Trust Is Not Wrong

Maple Forest City was located in Qinghe Prefecture, and by scale, it ranked near the bottom among the prefecture's thirteen cities, only ahead of Mao City.

For a city of this size, the Dao Academy head was typically a mid-tier sixth-rank Daoist. That Dong A sat in Maple Forest Dao Academy with fifth-rank cultivation inevitably fueled rumors that he had offended someone in the Zhuang capital.

But for the disciples of Maple Forest Dao Academy, this was undoubtedly a good thing.

"So, aside from Fang Decai's testimony, before this duel, you cannot produce conclusive evidence that can be made public that Fang Pengju personally arranged the ambush intending to kill you and seize the pill?" Dong A, clad in a black Daoist robe, sat upright on a meditation cushion in the quiet room.

Behind him, a scroll hung on the wall, depicting a Daoist in a noble purple robe. The brushwork was delicate, the image lifelike, yet the Daoist's face was as if shrouded in mist and clouds, indistinct and unclear.

Jiang Wang stood with head bowed respectfully before the academy head. Upon hearing the question, he spoke in as calm a tone as possible: "I know clearly it was him, and that is enough. As for irrefutable evidence, he would naturally present it to everyone before his death. And indeed, he did not disappoint me."

Dong A knew he was referring to the Vein-Opening Pill Fang Pengju had consumed.

"Was it too hasty and reckless?"

"I should have planned slowly, gathered evidence, and awaited the academy's judgment. But two days later is the inner academy selection date. Since Fang Pengju had already manifested his Dao Vein, he was certain to become the academy head's disciple. Time was tight, so I had to take a risk. Jiang Wang dared to kill an outer academy disciple, but he dared not kill the academy head's disciple."

Outer disciples were merely reserves; inner disciples were the true disciples of the Dao Academy!

As he spoke, Jiang Wang kept his head lowered, displaying the humility and duty expected of a disciple.

But what flashed through his mind at that moment was the sword cry from the west outside Huanzhen Temple!

That man named Li Yi, with a single sword stroke, had beheaded a prodigy as formidable as Zuo Guanglie. What need was there for a hundred twists and turns?

Compared to the battle that had taken place outside Huanzhen Temple, how weak he was! How feeble the swordsmanship he prided himself on!

Where was the time to dawdle, to seek a foolproof method, to slowly maneuver against Fang Pengju within the academy?

Moreover, if not for charging in alone with his sword today and boldly initiating a Dao-certified duel, how could he have had the advantage over Fang Pengju, who had the backing of the Fang family of Maple Forest!

"If the Vein-Opening Pill Fang Pengju used was taken from you, then where did your Vein-Opening Pill come from?"

Here it comes.

Jiang Wang's heart tightened slightly, but his face showed nothing. The battle outside Huanzhen Temple, though no one dared approach due to the might of the powerful figures involved, would inevitably invite investigation afterward. Moreover, Gongyang Bai and the others had set up their formation within Zhuang Kingdom's borders; they could not have failed to inform Zhuang's strongmen in advance. As small as Zhuang Kingdom was, it still had a nation's dignity!

As the strongest figure on the surface in all of Maple Forest City, Dong A could not possibly be unaware of that battle.

Fortunately, Jiang Wang had no secrets in the entire affair. In this world of transcendent power, the traces he left behind could not be concealed.

So he described everything he had heard at the time from the most objective angle possible, without injecting any subjective attitude. This included his physical state, his thoughts and decisions, how he had fished the Vein-Opening Pill out of the indistinct flesh and blood, and finally burying those corpses.

He only omitted the matter of the Void Key.

Throughout his narration, aside from a flash of barely suppressed anger in his eyes, Dong A remained silent.

Jiang Wang naturally knew where that anger came from.

The outskirts of Maple Forest City, outside Huanzhen Temple—this was Zhuang Kingdom's territory! And powerful cultivators from Qin and Chu had fought here recklessly, without restraint. No one in all of Maple Forest City or even Qinghe Prefecture dared to interfere in that battle. For Zhuang Kingdom's cultivators, this was in itself a great humiliation.

The reason Dong A suppressed this anger was simply that he did not want to expose Zhuang Kingdom's weakness and avoid affecting his disciples' confidence in their cultivation.

