Chapter 3: This Hatred Is Hard to Repay!

Outside Return-to-Truth Temple, before the new grave, Jiang Wang opened his eyes.

The tiny silver moon fell into the palm of his right hand, turning into a silver moon mark branded upon it before disappearing.

But Jiang Wang could still clearly sense its existence. It had no power of its own; it would only reappear when Jiang Wang willed it, linking to the Lunar Star and bringing his spiritual consciousness into that mysterious and unfathomable Grand Void Illusory Realm.

He had not explored the Grand Void Illusory Realm for long. The wilderness where he was currently located was hardly a place where he could explore in peace.

Putting aside whether cultivators from Maple Forest City would come to investigate after the lingering aftermath of the battle between powerful cultivators faded, Jiang Wang himself had even more urgent matters.

If he remembered the date correctly, three days from now would be the inner academy selection at Maple Forest Dao Academy.

Once he missed that moment, it would be extremely difficult for him to find another chance—a chance for revenge.

Because only inner academy students were truly recognized by Zhuang Country as Dao Academy disciples. And Dao Academy disciples could not be lightly humiliated, much less killed or harmed!

After one final look back at the ruined Daoist temple where he had lingered for many days while barely holding on with his sick body, Jiang Wang stepped into the moonlight and strode away.

Weeds grew thick before the ruined temple gates. A gust of wind passed, allowing moonlight to fall upon the old plaque that had lain on the ground for many years. The writing on it was blurred, but the words “Return to Truth” could still be faintly made out.

Moonlight shone upon the ruined temple and new graves. Wind rustled through the leaves.

It sounded like someone’s sigh.

…

Maple Forest City was actually not small. To many people who had lived there for generations, it was even their entire world.

Aside from the city lord, who represented the will of Zhuang Country, the three surnames Zhang, Fang, and Wang were the masters of this land.

The night was deep. The back door of the Leaning Emerald Tower was pushed open, and amid the coquettish laughter of a voluptuous woman, a man in a long robe slit on both sides staggered out. The smell of alcohol clung to him, only making him appear even more smug and satisfied.

His name was Fang Decai.

That surname “Fang” had not come easily. Since his grandfather’s generation, his family had served the Fang clan for three generations before they were finally granted that surname. It was precisely because the Fang family regarded him as a trusted servant that he had such ample money on hand and could visit a den of pleasure like the Leaning Emerald Tower once every month.

After fiercely squeezing the familiar woman one more time, he laughed loudly and left.

The curvaceous woman glared at him in shame and irritation, whining a few words in protest. Only after his figure had disappeared into the alley did she spit and mutter, “A dog relying on its master’s power.”

Then she slammed the small door shut.

Because of that, she did not notice that a man in ragged clothes had already drawn close behind Fang Decai.

Fang Decai knew some martial arts. The moment he sensed something was wrong, he abruptly raised his fist and turned around. But the other party merely slapped casually, scattering his stance.

Immediately after, his throat was seized. His entire body was lifted into the air before being slammed heavily against the wall.

Compared to the pain of his rapidly swelling face and his increasingly difficult breathing, what terrified him even more was that face.

Gentle, calm, and composed.

Jiang Wang’s face.

“Jiang… Jiang…” Fang Decai rasped in terror and struggle through his constricted throat.

“Who ordered you to do it? The Fang family, or Fang Pengju? Who else was involved in this matter? What poison was put into the wine? And how did you contact the remnants of the West Mountain bandits?”

Jiang Wang asked these questions slowly. Only just before Fang Decai was about to suffocate did he leisurely loosen his hand.

“Now, tell me slowly.”

He raised his head and glanced at the moonlight.

“We have plenty of time.”

The evening wind gently pushed the clouds along, slightly veiling the moonlight. The quiet conversation in that alley was as soft and faint as the whispers of malicious ghosts.

That night, beneath the bright moon and the wind beating through the darkness, the man who had not died had returned to the city.

…

When the sky was fully bright, Jiang Wang stood before the gates of Maple Forest City Dao Academy.

Zhuang Country regarded Daoism as its state religion, so its strongest extraordinary power naturally also came from Daoism. The Dao Academies spread throughout the cities of the country’s three commanderies were proof of this.

