Chapter 652 - 657: Reminiscing the Past
Ling Chen looked at Du Kang in surprise, not understanding why he would say that.
"Master Du, did you know Ji Gang before?"
Du Kang nodded and said, "Back in the days when I was young, I traveled to learn from various esteemed masters. When I went to visit a reclusive expert, I found someone kneeling at the doorstep; it was Ji Gang. Ji Gang hoped that the reclusive expert would take him as a disciple and teach him advanced Martial Arts. But the reclusive expert was unwilling as he felt Ji Gang’s temperament was unsuitable for inheriting his Martial Arts. Ji Gang, however, was not someone who gave up easily; he knelt outside the reclusive expert’s door without eating or drinking for ten full days, eventually fainting from exhaustion."
"I happened to be there at that time and couldn’t bear to see him perish, so I healed his body. From then on, he was immensely grateful to me and treated me as a friend. However, good times didn’t last long. At that time, the reclusive expert actually took an interest in me, saying he wanted to pass on all his knowledge to me. For Ji Gang, this was a heavy blow. Although he didn’t say it, I could distinctly feel his alienation. Shortly afterwards, Ji Gang took his leave, stating he wanted to continue traveling and learn from different masters. He proposed that once both of us had made accomplishments in our martial arts, we would compare our skills and see who was superior."
"After Ji Gang left, I stayed with my master to practice Martial Arts, and before I knew it, over twenty years had passed. I was over forty when I completed my martial arts training and never saw Ji Gang during that period. However, when I traveled in the Martial Arts world, I heard many rumors about Ji Gang. After becoming a disciple of his master, he immediately challenged the Sect Leaders of various sects, nearly undefeated; even some reclusive experts were no match for him. However, Ji Gang was very ruthless; anyone who lost to him either had an arm severed or their Martial Arts crippled, without exception."
"Because of this, people in the Martial Arts world were extremely fearful of Ji Gang, especially those with high martial arts skills, for fear that Ji Gang would come to challenge them. For a time, Ji Gang became a terrifying figure. Although I hadn’t seen him in decades, I thought perhaps based on our old friendship, I could persuade Ji Gang to change. It wasn’t long before I found Ji Gang through friends in the Martial Arts world and tried to talk him round. Yet, I was too naïve. I thought Ji Gang was still the same person from those years ago. I didn’t realize that more than twenty years were enough to change a person’s heart and temperament."
"When I tried to persuade Ji Gang, he proposed a challenge, wanting to test his skills against mine. If I won, he would listen to my advice and no longer harm lives easily. Out of compassion, I agreed to his request, trying my best to persuade him towards goodness."
Du Kang then took a swig of his drink, sighing heavily, "Unfortunately... I underestimated Ji Gang’s strength, or, perhaps, I placed too much trust in our old friendship. In that battle, I held back and didn’t use my full strength. But Ji Gang showed no mercy at all. Eventually, at the hundred and thirtieth move, I was provoked and adopted a mutually destructive technique. However, at the last moment of executing the move, I still chose to hold back. What I didn’t expect was that Ji Gang did not hold back and instead seized the opportunity to severely injure me, nearly costing me my life."
"Since then, I’ve realized that Ji Gang had long since ceased to be the brotherly Ji Gang I knew; he had completely changed. Fortuitously, at that time, I was severely injured yet saved by passing disciples of the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion, and that saved my life. However, due to my serious injuries, I was left with a hidden condition that requires alcohol to suppress. That’s why I’m known as the Alcohol Immortal."
After listening to Du Kang’s story, Ling Chen said solemnly, "I didn’t expect Ji Gang to be so sinister and ruthless."