Chapter 4: Requesting a Deathmatch

The moment Jiang Wang finished speaking, he drew his sword without hesitation and slashed.

“Wh-what!?”

Cold light flashed. Fang Pengju rolled and scrambled away from the strike, both shocked and furious, and utterly disheveled.

Aside from that, not a single person present had reacted in time. Almost everyone had thought the next scene would be a reconciliation between brothers, a display of deep affection, perhaps even a fine tale to be spread for a time.

No one had expected that, under everyone’s gaze and wrapped in the pressure of brotherhood, Jiang Wang would actually draw his sword!

“Pengju.”

Jiang Wang looked at him with a smile at the corner of his lips, but that smile was especially cold.

“You said you would bare your neck and await death. Why did you dodge?”

Fang Pengju’s handsome face shifted between green and white. He simply got up from the ground, gritted his teeth, and met Jiang Wang’s gaze.

“Third Brother, are you truly disregarding even the slightest bit of brotherhood?”

“You shameless bastard!”

By this point, Du Yehu was already furious beyond restraint.

“I must have been blind to become brothers with you!”

As he spoke, he stepped forward to charge over, but Jiang Wang reached out and stopped him.

“Second Brother, let me handle this myself.”

Fang Pengju glared angrily.

“Du Yehu! What does this have to do with you!?”

“Fang Pengju, you have disappointed me too much!”

Even Ling He, who had always been generous and tolerant, could not suppress his anger. He stepped forward, drew the sword at his waist, cut off a corner of his robe, and threw it heavily to the ground.

“From this day onward, you and I sever robe and friendship!”

“Big Brother!”

Fang Pengju laughed miserably.

“It’s one thing for Second Brother to be impulsive, but can even you not understand me? To prove my innocence, I was willing to die. But my parents have only me as their one son. I am their only bloodline, the hope they cannot let go of even in death! My life is not my own. How can I die here? Jiang Wang trusted a treacherous person, refused to listen to explanations, and is bent on putting me to death! Does he have any brotherly affection in his heart?”

“Fourth Brother, this is the last time I will call you Fourth Brother.”

Zhao Rucheng, the youngest of the Five Heroes of Maple Forest, finally spoke. His face still carried a trace of youth, but he was already extremely handsome. At this moment, when he spoke, his words rang out like gold and jade striking the ground.

“Fang Decai’s surname is Fang! His family has served your Fang family for generations! What kind of terms could a group of defeated bandits offer to buy him over? Are you insulting the wealth and power of your Fang family, or are you insulting everyone’s intelligence? How did a pack of defeated dogs from West Mountain sneak into Maple Forest City and openly set a trap at Moonwatch Tower? Finally, since you never had the resolve to prove your sincerity with death, then who exactly was all that hypocritical posturing just now meant for? I, Zhao Rucheng, am ashamed to stand with you!”

Among the five, Ling He and Jiang Wang came from poor families, while Du Yehu’s family situation was neither good nor bad. Fang Pengju and Zhao Rucheng, however, were both sons of wealthy families. The Fang family needed no explanation, and although the Zhao family had only moved to Maple Forest City within the last decade, its foundation was unfathomable.

“Fifth Brother, you have always been close with Third Brother. It’s one thing for you to favor him normally, but am I not your Fourth Brother as well? Without any evidence, based only on speculation, you say such heart-piercing words. Can your conscience truly be at ease?”

Fang Pengju looked heartbroken, appearing as if he were suffering the deepest anguish.

“Pengju, your tongue is still as sharp as ever.”

Jiang Wang stopped Zhao Rucheng and the others.

“But have you ever thought about why, even after escaping with serious injuries, I did not secretly contact Big Brother, Second Brother, or Fifth Brother, but instead chose to come find you only today?”

His eyelids lowered slightly.

“Because I never wanted to make them choose anything. I did not want them to suspect. I did not want them to be put in a difficult position! What happened between you and me will be resolved by you and me. If I had died, then I would have died. Since I am still alive, then what must be repaid—you have to repay me.”

Fang Pengju looked at him coldly.

“Do you have some delusion of persecution? I owe you nothing. How exactly do you expect me to repay you? Why are you so stubborn?”

But Jiang Wang no longer spoke to him. Instead, he turned toward the towering statue of the Dao Sovereign inside the Dao Academy and bowed from afar.

“Disciple Jiang Wang was harmed by the treacherous Fang Pengju and nearly lost his life. This hatred cannot be reconciled. This resentment cannot be erased. I request a deathmatch with him!”

The crowd erupted.

