Chapter 18: Ling Tian Xiang’s Invitation
Editor: Tennesh, Rainystars
On the mountains behind the Ling palace.
Ling Tian Xiang was in a red tight uniform, practicing sword fighting with a three-foot sword.
Rather than sword fighting, it was more similar to sword dancing. The spiritual energy from the blade scattered around, picking up leaves and sending them flying. The entire routine appeared soft and paced, with one neat movement after another.
The red spirits the sword was giving off hovered around the blade. With each swing, leaves dropped from the trees and then were again lifted into the air.
Ling Tian Xiang was born gorgeous, and the sword dance only accented her goddess like beauty and grace.
The Ripple Technique.
This common technique was well-known in the Taoism community as the weakest technique. Despite its lack of battle power, it was one of the most beautiful and favorable sword plays among women. Generally, 90 percent of female cultivators practiced this technique. Rumor has it that when the technique is performed in perfection, the sword spirits turn into seven different colors.
“Lady!” Maid Bi He’s voice could be heard from far away.
Ling Tian Xiang wiped her sweat, as Bi He ran towards her. She frowned. “Didn’t I tell you not to bother me unless something was up?”
Breathing heavily, Bi He quickly explained, “Lady Ling, I have news about Ling Xian.”
“Where is he! Tell me!” Ling Tian Xiang’s eyes lit up.
“I think he is home right now. Moments ago, he defeated Ling Bai right on the arena. He also broke down the Tidal Sword Technique!” Bi He seemed very shocked and impressed.
Ling Tian Xiang, on the other hand, did not seem to be shocked by the news. It was as if she had predicted for this to happen. She appeared joyous and proud instead.
“Lady Ling, it was the Tidal Sword Technique! The technique that gave many masters in this city headaches and he defeated it. Are you not surprised?” Bi He asked shockingly.
“Why would I be surprised? I knew already, that he was not just a face in the crowd. I knew that sooner or later he would turn into a dragon.” Ling Tian Xiang grinned from ear to ear.
She was not amazed at all by the piece of news that astounded the City of Qing. After she returned from that forest, she went to the great library and read up books on the Inner Eyes. From there, she gathered a few clues about what she saw.
One black pupil and one white pupil, a legendary sword in the color of blood red, and the pair of Inner Eyes she witnessed were exactly as they were described in ancient literature. Ling Tian Xiang was more than certain that the Inner Eyes Ling Xian has woken were the Eyes of Execution!
It was ranked fourth!
Those few words could have shaken the entire Taoism community!
Any type of Inner Eyes was hard to acquire. Only those with natural talent or those with extraordinary luck could awake such eyes. The ability to wake the Inner Eyes have no correlations with the stage of training one was in, because even immortals cannot acquire them if they are not fated to.
The Eyes of Execution, the legendary pair of Inner Eyes, have not appeared in almost 20,000 years. Its basic function was to see the flaw in any technique. How hard could it have been to see through the Tidal Sword Technique?
Therefore, of course Ling Tian Xiang was not surprised at the news. All she could think of was the moment when Ling Xian waved the Sword of Extinction and protected her from death.
Her desire to see Ling Xian inflated.
“Lady Ling sure has good eyes for men. Mister Ling is very famous now. On my way here, all I heard was how powerful and how graceful he looked in that arena.” Bi He smiled.
“Of course! When am I ever wrong?” Ling Tian Xiang felt triumph. She waved her hand and a mirror appeared in thin air. Looking at her own beautiful reflection, her face became rosy.
“There is no way you will not waver your heart for a pretty lady like me.”
……
Ling Xian’s home was at the most abandoned corner of the Ling palace. In his little garden, there were two tile-roofed houses that appeared run-down, due to the lack of maintenance over the years.
This was the place he has settled down in for the past 14 years. Even though it was broken and old, it was deeply welcoming.
Both his parents passed away when he was at a very young age and left him with nothing but his house. Therefore, he has always had a special bond with the house. It was the only place he felt comfortable in, and the only place where he was safe from the rain and wind.
Pushing open the main gate, Ling Xian walked inside.
The design of his home was simple. There were not a lot of valuable things inside, other than a table and a few chairs. It was clear that he lived a minimalistic lifestyle.
At the north side of his home, a mourning hall stood. There were two memorial stones, one had the carving “Ling Tian Zong”, and one had the carving “Bai Rou”.
