Outside Huanzhen Temple, in front of the new grave, Jiang Wang opened his eyes.
That little silver moon landed in his right palm, turned into a silver moon imprint, and then disappeared.
But Jiang Wang could still clearly sense its existence. It did not have any power, but would reappear when Jiang Wang's thoughts moved, connect to the Lunar Star, and bring his consciousness into that mysterious Great Void Illusory Realm.
He had not explored the Great Void Illusory Realm for too long. The wilderness he was in was not a place he could explore in peace.
Disregarding whether there would be xiuzhe from Maplewood City who would come to investigate after the shockwaves from the battle between the powerful xiuzhe had left. As for Jiang Wang himself, he had more pressing matters to attend to.
If he remembered correctly, three days later would be the time for the students of the Maplewood Dao College.
If he missed this time, it would be difficult for him to find another chance — a chance for revenge.
Because the students of the inner school were the true disciples of the Dao College recognized by the Zhuang Country. And the disciples of the Dao College could not be humiliated, much less killed!
Taking one last look at this dilapidated temple that he had forced himself to stay sick for many days, Jiang Wang stepped on the moonlight and strode away.
Weeds grew in front of the dilapidated temple. A gust of wind blew and allowed the moonlight to shine on the old plaque that had been lying on the ground for many years. The writing on it was blurry, but the words "Huanzhen" could be faintly outlined.
The moonlight shone on the new grave, and the wind rustled the leaves.
It was like a sigh, like sorrow, and also like relief.
Maplewood City was not small. For many people who had lived here for generations, this was the entire world.
Other than the master of the city who represented the will of the Zhuang Country, the three surnames of Zhang, Fang, and Wang were the masters of this land.
Deep in the night, the back door of Yi Cui Lou was pushed open. Amidst the laughter of a plump girl, a man wearing a long robe with a slit at the collar walked out unsteadily. The smell of alcohol on his body made him seem even more smug.
He was called Fang Decai.
The "Fang" was not easy to obtain. Starting from his grandfather's generation, he had served three generations of the Fang Family before he was bestowed this surname. It was also because he was the trusted aide of the Fang Clan that he was able to be so well-off, able to enter a brothel like Yi Cui Brothel every month.
He pinched his sweetheart again before he left with a hearty laugh.
The voluptuous girl looked at him shyly and angrily as she continued to coquettishly say a few words. It wasn't until his back was far away in the alley that he spat out, "You're just a dog relying on its master's power." He then slammed the small door shut.
Because of this, she did not notice that a man in ragged clothes had already approached Fang Decai from behind.
Fang Decai had some martial arts skills. When he felt that something was wrong, he immediately raised his fist and turned around. However, his opponent only needed a casual slap to break his stance.
Then, his throat was grabbed, and his whole body was lifted into the air before he was pressed heavily against the wall.
Compared to the rapidly swelling pain on his face and the difficulty in breathing, what terrified him more was his face.
It was the gentle and calm face of Jiang Wang.
"Jiang … Jiang …" Fang Decai's throat was choked and he struggled to croak in fear.
"Who ordered you to do this? Was it the Fang Clan or Fang Pengju? Who else was involved in this? What kind of poison did you put in the wine? How did you get in touch with the remaining Xishan bandits? "
Jiang Wang asked these questions slowly. Just as Fang Decai was about to pass out from suffocation, Jiang Wang slowly released his grip. "Now, tell me slowly."
He raised his head and looked at the moonlight. "We have a lot of time."
The night breeze gently pushed the clouds away, slightly obscuring the moonlight. The whispers in the alley were as soft as the whispers of evil spirits.
That night, the moon was bright in the sky and the night breeze blew. Those who were not dead had already returned to the city.
When the sky was bright, Jiang Wang stood at the entrance of Maplewood City's Taoist Academy.
The Zhuang Country used Taoism as its national religion. The most powerful supernatural power naturally came from Taoism. The Taoist Academies that were spread throughout the three counties and cities were proof of this.
