Martial Dao: Peace by Force

"I’m not."

She looked back at Wan Ze, a self-deprecating yet alluring smile suddenly blooming on her face. "What, you don’t believe me?"

"...I do," Wan Ze said slowly. "But I don’t understand."

’Why did she say she was "almost" one?’

"Matters concerning Qi Refiners have always been taboo." The woman’s smile vanished, her expression returning to calm. "This isn’t idle chatter over tea. Some people spend their entire lives searching, but if they lack the right opportunity, they’ll never find it. And those who do know are Qi Refiners themselves, so naturally, they’re tight-lipped."

"Why is the outside world not allowed to know?" Wan Ze pressed.

The woman shook her head, offering her own speculation. "Perhaps the teachings are not meant for many ears. What I do know is that to enter that circle, you first need sufficient opportunity. What constitutes ’opportunity,’ I don’t know. I only know that the person who was guiding me back then... found me quite naturally and recommended my entry."

"Then why did you fail?"

"Because she died."

Her voice was soft, as if she were talking about something ordinary. "A mysterious death. My path was cut short halfway through. Luckily, that circle never knew of my existence... Otherwise, I wouldn’t be alive to tell you all this."

Wan Ze was silent for a moment before looking up. "...What is that circle like?"

The woman didn’t answer immediately, instead gazing out the window.

Her expression in that instant was complex.

It seemed to pierce through the glass, through the streets, through to a certain day many years ago.

"If she hadn’t taken me on that trip, I never would have wanted to join."

She said softly, "To this day, I still remember that I only managed a fleeting glimpse... That place... it wasn’t quite like the real world."

"What do you mean?"

"It’s hard to explain. It was as if it was this world, but also not... like another dimension... But I have no proof. I was too young at the time and don’t have many other memories. To bring me in, she prepared many things... something like a ritual."

"A ritual?" Wan Ze’s gaze toward her grew complicated.

The woman shrugged, accepting his look without flinching. "I’ve been chasing answers ever since. Unfortunately, after she died, I completely lost consciousness. I woke up once or twice in between, but never for long. Only recently have I been able to stay aware for longer periods."

She paused.

"Oh, right. That painting was what she left for me."

"Who... was she?"

"Tao Ze’s daughter."

The woman let out a long breath, as if a stone that had been weighing on her chest for years had finally been shifted. She looked at Wan Ze and uttered the two words very softly: "Tao Zhixi."

’Tao Zhixi?’

Wan Ze silently committed the name to memory.

The woman let out another long breath. After being so tense for so many years, it was a rare relief to be able to tell someone these things. But...

She looked at Wan Ze and added, "I don’t know what’s hidden behind that painting. All she told me back then was... if something happened to her, I should find this painting."

Wan Ze didn’t press her on that point.

Instead, he lowered his eyes, processing the massive amount of information he had just received. Then he looked up and posed a more practical question. "I asked Miss Ling. She said she’d never seen that painting hanging in the basement before. So, how did it get there?"

This was a crucial question.

Either there was a third party involved, besides them and the Tail Society.

Or... they were dealing with a ghost!

"It was Uncle Jiao," the woman said, taking a deep breath.

"Who?"

Wan Ze looked surprised.

’I remember the timeline.’

’The time Miss Ling discovered the basement and the painting doesn’t line up with the date of Jiao Yuheng’s car accident.’

’If Jiao Yuheng died in the crash, how could he have put the painting back?’

’Unless...’

"He’s not dead?" Wan Ze looked at her.

The woman nodded.

"The car accident was real. But I saved him," she said, her tone flat.

"After the ’old man’s’ accidental death, Uncle Jiao and I got in touch. From then on, he went underground, helping me gather intelligence and waiting for me to awaken. Later... maybe he was exposed, or maybe it really was just an accident... he got into that car crash. I forcibly took over Xiaoling’s body to save him. Since then, he has remained completely hidden in the shadows."

As she spoke, the woman couldn’t help but give a resigned, bitter smile. "My original plan was for Xiaoling to use the opportunities at Lingyun Manor—even if she didn’t practice the Martial Dao—to befriend some Martial Artists who could help. A pity..."

No one was able to help, except for Wan Ze.

’His fate is truly special.’

"You’re quite ambitious," Wan Ze said, shaking his head.

’Who would risk their life for a fair-weather friend?’

But the woman looked at him, her eyes filled with a certain conviction. "But then I met you."

Her gaze was direct. "You’re the most suitable partner I’ve ever met."

Wan Ze didn’t reply.

"You help me uncover the secret of the Mountain Ghost Painting, and I’ll get you into the circle of Qi Refiners." The woman stated her terms.

"And how would you do that?" Wan Ze wasn’t buying empty promises.

"This circle works by personal recommendation. The Mountain Ghost Painting, I’m almost certain, holds Sister Zhixi’s legacy. I was just one step away back then... If I can obtain her legacy, I can become a Qi Refiner. When that happens, I’ll recommend you."

She leaned forward, lowering her voice. "We can operate in secret. The Tail Society still isn’t sure of our true motive for getting the painting. For now, as long as we dangle the painting in front of them and let them think we’re clueless... we can use that window of time to quietly make our move. Once we become Qi Refiners, they won’t dare to move against us. That’s one of their ironclad rules."

"That’s the best-case scenario," Wan Ze said calmly. "And the worst?"

The woman froze.

She was silent for a moment.

"...In the worst-case scenario, they kill me. Uncle Jiao continues to live in hiding. And you... as long as you aren’t exposed, no one will suspect you."

She paused. "From what I know, Qi Refiners are forbidden from acting against ordinary people... The people from the Tail Society are merely Martial Artists, but they’re a very unusual sort."

"There’s a rule like that?"

Wan Ze raised an eyebrow in surprise, unconvinced.

’If someone really possessed world-destroying power, why would they care about the lives of ordinary people?’

The woman said gravely, "Sister Zhixi told me herself, back then. As for the reason... she never mentioned it."

Wan Ze thought for a moment. "Alright. But I need time."

’If I decide not to reveal my identity, I can’t use my signature Fist Technique. Fortunately, I’ve been practicing my Swordsmanship for a while now. It’ll come in handy.’

"Perfect. I also need time to draw them out." The woman smiled, a hint of relief finally showing in her eyes.

And just like that, they reached an agreement.

Wan Ze stood up, but just as he reached the door, her voice came from behind him again. "Wan Ze."

He stopped.

"...Do me a favor. Don’t let her be afraid."

Wan Ze didn’t turn back.

"She’s actually had it rough..." The woman’s voice softened. "I know better than anyone how torn she feels in the dead of night. If you could..."

"Stop," Wan Ze cut her off. "I’m helping because I consider her a friend. You... don’t push it."

The woman huffed, annoyed. "I give you an opportunity, and you’re useless."

A dark look crossed Wan Ze’s face as he reached for the door.

But suddenly, a soft murmur came from behind him:

"Wan Ze..."

It was no longer that alluring and direct voice.

It was someone else’s.

He turned to look.

Miss Ling looked at him with the weakness of someone who had just woken up, and... a certain anxiety she was trying desperately to hide.

"...She was just here, wasn’t she?"