They were memorial stones for his parents.
“Mother, father, your son has returned.” Ling Xian respectfully lit up three incenses. His eyes were misty.
Not long after he was born, Ling Tian Zong and his wife passed away from an accident. His memories of his parents were vague and scarce of emotion. However, the blood that flowed inside him causes him to miss his parents a lot.
After standing there in silence for a long time, Ling Xian wiped away his tears with his sleeve. He walked inside to his old bed and laid down. He closed his eyes and began to figure out what he should do with the rumor he plied out of Ling Bai.
In regards to the rumor that Ling Tian Xiang has fallen in love with him and has sworn to never marry other guys, Ling Xian did not believe it one bit. He also did not care about how Ling Tian Xiang found out about his true identity. What he was really worried about, was whether or not Ling Tian Xiang broke her promise and has told everyone of the fact that he had a pair of Inner Eyes.
If she did not let slip of that fact, then everything was fine.
If she had told everyone, then there would be a few things he would have to worry about. First, what would be the Ling Clan’s attitude towards this issue? Would they choose to protect him and train him or would they decide to transplant his eyes onto someone else? Second, what would be the City of Qing’s attitude towards him? How would the foreign cities feel about this?
After all, the Eyes of Execution was almost undefeatable in battles. It attracts all cultivators.
The news of him shocking the entire city also gave Ling Xian a headache. He did not realize the status of the Tidal Sword Technique. He really did not realize the amount of astonishment his actions brought the cultivators in the city.
He felt very overwhelmed. He has always lived a low-key life and he was used to the feeling that nobody seems to remember his existence. But now, he would have sudden realizations that he was a person of discussions. Other than not being used to it, he felt slightly joyous.
Men, they all want to be admired.
“Maybe I should go hide in the forest until this frenzy dies down?” Ling Xian mumbled to himself.
What he had done affected him in both positive and negative ways. Positively speaking, now that the entire City of Qing knows about talent, the Ling Clan should spend large amounts of resources on him. Negatively speaking, those in competition with the Ling Clan would never ignore the growth of a potential leader. He predicted that someone will try and assassinate him soon.
The Fang Clan for example.
Ling Xian remembered how the Fang Clan paid the two brothers to terminate Ling Tian Xiang.
“Hmm?”
Ling Xian was still planning for the future when he heard a series of quick steps coming from afar. He frowned.
“Ling Xian, I have finally found you.” Ling Tian Xiang walked in unshyly. Her heavy desire to see him made her forget and overlook any basic respectful etiquettes.
“Ling Tian Xiang!”
Within the blink of an eye, Ling Xian’s pupils turned into Eyes of Executive. Ling Tian Xiang watched as The Sword of Extinction appeared out of thin air and landed gently on her neck. She could feel the cruelness of the blade.
Ling Tian Xaing’s lips parted in apprehension. She originally came here filled with joy and longing, but now, every emotion she had melted into confusion and condemnation.
Her shimmering eyes felt damp.
This was the second time.
This was the second time he had placed the sword an inch away from her neck. Ling Tian Xiang drearily gazed at this young man who left carvings in her heart. She did not speak and simply used her gaze to try and communicate the complicated emotions she felt.
Ling Xian understood her emotions as he looked into her eyes. His heart shuddered and he realized that he had wronged her. What he did was a little out of line, especially since he was not certain that she has given up his secret.
Dispelling the Sword of Extinction, he looked away as he was a little scared to look into her eyes. He apologized, “I’m sorry. I was worried that you might have broken the promise we made and said stuff about me to others. That’s why I grabbed my sword.”
“I am not the kind of person who is devoid of gratitude. I swore on my soul to never tell anyone. Why would I break that? You do not have to worry,” Ling Tian Xiang coldly replied.
After a moment of silence, Ling Xian decided to trust her. He changed the subject, “How did you know about my true identity?”
“The cloak you gave me. I found a Ling Clan identity token stuffed inside. I deduced your real identity based off that and the fake name Xian Ling you gave me,” Ling Tian Xiang said softly.
“I see,” things suddenly made sense to Ling Xian. He asked, “What about the rumor then?”
Hearing this, Ling Tian Xiang blushed and tried to explain, “About that… When I returned home, I wanted to find you to thank you properly. So I ordered my servants to investigate your whereabouts. One story led to another and the rumor that you heard was born.”
