The Way of The Dao

"Really? Our Qingwu also cried a lot when she was little and then said she wouldn't be bullied by anyone, hehe. Mostly she would run to me to be comforted by me."

A cheerful voice that let out several laughs was heard as soon as Ling Tian arrived quietly, gently blending in with the surroundings and preventing them from stopping their conversations.

Zhang Ruoyan and Tang Zhi were happily chatting with a middle-aged man and woman, laughing as they said a few things.

"So why won't you come with us?" Zhang Xinya asked and stared at Shan Qingwu with narrowed eyes, questioning her in no uncertain terms. Long Yuyin beside her also looked at her with the same expression, wanting to know what Shan Qingwu was thinking.

Yun Mengxin, Tang Wanying and Mu Shuiruo also looked at Shan Qingwu, though not to such an extent, their gazes clearly evidenced that they were waiting for her answer.

Shan Qingwu felt nervous being watched by these women although all they were sisters.

"My family is here and I don't want to leave them..." Shan Qingwu hesitated at first, but soon reaffirmed her voice a little and answered.

Shan Qingwu's family had decided to stay even though they had the opportunity to go with them. Although they were a small and commoner family before, they still fought day by day against the countless demonic hordes. Now that peace had finally come and they were in a world without any demonic beasts, they could rest easy and live a peaceful and happy life.

Although they marveled when they were told some of Ling Tian's stories about the new worlds and what they could experience with cultivation, none of them had the spirit necessary to enter this new world. They felt that their limit was the demonic beasts and now they just wanted to have a peaceful and joyful life in this world.

The women looked more attentively at Shan Qingwu. They knew that Shan Qingwu had lost her parents when she was little, so she only had a few uncles and cousins who made up her whole family, no more than 10 people.

Zhang Xinya wanted to say something, but did not know how to convince Shan Qingwu. They had all come to know Shan Qingwu and knew that she was a good woman like them, sincere, honest and upright, therefore, they liked this woman and had started to get along very well with each other. Plus they felt as if she was another long lost sister, accepting each other completely and further strengthening that friendship.

But if her family stayed here and she wasn't completely confident, it would create a demon in her heart and prevent her from advancing in her cultivation.

"Qingwu, you can go with them, you don't have to worry about us." The woman who was chatting with Tang Zhi and Zhang Ruoyan looked at Shan Qingwu and hugged her, as if trying to convey her motherly love.

"But Auntie, I don't want to make you worry and leave you." Shan Qingwu shook her head as she spoke her thoughts in the arms of her aunt, who was like a second mother to her.

Shan Qingwu had two fears; one was her family and the other was her future. She was reluctant to leave this family to go to a new world, feeling that she would not be filial to them and would worry them at some point. As well as she had no bond or purpose in going with them, feeling as if she was just a burden or someone else just to cultivate without a fixed goal or knowing other worlds.

She hesitated and could not make a decision.

"My silly girl." The woman caressed her delicate cheek and kissed her forehead, showing a loving smile and said, "I know that on the one hand you wish to go, to know and experience many things, but on the other hand you don't want to worry us. Yes, I confess that we will be a little sad about your departure, but it will only be temporary. We wish the best for you, for your life, that you will be very happy, we want you to take your own journey and spread your wings, flying so high in the skies and finding your true happiness. Your parents would have wished the same for you and I am sure at this moment they are giving their full approval for you to take this path in your life."

"Th-thanks... M-mother..." Shan Qingwu could not help but shed a tear as she felt the sincerity of this woman who loved her dearly and cared for her.

The woman smiled much brighter when she heard Shan Qingwu address her in such a way. Her love for her was immense and she loved her as if she was her own daughter.

"I support you too, my dear girl." The man next to her, Shan Qingwu's uncle, also patted her head and hugged both her and the woman and said, "No matter what happens, we will always be your family. Even if you are far away, we will always be with you. Someone as special and beautiful as you cannot stay in this small place, you need to spread your wings and grow beautifully, being magnificent like a true Phoenix. Besides, we are already very old and we want to live quietly the rest of our lives. If you ever feel lonely or miss us, you can look at the moon and remember us, we will always be with you no matter what. Our love will always be with you."

