Chapter 701: In Learning, There Is No Distinction of Rank
Wang Po had finally shown himself in the capital, breaking the silence like a sudden autumn chill.
Looking at the man in blue robes outside the gate, Chen Changsheng finally understood why Xiao Zhang was here.
The person in the world who knows you best is often not your friend, but your enemy.
This saying was cliché, and clichés were often correct.
No one in the entire capital would have thought that Wang Po would come to the Wei residence. Only Xiao Zhang had guessed it, so he had infiltrated the Wei residence to wait. He just hadn’t expected Chen Changsheng to arrive first.
Wang Po looked at Chen Changsheng in the light snow, somewhat surprised, then his face broke into a smile.
With that smile, his drooping brows lifted upward, as if sunlight had pierced through layers of clouds, a sight that could move one’s heart.
So you’re here too.
This unspoken agreement felt wonderful.
Chen Changsheng and Wang Po were indeed kindred spirits, often walking the same path, often heading to the same place.
Whether it was an abyss filled with the shadow of death, a divine kingdom above the sea of stars, a heavily guarded imperial palace, or an unknown residence like the Wei mansion—none of it truly mattered.
Wang Po extended an invitation to Chen Changsheng: “Together?”
“Sure.” Chen Changsheng accepted without hesitation, stepping toward the gate. His right hand gave a slight shake, and drops of blood fell from his sword into the snow, like plum blossoms.
Xiao Zhang was furious. He glared at the two and shouted, “Hey!”
He stood in the wind and snow, iron spear in hand, exuding a fierce and violent aura that surged skyward.
Yet Wang Po didn’t even glance at him. Chen Changsheng looked back, clasped his hands in a bow, then turned and continued forward.
Wang Po’s disregard and Chen Changsheng’s calmness made Xiao Zhang lose control of his emotions. He cried out, “Ahhh! This is infuriating!”
His voice was grating, hoarse yet piercing, like a crow in the desert that hadn’t drunk water for days.
By then, Chen Changsheng had already reached the outside of the Wei residence and stood beside Wang Po.
Hearing Xiao Zhang’s strange cries, Wang Po’s brows drooped again. With a hint of helplessness, he asked, “What exactly do you want?”
From a very young age, he had often sparred and exchanged blows with prodigies like Xiao Zhang, Liang Wangsun, Xun Mei, and Xiao De. Sometimes it was during the Grand Examination, sometimes at the Stone Boiling Assembly, sometimes in the Zhou Garden, sometimes at the Heavenly Book Mausoleum, sometimes at Yonglan Pass, sometimes at Xunyang City. Though they were rivals and enemies, their familiarity with each other surpassed even that of family.
“What do I want? Of course, I want to fight you!”
Xiao Zhang roared, the white paper on his face fluttering in the wind and snow, rustling loudly, a heart-stirring sight.
Wang Po, however, remained calm, even somewhat dull, showing no sign of facing a formidable foe.
He seemed lost in thought, seriously pondering for a while, then said to Xiao Zhang, “You can’t beat me.”
This was the truth, and thus more hurtful.
Xiao Zhang was enraged, his right hand gripping the iron spear so tightly it seemed he might snap it.
Before he could strike, Wang Po continued, “Besides, I have other things to do today. If you insist on making a move, I might not hold back.”
Xiao Zhang laughed in fury, his voice hoarse. “Have you ever held back in the past twenty years?”
Wang Po replied, “Even if I didn’t hold back before, it was hard to kill you on the spot. But today is different.”
Xiao Zhang shouted, “What’s different?”
Wang Po said, “Now there are two of us. You will die.”
Xiao Zhang’s breath caught.
This was still the truth, and thus still hurtful, hard to answer.
Xiao Zhang truly hadn’t expected Chen Changsheng to appear at the Wei residence.
If it were just Wang Po, even if he couldn’t win, he wouldn’t be afraid.
If it were just Chen Changsheng, he had absolute confidence that he could knock him off his spear.
But if his opponents were Wang Po and Chen Changsheng together, then he truly had no chance of victory, and he might actually die.
However, this didn’t align with Wang Po’s usual conduct, just like how he had vanished upon entering the capital.
He glared at Wang Po and shouted, “You’re willing to join forces with someone?”
Wang Po said, “He and I joined forces in Xunyang City. Besides, what I need to do today is too important to be stopped by you.”
Xiao Zhang asked, “What exactly are you going to do? You should know very well that the moment you step onto the main street, everyone will come to kill you.”
“I’m going to kill Zhou Tong.”
Wang Po’s answer was calm and frank: “I thought you already knew.”
Since Wang Po had appeared, Chen Changsheng had remained silent.
Though his current status and power were no weaker than Wang Po’s or Xiao Zhang’s, out of respect for his seniors, he chose to stay quiet.
Xiao Zhang didn’t let him off, asking, “And why must you kill Zhou Tong?”
Chen Changsheng’s answer was serious: “Just like killing Vice Minister Wei—this is to tell the world that doing so is wrong, to make such people and events in the world appear less often.”
Wang Po listened with satisfaction and said, “Exactly. Ingratitude is wrong, and betraying one’s master for glory is also wrong. Since they’ve done wrong, they must pay the price.”
“Betraying one’s master? Empress Tianhai is no good person. Why haven’t I seen you go kill her?” Xiao Zhang sneered.
Wang Po said, “Because I’m not confident I can kill Tianhai, so I lack the courage.”
Xiao Zhang said, “And now you’re confident you can kill Zhou Tong?”
Wang Po replied, “Yes, because my blade is faster now.”
Xiao Zhang shouted harshly, “Where do all these principles come from? To survive, what can’t you do?”
“You have your principles, we have ours. What happens when they clash? I never figured it out before, but I’ve only recently understood.”
Wang Po looked him in the eye and said seriously, “If we kill you, then naturally our principles win.”
Chen Changsheng said, “That’s the principle.”
Xiao Zhang was silent for a moment, then said, “It sounds like it has some logic.”
Wang Po said calmly, “If you agree with this logic, then don’t try to stop us. Otherwise, we really will kill you.”
Xiao Zhang stared into his eyes and said, “In decades of countless battles, you’ve never spoken this much to me.”
Wang Po said, “Because I want to convince you.”
Xiao Zhang asked, “Why convince me?”
Wang Po replied, “So I don’t have to draw my blade against you.”
Decades ago, the entire continent knew he had left the Huai Academy and come to the capital.
From then until now, he hadn’t drawn his blade even once.
His blade intent had been accumulated to an unimaginable degree.
If Xiao Zhang thrust his spear now, he would surely not be a match for that blade.
But Wang Po wasn’t confident he could walk much farther down the capital’s main street.
…
…
In the wind and snow, Wang Po and Chen Changsheng walked along the street, one in front, one behind.
They didn’t walk side by side because Chen Changsheng insisted—he felt he wasn’t worthy yet.
It was like returning to Xunyang City, where they had also walked one behind the other, facing experts of the Divine Domain, drenched in blood, fighting to the death without end.
Only then, they were breaking through an encirclement; today, they were going to kill someone.