love at first sight... // zhuiling

Chapter 47

Jin Ling woke up in the mortal world, surrounded by trees and grass. He opened his eyes, and saw Chen Ye and Zou Fang towering over him.

"Your Highness, it's time to go." Zou Fang said. 

"Mn. I suppose so." Jin Ling replied, with a soft smile.

Even though Jin Ling looked normal, Chen Ye and Zou Fang knew that he was actually very sad about his banishment and stripping of spiritual energy.

"Cheer up, your Highness. You can always cultivate yourself back to your original form!" Chen Ye assured.

"It's no use." Jin Ling replied.

"What?" Chen Ye asked.

Jin Ling unbound Sizhui from his wrist, revealing a black tattoo on it. "With this cursed shackle on my wrist, no matter how much I cultivate, I won't be able to go back to my original form. When it reaches the limit imposed by the shackle, the remaining spiritual energy will just dissipate and never reach my golden core."

Chen Ye and Zou Fang were silent, having nothing to say. "Well, that's okay. You can learn to adapt!" Zou Fang suggested, breaking the silence.

"Yeah, that's true." Chen Ye added, wrapping his arm around Jin Ling. "Who cares if you can't become the top of the top! Now, we can just live out our lives normally and not give a crap about anything."

"Yeah! Who says cultivation is your life! You're not a damn robot." Zou Fang added. "As long as we have each other..."

"Thanks. You guys really did make me feel better." Jin Ling smiled.

For the next few months, Jin Ling, Zou Fang, and Chen Ye lived together in peace. They often went on night bunts together, with Chen Ye and Zou Fang helping Jin Ling adapt to his lack of spiritual energy. Gradually, Jin Ling stopped wearing the Lanling Jin Sect robes, and instead moved to simple white ones.

One day, all of them had returned from a night hunt, when they found a note lying on their desk inside their home. Attached to it was an unfamiliar talisman. Jin Ling opened it and read it aloud.

"Dear Chen Ye, 

The Heavenly Emperor has requested for you to join the heavenly realm in the upper court as a heavenly cultivator. You will be under the title of "General Chen Ye." If you would like to join, use this talisman as soon as possible. Thank you.

- Ling Wen"

"Your Highness, what should we do? I don't want to leave you, but.."

"It's okay, Chen Ye. You can go, if you wish." Jin Ling replied.

Chen Ye looked guilty, but still held the talisman. Adding spiritual energy to the talisman caused him to teleport out of sight, before nothing but a few sparkles remained. Jin Ling took a deep breath, as he had just lost one of the most important people in his life.

"Don't worry, your Highness. I am sure Chen Ye will watch over us." Zou Fang assured again.

"Yes.. I know." Jin Ling replied. "By the way, I have heard of a mountaintop near here where there is lots of spiritual energy. This could definitely me in cultivation."

"Definitely. Should I go with you?" Zou Fang asked. 

"No, there is no need. You can help protect this area where we have our supplies." Jin Ling said.

"But–"

"No buts. I'll set off right now." Jin Ling proclaimed.

Zou Fang sighed. "Then, have a safe travel."

"Will do." Jin Ling smiled.