Chapter 5: If You Had Experienced Everything I Have Experienced

The moment Dong A finished announcing the start of the duel, the two longswords on the platform clashed with a sharp, metallic ring!

Before the duel, Fang Pengju had tried every excuse to avoid it. But once the duel truly began, he did not show a shred of hesitation. His strikes were extremely steady, precise, and ruthless, leaving no room for error. He had been able to stand out among all the outer sect disciples of the Fenglin Dao Academy and had earned the respect of Jiang Wang and the others in the past; he was naturally no empty vessel.

But Jiang Wang was faster, steadier, and more resolute than him!

Because he had waited fifty-seven days, and because for these fifty-seven days and nights, he had thought of this very scene every single moment.

Even with his body severely wounded, even with the agony of his illness, even after hovering on the brink of death time and time again.

When enemies clash with blades, he would accept being wounded or dying. But to be betrayed by the person he trusted most—the internal torment was far worse than the physical pain.

What sustained him through those days, besides an infinite desire to live, was a hatred etched into his very bones!

One strike, piercing through Fang Pengju’s sword stance.

As the sword entered, his body followed, slamming his own abdomen directly into Fang Pengju’s longsword! As blood splattered, Jiang Wang indifferently swung his sword horizontally, severing the tendons in Fang Pengju’s hand!

Two wounds appeared almost simultaneously, but one was active and the other passive, which had already decided the outcome.

Jiang Wang advanced again, using his elbow to drive his body, smashing forward violently. It struck Fang Pengju’s chest with a heavy thud.

Fang Pengju had just lost control of his sword due to the excruciating pain, and the next instant, he heard the clear sound of his own bones cracking.

His entire body was curled into the shape of a shrimp, knocked off the high platform, bounced back by the swaying branches, and then fell to the ground.

In just one exchange, Fang Pengju was defeated!

"How is this possible? The gap... is it really this large?!"

A commotion erupted beneath the platform.

Everything happened too fast. The Opening Pulse Pill, mixed with Jiang Wang’s blood and tears, had allowed Fang Pengju’s Dao pulse to manifest and his momentum to soar.

The sword, mixed with Jiang Wang’s hatred and pain, had also brought Fang Pengju crashing into the dust.

"He lost to himself, lost to his own fear," Zhao Rucheng said in a low voice. "If it weren't for fear, he wouldn't have chosen to harm Third Brother, using despicable means to seize the Opening Pulse Pill. He knew that without that, he had no way to surpass Third Brother. Once the gap widened, he would never be able to catch up."

Ling He couldn't help but sigh: "When Third Brother first came to the academy, his strength was at the bottom, far inferior to Pengju. A few years later, his swordsmanship is recognized as the best in the outer sect, and Pengju has always been a proud person..."

Du Yehu said angrily: "When all is said and done, isn't it just because he is incompetent and shameless!?"

*Clang!*

Jiang Wang slowly pulled out the longsword that had pierced his abdomen and tossed it aside.

The blood-stained sword fell to the ground with a clatter, just as helpless and panicked as Fang Pengju, who was spitting blood.

With his sword hanging at his side, Jiang Wang walked forward slowly.

"Help! Dean, help! I am a member of the Fang family, the Fang family is one of the three great clans in this city!"

Fang Pengju shouted in terror; where was the air of a wealthy young master now?

Dong A was expressionless: "Since this is a life-and-death duel verified by the Dao, it is naturally to the death. The only one who can decide your life or death is your opponent."

"Third Brother, Third Brother!" Fang Pengju propped himself up with his hands, retreating continuously: "Spare me, spare me! Spare me just this once!"

"The Fang family is a century-old clan! But for twenty years, no one has pushed open the Heaven and Earth Gate! One step slow, every step slow! How much time do I have left to wait? I cannot stop, I carry the earnest hopes of my late father, I cannot stop!"

He looked at Jiang Wang with teary eyes: "Your Opening Pulse Pill, I ask you, would you have given it to me?"

Jiang Wang remained silent.

"My uncle went to the Yun Kingdom, but he couldn't buy an Opening Pulse Pill at all. Even if he did, he might not have given it to me. The control over Opening Pulse Pills is becoming stricter, awarded only to the most promising outer sect disciples. In the entire Fenglin Dao Academy, only you obtained such merit. I had no choice, I had no choice!" Fang Pengju sobbed uncontrollably.

Jiang Wang narrowed his eyes: "I actually understand you. I understand your anxiety, your unease, your fear. The Fang family is a large clan that gave you a superior environment, but the competition is also fierce. I have long known that human desire is infinite. I also know how much you longed to prove yourself, how much you wanted to win glory for your father who died young. You said it all, and I remember it all. You were eager for success, blinded by greed; I can actually understand that."

Amidst the glimmer of hope that suddenly flashed in Fang Pengju’s eyes, he continued: "But understanding does not mean forgiveness."

After saying this, Jiang Wang reached Fang Pengju.

The longsword drew a clear arc in the air, piercing into his chest with precision and without a hint of hesitation.

"If you repay evil with kindness, how do you repay kindness?"

"So, I have already died once, and you must pay with your life."

Jiang Wang said slowly.

Fang Pengju used his intact left hand to grab the blade, letting the edge cut into his palm, letting the sword stay in his body, letting death be delayed by just one step.

He struggled, making a wheezing sound.

"After... taking your pill, I couldn't sleep every night. I regret it... I am sorry. But, but you are safe and sound, aren't you? We are brothers. Why... why can't you forgive me... just once."

Many people beneath the platform had complex emotions; they could not bear to look or listen any longer.

But Jiang Wang just looked at him calmly.

"Do you know the feeling of being betrayed? Do you know the... the emptiness, the pain that burns from the deepest part of your heart? You made my trust look stupid, you made my experiences look like a joke. You made my suffering meaningless."

Memories flowed like water, but they no longer held warmth, nor could they stir ripples.

"Have you ever tried lying on a pile of straw, feeling as if you were being eaten by ants, yet so weak and powerless that you could only watch and wait for death..."

"I seemed to see two shadows hovering before me; I knew they were the Impermanence of Black and White. I seemed to hear their breathing, slow, so slow, ringing in my ears. I once swore to overcome fate! I knew I was about to die, but I had no way out."

"If you had experienced what I experienced, you would understand that some pain cannot be mended. I have already died once. If I forgive you, I have no right to face myself."

Jiang Wang stopped there, slowly and resolutely pulling out the longsword—from between Fang Pengju’s finger bones.

The high platform slowly descended, the branches retracted, and finally, the entire dueling ground extended by Dao arts turned back into a small sapling and burrowed into the ground.

Fang Pengju lay quietly on the ground, his right hand hanging limp, his left hand still loosely gripped in front of him, as if firmly holding the longsword that had taken his life. His eyes were wide open, still faintly holding pain, unwillingness, and various emotions.

But he was already dead.

Ling He sighed softly, walked up, took off his outer robe, and covered Fang Pengju’s face.

Du Yehu opened his mouth, seemingly wanting to curse something, but finally could not say a word. The person was already dead.

Zhao Rucheng stood motionless, silent.

Jiang Wang stood quietly in place, his eyes not looking at anyone in the arena, but at the infinitely distant sky. It was as if he were staring at another kind of fate.

"Rest in peace," he said in his heart.

His mind was clear. The earthworm in his spine suddenly became agile, leaping up from the tailbone, successfully traveling a distance, and spitting out a round, full, beautiful Dao essence.

Jiang Wang suddenly remembered a phrase—to understand the ways of the world is to cultivate one's craft; to have a clear mind is to gain sustenance.