Maple Forest City is located in Qinghe Prefecture. In terms of scale, it ranks last among the thirteen cities in the prefecture, only ahead of Mao City.

The dean of the Dao Academy in such a city is generally a middle-level sixth-grade Daoist. Dong A, with his fifth-grade cultivation, is stationed at the Maple Forest Dao Academy, which inevitably leads to rumors that he offended someone in Zhuangdu.

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

“So, apart from Fang Decai’s testimony, before this duel, you cannot produce conclusive evidence that Fang Pengju personally arranged an attack, intending to kill you and seize the Dan?” Dong A, dressed in a black Daoist robe, sat upright on a futon in the quiet room.

Behind him, on the wall, hung a portrait of a Daoist wearing a noble purple Daoist robe. The brushstrokes were delicate, and the image was lifelike, but the Daoist’s face seemed to be hidden in clouds and mist, making it difficult to see clearly.

Jiang Wang stood respectfully before the dean, his head lowered. Hearing the question, he stated in as calm a tone as possible: “I know clearly that it was him, that is enough. As for ironclad evidence, he will naturally provide it to everyone before he dies. And he did not disappoint me.”

Dong A knew that he was referring to the Opening Meridian Pill that Fang Pengju had taken.

“Was it too hasty and reckless?”

“It should have been done gradually, gathering evidence to await the Dao Academy’s judgment. But in two days, it will be the time for the selection of the inner courtyard disciples. Fang Pengju has already shown his Dao Meridian, so he will definitely become the dean’s disciple. Time is tight, so I can only take the risk. Jiang Wang dares to kill outer courtyard disciples, but he would not dare to kill the dean’s disciple.”

The outer sect is just a preparation, inner courtyard disciples are the real Dao Academy disciples!

While speaking, Jiang Wang kept his head lowered, showing the humility and duty that a disciple should have.

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

That man named Li Yi, with a single sword, beheaded a genius as strong as Zuo Guanglie. What need was there for roundabout methods?

Compared to the battle that took place outside the Huanzhen Temple, he was so weak! His swordsmanship, which he was so proud of, was so feeble!

Where was there time to dawdle, seeking a foolproof method, and slowly maneuvering with Fang Pengju in the Dao Academy?

Moreover, if not for today’s direct and audacious Daoist duel, with other methods of confrontation, how could he have had a greater advantage than Fang Pengju, who had the support of the Maple Forest Fang family!

“If the Opening Meridian Pill that Fang Pengju used was taken from you. Then, where did your Opening Meridian Pill come from?”

Here it comes.

Jiang Wang’s heart tightened slightly, but his face did not reveal anything. The battle that took place outside the Huanzhen Temple, even though no one dared to approach it at the time due to the power of the strong individuals involved, would inevitably lead to investigation afterward. Moreover, Gongyang Bai and others had set up an array within the territory of Zhuang, it was impossible not to inform the strong individuals of Zhuang in advance. No matter how small Zhuang was, it still had the dignity of a nation!

As the strongest person in the Maple Forest City area on the surface, Dong A could not have been unaware of that battle.

Fortunately, Jiang Wang had no secrets to speak of in the whole matter. In this world with extraordinary power, the traces he left behind could not be concealed.

At the moment, he described everything he had heard at the time from the most objective point of view possible, without any subjective attitude. Including his physical condition, his thoughts and decisions, and how he fished out the Opening Meridian Pill from the vague flesh and blood, including finally burying those corpses.

He only skipped over the matter of the Void Key.

During the narration, Dong A remained silent except for a fleeting, erupting anger in his eyes.

Jiang Wang certainly knew where this anger came from.

The outskirts of Maple Forest City, outside the Huanzhen Temple, this was the territory of Zhuang! And the powerful cultivators from Qin and Chu fought fiercely here, without any scruples. No one in the entire Maple Forest City or even Qinghe Prefecture dared to interfere in this battle. For the cultivators of Zhuang, this was itself a great shame.

The reason why Dong A suppressed this anger was simply because he did not want to expose the weakness of Zhuang, so as not to affect the confidence of the disciples in their cultivation.

He should be a good dean.

