Jiang Wang could not explain why he suddenly made the decision, abandoning the joy of reuniting with Jiang An’an in Cloud City, leaving behind that vibrant and beautiful life, to travel alone for thousands of miles…

…to arrive at this Xin’an City.

In the Maple Forest Dead Zone, in Jiu Jiang City, he constantly warned himself that revenge required long-term, agonizing forbearance.

Dong A, Du Ruhui, Zhuang Gaoxian, they were at the highest echelons of the Zhuang Kingdom, wielding immense power, their own cultivation was formidable, to deal with them, it was not something that could be achieved overnight.

There were countless reasons to prevent him from coming here now.

But only one reason compelled him to come –

Because of hatred.

Because of an unforgettable, soul-searing hatred.

Hatred gnawed at his heart every moment, he could not forgive, could not let go, could not find peace.

Zhuang Gaoxian launched a war that captivated the nation, shocking the Western Realm, attracting the attention of countless people.

But he only saw Dong A, independently holding the fort at the rear.

Zhuang Gaoxian was a present-day True Lord, Du Ruhui possessed the Divine Power of “Shichi Tianya” (咫尺天涯, “close at hand yet worlds away”). When else would they be unable to attend to the affairs of a dignified Vice Minister of Zhuang?

Only in a war concerning the fate of the nation.

Such an opportunity was once in a millennium.

Jiang Wang chose to follow his heart.

He did not inform anyone, did not tell An’an, nor did he tell Ye Qingyu. Not only because he had promised Ye Lingxiao that he would not involve Lingxiao Pavilion.

In the matter of revenge, he would walk alone.

All the difficulties and pain, he would bear alone.

With the help of the Cloak of Obscurity (匿衣), he moved freely in the Wenhua Pavilion. Enough hatred gave him enough patience, he patiently waited for the opportunity, waiting for Dong A to be alone.

For the first time, he observed Dong A from this perspective, observed the teacher he had acknowledged for so long.

He waited for Dong A to handle official duties, waited for Dong A to teach Li Jianqiu, waited for Dong A to leave the Wenhua Pavilion…

The Cloak of Obscurity imbued with Yin Guan’s methods should not be seen through. But in the process of moving, he inevitably revealed flaws. Dong A probably discovered him at those times.

It didn’t matter.

When facing each other alone, Jiang Wang never intended to hide.

He also did not want Dong A to be unaware of why he was dying, and by whom he was killed, when he killed him.

Now, on this New Year’s Eve, on this long street in the dark night.

After a year, he finally saw Dong A again.

The city beneath his feet was a place he once yearned for. In countless nights in the City Dao Academy, he had of course imagined that one day when his cultivation was successful, he would either be in the imperial court, managing state affairs, or governing a region, benefiting the people.

He had of course imagined what it would be like for him to wear the official uniform of the Zhuang Kingdom, how dignified and impressive…

Those youthful, high-spirited…

Those imaginations were shattered.

Shattered in that chaotic nightmare.

It was countless midnight awakenings, a naivety that could never be returned to!

This was his first time in Xin’an City, and it was different from any scene he had ever imagined.

But this was reality, this was the cruel part of life.

Jiang Wang had long learned to face it.

So he held his sword, his hand was steady, his expression was calm, quietly staring at Dong A.

Dong A still had that unsmiling appearance, solemn, serious, as if nothing could move him, no factor could change his attitude.

“Yes. It’s been a long time,” Dong A said.

The clouds grew heavier, the moon had long since disappeared, the dark night sky showed no stars.

It was going to rain. Jiang Wang thought.

There was no need for other words. Jiang Wang knew why he had come, Dong A knew why he had come.

So move forward.

The two of them were at opposite ends of the long street, exchanging a greeting. Then they stepped forward at the same time, moving forward at the same time.

The air was shattered.

They started running.

Their figures were too fast, leaving behind trails of afterimages.

Footsteps stepped on the bricks, creating small indentations.

*Bang! Bang! Bang!*

The continuous sounds were so dense that they seemed like only one sound.

The force of rebound and the force of advancement were constantly superimposed, and before a breath’s time had passed, the two had already collided!

Fist against fist, eyes gazing into eyes.

In Dong A’s eyes, Jiang Wang saw no emotion, only seriousness.

And in Jiang Wang’s eyes, Dong A only saw scarlet hatred.

The two of them stopped in the center of the long street, and from behind them, the bricks cracked piece by piece, and long fissures stretched out on both sides. Only the place where they stood was still intact.

Samadhi True Fire leaped out, jumping to Dong A’s fist.

Dong A waved his hand casually, the flame did not extinguish, but instead burned off half of his fist!

His left hand formed a blade and slashed down, directly cutting off his right arm.

The Samadhi True Fire attached to this arm stubbornly continued to spread on the ground.

And Dong A’s severed arm quickly sprouted flesh, swelling, growing, returning to its original state.

At the very first exchange, both sides had already used Divine Powers!

An extremely stunning sword light shone.

There was no moon tonight, but it became the bright moon.

Not a moon in the sky, but a moon in the human world.

The sword light sprinkled like moonlight, incomparably gentle yet unavoidable!

Before this, Jiang Wang had never had this sword, but when he saw Dong A, this sword naturally appeared in his heart.

This sword is named Longing (相思).

No one does not know the moon, no one does not long for someone.

But Jiang Wang’s sword was not the longing of lovers, but an endless hatred. As eternal as the bright moon, it would only end in death!

In countless nights he looked up at the bright moon, but he saw Dong A’s throat.

Hatred grew in countless nights, leaving him no peace.

Ling He, Zhao Rucheng, Zhao Lang, Wei Yan, Huang Azhan, Tang Dun, Xiao Tiemian… Those people in the Maple Forest region did not have to die!

To Dong A, whom he had once trusted, respected, and revered, this sword was all his emotions, all his words.

To kill the teacher as a disciple, he had thought about it for too long!

How much he once revered, how much he hated later.

This was the “Longing” of the sword “Everlasting Longing” (長相思).

When he saw this sword, Dong A had already felt all the pain and torment in Jiang Wang’s heart. All of that did not need to be said, it was all in this sword.

Jiang Wang not only hated Dong A, but also hated himself. He hated that he trusted the wrong person, that he failed to save Maple Forest City where he grew up, that he allowed his hometown to forever become a Dead Zone.

Hating others, hating himself. These hatreds weighed heavily on Jiang Wang’s heart. They made him unable to be happy, unable to smile, accumulating in his life!

This was an incomparably stunning sword, but it was also an incomparably heavy sword.

Faced with this sword, Dong A wiped with his right hand, drawing out an iron ruler.

This ruler was upright, solemn, and majestic.

One side was black, one side was white. The demarcation line was clear and strict.

This was the Two Realms Ruler (兩界尺), raised by the authority of the Zhuang Kingdom’s criminal law, a renowned instrument of the nation.

It determined good and evil, distinguished right and wrong, separated clarity and turbidity, judged life and death.

The iron ruler stood upright, like a sharp blade, resisting the moon-like sword light.

And it issued inquiries, questioning the heart.

Should one commit murder in the street?

Should one assassinate an acquaintance?

Should a disciple kill his teacher?

The ruler resisted the sword, while Dong A’s left hand spread out his five fingers, pressing down on the ground.

The entire long street was constantly pierced by tree buds emerging from the ground, shattering the bricks, rapidly growing and expanding. All the scattered wooden products on the street, carts, shelves… Except for the intentionally avoided doors and windows of the houses on both sides, everything made of wood had been mutated.

Giant trees broke through the ground, thorns danced wildly.

In just a moment.

This world became a prison, emerald green like a cage.