Chapter 1481: Has There Ever Been a Door in This World

Jiang Wang clutched the fishing line spun from the Nine Chapters Jade Disc,and was continuously lifted higher and higher.He passed through raging winds and blizzards, the shattered rubble of Mount Fu,and violent thunder.Finally, he crashed into a dense, dark cloud.Wang Changji, with his slender shoulders and thin clothing, sat on the edge of the dark cloud,with the wind, thunder, and blizzard as his backdrop.Holding the warm fishing rod, he slowly and methodically reeled in the line.

"I also brought my friends," Jiang Wang said, letting go of the fishing line as he walked forward,"I don't know what exactly you need to do, but I thought perhaps having a few more pairs of hands would help."Meeting again, both of them were much more at ease."Couldn't be better," Wang Changji reached out and smoothly put away his fishing rod and line.He stood up and nodded to Yue Tiannu and Zuo Guangshu, indicating his greeting,"I was rude earlier, please forgive me, both of you."Yue Tiannu clasped her hands together and bowed,"I should be thanking the benefactor. Thank you for the timely reprimand, which cleared my confusion."Wang Changji merely nodded slightly, considering the pleasantries exchanged.Zuo Guangshu looked curiously at this friend of Brother Jiang and said,"I should also express my gratitude. I have long been content as a frog in a well;Your Excellency has shown me that there is a heaven beyond heaven."Wang Changji casually replied, "With Jiang Wang here, there aren't too many heavens beyond."

This was, of course, extremely high praise!A hint of surprise flashed in Yue Tiannu's eyes. Because she understood Wang Changji's realm better,and felt his strength most profoundly. Could Jiang Wang truly receive such a high evaluation from him?She thought she understood Jiang Wang well, but now she suddenly feltthat there might be something else she hadn't seen.

"Don't say such things, it makes me ashamed," Jiang Wang said remorsefully,"You warned me beforehand, yet I still fell for it, driven by the chaos,causing the heavenly collapse to happen sooner...""Chaos?" Wang Changji raised his eyes, seemingly interested.Jiang Wang was surprised, "I thought you knew long ago."Wang Changji gently shook his head, "I suspected that a few forces might exist,and I did indeed sense a few fishing lines, but I didn't know who exactly was competing."Jiang Wang then roughly recounted how they embarked on the path of divine descent,how they met Chaos, and how they were used by Chaos.Wang Changji listened quietly as he finished describing their trip to the Withered South Abyss,offering no comments, merely saying, "So that's how it is."

Jiang Wang looked at him, "Brother Wang, what wisdom do you have for me?""We'll talk about this later," Wang Changji said, "You brought friends over,and it happens I also want to introduce someone to you."From Zuo Guangshu's words, Jiang Wang already knew that Wang Changji had someone accompanying himto the Mountain Sea Realm. Although he found it strange that he hadn't seen them last time,he didn't pay too much attention.However, now that Wang Changji brought it up so solemnly, it made him unconsciouslyattach more importance to it."Which talented individual is Brother Wang going to introduce?" he asked.

In that instant, the dark clouds hadn't dispersed, the scene of doom remained unchanged,but Yue Tiannu and Zuo Guangshu disappeared from view.Everything was still so natural, leaving no trace.Jiang Wang then knew that he had once again entered the special environmentconstructed by Wang Changji.This was likely a refined application based on the soul.If facing him in combat, there would likely be two approaches:One is to quickly launch complex soul attacks to disrupt the construction of this environmentand find loopholes in motion.The other is to directly unleash the strongest Dao technique or sword techniqueto break through the soul level from the physical level, both to drive the opponent awayand to extract oneself from this environment.Of course, one could also approach from other directions...He currently had no hostility towards Wang Changji; this was merely an instinctivepre-enactment of combat.The strong always look forward to clashing with the strong.

Just as he was thinking, behind Wang Changji, from deep within the dark clouds,walked out a thin young man.This person was indeed excessively thin.He didn't seem to be this thin back in Fenglin City.He was also somewhat different from when they met at the Qingyun Pavilion mountain gate.But Jiang Wang couldn't quite pinpoint the more specific changes.Because he had never really paid much attention to this person.In the vast sea of life, most people are just passing through.

"Senior Brother Jiang, long time no see..." Fang Heling spoke first, his expression somewhat complex,"The things from the past now seem truly childish, there's no need to mention them again.I am now cultivating by Brother Wang's side, with the same goal as you and Brother Wang.We are the surviving lost souls of Fenglin City, wandering in this world without relying on anything.We share the same hatred, Senior Brother Jiang, we have common enemies."He didn't talk about old friendship with Jiang Wang, because there was no old friendship to speak of.He spoke of old hatred. A shared hatred.What he pointed out was his current reliance, and in one sentence, he clarifiedthe mutual stakes.Compared to the rashness and childishness back in Fenglin City, he had indeed progressed by more than just a little.

