The White Moonlight Disdained by the Male Protagonist of Redemption - Chapter 25.2

Feng Jingzhuo certainly remembered. This was the God of War—Wan Dongze.

Though calling him a god now was a stretch. He had long since lost his title, and his divine sigil.

If a fallen god like Jingzhuo still retained a trace of divinity, then Wan Dongze… was no longer a god at all.

Ten thousand years ago, at the Jade God’s ascension ceremony, they had chatted warmly—until the topic of killing one’s wife came up.

After that… Feng Jingzhuo didn’t know why, but he wandered back to Luoxiang Mountain, lost and grief-stricken.

He circled the barren mountain again and again, unable to remember what he was even looking for.

Wan Dongze had come during that time.

The mountain was lush and green under the moonlight. He walked casually, plucked a blooming branch, sniffed it, frowned, and tossed it aside…

As he walked, blinking and then suddenly turning his head—

Feng Jingzhuo was right behind him. He didn’t know how long he had been following.

Wan Dongze greeted him, “Looks like the Mountain God doesn’t seem to welcome this god’s presence.”

Feng Jingzhuo replied, “Luoxiang Mountain is my private residence. The God of War came uninvited and even damaged the flora. It is indeed discourteous.”

He spoke politely, never referring to himself as “this god”—only using “I”. But his tone made his stance clear.

Wan Dongze chuckled, “No need to be angry, Mountain God.” He stepped forward a few paces, picked up the flower he had discarded earlier, and twirled it in his fingers. “It was indeed careless of me not to cherish delicate things. But this god came down to the mortal realm solely to relieve your doubts and worries.”

“Considering the kindness of this god’s intentions, surely the Mountain God can overlook such minor breaches of etiquette.”

He always spoke with a teasing, half-smiling tone, his gaze loftily lowered, as if looking down on others.

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t mind for himself, but he disliked this man stepping on Luoxiang Mountain’s soil: “No need to beat around the bush. Speak plainly.”

Wan Dongze said, “At today’s god-ascending ceremony for the Jade God, this god saw the two of you getting along well. But then you suddenly changed expression, like you had been deeply struck. I was concerned, so I came to check on you.”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “Thank you. I am fine.”

Wan Dongze said, “Are you? Mountain God, aren’t you distressed because you’ve lost your memories? ”

“What do you mean? ”

“What do you think? ”

Feng Jingzhuo looked at him and said slowly, “We knew each other before our ascension.”

Wan Dongze laughed, “Smart. Though calling it ‘knowing each other’ might be a bit much… there is certainly a deep connection. One day, you’ll understand.”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t know what the connection was, but he had already figured out Wan Dongze’s intentions: first, he had ulterior motives. Second, he did hold some real information. Third, he had conditions.

“Me regaining my memories… would be greatly beneficial to you, wouldn’t it? ”

Wan Dongze raised his eyebrows. “I thought you’d ask what memories you’ve lost.”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “I’m afraid I couldn’t afford the price, and the God of War wouldn’t give them for free.”

Wan Dongze shook his head and sighed, “Young Master Jingzhuo, you’ve gotten a lot more humorous than back in the Fengxie Dao Sect.”

Though he called him “young master,” his tone had no respect. There’s only mockery, bitter and biting.

Feng Jingzhuo stepped aside and gestured to let him pass: “If the God of War has nothing else, I won’t see you out.”

Wan Dongze raised an eyebrow, smiled, and really did walk forward. But as he passed Feng Jingzhuo’s side, he stopped and said,

“Mountain God, you’ve forgotten—you’re born of Cangyuan. Dragons of Cangyuan are very special. I won’t say more, but you can look into it yourself.”

He looked up at the moon in the sky: “Your memories haven’t disappeared, actually. Of course, if no one gives you a nudge, you might just muddle along forever. But with just a tiny clue—just a little bit—restarting your memory is very easy.”

Wan Dongze turned around to face him, eyes full of malicious pity:

“You had a very beautiful wife. Her name was Ning Yao.”

Caught completely off guard, the name “Ning Yao” pierced into Feng Jingzhuo’s mind like a steel needle. A blinding white light flashed before his eyes, and the pain was so intense that he couldn’t even make a sound.

Feng Jingzhuo opened his mouth: “You said wha—”

Wan Dongze smiled, “Feng Jingzhuo, you don’t welcome me, and that’s fine. I won’t hold it against you. Because I know—your misery is just beginning.”

Eternal damnation. A fate worse than death.

With a light flick, he tossed aside the flower in his hand and left with cheerful steps. The moonlight stretched his shadow long, like the outline of a withered, vampiric demon.

Beneath that demonic shadow, Feng Jingzhuo stood frozen, cold sweat pouring down his back.

Feng Jingzhuo’s gaze swept over Wan Dongze.

From his appearance, he seemed slightly older, but his face hadn’t changed much. Over these ten thousand years, he had vanished without a trace. Feng Jingzhuo had thought he had long perished and returned to the cycle of reincarnation, but unexpectedly, he had fallen into the demonic path and lived to this day. Though he hadn’t made a move, it was clear his spiritual power was immense and couldn’t be compared to the past.

