Red Heart Patrols the Sky

Maple Forest City is located within Qinghe County, ranking at the bottom of the thirteen cities in the county in terms of scale, just above Mao City.

The head of a Taoist academy in such a city would normally be a person of the intermediate sixth grade. Dong Ah's seating in the Maple Forest Taoist Academy as a fifth-grade practitioner inevitably led to rumors that he had offended someone in the Zhuang Capital.

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

"So, you mean to say that aside from Fang DeCai's testimony, before this duel took place, you can't present any incontrovertible evidence to the public that Fang Pengju personally plotted an attack with the intent to kill you and snatch the pill?" Dong Ah, in a black Taoist robe, sat on the meditation cushion in the tranquility room.

Behind him on the wall hung a scroll depicting a person in a noble purple Taoist robe. The brush strokes were delicate, bringing the image to life; however, the face of the Taoist in the painting was obscured as if hidden within clouds and mist, indistinct to the observer.

Jiang Wang stood before the headmaster with his head bowed, and upon hearing the question, he stated in as calm a tone as possible, "I clearly know it was him, and that's enough for me. As for solid evidence, he would naturally provide it to everyone before his death. And indeed, he did not disappoint me."

Dong Ah knew he was referring to the Channel-opening Pill taken by Fang Pengju.

"Was this not too impulsive and reckless?"

"It would have been proper to proceed gradually, compiling evidence, awaiting the academy's decision. But in two days, it will be time for the selection of inner court students. Fang Pengju had already revealed his Taoist meridians, which would have ensured his place as a disciple of the headmaster. With time running short, I had to take the risk. Jiang Wang dares to kill an outer court disciple, but not a disciple of the headmaster."

Outer court students are merely preparatory; only the inner court students are the true disciples of the academy!

Throughout the conversation, Jiang Wang kept his head bowed, displaying the humility and propriety expected of a disciple.

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

That man named Li Yi with a single stroke beheaded a paragon like Zuo Guanglie. What need was there for a convoluted scheme?

Compared to the battle outside the Zhenzhen Taoist Temple, how insignificantly weak was he! And how feeble was the swordsmanship he so prided himself on!

Where did he have the time to prevaricate, to seek a foolproof method, to slowly maneuver against Fang Pengju in the academy?

Moreover, if not for launching this direct and aggressive Taoist duel today, how could he have any advantage over Fang Pengju who has the backing of the Maple Forest Fang Family?

"If you say that the Channel-opening Pill used by Fang Pengju was stolen from you, then where did your Channel-opening Pill come from?"

Here it comes.

Jiang Wang felt a slight tension inside, but his face gave nothing away. The battle that took place outside the Zhenzhen Taoist Temple, despite initially no one daring to approach due to the overwhelming might of the participants, would inevitably lead to an investigation afterwards. Besides, it was impossible for people like Gongyang Bai to set up formations within Zhuang Country without informing the local powers in advance. Zhuang Country, however small, also has its national dignity!

As the most prominent strongman of Maple Forest City Region, Dong Ah could not possibly be uninformed about that battle.

Fortunately, there were no secrets that Jiang Wang needed to hide regarding the entire incident. In a world with transcendental powers, the traces he left behind could not be concealed.

He then proceeded to describe everything he had heard at the time from the most objective perspective, without injecting any personal feelings. This included his physical condition, his thoughts and resolutions, and how he groped for the Channel-opening Pill from amongst the indistinguishable flesh and blood, including the eventual burial of the bodies.

He only slightly glossed over the matter of the virtual key.

Throughout the narration, besides a fleeting, burgeoning anger in his eyes, Dong Ah maintained his silence.

Jiang Wang of course knew from where this anger stemmed.

In the suburbs of Maple Forest City, outside the Zhenzhen Taoist Temple, this was Zhuang Country's soil! And powerful practitioners from Qin and Chu brazenly battled each other here without concern. Neither Maple Forest City nor Qinghe County dared to intervene in the battle. For the cultivators of Zhuang Country, this in itself was a tremendous humiliation.

Dong Ah's suppression of this anger was simply to avoid exposing the frailty of Zhuang Country, so as not to undermine the confidence of his disciples in their cultivation.

He should be a good headmaster.