The Taoist Academies were not only the first choice for the young people of the Zhuang Country to cultivate. Even the officials of all levels had to have cultivated in the Taoist Academies in order to convince the masses.
Therefore, in the entire Maplewood City, the most important place was probably not the City Lord's Mansion or the residences of the three major families, but the Taoist Academy in Maplewood City.
The Taoist Academy of the Zhuang Country belonged to the line of Mount Yujing. Therefore, the entire Taoist Academy was built magnificently. Not to mention other things, just the pair of jade lions squatting on both sides of the entrance was extremely majestic and noble.
Jiang Wang's clothes were still old and tattered. If one took a closer look, one could even smell a sour stench. He simply washed his face and tied his messy hair to the back of his head.
He stood in front of the Taoist Academy's wide open door. He held his head high and his chest out like a pine tree.
The outer sect disciple on duty rubbed his eyes and shouted in disbelief, "Senior … Senior Jiang!?"
Jiang Wang nodded his head. "Hello, Junior Wu."
As the outer sect disciple who was most willing to risk his life in the Taoist Academy in Maplewood City, he had participated in countless academy missions. As long as it was an outer sect disciple who had been in the academy for more than a year, there was basically no one who did not know him.
Junior Wu turned around and ran into the Taoist Academy. He shouted excitedly, "Senior Jiang Wang is back! Senior Jiang Wang is back! "
Not long after, many outer sect disciples swarmed into the Taoist Academy. They crowded the entrance of the Taoist Academy. Senior and Junior Brothers were shouting non-stop. It could be seen that Jiang Wang was very popular among the outer sect disciples.
Among the dozens of outer sect disciples, there were a few who were particularly eye-catching. Even in the midst of the squeezing, the crowd subconsciously made way for them.
"That bastard with the surname Jiang! Where have you been hiding these past few days? I f * cking thought you were dead! "
The one who started shouting from afar was Du Yehu. When he ran, the muscles on his body looked like they were about to explode at any moment. His face was also different from the rest. His face was covered with a thick beard. Standing there, just by looking at his face, he was two or three times bigger than the surrounding outer sect disciples. Some people would believe that he was some mountain king from somewhere, but he did not look like an 18-year-old youth.
Because he developed too quickly, people called him a young man.
He was like a bear squeezing out of the crowd. He hugged Jiang Wang, ignoring the faint sour smell on his body. He kept saying, "F * cking hell! F * cking hell! "
"It's good that you're back!"
The one who said it was good that he was back, but his eyes were filled with tears. His lips were trembling. It was Ling He.
His face was upright, and his forehead was full. He looked like a steady and calm person. At this moment, he was wearing a training suit that had been washed until it was white. He stood behind Du Yehu and stared at Jiang Wang just like that.
Only a handsome youth came over and sized up Jiang Wang. Then, he pointed at his tattered clothes and said with a smile, "How did you end up like this?"
His name was Zhao Rucheng. His appearance was the most outstanding. The smile on his face seemed to be slightly frivolous. However, only those who were truly familiar with him would be able to see the faint tears in his charming smiling eyes.
These people all had different appearances and personalities, but they had all been friends with Jiang Wang through life and death situations.
In many of the outer sect's missions, they worked together to overcome countless difficulties and dangers. They had already formed a deep friendship.
But Jiang Wang's gaze went past them and landed on the handsome youth in the crowd with red eyes.
He did not speak, nor did he move. But just by standing there, he seemed to be the center of the crowd.
"Pengju, it's been 57 days." Jiang Wang said word by word. "I've been thinking about you every day."
"You only think about Pengju, don't you think about Second Brother?" Du Yehu grabbed Jiang Wang's shoulder and shook it.
But Ling He and Zhao Rucheng were silent.
57 days was a very specific and sensitive period of time. It had been exactly 57 days since Jiang Wang went missing.
