To say that Wang Zhice could crush Tang Thirty-Six like an ant with a single finger might be a bit of an exaggeration.
But if he stretched out two fingers, he could definitely kill Tang Thirty Six easily.
The difference in strength between the two was just this great.
It was impossible for Tang Thirty-Six to threaten Wang Zhice, and even seeking death in front of Wang Zhice would not be easy.
The Wenshui Sword held between two fingers by Wang Zhice remained motionless, unable to advance an inch.
It was hard to avoid awkwardness when a tragic suicide had suddenly turned into this scene.
But Tang Thirty-Six did not feel any awkwardness. He even raised his brows.
Raising his brows meant provocation.
His meaning was crystal clear.
If one truly wanted to die, there were many ways to do so. Cutting one's throat with a sword was undoubtedly the least efficient method.
He was waiting for Wang Zhice to stop him so that he could continue negotiating.
Wang Zhice smirked at him and said, "Even if I gave you this stone, it would be useless."
Tang Thirty-Six saw his expression and understood.
With his current level of cultivation, even with the black stone, he could not enter the Garden of Zhou, nor could he help Chen Changsheng.
Tang Thirty-Six sincerely asked, "Then may I trouble Sir to help?"
Wang Zhice said nothing.
Tang Thirty-Six continued, "I know that his current situation is definitely very bad."
Wang Zhice's gaze fell on the black stone as he said, "Correct, he is currently facing an extremely difficult choice."
Tang Thirty-Six was quiet for a while, then said, "He is a good person."
As he said this, his attitude was unprecedentedly solemn.
Wang Zhice replied, "Yes."
Tang Thirty-Six looked into his eyes and said, "A good person should not live so bitterly."
Wang Zhice replied, "This has nothing to do with good or bad."
Tang Thirty-Six was rather disappointed and furious.
He jeered, "Yes, it has nothing to do with good or bad, only with strength. In the end, it's just the strong bullying the weak."
Wang Zhice shook his head. "Every person has to take responsibility for their own choices."
Tang Thirty-Six sneered, "Then why is it always him who makes the choice? Why can't it be your choice? "
Wang Zhice replied, "Shang Xingzhou agreed to fight him. This was a choice he was forced to make."
Tang Thirty-Six said, "That choice is too complicated. Your choices should be simpler."
Wang Zhice asked, "Such as?"
Tang Thirty-Six said, "You can choose to die, or die."
Wang Zhice smiled and asked, "Are there any other options?"
Tang Thirty Six said, "You can also choose to be burned to death, drowned to death, pierced through the heart by ten thousand arrows, or die by a thousand cuts."
This was not a narration, but a command, or perhaps a curse. The calm tone contained an extremely strong hatred.
But all of this stemmed from helplessness.
Looking at the thin ice and duckweed on the surface of the water, Tang Thirty-Six felt a little tired.
Did he fail just like that?
He really couldn't accept this.
He was unwilling for Chen Chang Sheng.
He suddenly shouted towards the sky.
"You're a blind dog!"
…
…
The Hundred Blossom Street was a bit chaotic, so he didn't know if they would hear what Tang Thirty Six said.
The Herb Garden, which was only one wall away from the Tradition Academy, could hear it very clearly.
Yu Ren did not know what had happened and asked with his eyes.
"Tang Tang wants to disturb Lord Wang's thoughts."
Xu Yourong said, "If there was even the slightest chance, he would use the methods in the old estate to force Lord Wang to compromise."
This was referring to the conversation between the grandfather and grandson at the mahjong table.
He had not hesitated to destroy the Tang clan, so he naturally did not care about the common people of the world.
But it was obvious that this was still not enough to move Wang Zhice or convince him.
He could not even bring out the words and threats he truly wanted to say.
Tang Thirty-Six's attempt had also failed.
Xu Yourong's eyes were tinged with worry.
Her left hand tightly gripped the five stone pearls.