“Oh… It’s alright. It’s in the past now and we don’t have to talk about it anymore. Now, why are you here?” Ling Xian asked.
“Right…” Ling Tian Xiang’s cheeks began to flush again. How was she supposed to answer that question? She couldn’t say that she came because she missed him, could she?
She suddenly had an idea, “I came here to ask you something. Are you interested in participating in our clan’s annual combat competition?”
Ling Xian froze for a bit. He had completely forgot about this. However, since he already had a plan for what he will be doing next, he rejected, “I don’t think so. I have very little skills and I do not want to embarrass myself.”
“How’s that possible? I’ve heard the news. You have defeated Ling Bai, the number one brother in the collateral siblings. You also broke down the Tidal Sword Technique. It’s obvious that your natural talent and your skills are not weak. Why would you lose at a clan competition?” Ling Tian Xiang really wished Ling Xian would join the competition. She wanted to see him standing on stage, beating everyone.
“Why would I waste time on something so meaningless to me?” Ling Xian answered.
“Something meaningless?” Ling Tian Xiang was a bit hurt by his words. She explained, “For one, you get to compete and gain some experience. For two, with your abilities, you can for sure get top three. From there, you will get handsomely rewarded. In addition to that, this year, you can also win a token that grants you access to the hidden territory.”
“The reward includes an entrance token this year?” Ling Xian was surprised. The Ling Clan’s combat competition happens once a year, with the purpose of testing its member’s training progressions. The reward every year has been highly enticing. If they decided to include an opportunity to enter the hidden territory this year, then the competition will definitely be fierce. If he didn’t already acquire access from the mayor, then he for sure would have been very tempted.
“Yes, you are lucky with timing this year. As long as you get into top five, you will be granted access. When the hidden territory opens up this year, we can go together and look for treasures.” Ling Tian Xiang assumed that he was considering entering and carelessly exposed her real intentions.
She wanted to explore the hidden territory alongside Ling Xian.
Chapter 19: Ling Hu’s Sorrow
Editor: Tennesh, Rainystars
Ling Xian was not an idiot. Though he was only a 14-year-old youth, his rough life experience has shaped him into one with a mature attitude. He was somewhat certain that the lady standing before him was developing feelings for him.
There was nothing unordinary about that. First of all, Ling Xian had a satisfactory appearance and looked older than his actual age. Second of all, when Ling Tian Xiang was in grave danger, Ling Xian saved her life in a god-like manner. At the time, Ling Tian Xiang didn’t know him, nor the fact that they had a nephew and aunt relationship. Therefore, it was natural for Ling Tian Xiang to be interested in Ling Xian.
The problem was that their titles were nephew and aunt after all. It was unchangeable and morally speaking, it was somewhat wrong. Ling Xian could not accept that.
"I don’t think so. I’m not very interested in battling within the clan." Ling Xian smiled lightly.
Ling Tian Xiang was a little disappointed. She could not really explain the complex feelings she had toward Ling Xian. She just wanted to see him, talk to him, and hang out with him.
Therefore, when she heard about Ling Xian’s news, she came here in a rush. Inviting him to the competition and telling him about the token of entrance to the hidden territory was her way of helping Ling Xian improve, and for fulfilling her own selfish desires of spending time alone with him.
But now, she was rejected by Ling Xian. On top of her own disappointment and embarrassment, the heart that has never been wavered before, was hurting badly.
"If that’s the case, I won’t force you then. However, I do still want to properly thank you for stepping up and saving me when I was in danger. Tonight, in Song He Tower, I will treat you to dinner as a way to express my thanks. What do you think?" Ling Tian Xiang swallowed her pain and asked again, refusing to give up.
"There really isn’t a need. Based on our family tree, I need to call you my aunt. A nephew saving his aunt is an unalterable principle. There is no need to be grateful," Ling Xian purposely enunciated the word "aunt".
"Then… alright," Ling Tian Xiang’s heart shook again. How could she not have realized their nephew and aunt relationship? She was simply running away from it and did not want to think about it. Now that Ling Xian has pointed it out, she had to face the problem.
Sighing lightly, her pretty face became cloudy. She muttered in a low voice, "In three days, the competition will start. If you change your mind, remember to enter on time. I really do believe that you have a lot to gain from it."
Ling Xian nodded, indicating that he will remember.
"Then, I will leave now." Ling Tian Xiang managed to squeeze a smile before walking out the gate.