Fang Pengju, who was dressed in a luxurious brocade robe, stepped forward with a smile. "It's good that you're back. Everyone was worried about you these past few days."
"Yes." Jiang Wang also smiled. "How can you not be worried when you can't see the corpse?"
Fang Pengju's expression changed. "What do you mean? After something happened to you, I was worried sick! I sent people everywhere to look for you! "
Jiang Wang said faintly, "That's why I didn't dare to show up until today."
"Jiang Wang! The ones who attacked you were the remnants of the West Mountain Bandits. Everyone knows this! Are you suspecting me? "Fang Pengju's face flushed red. He was shocked and angry." The Five Heroes of Maple Forest are as close as brothers! Did you mishear some rumors? "
Ling He, Du Yehu, Jiang Wang, Fang Pengju, and Zhao Rucheng were the most outstanding outer sect disciples of Maple Forest City's Dao Academy. Because they were like-minded, they often worked together to eliminate bandits. They were called the Five Heroes of Maple Forest.
Feeling the tense atmosphere, the outer sect disciples who had come to greet Jiang Wang started to feel uneasy.
"Did Fang Pengju harm Jiang Wang?"
"Don't speak nonsense. Fang Pengju has always been righteous. Why would he do such a thing? It must be a misunderstanding! "
"I don't think so … Senior Sect Brother Jiang is not a fool that can be fooled."
The crowd whispered.
"We are all brothers. Don't speak nonsense!" Du Yehu stared at Jiang Wang with an anxious expression. His intuition was not good, but he could not stop what was about to happen.
Ling He thought for a moment and advised, "Third Brother, I'm sure you've experienced a lot and suffered a lot during this period of time. Why don't you settle down first. In a few days, you will be an inner sect student. This is a matter of life and must be treated carefully. We have worked together to kill the remnants of the West Mountain Bandits. If there are any secrets, we can slowly sort them out. If you have grievances or hatred, we brothers will help you. Even if we have to go to the County Dao Academy or the National Dao Academy, we will not hesitate!
But Pengju is a brother that we swore a blood oath with. I believe there must be some misunderstanding. Maybe someone is trying to sow discord … "
"Big Brother," Jiang Wang interrupted him. "When have I ever spoken without thinking? I do not value this brotherly relationship any less than you. So since I say this today, it means that this is the case. "
"Fang Pengju!" Jiang Wang turned to look at the embroidered robed youth and pointed. "I hope that after you open this chest, you can still be so righteous!"
Only then did everyone notice that behind Jiang Wang, there was still a big box.
"No matter what happens, I, Fang Pengju, will never harm my friends!" Fang Pengju stilled for a moment and then said emotionally, "I will personally see what kind of evidence can make Third Brother suspect your brother!"
He strode out of the yard, pulled out his sword from his waist, and opened the lid of the chest!
Inside the chest, a person tied up with his hands behind his back was revealed. His mouth was stuffed with rags. When he saw Fang Pengju, he had a panicked expression and kept whimpering.
Du Yehu and Ling He were silent. They recognized that this was Fang Pengju's close servant, Fang Decai.
"That day, this servant of yours sent me an invitation, saying that you invited me to drink at Full Moon Restaurant. When I arrived, you were not there yet. He advised me to drink a few cups and try the wine you specially sent. The poison in the wine … was the Separation Yin Yang Powder.
Just as the poison took effect, the mountain bandits broke through the door and attacked … I personally wiped out the West Mountain bandits. Who would have thought that I would almost be killed by a group of survivors in Maplewood City! "
Jiang Wang's voice faintly sounded. "So the first thing I did when I recovered was to find Fang Decai."
Fang Pengju was silent for a moment. In the next moment, he hurriedly sent out his sword!
"Bastard! My Fang Family has treated you well. You actually dared to collude with the mountain bandits and forge a letter to harm my Third Brother! "
This sword was fast and accurate. Blood splattered. Fang Decai suddenly convulsed and whimpered a few times. Finally, he was motionless like a dead dog. From beginning to end, he did not even have time to say a word to defend himself.