Jiang Wang silently observed this middle-level powerhouse who would dominate his path of cultivation for a long time to come – he had never had such an opportunity before today.

While observing and summarizing, he finished narrating his experience, which he had already prepared in his mind.

“The origin of your Opening Meridian Pill is clear. I have reviewed your mission records when you were in the outer sect. You have a sense of propriety and decisiveness, which is rare.”

Dong A glanced at Jiang Wang faintly before saying, “In the future, in front of me, you can call yourself a disciple.”

Jiang Wang’s heart relaxed, knowing that this hurdle had passed. And he had already received the approval of the dean of the Maple Forest Dao Academy and was directly selected into the inner courtyard.

He crossed his two thumbs, with his left hand on the outside and his right hand on the inside, holding a fist with Yin and Yang and raising it to his chest, nodding slightly, and said respectfully: “Thank you, Teacher.”

Confucianism emphasizes heaven, earth, ruler, parents, and teacher, but for Taoism, the teacher comes before the ruler and parents, because the teacher transmits the Dao, and is the one who expounds the Great Dao.

For all the inner courtyard disciples of the Maple Forest Dao Academy, Dong A is their teacher.

Dong A closed his eyes slightly and said nothing more, “Go.”

Coming out of the dean’s meditation room, he walked side by side with Ling He and Zhao Rucheng, who had been waiting outside.

The three of them did not speak for a while, and the atmosphere was somber.

Jiang Wang had returned, but Fang Pengju had died. The so-called “Maple Forest Five Heroes” was still just a name.

Since Du Yehut did not appear here, he must be hiding somewhere drinking. Among these people, he seemed to be the most carefree, but when it came to this kind of thing, he was probably the most unable to face it. No matter how harshly he scolded and how much he hated in his heart, he could not erase the fact that he had once regarded Fang Pengju as a brother.

As the eldest brother, Ling He was the first to break the silence: “You go back to the dormitory first, I still have to send Pengju’s body back to the Fang Mansion.”

The outer sect disciples of the Maple Forest Dao Academy are six people in one dormitory. The Maple Forest Five Heroes moved into the same dormitory because they shared the same interests. Other people could not enter this circle, so they had always been five people living in one dormitory.

Jiang Wang did not speak.

Ling He was just this kind of person. No matter how wrong Fang Pengju was, he could not ignore his body.

“Do you still hate Lao Si?” Ling He asked.

“Don’t call him Lao Si anymore.” Zhao Rucheng’s handsome face showed a hint of disgust, “I am ashamed to talk about this kind of person who harms brothers and is despicable and vicious.”

Compared to his age, Ling He’s face was too mature, perhaps this was also the reason why he was more easily trusted. Among the five, he had always been in the role of the eldest brother, taking care of his younger brothers.

It was also because of his steady and mature side that people often overlooked that he was actually only nineteen years old, only two years older than Jiang Wang, and three years older than Zhao Rucheng.

But the children of the poor become self-reliant early.

Looking at Ling He, Jiang Wang shook his head and said, “It’s not worth it to hate him. I only hate myself for being stupid, for trusting him wrongly.”

Even though he looked so calm, Ling He still heard that trace of unresolved resentment. He could fully understand.

“Trust is one of the brightest things in this world. Trust is not wrong, Jiang Wang.” Ling He said, “What’s wrong is the person who betrays your trust.”

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

The brotherhood between us is not wrong, and it is not false. What is wrong and false is only the person who betrayed all this. Only Fang Pengju.

That was why he had to send Fang Pengju’s body back, so that he would not have no place to go after death. This was not out of recognition or sympathy for Fang Pengju, but only out of respect and maintenance for the brotherhood that they once had and should not change in the future.

This was Ling He.

Whether it was as violent as Du Yehut, or as arrogant as Fang Pengju, they were all willing to call him eldest brother, and it was not just because of his age.

“You go. When a person dies, it is like a lamp extinguished, and all grievances disappear.” Jiang Wang stopped: “But I can’t accompany you.”

“I can’t do it even more.” Zhao Rucheng also said coldly.

Ling He patted Zhao Rucheng on the shoulder, and then looked at Jiang Wang deeply before turning and leaving.