When she came, she was a bundle of happiness. When she left, she was clouded with sadness.
Ling Xian watched her disappointed silhouette disappear and shook his head. "Clan’s combat competition… should I attend?"
The Clan’s combat competition was an annual event where the top ten competitors got handsomely rewarded. Anyone in the clan, regardless of age or level of training, could enter. Many talented collateral siblings enter for the prize as well as to seek acknowledgement from the clan leaders. The direct siblings of the Ling family often entered to enjoy great popularity.
With one of this year’s rewards being the entrance token to the hidden territory, it was likely that there would be more participants than usual.
After thinking about it for a while, Ling Xian decided not attend. After all, he had the right to enter the hidden territory already. There was no point in attending, since it was unlikely that he will place first. He had no knowledge of any techniques, he never truly trained his spiritual energy, and there was no way he was going to use his Eyes of Execution in front a group of people.
"Big brother…"
A dull-thunder like voice interrupted Ling Xian’s thoughts. Hearing this voice, Ling Xian’s lips couldn’t help but curve upwards.
In the entire Ling Clan, only one person was close with him enough to call him brother. It was Ling Hu, a young man Ling Xian grew up with, and the only person who did not intentionally distant himself from Ling Xian due to his inability to practice Taoism. Even though the two had no blood relations, they were closer than real siblings.
Ling Xian pushed open the door and saw that outside his garden, an olive-skinned youth stood.
His face was bold and contoured, and his body was sturdy. Though he appeared to be 18 or 19, he was actually the same age as Ling Xian. He was also tall and strong, which made him look a lot older physically.
"Come in, why are you restraining yourself in front of me?" Ling Xian smiled as he looked at the only brother he had.
"Hehe." Ling Hu scratched his head and sneakily grinned. "I just saw Lady Ling leaving your place crying. Brother, could it be that the rumor is true?"
"When did you start to enjoy gossiping?" Ling Xian laughed but ordered, "the rumor is false. Do not tell anyone that she was here at my place. Remember that."
Ling Hu grinned again, his dark face clearly stated that he did not believe what Ling Xian said. When he saw Ling Xian’s cold stare however, he immediately said, "yes, I’ll remember, brother. I won’t say anything to anyone."
Ling Xian nodded and said, "come in, sit wherever."
"Brother, I heard that you can practice Taoism now? I also heard you defeated that arrogant Ling Bai bastard and broke down the Tidal Sword Technique?" as soon as Ling Hu sat down, he asked.
"Yep. What do you think? Pretty cool eh?" A smile escaped Ling Xian’s lips.
"Cool! I knew it! You were a dragon in disguise. I knew that you were going to fly one day!" hearing Ling Xian confirming the rumor, Ling Hu laughed from his heart. He was truly happy for Ling Xian’s breakthrough.
Ling Xian felt a wave of warmth washing over him. He reminisced how Ling Hu and his mother had taken care of him all those years and he felt tears form around his eyes. He pounded Ling Hu’s shoulders and said in a serious tone, "Hu, thank you. Thank you and your mother for taking care of me all these years. From now on, I will find ways to repay you!"
"Brother, what are you talking about? Back in the days, if you didn’t give me all the money your parents left you to help my mom with her sickness, I would not even have a mother today. I should be the thanking you. The amount of kindness you’ve shown to me is something I cannot ever repay!" Ling Hu’s eyes turned red as well.
"Between us brothers, we should stop discussing these things in this manner. How is your mother these days?" Ling Xian asked.
Instantly, Ling Hu’s expression darkened. He drooped his head and did not make a sound.
"What is it? Tell me quickly!" Ling Xian felt his heart drop. He had a bad premonition.
Ling Hu thought about it for a second and whispered, "my mother did not want me to tell you in fear that you will worry, but I feel suppressed not telling you. My mother… she is not doing well… She is a mere mortal with no spiritual energy. Her body was already weak, and on top of it, she’s been sick for a long time. A few days ago, the doctor came and said her disease has worsened and it has spread to her vital organs."
"The disease has spread?" Ling Xian’s brows twisted together. His parents died young, and it was Ling Hu’s mother who has always took care of him and given him the warmth of a family. Ling Hu’s mother was born weak. When Ling Hu was seven, she caught a rare type of illness, and because the family had no spiritual stones to see a doctor, the illness dragged on until now.