"Fang Pengju!" No one present was an idiot. Although Du Yehu was rough, it did not mean that he was stupid. At this moment, his eyes were wide open and his anger was surging.
"Second Brother." Fang Pengju lowered his blood-dripping sword. His face was full of shame. "I … in a moment of anger, I only wanted to kill this bastard to avenge Third Brother!"
"It doesn't matter." Jiang Wang watched Fang Pengju finish his performance. Only then did he shake out a piece of paper from his bosom. There was a lot of writing on it. "Here is Fang Decai's confession and signature. Pengju, do you want to see it?"
"Clang!"
Fang Pengju casually threw away his sword and suddenly knelt down. "I don't need to see to know what is written on it. I can only say that the West Mountain bandits have not given up on killing me. I don't know what price they paid to make this bastard Decai so dead set on killing me! But Third Brother, you have to believe me. I have always been a magnanimous person. When have I ever done such a despicable thing? No matter what the reason was, the Fang family will definitely give you an explanation. I will offer a reward of ten thousand taels to purge the bandits within a hundred miles to wash away the hatred in Third Brother's heart! "
An Outer Yard disciple in the crowd said, "That's right, Senior Brother Jiang. The Maple Forest's Five Heroes are all good men. You are the pride of the Outer Yard of Maplewood City's Dao Academy. You must not be instigated by despicable people!"
"When my mother was seriously ill, it was Senior Brother Fang who generously helped her. I believe that he was not such a person. "
There were also people who spat on Fang Decai's corpse. "Such an evil servant deserved to die. He even tainted Senior Brother Fang's reputation and ruined the brotherhood of the Maple Forest's Five Heroes. If he was still alive, I would have cut him into a thousand pieces! "
"My fellow disciples, there is no need to say more!" Fang Pengju waved his hand to stop the crowd's discussion. He knelt a few steps forward and looked sincerely at Jiang Wang. "After Third Brother went missing, I led people to search everywhere. There were a few times when I could not speak! My loyalty to Third Brother is known to all. Heaven and Earth can bear witness to it! But even though I have a clear conscience, if I did not trust Decai and Third Brother did not trust me, how could this bastard have the chance to take advantage of me? All the blame is on me. I am willing to bear it all! "
"I am willing to give up all my personal belongings to repay Third Brother's pain. I am willing to be whipped to make up for my mistake. I am willing to roam the bandits alone and swear to destroy the remnants of the West Mountain. I will not return to the city until the remnants are exterminated!"
"I am willing to do this, not to repay Third Brother. Third Brother almost died. This hatred is hard to repay! It is just that we were once brothers. I cannot forgive myself! "
"If …" Fang Pengju was on the verge of tears. He gritted his teeth and said, "If Third Brother still hates me, then pick up this sword and kill me! Pengju will not complain! "
Everyone's gaze was cast on the blood-stained sword that was thrown to the ground.
"Senior Brother Fang, you can't do this!"
"I believe that it is not your fault. How can a man speak of death so easily?"
Seeing this scene, everyone was moved. They all tried to dissuade him.
Even Ling He spoke again after a moment of silence, "Third Brother, Fourth Brother, this matter …"
Jiang Wang waved his sleeve and stood up, "Pengju, I have suffered many injuries for you. You have also stood up for me. The five of us brothers have lived and died together. "
No matter if it was Ling He, Du Yehu or Zhao Rucheng, their eyes were all red. The blood and tears they had experienced together, the days they fought together, the joy they had spent together … Only they knew.
How could the brotherhood of living and dying together be described in just a few words?
"Third Brother …" Fang Pengju lowered his head. For a moment, tears flowed down his face. He sobbed, "It is all my fault. I should not have trusted an evil servant. I almost made a big mistake!"
"But since Pengju has said so …" Jiang Wang said slowly, "Then Third Brother will accept it!"
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