In his heart, Jiang Wang silently observed this intermediate-grade powerhouse, who would dominate his path of cultivation for a long stretch of time – until today, such an opportunity had never arisen.

While he observed and summarized, he recounted the experience he had already rehearsed thoroughly.

"Your Channel-opening Pill has a clear origin. I have reviewed your record of missions as an outer court student, you maintained proportion and decisive action, which is commendable," Dong Ah commented.

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Dong Ah glanced indifferently at Jiang Wang before saying, "From now on, in my presence, you may refer to yourself as a disciple."

Jiang Wang's heartstrings relaxed, knowing that this hurdle had been crossed, and he had garnered recognition from the dean of the Maple Forest Taoist Academy, being directly selected into the inner court.

He crossed his thumbs, left hand outside, right hand inside, cupping yin and embracing yang, he raised his fists to his chest, nodded slightly, and respectfully said, "Thank you, Master."

The Confucianist Gate emphasizes the importance of heaven, earth, the sovereign, kin, and teacher, but for the Taoist Sect, the teacher is even more revered than sovereign and kin because the teacher imparts the Tao and elucidates the truth of the great way.

For all the disciples of the inner court at Maple Forest Taoist Academy, Dong Ah is their benefactor and teacher.

Dong Ah's eyes slightly closed, and without further words, he said, "You may leave."

...

After leaving the dean's meditation chamber, Jiang Wang walked shoulder to shoulder with Ling He and Zhao Rucheng, who had been waiting outside.

All three were silent, the atmosphere heavy.

While Jiang Wang had returned, Fang Pengju had died. The so-called "Five Heroes of Maple Forest" were in name only, and in reality, no more.

Since Du Yehu hadn't shown up here, he was certainly hiding away somewhere, drowning his sorrows in drink. Among them, he appeared to be the most carefree, but when it came to matters like these, he was probably the least capable of facing it. No matter how harshly he cursed or how much he hated, it could not erase the fact that he once considered Fang Pengju as a brother.

As the eldest brother, Ling He was the first to break the silence, "You guys go back to the lodgings first; I need to send Peng Ju's body back to the Fang Family."

Outer court disciples of the Maple Forest Taoist Academy were housed six to a room, but the Five Heroes of Maple Forest, due to their rapport, simply moved into the same lodgings. Others couldn't enter their circle, so it had always been the five of them living together.

Jiang Wang remained silent.

That was Ling He's character. No matter how much Fang Pengju was at fault, he wouldn't neglect his body.

"Still holding a grudge against Fourth Brother?" Ling He asked.

"Don't call him Fourth Brother again," a look of disgust flashed across the handsome face of Zhao Rucheng, "I am ashamed to even discuss such a person, one who plotted against his brothers, so vile and malicious."

Ling He's features bore a maturity beyond his years, probably the reason why he was so easily trusted. Within the group, he had always played the role of the eldest brother, caring for his younger siblings.

Moreover, it was his steady and mature side that often made people overlook the fact that he was only nineteen years old, just two years older than Jiang Wang and three years older than Zhao Rucheng.

But it is said, the children of the poor grow up swiftly.

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 misplaced my trust."

Even though he appeared so calm, Ling He still detected a hint of unresolved resentment. He understood it all too well.

"Trust is one of the brightest things in this world. Trusting isn't the mistake, Jiang Wang," Ling He said, "The mistake lies with the person who betrayed your trust."

He did not continue speaking, but his earnest gaze told Jiang Wang:

The brotherly bond between us isn't wrong, and it's not a façade. The wrong, the pretense, comes only from the one who betrayed it all. Only from Fang Pengju.

That's why he had to send Fang Pengju's body back, to ensure that he was not without a resting place after death. This was not out of recognition or sympathy for Fang Pengju, but purely out of respect for the brotherly bond that once existed among them and which should not change, and out of a need to uphold it.

That is Ling He.

No matter how hot-tempered Du Yehu was, or how arrogant Fang Pengju was, they willingly called him the eldest brother. It wasn't just a matter of age, after all.

"You go ahead. When a person dies, the light goes out, and all grudges dissipate," Jiang Wang stopped, "But I can't bring myself to accompany you."

"Neither can I," Zhao Rucheng abruptly said.

Ling He patted Zhao Rucheng on the shoulder and gave Jiang Wang a deep look before turning away and leaving.

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