But Jiang Wang merely said calmly, "Human demons are also my enemies."These words were like a sword, though still in its sheath, it had already severed those faint connections.He indeed had blood-soaked hatred, buried deep in his heart.Fang Heling was indeed an old acquaintance.They were indeed ruined by the same disaster, and they indeed had the same enemies.But this didn't mean he could cooperate with just anyone, or tolerate just anything.The enemy of an enemy is not necessarily a friend.Because besides one's own love, hatred, and grievances, there is also one's moral character as a person,and the covenant of being human.He would not forget the scene he saw at the Qingyun Pavilion mountain gate,where Fang Heling was mixed in with the human demon team.He had personally killed two of the four human demons who were thenslaughtering the innocent and amusing themselves by cooking people.Had it not been for Yan Chunhui's intervention, the masked human demon would have also died.In Jiang Wang's eyes, Fang Heling was no different from other human demons.If he had appeared in Duanhun Gorge at that time, it would have simply been a matter of one more sword stroke.

Perhaps the only difference was...Fang Heling was also from Fenglin City.Fang Heling's family was also ruined on that desperate day.But those human demons, who didn't have a tragic past?Including Zheng Fei, including Li Shou, including Huan Tao, the abandoned disciple of the Mo Sectwith the extreme evil hungry ghost body, and even including the fortune-telling human demon,who didn't have some so-called pain and struggle?But when they were slaughtering the innocent, when they were competing to pile up corpses...Did they ever stop to listen to other people's stories?

Jiang Wang's words were directed at Fang Heling, and also at Wang Changji.The White Bone Evil God was his enemy, Zhuang Gaoxian was his enemy, Zhang Linchuan was his enemy.But extremely wicked beings like human demons were also his enemies.The former was the deep-seated blood feud tied to himself, the latter was the responsibilityhe told himself he should bear the first time he held a wooden sword.Adults have responsibility towards children, the strong have responsibility towards the weak,extraordinary individuals should have extraordinary responsibility.This was his path.He couldn't right all the wrongs in the world, or kill all the wicked people in the world,but wherever his three-foot green sword reached, there should be his justice.In their previous conversation, he and Wang Changji had confirmed their directions.He had depicted the future he envisioned, and he would do his utmost to move towards that future.But there would always be a bottom line, and he would never resort to unscrupulous means.Because someone had enlightened him very early on — using wrong methods cannot achieve right goals.Wrong is wrong, no matter how it is painted.If Wang Changji could not approve, he would rather continue alone.A lonely night alone might be too solitary. But having a clear conscience while alone and walking aloneis always better than feeling uneasy with a hall full of friends.

When Jiang Wang said this, there was no strong emotion, and his tone was calm.But his determination would not be missed.Fang Heling almost immediately bowed deeply,"Senior Brother Jiang! Back in Fenglin City, I was truly too ignorant!My heart was narrow, and I was vile and despicable. I did so many wrong things,hurt so many people, and thinking back on it now, I still feel very ashamed.I know I was wrong, and I sincerely apologize to you. Please forgive me...Please, you must forgive me!"He bowed all the way down, his forehead lower than his knees, showing the utmost humility.

Jiang Wang stepped aside, refusing to accept the bow,"Fang Heling, you say you want to apologize to me for what happened back then,but I can't even remember what you owed me. A few squabbles are not worth mentioning,and I didn't hold back against you back then. And now, we simply walk different paths."Fang Heling straightened up, his back hunched, making himself look up at Jiang Wang,smiling apologetically, "Brother Jiang, when you say that, you still have an issue with me.Yes, my apology is indeed not sincere enough."Saying this, he raised his hand and slapped himself.The slap was so crisp.His right cheek immediately swelled up.On his swollen face, he still forced a smile,"Or perhaps you can tell me, what do you need for you to forgive me?I will do everything I can, and what I can't, I will find a way to do.In short, as long as you give me a chance, I will surely satisfy you."

The attitude Jiang Wang displayed made it almost impossible for them to get along.And Fang Heling completely felt that between himself and Jiang Wang, Wang Changji had nothing to choose from.There was no need to talk about character or morals. Even from the most realistic perspective of self-interest,Jiang Wang was far stronger than him, far more talented than him. Past, present,and in the foreseeable future, he was far superior to him.Even he himself couldn't find a reason for Wang Changji to abandon Jiang Wang and choose him.So he absolutely did not want to put himself in opposition to Jiang Wang.So he apologized humbly, so he slapped himself. He could even kneel down and kowtow a few times,he could be as base as a dog, he could be baser than a dog!As long as Jiang Wang didn't extinguish his chance...If he was abandoned by Wang Changji, how could he possibly get in front of Zhang Linchuan on his own?