"Father..." Shan Qingwu also affectionately called out to her uncle, causing him to also show a brighter smile and hug them both tightly and lovingly.

Tang Zhi, Zhang Ruoyan and the other women watched with happy smiles at the obvious love this small but close-knit family had for each other.

"Yes, cousin, go with them!"

"Become a Goddess too! So I can be proud to be the family of a true God!"

"My niece will become a Phoenix and fly high!"

"Sister we will always wish you the best!"

Voices of support and approval, words of encouragement and more were soon heard as all the Shan family members came out and gave their support to Shan Qingwu. They also didn't want her life to end here, leading a simple life and nothing more after all she had done for the family, so they wholeheartedly supported her to embark on her journey as well.

Shan Qingwu was surprised and couldn't help but smile, showing a beautiful grateful smile as she felt her family's love, affection and support for her.

"That's not your only concern, is it?" A soft and calm voice drifted towards Shan Qingwu, surprising everyone by seeing who had spoken.

"The prince!"

"Young God!"

Exclamations from the young women and men, as well as the adults were heard when they saw Ling Tian standing there with a calm smile, while his two hands were being clasped by two beautiful little girls and that little white fox on his shoulder.

They were also surprised to look at Xuanyuan Ling near Ling Tian, seeing that she was also a young beauty in her splendor. Jiu Ming and Chu Feng were nearby as well, not wanting to intrude with their presence and just watching the development.

All the young beauties of the city had gathered at this place apparently.

"Senior Brother." Shan Qingwu whispered with her cheeks slightly flushed, trying to calm down from the feeling of happiness and gratitude moments ago.

Ling Tian looked straight at her with a smile, her pure maiden heart racing as she felt his gaze. Although Shan Qingwu was not as shy as Mu Shuiruo, her shyness of a pure maiden could not be calmed down quickly.

"Do you have another concern, my beloved Qingwu?" The woman instantly understood Ling Tian's words and looked at Shan Qingwu.

Shan Qingwu didn't know how to respond when Tang Wanying's unexpected voice was heard, "You hesitate because you feel that you may feel lonely or left out due to the fact that none of your family will come with us, right?"

Shan Qingwu blinked in surprise for a moment before shyly nodding her head as she saw that Tang Wanying knew about her worry. Although the others knew her and she knew them, they didn't really have a deep relationship as if they were family; she didn't even have a special or important relationship with Ling Tian, who was the main person who would take them to that other world.

Everyone instantly understood thanks to Tang Wanying's words. It was true, Shan Qingwu was the only one who would go without someone from her family. It was normal to have such thoughts and worries.

"I can't promise that you will never feel sad or worried again, nor give you false expectations, but I can promise that I will take care of you just like the others and never abandon you on my part. Maybe you will meet your happiness or your destiny on the journey when you least expect it, but whatever happens, you will always count on me and the others, we are all your family from now on..." Ling Tian walked and approached Shan Qingwu, showing her a sincere and honest smile. He knew very well that Shan Qingwu had been attracted to him because of his appearance, so he didn't want to give her expectations that would possibly not be fulfilled, therefore, he decided to show her his sincerity. Maybe in time they would get to know each other very well and she would become an important family like the others.

Shan Qingwu felt her heart fill with a strange sweetness as she listened to his words. Her heartbeat calmed down mysteriously as she showed a grateful look to Ling Tian.

She really wanted to go and know those worlds, new places and experience many things!

Aunt and uncle looked gratefully at Ling Tian, being experienced in the adult matter, they realized that Ling Tian did not make false promises to her to raise expectations despite Shan Qingwu's obvious crush on him. His words promised to support her primarily as a true family would.

Shan Qingwu took a deep breath, finally smiling grandly with a unique gleam in her gaze.