PAINTING OF THE NINE IMMORTALS

56

Silence consumed the dark, damp cave.
Every gaze rested upon Ling Xian. Everyone waited for him to speak.
"First, I am very touched that you are all willing to fight with me and die with me. I haven't done anything extraordinary, but I'm honored," Ling Xian's toned suddenly turned serious, "But, to speak frankly, if we stuck together, perhaps none of us would leave here alive. However, on my own, I have a better chance at escaping while you won't be targeted."
The silence continued.
Thinking it over carefully, the crowd must admit that Ling Xian had a point.
The members of the Ling Clan present were all relatively young, an age of impulse. They were keen on shouldering the burdens with Ling Xian and diffusing some of the risks they all faced. But in the process, they had failed to consider their own strength or lack of it.
Ling Xian's strength could not be questioned.
However, their strengths were so lacking in comparison that they couldn't even defeat the Fangs. They were doomed if confronted with hundreds and thousands of powerful, magical beasts.
Chances were better that they would be chewed up and spat out in pieces before a battle even began. Perhaps hurtful, but the true was often hurtful.
If Ling Xian were traveling with them when they were attacked, Ling Xian would not only have to fight his battles but also protect his comrades. Of course, comrade would be a polite term in this scenario. More realistically speaking, they would all be a burden to him.
"Ahh..."
Digesting Ling Xian's recommendation, the crowd finally understood the implications, thus sighing in unison. Color had drained from many of the faces, not because they were hurt by Ling Xian's bluntness, but rather ashamed that they were too weak to help him.
"Do not fear, believe me, I will walk out of the Hidden Territory alive. Then, I'll treat all of you to a nice meal and bottomless wine." Ling Xian smiled, radiating confidence.
But to the rest, this confidence had been mistaken for a sad, hopeless submission to fate.
The legend of a hero was usually written with the sadness that echoed his fate, blood that he left behind, a smile that masked loneliness, and comforting words that became his last.
[Look at Ling Xian, evidently afraid that we'd all die because of him, but purposely drives us away to protect us while sacrificing himself. He would become bait, luring the beasts away from us. What a heroic deed, what an admirable spirit.]
Two youths who were drunk on emotions silently said to themselves, "Farewell, my hero!"
If Ling Xian had known this, he'd be infuriated of course. Are you cursing me to die? Oh no, I have no intention to die.
"But..." Ling Tian Xiang began to speak but paused.
"Not buts," Ling Zhan stopped her at once, then continued his stern lecture, "Aunty, if you care about him, then let him go. This is the best option for us. We are too weak. We will become a burden for him. If the beasts found us all together, we would all die."
"Ah..." Ling Tian Xiang let out a long, hopeless sigh. She had a brilliant mind and keen senses, of course, she understood.
It was the mixed emotions she was feeling, the fear of letting go of him. But regardless, this was the best and only option for him and for everyone here.
Even if this goodbye was the final goodbye.
"Stop it, what's with the long faces? Rest a.s.sured, I fought off every beast that found me these last few days, I'll be just fine." Ling Xian stepped forward and patted the two misty-eyed youths on the shoulders. His smile exuded endless confidence and optimism about the future.
"Good, I believe you will survive this." Ling Zhan tried to diffuse the tension with a bright laughter. However, deep down, he was as worried as everyone else. There had to have been tens of thousands of beasts living in the Hidden Territory. There was no way to know, but that can't be far from the truth. Not the mention the Almighty Rulers and the Privy Council, all of them Foundational realm.
The Foundational realm, for a typical cultivator, was the ultimate dream, the star forever beyond their reach.
Ling Xian was only a cultivator of the sixth realm, how could he possibly escape unscathed?
Not possible!
This sentiment was shared by most in the crowd. This was the final goodbye. A possibility accepted by many as fact, as fate, weighing heavily on the heart of everyone present.
"Ling Zhan, before we part, how about a duel?" Ling Xian suddenly recalled the pact they had made the day of the Martial Arts contest.
"Ha ha, no, let's not. You call it a duel, I call it a beating. It's true that I'm a fighter, but I don't go looking for beatings." Ling Zhan shook his head while roaring in laughter. He continued, "Come back safely, I'll wait for that beating."
"Good, it's a pact."
Ling Xian chuckled, finally understanding why everyone had such long faces. Even Ling Zhan, who had pretended to laugh, was trying to hide his sorrow. No one here believed that he could leave this place alive.
Shaking his head, Ling Xian did not want to explain further. There was no use trying to convince anyone. When he emerges safely from the Hidden Territory, these people would finally understand that he wasn't being egotistic, he was simply confident in himself.
As if floating on air, Ling Tian Xiang stepped in front of Ling Xian and looked deeply into his eyes. "Ling Xian, I'll pray for you. You must come back to us alive. You promised me this. If you don't keep your promise, then you are a coward."
I promised you?
Ling Xian descended into a cloud of confusion.
Seeing as he was confused by this, Ling Tian Xiang explained, "You said your dream lies above the highest cloud overlooking the universe, and that the City of Qing would be a mere speck of dust."
Oh, this!
Ling Xian remembered. "Don't worry, I'll be just fine. I've had to say it so many times in this short period of time, where's the trust? Don't forget, I've already killed a few hundred beasts."