Martial Dao: Peace by Force

He paused, his tone growing heavier. "The key is Sheng Rulong. Six months ago, he was already on the threshold of the Refining Viscera stage. I hear he's had some kind of lucky break recently, and his vitality is even more robust than before. Not a single one of our fighters is a match for him on their own."

Ming Lei, listening from the side, looked grim but didn't say a word.

"It will all come down to the draw," Ming Zhaojun continued. "If Ming Lei or the others draw Sheng Rulong, they should stall for as long as they can. If they can last until the time is up, it's a draw... If they draw any of the other three, they should go all out."

Wan Ze nodded without offering any comment.

Ming Wei, standing nearby, asked in a small voice, "Master Wan, do you think we have a chance with this strategy?"

Wan Ze glanced at her and smiled. "We'll find out tomorrow when the fights begin."

It was a non-answer, but Ming Wei didn't dare ask again.

The atmosphere in the hall gradually relaxed.

Ming Venerable was in a good mood. He started telling Wan Ze embarrassing stories about a young Situ Bai, making everyone in the room laugh.

Just then, Ming Zhaojun's communicator rang.

He glanced at the caller ID, then stood up and walked to the side to take the call.

The others continued chatting, paying it no mind.

But after listening for just a few moments, Ming Zhaojun's expression suddenly changed.

"What is it?" Ming Venerable asked, looking up at him.

Ming Zhaojun didn't answer. He listened for another moment, then murmured, "Understood," before hanging up and walking back.

"Dad..." Ming Lei, sensing something was wrong, couldn't help but ask, "What happened?"

Ming Zhaojun took a deep breath and looked at Wan Ze.

"I just received news. The Sheng Family has also hired arbitrators."

The hall fell silent.

"Who did they hire?" Ming Venerable asked, his brow furrowing slightly.

"People from the Divine Martial Society."

The moment Ming Zhaojun finished speaking, the color drained from the faces of Ming Lei and the others.

Ming Wei blurted out, "The Divine Martial Society? The one from Jiangnan?"

Ming Zhaojun nodded. "Yes, that's them. The one with five Refining Grandmasters under its banner..."

Wan Ze and Tan Xiao exchanged a look.

'So, their strength isn't much different from Dragon Eagle's.'

For a moment, no one in the main hall spoke.

Ming Lei clenched his fists, then relaxed them.

Ming Hua kept his head down, his thoughts unreadable.

Ming Wei opened her mouth as if to speak, but then swallowed her words.

Wan Ze lifted his teacup and took a sip.

Tan Xiao sat there, looking around at everyone.

After a moment of silence, Ming Venerable actually laughed and waved his hand. "What's everyone so nervous about? Our request for Dragon Eagle to arbitrate wasn't made in secret. It's perfectly reasonable for the Sheng Family to worry we might try to pull something during the arbitration and hire their own people to keep an eye on things."

He then turned to Wan Ze, his tone light. "Master Wan, don't overthink it. This has nothing to do with you or Dragon Eagle. The Sheng Family aren't fools. Even with both sets of arbitrators present tomorrow, they won't let things get too ugly."

Wan Ze nodded but said no more.

But the worry on the faces of Ming Lei and the others was hard to conceal.

Ming Wei couldn't help but ask, "But the Divine Martial Society... what if they're biased toward the Sheng Family?"

"Biased?" Ming Venerable chuckled. "Girl, what kind of people do you take Refining Grandmasters for? You think they'd ruin their reputation for some petty gain? They're coming to be arbitrators, not hired muscle."

Ming Lei gritted his teeth. "But even if the arbitration is fair, it's still a fact that we can't beat Sheng Rulong."

He looked at Ming Venerable, his eyes turning a little red. "Grandpa, if we lose those two mines, for our Ming Family..."

"If we lose, we lose."

Ming Venerable cut him off, his tone light. "If our people are gone, everything is gone. As long as our people are still here, there will always be a day to win these things back."

He looked at Ming Lei and said sternly, "Remember this: your life is more valuable than anything."

Ming Lei opened his mouth, then lowered his head and fell silent.

The other young members of the family also lowered their gazes, none of them speaking.

Seeing their expressions, Ming Venerable smiled and shook his head. Just as he was about to say something, he suddenly covered his mouth and coughed a few times.

It wasn't a severe cough, but Ming Zhaojun immediately rose and went to gently pat his back.

Wan Ze glanced over.

'The old man really is getting old.'

'His Essence, Qi, and Spirit are still present, but his foundation is empty.'

After his coughing fit passed, Ming Venerable waved his hand to show he was fine and looked at Wan Ze and Tan Xiao. "Master Wan, Master Tan, why don't you stay at our humble home tonight? The west courtyard has already been prepared. It's simple, but quiet."

Wan Ze stood and cupped his fist. "Senior, I appreciate the generous offer and shouldn't refuse. However, with the arbitration tomorrow, it wouldn't look good if my senior brother Tan Xiao and I were to stay here tonight."

'After all, we're here to act as arbitrators, not to become part of the family.'

Ming Venerable was taken aback for a moment, then burst into laughter. "Excellent, excellent! Brother Situ didn't misjudge you."

He turned to Ming Zhaojun. "In that case, arrange for a nice place for them to stay outside the residence. Send a car to pick them up first thing in the morning."

Ming Zhaojun nodded in agreement.

Wan Ze and Tan Xiao rose to take their leave.

Ming Lei and the others walked them to the door.

Ming Wei watched Wan Ze's back, wanting to say something but holding her tongue.

Wan Ze didn't look back.

The night wind blew, carrying the chill of autumn.

He looked up at the sky. The moon was hanging behind a layer of clouds, hazy and indistinct.

"The Divine Martial Society... I can't believe the Sheng Family has that kind of connection..." Tan Xiao murmured from the side, a hint of hesitation in his voice.

Wan Ze's tone was light. "It doesn't matter. We'll cross that bridge when we come to it."

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