NOVPUBShi Lang stood in the void for a bit. He waited for Hou Bing to come over, and tell him if Zen Yuan had been killed and if the balance has been restored. Raksha hovered around him leisurely and asked, "Can we now go about reviving Amelia?"
Shi Lang shivered and he said, "Hmm, that should be the only thing that we should focus on right now. However, I want to make sure that the world is a safe place for her to come back, even if that is temporary."
Raksha stopped before him and said, "Terran, you are afraid."
It was not a question, but a statement. Raksha was connected to Shi Lang on a level deeper than anyone else, and she could sense his fears and worries. Usually they wouldn't talk about such things, but he was a living being and how could there be complete peace in his heart all the time? How could he keep on going without ever thinking about giving up. Had that been the case, Shi Lang's spirit alone might have ascended and merged with the Great Dao.
Taking a deep breath Shi Lang said, "Yes, I am afraid, Raksha."
He admitted the deepest secret in his heart. The sword spirit asked, "Why are you afraid?"
Shi Lang replied, "Afraid that even when she comes back, she might not recognize me. You know, it has been some time since her spirit has scattered. I am not sure what the future might hold for the two of us, and that is why I am afraid. I am scared to look or think about the future."
The sword spirit materialized before him in her human avatar, and she said, "I will only say one thing to you. With her you might have to work again and win her heart, but without her, you will loss your heart."
Shi Lang smiled bitterly, and the sword spirit continued, "Did you think that perhaps nobody would notice? You have been accumulating the time force in that seal, what for? You hardly used it against Zen Yuan or he would have died in the first exchange only. Do you think I cannot tell what you have in mind with that force?"
The Terran stood there quietly, listening to all that Raksha said. After watching him stand silently she sighed and said, "If you get to use that time force for what you intend to do. Have you considered how it would effect the rest of the people around you? They will revert back to their old selves or even seize to exist. Are you really going to stake the whole universe for one soul?"
Shi Lang looked in her eyes, his own eyes were devoid of emotions and he was about to answer her positively when Raksha smiled and asked, "What would happen when she finds out what you have done? Could you hide it from her forever? The heart demon would eat you up from inside out. You might find her but she might never become yours."
Shi Lang shivered and his eyes turned red. His intent to kill was starting to take over, and Raksha said, softly, "Lang, your love for her is true, and you will go to any lengths to be with her. Then why risk it all? She is destined to be with you, and what's destined for you would always come back to you. Have some faith. If not in the world, or yourself, have some faith in her. In Amelia."
Shi Lang calmed down, his killing instinct retreated, and Raksha vanished before returning to his soul sea. If someone was to ask the Sword Spirit if she was scared just now, then she would say yes. Thankfully she was smart enough to bring him back from the path of no return.
Had Shi Lang lost his control and attacked Raksha, he might have lost everything. Shi Lang was contemplating what was going on with him when Hou Bing appeared before him and the young man said, "The nature of being a Supreme is causing trouble. It is effecting my thoughts, I was just about to destroy everything that I am."
Hou Bing nodded and replied, "That is how it is, you need to be cautious from now on. Always take a step back before making any decisions."
Shi Lang nodded and Hou Bing smiled, "Things have started to fall back in place. The world is now healing itself and the monks that you have saved on the way have started to help the lives of the others return to normal ways."
The young man nodded and said, "The Tiger Suppressing Mandala that I found, look out for her, tell His Holiness Black Turtle to stay away from her."
Hou Bing chuckled, "That old fogey might cough up blood, but yes, I will do that. However, we still need an outlet to channel the knowledge around the world."
Shi Lang thought and replied, "I will handle that, first let me find the Meryls and see if they would help me bringing back Amelia."
Hou Bing nodded and said, "You can find them on the coast of the western continent."
The Terran rolled his eyes at her and said, "This whole landmass is surrounded by water. I am leaving."
The phoenix watched him leave and shook her head as she said, "I hope that you can bring her back as well, or I fear, that one day the world that you have created would be ruined by your own hands."
...
Shi Lang flew around the coastline with his sensing ability operating at the highest level possible. He was searching for the clues and suddenly, he noticed a creature, half fish and half human. He moved quickly and came to the spot where he found the creature, and landed on the coast calmly.
He wanted to approach them and question them, but he couldn't rush things, and he sat down on the ground with his legs crossed, and eyes open, gazing at the horizon patiently. Shi Lang knew that the Meryls were shy creatures and they didn't trust humans. So, he had no other option but to wait silently.