Facing Fang Heling in such a posture.Jiang Wang's tone remained very calm, almost cold,"Listen, Fang Heling. I don't know what happened to you all these years,and I don't want to know. In this world, no one lives easily.I have no hatred for you, so of course there's no talk of forgiveness.Go do what you need to do, no need to put on a performance in front of me.""Senior Brother Jiang, give me a chance." Fang Heling raised his hand and slapped himself again.Now both sides of his face were swollen, but he still grinned and spoke,as if he couldn't even feel Jiang Wang's rejection,"I just want to seek revenge with you and Brother Wang, I just want revenge.""The same goal doesn't mean we can walk together. You have your way, I have mine,"Jiang Wang simply said, "As I said, we walk different paths."Fang Heling slapped himself again, blood even appeared at the corners of his mouth.Still grinning, he spoke,"My father died, the one who held a banquet at Wangyue Tower, asking you to give me, this waste,a little confidence. He died. With a wave of Zhang Linchuan's hand, a bolt of lightning fell,and he became a piece of charcoal. He died without any dignity."

Jiang Wang was silent.To him, Fang Zehou was undoubtedly an unpleasant character.He withheld resources from Fang Pengju, had no good reputation in Fenglin Cityon ordinary days, and had even threatened him with Jiang An'an.But this person was also a sincere father. He spared no effort for his son,giving his all, even his life.People like Fang Zehou died.He was just one of the countless people who died in the Fenglin City region.Jiang Wang didn't know what to say.

Fang Heling looked at him, looking at him with a smile of apology.Back in Fenglin City, he swore that he would make this person named Jiang Wanglook him in the eye.But so many years had passed, he had given so much, grown so hard,and walked here with such difficulty. Yet he had to lower his head that he hadn't lowered before,to smile and plead so humbly.He didn't dare to have the slightest bit of dissatisfaction in his smile,"I know I'm a waste, insignificant, disgusting. You are all geniuses,your futures are infinitely long. I'll just walk with you for a while,and when we kill Zhang Linchuan, I'll get lost, get far away, and I will definitely not dirty your eyes.Do you think that's okay?"

Jiang Wang sighed softly in his heart.He also looked seriously at Fang Heling.His eyes were very clean, and there was indeed no resentment, no disgust,only a very calm and very determined something."Evil, Flesh-Eating, Beheading, these three human demons, I killed them all.I also contributed to the death of the fortune-telling human demon.Even a long time ago, the heart-swallowing human demon Xiong Wen, I pierced his heart with a sword.My attitude towards human demons has never changed.""Do you know? Zheng Fei and Li Shou had a very good relationship,they were both willing to die for each other. I saw true brotherhood in them!But I still killed them, without hesitation. Because when they were slaughtering innocent civilians,when they were throwing people into the furnace to boil, when they were eating human fleshand drinking human blood, they also didn't hesitate."Jiang Wang said, "Fang Heling, I can understand your hatred, I completely understand.On many nights, I was gnawed by hatred just like you. The blood red you have in your eyes,I also had in mine, and it hasn't disappeared to this day. But we are not on the same path.If we had met outside the Mountain Sea Realm, I would have already drawn my sword by now."

Fang Heling looked at Wang Changji, who had no expression on his face and didn't speak.He seemed to understand.He stopped slapping his face, he knew nothing would work.Jiang Wang was always this resolute.Back then, Fang Pengju, paralyzed on the ground, his eyes blurred with tears,shouted 'Third Brother', begging for his life. His sword struck down without any hesitation.That was his sworn brother, closer than a real brother!What am I, Fang Heling, to him?

Fang Heling smiled, a sound came out.He smiled and gave Jiang Wang a thumbs up,"You are truly iron-hearted, you are truly chivalrous and righteous,you are clear about grievances and favors, you are an upstanding man.You can't stand a speck of dust in your eyes, you are truly upright, truly just, Jiang Wang!"He was self-mocking and self-abandoning, self-pitying and self-righteous.He held up his thumb, his hand reaching above his forehead,"You are very strong, you are really strong. You are a recognized prodigy.Even with the scraps of swordsmanship learned in the outer sect back then,you were stronger than me. You are stronger than my talented cousin, Fang Pengju,you killed him with one sword!"

