Chapter 338: Love or Duty
Chapter 338: Love or Duty
Ending her secret meeting with the Heavenly Empresd, Xiang Ling made her way back to the Celestial Realm. She felt a renewed sense of purpose after talking to Her Majesty.
Even though her heart felt heavy, it was also resolute as she knew that she had made the right decision - even though what lay ahead would be challenging beyond anything she had faced before. The war was imminent at this point and she had made her decision. There was no turning back for her.
The moment she returned to the Celestial Realm and entered her palace, she felt their presence. Just like she predicted, all six of them were waiting for her in the main hall.
The moment they saw her, a flood of questions came her way. They looked both relieved and concerned upon seeing her.
"Xiang Ling, where have you been?" Xin Cheng asked immediately, his voice tinged with worry.
Wei Guang crossed his arms as he fixed his gaze on her face. "Is something going on? You have been acting strange today."
Before Xiang Ling could have answered either of the questions, another question came her way.
"You didn’t even join us after the meeting. Are you alright?" Dao Ming asked.
Zhe Yuan stepped closer to her, his eyes searching hers for any signs of distress. "If something’s bothering you, you can tell us, Lingling. We are here for you."
Despite his concern, the one who stood apart from the group and remained silent was Zhang Xuan. Xiang Ling glanced at him and saw the way he was looking at her with an intense and serious gaze as if he knew something no one else did. His gaze cut through her defenses, and for a moment, she wondered if he had already pieced everything together.
She took a deep breath and turned her attention back to the others. She couldn’t let her emotions slip through. She needed to remain calm. "I have something important to tell all of you."
This time, Li Xian stepped forward and came to stand right in front of her as he asked, "What is it?"
She hesitated for a moment and her gaze drifted over each of the men. It almost felt like a burden to carry the knowledge of the Shadow Lord’s identity on her own, but she also knew what would happen if she revealed it anyone, even her own men. She would end up losing that one chance that might actually save everyone.
"I will be joining the war," she finally announced in a firm and steady voice.
The room fell into stunned silence for a few moments. The men were indeed not prepared for this news. It was Li Xian who reacted first. His eyes narrowed as he asked, "What did you say?"
At the same time, Xin Cheng shook his head as he spoke. "No, that can’t be right. You are not serious, are you? You are not going into the battle."
Wei Guang remained silent but the look of worry was very evident on his face as well. Dao Ming and Zhe Yuan also remained silent, but it was obvious that they didn’t like what they heard.
Xiang Ling closed her eyes for a moment and took in a deep breath. When she opened them again, she looked every bit like the High Immortal Xing she was. "I’m not asking for either your opinions or your permissions. My decision is final. I will fight alongside you."
"No!" Li Xian voiced his reluctance immediately and Xin Cheng was right behind him. She was expecting such opposition from the Demon Emperor, but she was surprised to see that even Li Xian seemed so against her decision.
The Heavenly Crown Prince stepped closer to her and his expressions finally softened. He looked so vulnerable as he cupped her face with his palms and spoke, "I have been in that battle for days. I have seen the cruelty of the Shadow Lord and his force. I can never let you face something like that."
She knew that they were scared of her well-being and she appreciated it. She brushed a lose strand of hair from his face as she replied, "Though I have never faced a war before, I think I’m strong enough to look after myself. I will not make you all worry about me."
"Xiang Ling, please. Don’t do this. We can protect the realms without putting you in harm’s way." Xin Cheng spoke from behind Li Xian, he too had put aside his anger and allowed his worry for her to be seen.
But Xiang Ling shook her head. "You don’t understand. This isn’t just about me. It’s about all of us. The Shadow Lord is a threat to every realm. I can’t stand by and watch while others fight for our safety."
Xin Cheng’s jaw tightened and his frustration became clear. "But you—"
"My decision is final," she said firmly, cutting off any further protest. "And don’t forget your identities. Don’t forget why you all are fighting in this battle. Don’t forget your duties toward your realms and your people."
She took hold of Li Xian’s hand and pulled him until she was standing between all six of them. She looked at them one by one as she continued, "Don’t forget that you all need to pick your duties above your love and worry for me. The Five Realms or this battle can’t be fought if your love becomes your weakness."
Before she could have said anything further, she was pulled into a hug. And as strong arms wrapped around her and she found her face being cradled against a firm chest, she realized that it was Li Xian.
Before she knew it, the others joined the hug and she felt her resolve breaking for a moment there. She hated to make them worry.
"Still, make sure to protect yourself." Dao Ming spoke as he pulled away from the hug to look at her face.
"Don’t worry. I’m not going to shove myself in the middle of the battle. I will have only one target." She decided to reveal that much.
"Who?" Wei Guang asked with a tension in his voice as he might have already guessed the answer.
"The Shadow Lord."