A Dao-witnessed deathmatch!!!

Killing a fellow disciple was a crime, but if there truly was a life-and-death hatred, a blood feud that could not be resolved, the Daoist sects did not forbid duels.

And among the many types of duels, a duel witnessed by the Dao Sovereign was also the most irreversible kind.

Daoists generally believed that the Dao Sovereign reclined high in the Nine Heavens and perceived the universe. To chant his name was to be known by him. To bow before his form was to be sensed by him. Once any oath involved the Dao Sovereign, it could not be taken back.

A Dao-witnessed deathmatch would not end until one side died.

As soon as Jiang Wang finished speaking, a middle-aged Daoist in black robes appeared before the Dao Sovereign statue.

His face was firm and resolute, and he had a short beard. On the right chest of his black Daoist robe was embroidered a small azure dragon that looked vividly alive. This was a Rising Dragon Daoist robe that only middle-three-rank experts were qualified to wear.

Among worldly cultivators, realms were roughly divided into nine ranks. Different schools might use different names and show different extraordinary manifestations, but their general levels could all correspond to the nine-rank system. Ranks nine to seven were low rank, ranks six to four were middle rank, and ranks three to one were high rank. Interestingly, this also corresponded to the official ranks of various nations.

Of course, in a small country like Zhuang, even a first-rank prime minister might not necessarily possess the strength of a true first-rank cultivator.

As soon as the black-robed, short-bearded Daoist appeared, all the disciples present bowed.

“Academy Master!”

There were not many Daoists in all of Maple Forest City who could wear a Rising Dragon black robe. Among them was Dong A, the academy master of Maple Forest Dao Academy. It was said that he had once cultivated in Zhuang Country’s capital, Xin’an City, but because of his upright and impartial character, he had offended the powerful and was transferred out to Maple Forest City in Qinghe Commandery.

Ling He’s face was filled with sorrow, but he said nothing.

He knew Jiang Wang’s swordsmanship very well. Before formally beginning dao technique cultivation, it could be said that no one in the outer academy was his match, and Fang Pengju was no exception.

But since Jiang Wang had proposed a Dao-witnessed duel, it meant his grievance could not be resolved. Now that the academy master had personally arrived, Fang Pengju either had to fight to the death or could only obediently wait for Maple Forest Dao Academy to intervene and investigate Jiang Wang’s ambush.

But how could Fang Pengju withstand an investigation by the Dao Academy?

So in truth, he had no choice.

Under countless gazes filled with suspicion, ridicule, or anger, Fang Pengju still showed no panic on his face.

“Third Brother, do you and I truly have to draw swords against each other?”

Jiang Wang said calmly, “The one who brought us to this point was you, not me.”

“What will it take for you to believe me?”

“I already paid once with my life for that trust. Now, more words are useless. The Fang Pengju in my memory was not a coward who dared not answer a challenge.”

Fang Pengju remained unmoved.

“You are that confident you can kill me?”

Jiang Wang looked at him calmly.

“Why not try?”

Fang Pengju stared at him for a long while, then suddenly laughed loudly.

“What a pity. You cannot kill me. Our duel cannot be established. Because just the day before yesterday, my dao meridian had already begun to manifest. It can be said that I am already an inner academy disciple! You and I are on different levels. How can we duel?”

As he spoke, he straightened his body and fully activated his dao meridian. Everyone present could sense an aura rising from the great dragon of his spine, making his spirit surge vigorously. This proved that his dao meridian had already manifested, that his flesh could feed back into the dao meridian and give birth to dao essence. He had officially obtained extraordinary power.

The Dao Academy had long had corresponding rules for duels. One very important point was that anyone could unconditionally refuse a duel invitation between different levels. This was meant to protect lower-ranked cultivators and prevent higher-ranked cultivators from using duels to humiliate them.

But now, it had become Fang Pengju’s reason to avoid the duel.

Although he had manifested his dao meridian, it had not been long, and he had not yet begun studying dao techniques. Thus, his strength had not fundamentally improved, so he still had no confidence in fighting Jiang Wang.

Jiang Wang fell silent.

He looked at Fang Pengju in silence, his emotions complicated.

Then he slowly said, “For the sake of that Meridian Opening Pill, I charged into West Mountain alone with my sword. After a bloody battle, I finally broke through the bandit nest. In that battle, I suffered thirteen wounds, two of them fatal.”

“To allow the Meridian Opening Pill to have the best effect, I planned to wait until my body recovered to its peak before using it. I understood the principle that possessing treasure invites disaster, so I never revealed a word of it to anyone. Everyone thought I would swallow the pill that same day—except you. Except the five of us brothers who had gone through life and death together. Because there was nothing I needed to hide from any of you.”