His hand slowly lowered, and he spread out his palm."But what about me?"He glared at Jiang Wang, his expression for the first time uncontrollably twisted,for the first time he roared at Jiang Wang, "But what about me!?""I'm a waste! I can't compare to you in any way, I can't even compare to Fang Pengju, what should I do!?""Do you think everyone is like you, who has many choices?You befriend only geniuses, or descendants of famous families, or children of aristocratic families,what young masters, what noble lords. You are famous throughout the world at Guanhe Terrace,you have high office and generous salary in Qi, you hobnob with the elite in Chu,the Three Punishment Palace testifies for you, even that damn Yu Beidou calls out your name!""But what about me?"His swollen face was contorted, looking so ugly, so sad.He pointed at his chest with his finger, each tap as heavy as a drumbeat.Innumerable painful moments from the past were in these drumbeats,following his shouts, following his roars,"I'm not a good person, but I'm not that bad either! Sometimes I can't bring myself to do it,there are some people I don't want to kill! But I told myself, I want revenge!I have nothing, I am nothing, what do I have to take revenge with?Only human demons are willing to take me, only human demons give me a chance,only human demons give me strength!"He pointed at Jiang Wang, his voice almost a roar,"The reason you can be a good person, and look down on me from above,is simply because you have a choice!!!""And I don't."

Fang Heling lowered his finger, his voice dropped. The twisted expression on his face also began to collapse,the bulging veins slowly subsided.He became very dejected, the kind of dejection that comes from completely recognizing reality.He shook his head, "Jiang Wang, I really hate the way you look down on people.Maybe you are right, but you won't always be right."The light in his eyes, which could perhaps be called hope, extinguished.He just turned around dejectedly, with his swollen face.He knew he could only go and kneel before Yan Chunhui, kneel before Yan Zi,and beg for another chance.Although he didn't know what he had left to exchange.This world was prepared for geniuses.All the light in this world is for those who have power and influence to enjoy.What qualifications does a waste like him have to talk about love and hate?So what if it's the hatred of killing one's father?So what if one is wagging their tail and begging like a dog?Selling dignity, selling soul, enduring pain, sacrificing limbs... What good is it?There are countless doors in this world, and behind them countless wonders.But not a single one has ever opened for him.

He walked out disheartened.He didn't know where to go.Suddenly, a hand rested on his shoulder, stopping his steps.He turned his head to look and saw only Wang Changji's calm profile.He didn't know why himself, tears streamed down.Wang Changji didn't look at him, just held his shoulder with one hand,standing beside him, facing Jiang Wang.From beginning to end, he hadn't said a word, just silently watched the interactionbetween Jiang Wang and Fang Heling.At this moment, he said, "Actually, I don't really care about who killed whom,morality, or justice, or whatever. It's just that I thought there might be someonewho doesn't want me to do evil, so as long as it doesn't affect revenge,I try my best to adhere to the moral principles related to being human.""Let me tell you why I keep Fang Heling by my side. Because I think at least whendealing with people like Zhang Linchuan, he can do something.Because I think he already has a strong heart.""He is not a waste, he is trainable.""Jiang Wang, I don't quite understand your persistence. I don't know why you consider thisbased on principles of being human rather than self-interest. But I thinkthe vast majority of people who suffer in this world are able to live on strongsimply because they have something in their hearts to hold onto.So I am willing to respect your persistence.""Furthermore," Wang Changji continued, "If you and Fang Heling are indeed incompatible,I will undoubtedly choose you and abandon him. Because you have that kind of value,you have proven your excellence countless times.""But I wonder, can you give Fang Heling a chance, and let him prove himself once?"He raised his palm, interrupting Jiang Wang's intended words,"Listen to me first.""Let's consider this problem from a more realistic perspective.Let's consider it from your persistence, from your justice."He asked, "Now we are all in the Mountain Sea Realm, and you know, you can't really kill him.In the real world, you are separated by a thousand mountains, even if you wanted to find him,you don't know when you could. So you have no way to stop him from doing evil. Do you admit this?""Then, why don't you try to constrain him? Wouldn't preventing the hateful human demonfrom indiscriminately killing anymore better embody your justice?""You are abandoning him now. I am also abandoning him. Leaving the Mountain Sea Realm,he has no choice but to go back to the human demons, and how many people will he kill then?How can you be responsible for these lives? If you are willing to give him a chance,then you are saving those who might be killed. The opportunity you provideis closer to justice than the sword you draw from its sheath."

The hand he placed on Fang Heling's shoulder tightened slightly.Fang Heling immediately wiped away his tears, turned back, and pointed to the sky,"As long as you are willing to take me to kill Zhang Linchuan, I swearthat from now on I will not indiscriminately kill the innocent, even if it means dying in pain,I will no longer eat human hearts!"

Jiang Wang was silent for a long time, then let out a long sigh, and said,"In recent years, two people have told me two sentences that have left a deep impression on me.One person told me that he was not trying to be a mundane person,he was just making the effort of a mediocre person.One person told me, don't think that everyone else has choices just like you do.I have learned a profound lesson.""I have no intention of judging you across the Mountain Sea Realm,and I am not some flawless moral saint. Perhaps I also have unintentional arrogancethat I am unaware of, and moral posturing without self-reflection. I will deeply reflect on myself.""But I want to say..."He looked at Fang Heling and said, "If you can indeed stop doing evil from now on,I look forward to fighting alongside you one day."