The Dao Academy was not only the foremost cultivation place chosen by the young people of Zhuang Country, even officials of various ranks had to possess a history of study at a Dao Academy in order to convince the public.

Therefore, in all of Maple Forest City, the most important place might not have been the city lord’s manor, nor the residences of the three great surnames, but Maple Forest City Dao Academy.

The Daoist inheritance passed down in Zhuang Country belonged to the Jade Capital Mountain lineage, which placed the greatest emphasis on rituals and formalities. As a result, the entire Dao Academy had been built magnificently and luxuriously. Leaving aside everything else, just the pair of jade lions crouching on either side of the main gate possessed immense majesty and nobility.

Jiang Wang’s clothes were still worn and shabby. If one smelled closely, there was even a sour stench. He had only washed his face briefly and casually tied his messy hair behind his head.

He stood before the wide-open gates of the Dao Academy, head held high, chest straight, standing tall like a green pine.

The outer disciple on duty rubbed his eyes again and again before finally shouting in disbelief, “Senior Brother Jiang… Jiang?!”

Jiang Wang nodded in greeting.

“Junior Brother Wu.”

As the outer disciple of Maple Forest City Dao Academy most willing to risk his life, he had participated in countless Dao Academy missions. As long as someone had been an outer disciple for more than a year, there was basically no one who did not know him.

Junior Brother Wu turned and ran into the Dao Academy, shouting excitedly, “Senior Brother Jiang Wang is back! Senior Brother Jiang Wang is back!”

Before long, many outer disciples swarmed over, crowding the gates of the Dao Academy until they were packed full. Senior brothers and junior brothers called out all at once, showing Jiang Wang’s usual prestige among the outer disciples.

Among the dozens of outer disciples, a few people were especially eye-catching. Even amid the crowd, the others subconsciously made way for them.

“You bastard surnamed Jiang! Where the hell have you been hiding these past few days? I damn well thought you were dead!”

The one shouting loudly from far away was Du Yehu. When he ran, the muscles on his body looked as if they might burst out of his training clothes at any moment. His appearance was also unique, with a full face of thick beard. Standing there, judging by his face alone, he looked two or three generations older than the surrounding outer disciples. Some would believe he was a mountain bandit chief from somewhere, but no one would think he was an eighteen-year-old youth.

Because he had matured far too urgently, people called him a man whose beard had arrived in his youth.

Like a bear squeezing out from the crowd, he wrapped Jiang Wang in a hug, completely ignoring the faint sour smell on him, while muttering again and again, “Damn it! Damn it!”

“It’s good that you’re back!”

The one saying it was good he had returned, yet whose eyes were bloodshot and whose lips trembled, was Ling He.

His features were proper, his forehead full, and he looked like a steady, calm person. At this moment, he stood behind Du Yehu in a training outfit washed pale from use, simply staring fixedly at Jiang Wang.

Only one handsome youth came closer and first looked Jiang Wang up and down before pointing at his tattered clothes with a grin.

“How did you end up looking like a ghost?”

His name was Zhao Rucheng. His looks were the most outstanding, and the smile on his face seemed somewhat frivolous. But only those who truly knew him could see the faint glimmer of tears hidden within his charming smiling eyes.

These people had different appearances and personalities, but all of them had life-and-death friendships with Jiang Wang.

In many trials and missions of the outer academy, they had worked together, passed through countless dangers and hardships, and long since forged deep bonds.

But Jiang Wang’s gaze passed over them and landed only on the handsome youth in the crowd whose eyes seemed faintly red.

He did not speak, nor did he make any movement. But simply standing there, the youth faintly seemed to be the center of the crowd.

“Pengju. Fifty-seven days.”

Jiang Wang spoke almost one word at a time.

“I thought of you every day.”

“You only thought of Pengju? Didn’t you think of your second brother?”

Du Yehu grabbed Jiang Wang’s shoulders and shook him, shouting noisily.

Ling He and Zhao Rucheng, however, both fell silent.

Fifty-seven days was a very specific and sensitive length of time. It had been exactly fifty-seven days since Jiang Wang went missing.

Fang Pengju, dressed in rich brocade clothes, smiled and stepped forward.

“It’s good that you’re back. Everyone has been very worried about you these days.”

