viscera Realm.

He recalled the anxiety of the family elders over the past few days, and remembered the old master slamming his hand on the table and declaring, "Dragon Eagle is our last hope." A strange feeling suddenly welled up inside him.

'This is it?'

He didn't say it out loud, but it was written all over his face.

Wan Ze took in their expressions, lifted his teacup, took a sip, and said nothing.

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