Had it been during his peak, Feng Jingzhuo could have crushed him with just a flick of his finger. But over the past few millennia, his body had steadily deteriorated. It would take some effort to bring Wan Dongze down now.

Feng Jingzhuo stared at Wan Dongze, who in turn was studying him. Ten thousand years had passed, but he still looked at people from under lowered eyelids:
“Feng Jingzhuo—sigh, I’ll still call you that. After all, we shared quite the bond back then. When we were both slaves in the Fengxie Dao Sect, we got along pretty well, didn’t we? ”

“You’re staring at me like that—planning to kill me?” Wan Dongze spread his hands with a mocking smile. “You’ve changed. I haven’t even done anything. How can you be so quick to draw your sword? ”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “You’ve used a dormancy pill.”

Wan Dongze replied, “Yes, I have.”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “Ah, so the Xuanwu clan has helped you. I’ll kill you first, then deal with the demon conspirators.”

Wan Dongze raised his hand. “Hold on—Feng Jingzhuo, we haven’t seen each other in ten thousand years. Don’t you want to catch up?  You are so cold. I came to kindly warn you, and I ended up being demoted from godhood because of you. Had I not become a demon, I wouldn’t have survived and look—I’m not even holding a grudge.”

Though he smiled, his expression was ominous and poisonous:
“Besides, a traitor of the Xuanwu clan—do you really think you can kill him? Fine, say you succeed and take his head to the Xuanwu clan to claim credit. Do you think they’ll accept you and teach you the reincarnation technique? ”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t respond. He drew the bronze soft sword at his waist.

Wan Dongze’s expression shifted.

Everyone knew this man’s temperament—he rarely resorted to violence, and when he did, he didn’t use weapons. He was restrained in killing.

But if he did draw a weapon, it meant he was intent on killing. That bronze soft sword was incomparable—its blade brought the least pain, delivering death swiftly and cleanly.

Wan Dongze’s face darkened. “You—”

With a flash of cold light, Feng Jingzhuo’s sword pierced the air toward Wan Dongze’s face. Wan Dongze ducked and turned, drawing his black blade to deflect.

Clang!
The sound rang out sharply. A crack split the middle of Wan Dongze’s black blade.

Wan Dongze struck back fiercely, aiming at the Soul-Bending Spike embedded in Feng Jingzhuo’s chest, hoping to inflict a searing pain. But Feng Jingzhuo didn’t dodge—he raised his right hand and twisted his sword, slashing Wan Dongze’s left arm.

Wan Dongze attacked again, shouting, “Feng Jingzhuo! If I were you, I wouldn’t be this foolish. After you regained your memories, didn’t you kneel for a thousand years at Xuanlan Ridge? If Yuwen Hui hadn’t come to chase you off, you’d still be there, begging to learn the reincarnation technique. Did they even acknowledge you?”

“They ignored you—even though you were a god, they wouldn’t break the rules for you. But look now, right before your eyes is a traitor of the Xuanwu clan. What is a traitor? Someone who goes against their own people. They won’t teach you—but he will. And you want to kill me first, then him?”

Feng Jingzhuo didn’t respond to a single word. His attacks remained sharp and unwavering.

Wan Dongze’s expression grew darker, but he still spoke coaxingly,
“I have a great relationship with that guy. As long as you don’t trouble us, I guarantee—he can teach you the reincarnation technique completely. He was trained by Yuwen Hui, just like Yuwen Xing. He’s no worse than Yuwen Xing. This will help you open the reversal array, won’t it? ”

Feng Jingzhuo thrust his sword toward Wan Dongze’s throat. Wan Dongze barely tilted his head to dodge. In the next instant, the blade came slashing toward his chest—each strike aimed to kill, without a hint of mercy.

A few more moves like that, and Wan Dongze would be in serious trouble. He rolled to dodge, but still, the sword cut open his chest, and the bl00d gushed out.

“If I told you—I have a way to bring Master Ning back to life? ”He shouted.

Feng Jingzhuo abruptly stopped.

His mind was in chaos, the tip of his sword trembling: “What did you say?”

Wan Dongze said, “I have a way to revive Master Ning and the others you care about.”

Feng Jingzhuo’s fingertips turned pale from gripping the sword so tightly: “Impossible.”

Wan Dongze replied, “Why not? I have a partner just as capable as Yuwen Xing. When it comes to reversal arts, he’s far better than you. He’s known the method for a long time—just didn’t find it necessary to tell you. Will you still kill us now? ”

Feng Jingzhuo stared at him.

He’s lying. This man was full of tricks. It was a plan to escape.

Yet, Feng Jingzhuo slowly lowered his sword.

Wan Dongze raised an eyebrow with satisfaction: “You believe that easily.”

Feng Jingzhuo remained silent.

Wan Dongze said, “Looking at you like this, I can only think of one line that fits—‘He who brings ruin upon himself deserves no pity.’ You brought this on yourself. You deserve it.”

Feng Jingzhuo said, “Name your terms.”

Wan Dongze smiled, “Straightforward. Actually, it’s a simple request.”

He clapped his hands.