These five stone pearls had originally been the five Heavenly Tome Monoliths of the Garden of Zhou, a part of Zhou Dufu's great array.
Just a moment ago, the five stone pearls had faintly emitted some sort of ripple, allowing her to roughly understand the situation in the Garden of Zhou.
She knew that Chen Chang Sheng was facing a choice.
She also knew what Chen Chang Sheng would choose.
Even before he made his choice.
To Chen Chang Sheng, this choice was not as difficult as Wang Zhice had said.
Because she understood Chen Chang Sheng.
Yu Ren also understood Chen Chang Sheng.
So he also knew what Chen Chang Sheng would choose.
This meant that Chen Chang Sheng had lost.
… …
… …
Every street and every house in the capital heard the massive boom that followed.
Violent waves of Qi appeared by the lake shore. The remaining snow, withered grass, and mud were sent flying into the air, striking against the walls and trees with a pitter-patter.
The lake water roiled and trembled, sweeping up a thousand piles of snow that flew through the air and then crashed back down.
All of the Orthodox Academy was enveloped in this sudden torrential downpour.
Two figures suddenly appeared in the torrential rain.
Chen Chang Sheng and Shang Xingzhou.
The sky suddenly brightened for an instant, as if a bolt of lightning had appeared.
Borrowing the light that illuminated the gloomy downpour, one could faintly make out Shang Xingzhou's hand resting on Chen Chang Sheng's chest.
Chen Chang Sheng was sent flying like a stone, smashing through ten-some thick trees and falling deep into the forest.
With a crack, the trees smashed into the ground, quaking and uneasy.
Tang Thirty-Six raised the Wenshui Sword and prepared to charge over, his left hand hidden in his sleeve tightly gripping a magical artifact.
There was a light clap.
Wang Zhice's finger had fallen between his eyebrows.
Tang Thirty-Six could no longer move.
Two golden-red flames suddenly appeared in the Hundred Herb Garden.
Xu Yourong vanished from her spot.
Wang Zhice did not turn his head, only pointed behind him.
Behind him was the academy wall.
A gap several zhang wide appeared in the wall.
The bricks and the broken pieces of the wooden door quietly fell to the ground.
A cool breeze lingered in the gap, seemingly gentle, yet insurmountable.
A pure white feather drifted down from the air.
Xu Yourong appeared.
Wang Zhice suddenly sensed something and turned around to look.
His gaze was not on Xu Yourong, but behind her.
The Hundred Herb Garden was just as serene and quiet as it had been several centuries ago.
A walking stick quietly rested on the edge of the stone table.
… …
… …
The tree was broken, the fresh stubble spreading like flower petals.
Chen Chang Sheng sat against the broken tree, coughing incessantly.
Shang Xingzhou asked, "Do you still insist that choice has meaning?"
Chen Chang Sheng replied, "Yes, because the choice determines who we are."
Shang Xingzhou fell silent.
Chen Chang Sheng was correct.
If it were Xu Yourong or Tang Thirty-Six in the Garden of Zhou, he would not have given them the chance to choose.
He had given Chen Chang Sheng the choice because he knew what Chen Chang Sheng would choose.
It was precisely because of this that Chen Chang Sheng was Chen Chang Sheng.
Thus, choice had meaning.
But there was no meaning in fighting now.
Chen Chang Sheng could still stand, but it was already foreordained that he could not win.
By choosing to leave the Garden of Zhou, he had given up on his final hope of victory.
Shang Xingzhou's expression was rather wooden. "Concede."
Chen Chang Sheng's tone was very flat. "No."
Shang Xingzhou fell silent, his right hand gripping the hilt of his sword.
Not the Stainless Sword, but his own Daoist sword.
Chen Chang Sheng prepared to stand, his right hand resting on the broken tree.
Suddenly, his hand touched something hard.
… …
… …
(There were too many matters at home. My mood was rather irritable, and I wrote very bitterly. Fortunately, the quality of the final product was rather good.) (To be continued …)
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