PAINTING OF THE NINE IMMORTALS

6

These days, there was a rumor going around the Ling Clan.
The Clan leader's little sister and the bright pearl in everyone's palm, Ling Tian Xiang, has fallen in love with Ling Xian. She has even sworn to never marry unless the groom was him.
In the beginning, the rumor spread within a small circle. The first reaction from many people was disbelief. What? The number one G.o.ddess from the City of Qing was interested in the number one handicap of the Ling Clan? How did feelings even develop between two people who have never had any interactions? It must have been a story fabricated out of thin air!
Within an hour, the rumor spread further and further, and became more realistic each time the tale was retold. Some people even claimed they saw Lady Ling pacing around wearing a man's white robe. This observation made people suspicious. Before long, most people from the Ling Clan started to believe the rumor.
Ling Xian was somewhat famous within the collateral family due to his inability to practice Taoism. People have laughed at him for years. Therefore, when the Ling apprentices, who were also secret admirers of Lady Ling heard about the rumor, they were dumbfounded and angry. They all swore to find Ling Xian, the handicap, and teach him a lesson.
The actual words Ling Tian Xiang said were, "find the person named Ling Xian. He is outstanding. Definitely fetch him for me." But of course, this message was interpreted in many different ways and were pa.s.sed on in many different versions. And of course, the version people chose to believe was the ridiculous version with the most non-sense.
When the rumor circled back to Ling Tian Xiang, she didn't know if she should cry or laugh. She felt 70 percent anger, and 30 percent embarra.s.sment.
Right now, she was sitting in her bedroom, tenderly stroking the long white robe. She recalled the moment when Ling Xian swung the sword. She blushed as a giggle escaped her lips.
"Lady Ling, I have found information on Ling Xian," her servant Bi He announced softly.
Ling Tian Xiang snapped back into reality. She took the files and studied them, her brows lifted in confusion, "Bi He, are you sure you found the right person? How could he be born without the ability to practice Taoism?"
"I am certain this is the right person, Lady Ling. In the entire Ling Clan, there is only one person with his name," Bi He answered.
A person who was born disabled can awaken the Inner Eyes?
Ling Tian Xiang laughed. It seems like the entire Ling Clan has been tricked by this young boy. No wonder he made her swear not to tell anyone about his Inner Eyes. He seemed comfortable with being low key, and he didn't want people to know he was actually a genius.
Now that she thinks about it, he should have called her aunt.
Ling Tian Xian cupped her cheek with her hand, she didn't know what she was thinking or what to think.
"Lady..." staring at Ling Tian Xiang's amorous expression, Bi He bit her lips.
"Say what you want to say, don't stutter," Ling Tian Xiang frowned.
"Lady, even though the Ling Clan does not inhibit marriage within the clan, as long as it's not between direct relatives,... But between an aunt and a nephew... No matter how distant the blood relation, it's not allowed," Bi He disclosed her worry.
"This isn't something for you to think about," Ling Tian Xiang was a bit annoyed, though she didn't know why. She gestured for Bi He to leave.
Gazing at the blooming peach blossoms outside her window, the beauty sighed. A sound filled with complex emotions and meanings.
The male lead from the rumor was hiding inside a mountain cave. He sat in the lotus position, his breath steady and thoughts scarce. He was absorbing the spirits from the heaven and the earth.
The side effects of unleashing the Eyes of Execution was starting to kick in. After his qi fell by three levels, he became extremely weak. Even a shift of his fingers took all of his strength.
However, the positive benefits the eyes brought him were also very obvious. He now had a general idea of the power of the eyes, and from that last use, he also noticed his own weaknesses. He had little training, no knowledge regarding any techniques, and he only won the battle so cleanly because of the natural power of the Inner Eyes.
Because of all that, Ling Xian formed a new plan. He needed to train his qi, fast. Then he must find a few techniques to master before he exercises his battlefield awareness and gain some experience. He needed to organically grow in order to not overly rely on the Inner Eyes. After all, he had no plans to show off the Eyes of Execution to anyone. To him, it was too dangerous.
If people found out he had the fourth-ranked Eye of Execution, then the entire City of Qing... No, the entire Qin Dynasty would craze over him. The pro was that numerous successful cultivators would beg for him to consider them as his new Master and he would have all the resources he needed to become strong and to become a hero in the Qin Dynasty.
On the other hand, the consequences of announcing his Inner Eyes outweighed the pros. Ling Xian has heard more than once about the story of how those with Inner Eyes had their eyes gouged out by those who want them for themselves. Many people have taken those eyes and transplanted them onto their own bodies or their apprentices' bodies. Because, even if the ability of the Inner Eyes acquired is not meant for battles, they were still more powerful than any technique a monk could train for. Not to mention what Ling Xian had were the majestic Eyes of Execution.
He was not willing to risk it.