"Yes… at first I wasn’t sure what they meant. Then my mother told me that there was no way she will get well again." Ling Hu’s head remained droopy. Two streams of tears rolled down his cheeks.
All men have tears and cry. The reason they don’t let it out is because they aren’t sad enough.
Ling Xian’s stomach was full of sorrow as well. After a long sigh, he patted Ling Hu’s shoulder and counselled, "Hu, don’t be too sad just yet. You mother has always been kind to others. She has collected good karma, so she will for sure make it through this."
"What other ways are there?" Even though Ling Hu was merely 14 years old, he has always been mentally strong and acted like a true man. However, he could not control his tears. His giant hands were in tight fists, and almost whimpering, he said, "three years ago, a doctor said if I can get a Rejuvenation Dan, I can heal my mom’s illness. For years I’ve worked for people and saved all the spiritual stones I earned. All I wanted was to cure her disease. Even now, I haven’t saved enough stones for my mom, but the disease has already spread to her vital organs. Rejuvenation Dan will no longer cure her."
"Medicinal Dan…" An idea flashed across his brain, Ling Xian happily said, "Hu, I think, I think I may have a way."
"You have a way?" Like a drowning person who found something to hold onto, Ling Hu snapped his head up. He suppressed his tears as his eyes filled with hope.
Ling Xian nodded and said in a low voice, "yes. Since three years ago, doctors said a Rejuvenation Dan can cure her. If we can find a medicinal Dan that is more superior than a Rejuvenation Dan, then we can save your mother."
"You’re right. Brother, you are so much smarter than me. My head is just a decoration. I am so dumb." Ling Hu hit himself in the head and jumped out of his chair. He started laughing for a minute, and then slumped down onto the ground. "Even if there are medicinal Dans that can cure my mother, so what? I can’t afford a Rejuvenation Dan, even after saving for three years. Let alone Dans that are higher ranked."
His stern face was now full of helplessness. All the strength he usually showed have melted off him. His muscular and heavy body was now a lump of meat. He hugged himself as he muttered to himself, "no stones, dammit… no stones… dammit…"
This was a poor man’s sorrow.
In a world where immortality could be reached, what kind of a big deal was a disease of the mortal? It was a pity that Ling Hu did not have stones. For without stones, he could not purchase a medicinal Dan.
He was born with great talent, however due to his mother’s sickness, he had to waste all his time working for stones. If he could focus on training, he would not only have level three qi.
"Stand up! Look at yourself! Look at the mess you are. Are you still the man of steel that I know? So many years you have endured and made it through. Now that we have hope, you are giving up?" Ling Xian frowned. It was as if he wanted to turn iron into a steel road, but the iron was not cooperating.
"Brother! This is not hope! This is despair! A Rejuvenation Dan is 3,000 stones, how much more expensive would a better Dan be? I woke up before dawn and went home after sunset for three years, yet all I could save was 1,500 stones. Where am I going to get the rest…" Ling Hu screamed at the top of his lungs until his voice gave up and it turned into a whimper.
"Who said we don’t have spiritual stones? You don’t have any, but I do!" Ling Xian smiled.
"What!?" Ling Hu violently looked up and stared deadly into Ling Xian’s eyes. He asked hurriedly, "brother, you really have them? Do not lie to me."
"When have I ever lied to you? What do you think this is?" Ling Xian waved his hand and 20,000 stones piled up neatly onto the ground. It gave off a dizzying ring of temptation.
Ling Hu looked at the mountain of stones with his mouth open. He was dumbfounded and stunned.
"Slap!"
He slapped himself hard on the cheek with his own hand. Ling Hu began to laugh as tears rolled down his cheeks. As if possessed, he moaned and groaned, "I’m not dreaming. This is real! So many stones… so many stones… my mom can be saved… can be saved."
"A total of 20,000 stones. What do you think? Did brother lie to you?" Ling Xian was happy and proud of himself as he looked at Ling Hu’s exhilarated olive face. He was happy over the fact that they were now rich. Ling Hu could finally stop killing himself by working, and instead, settle down and concentrate on cultivating.
Ling Xian was also proud; proud of the fact that he finally had the ability to help out the people he cared about. He was also proud of the fact that he had the capital to live in this world and protect those he loved.
The feeling sure was wonderful.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
200+ Power
Ranking 
0 Power
stone 
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