“Ever since I came into contact with the world of cultivation at the age of five, I had been pursuing that Meridian Opening Pill. I did not have a naturally manifested dao meridian. If I wanted to become extraordinary, I could only rely on a pill. It was my cultivation path, my hope, my only light. You knew my family situation. You knew how hard I worked. Every day, I got up to practice the sword before dawn and only rested when the moon was high in the sky. I never went to brothels or pleasure houses, and I never indulged myself in any way. In all of Maple Forest Dao Academy, I dare say no outer disciple worked harder than me. For that Meridian Opening Pill, I worked hard for eleven whole years!”

As Jiang Wang spoke, he stared fixedly at Fang Pengju.

“Mixed with my sweat, my blood, my tears—my Meridian Opening Pill. Was it useful?”

For a moment, the field fell silent.

Ling He pressed his lips tightly together. Zhao Rucheng gritted his teeth without a word. Even a man like Du Yehu had reddened eyes.

That was right. Who among them did not know Jiang Wang’s obsession, Jiang Wang’s exhaustion, Jiang Wang’s suffering?

And Fang Pengju had actually been ruthless enough to do this!

“I don’t know what nonsense you’re talking about!”

A trace of unnaturalness flashed across Fang Pengju’s face, but he quickly forced it down.

“My uncle led a merchant caravan through Yun Country earlier this month and happened to buy a Meridian Opening Pill from a cultivator short on money. That is how I was able to manifest my dao meridian. What does that have to do with you? Don’t think everyone has a lowly background like yours and will stop at nothing in order to advance! My Fang family possesses countless wealth. Do you think we cannot afford a single Meridian Opening Pill?”

Zhao Rucheng was already filled with hatred, and his words no longer restrained their edge.

“Yes, the Fang family is indeed extremely wealthy. Unfortunately, your parents died early, and you are not the sole legitimate heir of the Fang family’s main line. The family resources allocated to you are even more limited. Otherwise, why was it that for such a long time, you never possessed a Meridian Opening Pill, yet just so coincidentally, after my Third Brother was attacked, you suddenly had one?”

“What a coincidence indeed. I can only say it is far too coincidental!”

A cold light appeared in Fang Pengju’s eyes.

“Do not continue speaking about things without evidence. For the sake of the brotherhood we once had, I will not argue with you. If there is a next time, I, as an inner academy disciple, will let you understand what hierarchy and respect mean!”

“You!”

Zhao Rucheng was furious.

Du Yehu gnashed his teeth so hard they nearly cracked. If the academy master had not been present, he would have loved nothing more than to smash Fang Pengju’s handsome face with one punch.

Only Jiang Wang, instead, appeared calm.

“Fang Pengju, I told you before. You are too arrogant, too self-righteous, and because of that, you often overlook the truth. I taught you that. Why is it that you never learned?”

“Why don’t you think about it? If a Dao-witnessed duel could not be established, then why would Academy Master Dong appear here?”

He stepped forward and similarly activated his dao meridian. The earthworm within the great dragon of his spine swam violently, and his entire person became as sharp as a sword, as upright as a sword!

“That is because I have also manifested my dao meridian and officially possess the possibility of becoming extraordinary!”

“We are on the same level, and you do not dare let the academy master investigate. Therefore, the duel is established!”

The moment Fang Pengju’s expression changed in shock, Academy Master Dong A had already swept his wide sleeve.

Right there at the entrance of the Dao Academy, right beneath Jiang Wang and Fang Pengju’s feet, a sapling suddenly broke through the ground. Within a few breaths, it grew wildly into a giant wooden stump, lifting the two of them up and separating all the other outer academy disciples outside.

The top of the wooden stump was flat as if cut by a sharp weapon, ten steps across. From a distance, it was a wooden circular platform. Around the “platform,” branches swayed.

Fang Pengju had no doubt that if he turned and ran, those branches that looked harmless to humans and animals would instantly turn into man-eating beasts.

Meanwhile, Jiang Wang’s hand had already pressed against the hilt of his sword, ready to strike.

Dong A casually beckoned, and a branch twisted around the sword Fang Pengju had previously thrown on the ground, rolled it up, and flung it onto the platform.

Fang Pengju reached out and caught it.

Before the statue of the Dao Sovereign, whose face could never be clearly seen, Dong A, a fifth-rank Inner Mansion expert, announced indifferently:

“The Dao-witnessed deathmatch begins!”

[End of Chapter]