The Way of The Dao

The women giggled softly, but shook their heads and showed the happiness evident on those faces, those looks full of happiness that a woman could ever have.

This let Ling Guosheng know that these women really were happy being with Ling Tian!

Ling Tian smiled, with a part filled with deep relief and joy. At least there was someone from that beloved family that he managed to find and even met his own wives.

"Although it's somewhat surprising, I still expected it." Ling Guosheng let out a small chuckle as his gaze shifted to Ling Tian and added, "With that appearance and that charming face you have, it was easy to tell that you would attract women wherever you went..."

Not only Ling Guosheng was aware of this, everyone was!

From that moment when Ling Tian came into the family, they had never seen such a charming and lovable child, being like a little prince that was told in fairy tales for girls. Everyone knew that boy would grow into a very handsome and charming man.

"Sister Wan'er would be happy and jealous at the same time, hehe." Ling Guosheng couldn't help but say this as a somewhat happy and sad expression formed.

Instantly, Ling Tian's expression turned slightly gloomy upon hearing this: Ling Wan'er was the name of his elder sister whom he loved dearly.

Ling Guosheng and everyone in the family were aware of Ling Wan'er's love for Ling Tian, filling his head with many things and trying to sweeten and win his heart. Not only her, but all the cousins would always get together to play with Ling Tian, treating him like an adorable little brother.

Since Ling Tian was not really related to them by blood, Ling Wan'er often mentioned that she would marry him in the future. That's why Ling Guosheng laughed sadly, remembering those happy and innocent family times.

"Li'l brother, where were you all this time?" Soon after, Ling Guosheng asked wanting to divert the conversation when he noticed Ling Tian's sad look, "After that incident, I found everyone's bodies, but I couldn't find yours no matter how hard I searched for you..." He wanted to know where Ling Tian had been all this time and why he hadn't returned sooner.

"Big brother, I..." Ling Tian understood Ling Guosheng's words, but he didn't know how to say everything he had gone through.

"You couldn't go back, right?" Ling Guosheng knew what Ling Tian was feeling and said with a smile. He knew of some things where people went to other places and mostly didn't come back.

Ling Tian responded with the nod of his head, remembering that Ling Guosheng always pampered him and even guessed his thoughts, knowing how to understand him. Since he had unexpectedly ascended to the Cultivation World, there was no turning back anymore. There was even a time when he searched for many ways to return to this world when he understood about the various planes and worlds of the universe, but no one knew how to return or descend to a lower plane, plus no one would prefer to return to a world devoid of Chi.

Although he always had a demon of the heart from this incident and it left a deep and indelible mark on his heart as he struggled to move on, Ling Tian always had the desire to return once again to this place where he had a joyful and happy childhood, an innocent and peaceful life.

"How did you manage to survive?" Ling Tian asked the main question on his mind and added, "At that time, that old man appeared and started murdering the whole family. My parents and uncles tried to help us escape, but we were overtaken by that man and he killed everyone with me..." Ling Tian had witnessed the death of all his family members with his eyes, remembering that they were all there.

Ling Guosheng's gaze turned slightly cold and filled with hatred upon hearing Ling Tian's words, even having a bit of surprise in him upon learning what Ling Tian had witnessed and replied, "That day I had gone with my Master to practice. I was young and it was the best time to become stronger, therefore, I was selected by my Master. Only our grandfather, my father, your father and some other uncles knew about the practitioners."  When he returned, Ling Guosheng suffered a devastating blow as he witnessed what had happened in the family.

Ling Guosheng finished speaking and his eyes quickly dilated and he quickly asked, "You said that guy had killed everyone with you, so he certainly wouldn't have let you escape, so how come you..." If that old man had seen him, he certainly shouldn't have left Ling Tian alive, so how did Ling Tian manage to survive?

"I was the last one left alive, then that old man knocked me unconscious and kidnapped me. Holding me captive for a long time..." Ling Tian spoke with a dark look on his face and then added, "After that I was tortured by him for a few years before a miracle happened and I was able to survive in the end." Ling Tian had a sad look on his face, thinking that it would have been better if that old man had seen him earlier instead of being protected by the others, that way everyone would manage to survive and only he would be taken away.

"So it was like this. No wonder I didn't find you after all this time..." Ling Guosheng nodded slowly, realizing what had happened when he was not around at the time. When he noticed Ling Tian's sad look, Ling Guosheng smiled warmly and said, "You don't have to feel helpless or hate yourself, uncle, aunt and the others would rather give their lives so that you and all of us would have survived. They would not allow you to be kidnapped even if it would have allowed everyone to live." Ling Guosheng was also an older man and had a mature mind, realizing Ling Tian's pain in his heart.

Ling Tian recalled that fateful day, remembering how they all wanted him and his other little cousins to at least be saved and manage to escape...

Then, Ling Guosheng asked again, but this time, his gaze had a cold edge and full of murderous intent, "So that bastard tortured you and then you managed to escape... I wish I had killed him with my hands to avenge the family..." He knew who that old man was after investigating for a long time.

"Don't worry, big brother." Ling Tian shook his head and said with a faint smirk, "That guy died in front of my eyes thanks to the treasure my parents had given me at the last moment." Ling Tian took out the delicate necklace with the beautiful charm containing the name 'Ling'.

Ling Guosheng blinked in surprise and after several seconds let out a long sigh full of relief and satisfaction, feeling as if finally that huge weight in his heart disappeared, "So you know." His gaze paused on the necklace and then looked directly into his eyes.

Ling Tian nodded with a gentle smile, but still clarified, "Even if I don't really come from this family, you will always be my family. All of you gave me the true love of family and I will never forget it." They might have been a temporary family for about 4-5 years, but that time was one of Ling Tian's happiest moments.

Ling Guosheng sighed in relief, smiling as he saw what a great man his little cousin had become. They had found Ling Tian near the family's place and took care of him when they realized he didn't remember anything. Once Ling Tian opened his heart with them, each and every one of them loved him like a real family, temporarily avoiding the news that he supposedly might have been abandoned by his real family.

"By the way." Ling Guosheng reminisced about Ling Tian's origin and added with some regret, "In all this time I found no trace of your real family. I searched for them perhaps in the hope that you had regained your memories and returned to them, but I got no clue. Maybe your family is from those special places I couldn't get into..." His glance at Ling Tian's necklace made him remember that it might be one of those legendary artifacts that were like defense treasures for the wearer. If so, then that would explain Ling Tian's necklace and why he couldn't find clues about his family.

Ling Tian smiled gratefully and then said confidently, "Big Brother, don't worry about my family. Although I haven't recovered my memories yet, I've had some clues about them."

"Really?" Ling Guosheng blinked in surprise and exclaimed, "Then you mean you do come from those places?" That was the only conclusion he could come to.

"No." Ling Tian shook his head and pointed to the sky, calmly saying, "My family is not from this world. My family and my origin is from a higher world, beyond the heavens."