“Yes,” Jiang Wang also smiled. “If you didn’t see my corpse, how could you not be worried?”

Fang Pengju’s expression changed.

“What do you mean by that? After something happened to you, I was frantic with worry! I sent people everywhere to look for you!”

Jiang Wang said faintly, “That is why I only dared to show myself today.”

“Jiang Wang! The ones who attacked you were the remnants of the West Mountain bandits. Everyone knows this! Are you actually suspecting me?”

Fang Pengju’s face flushed red, making him appear both shocked and furious.

“The five heroes of Maple Forest are as close as brothers! Did you hear some false rumor?”

Ling He, Du Yehu, Jiang Wang, Fang Pengju, and Zhao Rucheng were the most outstanding outer academy disciples of Maple Forest City Dao Academy. Because they were kindred spirits, they often joined forces to eliminate bandits and always entered and left together. They were known as the Five Heroes of Maple Forest.

Sensing the atmosphere instantly grow tense, the outer academy disciples who had come to welcome Jiang Wang began to feel uneasy.

“Could it be that Fang Pengju harmed Jiang Wang?”

“Don’t talk nonsense. Fang Pengju has always been righteous. How could he do something like that? It must be a misunderstanding!”

“I don’t think so… Senior Brother Jiang isn’t a fool who lets people deceive him.”

The crowd whispered among themselves.

“We’re all brothers. Don’t talk recklessly!”

Du Yehu stared at Jiang Wang, his expression extremely anxious. His instincts told him something was very wrong, but he had no way to stop what was about to happen.

Ling He thought for a moment, then spoke to persuade him.

“Third Brother, you must have experienced many things and suffered a great deal during this period. Why not settle down first? In a few days, the inner academy selection will take place. This is a major matter that concerns your entire life, and it must be handled carefully. The remaining West Mountain bandits have already been wiped out by us together. If there are any hidden details in this matter, we can slowly sort them out. If you have grievances or hatred, we brothers will definitely help you, even if we have to bring it to the commandery Dao Academy or the national Dao Academy!

“But Pengju is our brother, someone we cut our palms and swore blood oaths with. I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Perhaps someone is sowing discord…”

“Big Brother.”

Jiang Wang interrupted him.

“When have I ever spoken carelessly? I treasure this brotherhood no less than you do. So since I am saying this today, it means the matter is indeed exactly so.”

“Fang Pengju!”

Jiang Wang turned to look at the brocade-clad youth and pointed at him.

“I hope that after opening this chest, you can still remain so righteous and confident!”

Only then did everyone notice that behind Jiang Wang was a large chest.

“No matter what happens, I, Fang Pengju, would never harm a friend!”

Fang Pengju only froze for an instant before speaking with righteous indignation.

“I will personally see what filthy evidence could make Third Brother suspect his own brother!”

He strode out of the academy, drew the long sword from his waist, and used one strike to pry open the lid of the chest!

Inside the chest, a person tied up tightly was revealed. His mouth was stuffed with a rag. After seeing Fang Pengju, his expression became incomparably anxious, and he desperately whimpered nonstop.

Du Yehu and Ling He both fell silent. They recognized him as Fang Pengju’s close family servant, Fang Decai.

“That day, this servant of yours delivered an invitation, saying you had invited me to drink at Moonwatch Tower. When I arrived, you had not yet come. He urged me to drink a few cups first and taste the fine wine you had especially sent over. The poison in that wine… was Yin-Yang Separation Powder.

“As soon as the poison took effect, mountain bandits broke through the door and attacked… I personally wiped out the West Mountain bandits, but I never expected that inside Maple Forest City itself, I would nearly be killed by a group of remnants!”

Jiang Wang’s voice rang out faintly.

“So the first thing I did after recovering was find Fang Decai.”

Fang Pengju was silent for only a moment. In the next instant, his sword thrust forward swiftly!

“You beast! My Fang family treated you well. Yet you dared collude with mountain bandits, forge letters, and harm my Third Brother!”

This sword was both fast and accurate. Blood sprayed. Fang Decai convulsed violently, whimpering a few times in his throat before finally going still like a dead dog. From beginning to end, he never even had the chance to say a single word in his own defense.