He should be a good academy head.

Jiang Wang silently observed this mid-tier powerhouse who would guide his cultivation path for a long time to come—he had never had such an opportunity before today.

While observing and summarizing, he finished narrating the experience he had already rehearsed in his mind.

"The origin of your Vein-Opening Pill is clear. I have reviewed your mission records during your time as an outer disciple. You have discretion and decisiveness, which is rare."

Dong A swept a faint glance at Jiang Wang before saying, "From now on, before me, you may refer to yourself as 'disciple'."

Jiang Wang's heartstrings relaxed instantly, knowing this hurdle had been cleared. And he had gained the recognition of the Maple Forest Dao Academy head, directly selected for the inner academy.

He crossed his thumbs, left hand outside, right hand inside, forming a fist of embracing yin and yang, raised it to his chest, and gave a slight nod in salute. "Thank you, honored teacher."

The Confucian school emphasized heaven, earth, sovereign, parents, and teacher. But for the Daoist Sect, the teacher came before the sovereign and even parents, because the teacher transmitted the Dao, the one who expounded the Great Way.

To all inner academy disciples of Maple Forest Dao Academy, Dong A was their honored teacher.

Dong A's eyes closed slightly. He said no more. "Go."

Exiting the academy head's meditation room, Jiang Wang walked side by side with Ling He and Zhao Rucheng, who had been waiting outside all along.

For a moment, none of them spoke, the atmosphere heavy.

Jiang Wang had returned, but Fang Pengju had died. The so-called "Five Heroes of Maple Forest" existed in name only.

Since Du Yehu was not here, he must be drinking in some corner. Among them, he seemed the most carefree, but faced with something like this, he was probably the one least able to cope. No matter how much he cursed or how deep his hatred, he could not erase the fact that he had once regarded Fang Pengju as a brother.

As the eldest brother, Ling He broke the silence first: "You two go back to the dormitory. I still need to send Pengju's body back to the Fang residence."

Outer disciples of Maple Forest Dao Academy lived six to a dormitory. The Five Heroes of Maple Forest, drawn together by shared interests, had simply moved into the same dormitory. No one else could enter their circle, so they had always been five to a dormitory.

Jiang Wang said nothing.

This was Ling He's nature. No matter how many faults Fang Pengju had, he could not just abandon his corpse.

"Still hate Old Fourth?" Ling He asked.

"Don't call him Old Fourth anymore." Zhao Rucheng's handsome face showed a trace of disgust. "I am ashamed to speak of such a treacherous, despicable person who would harm his own brothers."

Compared to his age, Ling He's face was too mature. Perhaps this was also why he was more easily trusted. Among the five, he had always played the role of the eldest brother, often looking after his younger brothers.

His steady and mature side often made people forget that he was actually only nineteen, just two years older than Jiang Wang and three years older than Zhao Rucheng.

But a poor child learns early to fend for themselves.

Looking at Ling He, Jiang Wang shook his head and said, "Hating him isn't worth it. I only hate my own stupidity, hate that I trusted the wrong person."

Even though he appeared so calm, Ling He could still detect that faint, unresolved bitterness. He understood it well.

"Trust is one of the brightest things in this world. Trust is not a mistake, Jiang Wang," Ling He said. "The mistake belongs to the one who betrayed your trust."

He didn't continue, but his earnest gaze told Jiang Wang this:

The brotherhood between us is not a mistake either, nor is it false. The only thing false, the only mistake, is the one who abandoned all of this. Only Fang Pengju.

That was why he had to send Fang Pengju's corpse back, so that he wouldn't be left without a resting place after death. This was not out of recognition or sympathy for Fang Pengju, but merely out of respect and preservation for the brotherhood they once shared—a bond that should never have changed.

This was Ling He.

Whether it was the hot-tempered Du Yehu or the arrogant Fang Pengju, they all willingly called him Big Brother. Was it only because of his age?

"You go ahead. A man's death is like a lamp going out—grievances and grudges all fade away." Jiang Wang stopped walking. "But I can't go with you."

"Neither can I," Zhao Rucheng chimed in coldly.

Ling He patted Zhao Rucheng on the shoulder, gave Jiang Wang a long, deep look, then turned and walked away.