“Fang Pengju!”

No one present was a fool. Although Du Yehu was rough, that did not mean he was stupid. Now his tiger-like eyes widened as rage surged up.

“Second Brother.”

Fang Pengju lowered the blood-dripping sword, his face filled with shame.

“I… was overcome by anger. I only wanted to kill this beast to vent Third Brother’s anger!”

“It doesn’t matter.”

Jiang Wang watched Fang Pengju finish his performance before taking out a sheet of paper from his robe. It was filled densely with writing.

“Here is Fang Decai’s confession and handprint. Pengju, do you want to take a look?”

Clang!

Fang Pengju casually threw away the sword and abruptly dropped to his knees.

“Even without looking, I know roughly what it says. I can only say that the West Mountain bandits’ desire to destroy me has not died. Who knows what price they paid to make that beast Decai so utterly loyal to them? But Third Brother, you have to believe me. I have always been an open and honest man. When have I ever done anything vile? No matter the cause and effect of this matter, my Fang family will definitely give you an explanation. I will offer a reward of ten thousand coins and will surely purge every bandit within a hundred miles to wash away the hatred in Third Brother’s heart!”

An outer academy disciple in the crowd also spoke up.

“That’s right, Senior Brother Jiang. You Five Heroes of Maple Forest are all good men and the pride of the outer academy of Maple Forest City Dao Academy. You must not let villains sow discord between you!”

“When my old mother was seriously ill, Senior Brother Fang generously helped me with money. I believe he is not that kind of person.”

Someone else spat at Fang Decai’s corpse.

“Such a wicked servant deserves death! He even dared to tarnish Senior Brother Fang’s reputation and ruin the brotherhood of the Five Heroes of Maple Forest. If he were still alive, I would want to cut him into a thousand pieces!”

“Fellow disciples, there is no need to say more!”

Fang Pengju waved a hand to stop the discussion, then shuffled forward a few steps on his knees and looked sincerely at Jiang Wang.

“After Third Brother disappeared, I led people everywhere searching for you. Several times, I broke down in tears! My affection for Third Brother is known to everyone and witnessed by heaven and earth! Even if my conscience is clear, if I had not trusted Decai, and Third Brother had not trusted me, how could that beast have had such an opportunity? All responsibility lies with me. I am willing to bear it all alone!”

“I am willing to give up all the wealth in my private treasury to compensate Third Brother’s pain. I am willing to suffer flogging to make up for my mistake of trusting the wrong person. I am willing to go alone to wipe out bandits and swear to exterminate the remnants of West Mountain. If the remnants are not destroyed, I will not return to the city!”

“I am willing to do this not as compensation. Third Brother nearly died, and this hatred is hard to repay! It is only because we were brothers that I cannot forgive myself!”

“If…”

By the end, Fang Pengju was nearly weeping, his voice full of tears. Gritting his teeth, he said, “If Third Brother still cannot let go of his hatred, then pick up this sword and kill me with one strike! Pengju will have no complaint!”

Everyone’s gaze fell on the bloodstained sword lying on the ground.

“Senior Brother Fang, you must not do this!”

“I believe this is not your fault. How can a true man speak lightly of death?”

Moved by the scene, everyone watching began to speak up and persuade him.

Even Ling He, after a period of silence, spoke again.

“Third Brother, Fourth Brother, this matter…”

Jiang Wang swept his torn sleeve aside and stepped forward with his back straight.

“Pengju, I once suffered several wounds for you, and you once stepped forward for me as well. The five of us brothers have truly lived and died together.”

Ling He, Du Yehu, and Zhao Rucheng were all deeply moved. Only they themselves understood the blood and tears they had gone through together, the days they had fought side by side, and the joy they had shared.

How could a bond forged through life and death be fully explained in just a few words?

“Third Brother…”

Fang Pengju lowered his head. For a moment, tears streamed down his face, and he sobbed uncontrollably.

“A thousand mistakes, ten thousand mistakes—they are all this younger brother’s fault. I should never have wrongly trusted an evil servant and nearly caused a great disaster!”

“But since you have said that, Pengju…”

Jiang Wang’s slow voice was heard.

“Then Third Brother will respectfully obey.”

[End of Chapter]